History of Salt-Petre 'T is like he understands that Tree He experimented something more than ordinary of it at Oxford and perhaps if he had right done him he would have more experience of another Tree But I must not stay to remark here He gives out That he will make the Lord Bishop of CHESTER smart and writ to one as I am credibly told that he was making inquiries into his Lordships Learning parts and qualifications for a Bishop How fit is he to be a visitour of Bishops But to confine my self to what is printed He gives notice in the Preface of his Legends of several Books more that he hath coming in pursuance of the Projects of his former Particularly he threatens one against my LETTER concerning ARISTOTLE a Design suitable to the Grandeur of M. Stubbe's mind That short Discourse was first only a private Letter written when I was not 23 years of Age and printed six or seven years ago Let the mighty man in the glory of his conquests insult over an essay of a green youth and take six years time to write against two sheets of Paper which for ought he can tell the Author by this time disrellisheth himself But the truth is I do not know whether I have any reason to do so or not having not read it over since Whatever other faults there may be in the Composure I 'm sure there is no Lying as M. Stubbe chargeth it according to the usual way of his civility I reported no matter of Fact concerning Aristotle or his Philosophy but from some good and approved Author though perhaps I should find trouble now in the particular citations because I want the opportunity of those Books that I then used and I have lost the Notes that I took from them Whether it will be worth my Labour to answer what M. Stubbe shall write against that young exercise of my Pen. I cannot certainly foresee but I shrewdly guess Perhaps the sole consideration of my youth when I writ it will excuse more faulâ—s than M. Stubbe's wit and spight together can discover or as much as pretend to find there If he confutes that Letter with the like Ignorance and impertinence as he hath used in his Animadversions on Plus Ultra T will be answer enough to print it again The Lyes he pretends it guilty of will I may expect be disproved by some that are so indeed for his Authors must spâ—ak what he would have them say and he tells a gross one in the few words in which he mentions the design of confuting me when he saith that I have never as much as read over Diogenes Laertius which were impossible he should know though it were true I only take notice further concerning this that according to that little cunning which I mentioned before He would fain draw in the Royal Society to be concern'd in that Letter of mine That so his intended Triumph might be greater and the Virtuosi prejudiced by his pretended advantages against it The Letter forsooth is joined to the Edition of my Scâ—psis Scientifica which bears the Arms and is dedicated to the Royal Society Pref. to Leg. That Book was indeed Dedicated to the Society but I was not then a Member of it And are Patrons of Books responsible for their imperfections If so 't were very bad news for the modest Dr. Willis to whom the cleanly discourse of Chocolate is directed The Prefixing the Societies Arms to my Dedication was the Stationers conceit and the mention of it puts me in mind of a ridiculous offence that was once taken against another Book of mine The Printer had set a flourish at the beginning over the Dedication 'T was a Cut of Henry 8. lying by a Tree which some took for an emblem of Protestantism coming out of his Codpiece Just such Arguments M. Stubbe useth to prove that the Royal Society have a design to reduce us to Popery And I remember when the Theatre at Oxford was newly built he very sadly told me and made a deal of tragical talk about it That They had pictured God the Father in the midst of the Cieling in the shape of an old man when the figure he meant was but a Mythological picture what particularly I have forgot I wonder this was not insisted on to prove that the Society designs Popery no doubt it had been as good a one as any he hath produced But I am a little stept besides my design of presenting some Instances of his rare modesty and civility in his last Books I shall now do it briefly He calls the Royal Society Trojan Horse Pref. to Camp and an illiterate Company p. 21. The Members of it Great Impostors Pref. 10 C. Fopps Pref. to Leg. and poor Devils in his Letter to Sir N. N. viz. Sir Nicholas Nemo And p. 21. in his Postscript speaking of the overthrow of the Royal Society He expresseth himself thus which not only all Doctors but all good men oâ—ght to endeavour That the disasters of the late Dutch War the Plague and Fire of London were less inconveniences than their perpetuity That these calamities admitted some remedy hereafter but the evils they are likely to occasion us would never be corrected by any humane Providence and I doubted not whether God would support us by his Prudence when they had debauched the Nation from all piety and morality as well as civil wisdom This was he saith part of the purport of another Discourse of his about the errors and cheats of the Virtuosi I now begin to repent that I have troubled my self so much with this hot-headed Impertinent for I perceive that no one is so fit to answer him as the Keeper of Bedlam I begin to pity him and to wish that The Colledge of Physicians to requite him for that grandeur he saith he designs for them would prescribe somewhat for him For certainly there is much ground to think that the phansie of his supposed great exploits hath blown him up to a great distraction Let us hear how he swaggers on It is said that my Animadversions on M. Glanvill contain little of matter to which I answer That they contain enough to have made twenty Uirtuost famous and would hâ—ve acquired them a memorial of ingenious and noble experimentators They contain enough to shew the Ignorance of that person who had so insulted over all Vniversity-Learning and particularly over the Physicians They contain enough since they contain more then They All Knew and think I have done great service to the Learned in shewing that these Virtuosi are very great Impostors To the Reader in Camp Again in the Dedication of his Legends to the Vniversities thus I have stooped the Talbots their Supporters for them and if ever They hunt well hereafter this Age knows whom they are obliged to In a Letter to Dr. Merrett which is after inserted He rants thus If you will proceed with them you must be trampled on with Themâ— who are irrecoverably
A Praefatory ANSWER TO Mr. Henry Stubbe The Doctor of Warwick WHEREIN The Malignity of his Temper The Hypocrisie of his Pretences The Falshood of his Reports AND THE Impertinency of his Arguings Quotations In his ANIMADVERSIONS ON PLVS VLTRA Are discovered By JOS. GLANVILL A Rod for the Fools back Sol. London Printed by A. Clark for I Collins at the Kings Arms in Ludgate-street near the West-end of S. Pauls and at the Kings Head in Westminster-hall 1671. PREFACE WHen I am ask't the reason of M. Stubbe's fierceness against the ROYAL SOCIETY and the favourers of that Institution my usual answer is There are creatures that will bark against those who never hurt or provoked them and ' â—is in vain to askâ— Why 'T is the nature of those Animals and that 's the only account can be given M. Stubbe hath kept a noise ever since he could open against all men except M. Hobbs and the Republicans and all things but Quakerism and Democracy He hath faln with a vehemence suitable to his nature upon Monarchy Ministry Universities and Humane Learning provoking all men to whom those interests were dear But perceiving he had the fate of old Alexander Ross to be despised by those he had affronâ—ed and seeing that no one thought him worthy of Confuâ—ation he turns about and confutes himself he puâ—s on a mighty zeal for those things which he had endeavour'd to wâ—rrey and there being nothing of note left which he had not assaulted before he falls at last upon the R. S. with his usual noise and vehemence He clamours that this Institution is destructive to Monarchy Church of England Universities and all ancient Literature and follows his confident accusations with loud outcâ—ies and restless importunities and numerous reproaches persecuting that illustrious Company with such wild ravings and impetuous eagerness as if it were an Army of Painims that had invaded us and he the only man that saw the danger and was concern'd for the common safety By his earnest noise he frights some that know not the nature of the Creature and hath possest divers who are not well informed concerning the Institution of the ROYAL SOCIETY with terrible apprehensions of it This is all M. Stubbe haâ—h or câ—n do his main force is in the boldness and vehemence of his accusations his pretences of proof are contemptible and ridiculous and can perswade none but those he hath scared into an incapacity of right judgment For this reason I have thought it requisite to begin my answer in an account of his temper and genius out of his own Writings and when that is known his greatest force is disabled for his impudent censures will be no longer heeded in which his chief power lies And therefore it is not here as in ordinary cases when reflections that expose the person signifie little to the cause But on the contrary the Representation I have made of this Adversary is one of the most proper services can be done it and if I should say nothing else it were an Answer For he that proves an Accuser to have been a continual Pâ—st to his Neighbours a constant Slanderer and malicious Teller of untruths doth enough to assert his Vindication against his enemies unproved accusations I say I thought â—it to endeavour this fiâ—st since by it I shall break that part of his strength which consists in those slanders and contempts which he pours upon the Experimental Philosophers aud after that his Other Arguments â— will prove like Swords of Flags and Spears of Bulrush as will appear in that part where I make tryal of their strength This my design of which I have now given the reason might 't is like be some occasion of the figment over which he so couragiously insults viz That the Uirtuosi intended to write his life when I dare say there was never more thought of â—o this purpose than some such collection out of his Writings and I have made and therefore he might have forborn the Complements of mean spirits and pitiful ridiculous Mechanicks which he bestows on them on this occasion For there are none of those Gentlemen but scorn to be so dirty impertinent and so like M. Stubbe as to meddle with any passages of his Life which do not tend to the weakening him in that unworthy cause in which his pride and spight have engaged him But he is resolved he saith to prevent the Virtuosi and to write his Life himself and 't is like the Comical Wits will thank him for a story that would ouâ— do Guzman and Don Quixot But alas they are not to expect it he is too modest to do himself right What he hath done as to his Life is a Deâ—ence of those passages that he apprehended most â—bnoxious and I shall here animadvert upon his Apology by which he thinks he hath prevented that part of my account which relates to his egregious exploits in the late times Let us consider that a little and see what his defence signifies IT might have been expected from one that hath trampled on the ashes of his Martyr'd Sovereign defended and adored his Murtherers stiled all our Kings a Succession of Usurpers endeavour'd the extirpation of Monarchy and the planting a Democracy of Independents Anabaptists Fiâ—th Monarchy men and Quakers in its room That hath represented the meekest justest and best of Kings as an hateful Tyrant and called our now Sovereign an Usurper that hath written maliciously against Ministry Universities Churches and Humane Learning and vindicated the Quakers and the rest of the wildest and most dangerous Phanaticks I say it might have been expected that such a man as this when he would be thought a Convert should renounce those horrid villanies and humble himself by deep professions of repentance and declare his shame for those abominable treasons and impieties and beg pardon of God and good men for those detestable enormities But these were below the gallantry of M. Stubbe's spirit he hath another method to express his repentance he falls with his old rage upon his Majesty's Institution out of a pretended concern for Monarchy and Religion The King he phancies hath erected a Society that will undermine Monarchy and those Bishops and Divines that are imbodied in it are managing a design to overthrow Religion therefore M. Stubbe stands up in a mighty zeal and defends Monarchy against the KING and Religion against the DIVINES no doubt with a purpose to do a mischief to both This is ONE way of his repentance to act as much as he dares for the same ends he served before And ANOTHER is to justifie himself in all that he hath done which in a swaggering insulting way he impudâ—ntly attempts in the Preface to his Book against the History of the Royal Society and he hath done it so that 't is hard to say which is the greater crime his confest wickedness or his Apology The sum of it is this He served his Patron Sir Hen. Vane by whom
of the Antient Christian the Quaker would not have stood in need of an Apology Whether these Passages and the Discourse were more intended to recommend the Quakers or to make the first Christians Protestants and Martyrs contemptible and ridiculous by the Comparison Let those that know M. Stubb and have ever heard him discourse about Religion judge For my part I am satisfied 'T is a pleasant Passage and to the same purpose which I meet in his Vindication of Sir Hen. Vane p. 36. He tells M. Baxter that it was ignorantly said of Him That the Quakers had no being in the World till a few Years ago and in contradiction to it he saith As to the Generality of their Opinions and Deportment I DO AVOW it out of as sure and good Records as any can be produced that they can plead more for themselves for the first 270 Years then M. Baxter for the present Orthodox Religion laid down in the SAINTS EVERLASTING REST or the CONFESSION of the Assembly You may please to mark that he speaks not of any particular Opinions of M. Baxter and the Assembly which have less to be said for them out of primitive Antiquity than the Quakers but of their Religion And when M. Stubb hath proved what he hath here Avowed men are like to have as good an Opinion of Christianity as he can wish And how good a one that is I am loth to call in the Vouchee he cites for M. Cross viz. general Fame to testifie He declares it too frequently in the whole Contexture of his Light out of Darkness and since in his Account of Greatarick he gives hint enough of the Degree of his Faith Christ Iesus and his Apostles appeal continually to their Works those miraculous ones they performed as evidencing the Divineness of their Commission and the Truth of their Doctrines and M. Stubb tells us p. 10. That all Religions have had their real Miracles and so let them dispute or fight it out as they can Miracles must be tried by Truth not Truth by Miracles ibid. But how the Truth shall be tried viz. that of a Divine Commission or Authority 't is not for the Interest of one of his Principles or rather of his no Principles to tell us And when he hath taken away the Testimony of the Spirit in Miracles he knows well enough what will become of Christianity This he endeavours here by many very odd Suggestions M. Greatarick did things miraculous p. 8. and these he performed by the Temperament and Composure of his Body p. 11. So that Healing Miracles are the Effects of the Effluvia of a particular Ferment p. 11. And so Christ Jesus shewed nothing of Divinity in curing Diseases by his Touch. Yea M. Greatarick is mated with Him and the Apostles p. 26. He did the things that never man did but Christ and his Apostles He cured Diseases by the Temperament and Composure of his Body ut sup but no man ever did so besides only the Son of God and his Disciples had the Priviledge And yet p. 10. this in express Words is plainly contradicted for we hear there of others that did the same things with Christ Iesus and M. Greatarick The Alexicaci Salutatores or Bensedevios that cure by anointing with Spittle and by breathing and stroaking of the Patient p. 10. And in Turky also and Africk they have Persons of the like Qualifications ibid. But 't is nothing for M. Stubb to affirm Contradictions and I wish that were the worst could be justly laid to his Charge I have a great deal more to say of his Friendship to Religion which I keep for a Reserve He tells us p. 15. of his Book against my Plus Vltra That Mahomet taking advantage of the Brutal Lives and Ignorance of the Catholicks depending upon the Patriarch of Constantinople did advance the Sect of Christians called Mahometans I wish some do not think that a certain Defender of Religion and the Church of England is a Christian by the same Figure as are those Disciples of Mahomet If a man of Learning and tolerably in his Wits endeavour to make the first Christians Martyrs and Reformers like the Quakers in their Opinions and Deportment He cannot be supposed primarily to design the Crediting those distracted Enthusiasts but to vilifie all Christians except some of M. Stubb's sort called Mahometans and our Defender of Religion knows well enough that the Testimonies he alledgeth to prove those sick-brain'd People to be like all the best Christians will prove as much that the best Christians were like Them and so a more desperate Enemy than the Quakers is gratified How far he intended this let those conjecture who have heard of his Kindness and Concern for M. Hobbs And how far he designs the promoting the Interest of Religion and the Church of England let the most charitable man alive judge upon the whole I but 3. he tells us how much he is for School-Divinity and how far some great matters of Faith are concerned in it we derive great Benefits from Controversal Divinity for the Quieting the Conscience and Convincing our Adversaries and whoever hath any sense of these must detest the Enterprise of M. Glanvill Non Plus p. 1. This He did because he had a Value for the Peace of his Conscience which is to be setled by School-Divinity But how different from this was his Opinion of it when he writ against M. Baxter Then School-Divinity was apt to create everlasting Disputes rather than Rest and made no part of the Rest of the Primitive whether Christians or Antichristians these are his Words p. 18. M. Stubb had another way to quiet his Conscience at that time but now School-Divinity is the only Expedient And whereas in the same first Page of his Book against me he tells us The Distinction of the Trinity of Essence and Personality the Hypostatical Vnion of the two Natures in our Saviour and the meritoriousness of his Death which depends thereupon are undermined with School-Divinity In that he writ against M. Baxter he saith of it That it is an upstart Study unknown to the purer times model'd and profess'd by that Order which now manageth the Inquisition and was at first erected for the suppressing the Truth in the Albigenses p. 13. M. Stubb in his last Book greatly applauds Metaphysicks if he can find any Distinctions in that Learning to solve his own Contradictions he shall have my Vote for the greatest Metaphysician in the World He doth so directly and in terms every where almost affront himself that I cannot possibly write more point-blank against him than Harry doth against Stubb and some think that if he be let alone the next time he scribbles he 'l reduce even his last Book to a Non-plus and confute this also as he hath already done by most of his other Writings The Truth is M. Stubb hath wanted an Adversary to appear publickly against him and therefore he hath challeng'd and provoked all
Presbytery makes Them pay their Forfeit which it unconscionably raiseth from Groats to Crowns and half-Crowns But let that go he proceeds As for the lost Sheep of Israel the poor and the weak whom God hath chosen unless the Salary be good they seem to be under as great a Prohibition from Preaching to them as the Apostles from going to Bithynia p. 145 146. But he hath not yet done with the Popery and Antichristianism of our Vniversities and their Fashions Therefore it follows Qu. 38. Whether the University Hood be not the Product of the old Monkish Melote spoken of by Cassian de Institutione Monachorum and grounded upon the superstitious Exposition of that place in Heb. 11. They wandred about 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Sheep-skins whether it were not a Religious Habit it being a Badg of Monkery according to Cassian and Hierome ibid. Qu. 39. Whether it be not a superstitious and detestable Exposition of that Scripture Stand fast having your Loins girt c. To accommodate it to the Episcoparian Girdles with which they tie in their Canonical Coats ibid. Qu. 40. Whether it be not a pretty Foundation for the Oxford Doctors to stand booted and spurred in the Act because there is mention made in Scripture of being shâ—d with the Preparation of the Gospel p. 146. Q. 41. Whether the Vniversity of Oxford do well to give for their Arms the Book with seven Seals Is not that a gross Abuse of what is laid down in the Revelations as if the seven liberal Arts two whereof are Grammar and Fidling were typified by those Seals which none were worthy to open but the Lamb p. 146 147. Q. 46. Whether any of the Ceremonies and Habits now used in the Vniversities had a very good Original or have been imployed to a good Vse since p. 149. Q. 47. Whether those things which had a good Original and Vse if they be not still necessary or commanded by God when once they have been used to Idolatry and Superstition are not quite to be abolished ibid. Here is the Upshot and Conclusion of the Matter YOV know and own this glorious Truth O ye our Deliverers from AEGYPT and from BABYLON from all Soul-Oppression and Conscience-distressing Persecution Vind. of Sir H. V. p. 57. And you know that Vniversities are some of the Hay and Stubble of Humane Invention and not commanded by God Nor are they necessary The Primitive Christians and first Protestants had them not Soul-saving Truths are not taught by the Words of Mans Wisdom Christ chose illiterate men for Disciples The Gospel of St. John is as bad Greek as the Quakers English Light out of Darkness p. 87. God hath chosen the Foolishness of this World to confound the Wise. ibid. You see O ye PATRIOTS those Schools of Humane Learning are not necessary Yea they were erected by Popery and are Antichristian Popish Superstitious Down with them therefore down with them to the Ground Destroy Babylon and the Garments of the Whore away with the Idols dumb Dogs and Beasts that our Fathers have worshipped This is the Sense of the whole and a grand Expression of M. Stubb's Friendship to the Vniversities BUT he is a Zealot no doubt for the Learning that is taught there so he pretends by his eager Oppositions of what he calls the mechanical Education Non Plus p. 13. now contradistinguish'd as he tells us from the Vniversity-Learning this he here recommends and celebrates and would fain persuade his Reader That the Royal Society have a desire to triumph over the antient Education of the Kingdom Pref. p. 6. All which are mere Chymâ—ra's and malicious or proud Devices to effect his purpose of rendring the Virtuosi odious as he declares it Pref. p. 4. or the other Design of dignifying Himself as the great Patron of antient Learning For the Royal Society doth no way disturb or meddle with Vniversity-Learning and Education The Art of Reasoning the Validity of Consequences The unfolding of Critical Syllogisms and Fallacies the general Doctrine of Topicks the Moral Philosophy and Foundations of civil Prudence Civil and Ecclesiastical History and Languages which M. Stubb himself reckons up as the Learning of the Vniversities p. 17. will proceed all in the same way notwithstanding the Study of Experimental Philosophy which though it may use some of them as they are already taught yet it contradicts none And by the same Reason that M. Stubb suggests the Mechanical way to be prejudicial and contrary to the Vniversity-Learning he might say that All Practical Arts as Chirurgery Architecture Limning and the rest have an Antipathy to those Academical Studies also such a Logician is M. Stubb as not to distinguish between contrary and divers What an impertinent thing is proud Malice But let us see how much M. Stubb hath declared himself a Friend to Vniversity-Learning and all sorts of Literature in the time when they were despised and their utter Extirpation zealously attempted Concerning the first Sort Languages he Queries thus Q. 13. L. D. Whether the Knowledge of Tongues leads us to one Sense of Scripture or many Whether all such dealings lead us not to put our Trust in Man Can any matter of Faith be built upon the Strength of a Criticism p. 97. and Critical Learning is call'd a Gallimaufrey Pref. against Dr. Wallis Q. 18. Whether the first Christians were not against Humane Learning and Heathenish Authors And whether it was more an Effect of Julian the Apostate ' s Malice or Christian Prudence that went about to keep the People of God from Reading Heathen Writers p. 101. For the Affirmative of the Query he alledgeth divers Testimonies and concludes The Greek Church is owned for a true Christian Church and highly magnified by Protestants in Opposition to the Pope yet neither They nor the Picards or Waldenses in Bohemia did value Learning so far were they from esteeming of it as a Prop of true Religion p. 105. This was the way to recommend Learning to the Religieuse of those times whose Favour our Anti-Virtuoso then courted And even in this last Book he hath given proof of his Kindness to one sort of Vniversity-Learning Mathematicks They are less necessary and inutile p. 17. and a little before Geometricians seldom if ever prove Metaphysicians Religieuse or otheâ—wise of tolerable Ratiocination but are said ignorantly to run into Whimsies and Phantastical Ways of Arguing This is the great Friend and Patron of Learning BUT what doth he think of Aristotle who M. Cross tells us in his Book was Artium Partiumque Uir Fundator Artium Maximus Hominum His Credit our Author kindly undertakes in part to readvance Title p. to Non Plus And he did it when he Qâ—eried in his Light out of Darkness p. 105. Q. 19. Whose Sepulchres do our Vniversity-men build up whilst they uphold ARISTOTLE's PHILOSOPHY which hath been so generally condemn'd of late and heretofore by Popish Assemblies and particular men of that way as also by the
is more ridiculous than one that believes Tom Thumb already If he be not serious in what he saith he is impious in it And if it were an other man one might ask him how he durst in that manner use the Name of God and protest a known and ridiculous Falshood in his Presence But who can tell what M. Stubb thinks of God He saith enough sometimes to give occasion to conjecture who knows but that all Religion is with a certain Anti-Virtuoso like the Story of Tom Thumb And he might do well to inform us how far he extends his Expression of the Legends and Falsifications of History I shall not here to tell you what I have heard him say But he goes on This Philosophy fairly disposeth us thereunto viz. to believe Tom Thumb and the Legends If so I hope he will excuse it from the so often objected Guilt of Scepticism But these Philosophers one while dispose men to believe every thing and at the next turn to believe nothing And yet one would wonder how the Philosophy of the Virtuosi should incline men either to the one or the other It deals in the plain Objects of Sense in which if any where there is Certainty and teacheth suspenâ—ion of Assent till what is proposed is well proved and so is equally an Adversary to Scepticism and Credulity But M. Stubb tells us ibid. that it makes men so credulous by taking them off from the Pedantism of Philology and antient reading It takes men off indeed as Philology takes them off from Philosophy and one sort of Studies takes men off from an other which they are not able to pursue at the same time with it But this is no more discredit to the Modern Philosophy then 't is to all other sorts of Learning and indeed none to any If M. Stubb means more than this and would insinuate that experimental Disquisitions into Nature have any direct Antipathy to Philology or antient Reading he speaks what is false and groundless and is not able to say any thing to purpose to make such a Censure good He tells us indeed he is resolved to charge the Enemy home and he doth it by confident Falshoods and bold Affirmations without proof His whole Force is in Noise and Clamour and did he not keep a great Stir and raise the Dust about him he would scarce engage any to look towards him or to take notice what he doth or saith 7. He proceeds to animadvert upon me thus He tells us that the Aristotelian Philosophy aims at no more than the instructing men in Notion and Dispute that its Design was mean p. 12. He quotes not the place whence this is taken and 't is well he doth not for he mis-reports my Words and affirms that which is false for I was not speaking there of the Aristotelian Philosophy but of the Modern Peripatetick Way which I affirm in that very Page to be now quite another thing from the Philosophy which Aristotles Books contain and have frequently spoke to the same purpose elsewhere Now let any one look into the voluminous Physicks of Ariaga Hurtado Pontius Oviedo Carlton and the rest of the late Peripatetick Writers and let him then tell me what they aim at more than the instructing men in Notion and Dispute To talk here as the Caviller doth of Aristotle's Books of Animals and Theophrastus about Plants and such like things is toyish impertinent and like M. Stubb And all the rest of the chat that comes in upon this occasion turns to wind and insignificant Prattle This is the man that would charge the Enemy home we are like to have good doings in his Quotations of other Authors when he perverts even the words of his Antagonist He is at the same sport again p. 14. If Notions might be rejected for being first proposed and used by Heathens then is not Aristotle in a worse Condition than Epicurus Democritus Plato or Pythagoras p. 15. He desires me to acquit Paracelsus from being impious in his Life At this rate there will be no end of Animadversions and 't will be impossible to escape the Anti-Virtuoso Who said that Notions might be rejected for being first proposed and used by Heathens or what hath M. Glanvill to do with Paracelsus But further ibid. p. 15. He saith Aristotle was of no such superlative Esteem in the wisest Times But he tells us not what those most wise Times were when he was in Disesteem What need I I said not that he was in Disesteem in the most wise Times but of no such superlative Account as he himself quotes my words in one Line and makes quite another thing of them in the next For is there no Difference doth he think between not being of superlative Account and being in Disesteem Such gross Slips as these in a Virtuoso would have afforded matter for endless Insultings and Charges of Ignorance He proceeds to prove that Aristotle was in Esteem in wise Times and what then It follows clearly that M. Stubb can demonstrate what no body denies But was he in the most superlative account then He doth not say so for that had been to his purpose or were those times when his Esteem was superlative the wisest He shifts from this too he had not read of more wise People than Greece Rome and the Mahometans and all these admired him at several times but was their Admiration superlative when the times were wisest otherwise what he saith is not to purpose He confesseth ibid. that he was much opposed and slighted by the first Fathers and in his Light out of Darkness p. 105. he saith That Aristotle was condemned by the first Christians and Honest men of all Ages And I think the times of the first Fathers during the Glory of the Roman Empire were some of the wisest times and I mention in my Letter concerning Aristotle the Observation of Gassendus that in the flourishing times of Rome and Athens the Academicks and Stoicks were more in Esteem than the Sectators of Aristotle and instance in Cicero Pliny and Quintilian who though they had a great Esteem of Aristotle did yet prefer Plato before him So that in those most wise Times and among those wise men Aristotle's Account was not superlative if Gassendus or M. Stubb himself be to be believed And methinks it proves much that the wisest men and times had the most superlative Account of Aristotle because They divided into Platonists and Aristotelians as they did into Catholicks and Arrians and the Arrians were Aristotelians ibid. Aristotle was of best Account because the Catholicks followed Plato and the Arrians were Aristotle's Followers Doth not this tend to the re-advancing the Credit of Aristotle If this will not do it Aristotle shall be re-advanc'd by and by it follows p. 15 16. Mahomet's Successors the Caliphs did wholly imploy themselves to improve the Doctrines of Aristotle and the Peripateticks So that Aristotelism Arrianism and Mahometanism issued out of the same Parts
of the World viz. Alexandria and the adjacent Countries This the Virtuoso could not see because so much History was above his reach p. 16. and the Reasoning is as much above it as the History He next quotes another passage of mine relating to the same business viz. That since the minds of Christians are enlightned with the Raies of the glorious Gospel they have less reason to bow down to the Dictates of an Idolater and an Heathen Hence M. Impertinent concludes that we must bid farewel to the Rhetorick and other Works of Aristotle which I had afore recommended and he adds that we must shake hands with Seneca Epictetus and Plato p. 16. This follows like the rest because we may not bow down and give an implicit Veneration to an Heathen Authority Therefore we must bid farewel to all the Works of those Authors As if there were no Difference between using their Works and servilely adoring them 8. He perstringeth a passage cited out of Plato 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and what I add viz. That The Universe must be known by the Art by which it was made Here I am sent to answer Dr. More 's Dialogues where he explodes the Mechanism of Nature ibid. p. 16. Before I descend to the particular Answer to this I take notice that M. Stubb runs up and down and flirts from some things to others which have no Coherence among themselves or in my Book He falls upon my Discourse about Philosophical Instruments and then without any occasion given suddenly steps back against a passage in my Preface that hath no relation in the world to his Discourse as p. 10. In the same Paragraph he leaps forward again to the 124. page of my Plus Vltra and largely confuâ—es a Sentence or two there The next Motion is back to a passage p. 25. that had nothing to do with what he was saying and so every where he writes as he dreams But to omit other Instances of this here I come to shew the Impertinence of this last Cavil By Plato's Saying I understood no no more than that God made all things in Number Weight and Measure and I suppose that Mechanism may be used as far as it will go Now Geometry assists men in mechanical Disquisitions which are helps for the Knowledge of Nature and Causes This was all I intended for I do not believe that all the Phaenomena are merely Mechanical So that Dr. More 's Dialogues do no way oppose my Sense He explodes not the Mechanism of Nature as M. Stubb tells us but such a Mechanism as is supposed to suffice for all the Effects of Nature without help from any immaterial Agent This may be seen easily by those that read the Book and endeavour to understand it But M. Stubb reads by Indexes and Catches which is enough for the purposes of a Caviller Having thus explained my meaning I need not be concerned in what he adds in his Review p. 170. c. For all his Arguments are impertinent in reference to my sense and I may take occasion ex abundanti hereafter to prove that they are trivial and childish in reference to any other For they can do no execution even upon the mere Mechanical Hypothesis But 9. to let that alone now I cannot forbear noting here the intolerable Impudence and Lying of this man p. 173. where he goes on with the Impertinence he begun p. 16. He tells us there That his Opinion had been amply maintain'd of late by Dr. Hen. More in opposition to what the Royal Society lays down in their History viz. That Generation Corruption Alteration and all the Vicissitudes of Nature are nothing else but the Effects arising from the meeting of little Bodies of differing Figures Magnitudes and Velocities Than which Opinions saith he there can be nothing more pestilent and pernicious and Dr. More albeit a Member of this Society heretofore for be allows nothing to it now yet a pious one professeth that this Mechanical Philosophy inclines to Atheism neither would he approve of those Deductions as necessary but ridiculous when I upbraided him lately with that nonsensical and illiterate History Upon my reading of this Paragraph I resolved to write to Dr. More to know whether he had deserted the Society or whether those other passages were true I writ accordingly and that learned Doctor was pleased to return me the following Answer in which you may see the insufferable Impudence of this Prodigious Romancer A Letter from Dr. More to I. G. giving an Account how M. Stubb belies him p. 173. SIR I Thank you for yours which I received by the hand of your Friend and Neighbour M. C. Before I received your Letter I had not read half a Page in your Antagonists Book for I had only seen it once by chance in one of our Fellows Chambers but had no leisure as yet to read it my time being taken up with other matters And therefore I was wholly ignorant of those passages p. 173. till your Letter gave me an occasion to enquire after the Book and to read all there that concerns my self At which I must confess I was much surprised especially at that particular passage which was pointed me to by another Letter from a Friend the day after yours that passage I mean wherein he makes as if I were not still a Member of the Royal Society but had left it grounding his Assertion upon this Reason For he allows nothing to it now It was a great marvel to me that he should pretend to know better than my self whether I be still of the Royal Society or no. For I take my self still to be of it and I am sure I have not left it And as for the Reason he would build his Conclusion upon in that sense as it will seem to sound to all men at the first reading namely That I allow them no Respect nor have any Esteem for them now it is grosly false For the great Opinion I have of their experimental Philosophy I have at least two moneths ago amply testified in my Preface to my Enchiridion Metaphysicum when I did not at all dream of any such passage of your Antagonist concerning me in his Book And do particularly note how serviceable their Natural Experiments in matter are to the clear Knowledge and Demonstration of the Existence of immaterial Beings So far are they from tending to Atheism And 't is invidiously done of your Adversary to commend me for Piety with an unworthy and odious Reflection on the Society as if men were less pious for being thereof whenas I dare say there are as pious Persons of that Society as there are out of it and it is a gross mistake in him that he looks upon that Mechanick Philosophy which I oppose to be the Philosophy the Royal Society doth profess or would support But the Philosophy which they aim at is a more perfect Philosophy as yet to be raised out of faithful and skilful Experiments in
in the case of M. Baxter These returns I may expect from one that hath so many good Qualities of his Celebrated Times In this way he can write on for ever for such proceedings are most suitable to his parts and virtues By them he will make himself the admiration of Envious Fools but the scorn of the wise and intelligent which latter he hath sufficiently done already And therefore I shall leave him to the Applâ—â—dâ— of hiâ— Friends and the Contempts of the Friends of vertue and wisdom after I have justified my self in a thing which is like to be objected by this Antagonist I am told he will Answer all that I have produced out of his writings to shew the Hypocrisie of his pretenses for Monarchy and the Church of England by recharging me with compliance with those Times An Answer befitting such a Writer and let him make the most of that charge My great fault was that I was born in that unhappy season and bred in those dismal daysâ— But can he accuse me of any thing I ever said or did that was Disloyal Did I write a Defence of the Cause of Regicides and Vsurpers â— or Defame Kingly Government or blaspheme my persecuted Soveraign or promote Anarchy and publick ruine If M. Stubbe cannot prove any of thâ—se as I daâ—e him to offer at it He cannot recriminate And his charges of this kind will bâ— contemptible â— and like all the rest He had best write against me for coming into the world in an ill Time and for being born a Child â— I have not the least offence besides to answer forâ— in reference to the Government â— except what I apologized for before the recital I have made of his former Trâ—asons and Impieties I have now done for the present with M. Stubbe But must add this to some silly sneaks who think he hath written things not to be answer'd â— That Impudence and non-sense are the most troublesom things to answer in the world I have prov'd alreadyâ— and shall yet more fully shew that the Argumentative part of his Book against me is so far from being unanswerable that it cannot deserve any other Answer then a smile and silence For most of that he saith is lamentably inconsistent and impertinent He tells us He sends the things to the Press that were suggested as he travell'd and one may judge by their incoherence that he rid upon a trotting Horse upon which I leave him pursuing the Virtuosi and add this Advertisement If any man hath a design to write his Life and further to describe this Sir Hudibrâ—s and his Steed He will do well to hold his hand a while For M. Stubbe's Friend M. Cross hath writ a Book call'd Biographia which gives Rules how Lives are to be writ This will be printed if the Licensers will permit the good man to spoil so much paper and so make himself publickly ridiculous And the Hâ—storian had noâ— best begin till he hath M. C. directions for fear he transgress the Rules and incur the lash of the Methodical Pedant This Book it seems is intended to correct the Learned and pious Dr. â—ell for his way of writing the Life of Dr. Hammond and 't is M. C. revenge upon that excellent person for his denying Licence to the scurrilous and non-sensical Book he writ against me I have not heard many particulars of it but only this He calls that Reverend Divine who hath been long Doctor of Divinity presides over the chief Colledge of Oxford is Dean of that Diocess and hath govern'd the Vniversity as Vice-Chancellor with singular wisdom diligence and applause I say he calls that venerable man Iubenis and I believe that name of diminution doth not go alone but the Reverend person from whom I had this lighted on that by chance as he cast his eye upon the Disputer's Papers which he carrieâ—h about for a shew 'T would be well for an old man I know if he had this excuse of being young for his weakness and puerilities for which there can be no Apology made except he confesâ— himself arriv'd to his second childhood And so I take leave of him out of pity and for ought I know for ever FINIS ADVERTISEMENT Concerning the ERRATA and some passages liable to be mistaken THat M. Stubbe may not trouble himself to write more Animadversions on the Errata of the Press I give notice That when I speak of his Reporting the Design of the Royâ—l Society to be laid by a Iesuite p. 2. or 3. It should be by a Fryar The mistake was the persons that told iâ— me who said a Iesuite thinking it seems That Campanella was of that order In Dr. More 's Letter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is seâ— instead of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I know not whether the mistake be the Printers or Transcribers 'T was not mine I never writ out that Letter There are several other small errors I took notice of in running over my Printed Papers as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pigmy which should have had no Comma between and the like But I have not my Book now at hand to note them particularly and therefore must lye at M. Stubbe's mercy But these following things were noted while my Papers were by me to prevent mistake P. 174. When I say It must be granted that two pair viz. of Spectacles ordinarily hindâ—r 〈◊〉 sight I would not be understood 〈◊〉 they do so when used by those of Greatâ—â— Age. For two pair to them have but the power of one P. 178. When I say Telescopes represent â—â—jects as they arâ— only in larger proportiâ—ns I mean as they are for figure and only represent them larger then they appear to the 〈◊〉 eye P. 179. When I grant what M. Stubbe saith that in the longest Tubes the Colours of Objects are more remiss whatever he meanâ— I would not be understood as if the length of the Tubes made the remissness oâ— the Light for that is caused by the number of the Glasses or â—he darkness of their metal Books Printed for and sold by James Collins at the Kings-Arms iâ— Ludgate-street neer the West end of St. Paul's and at the Kings-head in Westminster-Hall A Discourse of the Religious Temper and Tâ—ndencies of the modern experimental Philosophy which is profest by the Royal Society To which is annext a Recommendation and Defence of Reason in the affairs of Religion By Ios. Glanvill In octavo Observations upon Military and Political Affairs â— Written by the most Honourable George Dâ—ke of Albemarle c. Published by Authority In folio A Private Conference between a Rich Alderman and a Poor Country Vicar made Publick Wheâ—ein is discoursed the Obligation of Oaths which have been imposed on the Subjects of England With other Matters relating to â—he present State of Affairs In octavo Praxis Medicinae or the Universal Body of Physick Containing all Inward Dâ—seases incident to the Body of Man Explaining the Nature of every Disâ—ase with Proper Remedies assigned to them Very useful for Physicians Chiâ—urgeons and Apothecaries and more â—specially for such who consult their own Health Written by that famous and learned Physician Walter Bruell In quarto The Christians Victory over Death A Sermon at the Funeral of the most Honourable George Duke of Albemarle c. in the Collegiate Church of St. Peter's Westminster on the 30. of April 1670. By Seth Lord Bishop of Sarum Preached and Published by his Majesties special Command In quarto The Episcopacy of the Church of England justified to be Apostolical from the Authority of the Antient Primitive Church And from the Confessions of the most famous Divines of the Reformed Churches beyond the Seas Being a full Satisfâ—ction in this Cause as well for the Necessity as for the Iust Right thereof as consonant to the Word of God By the Right Reverend Father in God Thomas Morton late Lord Bishop of Dâ—resme Before which is prefixed a Preface to the Reader concerning this Subject by Sir Henry Yelverton Baronet In octavo
13. And 't is notoriously evident in this next Instance I had said Chymistry hath a Pretence to the great Hermes for its Author how truly I will not dispute But M. Stubb will make me dispute whether I will or no. For after he had recited these words he saith he can tell me what he is sure I am ignorant of The Egyptians did never attribute to Hermes the Invention of Physick or any part of it p. 50. How doth this Scribbler confute his own Dreams who said that the Egyptians attribute to Hermes the Invention of Physick or any part of it How easie is it to pile up Authors against any Writer if a man may take this Liberty of making him say what he pleaseth I say Chymistry hath a Pretence to Hermes for its Author And M. Stubb confutes me by proving the Egyptians did never ascribe the Invention of Physick to Him And what then the usual Conclusion follows M. Stubb is an industrious Impertinent But will he say There is no ground for my Affirmation that Chymistry hath a Pretence to Hermes for its Author He quotes VOSSIVS for the Derivation of the word from the Greek p. 51. If he had read out that leaf in Vossius he would have found a reason for that passage of mine That learned man tells us Transiit Alchymia Disciplina ad nos ab Arabibus sive Mauris Mauros verò ab Aegyptiis accepisse autumant Egyptii rursum edocti existimantur ab Hermete seu Mercurio Trismegisto Vos de Philos. c. 9. p. 68. This Saying of Vossius had been enough to justifie so transient a passage But again SENNERTVS is an Author against whom M. Stubb saith he hopes there is no Exception p. 58. This Author he quotes in that Page If he had here either read out the Chapter which he cites he would have seen another reason why I say Chymistry hath a Pretence to Hermes for its Author For thus that celebrated Writer Post Diluvium à plerisque sive Inventio sive Propagatio Chymiae ad Hermetem Trismegistum refertur ab eo Ars Chymica dicitur hodie Ars Hermetica Vas Hermetis Sigillum Hermetis provulgantur Omnes Chymici hactenus censuerunt ut scribit Albertus Magnus quòd Hermes fit Radix super quam omnes Philosophi sustentati sunt Sen. de Natura Chym. cap. 3. This is another instance how well M. Stubb himself is acquainted with the Authors he quotes and an evidence that he reads only such Scraps of them as he thinks make for his turn And may it not reflect Shame upon a man of his Pretences that his Adversary should be justified by the very Books he himself cites and even in the same Chapter and Leaf whence he takes passages from them yea and in a thing too that relates to his own Profession And here I cannot but take notice of an other instance of his Knowledg◠in the Authors with which he hath the most reason to be acquainted He tells us p. 112. That Dr. HARVY in his two Answers to Riolanus and his Book of Generation no where asserts the Invention viz. of the Circulation so to himself as to deny that he had the Intimation or Notion from Caesalpinus which Silence saith he I take for a tacit Confession How true this is may be seen in the Book he last mentioned De Generatione Anim. Edit Amst. p. 309. There Dr. HARVY in express terms assumes the Invention to himself in these words CIRCVITUM SANGVINIS admirabilem à me jampridem Inventum video propemodum omnibus placuisse M. Stubb tells us That His Ambition of Glory made him willing to be thought the Author of a Paradox he had so illustrated yet such was his Modesty as not to vindicate it to himself by telling a Lie ubi sup This we see he did if Cesalpinus was the Author That this last named Person was the Inventer of the Circulation M. Stubb labours much to prove and struts mightily in his supposed performance I shall not undertake to examine that matter now only I cannot but take notice that M. Stubb is impertinent in all that Discourse For if Caesalpinus be the Author the Invention is however modern for he writ his Quaest. Medicae not above eighty years ago and in them it is pretended he discover'd the Circulation And I am the less concern'd in all the Animadverters voluminous Nothing about the Author of that Discovery because I took care before to prevent such Impertinences but I see M. Stubb will be impertinent do I what I can to prevent it I ascribe the Invention to D. Harvy as almost all men now do except the Animadverter but take notice withal that not only divers Antients but some Moderns have had the Glory fastned on them among these I mention this CAESALPINVS and add For these though either of them should be acknowledg'd to be the Author it will make as much for the Design of my Discourse as if Harvy have the Credit and therefore here I am no otherwise concern'd but to have justice for that excellent man Plus Ult. p. 16. But M. Stubb's malice against Dr. Harvy and spight against me would not permit him to discern that he had no reason here to fall on this Controversie and 't is nothing to him whether he have reason or not He follows the Impetus and writes on if it happen to be to purpose 't is well if not he cannot help it AND now Sir I am quite weary of discovering the Falshoods and Follies and Impertinences of this insulting man The Instances I have given are enough for my present purpose They will more abundantly appear in the further Animadversions I intend in those I shall take all things to task in which I may be thought to be concerned But for that work I must have time I have other things enow to do which 't is more my Concern and more my Inclination to mind And that Business will require me to examine a multitude of Authors which I have reason to be confident M. Stubb hath mis-reported and abus'd I have given you a taste already of some of his dealings with the Writers he quotes I shall present the World with a great deal more of the same kind in my next ingagement But that will be a thing of Labour and 't is not so agreeable to my humour neither and therefore the execution of this my Design will be the slower I Thought here to have added an Account of my other Antagonist M. Cross But that Adversary is to be pitied all that he can do in the Controversie is but to call Names and invent Stories and make scurrilous Rhimes These are the Arms he hath used against me ever since our Controversie began I speak not this in a way of contemptuous Abuse but with all that seriousness with which I can affirm any thing which I do most heartily believe This I say and I am sorry I can say no better of him hath
been the course he hath taken I represented the Contents of his Book in a private Letter to Dr. Ingelo that afterwards coming to a Friends hands in London was printed by him and call'd the Chue Gazett for M. Cross lives at a place call'd Chue It was printed but there were not an hundred Copies of it and those all given into private hands that his shame might not be made publick In that Letter I presented a Collection of some of the Names he had call'd me which were as foul and scurrilous as the most ill-bred Ruffian could have vented in a distemper'd Huff I recited about sixteen of his gross Falshoods which were the broadest and silliest that ever were framed for they were so pitifully contrived that every one that knows me knew most of them to be false and he himself could not but know that they were notoriously untrue yea some passages of things he had said which he publickly denied again in his Book and with most solemn Invocations of the name of God have been attested to his face So that I am as much astonisht at the prodigious Indiscretion of this marvellous man as at his matchless Legends And in him I see an Instance how far Rage and Malice will carry a proud and intemperate Spirit He did not know nor care what he said so he could gratifie his wild Passion against me If ever you chance to light upon that Paper you will see that this Censure is sober and true In the same Letter I discovered the contemptible Impertinency of his Book which doth not as much against mine as M. Stubb did when he confuted the Errata of the Press I give a Specimen also of the Learning he shews in Schoolscraps and little ends of Verse and Childrens Phrases which are all the Reading he discovers These things are in brief represented in the Gazett and much more largely in a Latin Account of his Performance which I have ready by me After my Letter was abroad to divert his Trouble and Disorder he fell into a fit of Rhiming and writ scurrilous Ballads to abuse me further upon this occasion he was so given to versifying that he could not write a Note but it must be in Meeter As for instance sending to a Neighbour Minister to preach for him he presents his Request thus Good M. Battin You speak good Latin And so you do English too Your Neighbour Cross Is taking Horse And you must preach at Chue With such Poetry as this my Praises and those of the City of Bath were celebrated And so taken he was himself with his vein that I have heard he used to vaunt how much he was in a Poetick Dispensation above Hudibras But the likeliest course he ever took was the ingaging M. Stubb in his Quarrel He hath a Pen that is always ready to be retain'd in pay M. Cross as I was told by the Animadverter himself sent him his Book which he then despised and said even to me that he was an old that had been asleep these forty years and knew not what the World had been doing But 't is like M. Stubb did not know then what Advantage might be made of M. Crosses Friendship by one that would undertake his rescue The Reverend Disputer after this caress'd and courted him highly treated him at Bath and entertain'd him divers times with dear welcome at his House so that at last he was fastned How like these two are in their Genius's and Performances I may have an occasion to shew in a parallel What Assistance M. Cross can afford his Friend in the Cause against the Royal Society he shall not want I am told that he is doing that which is sutable to his Temper and Abilities viz. collecting the Legends that Himself and his Confederates have made and driven about concerning one of those they call the Virtuosi to furnish M. Stubb with them worthy work for a second Cobler of Glocester But their Labour will be lost and worse That Person despiseth their malicious Figments and will make some body repent the infamous Project And now while I am speaking of Legends I remember one by which I have been much abused to the GENTRY of WILTS as if I had spoken rudely and injuriously concerning them You Sir are of that County and I owe a Iustification of my self to you and those other ingenious and worthy Persons who have heard the Fable The occasion of the the false Report which 't is like you have been told was this I commended an Honourable Gentleman of your County and particularly for his Skill in Mathematicks adding that I knew none other in the parts where I was then being not in Wiltshire so acquainted with those Studies or to that purpose This hapned to be mistaken and mis-reported and after coming to the ears of some whose Tongues are their own they formed it into that abusive Falshood that went about I know you cannot believe me guilty of any thing so rude or if I were capable of such Folly or Incivility I should not have vented it against Persons by some of which I have been so highly obliged And when there are not Three Gentlemen that I know there for whom I have not a very great Honour and Esteem And particularly for your self I have all that Respect and Value which so many and so great Accomplishments both intellectual and moral as you eminently possess can claim from one that is sensible and obliged by innumerable Civilities to be SIR Your Affectionate Humble Servant Jos. Glanvill Postscript MR. Stubbe being resolv'd to charge the Enemy home as he told us hath publish't two other Books since that against me The First he calls LEGENDS NO HISTORIES against Dr. Spratt and M. Henshaw The other he names CAMPANELLA REVIV'D design'd to prove That the Royal Society is managing projects to introduce Popery In these worthy works I cannot tell which I shall admire most his impudence or his impertinence The former will sufficiently appear in the bare recital of some of his expressions which I shall present for a Taste The other vertue will require Animadversions which I suppose the Gentleman concern'd may bestow upon the Legends and the other Pamphlet I may perhaps take an occasion to examine The shorter work I undertake now as a Supplement to my Account of M. Stubbe's modesty and civilities And the First thing I take notice of is That this doughty man of Warwick sends publick Defiances before-hand to those he intends to assault and as I have read somewhere of the Great Turk in the pride of his puissance gives solemn warning where he intends to make War 'T is unbecoming his mightiness to surprise an Enemy He therefore informs M. Evelyn and Dr. Merrett what he intends against them Camp rev which is somewhat less it seems then he could do should he give himself the trouble For he saith he could make M. Evelyn ' s account of the Birch Tree appear as ridiculous as the