1189. Order of the Garter whence began from blue Ribbons that King Richard the I. gave to his Noblemen with an Oath to be true to him when he was going his Expedition into the holy Land When King Richard was in the holy A City that was built before theFlood Land he took particular care of Joppa and put a Colony in it of Christians for that it is a City of Palestine that was built before the Flood and hath belonging to it a Haven of great convenience After this Expedition of King Richard's Whence the Title of Kings of Jerusalem into the holy Land the Kings of England for a long time were styled Kings of Jerusalem A worthy Servant Once when the King was hawking in the holy Land he was set upon by several Turks and had not escaped but that one of his Servants named William de Batrellis cryed out in the Saracen Tongue That himself was King and so to save his King let himself be taken King Richard sitting once at Dinner in His strange haste to relieve Vernoil his little Hall was advertised that King Philip had besieged Vernoil He was so moved at it that he presently caused 〈◊〉 Wallbefore him to be beat down and swore a great Oath that he would not turn his face until he were revenged Thus in haste he goes to Vernoil whither he was no sooner come but the King of France made as much haste to be gone not without some loss and more disgrace In this Time there was a Trouble at Robin Hood and little John home though not to the King yet to the Kingdom For Robin Hood accompanied with one little John and a 100 stout Fellows more molested all Passengers upon the High-way of some it is said that he was of noble Blood at least made noble no less than an Earl for some deserving Services but having wasted his Estate in riotous Courses very Penury forced him to take this course in which yet it may be said that he was honestly dishonest for he seldom hurt any Man never any Woman spared the Poor and only made prey of the Rich till the King setting forth a Proclamation to have him apprehended it hapned he fell sick at a certain Nunnery in Yorkshire called Berkleys and desiring there to be let Blood was betrayed and bled to death This King granted the City of London to Mayor and Sheriffs first of London be governed by two Sheriffs and a Mayor as now it is and to give the first of these Magistrates the Honour to be remembred The Names of the Sheriffs were Henry Cornhill and Roger Reyner and the Name of the first Lord Mayor was Henry Fitz-Alwin who continued Mayor during his Life which was 24 years Fabian only says these were Bayliffs and that there was no Mayor or Sheriffs of London till the 10th year of King John A certain Priest told King Richard that King Richard's Daughters how disposed he had three Daughters viz. Pride Covetousness and Leachery which the King taking merrily called the Company about him and said I am told by a Priest here that I have three Daughters and I desire you to be witness how I would have them bestowed My Daughter Pride upon the Templers and Hospitalers my Daughter Covetousness upon the Monks of the Cistercian Order and my Daughter Leachery upon the Clergy NOTABLE EVENTS In the Reign of King JOHN ABout this Time William King of Scots A. D. 1199. came to London to visit King John William King of Scots did Homage to King John and there did Homage to him for his Kingdom of Scotland though some say but only for the Counties of Northumberland and Cumberland King John divorced his Wife Avis for King John divorceth his Wife being akin to him in the 3d. degree and marries another This King being at variance with his Nobles they sent to Lewis the French King's Son to head them who came over and was kindly received at London This King made very hard Taxations of Barbarous Cruelty all Persons especially of the Jews amongst whom there was one that would not be ransomed till the King caused every day one of his great Teeth to be pulled out by the space of seven days and then he was content to give the King 10000 Marks of Silver not to pull the other out having but one left King John was the first that caused Sterling Sterling Money Money to be coyned In his Time the English Laws were first Laws first in Ireland planted in Ireland and he enlarged the Royal Style with the Title of Lord of Ireland This King surrendred his Crown to Pandulphus King John surrendred his Crown to the Pope the Pope's Legate to be disposed of as the Pope should think fit Pandulphus kept the Crown several days before he restored it and did not then but upon condition that he and his Successors should hold the Kingdom of the See of Rome at the annual Tribute of a 1000 Marks About this Time the Kingdom was interdicted The Kingdom interdicted by the Pope for six years in which Time there was no publick Exercise of Religion no Churches open nor no Sacrament administred The Later an Council was now held under Auricular Confession and Transubstantiation Pope Innocent the III. in which was established the Pope's Power over Princes and in Matters of Faith Auricular Confession and Transubstantiation In this King's Time the Stone-Bridge of London-Bridge finished London was finished by the Merchants By this King 35 of the most substantial Common-Council-men first in London Citizens of London were chosen out for the Common-Council of the City In this King's Time were great Thunders and Lightnings and Showers with Hail-stones as big as Eggs Fishes taken armed with Helmets and Shields like Knights but much greater in proportion In Suffolk a Fish was taken that was like a Man Simon Turvey a wonderful Scholar both A learned Man becamâ—â— an Ideot for Parts and Reading became so dull that he could scarce read it was thought a Judgment upon him for his Pride in Learning NOTABLE EVENTS In the Reign of King HENRY the Third KIng Henry the III confirmed the Charters A. D. 1216. Charters confirmed of Magna Charta and Charta de Forestis granted by King John This King keeping his Christmas at York A bountiful Feast the Marriage was solemnized between Alexander King of Scots and Margaret his Daughter to the Feast of which Solemnity it is said the Archbishop gave 600 fat Oxen which were all spent at one Meal and besides the Feast cost him 4000 Marks This King's Son Edward marrying Eleanor Prince of Wales whence first the King of Spain's eldest Daughter was invested by his Father with the Dukedom of Aquitain Ireland Wales Bristow Stamford and Grantham and from hencesorward the King 's eldest Son was immediately upon his Birth Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester This King
in his Journey to France spent Vast Expences in France 2700000 l. which was more then than ten times so much now In the 25th year of this King Aldermen Aldermen first in London were first chosen within the City of London who then had the rule of the City and of the Wards of the same and were then yearly changed as now the Sheriffs are The City of London was now allowed to present their Mayor to the Barons of the Exchequer to be sworn which before was to be presented to the King where-ever he were In this King's Time a Proclamation was Who obliged to be Knighted set forth That all such as might dispend 15 l. a year in Land should receive the Order of Knighthood and those that would not or could not should pay their Fines There was a Man now that took upon A false Christ. him to be Christ and had five Wounds made in his Body in resemblance of our Saviour's and continuing obstinate in this humour he was taken and immured between two Walls A certain Jew chancing to fall in a Privy A devout Jew on a Saturday would not that day be taken out because it was the Sabbath the Earl of Gloucester would not suffer him to be taken out the next day because it was the Christian Sabbath and on the third day he was taken out dead In this King's Reign there was sent by An Elephant first in England the King of France the first Elephant that was ever seen in England Matthew Paris relates of a Maid now in A Miracle of Nature Leicestershire that being exactly watched was found in seven years together neither to eat nor drink but only that on Sundays she received the Communion and yet continued fat and in good liking Also in this Time a Child born in the A Dwarf Isle of Wight at 18 years of Age was but three Foot high who being brought to the Queen she kept him for a Monster of Nature Richard de Clare Earl of Gloucester in a A valiant Earl Battel against Baldwin de Gisnes a valiant Flemming employed by King Henry himself alone encountred 12 of his Enemies and having his Horse slain under him he pitched one of them by the Leg out of the Saddle and leapt into it himself and continued the Fight without giving ground till his Army came to rescue him Simon Montford was a Man of so audacious The strange Audacity of Montford a Spirit that he gave King Henry the Lye to his face and in presence of all his Lords the King feared him strangely for being frighted off the Thames by Thunder and meeting Montford who bid the King not fear for the danger was past the King said No Montford I fear not the Thunder so much as thee NOTABLE EVENTS In the Reign of King EDWARD the First IN King Edward the First 's Time Leolin A. D. 1274. Leolin the last Welsh Prince being the last Prince of Welsh Blood for Rebellion was slain and his Head set upon the Tower of London This King by the Statute of Rutland in Wales and England united the 12th year of his Reign united the Government of Wales to England At this time there were ten Competitors Baliol Scots King does Fealty to K. Edward for the Scotch Crown at last King Edward determined the Business and Baliol was chosen who did Homage and swore Fealty and Allegiance to King Edward as his liege Lord. King Edward caused the fatal Chair The Coronation-Chair brought into England wherein the Kings of Scotland used to be inaugurated to be brought into England and put in Westminster-Abbey amongst the Monuments where it still remains All the Scots swore Allegiance to this The Scots swear Allegiance to King Edward King except William Walleys who of a private Gentleman came to be their Guardian Angel In his Time three Men for rescuing of a Prisoner had their right Hands cut off at their Wrists In this King's Time the Title of Baron Barons was confined to such only as were called by Writ to serve in Parliament In this King's Time there was a Rot of A Rot of Sheep Sheep which continued for 25 years together which 't was thought began by a Ship of incredible greatness brought out of Spain In his 16th year it chanced in Gascoin A wonderful Preservation that as the King and Queen sate in their Chamber upon a Bed talking together a Thunderbolt coming in at the Window behind them passed betwixt them and slew two of their Gentlemen that stood before them NOTABLE EVENTS In the Reign of King EDWARD the II. THis King going towards Scotland to A. D. 1307. King Edward beaten by the Scots raise the Siege of Striveling with an 100000 Men was defeated by the Scots who had but 30000 Men. This King being always at dissention First noble Blood shed since the Conquest with his Barons and they rebelling against him there was many of them taken and executed being the first that suffered in this manner in England since William the Conqueror This King was perswaded in his own Edward the II deposed Life-time to surrender his Crown to his Son and all Persons renounced Allegiance to him In this King's Time an Ordinance was Knights-Templers imprisoned made against Knights-Templers accused of Heresie and other Crimes and they were all apprehended and committed to divers Prisons The Bishop of Hereford being by this A Bishop rescued from the King by force King arrested for high-Treason the other Bishops came and rescued him by force In this King 's 8th year was so great a A greatDearth Dearth that Horses and Dogs were eaten and Thieves in Prison pluckt in pieces those that were newly brought in amongst them and eat them half alive which continuing three years brought in the end such a Pestilence that the living scarce sufficed to bury the dead In this King's Time lived John Mandevile Sir John Mandevile the great Traveller a Doctor of Physick and a Knight NOTABLE EVENTS In the Reign of King EDWARD the III. AT the Coronation of Edward the III. A. D. 1327. The first Coronation-Pardon a general Pardon was proclaimed which was the president and foundation of the Custom since used by all Kings that at their first coming to the Crown a general Pardon is always granted This King surrendred all his Title to Title to Scotland surrendred Scotland which his Grandfather had obtained there Edmond Earl of Kent this King's Uncle Edmond Earl of Kent beheaded being condemned for high-Treason was so generally beloved that he stood on the Scaffold from one a Clock till five before any one could be found to execute him In this King's Time the Isle of Man was Man-Island conquered conquered by William Mâ—â—ntacute Earl of Salisbury for which Service King Edward gave him the Title of King of Man 'T is said that this King
than a Cart with six Horses could draw the Oyl being boyled out of his Head was Parmacittee In her 22d year a strange Apparition A strange Apparition hapned in Somersetshire 60 Personages all cloathed in black a Furlong distance from those that beheld them then another like Number and Company appeared these encountred one another and then vanished away and again they appeared all in bright Armour and encountred one another and so vanished away This was examined before Sir George Norton and sworn by four honest Men that saw it to be true In her six and twentieth year being Another Earthquake the year 1588 in Dorsetshire a Field of three Acres in Blackmore with the Trees and Fences moved from its Place and passed over another Field travelling in the High-way that goeth to Herne and there stayed In her five and thirtieth year many A great Drought Cattel died for want of Water and the River of Thames did so fail that a Horse-man might ride over at London-Bridge EXTRAORDINARY EVENTS In the Reign of King JAMES AS King James coming first to London A. D. 1603. King James presented with 70 Teams of Horses at Godmanchester near Huntington the Bailiffs of the Town presented him with 70 Team of Horse all traced to tail new Plows At which the King wondring they said It was the ancient Custom so to do when any King of England passed through the Town and by which as being the King's Tenants they held their Land King James having now Ambassadors The first Master of the Ceremonies sent to congratulate his coming to the Crown from all Parts first erected the Place of Master of the Ceremonies allowing 200 l. a year Fee and the first that had the Place was Sir Lewis Lewkenor a Gentleman who besides other good Parts was very skilful in the neighbouring Languages In the year 1612 King James began Knights-Baronets first created the Order of Knights called Baronets because they take place next to Barons younger Sons and he appointed certain Laws to make them capable that should be admitted First That they should maintain the number of 30 Foot-Souldiers in Ireland for three years then that they should be Gentlemen of Blood of three Descents and lastly should have Land of Inheritance in poâ—â—ession or immediate reversion to the value of a 1000 l. per annum And to keep the number from swarming he confined it to 200 and as the Issue should fail the Order to cease In this King's Time Mr. Hugh Middleton Water brought to London a Goldsmith of London brought Water to the City from the two great Sâ—â—rings of Chadwel and Amwel in Hertfordshire having cut a Channel from thence to a Place neaâ—â— Islington whither he conveyed it to a large Pond and from thence in Pipes of young Elms to all Places of the City In the 17th of this King Bernard Calvert A wonderful Journey of Andover rode from St. Georges-Church in Southwark to Dâ—â—ver from thence passed by Barge to Callice in France and from thence returned back to St. Georges-Church the same day setting out about Three in the morning and returned about Eight at night frâ—â—sh and lusty This King set forth a Proclamation restraining Penalties for Deer-killers all Persons under great Penalties for killing of Deer or any kind of Fowl used for Hawking In a Parliament holden the third year The Oath of Allegiance of his Reign the Oath of Allegiance was devised and ordained and soon after ministred to all sorts of People By this King 's Appointment a strict Duels restrained Decree passed in the Star-Chamber against Duels or single Combats and a strict Law against Stabbing This King added one Judge to every Five Judges in every Court Court which made them five and increased the number of Gentlemen-Pensioners to 200. In his first year in London there died in A Plague one Week 3090 Persons In the year 1613 on the 17th of April A monstrous Child in the Parish of Standish in Lancashire a Maiden Child was born having four Legs four Arms two Bellies joyned to one Back one Head with two Faces the one before the other behind like the Picture of Janus This year also in the Parish of Christs-Church A Man and Child burnt to death by Lightning in Hampshire John Hitton lying in Bed with his Wife and a young Child by them was himself and Child burnt to death with Lightning no Fire appearing on them though they continued burning three days till they were consumed to ashes EXTRAORDINARY EVENTS In the Reign of King CHARLES the I. THE first year of King Charles's Reign A. D. 1625. A Term at Reading the Term because of the Plague in London was kept at Reading and special Instructions were given to the Judges to put the Laws in execution against Recusants About the Month of July 1629 there A Fray in Fleerstreet hapned a great Fray in Fleetstreet upon the rescue of Captain Bellingam which was attempted by some Students of the Temple wherein some were hurt and carried to Prison This drew together about 500 Gentlemen who beat the Sheriffs Officers and released their Friends then the Lord Mayor and Trained-Bands coming the Trained-Bands fired only with Powder at this the Gentlemen having Pistols engaged very fiercely in earnest and killed five of the Trained-Bands but were by number at last overcome and Ashurst and Stamford two of their Captains taken who were afterwards for the Murther executed at Tyburn Leighton a Scotch-man for writing a seditious A strange Punishment Book called Ziâ—â—ns Plea was sentenced in the Star-Chamber to be whipt and stigmatized to have his Ears cropt and Nose slit which Sentence was soon after inflicted upon him About the year 1630 Sir Giles Allington Sir Giles Allington marries his Neece married his Neece for which in a Court consisting of eight Bishops and four other Commissioners he was sentenced to be fined to the King 12000 l. to stand obliged in the Penalty of 20000 l. never to co-habit or come near his Neece more and to be committed to Prison or put in sufficient Bail till both he and his Neece shall have done Penance at Pauls-Cross and at Great St. Mariâ—â—s at Cambridge at a day appointed by the Court The Judges offering to proceed in this Business received a Check from the King In the 7th year of this King May the A Star seen at Noon at the Birth of King Charles the II. 29th a Star appeared visibly at Noon the Sun shining clear at which Time the King rode to St. Pauls Church to give thanks for the Queens safe delivery of her 2d Son Prince Charles In his 16th year the Earl of Haddington A sad Accident in Scotland having recovered some Pieces of Ordnance which the Garrison of Berwick had seized at Dunce returned back to Dowglass where sitting merry at Dinner with about 20 Knights and Gentlemen on a sudden
the Magazin of Powder that lay in a vaulted Room took Fire by Accident whereby the Earl and his Company were blown up The same year a Pond in Cambridge became A Pond of Blood red as Blood the Water whereof being taken up in Basons retained still the same Colour Many Sights were seen in Armies in the Air. the Air as Armies fighting one against another which were looked upon as sad Presages of the future Wars In the 14th year of his Reign at Whitecomb A wonderful Lightning at Whitecomb in the County of Devon a Ball of Fire was seen to come into the Church in the time of Divine Service whereby three Persons were killed and 62 hurt divers of whom had the linings of their Cloaths burnt though their outward Garments were not so much as singed and most of the Seats were turned upside down and the Pillars Steeple and Church more endamaged than the expence of 300 l. could repair On Tuesday the 30th of January 1648 King Charles murthered was perpetrated that horrid and damnable Murther of the most Gracious of Kings Charles the I. an Act so wicked and diabolical so unjust and cruel that possibly the whole World since the Creation cannot produce its Parallel The most wonderful Remark of Courage The wonderful Resolution of the Countess of Derby in the Troubles of this King was shewed by the Noble Earl of Derby and his Renowned Lady which Lady by her admirable Courage and Magnanimity maintained her House of Latham for the King against the Parliaments Forces who besieged it from Feb. 28. 1644 till the 27th of May following when the Siege was raised by Prince Rupert EXTRAORDINARY EVENTS In the first 13 Years of the Reign of King CHARLES the Second ANno 1652. This year died the Lady A. D. 1648. The Lady Eleanor Davis Eleanor Davis Wife to Sir John Davis the King 's first Serjeant at Law in England who was a Lady that has the greatest Character for Piety Vertue Wit and Prudence that I ever read and her Predictions most wonderful Of the death of the Duke of Buckingham long before In the most flourishing condition of the Nation she foretold its unparallel'd Troubles and in the depth of those Troubles she foretold that happy Restauration to Peace and Settlement which we at this day through the mercy of God enjoy under our most Gracious Sovereign and in every one she long before prefixed the Time of their Accomplishment Anno 1656. It was related by the young Rain of Fire from Heaven Marquess Francisco de Lopez who with his Brother and Sisters was brought up to London being lately come from Peru that the Cities of Luma and Calao in Peru were destroyed by an Earthquake and Fire raining from Heaven in which Ruine perished 11000 Spaniards and about 100 Indians As for the other Events occurring in the late King 's and this happy Monarch's Reign I shall omit them here being so extraordinary and innumerable that they cannot be comprized but in large Volumes of which upon that occasion we have many extant SHORT COLLECTIONS OF Life and Death Nature durable and not durable MEtals at last decay by Rust only Gold excepted Quicksilver decays only by Fire Stones at last decay by a kind of Nitre Precious stones and Crystals grow less orient by age Metals 'T is observ'd that Stones lying towards the North decay sooner than towards the South but Iron the contrary as may be Stones seen in all Buildings Glass and Bricks having passed the fire last very long Gums Wax and Honey last very long Note that these continue longest being always wet or always dry Colder Herbs die yearly both in Root and Stalk but hot Herbs bear their age better The Vine and Rosemary attain to 60 Herbs and Fruit-trees years White Thorn and Ivy above 100. The Oak and Elm do commonly come to 800 years Most Fruit-trees attain to about 60 years but the sowrer the Fruit the longer-lived is the Tree All sorts of Fruits and Flowers might be long kept in earthen Vessels close stopt and much longer if the Vessels whether earthen or glass be sunk in the Water or buried in the Earth Fruits closed in Wax or any the like Case keep green very long Length and shortness of Life in Living Creatures THE Elephant grows till 30 and lives Elephant commonly till 200 years The Camel sometimes attains to 100 Camel years The Dog or Fox seldom reach 20 years Dog The Sow lives 15 years the Cat about 8. Sow Vultures Vultures live to near 100 years as also all Birds that eat Flesh and Prey live long The Swan and Goose commonly reach Birds 100 years The Parrot also lives long Ring-doves reach 20 years but Doves or Turtles not above 8. Of Fishes the Dolphin is said to live 30 years Lampreys were found in Caesar's Fish-ponds Fishes to live 60 years The Pike longest liver of fresh Fish reaches 40. Carp Bream Tench and Eel reach 10 years Crocodiles grow as long as they live and Crocodile are very long-liv'd It is generally observed that there are Birds and Beasts more Birds long-liv'd than Beasts though most come to their full growth in a year The Reason is thought to be because they partake more of the substance of the Mother than of the Father and so are not so hot and also their mixt and easie motion is a great help Upon this account it is noted that those What men live longest Men who more resemble the Mother than Father live longest as most participating of her substance and thereby the cooler Feeders on Grass are shorter-liv'd than those that feed on Flesh Seeds or Fruits Good Cloathing helps much to long Life Tame Animals by degenerating are Tame Animals much shorter-liv'd Of Nourishment The Slip of any Tree grafted on a Stock comes on most kindly To make an Onion very large place To make Fruit large the Seed in another Onion under ground Length of Life in Man Before the Flood Men lived many hundred When men lived long years though none reacht 1000 and 't is observed that those of the holy Line did not live so long as the Line of Cain there being of these but 8 Generations and of the other 11 Generations before the Flood But soon after the Flood Man shorter-liv'd Man was brought down to a 4th part of his primitive Age. Here the Lord Bacon numbers up many long livers since the Flood and here also he observes that though Virgil divined and men are wholly Of man's Decay carried away with an opinion that there is a continual decay by succession of Ages as well in the term of man's Life as in the stature and strength of his Body yet within these last 3000 years a time whereof we have sure memory there hath been no sensible alteration It is also observed that in cold Countries Where men live longest
Food or drink Wine or strong Drink immoderately or fast much or be given to much musing all which draw Vapours to the Head it endangereth the Child to become Lunatick or of imperfect Memory And I make the same Judgement of Tobacco often taken by the Mother It is reported That the Heart of any 978. Of helping Courage and Ingenuity bold Animal worn near the Heart comforteth the Heart and increaseth Audacity As also the Heart of any witty Beast worn near the Head helpeth the Wit of which Beasts the chief are The Ape Fox Lion and the Cock with several others Take a piece of Lard with the Skin on 997. Exper. How infallibly to take away Warts and rub the Warts all over with the Fat-side then nail the piece of Lard any where with the Fat towards the Sun full South and they will certainly wear away in a short time AN EPITOME OF VULGAR ERRORS CHAP. I. Of the Causes of Common Errors THE first and Father-cause of Common Error is the common Infirmity of humane Nature which may well be excused in us by the depravity of those Parts whose Traductions were pure in our first Parents who committed the first and greatest Error Yea his Error is so much the greater in that he is supposed by some to have been the wisest Man that ever was and as others have conceived he was not ignorant of the Fall of the Angels and had thereby Example and Punishment to deter him But Man was not only deceivable in his Integrity but the Angels of Light in all their Clarity He that said he would be like the Highest did err if in some way he conceived himself so already whereby vainly attempting not only Insolencies but Impossibilities he deceived himself as low as Hell In brief there is nothing infallible but God who cannot possibly err CHAP. II. A further Illustration of the same BEing thus deluded before the Fall it is no wonder if their Conceptions were deceitful and could scarce speak without an Error after For what is very remarkable and what few have as yet observed in the Relations of Scripture before the Flood there is but one Speech delivered by Man wherein there is not an erroneous Conception the Pen of Moses having recorded but six The first that of Adam when upon the Expostulation of God he replied I heard thy Voice in the Garden and because I was naked I hid my self In which Reply there is a capital Error in infringing the Omnisciency and essential Ubiquity of his Maker who as he created all things so is he beyond and in them all The second is that Speech of Adam unto God The Woman whom thou gavest me to be with me she gave me of the Tree and I did eat Wherein there is involved a very impious Error in accusing his Maker of his Transgression as if he had said If thou hadst not given me a Woman I had not been deceived The third was that of Eve The Serpent beguiled me and I did eat In which Reply there is an erroneous translating her Offence upon another to excuse the Fact much more upon the suggestion of a Beast which was before in the strictest terms prohibited by her God The fourth was that Speech of Cain upon the demand of God Where is thy Brother and he said I know not In which Negation beside the open Impudence there was implied a notable Error for returning a Lye unto his Maker and denying the Omnisciency of God The Answer of Satan in the case of Job had more of Truth Wisdom and Reverence than this Whence comest thou Satan and he said From compassâ—â—g the Earth The fifth is another Reply of Cain upon the denouncement of his Curse My Iniqiry is greater than can be forgiven The Assertion was not only desperate but the Conceit erroneous overthrowing that glorious Attribute of God his Mercy and conceiving the sin of Murder impardonable The last Speech was that of Lamech I have slain a man to my wounding and a young man to my hurt If Cain he avenged seven-fold truly Lamech seventy and seven-fold Now herein there seems to be a very erroneous Illation concluding a regular Protection from a single example he despaired of God's mercy in the same Fact where this presumed it though the sin was less the error was as great Thus may we perceive how weakly our Fathers did err before the Flood how continually and upon common discourse they fell upon Errors after it is therefore no wonder we have been erroneous ever since CHAP. III. Of the second Cause of popular Errors the erroneous disposition of the People HAving thus declared the infallible Nature of Man even from his first Production we have beheld the general Cause of Error But as for popular Errors they are more nearly founded upon an erroneous Inclination of the People the sensitive quality most prevailing upon vulgar Capacities Thus they conceive the Earth to be far bigger than the Sun the fixed Stars lesser than the Moon their Figures plain and their Spaces from the Earth equi-distant for thus their Sense informeth them And their individual Imperfections being great they are moreover enlarged by their Aggregation and being erroneous in their single Numbers once hudled together they will be Error it self By this means Thudas an Impostor was able to lead away 4000 in the Wilderness and the Delusions of Mahomet almost a fourth part of Mankind Now how far they may be kept in Ignorance there is a great example in the People of Rome who never knew the true and proper Name of their own City for beside that common Appellation received by the Citizens it had a proper and secret Name concealed from them lest the Name thereof being discovered unto their Enemies their Penates and patronal Gods might be called forth by Charms and Incantations For according to the Tradition of Magicians the tutelary Spirits will not remove at common Appellations but at the proper Names of things whereunto they are Protectors CHAP. IV. Of the nearer and more immediate Causes of popular Errors both in wiser and common sort Misapprehension Fallacy or false Deduction Credulity Supinity Adherence unto Antiquity Tradition and Authority THE first is a Mistake or a Mis-conception of things either in their first Apprehensions or secondary Relations So Eve mistook the Commandment either from the immediate Injunction of God or the secondary Relation of her Husband Thus began the Conceit of Centaurs in the mistake of first Beholders as is declared by Servius When some young Thessalians on Horse-back were beheld afar off while their Horses watered they were conceived by the first Spectators to be but one Animal and answerable hereunto have their Pictures been drawn ever since Next there is the Fallacy of Equivocation and Amphibology which conclude from the ambiguity of one Word or the ambiguous Syntaxis of many put together By this way many Errors crept in and perverted the Doctrine of Pythagoras whilst men received his