A brief account of Mr. Valentine Greatrak's : and divers of the strange cures by him lately performed / written by himself in a letter addressed to the honourable Robert Boyle. Whereunto are annexed, the testimonials of Robert Boyle, Bishop Wilkins, Bishop Patrick, Dr. Cudworth, Dr. Whichcot, and many other persons of distinction; concerning the chief matters of fact therein related.

  • Greatrakes, Valentine, 1629-1683
Date:
1723
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A brief account of Mr. Valentine Greatrak's : and divers of the strange cures by him lately performed / written by himself in a letter addressed to the honourable Robert Boyle. Whereunto are annexed, the testimonials of Robert Boyle, Bishop Wilkins, Bishop Patrick, Dr. Cudworth, Dr. Whichcot, and many other persons of distinction; concerning the chief matters of fact therein related. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    (ipy Spirit, but one that bad a Mind above his For¬ tune. My Mother was the Daughter of Sir Edward Harris Knight, one of his late Ma- jetty’s Juftices of the King’s Bench in the King¬ dom of Ireland, who had the Reputation of a learned and a juft Judges and this I dare fay of her, (who died fome few Years paft, for 1 do but juftice to her Memory) fhe was a virtu¬ tu ous and difcreet Woman, an excellent Neigh¬ bour, and a moft indulgent and provident Pa¬ rent*, file took Care of my Education (my Fa¬ ther dying when 1 was tender in Years) which was briefly as follows. Firfty After I had learn’d to read, I was fent to the Free-School of Lifmore, (once famous) which was ere&ed by the Charity of your Father, the late Earl of Cork, where I fpent my Time till I was 13 Years of Age, and had made fuch a Profi¬ ciency in Learning, that 1 was ^defigned for the Colledge the enfuing Year, but prevented there¬ in by the late Rebellion in Ireland; from whence 1 was forced with my Mother and feveral other fmall Children, to flie for P^efuge hither into En- glandy and by the Charity of my Uncle, Mr. Edm. Harris, were relieved and provided for, and had the Principles of Religion confirmed in me by him, who was a Proteftant, and one of fo fevere and pious a Life,that he devoted his whole Time to the Service of God, and the Works of Charity: He was one that in many Years before his Death, was not known to fpeak an idle Word, or fpend a vain Hour : In brief, he was a Saint in his Life and Converfatioo, and one whofe Memory I fhall e- ver reverence and love *, but God, in Mercy to him, (who though in the World, was not of the World) was pleafed, after fome few Years, to take him to himfelf out of this troublefome Life, who, before bis Departure, left my Mother the third Part of