PART II.-CHAPTER XVIII. 



ACCIDENTS. 



[ " ACCIDENTS " was a term used in astrology, In the general sense of remarkable events or occur- 

 rences. From a curious collection of Aubrey's memoranda I have selected a few of the most 

 interesting and most apposite to Wiltshire. Several of the anecdotes in this chapter will be found 

 in Aubrey's Miscellanies, 12mo. 1696. J. B.] 



IN the reigne of King James 1st, as boyes were at play in Amesbury-street, it thundred and 

 lightened. One of the boyes wore a little dagger by his side, which was melted in the scabbard, 

 and the scabbard not hurt. This dagger Edward Earle of Hertford kept amongst his rarities. I 

 have forgott if the boy was killed. (From old Mr. Bowman and Mr. Gauntlett) 



The long street, Maryborough, was burned down to the ground in five houres, and the greatnesse 

 of the fire encreased the wind. This was in 165-. This account I had from Thomas Henshaw, 

 Esq. who was an eye-witness as he was on his journey to London. 



[ " Marlborough has often suffered by fire; particularly in the year 1690. Soon afterwards the 

 town obtained an act of Parliament to prohibit the covering of houses with thatch." Beauties of 

 Wiltshire, vol. ii. p. 177. A pamphlet was published in 1653 (12mo.) with the following title: 

 " Take heed in time ; or, a briefe relation of many harmes that have of late been done by fire in 

 Marlborough and other places. Written by L. P." J. B.] 



In the gallery at Wilton hangs, under the picture of the first William Earl of Pembroke, the 

 picture of a little reddish picked-nose dog (none of the prettiest) that his lordship loved. The dog 

 starved himself after his master's death. 



D r . Ralph Bathurst, Dean of Wells, and one of the chaplains to King Charles 1st, who is no 

 superstitious man, protested to me that the curing of the King's evill by the touch of the King doth 

 puzzle his philosophic : for whether they were of the house of Yorke or Lancaster it did. 'Tis true 

 indeed there are prayers read at the touching, but neither the King minds them nor the chaplains. 

 Some confidently report that James Duke of Monmouth did it. 



Imposture. Richard Heydock, M.D., quondam fellow of New College in Oxford, was an inge- 

 nious and a learned person, but much against the hierarchic of the Church of England. He had 

 a device to gaine proselytes, by preaching hi his dreame ; which was much noised abroad, and 

 talked of as a miracle. But King James 1st being at Salisbury went to heare him. He observed 



