BLess me! what Horrid and Dismal shade is this, that dares presume to enter my Chamber, and not only disturb my Peace, but thus continually hinders my Rest? What shall I do? this bold Ghost affrights and terrifies my Soul more, than all the dangers of War, when Death marches in Triumph upon the Swords Point, and breaths forth dire Threatnings from the Thundering Musket, and the Roaring Cannon. Whose Ghost are you? are you the Ghost of Mr. Thynne, or of my old Companion Captain Ʋratz, or any other who have Murdered, or been Murdered upon my account?

Know Sir, That I am the miserable Ghost of Christopher Ʋratz, who was so unfortunate to be prevailed upon by you, to Murther a poor inno­cent Gentleman, who never had wronged or injured either my self or you, and that in the most Barbarous and Cowardly manner imaginable. Oh Cursed wretch that you were, to make your Countenance & Favour, and the hopes of being preferred by you, Arguments to perswade me to ruine both my Soul and Body, and all this to be done, to gratifie your devilish Revenge, and satiate your wicked and hellish thirst after Innocent Blood. And although out of an affected Bravery, I obstinately denied you were any way guilty of that Barbarous Fact, yet without my appearance, your Conscience must tell you, That it was you that Contrived it, it was you that procured it to be done, it was you that incouraged it by Promises of Present Pay, and future Gratuities; you know this was the thing you carried me over for; you know the Polander and Sterne were both entertained by your direction, to assist me in the accomplishing your Wicked and Bloody Contrivance. And notwithstanding all the time of my Imprisonment, nay, even the time that I were to draw my last breath, I appeared with such Unconcernedness, and took all care not to let fall any one word that might prejudice you, or stain your Honour, or wound your Reputation, and make your Countrymen, as well as the English abo­minate and shun the Company of so base and ungentile a Murtherer: [Page 2]and passed out of the World as much like an Atheist as I lived in it; and to show the greatness of my pretended Heroick Resolution and Con­stancy, took the whole Guilt and Odium of the Murther upon my self, yet you were as Guilty of it, nay, more Guilty then I; and therefore know, that although you have escaped that Ignominious Death, which you as well as I justly deserved, yet you shall always carry about you a sting in your Bosome, as bad or worse than Death itself; and your Guiltie Conscience by a perpetual reading an Indictment of Murther to you, shall be instead of a thousand Tormenters, to make you as miserable in your Life, as the Murthered Gentleman was unfortunate in his Death. In a word, you shall be a Terror to your self, be afraid of your own shadow; and notwithstanding your former Courage and Val­lour, yet now you shall become as timerous and fearful as the silly Hare, and flee at every noise, and tremble at the shaking leaf; and your mind shall be so disturbed and perplexed, that you shall always fancie the Ghost of me, or the Murthered Gentleman to appear to you, and haunt you into all places and company that you frequent, and not only spoil the pleasure of your Recreations by day, but when you retire to your Chamber, we will follow you thither to, and be within the same Cur­tains, and lie in the same Bed with you. Nor shall the contrivance of your [...]oks, nor the strength of your Bars, or the closeness of your Cur­tains, be able to keep out this affrightning Ghost. And that which shall yet further heighten your misery, and render Life it self a burthen to you, is, the consideration that you have contracted the Guilt, and brought the Odium of one of the basest and most inhumanst Murthers that ever was committed, upon your self and Family, not only without any kind of provokation, but also enjoying any kind of benefit thereby; for you may assure your self, you shall never obtain the unjust end you aimed at. Neither will all your endeavours or greatness be able to reconcile, for — is too Vertuous to Marry one so justly suspected of Murther, and too wise to believe you Innocent.

And to make you yet more compleatly miserable, so as that it may bear some proportion with the guilt of the Murther, I will for ever be your constant Companion and Tormentor, and instead of being a Comforter, I will make appear to you nothing but Horror and Dread. I will Haunt and Torment you in all your intended Divertisements, in your Visits and your Feasts, your Closet and your Bed; I will imbitter all your enjoy­ments; I'll make you uncapable of taking any pleasure in your great Relations, or your large Possessions, your full Coffers, or your Honou­rable Titles, your stately Buildings, or your curious Gardens. I will be continually sounding in your Ears, the dismal Horrors, and unexpressa­ble Torments I suffer for your sake; and never hope that you shall be rid of my Company, for I will haunt you as long as you live on earth, and then to the Grave, that if you are doomed to bear company with Murderers and Adulterers, I may there, if possible, farther Torment you.