But they very often appeared in the form of a funeral before the death of many persons, with a bier and a black cloth, in the midst of a company about it, on every side, before and after it.  The instances of this were so numerous, that it is plain, and past all dispute, that they infallibly foreknew the time of men’s death:  the difficulty is, whence they had this knowledge.  It cannot be supposed that either God Himself, or His angels, discovered this to these spirits of darkness.  For the secrets of the Lord are with those that fear Him, not with His enemies.  Psalm xxv. 14.  They must therefore have this knowledge from the position of the stars at the time of birth, and their influence, which they perfectly understand beyond what mortal men can do.  We have a constant proof of this in the corps candles, whose appearance is an infallible sign that death will follow, and they never fail going the way that the corps will go to be buried, be the way ever so unlikely that it should go through.  But to give some instances in Aberystruth Parish.

FOOTNOTES: 

[Footnote 15:  A Geographical, Historical, and Religious Account of the Parish of Aberystruth, in the County of Monmouth.  To which are added, Memoirs of several persons of Note, who lived in the said Parish. By Edmund Jones.  Trevecka:  printed in the Year 1779.]

LIV

THE RED BOOK OF APPIN

CAMPBELL’S “Tales of the West Highlands”

Once upon a time, there lived a man at Appin, Argyllshire, and he took to his house an orphan boy.  When the boy was grown up, he was sent to herd; and upon a day of days, and him herding, there came a fine gentleman where he was, who asked him to become his servant, and that he would give him plenty to eat and drink, clothes, and great wages.  The boy told him that he would like very much to get a good suit of clothes, but that he would not engage till he would see his master; but the fine gentleman would have him engaged without any delay; this the boy would not do upon any terms till he would see his master.  “Well,” says the gentleman, “in the meantime write your name in this book.”  Saying this, he puts his hand into his oxter pocket, and pulling out a large red book, he told the boy to write his name in the book.  This the boy would not do; neither would he tell his name, till he would acquaint his master first.  “Now,” says the gentleman, “since you will neither engage, or tell your name, till you see your present master, be sure to meet me about sunset to-morrow, at a certain place?” The boy promised that he would be sure to meet him at the place about sunsetting.  When the boy came home he told his master what the gentleman said to him.  “Poor boy,” says he, “a fine master he would make; lucky for you that you neither engaged nor wrote your name in his book; but since you promised to meet him, you must go; but