hey were killed
in _Virginia_, which he afterwards was pleased to give in writing, attested
by two credible persons in whose presence it was done; which is, as
follows.

The Wild _Penny-royal_ or _Ditany_ of _Virginia_, groweth streight up about
one foot high, with the leaves like _Penny-royal_, with little blue tufts
at the joyning of the branches to the Plant, the colour of the Leaves being
a reddish green, but the Water distilled, of the colour of Brandy, of a
fair Yellow: the Leaves of it bruised are very hot biting upon the Tongue:
and of these, so bruised, they took some, and having tyed them in the cleft
of a long stick, they held them to the Nose of the _Ratle-Snake_, who by
turning and wriggling laboured as much as she could to avoid it: but she
was killed with it, in less than half an hours time, and, as was supposed,
by the scent thereof; which was done _Anno_ 1657. in the Month of _July_,
at which season, they repute those creatures to be in the greatest vigour
for their poison. {44}

* * * * *

_A Relation of Persons killed with subterraneous _Damps_._

This Relation was likewise made to the _Royal Society_, by that Eminent
_Virtuoso_ Sir _R. Moray_, who was pleased, upon their desire, to give it
them in writing; as followeth.

In a Coal-pit, belonging to the Lord _Sinclair_ in _Scotland_, where the
Coal is some 18 or 20 foot thick, and antiently wasted to a great depth:
The Colliers, some Weeks agoe, having wrought as deep as they could, and
being to remove into new Rooms (as they call them) did, by taking off, as
they retired, part of the Coal that was left as Pillars to support the Roof
and Earth over it, so much weaken them, that within a short space, after
they were gone out of the Pitt, the Pillars falling, the Earth above them
filled up the whole Space, where the Colliers had lately wrought, with its
ruins. The Colliers being here-by out of work, some of them adventured to
work upon old remains of Walls, so near the old wastes, that striking
through the slender partition of the Coal-wall, that seperated between them
and the place, where they used to work, they quickly perceived their
Errour, and fearing to be stifled by the bad Air, that they knew, possessed
these old wastes, in regard not onely of the Damps, which such wastes do
usually afford, but because there having for many years been a Fire in
those wastes, that filled them with stifling fumes and vapors, reti