The following is a complete copy of this publication:--[245]
Being the Result of several late Consultations between a Vintner, Judge Tallow-chandler, a Brace of Fishmongers, and a Printer, &c. In a Dialogue between _Ralph_ and _Will_.
_Ralph._ Why, they say my Lord _Russel_ walks.
_Ralph._ Why not? may not Lords walk as well as other people?
_Will._ That's not the business--but I perceive you have heard but a piece of the Story--you have not heard how the Ghost came to be rais'd nor how he was laid.
_Ralph._ Rais'd and Laid!--why then I warrant you take it to be nothing but a piece of Imposture.
_Will._ Nothing more certain,--a meer silly, idle, foppish contrivance of a Cabal of bigotted _Papists_.
_Ralph._ I must confess a Bigotted _Papist_ is a very sottish sort of Animal.--But what did this deep design drive at?
_Will._ Why, Sir, a certain _Vintner_ not far from _Southampton Square_, a well-wisher, you may be sure, to any Religion he could get by, had a mind to draw custome to his empty House--For he had a vast prospect of gain from the success of the Action,--For, quo he to himself, the people will cry, whether shall we go? Go! says another, we'l go to the _Hobgoblin_ that counterfeited the Lord _Russel's_ Ghost--for, thought he, everybody will be glad to see a _Hobgoblin_.
_Ralph._ Puh--this is some invention of yours to put a trick upon the poor _Papists_.
_Will._ An Invention of mine! Tis all about the Town--and besides, there is nothing more common among the _Papists_ than to counterfeit Spirits and Ghosts--I find you never read the Story of the four Monks of _Bearn_ in _Switzerland_, that were hang'd for counterfeiting the _Virgin Mary_; nor of the Country Curate that lay with his Neece in the shape of _St. Barbara_. But the Fryer had not so good luck: For he living in a young widow's House, would fain have frighted the young Widow into his Lascivious Embraces--and to that purpose haunted her chamber every Night in a Winding Sheet: But she, being a Woman of mettle, hid a Friend of hers privately in her chamber, that gave the Spirit such a severe Cudgel-correction, as made him quickly beg Quarter for his bruised Bones.
_Ralph._ But all this while, where was the Profundity of the design?