DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70302#0095
ACCOUNT OF THE COCK LANE GHOST.
77
mission of Mr. Parsons to remove the girl to his own
house, promising she should have a room to herself, a
maid to attend her, and whomsoever her father pleased
to be with her; adding, he had authority to say that, if
any thing material happened, a person of distinction
would interest himself in obtaining a discovery of this
apparently intricate affair. His offer was rejected by Mr.
Parsons.—Nothing more occurred till the following morn-
ing, when the knocking began again about seven o’clock.
Though many were, by this time, inclined to believe
that what they had witnessed was the effect of superna-
tural agency, yet the rational part of the company could
not be brought to believe but that there was some fraud
in the affair. It was therefore determined to remove the
child a second time, and accordingly, instead of being
carried home, she was conveyed to a house in Crown
and Cushion Court, at the upper end of Cow Lane, near
Smithfield, where two clergymen, several gentlemen, and
some ladies assembled on Thursday evening.
About eleven o’clock the knocking began; when a
gentleman in the room began speaking angrily to the
girl, and hinting that he suspected it was some trick of
her’s, the child was uneasy and cried ; on which the
knocking was heard louder, and much faster than be-
fore ; but no answer could be obtained to any question
while that gentleman staid in the room.
After he was gone the noise ceased, and nothing was
heard till a little after twelve, when the child was seized
with a trembling and shivering, in which mannei’ she
always appeared to be affected on the departure, as well
as at the approach of the spirit. On this, one of the com-
pany asked when it would return again, and at what time.
Answer was made in the usual manner by knocks, that
it would be there again before seven in the morning. A
noise
77
mission of Mr. Parsons to remove the girl to his own
house, promising she should have a room to herself, a
maid to attend her, and whomsoever her father pleased
to be with her; adding, he had authority to say that, if
any thing material happened, a person of distinction
would interest himself in obtaining a discovery of this
apparently intricate affair. His offer was rejected by Mr.
Parsons.—Nothing more occurred till the following morn-
ing, when the knocking began again about seven o’clock.
Though many were, by this time, inclined to believe
that what they had witnessed was the effect of superna-
tural agency, yet the rational part of the company could
not be brought to believe but that there was some fraud
in the affair. It was therefore determined to remove the
child a second time, and accordingly, instead of being
carried home, she was conveyed to a house in Crown
and Cushion Court, at the upper end of Cow Lane, near
Smithfield, where two clergymen, several gentlemen, and
some ladies assembled on Thursday evening.
About eleven o’clock the knocking began; when a
gentleman in the room began speaking angrily to the
girl, and hinting that he suspected it was some trick of
her’s, the child was uneasy and cried ; on which the
knocking was heard louder, and much faster than be-
fore ; but no answer could be obtained to any question
while that gentleman staid in the room.
After he was gone the noise ceased, and nothing was
heard till a little after twelve, when the child was seized
with a trembling and shivering, in which mannei’ she
always appeared to be affected on the departure, as well
as at the approach of the spirit. On this, one of the com-
pany asked when it would return again, and at what time.
Answer was made in the usual manner by knocks, that
it would be there again before seven in the morning. A
noise