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^V>{8! 
 
 T hî: 
 
 JEWISH SPY: 
 
 BEING A 
 
 Philosophical, Historical and 
 Critical Correjpondence^ 
 
 By letters 
 
 Which lately pafs*d between certain JEIVS 
 
 in Turkey^ Ital)\ France^ Spain^ (^c, 
 
 Tranflated from the Originals into French^ 
 
 By^the Ma r (^u i s D'A R G E N S ; 
 
 And 7J0W done into Englifh. 
 
 VOL. IV. 
 
 L O N D O N: 
 
 Printed for D.Browne, at the B/a:i S^van v.lxh^ 
 cut Te^^ple-Bari and R. Hett, at x\\^. BibU 'Àa4 
 Croi.t:n in the Poultry. 
 
 M. DCC. XL. 
 
D ED I CATION, v 
 
 tice refafe the Lettres "Juives that gencrou'^ 
 Affiftance which I earncflly implore lor 
 them; and in the jufl: Confidence I have 
 of obtaining from you this Favour, I ic- 
 main with the profoundell Refped^ 
 
 LsCOMI'ARABrE KniGUT, 
 
 7\ur moft Hunùle^ and mojl 
 
 Obedient Sirvant, 
 
 M. D. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 JUST as ï haft finifîied this fourth Vo- 
 lume, I received from Amfierdam the 
 twenty-third Tome of the Bibliothèque 
 Francoife\ in which I found a Letter, wherein, 
 under colour of fetting forth the State of the 
 Sciences in Spain^ there is a warm Declamation 
 againft a certain Work, riot mention'd indeed, 
 but fo plainly defcrib'd, that one may eafily fee 
 it means the Jewijh Letters. 
 
 I refolved at firft to make no anfwer to this 
 Critique, the Author of which pafTes in the 
 Eye of the World, as well as in the Repub- 
 lick of Letters, for a kind of Madman, and 
 a perfeél Copy of the famous Don Quixote, 
 In reality, 'ds well known, he is as romanti- 
 cally fond of the Spaniffo Nation as the Hero 
 of La Mancha w\'is of his incomparable Dul- 
 cinea. I did not therefore look upon myfelf 
 as obliged to take notice of the Objections of 
 fuch a Perfon \ and I fhould liave held m.y firft 
 Refolution if I had not afterwards refledied, 
 that this impertinent Letter being inferred in 
 a Journal, wherein we fom.etimes mxet v/ith 
 ufeful and curious Pieces, many Readers might 
 be perfuaded the Criticifm came from the Jour- 
 nalifts themfelves. I will therefore juft point 
 
 out 
 
TO THEJl >i i 
 
 Valiant and Magnanimous 
 
 Don QUIXOTE 
 
 De la Mancha, 
 
 Invincible Knight of the LIONS, 
 
 ^c. &c. ^c. 
 
 ILluftrlous Hero of CervanfeSy not 
 to be parallell'd for the Deftruc- 
 ^^ tion of Sheep and Puppets, cou- 
 ragious and intrepid Aflailant of 
 Wind-Mills and FuUing-Mills, perpetual 
 Terror of the Catchpoles of the Holy Bro- 
 therhood ^, &c. (s'c, permit me to put 
 under your powerful Protection this Fourth 
 
 * La Santa Hermando.d^ as it is called in the Origi- 
 nal, is a Brotherhood of long Handing in ^/(^/«j where 
 it was firll inilituted in a Time of very great Confufion, 
 to fupprefs Robbers: by which means 'tis fafe travelling 
 in this Country, the Fraternity being fpread all over the 
 Kingdom. 1 heir Beadles or Serjeants to apprehend fuch 
 Offenders are called Jlgnazih. 
 
 A 2 Volume 
 
iv' DEDICATION. 
 
 Volume of the Lettres Juhes. A certain 
 crack-brain'd Knight, to the full as mad 
 and as extravagant as yourfelf, hath refolv'd 
 upon their Ruin, and vovv'd their Deftruc- 
 tion. In vain does the Public think to 
 'fave them from his Fury. He offers bat- 
 tle to the whole Univerfe, and boafts that 
 he will reduce them to atoms, maugre the 
 Protedion of all Enchanters. In this ex- 
 treme Diflrefs permit me to fly to you for 
 Succour; come, O wroDg-hended Knight, 
 oppofe Folly to Folly: humble your Rival, 
 the infolent Knight of Iberia, and after 
 laying him flat on the Ground, compel 
 him to confefs that he has no Title to the 
 Privilege of being h extravagant as you. 
 Coiifidering how long he has pretended to 
 vye with you for the Scepter or Bawble of 
 Momus^ your Jealoufy might juftly be in- 
 tlarn d at his Impertinence and Folly; yet 
 you ftill fufter him to enjoy his Reputation 
 in Peace. But confider that Glory calls 
 you forth to Battle, and that even your 
 Profeffion demands you fhould exert your 
 ielf. You are bound by the Laws of 
 Knight-Errantry to redrefs Grievances, to 
 Lcomfort the Afflicled, and to proted: the 
 OpprelTed. You cannot therefore in Juf- 
 
 tice 
 
PREFACE. vii 
 
 out a few of the many Blunders in that ridi- 
 culous Piece. 
 
 This Knight of Iberia undertakes at once 
 the Defence of all the Authors who have been 
 criticized in the Jewijh Letters. He ougl;t 
 to be pardon'd for relenting the Affront put 
 upon them, becaufe a good part of it falls to 
 his own Share ; and he appeals to the PabJick 
 againft the Injuilice which he imagines to have 
 been done to him. He treats as Blockheads^ 
 fays he, Men of Learnings who have put it in 
 the power of the Puhlick to judge of their E- 
 rudition. To this I anfwer, that there can be 
 nothing fo falfe ; and I defy him to name an 
 Author, worthy of Efteem, whom I have not 
 commended. Des Cartes., Gafendi, Bernier, 
 M^ll^branchey Bayle^ Locke^ s^Gravefande., Vi- 
 triarius., Boerhaave^ De Thou^ Daniel, Pafcal^ 
 Sirmond, Petau^Lamy: inihort, all the Learn- 
 ed, of whatever Country, whatfoever Condi- 
 tion, or whatever Religion they are of, Ca- 
 tholics or Proteftants, Jefuits or Janfenifts, 
 they were all one to me. Wherever I difco- 
 ver*d Merit, I have not fcrupled to own it. I 
 have been equally juft to the Authors of Works 
 relating to Poetry and Romances: I have com- 
 mended Corfieille, Racine., Milton., Pope., Pe- 
 trarch., Tajfo, Guarini, Don Lopez de Fega, 
 Cervantes., Cre billon., Voltaire., Rouffeau, It 
 is true, that even at the time I allow'd the lafb 
 to have Wit, I denied him fomewhat ^\{^^ 
 A4., which 
 
viii PREFACE. ' 
 
 wlîich I thought I both might and ought to 
 do, fince it was taken from him by a Iblemn 
 Arret of the firfl Padiament of France. Thofe 
 J have mentioned are all good Authors ; and 
 for their Works I fhall ever have the highefl 
 Eileem. Where then are the Writers 1 have 
 treated as Blockheads! ivho had neverthelefs 
 given the Ptihlick an opportunity of judging of 
 their Erudition? I fancy the Critick had a 
 inind to point out himfeif But how entred 
 it into his Brain that his copying three Pages 
 from Moreri^s Didlionary, and three more from 
 the Diclionary of Corneille^ and connecting 
 tiiem with Scraps from other Booksy and with 
 his Pillage from Baudrand., whofe Diclionary 
 he has almoft robb'd of every Word; how 
 could he think, I fay, that this would give 
 ^lim the Title and Character of a Man of 
 Learning ? I proceed to other Complaints : 
 
 // is afionifhing^ fays this Critick, that a 
 Terfon of Birth^ Education^ Wit^ Fortune^ 
 end honourable Em-ployments^ fhould quit all^ 
 and take up the mean Employment of an Author, 
 Thefe Praifes beftow'd upon me are only Gar- 
 lands to aclorn tlie Vi6tim. ; and I am railed to 
 this height purely to be tumbled down from 
 it. B;:fore I leave this Article I mull and will 
 fay it, that tho' it v/ere tiur, that Fortune had 
 placed me in a fplendicl Condition, there is 
 nothing fhameful in my cviitting it, in order 
 to abandon mvfclf ciuircly lo Phiiofophy, and 
 
 to 
 
PRE FACE. ix 
 
 to enjoy that fweet Satisfadion which refults 
 from the Cultivation of the Sciences. "Were 
 the Works of i^^<:i?^/^//^^/^/, Montaigne^ Mal- 
 herbe^ Racan^ or Buffi Rahutin ever objecled 
 to them as a Crime? The famous Cardinal 
 Richelieu was as zealous for having the Re- 
 putation of an Author as he was for the De- 
 llrudion of Spain. This Critick, no doubt, 
 defpifes the Cardinal, and thinks him much to 
 blame. But to proceed to his Reproaches. 
 
 He ranges me in the Clafs of thofe Liber- 
 tine Writers who fet Pen to Paper for no o- 
 ther end but to run dov/n Religion, Virtue, 
 Knowledge, and Merit* As to Virtue and 
 Religion, I have in the Prefaces to the firll 
 and fécond Volumes of this Work made it 
 clearly enough appear, that none but a perfed 
 Slanderer could be guilty of fuch Language : 
 And - as to the fmall Refpe6l he fays I have 
 fhewn towards the truly Learned, I have juft 
 explained my felf on that head. If, indeed, 
 the Critick is really a learned Man, then \ 
 own I have done wrong to condemn his 
 Works i but this is a Point which I leave to 
 tiie Decificn of the Publick. 
 
 As this Cenfurer hath not thought proper 
 to enter into any Detail, but only runs out into 
 general Invedives againil me, .while he com- 
 mends exceflively a number of miferable Au- 
 thors, it's impoffible I fhould anfwer him as to 
 tiie Fauits he may find in this Book. B<:fore 
 As 1 
 
K PREFACE. 
 
 I conclude this Preface, therefore, I will exa* 
 mine fome of the Praife of which he has been 
 fo lavifh on the Spanijh \Vriters-, and I fhall 
 evidently demonftrate, that they are a hundred 
 times more hurt by his Compliments than they 
 could have been by the moil abufive Criticifm. 
 One may well apply to himi, in this Cafe, the 
 fine Paffage in Tacitm: Peffimum Inimicorum 
 Genus Laudantes. 
 
 Our Critick begins by eilablifhing the 
 Goodnefs, Beauty, and Deli(!acy of the Spa- 
 nifi) Genius on xkit Works of St. 'Terefa^ Lewis 
 of Granada^ and the Reverend Father Rodri- 
 guez-, and he even proceeds to infult me by 
 queilioning whether I know thofe Books : I 
 dare fay, they are as well known to me as to 
 him, tho* I value them much lefs; efpecially 
 Rodriguez^ of whofe writing I have read fome 
 very bad Books, very meanly tranflated, and 
 fo generally contemn'd, that Molière was not 
 afraid ,tp -^ridicule them in one of his Pieces» 
 I am aftonifh'd the Cridck did not know diis 
 Line: 
 
 She read Rodriguez, and us'd mental Prayer, 
 
 Perhaps 'twas a wilful Forgetfulnefs , for ^ to 
 I'heatrical Matters, they are to be iure within 
 the Sphere of his Knowledge. 
 
 I come next to the Dramatick Poets, whom 
 this Critick has commended in a manner fo 
 ridiculous, that if he had intended it, he could 
 
 not 
 3 
 
PREFACE. xi 
 
 not have fatiriz'd them more feverely. Thefe 
 are his own Words: ^e Spanifh Dramatick 
 Authors have been long the Magazines whe7ice 
 cur Authors have fupplied themfelves. Scarron 
 / and Montfleuri are Infiances, Can any thing 
 be faid fo much to the Difgrace of the Spanijh 
 Poets as to make therrt the Inventors of the 
 vileft Farces, and to give them for Difciples 
 and Imitators the worft and mod defpicabic 
 of our Writers ? What Notion fliouid we have 
 of certain Poets if we were told that Pradon 
 form'd his Tafte by perufing their Books ? 
 fhould we not have reafon to regard them 
 as the very Sink of the Republick of Letters?. 
 It mull be confefs'd the Cri tick has but bad 
 Talents for commending. Defend me. Hea- 
 ven, from fuch a Panegyrifl! I even prefer 
 his Hatred to his Friendfnip. In order to 
 fhew him the Difference between the Praifes 
 I have beilow'd on fome valuable Spanijh 
 Writers and the fad fbuff he writes about 
 them, I ihall here report what I have faid of 
 Don Lopez de V£ga in my 1 1 8th Letter : That 
 Author hath written Comedies fo excellent^ that 
 the great Corneille affures us^ that he would 
 have given two of his beji 7'ragedies to have 
 been the Inventor of the Lyar. Thou knoweft 
 it was upon the Plan of this Spanifh Play the 
 French Poet compofed his, I leave it now to 
 be decided, whether the Cridc or I aim'd 
 to affront the Spatiijh Nadon» But I fhall be 
 
 ftiU 
 
xii PREFACE. 
 
 ftill in a better way to obtain a favourable 
 Verdicl, when the Reader fees the Parallel 
 of what we have both faid of the Spanijk 
 Hiflorians. . 
 
 The Critic contents himfelf with mention^- 
 ing 'The Hiftory of Arragon hy Zurk^y and 
 The General Hiftory of Spain hy Mariana. By 
 an unaccoun table llroke of Folly, of two Au- 
 tliors mention'd by him, there is one who 
 ought to be abhori'd by all good Men: not 
 but that the Hiftory of Mariana is a good 
 Book; but he compofed another *, which the 
 Parliament of Paris condemn'd to uvt FlameSj 
 and which tlie Jefuits themfelves have difa- 
 vow'd. In this Work "he has infmuated, that 
 it is not only lawful, but laudable to put to 
 death an heretical or a tyrannical King: He 
 p"aifes, even to excefs, the execrable Monk 
 who murdei'd Heyiry the Third, and is not 
 afham'd to call him the Honour and Glory 
 of France. It muft be acknowledge, that 
 fince tlie Critic refolv'd to quote but two 
 Authors, he ought to have avoided making 
 Mariana one of them, or ûît he fliould have 
 follow 'd my Example, and mention'd feveral 
 others at the fame time. I fhali tranfcribe 
 from my ii8th Letter the Names of fome, 
 in the order they are therein commended: 
 Antonio de Solis^ Sandoval^ Antonio de Herre^ 
 r^5 Don Bartholomszv de las Cafas, Nor have 
 
 * De Rege ^ Regis Uptutionc. 
 
PREFACE. xiii 
 
 I forgot to praife fuch Poets and Romance Wri- 
 ters as are worthy the Eileem of Readers of 
 Judgment: As Michael de Cervantes^ Matthe'W 
 Alcman^ Don Alonzo de Hercilla^ John Rufo^ 
 Chriftopher de Virves^ 3zc. It may eafily be 
 determin'd from the number of thofe Authors, 
 whether it was my Defign to fink the Repu- 
 tation of one Nation, in order to raife that of 
 another. It is tme,, I did maintain, and do 
 ftxlî, that the Spaniards have not one Philofo- 
 plier amongft them -, and that none they can 
 have by reafon of the Inquifition. And is not 
 this a Truth of v/hich the whole World is 
 convinced? The Critic indeed will not al- 
 low it. Like a magnanimous and unconque- 
 rable Knight he is determin'd to Hand to his 
 Opinion right or wrong : An exa6l and wor- 
 thy Copy of the Hero of Cervantes, with 
 whom there is no living on good Terms, if 
 one does not purely and fimply confefs, that 
 the very faults of his charming Dulcinea are 
 fuperior to the Virtues of the greateft Prin- 
 ceiTes. 
 
 In order to give the greater weight to his 
 Opinion, the Critic calls iii the Authority of 
 Father Rapin, v^^ho^ in his Reflexions on Phi- 
 lofophy, fays the Spaniards excel in Metaphy- 
 ficks. But that Author'^ Blander is no cxcufe 
 at all for the Critic's: For example, the Com- 
 mendadon given by this J'^ÇvÀt to the Phyfics 
 and Logic of Ariftotk is fùfnaent to Ihew 
 
 w^hether 
 
xiv PREFACE. 
 
 whether his Opinion ought to be look'd on 
 as decifive in matters of Philofophy *. ^here 
 appeared iiothing^ fays he, that was fix'd and 
 regular^ either in Logic or true Philofophy^ 
 before Ariflotle. ms Genius^ fo very rational 
 and intelligent^ entered fo deep into the Ahyfs 
 of human U7idirfianding^ that he penetrated 
 to its mofi fecret Receffes^ by the accurate Bif- 
 ttnBions he made as to its Operations. ■ Before 
 him they had never founded this vajl Ocean of 
 the human "Thoughts in order to judge of its 
 Depth. Ariilotle was the firfi who difcovefd 
 this 7iew way^ in order to attain to Science by 
 the Evidence of Demonftration^ and to proceed 
 to Demonjlration geometrically by the Mode of 
 SyUogifm^ the mofi accomplifh*d Work., the 
 greatefi Effort of the human Mind. To Ihew 
 the Impertinence and Ridicule of this Elo- 
 gium, and alfo what fort of Books thofe are 
 which pafled with Father Rapin for Mafter- 
 Pieces in Philofophy, I Ihall only cite a Paf- 
 fage from Des Cartes., another from Malle- 
 branche., and a tliird from Locke. Whoever 
 would be more fully convinced of the Non- 
 fenfe of the Writings of this Grecian Sage 
 need only confult the illuftrious Gaffendi in his 
 E^ercitationes Paradoxicœ adverfus Arijioteli- 
 cos. 
 
 * Rapin, Rtfwxîons fur la Logique, Num. iv. p. 373, 
 374- 
 
PREFACE, xv'ii 
 
 Spanifh Minifiry, but the Storms to which all 
 Courts are liable^ have reyncved them from 
 their Places. I'he Man that is moft cried up 
 'here is Cardinal Aiberoni : not only the Stran- 
 gers^ who are here in great numbers^ but alfo 
 Tnany Spaniards do juftice to that able Mini- 
 fier. . . . Since the Accejfion of Philip V. 
 Spain hath overcome half the Evils which were 
 brought upon her by fuch as were intrufted 
 with the Adrniniftration of Affairs under Phi- 
 lip IV. and Charles II. Her 'Troops are nume- 
 rous^ brave^ and well dtfciplin'd. There* s a 
 fourth Part more People in the Country than 
 there was, by means of the great numbers of 
 French and Flemings who are fettled there % 
 and this Crown, which for one while was per^ 
 fe5îly defpifed, makes as good a figure now, as 
 it did formerly, 
 
 I think I have now faid enough to fhew the 
 Folly, the Ignorance, and Knavery of this 
 pretended Iberian Knight; for I fhall not re- 
 ply to his Inve6lives, and to thofe grofs Re^ 
 flctlions which he has thrown out againfl me 
 in the clofe of his Epiflle. God forbid that 
 I flioLild ever introduce the Language of Fifh- 
 ftalls upon Parnafj'us: It is the Mind alone, 
 and not the Body, which is a Member of the 
 Republick of Letters. Were it not for this, 
 how often Ihould we be confounded to know 
 in what Rank fome People ought to be placed ? 
 
 Where, 
 
xviii PREFACE. 
 
 Where, for Example, fhould we beftow a 
 Man, who, after being in iiis Youth a Rope- 
 Dancer, a Tumbler, a Player, in his Old-age 
 married two Dreffers of the Adreiîes one af- 
 ter another, and laft of all, a Turky-Driver 
 that was reduced to ferve in an Alehoufe ; and, 
 which is ftill meaner, to be his own Servant? 
 Sure I am, that the Critic muft allow if this 
 individual P erf on was a Member of the Re- 
 publick of Letters, it would be very difficult 
 to find fuch an Original a proper Station. 
 
 Before I conclude this Preface, I fhall fay 
 a word or two of fome Tranflations m.ade of 
 the Jewijh Letters: I am told there h di Dutch 
 Tranflation which will quickly appear, the 
 MS. being actually in the Hands of a Book- 
 feller *. I have not feen it; and if I fhould 
 fee it, I am no judge of it, fmce I underfland 
 not the Language : But one, who is a Mailer 
 of it, fays, that it is extremely well done, 
 which is all I know of the matter, having not 
 the leaft: Acquaintance with its Author. I am 
 inform'd alfo from Germany^ that the two firfl 
 Volumes of the Lettres Juives are tranilated 
 into High Dutch, 
 
 But 
 
 * 'Tis jufl now printed at the Hague, and dedicated 
 to me: I am very glad of this Opportunity of expreifing 
 my Gratitude for this piece of Civility, and the jull 
 Senfe I have of the Honour done me, in communicating 
 my Letters to a Nation for whom I have an infinite 
 Eitcem. 
 
PREFACE. XV 
 
 ■ I begin with tranfcribing the Opinion of 
 Mallebra'fjche * ; Ariftotle feldom reafon^d on 
 any other than the confufed Ideas we recerce 
 by the Senfes^ and other vague^ general^ . ayid 
 indeterminate Notions^ which conveyed nothi7ig 
 particular to the Underftanding. The 'Terms 
 made ufe of commonly by this Philofopher ferved 
 only to exprefs confiifedly to the Senfes and the 
 Imagination^ the indifcriminate Notions he had 
 of fenfihle Things^ or elfe were contrived to 
 make up fo loofe and indeterminate a Difcourfs 
 as exprejjed nothing diflin5lly. 
 
 Let me next- introdiice Des Cartes -i,-: The 
 Logic of the Schools is properly fpeaking no- 
 thing more than a Dialeàic \ which teaches US' 
 a Method of imparting to others what we know, 
 or even of putting a Parcel of Words together 
 without Judgment upon Things we know not,, 
 ccnfequently it corrupts Good Senfe rather than 
 augments it. 
 
 I clofe my Confutation of Father Rapin 
 with a Paflage from Mr. Locke \\ : We recifon, 
 fays he, much better, and with more Perfpi- 
 cuity when we obferve only the Connexion of 
 Proofs^ without methodizing our Thoughts^ or 
 forming them into Syllogifms. . . . God 
 hath not been fo fparing of his Favours to 
 
 Mankindy 
 
 * Mallebranche, "Recherche^ as la Vérité, Liv.v. cap. ii. 
 P.38S. 
 
 f D€s Cartes, Principes de Va Phîlofophie, Preface. 
 }j Effay on Human Underftanding, Bookiv. ch.xvii. 
 
xvi PREFACE. 
 
 Mankind^ as only to make us two-legged Crea- 
 tures^ and leave to Ariftotle the Care of ma- 
 king us reafonable Beings, 
 % Oiie fees by diis how little the Authority of 
 Father Rapin is to be rehed upon, efpecialiy 
 in refpeét to Philoibphers; and in as much as 
 he is profufe in his Prailes of Ariftotle^ one 
 need not be very much furprifed at the Praife 
 he befhows on the Spa-nifo Metaphyficians. It 
 is but a natural Confequence of his way of 
 tiiinking, all thofe Metaphyficians being zea- 
 lous Follov/ers of Ariftotk. But to fhew ei- 
 tlid* the Ignorance or Knavery of our Critick, 
 if there be fo many excellent Philofophers and 
 Metaphyficians in Spain^ why did he not name 
 fome of them ? This he could not polTibly do, 
 or at leaft not without making himfelf ftill 
 more ridiculous tlian he juftly was before. 
 
 To finifh the Anfwçr I have condefcended 
 to give to his Objedlions, I will endeavour to 
 confute his AfTertion, that I affed to decry 
 the Spanijh Nation. It is true that I faid, and 
 do fay it again, that they are proud, haughty, 
 lazy, fuperftitious, and excelTively fubmifTive 
 to the Monks. But tho' I thus expofed their 
 Faults, as I have done thofe of other Nations, 
 I have done juflice to their Virtues. With- 
 out repeating all I have ever faid on this Sub- 
 jedl:, I will here cite only a few Lines from 
 my I o6th Letter: During the Reign ^/Phi- 
 lip V. there have been very able Men in the 
 
 Spanifh 
 
PREFACE. xix 
 
 But what is itiil more fingular than all this 
 beyond Comparifon is, that I have rccciv'd 
 Advice that they are adlually re-printing this 
 Work at Avignon^ and that two Volumes of 
 it are already pubhfh'd, but miferably mangled 
 and deformed-, which is the common Fate of 
 every Edidon that is counterfeited in thePope^s 
 Dominions, 
 
In the Prefs^ 
 
 CHINESE LETTERSjoraPHi-, 
 LosopHicAL, Historical and Cri- 
 tical CoRRES^poNDENCE between a 
 CHINESE at Paris, and his Friends 
 in China, Mufccvs, Perjia and Japa??, By 
 the Author of the JEWISH SPT 
 
T II E 
 
 J E W Ï S H S P Y. 
 
 LETTER CXXL 
 
 Aaron Mon.c e c a, /;? Isaac Oni?^ 
 Caraite^ formerly a Rabbi ^ at Conftan- 
 tinople. 
 
 YOU know, dear Ifaac^ how much I was 
 prejudiced againft the Cabbalifts. ShaU 
 I own to you my Weaknefs ? Since I 
 have been in this Countiy, a Converfa- 
 lion I had with a Perfon addiiled to the occult Sci- 
 ences, hath inclined m^e to believe that many Things 
 I formerly thought ridicîulous-, are neither impofîible 
 nor incompatible with true Fhilofophy. Not that i 
 approve all that- is faid by the Difciples oî ParaccU 
 fus. But I think, that tho' it is certain there arc 
 no fuch Beings as Gnomcss Sylphsy Salaniafidçrs, and 
 Vol. IV. B On^ 
 
2 77^^ Jewish Spy. Lett. CXXI. 
 
 Ondlnes *, yet there is nothing in the Belief of them 
 abfurd, or contrary to the Laws of Nature, as mofi: 
 of our modern Philofophers pretend. My Reafons 
 arc thefe. What Weight they will have with you, 
 I know not. 
 
 In order to deny the Foffibility of Exiflence to a- 
 hy Thing, there muft be Proof not only of its 
 Non-exiftence, but of its Incapacity of Exiftence. 
 But I find no Proofs of the latter Sort againft Sylphs, 
 Sahînanders, Gnomes and Ondlhes, What ImpoHi- 
 bility is there in fuppofing, that there are animate 
 Bodies compofed of fo fubcile and delicate a Matter 
 as not to fall under the Cognizance of ourSenfes ? 
 We admit that they are not ftrong enough to pene- 
 trate the Recefles of Nature, where the firft Ele- 
 ments of Things lie hid. They perceive none but 
 the more grofs Caufes. We can derive from thence 
 no Right to deny, that thofe delicate Principles are 
 in being. Why then fhould we believe, that there 
 cannot be animated Creatures, compofed of a Mat- 
 ter fo thin as not to ftrike our Senfes ? 
 
 Before the Invention of Microfcopes, we knew 
 not that Vinegar contained an aftoniihing Quantity 
 of Worms ; we boldly deny'd that there were little 
 Fifhes in all the Water v/e drank ; and yet we have 
 been many Years convinced of the Exiftence of all 
 thefe Animals. Since then, there is a Number of 
 animated Creatures in Water, which our naked Eyes 
 cannot dilcover, why may not the like be found in 
 the Air and in the other Elements ? 
 
 But it will be faid, thefe InfcSis are not concealed 
 from us hut through their Littlenefs^ luhereas it ispre^ 
 
 tended 
 
 * According to the Cahhalijls, tlie Sylphs inhabit the 
 Jir, the Gnomes the Earthy that is, within it, the Sala- 
 menders in the Region of jP/A. and the Ondines the 
 
Lett.CXXI. 72^^ Jewish Spy. 3 
 
 tended that //;^ Gnomes, Sylphs, &c. are oftheor^ 
 dinary Size of Men. 
 
 To this 1 anfwer, that the Height of the Gnomes 
 and of the Sylphs is no Reafon why they fhould be- 
 come vifible, w.hile the Parts of which they are com- 
 pounded are fuppofed to be extremely delicate. A 
 Space of Air fix Foot long ftrikes the Sight no mors 
 than one of a Foot or of an Inch. In like manner, 
 fuppofrng the Gnomes to be compofed of a light and 
 aerial Matter, their Stature would contribute no- 
 thing to their becoming vifible. Let us imagine a 
 Column of thofe Worm-s which are found in Vine- 
 gar, extending from the Earth to the Sky -, our 
 Eyes, without the Ailiftance of Microfcopes, would 
 not be at all affected by this Column, notwithftand- 
 ing its immenfe Extenfion, becaufe its component 
 Parts fall not under the Cognizance of our Senfes, 
 Thus, tho' an infinite Number of Atoms fill up the 
 Space between the Earth and the Moon, yet to us it 
 appears void, becaufe the A4atter with which it is 
 filled, is not difcernable by our Senfes. It is to no 
 purpofe, therefore, to oppofe the Exiflience of thefe 
 Eiementary People, by alledging, that we do not 
 perceive them. It fuffices to eflablifh the PolTibility 
 of the Thing, to prove that a great Number of li- 
 ving Creatures aftually exift, which our Senfes, un- 
 alliited, cannot difcern. 
 
 When we once admit, that the Air may be peo- 
 pled with inviiible Creatures, it naturally follows, 
 that the Earth, the Water, and the Fire, which 
 are Elements compofed of Parts more eafily united, 
 have alfo in them the Power of producing a Number 
 of Bodies Vv'hich God may animate, and yet by the 
 Delicacy of their Parts, they will efcape our Senfes. 
 But^ reply the Philofophers, we have no Idea of 
 ■hefe pretended reafcnable Creatures -, we know not hew 
 '^ B 2 thc^ 
 
4 7/^^ Jewish Spy. Lett. CXXI. 
 
 they cxifi ; zve are intirely igmra?it cfthei?- Fotms and 
 Figures^ and it is ridiculous to admit a Thing of ivhich 
 IV e have not any Notion. 
 
 This manner of reafoning, with SubmiiHon to 
 the Learned among the Moderns, is far from being 
 conclufive. Haveyou^ it may be replied to them, 
 any more dijîin^ Notion of your own Soul ? Do )r.u 
 comprehend any thing more about it^ than that it is a 
 Spirit P Do you knozv what Form or Figure it has f 
 No, without doubt, Tou admit ^ hc-wever, its Exijf- 
 ence. JV/jy then will you deny that of Sylphs and 
 Gnomes, of vjhich you have a lefs confufed Idea than 
 cfc Spirit f Becaufe vjhatever is fuppojed to be mate- 
 rial, however delicate it may he, falls under the Cogni- 
 %a7:ce of the Human TJndtrftandirg. 
 
 The Wit of Man is fo bounded, that it is not 
 only very pofTible it may not have any Idea of cer- 
 tain Creatures ; but it might even very eafily hap- 
 pen, that a great Number of knowing People might, 
 neverthelef^, be ignorant of the Pofïibility of Animals 
 living in Water. Let us fuppofe that a certain Num- 
 ber of Men live in a Country of a dry fandy Soil, far 
 from the Sea and Rivers, and furnifhed only with 
 Pits. The Thing is by no means impoffible. In 
 many of the Defarts of Arabia there is only fuch 
 Pits dug by the Bedouins. Thefe Men, without 
 doubt, would have no Idea of Fifh, if they did not 
 hear of them from others. They would certainly 
 look upon it as a Thing abfurd to fuppofe, that any 
 Creature could live long in Water when they faw 
 fuch Land- Animals prefently die, as happen to fall 
 therein. I ask, if Fifh would exift the lefs, or if 
 the Reafonings of thefe fort of People would deftroy 
 the Cod in the Mediterranean, or the Whales in 
 the Ocean ? 
 
 fc is the fame thing with refpe<^ to the Philofo- 
 
 phcrs 
 
Lett. CXXL The Jewish Spy. $ 
 
 phers who deny the PofTibility of Sylphs and o^ 
 Gnomes ; they know nothing of what pafTes in the 
 Air; their iliort Sight reprefents it to them as a great 
 wide Space, a large and extended Mafs, and they 
 pretend to judge of what pailes in that Mafs by the 
 Ideas they have of a void Space, which is intirely 
 oppofite thereto. For tho' the Phiîofophers are per- 
 fuaded that the Extent between the Earth and th;; 
 Firmament is full of Bodies; or, to exprefs my 
 ielf better, is^'ne intire Body ; yet their Senfes feein 
 to get the better of their Meditations v/hen they de- 
 ny the PofTibihty of the exifting of thefe elementary 
 People. 
 
 You fee, my dear Ifaac^ the Reafons upon which 
 T ground my Opinion. As to the reft, I am fully 
 perfuaded that v/e cannot have any Sort of Com.- 
 merce with thefe Sylphs and Gnomes. I fay I am a? 
 fully perfuaded of the impofïîbiiity of this, as of the 
 Poffibility of their Exiifence. Far from giving in 
 to the ridiculous Tales and chimerical V liions of the 
 Cabalifts, Iai?j-m,that if there fhould exift fuch E- 
 lementary People, they can liever'endar themfelvcî 
 vifible to Men, as it is alfo impoffible for Men to 
 ftrengthen or quicken their Senfes to fuch a Degree 
 as to be able to penetrate what God and Nature? 
 think proper to conceal from them. I can'c 
 help laughing when I hear a Cahalift gravely tell 
 me, That concentrating the Fire of the World by cou" 
 cave MÎ7'rors in a Globe of Glafs^ gainitig thereby a 
 certain folar Powder^ tuhich being purified from thii 
 ether Elements^ and a certain ^lantiiy thereof taken 
 daily ^ I may exalt the Fire ivithin me to fuch a ^ De- 
 gree^ as to become^ in fame meafure^ of a fery Nature. 
 
 The Secret for obtaining the Familiarity of 
 
 Gnomes^ Sylphs and Nymphs^ feems to me not a 
 
 grain lefs ridiculous. It; confifts in taking a Glair. 
 
 B 3 full 
 
6 The Jewish Spy. Lett. CXXI. 
 
 full of Air^ mingled with Water or with Earth ^ 
 this is to he left for a Month expofed to the Sun ;' 
 ihen the Elements are to be feparated ; ivhich being 
 performed, we have a wonderful Medicine, capable 
 cf exalting in us whatever Element we would have 
 predominant, and cf rendering our Senfes quick enough 
 to difcerîî thefe Elementary People ^. 
 
 Good Senfe and the Light of Nature are fuffici- 
 ent to {hew me the Folly of this fort of Reafoning, 
 and the Impoffibility there is of efleclbcgany Thing 
 by thefe Cahaliftical Secrets. For fuppofe I would 
 make an Acquaintance with a Salamander, of what 
 TJfe would all thefolar Powder be that I could pof- 
 iibly amafs together ? Would it ever deftroy in me 
 that terreflrial Matter that is every Day augmented 
 by my Food ? Could it ever get the better of the 
 Air by v/hich I live and breathe ? Suppofe I had 
 1 wallowed ever fo much of this Powder, a Quarter 
 of an Hour af.er I take in a great Quantity of Air, 
 and my Lungs, which receive and reject, my No- 
 llrils and my Mouth which give it Entrance into 
 my Body, are the fworn Enemies of the Element cf 
 Fire, which I would have predominant over the 
 left. The fame mav be faid of the other Secret?, 
 which tend to render fome one Element predomi- 
 jiant in Man, and thereby to give him an igneous or 
 aquatic Nature. 
 
 The Bl indnefs of the Cahalifls goes yet a greater 
 length. They alTure us, that by applying to the Na- 
 vel a little f the Earth prepared for obtaining the So- 
 ciety of the Gnom.es, one may fufiain the want of 
 
 Food 
 
 * The' Englijh Reader may fee this Syftem fet in a 
 beautiful Light in Popi's Rape of thel.QQY.. If he 
 likes better to read it in Profe, he may fatiffy himfe f 
 by peruf.ng Court Gahalis^ whence our Author bor- 
 rows his Quotations, 
 
Lett. CXXI. The Jewish Spy. 7 
 
 Food and Dr'ink^ wkhciit any fort of Inconvenience. 
 The famous Paracelfus affirms that he tried this ; 
 and it mufl be owned, that he was either a great 
 Foclora4i impudent Lyar, who durfl afTert fo evi- 
 dent an Impofture as this is to the Face of the Pub- 
 lick. 
 
 lam not aftonifhed at all, when I fee a Cahalijî 
 writing ftich Impertinencies as thefe, becaufe at the 
 fame time I difcern Stories as abfurd and as contrary 
 to goodSenfe, as gravely told by the mofl eminent 
 Dodlors in all Religions,- How many Lyes have hQQi:\ 
 Avritten by our Rabbies on the Subjeél of the Satyrs 
 and Faipis of Antiquity ? Rabbi Abraham really 
 imagined there were fuch Creatures, but that they 
 were imperfect, becaufe God was furprized by the 
 Approach of the Evening of the Sabbath, and had 
 not time fufncient to make an end of them. A- 
 mong the 'Na'z.arcnes^ TertuUian^ yujiin, LaSfantiuSy 
 Cyprian^ CUir.eni of Alexandria and Jthenagorasy 
 fancied thefe Fauns were Angels transformed into 
 this Shape for ti^e Crime they committed, when 
 God threw fo many of them into Hell ; and they 
 concluded this Fall of Angels to have happened on 
 account of their fuffering themfelves to become e- 
 namour'd of Women. The Pagans pufti'd this Er- 
 ror ftill farther ; for they held thefe Fauns to be 
 Divinities. 
 
 Among Sentiments (o extraordinary as thefe are, 
 it is impofïîble that a Philofopher who makes ufe of 
 his Reafon, fliould adopt any one of them. They 
 are equally ridiculous and contrary to the Light of 
 Nature. It may be even that the Satyrs^ as de- 
 fcribed by the Ancients, never did exift ; and that 
 many ufelcfs DifTertations have ht^n made on the I- 
 deas of feme Painter or Poet, who was the Creator 
 of thefe imaginary Beings, lam cfoi^iaiori, that 
 B 4 pre- 
 
8 7le Jewish Spy. Lett. CXXL 
 
 vious to the explaining of a Thing, we ought feri- 
 oufly to confider whether it exifts, or whether ever 
 it did exift. Defcartes has given us a long Explica- 
 tion of the perpetual Lamps that are to be found m 
 the Tombs of the Ancients ; and we have fince been 
 convinced that the Fadl; is falfe. Democritus put his 
 Wit to the torture for feveral Days to account for 
 Wool which he fancied he had found grov/ing on 
 the Figs in his Garden. He made thereupon a 
 Difcouife, with which himfelfand his Priends v/ere 
 very well fatisfied. His Maid, however, diverted 
 herfelf at their Expence by difabufing them, (hew- 
 ing that .all the learned Refearches of this Philofo- 
 piier was fo much Study and Pains thrown away. 
 it may be the Fau?is of Antiquity greatly refemb'ed 
 tp.Q Figs of Democritus ; and thofe who have made 
 DilTertations on thefe Half-Men Half-Brutes would 
 be greatly furprized, if they fliould find in any -an- 
 cient Author, that they never exifted any where 
 but in his Imagination and in his Writings. 
 
 I will not however, dear IJ^ac-, pretend to afHrm, 
 that what is faid with regard to Faims^ ought to be 
 ccnfidered, as invented at pleafure ; on the contra- 
 ry, I believe their Exiftence poffible. We read m 
 the Life of Paul the Hermit, written by Jcrcme^ 
 a fam.ous Doctor among the Nazareues, as alfo in 
 îhat of Anthony^ another Hermit, compofcd by A- 
 thanafius^ that thefe folitary Perfons had long Con- 
 verfaticns with Fauns \ and that they owned to them 
 that they were not unacquainted with the Exiftence 
 cf a Deity *. If we refufe Ciedit to thefe Authors, 
 
 we 
 
 * Accordicg to St. Jerofne, St, Anthony met with a 
 Centaur, exa<[^ly like what is defcribtd in the Poets. 
 The fame Author alTures us, that not long after this 
 St. Anthony faw alfo a Satyr, refembling thofe we fee in 
 Paintings. Con" 
 
Lett. CXXI. The Jewish Spy. 9 
 
 we find in PUny^ that Satyrs are frequent in the In- 
 dicf. Pluiarch aflures us, that they prefented to 
 Sylla as he pafs'd by Dyrachium^ now Durazzo in 
 Albania^ a h'ving Satyr, The Roman confidered 
 him attentively, but could make nothing of his 
 Language, his Voice being exceffively harfli, feem- 
 ing to participate of the Neighing of a Horfe, and 
 the Cry of a Goat *. 
 
 This Paflage in Hiflory inclines me to think, 
 that all the Satyrs we hear of, were no other than 
 Monfters produced by criminal Converfe between 
 Mankind and the Females of other Animals ; and 
 that thefe Creatures, far from having Virtues fupe- 
 rior to Mortals, had much more of the Brute than 
 of the Man, not being able to exprefs themfelves 
 but in all refpccis like the Satyr of Sylla. The Su- 
 perftition of Pagamfm made Deities of thefe Half- 
 Men, the Naxarcnes will have them to be Angels 
 or Demons, the "Jevjs imperfect Creatures ; the 
 Philofopher, feeming.to difdain the Examination of 
 this Qiieftion, contents himfelf with denying their 
 Exiftence, that he may not be obliged to explain^ 
 their Nature?. 
 
 Preferve thy Health, dear Ifaac^ live content and 
 fatisfied, and may the God of our Fathers heaj5 
 Riches upon thee,. 
 Hambcurgh, 
 
 B5 LETTER, 
 
 Confpicit (Antonius) hominem equo mixtvjn^ cut opinia 
 Fo'étarum Hypvceniû.iiro focahulum indidit . . . Nee mora 
 inter faxojum con-vallem haud grandem, homnnculem 'vidit, 
 adunch naribus^ fronts corr.ibus a/per at a,, cujus extremu 
 pars corporis in caprantm pedes dejtnebat. Hieronymus 
 tpiftcl. iii. de vita Pauli, primi Eremitce. See alfo the 
 A-th Part of the Secret Memoirs of the Republick of Let- 
 ters ; r^vherein the Wonders reported by St. Jerome are fui- 
 Ij confidered. 
 
 * hutarcli in ths life of Sylla^ 
 
10 The Jewish Spy. Lett. CXXIL 
 
 LETTER CXXIL 
 
 Aar on Mon ce ca ^ Isaac On is, 
 Cm'aite^ formerly a Rabbi at Conftan- 
 tincple. 
 
 T Don't know, dear Ifaac^ to what Caufe to at- 
 ■* tribute that violent Hatred which all People pro- 
 fefs to have againft thofe of our Nation. Whatever 
 Religion they have, in whatever Climate they in- 
 habit, they feem to agree in this Point. The Ma- 
 hotnmedansy the Fopifi) Nazarenes^ the Reform' d, the 
 Ârminians and the Lutherans defpife, equally agree 
 in defpifing us, and carry their Defpite to Excefs. 
 I for fome time thought that this Antipathy might 
 "be cccafioned by a Diverfity cf Belief. But I was 
 nbliged to change this Way of thinking, when I 
 faw Numbers differing in Religion, who had not- 
 withflanding the moft perfect Eileem for each other. 
 The ^iakers differ as widely as Vv'e from, the Naza- 
 renes ; they have no Sacrament, not even fo much 
 as that of Baptifm ; hcwcver, the Naxarenes do not 
 either hate or defpife them. 
 
 We muft look therefore for fome other Caufe 
 than Religion, in order to account for that Antipa- 
 thy which all Nations have to us. J do indeed be- 
 lieve, that Religion influences the lower Clafs of 
 People in their Notions of Jews^ in fome meafure ; 
 but it is certain, that it does not determine them 
 intirely : v;herefore, there muff be fome particular 
 Subjedt whence the unanimous Hatred of all People 
 muft flow. Did it come purely from Différence in 
 
 point 
 
Lett. CXXII. r/'^ Jewish Spy. ïî 
 
 point of Faith, why fhould the Turks hate us more 
 than they do the Nazarenes P Or thefe latter why 
 (hould they deteft us more than Tuî'Âs f 
 
 I believe, dear IfaaCy that w^e ought to feek in the 
 evil Conduâ of our own Brethren, what we gene- 
 rally attribute to Difference in Religion. If we 
 credit certain Na%arene Hiftorians, we fhall find in 
 their Writings, that the horrid Crimes of certain 
 ^ews have in all times had defperate Confequences 
 in refpe<Sb to our Nation. Rigord^ Phyfician and 
 Hiftoriograptier to Philip Âugujîus writes, that in 
 I18O5 our Brethren fettled in Paris would needs- 
 make a Sacrifice on the Solemnization of the Pafib- 
 ver, fuppofing they might draw down the divine 
 Clemency, by immolating a Nazarene. They car- 
 ried off, fays he, a young Lad of twelve Years old, 
 whofe Name was Richard^ the Son of a rich Tradef- 
 nian, and after they had almcft by whipping tore off 
 his Plefh from his Bones, they crucified him. This 
 barbarous Adion coming to the knowledge of th- 
 French^ all Vv'ho had any Concern in this dreadful Sa- 
 crifice were put to death, a|^d our whole Nation for 
 ever banifhed that Kingdom. 
 
 Franceis not the only Counti^y wherein we are 
 charged with fuch Cruelties. The Inhabitants of 
 the City of Trent commemorate annually a Thing 
 of the fame kind perpetrated on a little Boy called- 
 Sifnonet^ the Son of a Shoemaker whofe Name was 
 Simon. 7'he yeivs^ fay they, having ftript the 
 Boy, did in the moft cruel Manner draw out all 
 his Blood, in order to make ufe of it in celebrating 
 the Paffover, and afterwards threw the Carcafe in- 
 to a common Shore, which ran under the Synagogue. 
 The Thing being difcovered, the Jews were fe- 
 verely punifhed, and the Nazarenes fhew to this ve- 
 ry Day, the Houfe in which this villainous A<51 was 
 perpetrated. ' I 
 
12 77^^ Jewish Spy. Lett. CXXIL 
 
 I really cannot think of fettling my Opinion as 
 to thefe Fa6ls, when I either read them or hear 
 them talk'd of, I am throughly fatrsfied, that fuch 
 Cruehies are no where pra6tifed in our Synagogues 
 at this Day, and I can hardly bring my felf to be- 
 lieve that they were ever praâifed heretofore. 
 However, thefe Accounts are accompanied with 
 fuch Circumftances, that it is almoft impofTible not 
 to admit the Matters of Fa61:. But after all, if it 
 were true that there were fome ^ezvs fo v/icked and 
 fo furious as to run into Exceffes of this Sort, ought 
 their Crimes to aflecl a whole Nation ? There Is 
 nothing m.ore eafv, than the Proof that only a few 
 mad and vile People were ever guilty of Things of 
 this Nature, and that the J^w in general were not 
 only ignorant of thern, but if they had been ac- 
 quainted with fuch Practices v^^ould have had them 
 in the utmoft Deteftation. In order to eflablilli 
 this, we need only confider what the Hiftoriogra- 
 pher of Philip Augu/fus fays. He ajjitres us, that 
 the Criminals were punijhed ivith Death, and the Re^ 
 mainder were banijhed th$ Kingdom. There were but 
 fifteen or fixteen Jews executed 5 if more had been 
 found guilty, without doubt the Nazartncs would 
 not have fpared them. The whole Nation thus ex- 
 iled, had nothing to do v/ith thefe Cruelties. How- 
 *cver, by arconilhirg ill Luck, that Hi^rror which 
 the Crime of a few particular People juftly merited, 
 refted upon the Nation ; and they are perfu-.ded in 
 France^ that the "Jews in general approve of fuch de- 
 teftable Sacrifices. There needs no more, my 
 Friend, to render them odious to the whole "World: 
 What can there be more fcandalous to a Nation, 
 than to have been driven out of a great Kingdom 
 - for fuch abominable Deeds ? 
 
 It is not folely to Prejudices of this fort that we 
 
 ough{ 
 
Lett.CXXIL 7/3^ Jewish Spr. 13 
 
 ought to attribute the Averfion and the Diflike 
 which People have towards us. The fordid Ava- 
 rice, and the Perfidy of fome of our Brethren, have 
 made us mortally hated. Thus the innocent fufFer 
 for the Crime of the guilty, and a Number of 
 Ifraeliteswonhy the Efteem of all honeft Men, zea- 
 fous Obfervers of the divine Law, are without Di- 
 ftinélion confounded with People whom themfelves 
 defpife, and whom they are the moft ready to con- 
 demn. 
 
 Our Rabbins ought to apply themfelves to writing 
 Books of IMorality. Such Works would be much 
 more ufeful, and do us more honour among fuch as 
 differ from us in Religion, than that monftrous 
 Heap of Vifions which are to be found in mod of 
 our Authors, and which ferve only to difcredit our 
 Writers and our Nation. I would be content to 
 fee our Doctors attentive in explaining the Law^* 
 and in applying it principally to thedifcouraging the 
 Practice of thofe Vices moft reigning amojigfl us ; 
 infifting conftantly on the heinoufnefs of the A£l of 
 taking away another Man's Property in the Sight of 
 God, and the Bafenefs of Ufury in the Sight of 
 Men. If they could once bring this Doctrine to 
 prevail, and could induce our Brethren to be lefs 
 attached tc, and fufceptible of the Temptation of 
 filthy Lucre, I doubt not but they would enable 
 them to regain the Efteem and Regard cf all Na-r 
 tions. W^hy fhould they refufe it us, if we were 
 worthy of it ? I have before fnewn, that Difference 
 in Pveligion is net a Reafon which determines the 
 Effceem or the Difliice of Men. Befides, dear Ifaac^ 
 ours hath in itfelf fuch Beauties, that if the Jews 
 were once become a virtuous People, they would be 
 at leaft fecure of the Friendfnip of Philofcphers, 
 karned and reafonable Men, But far, my Friend, 
 
 verj 
 
14 TZ^d' Jewish Spy. Lett. CXXII. 
 
 tery far are the Rabbins from endeavouring to era- 
 dicate Avarice from the Hearts of the Ifraelites^ on 
 the contrary, they are the firft themfelves of giving 
 Examples of fordid Covetoufnefs -, infomuch, that 
 it may be faid of the Prayers in our Synagogues, 
 as one of the Ancients faid of thofe heretofore made 
 by the Pagans : Do we obferve^ fays he, any go to 
 the Te}7Lples in order to befeech the Gods to give hi?ti 
 PerfeSîion in Eloquence^ or to difcover to hi?n the Se- 
 crets of Philofophy ? Nay, do they fo much as ask 
 Reaitude of Mind, or Health of Body f But of all 
 who go to the Capitol, this is the Cuftom, before they 
 reach the very Threpold of the Gate, the one prcmifes 
 great Offerings to the Deity he worfnips, provided he 
 hajiens the Death of a rich Relation ; another, that 
 he fnay difcover a hidden Treafure ; a third, that he 
 may be lucky enough to acquire a large Eflate in Bifi- 
 nefs *. 
 
 Such are the Prayers which moft of the Jews of- 
 fer to the Divinity. They forget that they are 
 forbidden in the Law to wifh for the Goods of an- 
 other, and the Rabbins, far from putting them in 
 mind of this divine Precept, feem to have banifhed 
 it entirely from their own Thoughts, After this 
 we need not think it flrange that the Nazarenes 
 have propagated a certain maHcious Fable againfb 
 us, viz. That we have made an Oath to cheat as 
 often as we have an Opportunity. They judge of 
 our Precepts hy our Aâ:ions. I am fenfible, my 
 
 Friend, 
 
 * ^is iinquam 'venit in templum iff <^JOtufn fecit, fi ad 
 ehquentiani peyvenij/et F ^^is, fi fhîiofphi.-s fontem ifi" 
 ^ueniffet ? Ac ne bonam quidtm jnentem, aut honam n^ale- *; 
 iudiriem petunt. Sed fiatim anfequam limen Cûpitoliî tan- 
 gant, alius donu?n promittity fi propinquum di-oitsm extule- 
 rit ; alius fi tlefaurum effcderit i alius fi ad trecenties 
 ii. S. jahiis pey'-venerit. Petronius //; Satir. 
 
Lett.CXXII. T'& Jewish Spy. 15 
 
 Friend, that the famous Leo o^ Modena h?ith. refuted 
 with great Quicknefs fuch as have endeavoured to nx 
 fo criminal a Ufage upon us, and hath well fnewn 
 how far we are from following fuch pernicious 
 Maxims, or from regarding them as Points of Doc- 
 trine. But notwithftanding the learned Writings 
 of that excellent Jew, there are at this Day a Mul- 
 titude of Na%arenes who perfuade themfelves they 
 do not do us the leaft Injuftice in imputing to us 
 this criminal Sentiment. 
 
 We fliall never be able to regain the Efteem ot 
 other Nations, but by changing our Conduél in- 
 tirely, and becoming as" remarkable for our Difinte- 
 reftednefs, as we are at prefent for our Avarice. 
 Not that I pretend to prevent our Brethren from 
 making an honeil: Profit, or from gaining by Com- 
 merce. There is nothing more lawful. What I 
 would be at is this ; that they fhould be more fm- 
 cere, and that Uprightnefs and Candour (hould be 
 vifible in all their Dealings. 
 
 When I have defended this Opinion againft Jews 
 of a contrary Sentiment, and who did not think we 
 were bound to ufe fo much Delicacy in our Deal- 
 ings with the NazareneSy I could never perceive a- 
 ny Strength in their Reafons. ÎVe pay, fay they, 
 exorbitant Impojls. Princes, in many Countries look 
 upon us asfo -many Beajîs, They fell us the very Atr that 
 ive breathe. 'Tis by Dint' of Money that me obtain a 
 Rejidence among them. In fome Towns of Germany 
 they oblige us to pay twenty Pence an Hour as long as 
 we Jlay. Is 7iot this an ajhnijhing hnpofition ? Are 
 we obliged to a âî with Candour toiuards thofe luho fo 
 cruelly perfecute us ? And are we not at Liberty to make 
 Reprifals on the Nazarenes, zvho thus enrich themfelves 
 by our Labours ? 
 
 Whatever at firft Sight there may feem to be in 
 
 thçfç 
 
là 77j^ Jewish Spy. Lett. CXXIL 
 
 thefe Reafons, they are intirely overthrown by this 
 fingJe Principle, that it is not juftifiable to commit 
 one Crime in order to punifh another. In this re- 
 fpe6l I find the Morality of the Kazarems admirable. 
 It mull: be owned that they do not practife it ; but 
 it is however one of the principal Points of their 
 Religion, that we are not to commit Evil upon a- 
 ny Account. Their civil Laws agree on this- Sub- 
 je£l with their religious Precepts. It mufl be own- 
 ed there are fome Ultrajjiontaùc Do6lors who have 
 maintain^ed this impious Principle, TJjat SubjeSîs 
 may revolt agapifi their Princes when they are Here- 
 ticks. But thele detcrtable Opinions have been con- 
 demned in all Nations whole Superftition hath not 
 ûifled the Senfe of Honour and Religion. The Par- 
 liaments of i^r^wt:^ have ordered Books containing 
 fuch Principles to be torn by the Hands of the 
 Hangman, and the Univerfitics have fully refuted 
 them. To fay the Truth, Princes themfelves, 
 who are (o much outraged by the fpreading of fuch 
 Notions, have fometimes fhewn no great Liking to 
 that Zeal with whicli they have been condemned, 
 which muil to thee appear inccmprehenfible. How- 
 ever, hitherto France and Germany have rejet^ed 
 with Horror all Doctrines tending to violate the 
 Rcfpe6l due to Sovereigns. 
 
 It is to the Love of their Subjects that many 
 Princes owe the Prefervation of their Glory. While 
 they are abfcrbed in Pleafures, and feem quite to 
 forget the high Rank they poflefs ; RoîJie^, always 
 ambitious, and always attentive to the Means of 
 overturning the Rights of Kings, fails not of ma- 
 king Attempts againft their Authorities : But the 
 Peoole being alarmed at the firft Appearance of a 
 Novelty, big with pernicious Confequences, oppose 
 thereby fo flrong a Barrier to the Aiubition of t^/e 
 
 So- 
 
Lett. CXXIII. The Jewish S pv. 17 
 
 Sovereign PontifFs, as affords Princes jtime'to awake 
 oiit of their Lethargy and to defend their Rights. 
 
 Take Care of tiry fclf, dear Ifaac^ and may the 
 God of our Fathers render thee profperous. 
 
 Hajnhurgh, 
 
 LETTER CXXm. 
 
 Isaac On is, Qiraite^ heretofore a 
 Rabbi -f?/ Conllantinople, ^^ Aaron 
 Mon CECA. 
 
 T Divert my felf with conAdering daily the diffei^ent 
 ^ Syftemsof Philoiopher?, without giving however 
 intire Credit to any. I confider them all as probable, 
 but I believe there is none v/ithout its Difficulties,, 
 'and in which it is by no means hard to ilnd weak Places, 
 if one were inclined to attack them. I leave to a 
 certain Race of Wrcngheads that Adoration which 
 they pretend to pay to their favourite Authors. 
 Whatever the Reputation of a Philofopher may be, 
 I never fuffer it to draw me into a falfe Admiration 
 of him. 7Tiere are, in my Opinion, many Things 
 hid from all Men, and which the modern Philofo- 
 phers have not a bit better explained than the An- 
 cients. 
 
 An Arabian of my Acquaintance has within 
 thefe few Days lent me a Manufcript. I have read 
 it with Attention. I find manv things in it very 
 amufmg: But, upon the whole, I think there is 
 very little Inftruction to be gathered from the whoie 
 Work. The Author's Scheme is this : He pre- 
 tends.. 
 
ï8 The Jewish Spy. Lett. CXXIIL 
 
 tends^ that Men, Animals, and all that we fee in- 
 vefted with Life, were produced by the S;a. The 
 firfl: Fault I find with tiiis Syilem is, that it is di- 
 rectly oppofite to the Exigence of a Deity. As I 
 have an infinite Contempt for fuch blind Philofo- 
 phers asare not flruck with this firft and apparent 
 Truth, fo you may guefs that there is in this S) (km 
 fomething vtiy pleafant and very w^himfical, fince 
 notv/ithPianding this capital Error I could read it 
 Vv'ith-any Pleafjre, See then m fev/ Words a brief 
 Expofition of thisSyftem. 
 
 The Arabian Author pretends. That there Jiath 
 happened infenfibly a great Change in the Earth, 
 fo that what w^e now fee dry, was heretofore cover- . 
 ed with Water. He affirms, that the Sea and Wa- 
 ters wafted by Degrees, and the Earth being diied 
 by the Eleat of the Sun, did after many Ages af- 
 fume much the fame Form that it has at prefeiU. 
 
 This is his Syftem with refpedl to the World in 
 general. Now, let me tell ycu what he fays in par- 
 ticular of Man, and other terreftrial Animals, 
 When the Waters were confumed to a certain De- 
 gree, and of courfea certain Part of the Earth lay 
 bare, fome aquatick Animals accuftomed them- 
 felves by little and little, to go and browfe and ïctà 
 upon the Grafs j that the Man, the Ox, the 
 Horfe, crV. conftantly went back at firft into the 
 Water ; but, in procefs of Time going farther and 
 farther from the Bank, they in the end accuftomed 
 themfelves to live on the Earth. The Sun, by the 
 Heat of his Rays, quickly altered the Texture of 
 their Skins, and gave to fome of them Hair and 
 Hides, as we fee them have. He pretends, that 
 Habit, which isa fécond Nature, did in procefs of 
 Time make the lilue of thefe aquatick Animals in- 
 capable of living any where but in the Earth. That 
 
 in 
 
Lett.CXXm. T?7f Jewish Spy. 19 
 
 in like manner, the Birds too loft the Capacity of 
 entering the Waters, becauie they were not ac- 
 cuftonied to it from the time of their being hatch'd, 
 except in fuch as were call'd Sea and River Fov/I ; the 
 Parents of which had never ftrayed far from their 
 Mother-Eicment. In fupport of this extraordinary 
 Dcc^rine, our Author reafons thus : We fee that the 
 Sun changes intirely the Form and Cclour of Men ; 
 Children are horn white in the w/^/? £/" Ethiopia, and 
 the firfi Covering of their Meads is Hair, and not 
 JVqoI, It is not till fome Days after that they become 
 black ; and there is a very confiderable Space inter- 
 venes before any thing like Wool appears. The Reafon 
 of this is, becajfe Men always retain ajlrong Tincture 
 of their firfi ^laliiy ; and that during the time Men 
 were a qua tick Animals, they were all white, and had 
 none of them Wool in place of Hair ', hut fince they 
 have quitted their ancient Element, they have been 
 changd more orlefs according as the Vapors of the 
 Earth, or the ELeat of the Sun have operated upon 
 them. 
 
 All Animals, continues the Arab Writer, retain 
 even to this Day fome of their fir ji ^^alities. There 
 are none of them, but what can fwim and live for 
 fome time in the Water ', thé Cotv, the Horje, the 
 Dog, and all other Creatures fwim naturally -, Man 
 would do the fame thing, if Fear did not hinder Nature 
 from exerting thofe Motions with which, however, jhe is 
 very well acquainted. Infime Seas Sea- Men are yet 
 found ; the Dutch Eïiftorians mention a Girl who was 
 prefervcd a long time at Harlem about three hundred 
 Tears ago., and luho was Jl opt upon the Shore juft as 
 Jhe came out of the Sea. In many other Cowiiries^ 
 Creatures have been feen half Fifo, half of a human 
 Form, all which is Jufpcient to fijew, that the Element 
 c^ Water is by no means incompatible with an organized 
 
 Bcdy^ 
 
20 The Jewish Spy. Lett. CXXIIL 
 
 Body like to that cf ivlan ; and that there is 'nothing 
 hut Habit-t and their being acciijlorned from their 
 Birth to breathe the dry Âir m Jhore^ uhich hinders 
 Men from living in the Bottom cf the Sea. 
 
 See, my dear Friend, the Scheme of this Arabian^ 
 who is to this Day bufy in finding out Proofs of h"3 
 Hypothefis. He asked me my Opinion. I told 
 him very fincerely, that all Syilems which did not 
 admit the Exiftcnce of a Deitv, and vrhich fuppo- 
 fedasthehrft Principle cfali Things,, a certain Ar- 
 rangement of Matter by the Hand of Chance, would 
 fall into unfuftainable Opinions, by building a Caftle 
 on the Sands, which the fiighteft Motion muft o- 
 verturn from Top to Bottom. 
 
 It is indeed a furprizing thing, that the Philofo- 
 phers did not perfectly comprehend the Neceflity of 
 a Thing which the mofl timple People now-a-davs 
 clearly fee the Truth of. The moil fublime Ve- 
 rities, fays an EngUjh Author*, which were fcarce 
 accefTable to the brighteft and beft cultivated .Wits 
 among the Pagans, are at prefent become familiar, 
 even to the moft confined Underitandings. This o- 
 pens a large Field of fatisfa£îory Refîecftions to a 
 Man who ^onfiders Thii?gs with the Eve of a Plii- 
 lofopher, and who pcfTelles a Soul capable of being 
 charmed at the mighty Progrefs which ufeful Know- 
 ledge hath made among Mankind. 
 
 What, my Friend, would all the Greek and Re 
 -man Philofophers fay, who after thirty or forty 
 Years fpent in Study, acquired To imperfedt an Idea 
 of the Deity ? What, I repeat it, would they fay, if 
 they were to return to the World, and find every 
 little Scholar in Philofophy able to iliew them with 
 the greateft Clearnefs, that God is not material, 
 becaufe whatfoever is corporal is fubjed to Divi- 
 
 fion \ 
 
 * Tlie Spcdator. 
 
Lett.CXXm. TXe- Jewish Spy. 21 
 
 fion ; and whatfoever can be divided, cannot be 
 God. For then either there muft be as many Gods 
 as vParts, or the Deity muft be compounded of cer- 
 tain Parts not divine. 
 
 The Aftonifhment of thefc Philofophers would 
 ftill increafe, when they were (hewn how great 
 tlieir Error w-as in admitting Matter to be co-eter- 
 nal with God. They would learn, that there 
 could be nothing co-eternal with him, fince he 
 could not then be Almiglity. For not having cre- 
 ated Matter he could not deftroy it. Now, it is 
 equally ridiculous to affirm, that a Thing which has 
 no Beginning can have an End, or that God can 
 exift and not be Almighty. Thefe Greeks and Ro- 
 ?nans, of whom fome boaft fo much, would be fur- 
 prized that they themfelves did not make thefe Re- 
 flections, or that the Prejudices imbibed in their 
 Infancy, and ftrengthened by Education, fhould 
 be able to hinder them from coming at fuch clear 
 and eafy Truths. 
 
 It is to us, it is to us, Mc7Keca^ that the whole 
 World is indebted for the Knowledge of God. 
 The firft Nazarcnes v;ho taught the Heathens the U- 
 nity and Spirituality of the Divinity, were Jews fe- 
 parating from our Communion. Palîion has made our 
 Brethren fay a great deal of 111 of them. However, 
 it muft be allowed that they were truly great Men, 
 who hazarded their Lives to withdraw the human 
 Species from Idolatry ; if the Unity of God hath 
 been preached throughout the Univerfe, it is folely 
 ov/ingto them. 
 
 When I was a Rahhi at Confta7ttinoplel durft not 
 talk in this Style. My Brethren would have looked 
 upon me with Horror 5 they would have taxed 
 me with inclining to Nazarenifm^ as if one ought 
 not to render Juftice to Merit wherever it is found ; 
 
 and 
 
22 r/j^ Jewish Spy. Lett. CXXIII. 
 
 and that the Difference of Belief obhges one to dif- 
 guife one's Sentiments, and to defpife People really- 
 worthy of Efteem. Let us, my Friend, leave this 
 Madnefs to narrow Minds. It is a Conduct only 
 worthy of Blockheads and Fanaticks ; and when we 
 fee a Man of true Genius run into Inventives againft 
 People of Probity, one may boldly affirm, that it is 
 not his Zeal for Rehgion, but his Ambition, Ha- 
 tred, or feme other Paffion, wjiiich moves him 
 thereto. When Pafcal wrote nis Provincial Let- 
 ters, he thought lefs of defending Nazai-enifm than 
 of outraging the Jefuits ; and when thofe People 
 perfecuted Arnamd^ it was the deftroying of their 
 Enemy, and not the Good of Religion that they 
 had in View. Too many Divines who dip in Con- 
 troverfy, hate their Adverfaries more than the Er- 
 rors they maintain. It is the f^me thing with other 
 Writers, when tiiey come to differ with each other; 
 they do notcriticifea Work becaufeit is ill written, 
 but becaufe it is written by an Adverfary. 
 
 When I was in Gct'many^ I was acquainted with 
 two Authors who were continually praifing each o- 
 ther. The one was the elded Son of Jpdh^ the o- 
 ther the Darling and the Favourite oftheMufes. 
 After all, they fell out on account of a Piece which 
 the one wrote, and the other, contrary to his Cu- 
 ilom, found fome fault with. This was fufficient 
 to fow everlafling Divifion. They wrote againft 
 each other immediately with all the Vehemence 
 imaginable ; they publiftied mutual Edicts of Baniih- 
 ment from Parnajfjus^ and fupported thefe new Sen- 
 timents of theirs m all Companies with a Petulancy 
 not to be endured. They blamed exceiTively thofe 
 very Pieces which they had before as much com- 
 mended ; nor can I conceive how they could, af;er 
 faying fo many handfome Things the one of the o- 
 
 thcr. 
 
Lett. CXXIIT. The Jewish Spy. 23 
 
 ther, deviate into fuch Scurrility and Abufe. Tfns 
 Conduft^ faicl I to one of them, vjiU hurt you in the 
 Opinion of the IVorld, What would you have your 
 Readers think of your ïVorks^ when they find you bla^ 
 ming now what you commended a while ago, 'ïhey 
 will believe^ and with Reafon. rhat you commend with^ 
 out Grounds^ and tlmt you cenfure without Caufe. 
 What fgnifies that^ reply'd the Author, provided I 
 canbut defb'cy the Praifes that I have formerly given 
 the Man who has had the Confide?2ce to hla'me my 
 JVritings, I am content. I praifed him hecaufe he 
 praifed 7ne^ and I cenfure him hecaife he cenfured 7ne. 
 If he zvfis to write even better than he did^ I will per' 
 jifî ahvays in fiyirg^ that he writes 7ioihing worth 
 readir.g. 
 
 This is the manner, dear Aaron^ in which Au- 
 thors generally treat each other. There are very 
 few amongft them who commend their Brethren 
 without Hopes of Return. In the Republick of Let- 
 ters, Eulogies are a Sort of Goods in which there is 
 always a great Trade. I believe it is pretty much 
 the fame thing in all other States ; when one praifes 
 a Perfon, one is apt to be uneafy if he fays nothing 
 in return. Self-love is deeply wounded by that Si- 
 lence which mortifies the natural Vanity of Men, 
 and which feems to imply a mighty Superiority in 
 him who receives, over him who bellows Pane- 
 gyrick. 
 
 I believe, my Friend, that we may lay it down 
 as a general Principle, that moil Men commend 
 from one of thefe tV70 Motives ; either that they 
 may be commended, or that they may be reward- 
 ed. There are very few, who from the fole Prin- 
 ciple of doing Juftice to Merit, make it their Prac* 
 tice to fpeak well of the good Qualities of others. It 
 is true, .that generally fpeaking, v/e look upon this 
 
 noble 
 
24 7^^ Jewish Spy. Lett. CXXIV. 
 
 noble and generous Way of Proceeding, as a Virtue 
 frequently to be met with ; but if v/e examine 
 Things more clofely, we fhall f)nd that the Num- 
 43er of thefe difmterefted People is bat fmall. 
 
 Be careful of your felf, dear Monceca^ live con- 
 tent and happy, and excufe my writing to you fo 
 feldom. 
 
 Cairo, 
 
 LETTER CXXIV. 
 
 Aaron Moncec" a, to Isaac On i s. 
 Car ait e, formerly a Rabbi at Conftan- 
 tinople. 
 
 ^npHE iV^/2^r^;z^i have a laudable Cuftom, which 
 -*- I cannot help blaming our Anceilors for not 
 having obferved. They go to the very Extremities 
 of the World, in order to preach the Exigence of 
 one God, All-good, All-mighty and All-merciful, 
 There is no Country, how barbarous, how diflant 
 foever, whither they have not gone to deffnoy Idols, 
 and to infult them on their Altars. If thefe People 
 ufed a little more foftnefs in their manner of com- 
 municating thefe fublime Truths, and if their Be- 
 haviour were not in fome kind inccniiftent witli the 
 Doctrines which they preach, I fliould look upon 
 thefe Miffionaries asthegreateft and moft deferving. 
 Men in theUniverfe. Is there, in efFeft, any thing 
 fo glorious, as for Men to devote themfelves intirely 
 to the Service of an infinite Num.ber of Perfons, un- 
 der the Slavery of mofl abfurd Opinions, and plung'd 
 
 in 
 
Lett.CXXIV. TZé' Jewish S by. 25 
 
 in the frightful Ahyfs of Idolatry? Is there, Î 
 fav, any thing more noble than to make the Deli- 
 very of fuch Perfons the Bufmefs of one's Life ? 
 
 If fuch as make it their Employment to enlighten 
 thefe unfortunate Pagans^ contented themielvcs 
 with exerting Reafon and good Senfe, inftead of 
 ufmg Force and Violence when they have it in their 
 power, Idolatrous Nations would much fooner be 
 perfuaded of the Exiftence and Unity of God. But 
 the Cruelties which the Spaniards and Portuguefe 
 have exercifcd in certain Countries, and which are 
 far from being unknowrf to other favage Nations, 
 give them an extraordinary Hatred and unconquer- 
 able Averfion towards fuch as come to inflrucl them. 
 What is it one can really imagine an Indian can 
 think of thofe terrible Executions he hears to ha\'e 
 been done by the Inquifition at Goa f Thefe Folksy 
 v/ill he fay to himfelf, who ccme to inform me of a 
 God, pcrfeôfîy good^ a^d merciful in all things ^ off r 
 vp daily Numbers of their Breihreyi to this fame God^ 
 and are continually fprinkling this great Altar of his 
 the Earth, with the Blood of his Creatures. Thry 
 tnoj} cruelly commit to the Flames, Men of the great rji 
 Worth and Probity, becaufe they ha'ue n'A Power en^Mgb 
 over their oivn Mind s ^ to fnrce the Belief of certain 
 Propofetions which jt em to them contrary to Equity ai'd 
 Reajon. The Fiercenejs and Cruelty fa Miffionary 
 in thofe Countries, where their Poiver is eJlabiijFd^ 
 hinders the Fruit of their Arguments, even ivhere th,y 
 ufe no other IVeapons. 
 
 You vvil! ask me perhaps, mv Friend, hew it 
 comes to pafs that I, who am a few, ihould interei!: 
 my felf in the Propagation of the Faitii of the Kaza- 
 rencs ^ The Anfwer iseafy and natural. It is not 
 the Propagation of the Principles of the Nazarer.e 
 Rei.gion for which I am concerned, but the pro- 
 pagatino; the Knowledge of the Deity, You know 
 
 Vol"; IV. C ' that 
 
26 7Zv Jewish Spy. Lett.CXXIV. 
 
 that I have always thought, as well as you, that Men 
 might be favedin all Religions, provided they were 
 truly virtuous. Now there is nothing fo capable of 
 leading Men to the Pradice of Honefty and Virtue 
 as the Senfe of a Divine Being, provided it be not 
 clouded, or in a manner extinguifhed by an infup- 
 portable Load of incomprehenfible and cojitradicSlo- 
 ly DocSlrine?, and of Ceremonies equally ridiculous 
 and vain. We ought naturally to wifh rhe Good, 
 and to defire the Salvation of all Mankind. We 
 arc therefore obliged to the Miflionaries, who by 
 their Preaching facilitate the faving fuch as are funk 
 in Idolatry, by teaching then^ the Knowledge of 
 God and of his Will. There is no Philofopher, of 
 v;hat Religion foever he be, who can think other- 
 xvife, if at leaft he does not fuffer himfelf to be blind- 
 ed by his Prejudices, and by an unreafonable Hatred 
 of thofe who are not of his own Opinion in all 
 things. 
 
 It were to be wifh'd, that when the J nus were 
 difperfed, after Titus had deftroyed 'Jerufalem^ they 
 had followed this Maxim of the Nazarenes^ and had 
 made it their Bufmefs to preach and to propagate 
 ihe Law of Mcfcs throughout the Univerfe, inftead 
 of keeping to themfelves thofe Treafures which they 
 received from Heaven. Had they acSlied thus, one 
 -can hardly conceive, that the Number of Miffio- 
 naries confidered, and the Beauty of that Religion 
 îidverted to, which thefe MiiTionaries were to preach; 
 I fay, a proper Weight given to thefe Things, one 
 can fcarce believe they could have fail'd periliading 
 ill! the Nations in the World. What Weapons 
 could..either Ignorance or Superftition have oppofed 
 to the fmTple and evident Truths they would have 
 revealed? 
 
 The more -Î confidcr my Religion, the more I 
 -am convincedthat it is equally rcafonable and mag- 
 nificent, 
 
Lett. CXXIV. rke Jewish Spy. 27 
 
 nihcent. One only God, the Creator of Heaven 
 and Earth, a Being infinitely wife and good, who 
 preferves and governs the Univerfe by his Power, 
 who will punilh the Wicked, and who will reward 
 the Good. The Wicked, who are they ? Such as 
 prefume to do unto others what they would not bear 
 to be done to themfelves : And the Good, v/ho are 
 they ? Such as, not content with avoiding any In- 
 juft'ice towards their Neighbour, pradife alfo to> 
 wards him whatfoever they wifh he fhould praclife 
 towards them, as my Friend the Latin Poet happi- 
 ly exprefles it in one Line : 
 
 ^ia tlbi vis fieri ^ facias. Hac furmtiula Icgis» 
 
 To others do, what you from them expetSl", 
 Nor ever this the Sum of Laiu ncgled:. 
 
 Here, my Friend, is the whole of our Religion. 
 All its Precepts are contained within this narrow 
 Compafs. Whatever our Rabbins have added, may 
 be confidered, if you pleafe, as ufelefs and fuperflu- 
 ous. What Mortal, who makes the leaftUfe of his 
 Reafon, but muft acknowledge the Evidence of the 
 Truths we declare, and give them his AfTent ? 
 I repeat it again, my Friend, that if we had been 
 polîelTed of a Zeal like that of the Nazûrencs, for 
 making known the Beauty and San(Slity of our Re- 
 ligion, we had certainly drawn to us a Number of 
 Profelytes. But fmce our People, either through 
 Negligence, or which is the real Truth, out of ^ 
 Diflike of other Nations, hath neglected to make 
 known to them the Deity, we ought, as Phiicfo- 
 phers, to be charmed when v/e perceive that the 
 -Miiîionaries have fupplied our Defe£l, and have done 
 to Mankind that Service which wedifdained to ren- 
 der chem, 
 
 C 2. y[^l^- 
 
28 T/'^ Jewish Spy. Lett.CXXIV.- 
 
 Mzny of the Xûzûrenes have written in fharp 
 Terms againft their Miifionaries ; they have re- 
 prcach'd them on the head of their bad Condaï5l, 
 and have alledged that they have fruftrated thereby 
 the good Defign they went upon. Thefe Refiec- 
 ticns have made fome hafty People ccnclude, that 
 all the MiiTionaries have been alike wanting in their 
 Duty, But this is giving in to an apparent Error : 
 We may fay without exaggerating, that the Good 
 they have done very far îurpaues the .Evil. It is 
 true that fome Inftances may be given, Where Slips 
 of theirs have Jtflro^. ed the Fruits of many Years 
 Application. However, the Crimes of particular 
 I^eople ought r.cr to fall upon Miffionaries in gene- 
 ral. I own it were to be w^idi'd there had never 
 gone to the Ihdics, or into other Countries inhabi- 
 ted by Idolaters, any but Frc72ch and German Milîi- 
 onaries, bred up in Countries where the Inquifition 
 13 abhorrd. For thtfe Preachers, if we except a few 
 of a certain Order, feldom make ufe of any violent 
 Meafures ; and this Tendernefs of theirs, is much 
 r^.ore ufcful and efficacious in the Bufmefs of their 
 MiiTion, than the Ficrcenefs of the Spaniards and 
 Porii'gvcjc, One of tlie lafl: mentioned Nation, 
 \vh«>fe Name was Mencze^^ m>ide feveral Attempts 
 i"- Older to the Converfion of the Inhabitants of the 
 IPand of Zocciora i but tl'.e extraordinary Cruelties 
 le had exercifed amongfl other People, where he 
 ..was fupported bv the Puwer of the King of Cochin^ 
 ûjlduced rhefê Iflanders to revolt rather than receive 
 him. Tijey fell biiû a Rage, fays a Nazanne Hifto- 
 rian *, at the very Tneniion jf their embracing the Re- 
 iqich of the Portug'ielb. A'/y, they carritd their A- 
 '■doJiQi^fo far as tclrGtijl, that they would rather juf- 
 
 fer 
 
 * DliTcrtation. Hillorique.. lV P.echerches lur la Re.'f- 
 ^■011 Chrèrienr:e dan.- its Luks, p, 304. 
 
Lett.CXXIV. 72.' Jewish Spy. 29 
 
 fry Death than embrace the Opinions taught ky thoj^ 
 M'ijjionaries^ wham they ftiled a perverje and infamjui 
 Race of Men, 
 
 Another Mifnonary, whofe Name was Alphonfo 
 Mcndez^ demolilhed all that hii Predeceilbr's had 
 been doing. As he was a Jefuit, his Enemies made 
 that a Pretext to attack the Order. They piib- 
 liilned feveral Pieces, wherein they acciifed tiie J..- 
 fuits in general of prejudicing the Mifïïans ; bat iv. 
 thefe they exaggerated many Things and in Turner 
 others difguifed the Truth not a httle. T'o do 
 Juftice, it muft be acknowledged, that the IvIiiKu- 
 jiaries of this Order have made a great Progrefs in 
 Countries, where before their Arrival the People 
 had not any right Notions of the Deity, and that 
 they commonly behave with a great deal of l>n- 
 derncfs. Nay, they are reproached vvith being bi:t 
 too trail ible, and with having pufa'd beyond i^s 
 proper Extent, their C-^mplaifaiice for the Idolaters 
 they had to do with. But whichever way th.ey 
 take it, it is impo/ilble f.r them \o content ail 
 People, or to hinder their Enemies from nnding 
 fault with their Condu^St. The diimterefled part, 
 however, of their Adverfaries do-them Juilice, and 
 acknowledge that there have been in x\\t Indies^ 
 and elfe where. Men of their OrJer of great WoriL 
 and Probity. Let me quote to you what a reform- 
 ed Nazarctie *, who is of courfe an Enemy to the 
 Jefuits, has faid upon this Subject. '^ Chriftianity 
 " feems more efFe61:ually fettled in China than in 
 " any of the Countries where the Order hath been 
 '•.^ employed in planting the Faith. The Jefuits 
 '' have had in this Miflion many great Men, fudi 
 '* as the Fathers Riccius, Mariinius^ Schait^ Ver. 
 C 3 " bUfi, 
 
 * DiiTertations Hiftoriques k Recherchés fur la Reli- 
 gion Chrétienne dans les Indes, p 31S. 
 
30 The Jewish Spy. Lett. CXXIV. 
 
 ^' hlej}^ and very many others. It would be In- 
 *•' juitice to refufe thefe great Men the Praifes 
 *' which are due to them. For my part, I enter 
 ^' not'di prefent into the Difputes which fubfift be- 
 *"' tween them and the other MiiTionaries* It may 
 *' be, that the Jefuits are not altogether free from 
 " Blame; but the Condudl of their Adverfaries is 
 '' liot however void of Paillon. Do they not e- 
 '' vidently fhew too great a Pleafure in mortifying 
 " the Jefuits on account of the Infults they pre- 
 *' tend to have received from them ? " 
 
 This PafTage fets in its proper Light the Grounds 
 of thofe Reproaches thrown out againft the Jefuit 
 Milîionaries. The Hatred which is borne to their 
 Order in Europe^ extends itfelf even to thofe wha 
 are employ'd in the Indies in preaching the Unity of 
 (lod. They reproach fome with their too great 
 Ccmplaifai-ice in China ; they objed to others their 
 Cruelty, and their Loading the Minds of the Indians 
 too kZn and too heavily with the Belief of Myfte- 
 ries. Thus they condemn in the firft what tl:iey 
 v.'ould have praclifed by the latter, and plainly Ihew, 
 that tJieir Qi^iarrel with the MifTionaries is a mere 
 Pretence for charging on the Jefuits ail the Evils 
 that f;ill out in all Places. 
 
 I mull own to you, my Friend, that I have often 
 thou2;ht tliey lay "too many things to the Charge of 
 thefe^Fathers. There fcaree falls out any Mifchief 
 but they are reproached with it. I am fenfible that 
 they are vair., ambitious and revengeful ; but I 
 know too, thLt their Adverfaries are apt to extend 
 things aeainft Jthem to extravagancy, and to load 
 them witli imagn/ary Crimes. One Angdinus Ga- 
 %a:usy a [efuir, h.ith on this head written fome 
 Latin Veffes, whicA.'» exprefe very happily this Fol- 
 ly of attributins: whk-tevcr falls out amif^, to that 
 
Lett. CXXV. The Jewish Spy. 3 1 
 Order * . The Senfe of them is this : 
 
 Eve, the Jefuits believed. 
 
 They Jdam made the Apple eat ; 
 
 Abel by Jefuits deceived, 
 
 Cain, at their Suit, his Brains out beat. 
 
 It were to be wifh'd, that Divines had never an- 
 fwered in any other manner than this, to the 
 groundlefs Reproaches thrown out againft them .: 
 Wefhould not then have fuch an enormous Load 
 of Books, full of nothing but Complaints and ill 
 Language. For my part, I cannot comprehend 
 how grave People can fpend their Time in writing" 
 fuch Heaps of Livedlives ; a quick Pleafantry like 
 this of the Jefuit, renders a falfe Accufation moree- 
 vident and more ridiculous than a long pedantick 
 Apology. All the Volumes that have been written 
 againft the Jefuits never gave them fo much Trouble 
 £s the PvGvinc'al Letters, where Pafcal has conti- 
 nually in mind Horace'^ Maxim, 
 
 Ridiculum acr't 
 
 Fortius i^ tnclius magnas plcrumque fecat res. 
 
 If Pafcal had refuted the Spanîjb Divines with all 
 the Pomp of the Schools, the Jefeùts had not fail'd, 
 in their Turns, to have fent abroad a Number of 
 Books in defence of their Brethren. They would 
 in this Cafe have done no more than mutually em- 
 barafi the SubjecSl on which they writ ; and after 
 fatiguing themfelves and the Publick, with a Mul- 
 C 4 tituuc 
 
 * The Latin Verfes run thus : 
 
 Vcmum MaritOj J e fuit is credulo^ 
 
 Porrexit Ei:a, Jefuitis credida : 
 
 Fratrem Cainus, jefuitis creduluJ, 
 
 Oçcidet Abe If Jefuitis credulum. 
 
3a The Jewish Spy. Lett. CXXV. 
 
 titude of Pieces on the one fide, and on the other, 
 which, however, none but themfelves or their 
 Friends would have particularly examined ; the 
 thing had refted there, and the generality of the 
 World known no more than when they began to 
 wiite But the Thing (lands now in quite a con- 
 trary State ; the ingenious, but malicious Method 
 taken by Pafcal^ hath in fix Months time made 
 that evident to all Europe^ of which all its Univer- 
 iities could not convince the Publick in a hundred 
 Years. 
 
 Take care of your felf, my Friend, live happy and 
 contented, and may our God beftow on you great 
 and lading Profperity. 
 
 Hamburgh. 
 
 LETTER CXXV. 
 
 Aaron Monceca, to Jacob Brito. 
 
 'VT'Our Letters upon the Spanijh Nation, my dear 
 * Brito^ gave me infinite Plea^uie, and I wiih 
 from my Heart, that thofe which I write you, 
 may prove as ufeful and as agreeable. I concur 
 with you in your Reflexions ; they are fenfible and 
 iuft. One only appears to me contrary to the Law 
 \A Nature, and contrary to that Equality which a 
 Philofopher allows to all Mankind. You cenfure 
 .1 Cuftom which the Naxarene Pontiffs approved in 
 * certain Aflembly *, and which allows a Man, in 
 whatfoever State born, Freedom of Choice in a 
 
 Wife. 
 
 '^ Council of 'Trent, 
 
Lett. CXXV. The Jewish "^çw 53 
 
 Wife. You fay, that fuch a PermiiTlon as this i^ 
 contrary to paternal Authority, deilructive of tha^ 
 Order which ought to be obferved in all States, and 
 q{ the Subordination which ought to fubfili in all 
 Places, for the Good of Society. I muil own to 
 voLi, that in this I am not at all of your mind, 
 but on the contrary, admire the Wlfdom and Pru- 
 dence of thefe Naxartmes^ who, confclous that all 
 Men were the Children of one Father, did not think 
 proper to authorize thofe chimerical Dillin£cions, 
 which, in procefs of time, Pride, Sin, and Vanity 
 have introduced, Befides, what i-^ it to the Good 
 of the State, whether a particular Perfon be a little 
 more, or a little lefs rich, provided thefe Riches re- 
 main in the Society ? Nay, to fpeaîc the truth, the 
 more equally they are parted, fj much the more will 
 Trade floarifh. Equality among Citizens is the ve- 
 ry Bahs 0Ï Commerce. In fuch States as have a No- 
 bility aggrandiz'd by extraordinary Piivileges, Trade 
 is more cramp'd than in other?. In order to prove 
 this F^ct, we need but compare the Riches of parti- 
 cular Pcrfons amongft the Dutch and EngUfn with 
 the French and Germans. This will be fuliicient to 
 fhew us what mighty Benefits a People reap by chc- 
 rilbing this Equality, and by rcfufmg to introduce 
 thofe Diltinélions which break the Harmony of So- 
 ciety, and by exalting the Spirits of particular Pct- 
 fons, mortify at tiie fame time others, fo as to de- 
 prive them of that Quicknefs, Boldnefsand Penetra- 
 tion which is necefTary to render thcrn fuccefsful in 
 Trade. 
 
 I can by no means think, that Cuflom which 
 prevails among the /r^«t^, the Right ot' difiblviag 
 thole Marriages which they are plea fed to ifile un-- 
 equ::], and thereby feparating two Periuns v/hom 
 Love ha^^^ united, and who, in . the Prei'eace of the 
 Deitv. havLJ/^or;; ccernal TendtineG :o ç^ch otl:t*ç. 
 C r J'r>,5 
 
34 1'be Jewish Spv. iett. CXXV, 
 
 This is a Species of Tyranny whicK' is a Remnant 
 ofthofe too exalted Privileges whicii the Romans 
 extended heretofore to the Fathers of Families. 
 Thefe Laws in favour of paternal Authority have 
 drav/n along with them great Inconveniencies, and 
 by giving to the Heads of Houfes an abfolute Af- 
 cendance over their Families, have expofed many 
 reafonable Beings to the Caprice of one. In vain 
 the old Roman Lawyers fet up the Tendernefs of Fa- 
 thers, as an Excufe for vefting in them this extra- 
 vagant Pov\'er. Fathers-, as well as their Children, 
 are fubje6l to all the Pallions, and all the Frailties 
 of human Nature. How often do wt fee them hate 
 their Children without Reafon, and foolifhly diiii- 
 pLte the Eftates which they ought to leave to them ? 
 How often do we fee them facrifice their Families to 
 their Ambition ? And how frequently may we dif- 
 cern in their Oppofition to their Families in a cer- 
 tain \Vay, a fecret Jealoufy left their Childr^i 
 fnould be happier than themfelves ? "^ 
 
 I believe, my Friend, that the Duties between 
 Parents and Children are reciprocal. This is the 
 Sentiment of a French Poet *. Let me cite a couple 
 of Verfcs which he puts into the Mouth of a diftreft 
 
 O cruel Parents ! Are not yoiir Rights ours ? 
 The Ties of Duty, are not they too yours ? 
 Thefe then fhou'd bind, or thofe fhou'd fure be void 3 
 Both muft fubfift, or both muft be deftroy'd. 
 
 The Romans difcovered in the End how detri- 
 mental to Society this too great Extent of paternal 
 Authority really proved ; in confequence of this, 
 tliey reduced it into narrower Bounds, and took a- 
 way the Power over Life and Death. Alas ! how 
 
 great 
 
 * GrcbillcT; in h'u Tr^^eeh /pN.adâmi{lus and Z^n^^bid.-. 
 
Lett.CXXV. ry6^ Jewish Spy. 35 
 
 great the Folly, to permit fo long that a whole Fa- 
 mily fhould be abandoned to the Will of a Tingle 
 Man, who too frequently made an ill Ufe of his 
 Power ? 
 
 In order to have a proper Idea of this wrong Ufe 
 which Parents may make of a Right over the 
 Lives of their Offspring, we need only re- call to our 
 Memory that Cuftom which prevail'd over the 
 Greeks^ of expofmg their Children. Where, in this 
 Cafe, was that paternal Tendernefs fo boafled of 
 by the Lawyers ? What Strefij can be laid on a Dif- 
 pofition which we fee may be fo far difpcnfed with 
 as to facrifice the Life of a poor Child, purely to 
 gratify Avarice or Ambition, by affording a larger 
 Portion to a Child already brought up ? Do v\^e not 
 at this Day fee among the Nazarenes many Ex- 
 amples of the Harfhnefs of Parents? How many 
 haplefs Daughters are facrificed in order to enrich 
 an elded- Son ? They are without Pity condemned 
 to perpetual Imprifonment, and under the fpecious 
 Appellation of Nun^ languifh in Captivity during 
 Life. Are not thefe, my Friend, moft fenfible 
 Marks of paternal Tendernefs? Can you, after 
 this, think that the natural Affeâ:ion of Men is a 
 proper Foundation for Law, cr that any Dépen- 
 dance can be had on that innate Tendernefs which 
 fome Declaimers have magnified with all the Pomp 
 of Eloquence. 
 
 I am confident, my dear Jacob, that a Law 
 which fhould place Children iniirely in the power 
 of their Fathers, would at leaft be as unreafonable as 
 a Law which gave Children a Power over their Fa- 
 thers. In a well-regulated State, the Power of the 
 one, and the Obedience of the other,- ought to be 
 fixed. Even the moft neceffary Laws ought to 
 have Limits. I am convinced that the Head of a Fa- 
 mily ought to have all the Authciity ncceliary to 
 
 . infpire 
 
36 K/- Jewish Spy." Lett. CX XV. 
 
 jnfplre with Virtue, and to regulate the Manners 
 of his Defcendants. But I can by no means agree, 
 that if he fhould forget to be a Father, he fhould 
 itill retain a Power of punifhing a Number of inno- 
 cent Perfons, to whom he imputes no Crime, but 
 the natui-al Defire of freeing themfelves from an in- 
 fupportable Yoke. 
 
 XVhen one confiders attentively the Reafons 
 which generally induce Parents to crofs the Inclina- 
 tions of their Children in Marriage, one difcovers 
 their Source either in Caprice or in Ambition. I 
 have (hewn you, my Friend, that it is not juft to 
 fubjed many to the Fancy of one. I believe 1 have 
 alfo ofFtred you Reafons fufficient, to prove that E- 
 quality amongft Citizens contributes to the Good of 
 Society If to thefe, you will add the Refiectiv:rLs 
 of a Philofopher, who not content with regarding 
 ail Mankind as Equals, fets a greater Price on the 
 Satisfaction of the Mind than on all the Treafures 
 of the Univerfe. All thefe things, I fay, confi- 
 cered, I flatter my felf you will not perfift in cen- 
 faring that Decifion of the Nazarene Pontiffs, which 
 folemnly declares, that Men have no Right to in- 
 validate fuch Marriages as are contraéled with the 
 free Confent of both Parties. 
 
 Marriages founded in Affection are the mofl hap- 
 py. Love, fays an Er.glijh Author *, ought to have 
 fhot its Roots deep, and to have been well grown 
 before we enter into that State. There is nothing 
 which more nearly concerns the Peace of Mankind 
 than the having a thorough Knowledge of thofe with 
 whom they converfe. If this be fo, how ftrong a 
 Reafon is it for a Husband, being we'l acquainted 
 with the Qualities of a Woman wich v/hom he is to 
 pafs the reit of his Days ? It is on his Choice in this 
 jtfpeCt, that his Happinefs or Mif^ry for Life de- 
 
 per.d. 
 ■^ The ^pe^ator. 
 
Lett.CXXV. r/'.' Jewish Spy. -3.7 
 
 pend. One may fav of Marriage what Vtr^il raid 
 ofHeUj 
 
 With mighty eafe, we downwards in: J the Way 
 ' To Hell ; the Gates are open Nii^ii and Day : 
 But oh! how hard and difncul to tread 
 The Paths to heav'nly Light which upward lead I 
 
 But when once we are in, there is no Remedy left but 
 Patience. How^ well ought we to examine an Acti- 
 on which hath fuch important Confequences, and 
 how evidently unjuft to deprive a Man of his Liber- 
 ty in refpeft to a I'hing which fo nearly conceriiS 
 him? When the Choice of a Husband or W^ife is 
 left to Parents, they have nothing in view but the 
 Bleiiings and Advantages of this World -, whereas 
 the Perfons who are themfelves interefted regard 
 moftly perfonal Merit. The firft would procure all 
 the Eafe and Pleafures of Life for the Perfon whofs 
 Intereft they efpoufe, in hopes that in all Situations 
 thefe Advantages may he ferviceabJe to them. The 
 latter fix their Thoughts on a continual Blifs. 
 
 You fee, my Friend, the different Sentiments 
 whereon the Fathers of Families and their Children 
 2,ti. I leave you to judge which is mofl reasonable. 
 To me it appears, that Satisfadion of Mind is of 
 more Value than the Empire of the Univerfe, with 
 refpeél to a Perfon who defires to live happy and at 
 Eafe. The Turks have a much wifer Maxim in this 
 refpecl than the French. They permit their Chil- 
 dren to chufe, if they think fit, from among their 
 Slaves ; they regard not in their Alliances either 
 Riches or Ambition, when Love ftands in the Way. 
 The Jews^ on the contrary, refemble the Naza- 
 renes, who reject the Decifion of their Pontiffs; 
 liicy even go farther, for they fettle the Fate of their 
 Children in their Lif^mcy. They contract them 
 
 before 
 
38 The Jewish Spy. Lett. CXXV. 
 
 before they are at Years of Difcretion ; and I con- 
 fefs, I know not how it comes to pafs, that our 
 Brethren are not more unlucky in their Marriages 
 than we generally obferve them to be. 
 
 A Father, who forms a Project of marrying his 
 Son on the mere Score of Intereft, can he poflibly 
 know any thing of the Humour or Character of 
 her he defigns for his Daughter-in-law, when per- 
 haps he is fcarce acquainted with her Perfon ? In 
 truth, my Friend, I cannot but blame thefe fort 
 of Bargains, believing that AfFedion, Tendernefs 
 and Sympathy are the proper Bands which tie in 
 Marriage. 
 
 I obferve in France^ and in many other Coun- 
 tries, that a Pe^fant is much happier than a Man 
 of fuperior Rank ; becaufe the former may difpofe 
 of his Heart as he pleafes ; but the latter being a 
 Slave to Birth, muft on that account ftifle his Af- 
 fedion. The Examination of her Dignity muft. 
 precede all refpecl for her good Qualities in the Wo- 
 man to whom he inclines j and it mufl be his firft 
 Care not to derogate from his Nobility, in finding 
 any thing amiable in a Perfon beneath him. So 
 many Precautions muft render a Man miferable. 
 It is natural to avoid Conftraint ; and therefore I 
 have no Idea of an imaginary Advantage which de- 
 prives me of real ones. 
 
 Great Men have always elevated themfelves on 
 this head above the Vulgar of their Rank. When 
 they have found themfelves invaded by the Power 
 of Love, they have not fail'd to marry as their 
 Paftion direéted. They have never thought them- 
 felves obliged to ftoop to ridiculous Cuftoms ; but 
 have raifed to an Equality with themfelves, fuch as 
 Love told them were worthy of that Elevation. One 
 of the firft Monarchsof thé World *, diftinguifh'd 
 
 alike 
 
 f Peter Alexowitz, Czar o/Mofcovy. 
 
Lett.CXXV. rbe]Ewisu Spy. 39 
 
 alike by the Extenfivenefs of his Genius and his Do- 
 minions, gave a Place on his Throne to a Woman of 
 the meaneft Birth. His Glory was fur from fufFering 
 any Diminution thereby ; theWorld having admired 
 his Capacity as a Prince, contemplated his Con- 
 du6l with Pleafure, as the Head of his Family, and 
 found nothing inconfiftent with that Grandeur he 
 ftood pofTefled of, confidered in one Light, and the 
 Tendernefs with which he had ac^ed in the other. 
 
 I have infifted long enough, dear Brito, on this 
 Subjeâ ; I would by no means force you to adopt 
 my Sentiment?, if you judge them unreafonable, but 
 if what I have (aid appears well founded, then I (hall 
 imagine I have not done amifs in arguing againft 
 your Opinion. Till then I fhall remain in a kind 
 of Uncertainty. For tho* I can by no means ap- 
 prove placing a boundlefs Authority in Parents, yet 
 I {hall be very diffident as to my own Judgment, if I 
 find that a Perfon endowed with fo much Wit and 
 good Senfe as you are, inclines to an oppofite Way 
 of thinking. There are none but Pedants, and the 
 Roman Pontiffs, who pretend to Infallibity. Philo- 
 Ibphers and Men of Senfe are always afraid of fal- 
 ling into Errors. They are too well acquainted 
 with the Weaknefs of human Underftanding not to 
 be apprehenfive of tripping fometimes in fpight of 
 all their Care. Many have pufh'd their Modefty 
 too far, and have run into a kind of Pyrrhonifm 
 to exprefs their Humility. I cannot help thinking 
 it a little extraordinacv, that Socrates ûiould fay af- 
 ter thirty Years Study, That he knew only one things 
 which ivasy that he knew nothing *. Methinks it' was 
 a long time to meditate, in order to be the Author at 
 lait of fuch a Saying. 
 
 May 
 
 f Id unH?a /do, quod îiihil fclOi 
 
40 The Jewish Spy. Lett. CXXVI. 
 
 May you, dear Brito^ ]ive always contented and 
 fatisfied. 
 Hamburgh. 
 
 LETTER CXXVL 
 
 Isaac On is, Car ait e^ heretofoi-e a Rabbi 
 ^r Conflantinople, to Aar on TVI on- 
 ce ca. 
 
 'TT H E Letter, my dear Monceca^ which you 
 '*' wrote me on the difterent Seéts of the Naza- 
 renes^ hath inchned me to refleél a httle on thofe 
 which formerly divided the Rehgion of our An- 
 ceftors. It feems to me. that there is no Rtligion, 
 which once thoroughly eftablifhed, does not, at the 
 fame time that it fhoots its Roots downwards, de- 
 monftrate its Strength alfo, by ftriking out its 
 Branches upwards. In the Beginning thefe SetSls 
 are but a kind of Sprigs or Suckers ; by degrees 
 they fwellj and at length acquire a Bignefs propor- 
 tionable to the Trunk from whence they fprung. 
 As they grow and gather Strength, they digrefs far- 
 ther and farther from the Dodrines of their Mo- 
 ther Church. The chief of each Seel forms his 
 Syftem but by little and little^ and his Difciples a- 
 gain add m,any things thereto. 
 
 It is always gradually, and ftep by flep that Inno- 
 vators condemn the received Religion. If they at 
 once meddled with Fundamentals, they w:ould fright 
 rather than perfuade People. There is a Neceffity " 
 of preparing them by fmaller Alterations, for the 
 Reception of Novelties of a larger Size. 
 
Lett. CXXVI. The Jewish Spy. 41 
 
 ThtSadducees at their firft Appearance, went no 
 further than the Canutes of our Days. They con- 
 tented themfclves with rejecling the Traditions of 
 the Ancients, and ftuck clofe to the written Law. 
 I'he Pharifees, a fort of Folks as fond heretofore 
 of Chimaeras as my quondam Brethren the Rabbins 
 are at this Day, and zealous Maintainers of a thou- 
 fand ridiculous Traditions, were dire6lly oppofite to 
 the Sadducees. However, thus far the latter were 
 in the right, and admitted nothing but what was 
 reafonable. But quickly after, the Love of No- 
 velty, and the Pleafure of ftraying in Paths far fr^m 
 thofe of 'their Adverfaries, drew them into unfu- 
 flainable Notions. Of Caraites they became Infi- 
 dels and Blafphemers, and thereby gave their Ene- 
 mies the Pharifees2iS great Advantages over them as 
 they themfelves were pofleired of in the B-ginning. 
 They deny'd the Refurrecftion of the Body and the 
 Exiftence of Angels ; they maintained, that the 
 Soul was mortal, and that there was no fpiritual 
 Being but God alone *. By this pernicious Syftem, 
 they opened a Door to all Sorts of Crimes, the Fear 
 of Puni{hment3,and the Hope of Rewards hereafter, 
 being the Ties by which common People are bound 
 to Virtue. It is true they did acknowledge God , 
 created the Univerfe, and that he governed it by 
 his Providence ; but then they were of Opinion, 
 that he neither punifhes nor rewards, fave in this 
 World only. 
 
 Let me intreat you, my Friend, to examine the 
 feveral Seé^s now lubnfting among the Nazarenes, - 
 and you will find them come very near in their Sen- 
 timents to thofe which were formerly among the 
 Jews. The Sadducees in Judea were what the De- 
 ifts now are at Paris, of 'whom you have written 
 
 me 
 
 * Jofcph. Antiquitat. /Ii>. xviil cap 2. Sc de Bdlo Ju. 
 «aico, lib. vi. cap. 12. 
 
42 The Jewish Spy. Lett. CXXVI. 
 
 me fo much formerly in your Letters, and their Be- 
 lief, as you muft obferve, nearly the fame *. I 
 would not however, pufli this Parallel too far, be- 
 caufe I know that the true Deifts, that is to fay, 
 fuch as have a proper Veneration for the Divinity, 
 do not rejeâ: the Doclrine of a future State f. 
 
 But let us purfue this Parallel between the Jewijh 
 and Nazarene Sedts. That of the Pharifees ftill 
 fubfifts, and is indeed become the Standard of Be- 
 lief among the modern Jezvs^ if we except my Bre- 
 thren the Caraites^ and a few Sa??iaritans ; for I 
 look upon all fuch as profefs themfelves Votaries to 
 the Tahnud^ and the Traditions of the Rabbins as 
 Defcendants of the Pharifees, From the Deftru6li- 
 on of the Temple this Se6l hath fwallowed up all 
 the others. The Jews in general have unhappily 
 receiv^ed all its Reveries i fo that athoufand ridicu- 
 lous Chimseras, under the Name of Traditions, 
 have in a manner annuir<i the Holy Scriptures. 
 
 I figh, dear Monceca^ in the Bitternefs of Soul, 
 when I confider, that except a fmall Number of 
 Caraites^ all our Nation have embraced the grofleft 
 Errors. Their Religion, as it now ftands, is an E- 
 difice built entirely on the Traditions o/ the Pha^ 
 rifees^ and not at all on the Books of the Law. You 
 are well enough acquainted with the Fiercenefs and 
 Pride of thofe ancient DotStors. They look'd up- 
 on themfelves as infinitely more holy than other 
 People, and on this account feparated themfelves 
 from thofe whom they ftiled Sinners or profane Per- 
 fons, with whom they would not fo much as eat or 
 drink. It was from hence that they derived their 
 Name of Pharijees^ which, as you know, comes 
 from the word Pharos^ which fignifies to feparate. 
 They carried, however, their Point by their Hy- 
 
 pocrify 
 
 * Tom. I. Let. 4. 
 
 t See the Writings of the Baron of Cherhury, 
 
Lett.CXXVI. T/^^ Jewish Spy. 43 
 
 pocrify in deceiving the People, who are generally 
 the Dupes of fuch as put on an exterior Shew of 
 San<5titv. 
 
 I find, my dear Monceca^ a m'ghty ftrong Re- 
 femblance between the old Pharifees and the modern 
 Janfenifts^ as you paint them out. Thefe lafl pique 
 themfelves exactly like the firfl: on their great Au- 
 flerity, and endeavour to diftinguifli themfelves by 
 extraordinary, (hall I call them, or their odd Actions. 
 They have the fame Veneration for their Auftln^ 
 that the Pharifecs have for their Traditions, or their 
 Succeflbrs the Rabbins have at this day for the Tal- 
 mud. They are Cheats, Hypocrites, Impoftors,- 
 and know perfeélly well, efpecially the Women a- 
 mongft them, how to deceive the Populace by a fair 
 Outfide. They make a mighty Parade of the Seve^ 
 rity of their Morals, which hinders not, however, 
 their fuppofmg the Epines, the Hemorrhoifes, She- 
 Saints J and the Jbbé Paris 2. He -One. In one 
 word, I find them but too like the Pharifees» 
 
 The EJJ'enesy who among the ancient Jews 
 were perhaps the only true Obfervers of the Law, 
 had Opinions very different from thofe of the other 
 Sedls. They led a Life far more rigid, but at the 
 fame time far more fage than any of their Country- 
 men, but notwithftandingthis there was not a Spice 
 of Hypocrify in their Condu£l. They were Men 
 tiuly virtuous, whofe Moderation and Self-denial 
 211 uft appear exemplarv, even in the Eyes of Philo- 
 fophers. It is true they ran into fome very odd 
 Do<ftrines. They admitted abfoiute Predeftination, 
 looked upon Man as a Slave, deny'd his Free-will, 
 and left him no Liberty in his Actions. They dif- 
 fered alfo from the V\\2.x\{^QS about the great Articles 
 of a future State and the RefurreSiion of the Dead, 
 For tho they believed ihefortner^ they deny'd the latter^ 
 maintaiyung, that Smls when they left their Bodies^ 
 
 entered 
 
44 T^Sé' Jewish Spy. Lett. CXXVI. 
 
 entered in/îantly into a State of Immortality^ remaining 
 eternally happy or eternally miferahle^ according to their 
 Anions here y without ever being joined again to tl^cir 
 cwn^ or to any other Bodies *. 
 
 There are many Nazarencs^ who maintain at this 
 Day the laft mentioned Opinions of the Effenes^ 
 and who beheve there is no Purgatory, not with - 
 Handing what is faid on that Subject by other Na- 
 zarenes. They fay, that when the Soul cfcapes 
 from the Captivity it fuffers in the Body, it enters 
 into a State of eternal Happinefs or eternal Miiery. 
 Inhere are not a few who admit abfolute Predefti- 
 nation ; and in fhort, all 'w^ho are call'd reformed 
 throughout Europe J refemble in many refpccls the 
 EJfenes. 
 
 There was yet another Seel among the Jews, 
 Nvho were fliled the Contemplative or Tlurapeuta f. 
 Thofe who embraced their Opinions, faid, that it 
 was a Motion of the divine Love which threw them 
 into a fort of Enthufiafm, not unlike that of the 
 Bacchantes and the Coryhantes^ in their Celebration 
 of their Myfteries among the ancient Pagans. This 
 fit lafted till they fell into a kind of Contemplation, 
 daring which they w^ere in an Ecdacy. Thence- 
 forward, they looked upon themfelves as raifed a- 
 bove other Men. Thefe People often retired into 
 DefartSjleaving their Relations and Friends, in order 
 to deliver themfelves up entirely to feraphick Joys. 
 
 It is eafy to find thefe Thérapeutes among the 
 Myftics of our Days. The Monks, who leave the 
 World and retire into Defarts, that they may have 
 nothing to difturb them in their Contemplation, 
 refemble them flrongly. The Fanaticks, or the 
 Fnh'Khtned, as they call themfelves, are alfo of this 
 . Caft. 
 
 * ?rideaux\ Conneflion. 
 
 f Philo de vita contemplativa. p. 668. edit. Colon. 
 
Lett. CXXVI. r/je Jewish Spy. 45 
 
 Caft. They believe, as thofc People did, that 
 
 they have received the Spirit in a fupernatural Way ; 
 
 that it entirely polTefTes them , that they are suided 
 
 by^it in all things, and confequently juftified1)y it. 
 
 You^fee, dear Moncecay that I had Reafon to 
 mau.tam there was fcarce a Nazarene S^à:^ m which 
 might not be difcovered fomewhat of the Leaven 
 of Tome one of thofe which anciently prevailed a- 
 mong the Jews, In this manner, the Opinions of 
 Men fucceed each other. After being profcribea 
 for a certain Space of time, they again revive, and 
 find again new Partizans. 
 
 Tlure was in Judea, ^.Jittle before the Deftruc^ 
 tion of that Kingdom, ^^îer'tàin Sed who called 
 themfelves Herodians, and who took rife from //- 
 rod the Great. This Se(Sl fubfifts at this Day in all 
 Courts. The Errors of thefe confills in followincr 
 blmdly the Will of their Prince, and In thinking 
 that Party always in the right which has a fuperior 
 Force on its Side. Herod followed this Principle in 
 his own Practice. Jofephus *, a celebrated Hifto- 
 rian of our Nation, tho' too much defpifed by us, 
 n^forms us, that this Prince, to make his Court to 
 iV.Q Remans, did many things which were not on- 
 ly forb-dden by, but were direaiy contrary to the 
 bpint of our Laws. Nay, he disreifed fo far from 
 the right Road, as to build Temples and to ereâ 
 .Statues for Idolatrous Worfhip, which abominable 
 Crimes heexculed by the Obligation he lay under 
 m keeping on good Terms with the Ro?nans, His 
 i'fllowers adopted his Maxims -, and the Courtiers, 
 rhofe eternal Idolaters of a Monarch's Favour, 
 were almofl to a Man of this Sea ; which was 
 thoroughly defpifed by the more virtuous Jews,- 
 ànd> ,s even now held in Abomination, notwith- 
 ftanding the DiHance of Time, by all fuch as hare 
 
 * Jofeph. Antiq. lib. xv. cap. 12. 
 
4.6 Tie? Jewish Spy. Lett.CXXVI. 
 
 a true Senfe of Religion ; and prefer the Service of 
 God to a vain and fleeting Glory. See, my Friend, 
 how a Nazarene Author has treated thele Herodi- 
 ans, *' I believe they were like Herod^ but half 
 ** Jews \ Men who made ProfelTion indeed of that 
 " Religion, but could, upon occafion, accommo- 
 " date^themfelves to the Pagan Idolatry, and do 
 <* whatever was demanded of them. The Saddu- 
 ** cees, who believed there was no Life after this, 
 *^ ran almoft unanimoufly into that Opinion, in- 
 *' fomuch that they came afterwards to be con- 
 «« founded with that Sedt *.*' 
 
 One may, Monceca, boldly venture to affirm, 
 that the Belief of the Prince determines that of his 
 Courtiers in general, and influences in time that of 
 his People. In efFe£t, it is next to an Impofiibili- 
 ty that the Religion of the Sovereign fhould not in 
 time deftroy and abforb the refî-. Would it not 
 have been fufficient to have turned all France Pro- 
 teftants if Hinry IV. had continued in that Religi- 
 on ? Had it been fo, I am perfuaded there would 
 have been fewer Papif^s in Paris, than there are 
 now of the Reformed. For it is impoflîble, that in 
 the Courfe of four or five Generations, there fhould 
 not in every Family be a Chief, defirous of Ho- 
 nours, Oflices, and fuch like Marks of Diftindion. 
 Ambition, in proportion, reigns equally among 
 Great and Small. In order to make a Fortune ea- 
 fily, a Man mufl be of the Religion of his Prince. 
 This is an excellent Reafon in its favour, and an 
 Argument very prevalent with the greateft Part of 
 Mankind. 
 
 In order to demonftrate the Truth of this Fa<£^, 
 we need onlv confider what is become of the Popifli 
 Religion in the North, and it will prefently con- 
 vince UF, thatthç Religion of the Prince will abfo- 
 
 lutely, 
 
 * Prideaux^s Connedion. 
 
Lett.CXXVI. TZ^é» Jewish Spy. 47 
 
 lutely, in time, fwallow up the reft : If the Sue- 
 ceflbrs of Herod had all of them thought as he did, 
 the Jewijh Religion would foon have been half ex- 
 tinguifh'd. The Pharifees theinfelves would have 
 gone over to his Se6l ; for they had too much Pride 
 and Vanity not to defire a Share in the Royal Fa- 
 vour. Thofe who exprefs a great deal of Zeal for 
 an Opinion, are not the leaft likely to change it. 
 I have feen many Nazarenes who have writ with 
 much Heat in defence of a Doârine which Inte- 
 reft or Honours hath afterwards tempted them to 
 defert ; while ignorant People, and Men of a mid- 
 dling Capacity have fuffered with invincible Con- 
 ftancy in defence of their Behaviour. It is not very 
 liifficult to gain the Dodlors of the Sorbomi^^. in cafe 
 it become necefTary to eftablifh any new Opinion in 
 France. By the means of Benefices, the Sovereign 
 has in his hand the Keys of the Clergy's Hearts. 
 If the Janfenijis could obtain Preferments to the 
 full Extent of their Defires, they would certainly 
 make lefs Noife than they do. But the Molinlfls 
 take all, which will never bring both Parties to an 
 Agreement. 
 
 May 'ft thou enjoy, dear Monceca^ Health, Wealth 
 and Profperity. 
 
 Cairo, 
 
 
 LETTER 
 
48 The Jewish Spy. Lett. CXXyiL 
 
 LETTER CXXVn. 
 
 Jacob Brito, to Aaron Mcnceca. 
 
 'TpHE Superftition of the Portuguefe^ my dear 
 -■■ Monceca^ puts me in mind of that ancient^Se- 
 verity with which oar Forefathers kept the Sab- 
 bath. There was a Hme when that Superitition 
 v;as pufhM fo far, that the Jews^ by a falfe Deli- 
 cacy of Confcience durfl not defend their Lives up- 
 on that Day. If they were attacked, they rather 
 fuffer'd thcmfelves to be flain than they would a- 
 void it by Relifbnce. In the Beginning of the 
 Wars under the Maccabees^ the Folly rnd Incon- 
 venience of this Condndl became m^nifeft by its 
 mifchievous Confequences. Men of Senfe, who 
 faw clearly that the divine I,aw could not enjoin a- 
 ny thing apparently deihuclive of Society, decided, 
 that the fourth Commandment did not forbid the 
 defending of their Li\ es when they were attack'd, 
 or found themfelves in Danger. In thus explain- 
 ing the Commandment, the\ certainly came nearer 
 to'rts true Senfe; but ftill their Explication wanted 
 Scope. For after all, they imagined that they were 
 only to refift in cafe of an Attack, and that even 
 this Decifion did not give them a Power of im- 
 peding any preparative Steps towards the Ruin of 
 the Publick, or Deitruélion of any private Perfon? ; 
 but only a Permiifion to defend themfelves at the 
 lall Extremity. Thus it fell out, that if the ^Jews 
 were attack*d upon the Sabbath dav they made a vi- 
 gorous Refi fiance ; but if they were bcheged in a 
 
 Town, 
 
Lett.CXXVII. TZ^^ Jewish Spy. 49 
 
 Town, they did not think it lawful to hinder the 
 railing of Mounts or of Batteries. They durd not 
 fo much as make a Sally in order to drive the Ene- 
 my from an advantageous Poft, becaufe in this Cafe 
 they would have been Aggreflbrs ; and except in a 
 Point of the laft Extremity, they held it a Thin^ 
 abfolutely unlawful to oppofe Force by Force. 
 
 It was this falfe Delicacy, in a great Mcafure, 
 which gave Pcnipiy an Opportunity of taking the 
 Temple. He foon perceiv'd the Nature of the 
 Jewljb Difcipline, and inftead of making Attacks 
 on the Sabbath Days, he employed them entirely 
 in perfeding his Works, in raifmg Batteries, filling 
 up Ditches and erecting Machines ; from which 
 Change of Conducl: he found all the good Effecb 
 he could defire. His Soldiers did their Bufmefs fa 
 well and fo commodi^ufly, that at length they fapp'd 
 a great Tower, which falling, drev/ after it a con- 
 fiderable Part of the Wall. The Breach thus made, 
 they mounted and carried the Place by AfTault. 
 I'hus the Temple was taken and fack'd through the 
 blind Superflition of thofe wlio fhould have defend- 
 ed it. 
 
 Whatever our Rabbins may fay, my dear Monce- 
 ca^ I fhall never be brought to believe, that the Di- 
 vinity can expect from Men a Compliance with a 
 Law, hurtful or prejudicial to Societv. The Light 
 of Nature Tnews us, that the Deity intends the.^ 
 Happinefs of Mankind, and that the Rules he has 
 given us for our Conduct have all that Tendency. 
 We ought therefore to reject in the Celebration of 
 the Sabbath, whatever may render it hurtful j and 
 fmce from the Time of the Maccabees it has beea 
 admitted, that Refiftance in Cafes of extreme Ne» 
 cefTity fs lawful, we ought likew^ife to conclude, 
 that we are permitted to do any thing which may be 
 
 Vol. IV. D need- 
 
■50 r/&^ Jewish Spy. Lett.CXXVII. 
 
 needful on that Day to prevent the Snares laid by our 
 Enemies from taking Effeét. 
 
 The Nazare7ies^2i€\y\n this refpe£l,more wifely than 
 the Jews. They have their Sabbath Day as well as 
 we, but they don't obferve that Day in fuch a Man- 
 ner as to render it hurtful. They do not apprehend 
 that the Service of God obliges them to permit, by 
 a blameable Indolence, the DeftrucStion of his 
 Temple and Altars. The Nazarenes fay likewife, 
 that in certain Laws the Letter kills, but the Spirit 
 giveth Life: and that they are always to be explained 
 in fuch a ralional manner, as that the Divine Com- 
 mands may coincide with the Meafures requifite for 
 the publick Good. Necciîîty m.ay difpeiife with 
 many things. It were to be wilh'd that our An- 
 cellors had thought as reafonably on the Head of the 
 Sabbath, as our Brethren do in the Country where 
 Ï live. They are not circumcifed, they eat Pork, 
 go to the Naza7-ene Churches, fmg Vefpers, and if 
 it be neceffary, fay Mafs ; yet remain neverthelefs 
 good Jews in their Hearts. Of what Ufe would a 
 ïalfe and fooHfh Zeal be, which would ferve only to 
 ruin entirely the Remains of our unfortunate Nati- 
 on in thefe Parts ? I heartily difapprove a fierce and 
 haughty Behaviour on certain Occafions. It is more 
 allowable to be a little negligent, or even to be want- 
 ing to our Duty with r^Tpeâ: to one Precept, than 
 to hazard an Inability cf fulfilling the reft. 
 
 It is not becaufe I have not a proper Admiration 
 of that Conflancy which appeared in the Behaviour 
 of our Anceflors that I reafon thus j I own I am 
 itruck with it : But what then? I cannot approve 
 of it. What Mortal Man but muft be ailonifhed, 
 when he confiders their Firmnefs ? Jofephus and o- 
 ther Hiftorians have preferved a full Account there- 
 of, and tranfmitted it to Poflerity. The Nazarene 
 Authors do them all imaginable Juflice. See how 
 
 an 
 
Lett. CXXVII. rhe Jewish Spy. 51 
 
 an Englifh Writer fpeaks of the Condudl of our 
 Forefathers at the time Pompey fack'd the Temple. 
 " During all this Diftrefs, fays he, amidft the Cries 
 " and the Diforders naturally attending thefe Bar- 
 " barities, the Priefts ftill continued in the Temple, 
 " and ftill difcharged the Duties of their Fundions; 
 " they perfifted in them with wonderful Calmnefs 
 ^' and Steddinefs of Mind, notwithftanding the 
 " Rage of their Enemies, and notwithftanding the 
 *' Anguifh of Soul they muft feel at feeing their 
 ^' Relations and Friends die before their Eyes, 
 ^' chufing to fall by the Swords of their Ene- 
 ^' mies, who were now Mafters of all, rather than 
 " abandon the Service of their God. Many of 
 *' them went to mingle their Blood with that of 
 '' the Sacrifices which they offered, and by the 
 *'. Sword of the Heathens became Victims to their 
 " Duty. Pompey himfelf could not help admiring 
 *' this Firmnefs, this Conftancy, to which fcarce 
 *' any Parallel can be found *." 
 . Whatever Contempt other Nations may have 
 for ours, I believe, I may affirm, ray Friend, with- 
 out Breach of Truth, that never any People gave 
 more convincing Marks of Bravery than v/e have 
 done in fighting againft our Enemies, or have 
 fhewn greater Veneration for the Deity. It is true 
 that we -have fometimes fail'd ; but who are they 
 to whom the fame Objection may not be made ? 
 For a Nation never to be deficient in any Point of 
 Duty, we muft fuppofe it compofed of Men void of 
 human Frailty. VVhere are they to be met with wîie» 
 have refifted fuch Perfecutions as we have felt, with- 
 out finking under the Weight of their Misfortunes ? 
 We hov/ever remain uncrufh'd. We have fuilain'd 
 with a Patience worthy of the greateft Admiration, 
 all the Punifhments that have been infliâed upon 
 
 D 2 U5, 
 
 * Prideaux\ Conneclioa. 
 
52 Kef Jewish Spy. Lett. CXXVII. 
 
 us. We are, as it were. Vagabonds throughout 
 the Earth, profcribed in many Parts of the World, 
 and forced to pay for the very Air we breathe, in 
 Places which afford us a Retreat : Evils, capable of 
 cJeftroying even the Conftancy of a Stoick. Yet in 
 the midd of thefe Diftreiles, fcarce one in an Age 
 can be found amcngft us who abandons his Belief 
 and proves a Traitor to his God. 
 
 The Kazarencs^ w^ho blame without diflinûion 
 all our Adions, even fuch as deferve the higheft 
 Commendation, give the Name of Wrongheaded- 
 nefs to our Conftancy, inflead of doing Jufiice to 
 cur Firmnefs. Their Hatred towards us, makes 
 them fo blind that they make Crimes even of our 
 Virtues. I fnould be glad if tJiey w^ould inform 
 me, how that which in themfelves they ftile Gran- 
 deur of Soul and Fidelity to Providence, comes to 
 be in us Obflinacy and Hardnefs of Heart ? Inaf- 
 much as we are thoroughly perfaaded of the Truth 
 of cur Religion, and believe as firmly as thev do, 
 why are v/e more wrongheaded than they ? Obfli- 
 nacy is that Vice which engages a Man to defend 
 his Opinion, even after he is convinced of its Falf- 
 hood. But there can be nothing more unworthy 
 of an honcft Man than to change his Sentiments in 
 religious Matters, purely out of Complaifance. It 
 is becoming like certain Idolaters in the Indies^ 
 who make a Trade of their Religion in their Nego- 
 tiations with the No7.arene A'liliionaries ; they a- 
 bandon the V/crfliip of their Idols while the Fa- 
 thers furnilh them with a better SubfiTrance tliano- 
 therwife they could obtain j but v.liCnever they are 
 turn'd out of their Pay, away they run to their 
 Wood-', and to their falfe Gods again. 
 
 Confider, my dear Mcnceca^ the feveral Seels of 
 the Naz-armes^ which have fprung up in the Space 
 ©f feventeen hundred Years, tiiey are almoil all ex^ 
 
 tindl. 
 
Lett. CXXVII. The J e w i s h S p y. 53 
 
 tin£^. One Age hath feen a Religion ril'b and fali, 
 which yet in its D^y had a Multitude of Partizan^. 
 In this fpringing and decaying of Religions, ouïs 
 hath fuftereJ no Diminution. I am pcrfuaded there 
 are at this Day as many ^civi fcattered over the 
 Earth as there were in the World at the time of the 
 laft Defiruccion of Jeritfalcm hy the Romcuis. It 
 feems that Heaven is alike emp'oy'd in multiplying 
 them and their Misfortunes. If all the y,c7(.'; who 
 are in the Countries of the Great Adcguly in Mof- 
 cozj^ in Turky^ m Africa^ and in the lèverai King- 
 doms of Europe^ were affembied in one Country, I 
 doubt whether there would be a more numerous or a 
 more puilTant Nation in the Earth. This fliall 
 one Day happen, dear Monceca^ when the long 
 Captivity under whicJi we now languiOi, flial] !iav« 
 its final Period. The Walls of Jernfiilcm (liall be 
 rebuilt by her Children, the Holy Temple .igain re- 
 florcJ, and the Almighty vvorihippc-d therein hy 
 his faithful Ifracliîes^ in the fame manner as hereto- 
 fore. Let the Nazarenes then go on to boafi: their 
 own Profperity, and to upbraid us with our Misf(;r- 
 tunes. He who hath brought us into this Slavery, 
 and hath made us floop to the Yoke of thefe Nations, 
 can deliver us when he pleafes, and when our 
 Crimes (hall be expiated, then tjje NazcircriÉS (Iiail 
 begin to feel the Punilhment of theirs. 
 
 We may apply to our Enemies what an Englil}} 
 Governor once faid to a French General wJien £"?7^- 
 /<5w/ was deprived of C,y/(^/i, the laft of the nume- 
 rous Conquefts it had made in France. The Gene- 
 ral ask'd the Governor pleafantly. When do you think 
 you Jhall pafs the IVater^ and ejïahlijh your/elves again 
 here ? Thai we Jhall do^ replied the Governor grave- 
 ly, zvhenez-er your Sins are greater than oars. If this 
 (jentleman was right in his Conjecture, then to- 
 wards the latter End of the Reign of Lewis XIV. 
 D 3 the 
 
54 "The Jewish Spy. Lett. CXXVII. 
 
 the French were greater Sinners than the Englijb- 
 It is true that Heaven at laft pardon'd them, and 
 their Enemies quickly pafs'd the Sea again. It 
 (hall be, dear Monceca^ with the Jews as with the 
 Naxarenes ; whenever they become virtuous, God- 
 vill put an end to their Sufferings. All the diffe- 
 rent Captivities that we have endured are but the 
 Effets of our Vices, and as thefe have not produ- 
 ced an Amendment, God hath thought fit to con- 
 tinue our AiHidions, that he may change intirely 
 our evil Inclinations, and render us worthy of be- 
 ing cali'd by his Name. The longer our Slavery 
 lafts, the more agreeable its End will be. In vain 
 have the Nations confpired the Ruin of Ifrael\ their 
 Projeâ:s fhall be all difappointed 5 the Almighty fhall 
 'flipate their dark Contrivances as the Wind 
 drives Smoke av/ay. When our Deliverer f^!all 
 come to break our Chains, the Earth (hall tremble 
 at his Pre (en ce, and Kings fhall fall down at his 
 leet J he (hall overcome all Obftacles, and Si:n 
 fhall be reflored, and become more âourifhingtbaiv 
 of old. Happy! Happy! Monceca^uizWiht Jev.s 
 be who fhall tiien enjoy the Light of the Sun ; tht;y 
 fhall fee in one Day more Miracles done than have 
 been hitherto wrought fromx the Creation of the 
 W^rld. They fhall contemplate the Face of the 
 mofl atgufl Mcjjlah^ refplendent with Glory. Per- 
 haps that Day is nearer than we imagine. The De- 
 jiverer of Ifraelvù2.y appear in an Inflant j it is alfo 
 poffible that happy 'Moment may be far oÇi. God 
 alone knows when it fhall come to pafs. Let us 
 fubmit with all due refped to iris Decrees. Let us 
 adore his holy Providence, and let us be affured, 
 that if hepunifhes us it is for our Good, and that 
 in the End he ma) bring us to Glory. 
 
 May'fl thou enjoy thy Health, dear Moncecn^ 
 
 nve 
 
Lett. CXXVIII. rhe Jewtsh Spy. 55 
 
 live happily and content, and may the God of our 
 Fathers grant thee Profperity in all things. 
 
 Lisbon. 
 
 LETTER CXXVin. 
 
 Aaron Monceca, to Jacob Brito,- 
 
 T HAVE many times coftfidered what it was, 
 '*■ which could render fome Nations fo much more 
 affable than others, I am at length periuaded, that 
 it is fimply Education J and that it is purely the 
 Inftru6tions we give Children in their tender 
 Years, which determines their future Tempera- 
 ment, and infpires them with that Politenefs which 
 is of fo great confequence to Society. 
 
 Some Authors, moderately furnifli'd with Un- 
 derf^anding, have maintain'd, that thofe are the 
 moft polilli'd v/ho dwell in^ Countries fubject 
 to abfolute Monarchs*. If we may credit thefe 
 Men, Brutality is a kind of neceflary Confequence 
 of Liberty. They compare the Politenefs of the 
 French with that Quicknefs and Haughtinefs vi- 
 fible in the EngUp^ and that plain natural Beha- 
 viour, which is the €hara(5leriftick of the Dutch 
 and Swifs. But the Examples thefe Authors make 
 nfe of, in order to fuftain their Opinions, are ab- 
 folutely deftroy'd by others 3 which very plain!)*' 
 prove, that the Liberty of a Nation does notât all 
 prejudice Affability, or Complaifance. The Greeks 
 and Romans y while their feveral Repubiicks were 
 D 4 in 
 
 * See. among ft other things^ Lettres fur les Hollandois, 
 faid to be vjcri^ten by Mr. Murait. 
 
56 TZv- Je WISH Spy. Lett.CXXVIII. 
 
 in the grcateft Splendor, were the People in th^ 
 World the moft civilized, the moil polite ^ while 
 the Perfians and the Parthians^ Slaves to abfoJute 
 Princes, were confidered as Barbarians. 
 
 If we compare the Affability of the Veneîîcins 
 with the unmannerly Behaviour of the Turks^ we 
 lliall readily agree, that defpotick Government is 
 far enough from infpiring Politenefs ; we muft look 
 therefore for this Caufe fgmewhere elfe, than m 
 cither S-abniifTion or Liberty. For as we fee, that 
 ibme free People have little Complaifance, and 
 that under defpotick Governments there may be 
 found fl?me who have lefs ; and as it is certain, 
 that the Mufrovitcs were heretofore the moft 
 reftift and the moll brutal of all People, at the 
 very time that they were abfolutely Slaves ; we 
 iiv:A\ acknowledge that the Idea we are apt to 
 form of a Ferocity ariang from a Spirit ofLiberty» 
 is not "at all founded in Rcafon, but in Prejudice: 
 wherefore we ought to continue our Search. 
 
 I think, and that with reafon, dear Brito^ that 
 Education is the ruling Motive in moft of the Ac- 
 tions of Mankind j they have been more or Jefs 
 tra6table, according as they have been more or lefs 
 cultivated in their Youth. When they have been 
 taught early to render themfelves fociable, to bend 
 their Tempers, and to accomm.odate their Wills tc- 
 thofe of others, it grove's into a Cuftom, and they 
 become infenfibly complaifant without thinking of 
 being fo. In fhort. Habit is to them a fccond 
 Nature. But, when en the contrary, they are 
 brought up in a full Gratification of their Pafiions, 
 •and allowed to follow blindly their own Humours, 
 their Temper becomes more and more reftive, and 
 they grow the more and more impertinent as they 
 groW in Years -, the Nature of the Government 
 
 thev 
 
Lett. CXXVÎII. ne Jewish Spy. s7 
 
 they live under, neither abating nor encreafing the 
 Rulticity oF their Alanners. 
 
 Tiie Mufcovitcs are not become more fubmlffive 
 within thefe twenty Years, and they are become 
 more polite. Pcte-r Jiexaiuitz found the Secret of 
 polifliing their Manners and abolifiiing theirillCuf- 
 toms, vvitliout making them Slaves. He made them 
 more fv ciable, by obliging them to educate their 
 Children in a proper manner. The Miifcovite 
 Court differs as much from what it was twenty 
 Years ago, as the Court oï France differs from that 
 of Ccnjhinlinople \ and yet I look upon thefe Courts 
 as Antipodes to each other in this refpeâ. 
 
 The Mufcovites were heretofore lefs polifh'd and 
 lefo .affable than the Tz^rij, abfolutely ignorant ot 
 the Laws of Civility, and very moderately fkill'd in 
 thofe of Nations. The Character of /\mbaffador 
 was fcarce enough confidered amongff them to pre- 
 fcrve him who bore it fixm Indignities. JVicque- 
 fat, in his Treatife of the Ambafiador and his 
 Fun£lions, fpeaks of them in thefe term-s : 
 
 " The Mufcovites are void of good Manners, 
 '' barbarous and brutal ; and tho' Birth makes 
 " fome diftinclion between the better and the 
 *' meaneff Sort of them, yet are they all Slaves 
 '' to tile Czar, and through a bafe and fervile E- 
 " ducation one fees nothing amongft them, vvhich 
 *' is not low, ftupid and clownith. l^he Czuj-, 
 *' or Grand Duke, takes upon himfelf the Expen-' 
 ** ces of all Ambaffador^, as foon as they enter 
 " hii Dominions, and continues to defray thern fo 
 *' long as they remain in them ; bu£ then tfili 
 " Kindnefs, Honour, or whatever you will ca'i ir, 
 '' is accompany'd with a kind of beaftly 
 " Arrogance. For, whereas in all other Courts 
 '-^ the Mailer of the Ceremonies, or Intro- 
 *' duiTlor of AmbaPiadcrs, does ail Civi-lities 
 D 5 *« t<?> 
 
58. r/^ Jewish Spy. Lett.CXXVIIL. 
 
 ''to publick Minifters, and gives them the Place 
 " of Honour in their Houfes, in the Name of 
 *' his Mafter; the Mufcovite Priftave does his ut- 
 " moft to make himfelf Mafter of that Place^ 
 " avoids h'ghting from his Horfe till the Minifter 
 '' is actually difmounted, throws himfelf firfl 
 *' into a Coach or into a Sledge ; and, in fhort, 
 *' behaves with the utmoft Saucinefs upon all oc- 
 *' cafions. There are feveral Defcriptions of this 
 *' Court, and its Formalities.. Amongft others, a 
 " moft impertinent one in the Account of the 
 *' Embafly fent by the Duke of Holfein Gottorp ■ 
 *' thither, and into Perfia in the Year 1633. 
 " But I do not remember any, in which this 
 *' Nation is fet in a better light, than in that 
 *' which we have of the Earl of Carlijle^ who- 
 '' went thither on the part of the King of Great 
 " Britain^ in the fame Year,. 
 
 " The Priftave, who received him at Archangel^ 
 *' took the hand of the AmbafTador, and would 
 *' not yield up that Point, till the Governor of 
 " the Town diredled him to comply with the 
 ^^ Earl's Defire ; who was a Man of Spirit, and 
 '' would not fuffer any Injury to be done to the 
 *' King his Mafter, They fixed the Day on 
 " which he was to make his Entry into Mofcow, 
 " He was on horfeback, and after he had rode 
 *' above half a League, they told him it muft be 
 *' put ofF until the next Day, and obliged him to 
 *' take up his Lodgings in a pitiful Village. The 
 *' Ambaffador fhewed not a little Refentment, he. 
 *' even wrote to the Czar upon it in very ftrong 
 *' terms: But this fignified nothing, they gave 
 *' him no Satisfadion, either on this Account, or 
 *' on the Errand çn which he came. Nay, on a 
 *' certain Occafion in which they ought to have 
 ** done him the higheft Hongurs, they took aa^ 
 
Lett. CXXVIII. ' The Jewish Spy. 59 
 
 " opportunity to offer him the moft outrageous 
 " Infult. The Czar invited him to Dinner, bujf 
 " caufed him to be placed at a feparate Table, at 
 " a greater diftance from his own than that at 
 " which his Bojars fate, who are in fail his Slaves, 
 " who were placed on the right hand, while the 
 ^^ Ambaffador fate on the left. At length he 
 " took his leave, fo little fatisfy'd with the Court, 
 " that he refufed the Prefents which v/ere offered 
 " him, and exprefs'd his Refentment in fuch 
 " terms, that the Czar fent an exprefs Embaffy 
 " to complain of him to the King his Mafter*." 
 
 Tho' this Paffage is fomewhat long, yet am I 
 perfuaded, my dear Brito^ you will not find it 
 tedious. It proves indubitably, that the moft fub- 
 miffive People in the World, may be at the fame 
 time exceeding brutal ; and it gives us likewife a 
 very juft Idea of the iVlanners and Cuftoms of 
 the MufcGvites. It is true, that within thefe few 
 Years great Changes have been made amongft 
 them ; but after all, there are many things in their 
 Manners that want Corredlion, and to Time it 
 muft be left to compleat what Peter Âlexowitz has' 
 begun. After all,, to him will be owing the total 
 Change of a People fo favage and fo defective in 
 point of Civility. 
 
 I have been inform'd by the Chevalier Maifin, 
 when I was at Parisy that he went often to the 
 Inn at Toulcn^ where the youUrg Jlfufcsvites boarded^ 
 whom the Czar fent thither to learn the Arts oï ' 
 Navigation and Ship-building ; they ferved at that 
 time in the Marines. When they firft came to 
 that Place, there was hardly a Day part over their 
 heads but they boxed, and were fometimes ready 
 to draw their Knives about who (hould have the, 
 
 firft 
 
 * Wicquefort de TAmbaffadeur, lib. i- §. xviii. 
 p. 475. 
 
6o The Jewish Spy. Lett. CXXVIII. 
 
 firft Cut of the Meat. They look'd more like 
 Bears Whelps half lick'd, than Men. However, 
 by degrees they loft all their ill Habits, and re- 
 turned into their own Countries as poliflied and as 
 well bred, as if they had been born in the heart, 
 of Eiircpf. 
 
 The Strangers who have gone over into Mufcovyy 
 have done iniinite Service in that Country. Be- 
 fules propagating the Arts, thcv have fnewn the 
 Peopie the Abfurdity of their old Cuftoms. I look 
 upon the French and Germans fettled there, as fo 
 many Millionaries employed in teaching them 
 Humanity ; and who do infinitely greater Service, 
 than thole do who run to the Eaji and IVeft-IndieSy 
 meerlv to extend the Power of the Pope. The 
 hrll Di, ty of Men, next to that of worfhipping 
 the Deity, is minillring to the Wants of their 
 Fellow-Creatures. He mull: have verv little Cha- 
 rity in his Nature, who does not:' rejoice at hear- 
 ing of a whole Nation being brought to their Sen- 
 ses. Tho' I am a "Jew^ I take part in the good 
 Fortune of Mankind; and when I underffand, 
 that a Man travels to augment it ; I look upon 
 him as an Hero. The World is the Country of 
 a Philofopher, he ought to be afhamed of that 
 mean and bafe Jealoufy, which conftitutes what 
 is called National Prejudice. I wifh v/ith all my 
 heart, that the Sw'ifs Franknefs, the good Senfe of 
 the Dutch^ French Wit, and Englifo Penetration, 
 were dilîu fed through the whole human Species ; 
 tliey v/ould not indeed after all this be Jeivs^ but 
 thev would be v/orthy of becoming fuch, and I 
 fhoulu willingly acknowledge them my Brethren. 
 You fee, my dear Brito^ my Sentiments, with 
 relpc(^ to the Mafs of Mankind. I don't know 
 vviietiici- you will approve them 5 but I fancy you 
 
 àrQ 
 
Lett. CXXVIII. 7Z>f Jewish Spy. 6i 
 
 are Co much above all Prejudice, that you cannot 
 but love Virtue wherever it appears. 
 
 I go from hence the firft of next Month, in 
 order to pafs fome time in England, I .have al- 
 ready written to Jeremy Cofta^ to hire for me an 
 Apartment in fome quiet Part of the City. It 
 has been always my care throughout my Travels, 
 to lodge in Places where, v/hen I thought proper, 
 I might indulge Meditation, without Danger of 
 being difturbed. In all great Cities, «and efpecially 
 in Parts and London^ a Man v/ho applies himfelf 
 to Study, ought to be as careful in his Choice of 
 a Lodging, as a Man about to marry is in that of 
 his Wife 3 and for the fame îcifon, his Tranquility 
 depending^ on his Choice. It is crue, that in France 
 or in England, one may eafier change one's Houfe 
 than one's Wife 5 but after all, when one is once 
 fixed, removing is very troublefome. 
 
 I mîift acknowledge to you, my Friend, that 
 Change is troublefome to me in all things. I 
 maintain a perfect Uniform.ity in ray Conduct, 
 and mv Manner of Life is entirely oprofite to 
 that of fome other Perfons, Vv'ho pafs their 
 days in a fort of continued Agitation. I have 
 often pitied at Paris a Number of French People 
 who were everlallingly in a hurry, and who feemed 
 to me as uneafy as if they had been in a Place befieged. 
 To fay the Truth, an Itch of Change, and a 
 Paffion for Novelty, are not unlike PolTciTions ; I 
 mean thofe, which the Vulgar apprehend come 
 from the Devil. There are more phllofophical 
 Reafonings neceiTary to cure a Brain thus turned, 
 than Drops of holy Water to a Nazarene Prieft, 
 who would drive Jjhtaroth or Belial out oï ?i Body, 
 in which they lay in Garifon. After all, it fre- 
 quently happens, that philofophical Arguments do 
 ûa more good ia one cafe, than ecclehaftical Ce« 
 
 remoniea 
 
62 The Jewish Spy. Lett. CXXIX. 
 
 remonies in the other ; fo that both Maladies remain 
 incurable. This Cafe is common at Pans, where 
 one half of the Smarts are as thoroughly fix'd to 
 their Follies, as the Convulfionifts are to their 
 Difeafes. You will be aftonifti'd, my dear Britû^ 
 at feeing me treat thefe People like Demoniacks ; 
 but to fpeak fincerely, I don't know what elfe 
 to call them. What Name can one give to a 
 Sett of People,, who commit all Sorts of Extrava- 
 gances with an air of Myftery. You will fay 
 perhaps that if the thing be fo, I call thofe De- 
 moniacks who ought to be called Cheats and Im.^ 
 poftors. It may be fo. I leave it entirely to you 
 to decide that Queftion. 
 
 May God grant you, dear Brito, Health, Con- 
 tent and Happinefs. 
 
 Hamburgh, 
 
 LETTER CXXIX. 
 
 Aar on Monceca/<9 Isaac Onis, 
 Carat fe, formerly a Rabbi at Conftan- 
 tinople. 
 
 'T^HERE is nothing more difputed, than that 
 -■' Preference which ought to be given to the 
 Memory of fovereign Princes difting.uifhed by theiii • 
 Virtues ; and it feems a thing not yet decided 
 whofe Name fhould ftand firft in this Lift. For 
 my part, dear Ifaac, I know none fo worthy of that 
 Poft of Honour, as Henry IV, King of France, 
 All the other Princes, of whom Men talk fo much, 
 if they had many good QiJalities, have alfo had 
 
 many 
 
Lett.CXXIX. r/:!^ Jewish Spy. 63 
 
 many bad ones ; and there is not one amongft them 
 who has not tarnifh'd the Luftre of hisVirtues, not 
 only by a light Fault, but by fome confiderable 
 Excefs, incompatible with Humanity and the Cha- 
 racter of a Man of Worth. You may not perhaps 
 have refledted thoroughly upon thisSubje6l, I will 
 therefore give you evident Proofs in Support of my 
 Opinion, by running over all the Heroes of Anti- 
 quity, glancing alfo a little on the Moderns. 
 
 If we go as high as the fabulous Times and the 
 Siege of Troy^ and take upon us to examine the 
 Heroes of Horner^ we fliall find them a Company 
 of hair-brain'd, proud, cunning, or perjured Per- 
 fons. Jchilles is a head-ftrong Creature, who fuf- 
 fers half the Greeks to be knock'd o'the Head to 
 no purpofe ; fo great a Brute that he outrages the 
 Gorpfe of HeSîor, whofe Valour he ought to have 
 honour'd : None but mean and bafe Minds infult 
 over a vanquifti'd Enemy. Agamemnon was the 
 Hangman of his Family, he facrificed his Daughter 
 to his own Ambition. Ajax is a Madman, UlyJJes 
 a Cheat, Telemenes the Murderer of his Son. la 
 ihort, without doing the leafl Injury to thefe an- 
 cient Heroes, we may {2iïç\y fay, that the very beft 
 of them could not be ftiled a Man of Probity. 
 
 But, without dwelling upon thefe times of Fic- 
 tion, let us look a little into the Conduct of the 
 greateft Monarchs in the Univerfe. What Crimes 
 did not Alexander the Great commit in the lait 
 Years of his Life ? What is there grofs or abo- 
 minable, into which he did not run ? He butcher'd 
 his Friends with his own hand, he caufed his beft 
 Captains to be put to death, he gave himfelf up. 
 to Drinking and Debauchery ; and many a Man 
 has been broke upon the Wheel, for a lefs horrid 
 Murder than that of Clyius. I do not know, 
 whether I oug^ht to put Marius and Sylla into the 
 
 Rank 
 
64 Tue JEWISH ^?Y, Lett. CXXDC. 
 
 Rank of Sovereigns; but this I know, that while 
 thev were at the Head of the Roman Republick, 
 thev committed more Villainies, Robberies and 
 Murders, than were ever perpetrated by the Mi- 
 quelefi in Catalonia^ or the Camifars in France. 
 
 Pcjnpey and Ccefar were two illuftrious High- 
 waymen, who difputed for a long time which 
 fho'uld have the Honour of robbing his Coun- 
 try. Both abufed • the Powers granted them by 
 the Republick, and whatever pompous Titles 
 their Partizans might give them, it is impof- 
 fible for us to confider them in any other hght 
 than as Deflroyers of their Country. The one 
 thou2:i"it of enllaving it, under the Pretence 
 of defending it ; the other pretended a Right 
 to it, in revenge for the Injuries done 
 him. 
 
 Antony^ Augujtus and Lepidus^ made the Earth 
 and the Sea blufh, by their bloody Profcriptions. 
 I look upon them as three Knights of the Road, 
 who, on the Death of their Captain, fhared his 
 Bocty among them, and a little after fell to quar- 
 relling amongd themfelves. It is true, that Au- 
 giiftus in the latter Part of his Life behaved well ; 
 but had he been a private Man he would have been 
 hang'd many a fair Day, before his Penitence ap- 
 pear'd. The Na-zarenes have a Proverb, TFken the 
 Devil grezu cld^ he turrid Hennit. This was his 
 Character to a hair. 
 
 Let us nov/ quit the Heroes of Antiquity, and 
 ccme to tljofe of later times ; among whom^ I own 
 we (hall find Men of greater Worth j but none 
 of them without their P'aults, and thofe very con- 
 fiderable ones too. 
 
 Francis^ the firft King oï France^ had a thoufanJ 
 Virtues. He was good, generous, fmcere ; but 
 with all thefe good (^alities he was certainly faife 
 
 to 
 
Lett.CXXIX. r/&<? Jewish Spy. 65 
 
 ^o his Word, after he was delivered from his Cap- 
 tivity in Spain^ and paid for that time the Em- 
 peror CharksYxh in the Coin which he had more 
 than once received. That great Emperor, with 
 all his Virtues, could not boaiî: of much Sincerity^ 
 and his createfî: Admirers muir allow this confider- 
 able Deficiency. 
 
 Times v/ithin our Mem.ory have produced four 
 Heroes of difterent Virtues, all of them cndovred 
 v/ith great good Qualities, which each of them 
 fullied by ft.'me notable Defects. 
 
 The hrfl of thefe Heroes is IViUiam the Third, 
 King of Great- Britain^ who had without doubt 
 very fhining Properties, which would have appear- 
 ed hovv'ever brighter in the eyes of Pofterity, and 
 have been more confidered by Men of true good 
 Scnfe, if he had never contributed to the dethron- 
 ing his Father-in-Law. What does the World fay 
 of a Man who lays his Hands on his Father's Goods, 
 and obliges him to run about in a miferable man- 
 ner, begging his Bread ? 
 
 LewU the XlVth, is the fécond of thefe Heroes. 
 He was good-natur'd, magnificent, hated Cruelty, 
 loved learned Men, and encouraged the Arts and 
 Sciences, fo as to render them flourifliing in his 
 Dominions. His Enemies continually objected 
 his exorbitant Ambition \ and yet it is not dif- 
 ficult to juft:ify him upon that head, at leaft ta 
 excufe him. He had good Reafons for punifhlng 
 the Spaniards, who, for a long feries of time, had 
 endeavou^d the DeftruvStion oï Fra-Ke. If he ag- 
 grandized his Kingdom, nothing can be plainer, 
 than that in augmenting his proper Glory, he 
 augmented alfo the Good^of his People. His Am- 
 bition and his Conquefts therefore, may be well e- 
 nough approved. In fhort, he bad equal'd Henry 
 IVth, had he never taken the Advice of the Je-^ 
 
 fuits^ 
 
66 The Jewish Spy. Lett. CXXIX. 
 
 fuits, or fet his Eyes on Madam Mcntefpan. To 
 take a Woman away from her Husband, and to be 
 fo far governed by Priefts, as to drive out of his 
 Dominions by their Advice People to whom the 
 Houfe of Bourbon had infinite Obligations, rendered 
 it necefîary for Leiuis the'XIVth, to have all the 
 great Qualities he ftood poflefled of, from preventing 
 his Fame from being utterly deftroy'd by thofe two 
 moft remarkable Slips in his Conduâ. 
 
 I know very well, my dear Ifaac^ that the Po- 
 liticians excufe the Banifhment of the Reformed, 
 by the Neceffity there was of having but one Re- 
 ligion in France^ in order to eftablifh its Tranqui- 
 lity on a firm Bafis. I muft own, that thefeRea- 
 fons have a great deal of weight. However, in 
 exiling the Proteftants, there was no neceffity of 
 having recourfe to as many Murders and Profcrip- 
 tions, as ever render'd a Triumvirate infamous. I 
 own too, that it is faid, that Lewis the XlVth was 
 totally ignorant of all thefe Cruelties ; and that 
 being as he was of a humane Difpofition, he would 
 undoubtedly have hinder'd, had he known any 
 thing of the matter. But, granting this, he was 
 flill refponfible; becaufe he was fo weak as to give 
 himfelf up to the pernicious Counfels of Monks 
 and Devotees. 
 
 The Chara^er of the late Czar Peter the Firft, 
 is, properly fpeaking, a Mixture of Magnanimity 
 and Cruelty, of Virtues and Vices. Let the World 
 fay what they will of his Glory, I fhall never be 
 brought to believe, that his intraitable f iercenefs 
 was a Virtue, or that a Father ought to reckon 
 among his illuftrious A6lions the Death of his 
 Son. 
 
 Charles the Xllth of Sweden, had a furprifing 
 Courage, and with it a Multitude of other great 
 great Qualities ^ but he puihM his Revenge to 
 
 Extremity ; 
 
Lett. CXXIX. The Jewish Spy. 67 
 
 Extremity; and perhaps God himfelf, by that 
 Chain of Evils which follow'd after the Battle 
 of Pultowa^ punifh'd in this World his Cruelty 
 towards Patkul^ which was the more inexcufable, 
 confidering the Character with which he was 
 eloathed. 
 
 All thefe Heroes of whom I have been fpeaking, 
 and whofe Characters I have ventured to examine, 
 muft be at leafl allowed to have tarnifhedtheLuftre 
 of their Virtues, by capital Errors. Henry IVth 
 had no Failings, but fuch as are incident to humaa 
 Nature. He vanquifli'd his Enemies, and as foon 
 as he had done fo, he generoufly forgave them 
 whatever they had done amifs. He conquer'd 
 himfelf his own Kingdom, and made War only 
 to recover what was juftly his Due, and to drive 
 ©ut thofe Enemies who came to attack him in his 
 own Dominions, and to foment Troubles and Di- 
 vifions among his Subjeds. He was the Father of 
 his People; the Widow and the Orphan always 
 found an Azylum at the Foot of his Throne. He 
 loved Women, but not like Lewis the XlVth, He 
 was in that fo good and fo perfeCt, that if in the 
 times of Idolatry, when illuftrious Princes were 
 ranked amongfl the Gods, he had been there 
 placed, I believe I fhould have wanted an ex- 
 traordinary Meafure of divine Grace, to hinder me 
 from entring the Temple of Henry IV, and burn- 
 ing Incenfe on his Altar. 
 
 France is at this Day governed by a Prince, who 
 rnay perhaps one day rival the greateft King of 
 his Race. He has already fhewn us Good-Nature, 
 Generofity, Clemency and Difcretion, almoft be- 
 yond comparifon ; fo many good Qualities ought 
 furely to be confidered as an earneft, that otherVir- 
 tues Ihall appear when Occafion sails them forth. 
 
 The 
 
68 72^^ Jewish Spy. Lett. CXXIX. 
 
 Th^ Nûzûrenes h?^'\Ç z cudom of praying de- 
 voutly in their CiiLirches for the Safety of their 
 King. They introat Providence daily to preferve 
 him and render him profperous. Who could have 
 imagined, all this confidered, that -the beft King 
 in the World fnould be afTafTmat'ed in the midfl of 
 his People, to v/hom he was a common Parent ? 
 O Ihange ! O haplefs Infrance of the Folly and 
 Frenzies of Men ! Lczvis the Xlth met with few 
 Rebels amongft his Subiecls. Henry IVth found a- 
 UTongft them Enemies the moft cruel. 
 
 The beft Kings have feldom m.et with proper 
 Returns from their People. It feems as if Seve- 
 rity W'as the fole Method v/hereby Fear and Fveve- 
 rence can be imprelTed on the Croud ; mean and 
 fervile Creatures, whom only a rigid and inflexible 
 Adminiflration ca/i govern. Tiie Kindnefs and 
 Clemency of the prefent King of France^ hath 
 ferved but to increafe the Fiercenefs of ihtMdcr.iJls^ 
 and the Malignity of the Janfentjîs, Confident of 
 Impunity, they have from time to time committed 
 the moft unpardonable Offences. 
 
 It is not long fince a Prelate, whofe Name is 
 Lefiteau *, who had been a Jefuit before his Pro- 
 motion to that P.ank, composed a Book, intitled, 
 Jn Anfvuxr to the Anecdotes on the Conjîitution Unige- 
 nitui. In this Piece, in refuting the Sentiments 
 of the Janfcnijh^ he has run into the moft out- 
 rageous Invectives againftPerfons the moft venerable ; 
 and not contented even with this, hath treated 
 very unadvifedly of the Rights and Privileges of 
 the'Kingdom. 'The King was content with itmply 
 condemning the Books, forbidding the Sale tlicrcof ; 
 and dire<5ling that all v.'ho were poffefted of Copies, 
 fhould brins: them to Perfons who were appointed 
 to that cnd,^ by an Arret of Council. Without 
 
 qucflion, 
 
 * Bifliop of S:pyon. 
 
Lett. CXXIX. The Jewish Spy. 69 
 
 quedion, my Friend, you apprehend that the Pre- 
 late, ftruck with the Kindnefs -.md Clemency of his 
 Prince, hath ever fmce beliavcd with more Caution. 
 Nothing hke it. Some Months after the Condem- 
 nation of his Work, he pubhfhed a Sequel, written 
 in the very fame Spirit ; éhis was again condemned 
 by another Arret of Council. Pi'laugre all this, our 
 Prelate is again at work, and will, in all Probabili- 
 ty, publifh another Volume by way of Continuation 
 to the Anecdotes. 
 
 To fay the Truth, dear Ijaac^ Subjects are forae- 
 times apt to abufe the Good-nature and Compafîîon 
 of their Princes. There is not, in my Opinion, a- 
 ny Boldnefs equal to that of fome Ecclefiafticks. 
 Thev will fornetimes undertake the moft extrava- 
 gant Things. That Confideraticn, which they 
 think is due to their Chara(5ler, gives them Spirit 
 enough to undertake any Thing, infomuch that 
 they execute with AlTurance what other People 
 would not fo much as fuffer to enter into their 
 Heads. One may fafely fay, my Fri'end, that in 
 all Religions the greateft Happinefs which can pof- 
 fibly attend the Society, is to have Men of Wii- 
 dom and of peaceable Difpofitions for their Priefts. 
 Ecclefiafticks are in States what Emeticks are in 
 Medicine. Nothing more ufeful v/hen apply'd pro- 
 perly, nothing fo dangerous when adm i ni ftred ;//<?/- 
 a-propos. A Prelate of Probity, an honeft Parfon, 
 a prudent Minifter of any Church, a virtuous Rab- 
 bi are ineftimable Treafures. But what Mifchiefs 
 do they cccauon v;hen thefe People give themfelves 
 up to work evil? 
 
 May'il: thou dear I/aac^ enjoy Content, Happi- 
 nefs and Satisfaction, as long as thou enjoyefl: Life. 
 
 Hamburgh^ 
 
 « 
 
70 The Jewish Spy. Lett. CXXX. 
 
 P. S. It is proper that I fhould take notice here of 
 a Thing which will be thought ridiculous by fuch on- 
 ly as know not the mighty Impreffion which the 
 A(5Hons of truly great Men ftamp on Hearts fni- 
 cerely addiâed to Virtue. Ï have twenty times, 
 when paffing the Font-nenf2X Parts in the Night, 
 on feeing his Statue, felt fo afFedling a Remembrance 
 of the rare Qualities of Henry IV. that I could not 
 avoid going up to the Iron Rails, and kiffing them 
 with infinite Refpeé^. I muft too own, that once 
 or twice, I have burft there into Tears. I know 
 there are fome People who will call this Folly, but 
 I mull tell them that I defpife alike their Cenfure 
 and their Approbation. The Defcendants of thofe 
 who reached the Knife to that auguft Monarch's 
 Bread, can have no Idea of the Senfe honeft People 
 have of his Fate. The Difference between them 
 and me is this ; I falute, with proper Refpeel, the 
 Statue of a great and good King, while they fuper- 
 ftitioufly, and with a filly Veneration, kifs the Re- 
 licks of fome doting Monk or canting Hypocrite. 
 
 LETTER CXXX. 
 
 Jacob Brito, to Aaron Monceca. 
 
 TT is fome time, my dear Monccca^ fmce I left 
 -*■ ofF fpeaking to you of the Manners and Cufloms 
 of the ancient Egyptians : But I am now going to 
 x;ommunicate to you what I have obferved moft cu- 
 rious in their Tombs. I have examined many, and 
 in all have met with what abundantly fatisfied my 
 Curiofity. 
 
 There 
 
Lett. CXXX. T7j^ Jewish Spy. 71 
 
 There lies ftretched on the Banks of the Nile, a 
 fandy Plain, which is-, as it were, the general Bury- 
 ing-Plice of this Nation. It is full of Sepulchres, 
 many of which have been opened . There are found 
 in moft of them Mummies in Chefts or Coffins^ 
 which are ftill intire. Near thefe Coffins are fre- 
 quently found the Images of thofe Gods, to whom, 
 while living, the Perfon was moft devoted. Thence 
 is evidently derived a Cuftom amongft the Turksy 
 of having certain Sentences out of the Alcoran in- 
 terred with them, as alfo that pra£lifed by fome fu- 
 perftitious Nazarenes, of having the Images of their 
 Patrons buried with them : Thus you fee this vain 
 and filly Notion is far from being new. After this 
 manner Superftition is perpetuated, and one Reli- 
 gion adopts the Chimaeras and Puerilities of another. 
 The Method in ufe among fome of the Nazarenes^ 
 of placing in their Churches certain Images, ex voto^ 
 in difcharge of their Vows^ is in like manner taken 
 from the Egyptians and the Greeks, When they 
 had either fuffered Shipwreck, or very narrowly e- 
 fcaped fome great Danger, they caufed it to be re- 
 prefented in a Piece of a moderate Size, and when, 
 by (hewing it, they had excited the Charity and 
 Compaffion of the People, at laft they dedicated it 
 in the Temple of that Divinity to whom they 
 thought themfelves moft indebted for their Prefer- 
 vation. 
 
 What in this refpedl was done two thoufand five 
 hundred Years ago, is praélifed at this Day. The 
 Saints, Male and Female, have taken place of the 
 Gods and Goddefles. St. George fupplies the room 
 of Mars, St. Anthony that of Pan, St. Lucia ftands 
 for Dia?ia, and St. Cecilia for Minerva. There is 
 no Corporation, no Company of Tradefmen with- 
 out its Patron. The Shoe-makers have St. Crifpiuy 
 the Taylors St. Placidus, tlie Rope-Dancers St. 
 
 Fan- 
 
72 The Jewish Spy. Lett. CXXX. 
 
 Pantalcon. Tho' thcfe lad were never regularly 
 incorporated, yet the Danger.they ftand expofed to, 
 of breaking Legs and Arr.îs, h.ath obliged them to 
 look out a Patron for their whole Fraternity. 
 
 When I was at FenL-e, I was often in the 
 Churches of the Nazarcnes, the Walls of which 
 were covered with Thighs, and Heads, and Hands, 
 and Arms, and Feet, C^V. all made of Wax, and 
 confecrated to the Saint unto whom the Church was 
 dedicated, in Acknowledgment of Miracles fuppo- 
 fed to have been wrought by him. This formed at 
 once the m.oft pleafant, and withal, the moft whim- 
 fical Sight in the World. 
 
 A Nazarcnc^ who had not much Faith in Legs 
 of Wax, told me a pleafant Story when I w*as in Ger- 
 many, He inform'd me that one Micbon having had 
 the good Luck to marry his Sweetheart, exerted hi m- 
 felf in an extraordinary Way for fome Months after 
 their Nuptials. He had a found Couftitution ; the 
 Accomplifhment of his Defires added to his Vigor, 
 and Madam J^/A•te thought herfelf exceeding hap- 
 py in her Choice. However, an unlucky Accident 
 came fuddenly to damp the Felicity of this happy 
 Bride. Mr. Michon,, who was neither a Saint nor 
 a true Lover, ufed to flray now and then, believing 
 it incompatible with the Character of a Smart, to bs 
 confined like the Vulgar. One Evening having 
 fupp'd with his Friends, and the Wine putting odd 
 Notions into his Head, he went to a certain Temple 
 of /^«z^j, where he offered, according to the Culloni 
 of the Place, and brought av/ay a flaming Return. 
 Mr. Michon^ however, perceived it in time, and 
 being exceffively embarafied, impofed on his Wife 
 a Courfe of Abftinence, equally unufual and unfa- 
 tisfactory. She endured for fome time this Misfor- 
 tune without fpeaking, but at laft lofing all Paticnc •, 
 file ventured to enquire the Reafon of his Behaviour 
 3 i^ 
 
Lett.CXXX. 7^/^^ Jewish Spy. 73 
 
 in the following Terms. I cannot conceive, faid 
 file-, Mr. Mi ebon, whence your IndifFerence 
 proceeds ; but I am very fenfible that for fome time 
 paft we have lived together pretty coolly. This 
 Difcourfe perplexed the Husband not a little, he 
 would not on any fcore tell the matter of fâ6l, and 
 yet finding it nccefTary to fay fomewhat, he firfl: 
 fetched a deep Sigh, and then in a faint Voice pro- 
 ceeded thus : Alas ! Madam Michon ! I have met 
 with the faddeft Accident I The poor Woman a- 
 larm'd at this Introduction, prefled himtoexplaia 
 Jiimfelf. Is it fo, cry'd {l:ie, that you have flill 
 your Secrets ; what then is become of that eter-^ 
 nal Affection you fwore to bear me ? I am go- 
 ing continued he, to inform you of an Adven- 
 ture which has driven me almofl to difpair. I 
 went fome days ago with a few Friends to a Coun- 
 try Place not far from Tov/n. There v/alking a- 
 bout I attempted to jump over a little Ditch, and 
 -my Foot flipping, — I can fcarce tell you the reft. 
 I made fuch an Effort to fave my felf, that I quite 
 ftrain'd not my Leg or my Ancle, but a Part of far 
 greater Confequence. O mercy ! exclaimed Ma- 
 dam Michon, v/hat is it you tell me f Is it poffible ? 
 Yes, my dear Spoufe, return'd Mr. Michoriy there 
 is nothing more certain. But bad as it is, my A^a- 
 lady is not without Remedy. An eminent Surgeon, 
 under v.'hofe Care I am, affares me, that in fix 
 Weeks I (hall be certainly cured, without retaining 
 the leaft Inconvenience from the Accident. O, re- 
 jcin'd the Lady, you have quite revived my Spirits, 
 I was afraid your lilnefs would have been far mere 
 ffubborn and dangerous. We muff, hov/ever, ne- 
 glect nothing which may contribute to vour Cure ; 
 I'll go and offer a Vow to St. Fanialeon, 'Tis to 
 him we addrefs in cafe of broken Bones or ffrain*d 
 Sinews ; I doubt not, but by his Aliiilance, to fee 
 Vol. IV. E you 
 
74 "ïhe Jewish Spy. Lett. CXXX, 
 
 you fpeedily recovered. " Madam Michon made 
 hafte to execute her Defign. She made the Figure 
 of the Part afflicted in Wax, and then away {he 
 hurried to the Church of the CordeHers, to have it 
 expofed in an honourable Place. A young Lad-cat- 
 ried the Offering in a Bafon covered with Linen. 
 The Monk who performed the Ceremony removing 
 the Cloth, was furprized at the Sight, and turning 
 away his Eyes, Carry away that, faid he to ihe 
 Boy. Father, reply'd the Child, in a foft Tone, 
 it is the Vow of Madam Michon. Carry it away, 
 Ï fay, -cry'd the Monk haftily, and tell her, we have 
 incomparably bett€r in the Convent. Thus Ma- 
 dam Mlchonh Vow loft its place, but her Husband 
 recovered fpeedily for all that. 
 
 The Nazarcnes are the firft in turning their ovvn 
 Superftitions into ridicule ; But they continue 
 Slaves to them for all that. This, dear Mouccca^ 
 is an evident Proof that there is little Solidity in 
 their Judgments. I cannot well comprehend how 
 Folks aâ commonly direâlyoppofite to their Man- 
 ner of Thinking. One is furprized to fee the moil 
 extravagant things done fometimes by Men who 
 difcourfe very reafonably. When one hears thefe 
 People talk, one is apt to imagine that they were 
 intended for the InftrutStors of Manicind \ yet, upon 
 examining their Conduct, the Man of Seme is lofl:, 
 we difcover in hisftead, the Bigot, the Furiofu ar.d 
 the Debauchee. 
 
 I now return, my Friend, to the Tombs of the 
 ancient Egyptians. You know that the Pyramids, 
 which are fo famous, are the Monuments of Kings. 
 The Grandee's of the Kingdom followed their 
 Examples, and caufed thofe to be erected which are 
 diftinguifhed by the Name of the lelTer Pyramids, 
 and lie along the Side of the River. As for private 
 Perfonsj they were interred in the Catacombs which 
 
 are 
 
LtU.CXXX. TZ;^ Jewish Spy. j^ 
 
 are very numerous in the Tandy Plain fituatcd in the 
 Neighbourhood of the routhern Pyramids. When 
 they were interrM in thefe Tombs, they covered 
 thc'Stone which clofed up the Entrance four or five 
 Foot deep with Sand, which contributed not a Httle 
 to the Prefervation of the Bodies, by fecuring them 
 from the Injuries of the exterior Air. Over and a- 
 bove this Precaution, there was no Egyptian but 
 was embalmed after his Deceafe, in a manner more 
 or lefs coflly, according to the Abilities of his 
 Heirs. 
 
 Superflition was alfo the Caufe of all th"s Care a- 
 bout Funerals. The Priefts afTured the People, 
 that in a certain Period of Years, an entire Revo- 
 lution would happen, and thofe whofe Bodies could 
 be preferved to that time, would have them rcftored 
 end live in them again. Everyone, from that Self- 
 love which is inherent to Man, being defirous 
 of finding at that time his old Cafe, diredted his 
 Heirs to take all imaginable Care of their Bodies, 
 What afconifhes me is, that the Hump-back'd, the 
 Laine, the Blind, and every other maim'd kind of 
 Folks, had as ftrong an Inclination as the refl, to 
 inhabit a fécond time fo incommodious and fo dif- 
 agreeable à Lodging. It is apparent from hence, 
 that thefe Egyptians did likewife believe, that whtn 
 the Body wa^ once deftroyed, there v/nsno getting 
 another. However, 'tis certain, that all this Pains 
 v.-as taken for the Cabinets of the Curious and the 
 Apothecaries Shops of the prefent Times. 
 
 Amongit the Bodies of deceafed great Men, 
 which had been preferved through many Ages, and 
 were actually intire in the time of Auguftui^ Hifto- 
 rians mention particularly that of Alexander the 
 Great. They tell us farther, that Auguftus being 
 in Egypt lii>d the Curiofity of going to lee the Tomb 
 of that famous Prince, and that he faw therein the 
 E 2 Body 
 
76 r^^é' Jewish Spy. Lett. CX XX. 
 
 Body in a Shrine of Glafs fubflituted in the room 
 of one of Gold, which was taken away by Seleuchus 
 CyhîofaSîes* . 'Tis idle, à^zr Monceca^ for Sove- 
 reigns the mofl potent and the moil dreaded, to 
 dream of refpedl being paid them after Death. Time 
 delivers Men from that fervile Attention which 
 living Princes exacSt, and the Tombs of the old E- 
 gyptian Kings, that of Alexander and other Heroes 
 of Antiquity, have been violated with as little Ce- 
 remony as thofe of private Men. They were not 
 fo much as fpared in Times wherein their Memories 
 were recent. We adore, in a manner, living 
 Princes, and Crouds of Flatterers continually pur* 
 fue them with Vows for their Profperity : But, 
 
 When breathlefs, they are Duft become^ 
 
 And all the Glories of their Pride, 
 Are fhrunk within the filent Tomb, 
 Tho' for its Splendor it be ey'd. 
 Yet they are low and lofl indeed, 
 And hungry Worms upon them feed. 
 
 There all their fwelling Titles lofe, 
 
 Givers of Peace and Thunderbolts of War 5 
 And as no more they can their Bounty ufe, 
 'There free from Flatterers they are. 
 Nature makes equal in their Graves, 
 Whom Fortune made or Lords or Slaves f . 
 
 See, my dear Monceca^ what becomes of Monarchs 
 the moll potent and the mofl redoubtable ! It is 
 impofTible to exprefs the fudden, the certain Fall 
 of human Greatnefs hQtiçi thsm Malherbe has done. 
 
 The 
 
 * Suetonius /« Oflav. cap. xviii. Dion. Caff. //^. i. 
 p. 454. Strabo. //^.xvii, p. 794. 
 f Malherbe. 
 
Lett. CXXXI. The Jewish Spy. yj 
 
 The firft time I read over the Works of that ini- 
 mitable Poet, I was prodigioufly ftruck with thefe 
 Lines. A Native oî Fra-nee^ fettled at Pera, made 
 me a prefent of his Writings ; which I have con- 
 ftantlv preferred with the greatefl care, as fcarce 
 inférieur to thofe of Horace. 
 
 Take care of yourfelf, dear Moiceca^ live con- 
 tent, happv, and without carej and let me heai 
 • from you (ometinies, 
 
 Cairo» 
 
 LETTER CXXXL 
 
 Aaron Moncec a, to Isaac On i s. 
 Car aite^ formerly a Rabbi at Conllan- 
 tiiiople. 
 
 TN my lad I wrote you my Sentiments con- 
 -*• cerning thofe great Princes, who are in fome 
 meafure deify'd hy Pofterity j and I then ventured 
 without Ceremony to give HemyYV, of France^ 
 Preference before them all, I have often refleéled 
 fince that time on the Reafons which induced my 
 fo doing 5 and the more I confider them, the more 
 I am perfuaded that I was in the right in fo doing. 
 I have fo thorough a fenfe of the great Virtues of 
 that Monarch, that I make no queftion but Hea- 
 ven defign'd the Punifliment of France by the Civil 
 Wars, and other ?vlifchiefs fhe endured, during 
 the Minority of Lewis XIII. for the little care 
 taken in avenging that terrible Parricide. They 
 contented themfelves with punifhing the AfTaffin ; 
 E 3 and 
 
78 The Jewish Spy. Lett. CXXXL 
 
 and the Lofs of fo great and good a King, was 
 follow'd only by the Execution of a fmgle Villain. 
 On fuch an occafion, ail, who by their Practices 
 or by their Difccurfes had promoted fo abominable 
 a Fad-, ihould have been wafted together to their 
 long Homes, through a Sea of Blood. All the Pro- 
 fcriptions of the Triumvirates which made Rome 
 itfelf tremble, would have been juftifiable at fuch 
 a time ; and there ought to have been offered on 
 the Tomb of that generous Prince every Perfony 
 on whom a juft and well-grounded Sufpicion could 
 have been fixed. 
 
 It feemed as if Heaven referved the Punifhment 
 of this Crim.e to itfelf, in order to render it more 
 terrible, and to exert itfelf on fuch occafions in an 
 extraordinary manner : For fo it is, that Providence 
 rarely permits Aflaffins to efcape even in this Life 
 their deferred Rewards, -efpecially when it is a 
 Prince on v/hom their Cruelties have been exercifcd. 
 The Murder of Cafar is a pregnant Inftance of 
 the Truth of v/hat I fay. Hiftory informs us, 
 that of fixty Perfons who confpired againft him» 
 r.ot one died a natural Death. They ail perifhed 
 miferably, and with all the Circumfrances of Hor- 
 ror that can be conceived. Cojfms^ who was the 
 lafl, met a Fate as melancholly as that of the reft*. 
 The Deity, always careful and attentive to the 
 Safety and' Tranquility of Men, feems to have 
 bound hirnfelf to puniih even in this World fuch 
 Wretches as dare attack the Perfons of Princes. 
 
 RefiecT, my dear Ifaac^ on a thing which is 
 net more ftrange than true. Almoft all the Na^ 
 zarene Monarchs who have been afTaffmated, have 
 met with their Fate from the Hands of Monks, or 
 from Perfons influenced by them. It v*^as a Do- 
 
 mJnican 
 
 * Plutarc, in Cîefare. Sueton. in Jul. Ca^f. cap- Ixxx. 
 Eu trop. lib. vi. circa fnenu 
 
Lett. CXXXI. The Jewish Spy. 79 
 
 minican who poifon'd the Emperor Henry VII ; 
 and in the Performance of that execrable Fact, he 
 had rccourfe to the moft facred Rite in his Reii- 
 gion. Another Monk of the fame Order, plunged 
 his Poniard into the Breaft of Henry HI. of France. 
 A Jefuit fulicited*, and at length influenced a 
 crack-brain'd Youth f to attempt the Murder of 
 the beH: King in the World!!.* What Ills may 
 they not perpetrate, when alTembled in a Body ? 
 And yet thofe who ought moft to hate and to deteft 
 them, fuiS^r them to throng about their Perfons 
 through an Excels of Weaknefs. We are told, 
 that Lewh the Xlllth, of whom I was fpeaking 
 to you, trembled "when he faw a Monk, and did 
 not care that they fhould remain long in his Pre- 
 fence. I readily believe this; but you may rely 
 upon it, that even to this day Monks are forbid 
 to enter iIk; Caftle oî VerJaUhs without Permiffion, 
 or to come any where elfe where the King is. I 
 was informed of this, when I was at Paris \ and I 
 am pofitive, as to the Faft. 
 
 In rpite of all thefe Marks of Contempt, v/hich 
 are fhewn towards the Monks on certain Occafions, 
 I think we may juflly apply to them what Tac'i- 
 ins fays of Aftrologers, againft whom they con- 
 tinually iflued Edicts, in order to drive them out 
 of Rome, and yet kept them there notwithftand- 
 ing J. But this is a Bufmefs belongs to the Naza- 
 renesy and not to us j if they hav^e a mind to be 
 governed by Monks, what have we to do to find 
 fault ; let us leave them in their Infatuation, and 
 proceed to a more entertaining Subje<5l. 
 
 E4 I 
 
 * John Guignard. 
 
 t John Chatel. 
 
 ii Henry IV'. 
 
 X Genus Hominum Pctentihus inf^Ium, fperantihus fallax, 
 quod in Ci^itate mjlrây Cff 'vetabitur femper^ ^ ntinc- 
 bltur. Tacit Hift. //^. I. 
 
So 72v Jewish Spy. Lett.CXXXI. 
 
 I am foon to imbark for England^ with two Men 
 of very different Chara6^ers ; the one is an extra- 
 vagant Admirer of the Italian Mufick, a great Tra- 
 veller for the fake of improving himfelf in this 
 Science, and who has been actually in Italy for 
 that purpofe a confiderable fpace of time. He ne- 
 ver fpeaks of any thing but Concerts, Symphonies, 
 Virtuofi, Sonatas, Motets, Cantatas, i^c. The 
 other is a Metaphyfician, everlaftingly in the Clouds, 
 and who employs all his time in reconciling the 
 Syflems of Defcartes^ Ga£ïr.dî^ Lccke* and Male* 
 hratuhe. He is difturbed in his Converfation, fo as 
 to appear di{}ra(fted j and fometimes one can fcarce 
 get four Words out of him in a whole Day. One 
 iees him frequently ftamp, bite his Nails, fcratch 
 his Head ; and when the Queflion is very intricate, 
 you would think by his Diftortions that he labour- 
 ed under feme very terrible Diflemper. It hap- 
 pens now and then that in the midft of his pro- 
 found Meditations, our Lover of Mufick confults 
 him on the Beauty of a nev/ Air ; ^/r, fays lie, Ho 
 me the favour to give me your cpimon of this 
 So7'g. Upon this he falls a f.nging, and whilft 
 he is a quavering his lialiariy the Metaphyfician 
 fhrugs up his Shoulders, turns up his Eyes towards 
 Heaven, and from the bottom of his heart wifhes 
 Song and Songfter both at the Devil. He endea- 
 vours to get away, and to fhelter himfelf in ano- 
 ther Roc m ; but the Man of Song, to prevent this, 
 feizes his Arm. Ah^ dear Sir, fays he, don't Jllr, 
 
 let me fivg that Verfe ever again I îVell ! Is it 
 
 not finer Without quejiion^ that^\x\z\ is a 
 
 ■great Man ! I proteji^ I would rather have been 
 the Author of his Artaxerxes, than be King of Cor- 
 fica. Speak truth now^ Sir, and acknowledge, that 
 Philofophers make hut a mean f.gure in the Jforld^ 
 when compared with Muficians. 
 
 ^ Thefe 
 
Lett.CXXXI. T/^é- Jewish Spy. 8i 
 
 Thefe laft Words bring the Metaphyfician to his 
 Senfes, and how much ioever he was buried in 
 Thought, he could not endure with Patience to hear 
 thefe great Men run down, of whom he thinks it 
 his honour that he is a Difciple. Tou think then, 
 fays he, with a difdainful Smile, that a Mufician 
 oight to receive a deal of RefpeSl in the Worlds and 
 that there is a great deal of Knciuledge and Genius 
 reqidfite in order to fing Re, Mi, Fa, Sol. Go^ gOy 
 Sir, you only banter. Hark you, 1 will tell you of 
 what Ufe Mufick m of in the World, It ferves 
 for nothing ; or, at mofî, it ferves only to 
 
 amufe a few -poor giggling Girls, and effeminate 
 Petit Maitres. But Philofophy infîrucîs Men hozu 
 to behave wifely. This gives them Purity of Manners^ 
 teaches thein to bridle their Pafftons ; there is no Se' 
 cret in Nature, which it does not unfold. In a wordy 
 it employs our Wits, and fatisfes our DefireSy at one 
 and the fa?7ie time. 
 
 " But i tell me, Sir, reply d cur Virtuofo in 
 Mufick, " are not you a Philofophcr, or don't you 
 *' at leaft ftudy Philofophy; are you in confequence 
 of it content and quiet in your Mind ? You 
 fhall 4iardly perfuade me of that. I fee you 
 in continual Motion ; you do not enjoy fo much 
 
 cc 
 (i 
 
 <c 
 
 ^^ as a Moment's Eafe. You eat fometimes, with- 
 " out knowing that you are eating ; and fpeak 
 
 £( 
 
 too, not feldom in the very fame way. Your 
 Head is fo full of Chimera's, that you can hard- 
 ly tell when 'tis Day and- when 'tis Night. 
 T'other day you took into your head to throw 
 yourfelf into a Refervoir ; and if I, good-for- 
 *< nothing Man of Song, had not catched hold of 
 *' your Coat, your Philofophy had been in great 
 " hazard of being drown'd. Do ^ou think to 
 '' perfuade me, that a Science which tranfports 
 f ' People fo, as not to fee a great Collection of 
 E 5 '' Water 
 
8z î^,? Jewish Spy. Lett.CXXXI. 
 
 '' Water at the foot of a Gravel-walk, commu- 
 *' nicates any kind of Wifdom ? For my part, to 
 ** tell you the truth, Î cannot help thinking that 
 ^' you Philofophers are very comical fort of Peo^ 
 *' pie. They are reading, forfooth, what is writ- 
 *' ten in the Heavens, without knowing what 
 •* pafTes under their Feet *. You have a mighty 
 *^ Contempt for Mufick, Sir ; but I ddy you to 
 *^ prove that it is half fo mifchievous, as that fort 
 *^ of Fanaticifmj which you call Philofophy. If 
 *^ it ravifhes the Senfes, it is^^n fo fofr, fo fweet 
 ** a manner, that we fall into a kind of ecftatic 
 ** Repofe. 
 
 ** Do but obferve a Man coming out of an 
 *^ Opera Houfe, you fee him beating time with 
 ■*^ his Feet as it were for half an hour. If he is 
 ** young and light- timber'd, he cuts a few capers, 
 ^* and prefently falls a Tinging a favourite Air. 
 "^^ He comes up to a Woman with a gallant Air, 
 ^^ like that of Jcis when he falutes Galaiea ; all is 
 ** eafyjali is pleafant, like the Place from whence he 
 ** comes. On the other hand, obferve a young Fel- 
 ** low at the Univerfity as he is comJng from the 
 " pubiick Schools, his Eyes how wild ! his^irhow 
 *' iierce ! his Head full of Logick, and a Syllogifm 
 ** between his Teeth. One Difputation juft finifh- 
 ** ed, he meditates another j and is confidering in his 
 ** Mind what new Arguments may be made ufe of 
 •** for demoiifhing his Adverfary, He is evcrlaftingly 
 *' out of humour j and all his Knowledge, all his 
 *' Philcfophy ferves only to torment him. Tell 
 *' me, dear Sir, which is moft ufeful to Society, 
 *' that kind of Study which vexes People, puts them 
 *' as it were cut of their Senfes; and under pre- 
 ** tence of rendring them wife, does in fact make 
 
 " them 
 
 * ^lod efi ante Pedes nemo fpedat ; Cϔi fcrutantHr. 
 plagas, Cicero de Divinat. lib. ii, 
 
Lett. CXXXI. "The Jewish Spv. 83 
 
 '^ them Fools ; or that which amufes them agree- 
 *' ably, removes all Chagrin, and leaves the Soul 
 *' in perfe<Sl Tranquility. This, dear Sir, is the 
 " rpecifick Difference between Mufick and Philo- 
 " fophy. You may fay what you pleafe, but I 
 *' fhall never alter my Opinion." 
 
 Aîighîywell! reply'd the Metaphyfician, with 
 an Air of Contempt ; / would aclvife you to pafs all 
 your Life In Singing, you will be then upon the level 
 luith the Nightingales, As for me, I apprehend God 
 has given me a Faculty of Thinking, and I am cb- 
 i-g\i to make ufe of it. I do not pretend to re^ 
 Jfrain you fro?n exercifing the Talents, bejlowed upon 
 you by Nature ', but I expeSJ that you Jhould Ukewife 
 gUow me to make ufe of fuch as have fallen to my 
 Share. 
 
 " You call that Thinking, reply'd our Advocate 
 " for Harmony, which is no better than following 
 *'• wild and extravagant Ideas, which are the Effe£ls 
 *' of a diforder'd Imagination ; for my part, I 
 " look upon Thinking in quite another light. I 
 '' apprehend it to be fuch an Ufe of Reafon as 
 *' enables me to pafs eafily through Life, and ad- 
 " minifters to ail thofe Wants which in thecourfe 
 *' thereof Jam fure to feel. I believe 'tis better 
 ** to leave fearching into things beyond our Un- 
 *' derftanding, and to apply cur felves to that 
 " fort of Knowledge which is ufeful and neceflary, 
 *' As for Example, contriving how to live com- 
 *^ modioufly and happily, to eat, drink, fleep, 
 'Ma ugh, fing, and pafs pleafantly the Days which 
 *' Heaven beftows upon us, inftead of beftowing 
 ''- them in uftlefs Meditations* Tell me, dear Sir, 
 '^ what fort of Illnefs your way of thinking v/i)l 
 '^ cure? Can a Man, by ftudying the Metaphy- 
 *' ficks, eafe himfelf of a Megrim. Sj rar from 
 *' it, that it will make him ten times worfe ; and 
 
 " he 
 
84 T'he Jewish Spy. Lett.CXXXI. 
 
 ^' he had better by half have heard an Overture of 
 ^' the Opera, or any other agreeable Piece of Mu- 
 *' fick, which might have charm'd his Mind, and 
 " render'd him infenfible of his Pain. When a 
 '' Man is attacked by the Vapours, vvrhat good 
 *' will Philofophy do him ? Turn him perhaps quite 
 *' mad, by increafing his Melancholy. But on 
 *' the other hand, if he hears a Violin, his ill Hu- 
 *' mour goes off, his Spirits begin to revive, and 
 *' he is as chearful as ever. There cannot be a 
 " ftronger Demonftration of the Power of Mu- 
 ** fick, than what is feen every Day in Ilaly^ in 
 *' the Cafe of a Perfon bit by a Tarantula. 
 •* Go, harangue the fick Perfon about the Schemes 
 *' of your Gajfendiy Defcaries, and all your Men 
 *' of Science, it will lignify jufl nothing; the 
 ** Man will certainly die, in fpite of all your E- 
 *' loquence. Let but a Fiddle enter, up jumps 
 *' the Patient, leaps, fkips, capers, and derives 
 *' from Mufick that Remedy which refl:ores him 
 *' to his Health and Senfes. After he has footed 
 *' it an Hour or two, weary and quite v/crn out, 
 *' he falls faft afleep ; and when he aw^akes, finds 
 *' himfelf perfedly well. All the Philofophy in 
 *' the World can do nothing like this : Can 
 « it? " 
 
 I don't know^ Ifaac^ whether the Converfations 
 of my Fellow-Travellers, wiil appear diverting to 
 you ; but laffure you, they prove fo to me, and 
 1 pafs my moments very agreeably in hearing their 
 Altercations. 
 
 May'ft thou enjoy thy Health, live content and 
 happy, and may the God of our Fathers continue 
 to cover thee with BlelTings. 
 Hamburgh, 
 
 J.ETTER 
 
I^tt.CXXXII. TZ)^ Jewish S?v. 85 
 
 LETTER CXXXII. 
 
 Jacob Brito to Aaron Monceca. 
 
 THE DlfTenfions, my dear Monceca, to which 
 our Brethren ftand expofcd in this Country, 
 have led me to make many Refle6lions on the reci- 
 procal Mifchiefs thcNazarenes do each other in con- 
 fequenceof that horrid Maxim, That it is not only 
 lawful, but even necelFary to exterminate Hereticks. 
 The Confequences flov/ing from this cruel Principle 
 are fatal alike toMen of all Beliefs, notwithftanding 
 thofe who maintain them do not advert to its ne- 
 cefTary Confequence, that it expofes themfelves to 
 all the Evils they inflicl on their Adverfaries. If 
 once they reflected on the Inconveniences which a 
 perfecuting Principle draws after it, they would 
 oulckly change their Sentiments. 
 
 People that are Hereticks in one Country, are 
 Orthodox in another ; as thofe that are Orthodox 
 in one Place, are Hereticks in another. This 
 Truth will appear plainly, if we confider ever fo 
 •flightly the prevailing Religions throughout Europe. 
 A Proteftant is an Heretick at Pan's^ but is one of 
 the Ele(Sl at London, A Papift is an Jdolater in 
 England'y whereas in France, it is held there is no 
 pailage to Heaven, but by the Popifl:i Road. See 
 then, hov/ Nations who believe oppofitely, agree in 
 believing this, that all are Hereticks who are not of 
 their Religion ; that is, of their eftabliilied F.e- 
 ligion. If we fhould fuppofe the Principles of the 
 Inquifition fpread throughout all Nations, what 
 Horrors ! what Bloodfhed would they bring upon 
 
 the 
 
86 The Jewish Spy. Lett. CXXXlI. 
 
 the World ! In Portugal^ in Spain, in Fronce^ in 
 Italy, in Atifina^ Bohemia and Poland, they would 
 cut the Throats, burn, break on the Wheel, or 
 mairacre without Diftind:ion, Lutherans, Calvinifts, 
 Church -of- £7;^/^;^^ Men, c c In Holland, Great- 
 Britain, Denmark and Prujjla^ they would hang 
 and draw Papifts, if fome Divines had their way, 
 and the Magirtrate had no more humanity than 
 the Clergy. In Mufcovy they would tyrannize o- 
 ver and condem.n to Death both Catholicks and 
 Proteftants, as equally Hereticks, in dif-bclieving 
 the Ps.u[fian Faith. In Turkey again, the fame Mitf- 
 covites would fall a Sacrifice to the Glory of Mo- 
 hammed ; and in Perjla, to the Honour of AH, 
 
 Obfen^e, dear Aicnceca, the Horrors, Crimes and 
 Impieties, which follow inconteftab ly from this 
 r^.laxim.That we ought to perfecute Hereticks, and 
 oblige them to change their Sentiments by Punifh- 
 ments and Tortures. \i fuch as pretend to be a- 
 nimated by a true Zeal for the Glory of God, v/ere 
 really infiuenc'd by any fuch Spirit, they would be 
 far from endeavouring thus to convince the Mind, 
 or from thinking it a right way to remove Prejudices 
 from the Heart, to have recourfe to fuch Violen- 
 ces as are contrary to the Lav/ of Nature and the 
 Idea which Reafon gives Men of the Deitv. They 
 v/ould perceive, that in perfecuting their Adverfa- 
 ries they expofe their Brethren to the fame Mif- 
 chiefs wherever they were fcattered in other Places. 
 But inaunuch as they are guided by their Paffion, 
 or rather by their Fury, provided they do but 
 accompiilh their Defigns in the Places where they 
 are Mailers, they never think of what may hap- 
 pen any vt'here elfe, in confequence of what they 
 do at home. 
 
 The Roinan-Catholicks, or rather the Court 0/ 
 F^ome^ the Ecclefiafticks and the Monks employed 
 
 all 
 
Lett. CXXXII. The Jewish S>?y. 2j 
 
 all forts of Methodsj in order to drive the Prote- 
 jftants out of France. After a good deal of A^Iurder 
 and Bloodfhed, they brought their Projed to bear. 
 But what followed ; why, the Popifh Religion it 
 felf received very fhortly the greateft Check it ever 
 fuftain'd. England totally barr'd Popery from re- 
 turning thither ; it coft an unhappy King three 
 Kingdoms ; or rather it coft a weak Prince fuch a 
 Sacrifice for confiding in Priefls ; and the Prote- 
 flants they had banifhed ferved for a Pretence to 
 exile an infinite Number of Papifts, and feizing 
 their EfFeds. 
 
 While at Paris^ they deftroyed without Mercy 
 whatever wore the Appearance of Proteftantifm ; 
 the Prince of Orûngewïkly rrjade ufe of the Handle 
 their Madnefs furniihed. To fay the truth, his 
 Affairs would have fuffered if thofe of the Reformed 
 Religion had been more mildly treated. To the 
 Perfecutions raifed by the French Clergy, and to the 
 Clergy in another Country, that Prince ftood in- 
 debted for the Crown of Greai Britain. If the Jg- 
 fuits, from their Itch to governing, had not put 
 King James on fo many Extravagancies, IFilliam 
 III, would have found no Occafion of going over 
 to England^ in order to maintain the Rights and 
 Liberties of an opprefTed Nation. A.11 Hiftorians a- 
 gree, that King James pufn'd his Attachment and 
 SubmiffiOn to the Jefuits much too far. Madam de 
 la Fayette^ tho' a zealous Catholick, acknowledges 
 ncverthelefs in her Memoirs of the Court of France 
 during the Years 1688 and 1689, that when they 
 came in that Country thoroughly to know the Cha- 
 ra6ler of this Prince, they retained for him only a 
 fort of Pity bordering on Contempt. The Arch- 
 bi(hop of Rheimsy Maurice le Tellier^ as we are in- 
 form'd by that Lady, could not help faying, in a 
 fr.eering Wavj Look u^on that good Man^ he quitted 
 
 three 
 
88 The Jewish Spy. Lett. CXXXIL 
 
 three Kingdoms for one Mafs. It was alfo thought a 
 Mark of his bad Taftc, that he was continualJy be- 
 fet with Jefuits, and that he afFeâed to fay that he 
 was of their Order *. The Continuators of Ra- 
 ping Hiftory of England^ tho' they are declared Ene- 
 mies to the Proteftant Religion, have made no diffi- 
 culty of inferting this fmgular Story, and of adding 
 to it the following Reflexion. They^ that is, the 
 Peopl-e of /r^?î<:^, went fa far ^ as to impute fecretly 
 his Misfortunes to him^ ^^ f ihcy were Crime s ^ on 
 account of 'his havifig engaged France in a tedious and 
 ruinous IVar^ ofzvhich they for ef aw the EffeSîs ■\, 
 
 It was not, however, King ja7nes^ dear Monce- 
 ca^ to whom the French ought to have attributed the 
 Troubles and Difficulties that were brought upon 
 them by the maintaining his Caufe. It was to them 
 who gave him thofe pernicious Counfels, and plun- 
 ged him into that Abyfs from whence he never got 
 out ; it was to them that they fhould have attri- 
 buted thofe Evils, and on them they fhould have 
 devolved their Spleen. The Misfortunes of that 
 Prince were the Effe<£ls of the Ambition of the Je- 
 fuits, and of their pernicious Maxim, that all 
 means are to be employed for deftroying Hereticks. 
 The Englijh had before their Eyes the Example of 
 the French Proteftants ; and they were afraid with 
 good Reafon, that they fiiould one Day find it their 
 own Cafe. " If the King, faid they, begins to 
 " diminifb our Privileges, and to extend thofe of 
 '' our Advcrfaries, we ihall by little and little be 
 *' reduced into a Situation which will incapacitate 
 *' us from r^fifling the Defigns of the Court of 
 " Rojne. At prefent they make ufe of Fraud, by 
 '' and by they may make ufe of open Force. The 
 *' French Proteftants fet Henry IV. upon the 
 
 " Throne i 
 
 * P. 120, T 24, 155. 
 
 '\ Continuation de Rapin Thoyras, torn, xi. p. 41 • 
 
Lett. CXXXII. The Jewish Spy. 89 
 
 " Throne ; (o long as he lived, they were not op- 
 " prefTed, but a little after his Death they began 
 " to trick them, and then to perfecute them ; at 
 *' laft they banifhed them, and taught them to ex- 
 " perience the Effects of that abominable Maxim, 
 '' that to make ufe of all Methods to extirpate 
 " Hereticks, is allowed by divine and human 
 '' Laws. Let us then prevent the Storm which 
 «^ threatens us ; let us flrangle the Serpent wc have 
 ^' nourifhed in our Bofom, and give a mortal 
 " Wound to Popery, by dethroning a King Vv^ho 
 *' proteds it, and would eftablifli it on the Ruins 
 " of our Liberty, and our Religion. If there is 
 *' any thing bafe in this Aélion, our Enemies have 
 *' no Right to reproach us ; if we rebel, we rebel 
 *' againfi: a Popifh Prince, and they fet us the Ex- 
 " ample in refufmg to acknowledge a Proteftant 
 " one. Did they not publifh a Million of Writings, 
 ** to prove that a People were not bound to fubmit 
 " to a Herelick Prince, their Preachers employed 
 '^ all their Talents for publifhing this Doélrine m 
 *' themidft of Paris. At pre.ent v/efind it necef- 
 '' fary to adopt their Maxim ; we ào no more than 
 " dethrone a King attainted and convicted of Pope- 
 *' ry, which, with rcafon, we look upon as of all 
 " others the moft dangerous Herefy." 
 
 Obferve, my dear Monceca^ in the Remarks " 
 made by the EngUJh^ what fatal Effedts the Doc- 
 trine of Reprifals in religious Wars will inevitably 
 have. Confider, at the fame time, the Mifchief 
 which the ungoverned Pvage of different Sects hath 
 brought upon whole Nations. For after all, not- 
 withftanding the Rifques the Proteftants in Eng- 
 land might run, I can by no means approve of their 
 Conduct. I am thoroughly perfjaded, that it is 
 not lawful for Subjeds, on any Pretence v/hatfoe- 
 ver, to take up Arms againft their Prince ; and I 
 
 have 
 
90 71^^ Jewish Spy. Lett.CXXXIl. 
 
 have often, with great Pleakire, heard you main- 
 tain the fame thing v/ith much Vivacity. Howe- 
 ver, when once v/e admit, that Men are at liber- 
 ty to break their Faith to Hcreticks, and to com- 
 pel them by force to alter their Opinions, we open 
 a wide Gap to all forts of Diforders j we fhake the 
 Thrones of Kings^ and breathe into the People a- 
 mong whom we inhabit, a Spirit of Treafon and 
 Rebellion. 
 
 If it were once thoroughly eRablifhed through- 
 out Europe^ That Religion has nothing to do v/ith 
 Government, how happy would the People be, and 
 how much more at eafe their Kings, than now 
 they are ? What is it to them, if fome of their 
 Subje6ts fing in French^ in EngUjh^ in Diitch^ rr 
 in German^ vûvAq others bejieve the Pfalms are 
 profaned in any oiher Language but Latin ? If for 
 this purpofe they alTemble on Saturday or on Sun- 
 day^ pay their Taxes, and difcharge all the Duties 
 they owe to Society ? But, fay the Politicians, 
 when there are many Religions in a Country, it is 
 impoffible but they (hould produce civil Wars. This 
 1 admit, if any one of thefe Religions maintains that 
 pernicious Maxim, That it is lawful to employ all 
 Methods for fubverting and deftroying others j and 
 that fometimes all the other Se6ts wnll unite toge- 
 ther, in order to demolifh that which would other- 
 wife tyrannize. But in a well-governed State, 
 where the People in general are perfuaded that eve- 
 ry Man ought to be allov>'ed to think freely, and to 
 ferve God as he fees proper, all the World will en- 
 joy Peace and Quiet, tho' there fhould be fifty diffe- 
 rent Religions in the Dominion of that State. In 
 order to be convinced of the Truth of this Propofition, 
 we need only enquire into the prefent Situation of 
 England and Hcllirid. How many different Se6ls 
 are there in thofe Countries ? Yet they give each 
 
 other 
 
Lett.CXXXII. ne]EvnsnSpY. 91 
 
 Other no manner of Trouble. Jsws, Anti-Trini- 
 tarians, Quakers, Anabaptifts, Lutherans, Presby- 
 terians, Independents, Muggletonians, difputefome^ 
 times with each other, but they never think of cut- 
 ting Throats ; and if fometimes there happens any 
 Troubles on account of religious Controverses in 
 E?îglûnci, all the different Seds treat it as a Popi(h 
 Spirit, and immediately enter into a League offen- 
 iive and defenfive, in order to cover themfelves 
 from its Effe6ls. In a word, they feem to be all 
 equally afraid of this pernicious Principle, that it is 
 ajufl: and reafonable thing to perfecute Kereticks 
 for their own Good. To this Point a certain Au- 
 thor teftifies, who both had an Opportunity of 
 knowing, and was well acquainted with the Ter- 
 ror all Religions in England have of Popery. " If 
 " one, fays he, fhould ask me to what Degree dif- 
 " ferent Seds are to be tolerated ? I anfwer, that 
 '* they ought all to ftand on equal Terms j that 
 " they fhould at all times and in all places, be. at 
 *' liberty to juftify their Faith, by Difputing, by 
 *' Preaching in their Affemblies, and by Publifh- 
 *' ing Books. But Popery ought to be entirely de- 
 *' prived even of the Benefit of Toleration, not as 
 " a Religion, but as a tyrannical Faction, ready 
 " to opprefs others, and fo far from being content 
 " with an Equality, that it is always driving for 
 " Dominion, and not only fo, but feeks alfo the 
 " utter Deftruction of fuch asoppofe it*." 
 
 To this PafTage from the Firgil of England, per- 
 mit me to add another from an illuftrious Defender 
 of Toleration, too much addid:ed to Philofophy to 
 fail into any Prejudices on the Score of Religion. 
 " Never fear, fays he, that the MilTionaries fhould 
 " quarrel amongfl themfelves, when the great Bu- 
 
 " fmels 
 
 * Milton's Mifcellaneous Works, 
 
92 T/jé' Jewish Spy. Lett.CXXXII. 
 
 '' finefs of Dragooning is on foot. The Thomijist 
 " and the ScAiJis^ t\\^ Mdwifls and the Janfen'ifts^ 
 *' forget their Differences, banifh their Difputes, 
 " and labour one and all in the Execution of that 
 '' Catholick Precept, Cc?7ipd them to come in *.'* 
 
 One thing, Moriceca^ uirprizes me, the Popifh 
 2\aza7'€nes are by no. means ignorant of the Mif- 
 chiefs induced by their violent Conduct on their 
 Brethren in other Places. They know very well 
 what Reproaches thofe Brethren of theirs fufer on 
 account of thefe Perf.cutions, and of their Lufl of 
 Power ; and yet, infread of behaving more mildly, 
 they a(£l v/ith greater Rancour than ever, as if they 
 intended to perpetuate Perfecutions, inftead of put- 
 ting an end to them. On the other hand, their 
 Antagonifts, poffefTed with the fame unaccountable 
 Spight, torment innocent Perfonsjwho have nothing 
 to do with the Cruelties committed by their Bre- 
 thren. What Connection is there between an 
 Englijh Papift and an Italian Jefiàt .? Or why 
 fhould one be punifhed for the Faults of the other. 
 It is as abfolutely Popifli to perfecute an honeft 
 Roman Catholick in Ireland^ as it is to banifh a 
 Proteftant oî France. Ought there to be Reprizals 
 in Matters of Religion .'' What Matter of Triumph ! 
 What Subje6l for Reflection, Monceca I doth the 
 unequitable Conduct of the Nazarene Sedts afford to 
 an honefl Jew ? 
 
 Fare thee well, Moticeca^ live content and happy. 
 Lisbon. 
 
 * Bayle, Diftionaire Hifioriqvie Sc Critique, turn, iii- 
 /• 339- 
 
 LETTER 
 
Lett. CXXXIII.T;^^ Jewish Spy. 93 
 
 L E T T E Pv CXXXIII. 
 
 Aaron Mo n c e c a, /^ IsAx^c Onis, 
 Caraite, formerly a Rabbi ^ at Conftan- 
 tinople. 
 
 iT is not, dear Jjaac^ above four or five Days 
 -■■ fince I came to London. It is tlierefore impof- 
 fible for me to give you any juft Idea of the Cha- 
 racter of the EngUfo. It is true I have taken notice 
 of many Thin2;s v/hich ftrike me, and which are 
 certainly vi^orthy the Attention of a Traveller ; but 
 as yet I have not had Leifure to look into tiiem fuf- 
 ficiently. There is one thing which renders it very 
 difficult to characrerife the EngllJI). It is this : 
 They have a great many Virtues, which feem di- 
 re6lly oppofite to Vices with which they are how- 
 ever tainted. The Contrarieties v/hich one is fure 
 to dilcern in examining the Manners and the Mode 
 of thinking amongft thefe People, appear fo extra- 
 ordinarv, that it requires a very ferious Examina- 
 tion before one can pretend to affign their good or 
 ill Qualities. 
 
 In order to give a true and jufl Notion of this 
 Nation, it isabfolutely neceflary to diveft one's feif 
 of all Prejudices, to forget that one is a Frenchman^ 
 a German^ or Italian^ and to form all our Sentiments 
 of Men by Rules furnifned by the Light of Reafon. 
 My Opinion is, that a Judge thus qualified, will 
 find in the Engli/h many great and fnining Qualities, 
 tho' (haded by not a few Follies and Vices. But 
 
 as 
 
^4 7Z-? Jewish Spy. Lett. CXXXIII. 
 
 as there is no Nation pofTefTeJ of Worth unabated 
 •by fome diiadvantageous Qualities, foifthe Virtues 
 of the EngUJh are found to be far more confiderable 
 than their Faults, we cannot, with any Shew of 
 Juftice, decry them as a Pecpie, or expeét that while 
 they are Men, they ftiould not participate of the 
 Frailties to which human Nature is liable. 
 
 I fee, fince I have been here, that the Inhabi- 
 tants of this Country in general are large, well made, 
 agile, robuft People. I perceive likewife, that their 
 exterior Form is in feme meafure a Picture of their 
 inward Frame of Mind. Many intelligent People 
 have alTured me, that the Vigour and Aflivity of 
 an Englijh Genius, is not inferior to the Strength 
 and Nimblenefsof an Engli/hmanh Body. Of this 
 I fliall endeavour to give you Proofs in my fubfe- 
 quent Letters, and promife you to communicate 
 whatever Difcoveries I make here, with a Sinceri- 
 ty becoming a Philofopher, to whom Mankind 
 feems to be but one great Nation. 
 
 On my Arrival in London^ J could not but take 
 notice of that Plenty, Magnificence and Contempt 
 of little Things for which the Enghfh^ as a People, 
 are diftinguifhed when fpoken of in other Nation?. 
 I likcvv'ife obferved that Fiercenefs which Strangers 
 are fo apt to call Infolence ; and from the beft En- 
 quiry I have been able to make into it, I can by no 
 means think it merits fo harfli an Appellation. 
 
 If one v/ere to judge of the Englijh by what is 
 faid of t!>em bv ether Nations, and regulate one's 
 Opinion by theirs, one mult fall into very grofs Er- 
 rors. Moft of the Relations written by Travellers, 
 are ftrongly feafoned with that Prejudice againft 
 England^ which however ill founded, is fpread but 
 too generally throughout Europe. It is true indeed, 
 that the Englijh have given fon)e Caufe for this, by 
 their common manner of preferring themfclves to 
 
 a.U 
 
Lett. CXXXIII. TzV Jewish Spy, 95 
 
 all the reft of Mankind ; an Indecency ever attend- 
 ed with ill Confequcnces. 
 
 This Fault, however, Is not peculiar to thern ; 
 it is common, in fome degree or other, to all Na- 
 tions. To Ipeak trecly, the EngUjh puih it too far, 
 and with too little Rcferve. As tliey are rich and 
 powerful, they think, and fure it is a great Yds^xlt^ 
 tbat they are rot bound to keep MeaTures witiî o- 
 ther People. But notwithflanding this, ail the 
 Tales which are daily told of their Jirutaiicy and 
 want of Manners, deferve rather Pity than Cor-- 
 reilion ; and one fhould rather defpife than at-- 
 tempt to confute them, I mufl: allow that the 
 Eiigi'tfh are not very defircus of being acquainted 
 with Strangers -, and when they are acquainted with 
 them, give them every now and then to under^ 
 fland that they are their Betters in every refpect ; 
 and I do admit that this Hum.our is ridiculous. Far 
 be it from me to excufe fuch an unhsppy Oddity of 
 Temper, fo contrary to the Rules of good ^Jan- 
 ners, and even to thofe of Reafon. But fliil there 
 is a good deal of Difference between înfolence and 
 a good Opinion of one's felf. "Where is there a 
 Creature more opinionated and felf- conceited than 
 a French Petit- Alaitre ; and yet who is m.ore civil, 
 more complaifiht, or more polite than he ? To 
 fay the truth, the Evghfh^ to their good Opinion 
 of themfelves, add the Vanity alfo of giving others 
 to underftand as much, and it is this that renders 
 their Conduct fo difguftful. 
 
 A Stranger in this Country cannot v/alk the 
 Streets without hearing the People enter into a De- 
 fcription of him, and blaming whatever he has a- 
 bout his Perfen differing from themfelves. This 
 puts a Traveller unavoidably out of Humour, he 
 cannot with Patience hear his Countrymen injured 
 through his Sides, and himfelf tacitely cenfured as 
 
 well 
 
96 Tl^é^ Jewish Spy. Lett. CXXXIII. 
 
 well as the reft. When therefore he comes home, 
 he remembers nothing of the good Qualities of the 
 Englijhy their Faults only remain freih in his Me- 
 mory, and he paints them in fuch Colours as Spleen 
 and Vengeance furnilh him with, 
 
 I have done my utmcft, Ifaac^ to difcover the 
 true Sources of tlie Pride and Haughtinefs of the 
 Englîfi:, their Contempt of otlier Nations, and par- 
 ticularly of the French ; and I imagine, that with- 
 out much Difficulty, I am come at the true Caufe. 
 The Refugees, by their own Conduct, have in- 
 fpired thcfc People with a contemptible Idea of their 
 former Condition, and by R.eflection, with high 
 Notions of their own. They who are opulent 
 themfelves, and live in the midft of Riches and A- 
 bundance, regard w^ith a'n Eye of Pity, A4en flrug- 
 gling wdth Want ; and yet fuch as in this Country 
 are not blefTed with the Goods of Fortune, do not 
 try all Methods, and endeavour at any Rate to bet- 
 ter their Condition. On the contrary, fatisfied 
 v;ith a little, w'hile they enjoy it with Liberty, 
 they live quietly and chearfully. We fee few 
 EvgUfhmen going to feek their Fortunes ; thev blufli 
 at the Thoughts of getting Money in the Way of 
 Ibme other Adventurers. Their Com.merce is their 
 fuie Refource-; a Way equally reputable to them- 
 felves, and ufeful to their Country. It is not there- 
 fore at all ftrange that iVIen who think in this re- 
 fpect fophilofophically, fhould defpife People whom 
 they fee running all the World over in queft of iVIo- 
 ney, endeavouring to acquire it by all forts of 
 Means, even by fuch as with them pafs for fbame- 
 ful *and fcandalous Methods. 
 
 One may venture to affirm, that fuch of the 
 ETiglijl) as are well to pafs, are fierce and haughty 
 in right of iheir Fortunes, and that fuch as are in a 
 
 meaner 
 
Lett. CXXXIIl. Tbe ]e\v}sh Spy. 97 
 
 meaner Condition, are vain and proud, bccaufe they 
 know how to be fatisfied with their Condition. 
 
 The great Number of Knights of the InduHry 
 which fwarm in the City oï Lmdony contributes not 
 a little to the giving the Englijl) an ill Opinion of the 
 Foreigners in general, and of the French in parti- 
 cular. Such as have never travelled, form their I- 
 deas of Strangers, according to the Conduce of thole 
 whom they have feen judg ng rafhly of the whole; 
 Piece by the worft Part of its Sclvidgc. 
 
 This, without doubt, is the Caufe of the Con- 
 tempt thefe People have for the Inhabitants of every 
 other Country but their own. To this Contempt 
 they join an undifguifed Hatred with refpecl to tliC 
 French. On this head the Men of Quality and the 
 Vulgar have but one Way of thinking ; indeed it 
 feems to be the Topick on which of all others they 
 are befl: agreed. There are feveral Reafons which 
 may be offered for this extraordinary Prejudice ; the 
 Warsfubfifting as it were continually between the 
 two Nations, their particular Interefts which almoft 
 conftantly thwart each other ; and to fum up all, 
 P.eligion, which carries all things to Extremities 
 whenever it interferes with national Dilputes. 
 
 If the Differences which have fo long reigned be- 
 tween France and England were of the fame Na- 
 ture with thofe between the Germans and the French^ 
 the Cojiclufion of the War would alfo put an end 
 to the Animofity between tli€ Nations. W^hen 
 People fight for the Glory and Interefls of their So- 
 vereigns, as fbon as they have received Satisfad^ion, 
 tiie thing is at an end ; no body thinks of what is 
 paff, tlio' it fretjuenîly happens that whole PrQvin- 
 ccs have changed their Mallei s ; the Inhabitants 
 are neither the better nor the worfe for it ; they 
 lofe not either their Ella tes or their PriviiegcSj but 
 enjoy, under their new Sovereigns^ nil that they 
 poffeffed urtder their old. Bat when there is a' 
 
 Vol. IV. F ' ' W.ir 
 
9S TljeJEXMSHSpY. Lett. CXXXIII. 
 
 War between France and Engla7idy it is far from 
 being the fole Concern of Sovereigns. Every pri- 
 vate Man has his Share ; and as many Merchant 
 as there are in each refpeclive Country, fo many 
 Enemies there are. A French Ship taken by the 
 Englijh is a complicated A6i:, whereby all the Own- 
 ers of that Ship and Cargo are injured in their ten- 
 dereft Concern. Every Burgefsof «9/. Malo's^ eve- 
 ry Trader of Dunkirk becomes the fworn Enemy of 
 the Merchants of London ; and on the other hand, 
 every Captain of a French Privateer is a petty Sove- 
 reign, and fights in his own Quarrel againft the 
 Engl'ijh Nation, 
 
 The Wars between the Empire and Frajice are 
 between Crown'd Heads ; the Wars between the 
 French and the Englijh are between particular 
 People, and the ancient Hatred on each Side is 
 flrengthned by every new Difference ; this is much 
 the flronger on account of Difference in Religion, 
 which of all other Caufes moft keeps up national 
 Antipathies. 
 
 All Men abhor fuch as would put any Reflraint 
 upon their Confciences ; but even this Abhorrence 
 grows itronger, when fuch as are neither our Ma- 
 ilers, our Friends, or our Countrymen, pretend to 
 meddle with our Religion, Ihe Retreat of the 
 !.ite King James II. into France ; the Succours 
 ^iven him there ; the many Attempts made in his 
 Favour, have provoked the EngUJJ) more than a 
 War of twenty Years Duration, 
 
 Another thing, which has fwell'd the Pride and 
 Vanity of that Nation, is tliC needy and miferable, 
 and of confequence, the mean and fabmiflive flate 
 of a Multitude of French People, who have fled 
 thither from time to time on account of their Reli- 
 gion. I do admit, that Folks who have loll their 
 Êflates, who are banifhed their Country, and have 
 ;.o mcaiii of efcaping Want but from the Bounty of 
 
 , the 
 
Lett. CXXXIII. rbe Jewish Spy. 99 
 
 the Englijh^ are excufable in paying them greater 
 Complaifance than it would be right in other Cir- 
 cumftances to do. But ftill there arc fome Bounds 
 to be kept even in this Cafe, and they ought not 
 to ftoop to thofe outrageous Flatteries which of all 
 tilings depreciate them moll in the Opinions of 
 thofe whom they flatter. 
 
 The Englijh^ who followed the Fortunes of Kin» 
 "James^ ought to have been Patterns to the Freiich 
 Refugees. They were baniflied, as well as the' , 
 they had exaclly th^ fame Grounds for Complaint ; 
 and yet diftinguifhing their Country from thofe par^ 
 cular Perfons who were at the Helm, and were the 
 immediate Inftruments and Favourites of King 
 U'^tlliam^ they were as true Britons at St. Germains 
 as at London, 
 
 How is it poiïîble that People who fmcerely love 
 their Country, vv-ho have a Paflion deeply engraven 
 for it in their Hearts, who are capable of niaintain- 
 jng this Spirit, and this true Greatnefs of Sou^, in a. 
 ftrange Country, and under a Load of Misfortunes ? 
 How is it pofTible, I fay, that fo gallant a People 
 fhould do otherwife than defpife an abjetfl Race of 
 Men, continually decrying the Land of their Na- 
 tivity, bkming what before they applauded, and 
 blindly approving what they heretofore condemned. 
 It is certain, my Friend, that this Conduét in the 
 French hath in part drawn tliC Contempt of the 
 F.ngUJh upon them. They would have found tlie 
 fame Relief if they had kept up their Spirits under 
 their Misfortunes; and if they had fhewn a Refolu- 
 tion not to facrifice that Love they ought to have 
 had for their Country, for the fake of a precario-js 
 Subfiftance, I am confident the Englifi would have 
 efleemed them much more than thev do. 
 
 Farewell, dear Ifaac^ and let me often hear from 
 t.hse. 
 
 Lond'.n* 
 
 F 2 L E T T £ p. 
 
loo T/je]E\\isu Spy. Lett. CXXXIV. 
 
 LETTER CXXXIV. 
 
 Aar on Mo nce Cxi /^ Isaac On is, 
 Caraite^ formerly a Rabbi at Conflan-^ 
 ~ tinople. 
 
 T Begin, dear Ifaac^ to know the EngJlJh Nation 
 •*■ well enough now to enter on a diftin6t Account 
 of them. At prefcnt I (hall not offer any thing 
 to your View relating to their Nobility, which 
 when I do, I muft diftinguifh into various ClafTes, 
 but content my felf with endeavouring to give you 
 a clear Notion of the reft of the Nation. 
 
 The Engl'ifh nre not fuch Fools to think Trade 
 a Scandal: Amon^fl them a Man of Bufmefs makes 
 a very confidcrable Figure, and v/ith Rea fon ; for 
 while he endeavours to enrich himfelf, he at the 
 fame time contributes towards the enriching of his 
 Country. Almoft ail the Merchants in this Coun- 
 try are the Sons of Knights, or at leaft of principal 
 Gentlemen ; nav, there have been fometimes Lords, 
 who have thought it noDiicrtdit to them that their 
 Brethren and their Children were bred up to Trade, 
 
 The Idea which the Evgl'/Jh have of Merchants, 
 renders People of that Denomination quite another 
 fort of Men than they are elfewhere. As there is 
 nothing in their ProfefTion which either damps their 
 Spirits, or debafes their Reputation, they tlvnk in 
 qui;e anctb.er way than French^ German^ Flc7)iij}?y 
 4ir iiallun Mercliants do. They have as quick No- 
 tl'jj^i of Honour àz of Intercft, and arc no Icfs con- 
 cerned 
 
Lett. CXXXIV. rhe Jewish Spv. io i 
 
 cerned for their Country's being enriched, than {'or 
 the Increafe of their private Fortunes, l^his is one 
 «f the great Caufes of thu bright Figure which 
 Trade makes in London. 
 
 There is another thing peculiar to the Traders ]:\ 
 this Co'intry ; it is the wile and prudent ufe they 
 make of the Riches they acquire. WJien an Krrg^ 
 I'lfmnan liuth raifed an Kilate in Trade, he lca\ ls 
 it ofFa-nd become: a Country Gentleman. Th^v 
 are indefatigabie for rc)me\ ears in BuhncTs, and 
 then they wifely and contentedly Ot down and en- 
 joy the Fruit of their Labour.^. It feems ss if this 
 Nation alone h*ad preferved a juft Scnfe of that E- 
 quaiity v/hich Nature meant to eftablifh among 
 Men. It is not only the '^IVaders do not UifiL-r 
 themfclves to be impofed upon by tlie fuelling 
 S.iunds of empty Titles, but iliC very People be- 
 have with proper Moderation in this refpect, and 
 in their Add relies to the Great, fhew nothing of* 
 that Fear and flavifh AdmJration which is fo com- 
 mon in all other Countries. 
 
 A Lord here is only refpecled in proportion to 
 the Good he does. If he is a good-natur'd, eafy, 
 affable and generous Pcrfon, he is generally efteem- 
 ed, and meets with all the iVIarks of Refpect hs 
 can defire ; which are fo much the more pleahng, 
 becaufe he well knows he would not receive thenî, 
 if they were not due to his Merit. If on the other 
 hand, he has no good Qualities in him, he is looked 
 upon with Indifference, and treated as a uftlcfs 
 Member of Society. He enjoys, it ib true,, tlie Pri- 
 vileges due to his Rank, and leads juil fuch a Life 
 at London as a difcarded Courtier at Ver failles. I 
 muft tell you farther, my Friend, that an Englijh 
 Nobleman appears to be more mortified on lonng 
 the Regards of his Countrymen than a Frenchman 
 feems to be when in difgrace with hi* Prince. 
 1 3 You 
 
Ï02 7/jé' Jewish Spy. Lett. CXXXIV. 
 
 You will the more readily apprehend this, when I 
 tell you, that a firong Paffion for Glory, and for 
 the Honour of his Country is predominant in every 
 Engl'Jh Soul. 
 
 It is not only in this fort of Conduô towards the 
 Great, that the meaner fort of People refemble the 
 more fubftantial. It is the fame thing with regard 
 to moft of the good and bad Qualities they poflefs : 
 For the Englijh in general being a thinkrng People, 
 Reafon and Common Senfe fupply even in the 
 meaneft of them, any Defeds in their Education. 
 
 The Manner in which the People are drefled, is 
 a Demonftration of the Eafe in which they live. 
 One fees here an Air of Abundance^ among even 
 the loweft People ; and it is this extraordinary Plen- 
 ty which makes the Mob infolent, and gives that 
 Air of Fiercenefs complained of even in thofe of 
 fuperior Rank. Self-conceit is the natural Defe<Sl 
 cf the Inhabitants of this Country. Whatever Si- 
 tuation of Life they are in, they fet a high Value 
 upon themfelves ; for let them live how they will, 
 t^eyarejVillEvglijhmen^ and on this they ground a 
 kind of indelible Title to Refpefl. 
 
 I told you in my firft Letter, that the Virtues 
 a ;d Vices of this Nation, are equally great, and 
 that one fees in their Charaders aftonifhing Con- 
 t adidions : I will now fupport this Obfervation by 
 ïr.ftances. The Er.glifn have a great and n^jble 
 Spirit 5 they detefl Treachery ; this Generofity of 
 theirs will not allow them to ifee Combatants on un- 
 equal Terms. If a Man in the Streets of London 
 i"hould pretend to cane anotlîer w^ho had no Stick in 
 his Hand, he would be mobb*d. But if a Perfon 
 were indifcreet enough to draw upon a naked Man, 
 the Prentice Boys and Journeymen in the Neigh- 
 bourhood, woufd be tempted either to pull him to 
 pieces or throw him int© the Thames, Such arc 
 
 the. 
 
Lett. CXXXIV. The Jewish Spy. io; 
 
 the EfFeéts of this their generous Impetuofity, which 
 Teems excufable on account of the Redirade of their 
 Intentions. But thefe very People, v. ho can't en- 
 dure to fee Men engaged on unequal Term?, re- 
 femble the ancient Romans in their liking to Gla- 
 diators. Is there not fomething favage in behold- 
 ing fuch blood v Spe^Tlacles ? When they can't fee 
 Men fight, they divert themfelves at the Expcnce 
 of Cocks, Dogs and Bulls. This Ferocity of theirs 
 mud be fatisfied, and for want of their ov/n Spe- 
 cies, they are content to fucrifice Animals to their 
 Ifumcurs. 
 
 Who can imagine, that a People (o cruel and 
 bloody in their Diverfions, are notwithftandin^ 
 humane and charitable in the higheft Degree ? 
 There are, however, very few among the Eyighjhy 
 who, if their Circumftances allow it, refufe an 
 Alms to the Poor. Nay, they carry the thing fur- 
 ther ftill ; they do not ftay till they are ask'd, the 
 Sight of Indigence is fufficient to move them, aid 
 from a Motive of Humanity they give^ that they 
 may be eafy in themfelves. 
 
 One of the moft fmgular Qifterences in the Tem- 
 per of thefe People is their Contempt of Trifles, 
 and their exceffive Love of what they call the Fa- 
 fhion. One cannot but be amazed to fee in the 
 fame People Sentiments and Inclinations fo intirely 
 oppofite. To this Oddity I cannot help joining an- 
 other, which is perhaps as fmgular, Wz. their Pro- 
 penfity to Chicane, When one confiders the Mul- 
 titude of Law-fuits which are daily decided in Lori' 
 dotiy and when one reflets on the Prudence and 
 good Senfe which one every where difcovers in the 
 Books and Difcourfcs of the ËngliJ))^ one is tempted 
 to think, that they talk like Philofophôrs^ think 
 like Pettifoggers^ and acl like the Normans, from 
 whom, in a great meafurc, their heft Families are 
 F 4. defcend^d. 
 
104 "^^^ Jewish Spy. Lett. CXXXIV. 
 
 dcfcended. This is certain, that falfe WitnefTes 
 are as plenty here as in Nor7nandy, Nay, one 
 Vv^ould imagine that they had fome Refpecl for 
 them, and were afraid of deftroying the Breed ; 
 they punifh them fo flightJy in comparifon of what 
 they deferve, that a Knight of the Poft in London 
 is infinitely a fafer. Employment than a "Janfenijl 
 Bookfeller in Paris, 
 
 As to Religion, every EngUJhinan has one of his 
 own Cut. If there was a Proclamation to bring in 
 their Creeds, I do verily believe there would not be 
 two alike. But notwithftanding thefe Variations 
 in Point of Belief, they are incredibly zealous for 
 the particular Se6ts under the Denomination of 
 which they range themfelves. h. Churchman hates 
 a Presbyterian as heartily as a Janfeniji does a Jefuit, 
 The Presbyterian pays the Churchman in his own 
 Coin, but they unite in detefting a Papift, who 
 has in his Turn a cordial Abhorrence for them 
 both *. 
 
 How does fo whimfical a Behaviour as this agree 
 with the good Senfe of the Englijh^ and with that 
 Toleration in Matters of Religion which fubfifts a- 
 mong them ? One Ts forced, when one fpeaks 
 freclv, to confefs that there are a kind of Follies 
 which may be ftiled national, and that a People 
 ought to be eftecmed wife and happy whofe Weak- 
 neiTes are few and favourable. On this Principle, 
 dear Ifaac^ I cannot help faying, that the EîigliJJ) 
 ire very much indebted to Nature. For amongft 
 the different Follies with which all Nations are in- 
 fetS^ed, the EngJifl) have for their Share the lighteff, 
 ;4nd the Icaft dangerous to good Senfe. With thefe 
 
 fmall 
 
 * Inde furor I'ldgi quod numina njicimrtim 
 
 OJit quifque /ecus ; cum foJos credat habendas 
 F.JJ'e Dcosy qncs ipfi edit, Juv. Sat. xv. 
 
Lett.CXXXIV. 72f Jewish Spy. IC5 
 
 fmall Faults, they have great and {hining Virtues- 
 We obferve amongft them a Conftancy which elfe*^ 
 where pafTes for philofophick. They have the 
 Courage to declaj-e againft old Opinions whenever 
 they difcover them to be erroneous ; it fignifics no- 
 thing to tell them that their Fathers thought (o and 
 fo, and that they ought to revere the Antiquity ot 
 any Opinions. This, I fay, fignifies nothing to 
 them ; tor no fooner is the Delufion manifeft than 
 they afiert their Right of difcarding it. It is a com- 
 mon thing to hear an EnglijJmian fay, We have 
 piay'd the Fool as to fuch or fuch a thing thefe two 
 or three hundred Years, it is high time that we 
 fliould become wifer, and not put it into the power 
 of our Children to make the fame Complaints, and 
 with the fame Juftice, againft us, that we do againft 
 our Forefathers. 
 
 It is certainly, dear Ifaac^ a pleafmg thing to 
 difcern in a whole Nation a Difpofition to make ufe 
 of their Reafon ; and this appears the more extraor- 
 dinary, when v/e confider that moft other Nations 
 condemn and perfecute fuch as have the Courage to 
 2(51 in this manner. 
 
 Another eflential Qiiality in the Englifi is'theîf 
 Netjledl: of Nicety, or as they call it Finicalnef5. 
 A Petit-Maitre at London is not more the Jeft of 
 Men of Senfe than of the meaneft People. He is 
 regarded by both as a fort of a Marmot, or any o- 
 ther pretty dancing Animal that's {hev.'h at Fairs, - 
 You cannot imagine, my Friend, . how much Ï- 
 admire this Sagacity. For furely, if Cuftom did 
 not blunt the Underftarvdings of other Nation.?, 
 they would fee thefe Trifiers in the fame Light, and 
 be as well pleafed with their Tricks and Grimaces, 
 as with a Monkey's dancing on the Rope. 
 
 The En^iijh arc commonly chargea with Incon-* 
 
 ly the tr.uh, their 
 Fs' H^rt%?ry 
 
xc6 7/?:^ Jewish Spy. Lett. CXXXIV, 
 
 Hiflory is a clear and diftin(?t Proof of the Inequali- 
 ty of their Behaviour towards their Princes. In or- 
 der to excufe this, they pretend that they have ne- 
 ver been v/anting in their Duty with refpedl to 
 their Sovereigns, but when they were forced to it 
 in order to preferve their Rights. If this Afiertion 
 of theirs was founded in truth, one might believe 
 that the Love of Liberty was the Caufe of their Re- 
 volutions. But notwithftanding all they fay in ex- 
 tenuation of their Condu61:, it is eafy enough to fee 
 that this Liberty, of which they talk fo much,, 
 ferves fometimes only fora Pretence to cover their 
 Lightnefs and Love of Change. Ambitious Men a- 
 mongft them know hov/ to work on the Credulity 
 of the People, and by filling their Minds with falfe 
 Fears upon this Subje<£^, conduce the Motions of 
 popular Fury in fuch a manner as to lift themfelves 
 into the beit Places. 
 
 To be, convinced of the truth of this, one needs 
 only confider the Revolutions amongft them, as they 
 themfelves reprefent them. We fhall fee that they 
 have happcuied under Princes of Characters dire6î:ly 
 oppofite; whence it is plain, that the Conduâ: of 
 their Princes v.'as not the true Caufe. The Englijh 
 were equally difpleafed with the foft and indolent 
 Behaviour of Hetiry VI. and with the bold and en- 
 terprizing Temper of Edward IV. depofmg both 
 thefe Princes in their Turns ; and by an Efte6l of . 
 the fame Inccnftancy unknown to every other Na- 
 tion, they were alike difpleafed with the Gallantry 
 and Love of Pleafure w-hich diftinguifhed Charles IT. 
 and the Capacity and Aâtivity which all the World 
 allowed to TVilUam III. . They cabaU'd and plotted 
 againft both with the fame Obftinacy, tho^ they had 
 Ut each of them upon the Throne with all poffible 
 M-^rks of Joy and. general Satisfaction.. 
 
 TF^efcf. 
 
LettXXXXV. 72f Jewish Spy. 107 
 
 Thefe Troubles under Kings To diôerent in their 
 Maxims of Government, fhews plainly that the 
 Fault lies in the EngliJ)) Nation, and that which 
 Itill more clearly proves, that the Rights and Li- 
 berties of the Nation are not always in queftion, is, 
 that Revolutions have happened under Kings, who, 
 inftead of encroaching upon or violating, have actu- 
 ally conferved and enlarged their Rights by volun- 
 tary Concevons. Let us, however, my Friend, 
 acknowledge, that tho* Englijh Sovereigns have not 
 always been in fault, yet have they not on the othw 
 hand been always free from blame. 
 
 Farewell, dearT/^^r, live content and happy. 
 London, 
 
 LETTER CXXXV. 
 
 Aaron MoNCE CA, to Isaac Onis, 
 
 Caraite^ heretofore a Rabbi at Conllan- 
 tinople* 
 
 'yHE EngUfl)^ dear Ifaac^ allow their King fuch a 
 -*■ kind of Power as certain Philolbphers attribute 
 to the Deity. The Sovereign, in this Country, 
 may do as much Good as he wiil, but as for Hurt, 
 that lies pretty much out of his Reach : He may, 
 if he pleafes, fpare an Offender's Life, but he can 
 take away the Life of no Man. It is the Law, 
 and the legal Judges only, who have the Power of 
 punching in this Country, where arbitrary Autho- 
 rity can do nothing. The moil confiderable Em- 
 jilvymentSj however, are in the King, that is tp 
 
 fay, 
 
io8 The Jewish Spy. Lett. CXXXV.. 
 
 fay, are in his Gift. He nominates Biftiops, and 
 other dignify'd Clergy. He cannot however re- 
 move People from their Offices ; that mull be done 
 in a legal way. While Men in Place are honeft, 
 a6l up to their 4)uty, and are ftriélly fpeaking, the 
 Servants of their Countr)^, they have nothing to 
 fear, either from the Inconftancy or evil Dil'pofi- 
 tton of their Princes, who have an abfolute Power 
 over none but their domeftick Servants. 
 
 I^he King and the State have their feparate 
 Rights. It is an eftablifh'd Maxim in England^ 
 and openly defended by the beft Lawyers, that the 
 King has two Superiors, God and the Law. to^ 
 whom he owes the fame Refpc6t with the meanell 
 of his Subjeé^s "*. 
 
 Is it not true^ fa id an Engltjhman^ a Friend of 
 mine^ to me one day, that the People were ?iot cre^ 
 ated to he the Slaves of Princes, and to afford the?n 
 the cruel Plcafure of tormenting ? He mufi he a Fool 
 who Jhoiild dare to Jay, thai God created one Man to 
 make others miferahU, Since then Kings are appointed 
 not for the Defh-u5tion^ hut far the Prefervation of 
 their People, not to do ihein Evil, but to be their Bene- 
 faSiors, it follows, that like other Men, they muft he 
 obedient to the Laws made for the common Good of the 
 Society^ If indeed, we could he always Jure of having 
 ^virtuous and wife Kings, there would be no need of 
 circumfcrihing them within any Bounds,, their Prchity 
 and Re^itude of Heart would fuff ci ently limit them, 
 and anfiver ejfe£lually the Intention of thefe fort of Re- 
 firi^ioris.. But the Throne is too often fill'd with Per^ 
 fans who fjand in the utmofi need of Laws to ccntroul 
 their JVills. How happy had it been for the Romans, 
 if in time they had checked the Cruelties ^I'iberius, 
 
 Ca- 
 
 * Rex in Regno fuo fuperiores. habet Deum k Ia- 
 
Lett.CXXXV. 72^ Jewish Spv. 109 
 
 Caligula and Nero, and obliged them to quit their 
 Title to Sovereignty^ when they took tip the jcandalous 
 Trade of Tyrant si* 
 
 Our Kings, continued my Friend, enter into a 
 Contract with us ', while they ohferve the Conditions 
 of it, thiy have all imaginable refpe£i paid them, they 
 enjov their Prerogatives in the moji ample A^anner, 
 end are as abfclute in d^ing good to their People as 
 they can wiJJ). It is true, if they forget their Pro- 
 mifes, they run the Hazard of exciting fome very dan^ 
 gerous Sedition. But. to avoid this, there is no mere 
 requifite than that they Jhould keep their Words, and 
 remember, that at their Coronation theyfvore to ohfrv?. 
 the Laws and to fee them obfcrved. Why Jhould the 
 People be more bound by their Promifes than their So- 
 vereigns ; a King who becomes a Tyrant Jets his Sub" 
 jeâis a bad Exan,ple, and teaches them by his own Con^ 
 duct, to make light of the ?nfî Jacred andfolemn Agree- 
 ments, But it may be Jaid, that our Lives and For- 
 tunes dépend upo^v our Princes. True, and tve ought 
 to Jacrifice both in their ^arrels,^ f ^^ey are luije and 
 juj}, Inafmuch as they are the Fathers of their Sub- 
 jeSfs, Wi ought to behave towards them vfith filial 
 Piety. But fuch a SubmiJ/isn can only be expected 
 while that reciprocal Relation fuhfjts whence it natu- 
 rally arijes. 
 
 If Kings are above the Laws, and if they may dif~ 
 penfe with them when they think fit, to ivhat Purpofe 
 do they promife that they will obferve certain Rides ? 
 All that they do upon this head, and all the Affurances 
 that they give are only Mummeries. ÎVhen a Prince 
 is croiun d, and there folemnly fwears to obferve cer- 
 tain Rules, we ought ^ itfeems, to look upoti this fwear- 
 ing as a mere neceffary Fcr?7i in the Ceremcny^ not to 
 he omitted for the Sake of Decency, tho* in Fa^ it is 
 ufeltfs, and fer ve s only to Jhew that there were Free- 
 mm in times pcijJy but that all who live now are 
 
 Slav it. 
 
no T:^?^ Jewish Spy. Lett.CXXXV. 
 
 Slaves, There is no body cuite fo mad as pofttively to 
 offert this ; the mojî zealous Defenders of arbitrary 
 Power acknowledge^ that a Sovereign ought to keep 
 his Promifes^ and yet abfurdly^ and beyond all Compre- 
 henfion^ they conclude that they may violate them with 
 Impunity. 
 
 I muft confefs, my dear Ifaac^ that what this 
 Enghjhman faid to me feemed very plaufible. In 
 efrcci, it appears reafonable, that if we afTert Kings 
 are bound by their Promifes, we fbould alfo ad- 
 mit, that it is lawful to difobey them when they 
 break their Words ; for it feems to be a necefTary 
 Confequence of the mutual Engagements between 
 Sovereigns and their People, that they fliould no 
 longer ilibfift when thofe Conditions are wanting, 
 for the fake of which it was agreed, that this Di- 
 ftindlion of Sovereign and Subjeà: fhould take place. 
 Now it cannot be denied that fuch as have writ- 
 ten with the greateft Warmth againft Sedition, 
 have pofitively allerted that Princes could not vio- 
 late their Contracts witli their People, without be- 
 ing guilty of Injuftice. " It muft be allowed, fays 
 *' the famous (T7'(î^n>5 *, that when Princes under* 
 " take to govern by certain Rules, their Sovc- 
 *' reignty is in fome Degree limited and retrained ; 
 '^ whether thofe Obligations regard barely the Ex- 
 *' ercife of their Power, or directly, and in the 
 *' firft Inftance, afFe6l the Power in their hands. 
 " In the firft Cafe, whatever they do contrary to 
 '* their Promife being an A£t of Injuflicc, every 
 
 '' Pro- 
 
 * Futcndnm tamen id uhi Jit arâfJu^ quodammodo reddi 
 im' evhim^Jive ohligatio duntaxa" cadai in exerciiium a!^uff 
 jive etiam directe in ipfam facukate-n. Piiore fpecie^ 
 
 actus contra -proniiffum faHus erit ifijufus, ^uta , 
 
 vera promijjio jus dat ei^ cui promittitur. Altera aut(7n 
 fppcie erit etiam nullus defe3u fucuit-atli. HrtgO GrotiiJ^, 
 ^e Jure Belli k Pacis, toin. i. p. i ^ i 
 
Lett.CXXXV. Tbe Jewish Spy. m 
 
 '^ Promife vefling a Right in thofe to whom the 
 ** Promife is made. In theother Cafe, the AS: is 
 " unjuft and void at the fame time, for want of a 
 ** legal Power to fupport it." 
 
 Behold, my dear IJa^fc, a precife Decifion by an 
 Author whofc Character is above Sufpicion. But 
 he explains himfelf ftill more clearly in another 
 place, wherein he feema to have forgot his own Sy- 
 ftem. " Now, if it be demanded, fays he, what 
 " will happen if this Clause be added to the Con- 
 " tra£t, that in cafe the King breaks his Word, 
 ** he fhall forfeit hisTitle to the Crown ? I anfwer, 
 " that even in ti;is cafe the Power of the King does 
 " not ceafe to be abiolute, but that he holds his 
 **" Power as it were for a time *. 
 
 It feems to me, Ifaac, that our Author could not 
 well fay more againft arbitrary Pov/er, and the vio- 
 lating Subjects Rights with Impunity. Grotiusy 
 however, pafîes for an Author directly oppofite ia 
 Sentiments to the Anti-Royalifts. And tho* it 
 may be faid in his favour, that there is no Con- 
 tract between Sovereigns and Subje6ts, wherein it is 
 exprefly ftipulated, that the Forfeiture of their 
 Crowns (hall attend the breaking of their Words, 
 yet it is too feeble to deflroy what he before ad- 
 vanced. For tho' in thcfe Engagements between 
 Subjects and Kings it be not declared, that by the 
 Violation of the ContracSt the Prince fhall lofe his 
 Rights, fuch a Claufe is neverthelefs tacitly com- 
 prehended in them, becaufe this Contract cannot 
 be relied on, if the People did not referve to them- 
 felves fuch a Power to enforce it. Without this, 
 
 fuch 
 
 • ^id fi addatur fi Rex Jidem fallat, ut turn Regno'ca- 
 dat ? Ne JÎ ^Jiidem Imperium definet ejfe fummum, fed e^^ 
 rit habendi imminutus per C Ofditienem iSf hnferium tern- 
 porario tîqîj ahfimik, Grotius de Jure Beili ^ Piicis, p. 
 
112 Tbe]EV/isriSp\\ Lett.CXXXV. 
 
 ruch Engagements would be fruitlefs 3 for tho' they 
 might ferve to bind Subjects to their Prince, yet it 
 muft be to fuch a Prince as could not bind himfelf 
 in return. With refpeâ: to all fuch Conditions, 
 they muft either be real and efFedual, or vain and 
 ufelefs. But the univerfal Opinion is, that they 
 are real, and that both Parties are bound to obferve 
 them. Well then, both Parties muft referve a 
 Right of forcing the Obfervation, and therefore, 
 tho' it be not fpecified in the Engagements, that 
 Princes when they break them lofe their Authority, 
 yet this Clauie feems neceftary to the Validity and 
 the Security of the Contradl. 
 
 Thefe Reafons, dear /Jhac^ feem very Urong a- 
 gainft fuch as maintain that it is not lawful to take 
 Arms againft our Prince. I muft own to you, 
 however, that lam thoroughly perfuaded the People 
 have no Right to dethrone their Sovereign ; 1 go 
 ftill farther, for I am of Opinion, that if they had 
 fuch a Power, the Abufe of it would bring upon 
 them the greatefi: Miferies. 
 
 When we compare the Compacts between So- 
 vereigns ^nd their Subjecls to thofe between pri- 
 vate iVien, we run into a very great Error. We 
 ought to diftinguifh between the Promifc^. of Kings, 
 and thofe of their Subjects; the latter may becom- 
 pell'd to the Performance of their Piomifes by a 
 temporal Power, becaufe they are fubjedt to Men, 
 but Princes being accountable only to God, are 
 not under the (dme Predicament. The Engage- 
 ments into which they enter with their People are 
 not however ufelefs, becaufj they cannot be com - 
 peird to adiiere to them, in as much a"? they ar-iî 
 binding before God, anJ in that Light Cliccks to 
 their Wills. 
 
 Reafon, and the Pubîick TranquiMity may both 
 be urged to eftabliili this Dextrine. For if it be ad- 
 mitted. 
 
Lett.CXXXV. r/6^ Jewish Spy. 113 
 
 mitted, that under a Pretence of violating the Laws, 
 Princes may be dctiironcd, to what Mifchiefs and 
 Inconveniencies would all Governments be expofed ? 
 The People inconftant, whimfical, wholly inclined 
 to change, would be (ubje6t to all ImprefTions, and 
 be at all times ready to revolt. Reftlefs and un- 
 quiet Spirits will always find fpecious Pretexts to 
 exculc thefe Seditions and Troubles, To in the end 
 Peace would be loO. '' I acknowledge, fays Gro- 
 •' this *, that Kings are eftablifhed to no other 
 *' end than that they might adminifter Juftice to 
 *' their Subjecls ; but it does not follow from hence, 
 '' that the People are above their Kings. Guardi- 
 " ans are aligned without doubt for the Good of 
 " their Pupiis, and yet this Truft gives a Power to 
 *' the Guardian over his Ward. I know it will be 
 *' faid, that a Guardian who is guilty of Male-ad- 
 *' miniflration may be difcharged from his Trutl, 
 " from whence fome would conclude, that the 
 *' People have the fame Right with refpe<£t to the 
 '' Prince. But the Cafe is very different ; for the 
 " Guardian hath a Superior on whom he depends, 
 " whereas the Prince has none. As in finite 
 " things there cannot be an infinite Progreffion, fo 
 " it is abfolutely aeceflary to flop at him, or in Re- 
 
 " publicks 
 
 * Verum ejfe pojî Heroiiotum, Herodotus pojî H'faJum 
 dixit frueii da: Jujiic:^ caufd Reges confiitutos. Scd non 
 idio confcqiicns eji quod illi ijiferu'it Populos Reges e£'e fu^ 
 fcriorei : fiam izf Tuteln Pupilli caufd reperta ej}, <S ta- 
 men Tut da jus ejî ac pot f fias in pupillu7n. Nee efl quod 
 infet aliqi'.is Tu te /am fi male rem pup! Harem adminrftret a- 
 mo'veri poffey quare ^ in rege idem jus e/fe de be re ; nan 
 in Tutor e hoc proc edit qui fuper!ore7n h abet ; at in Inrperiis 
 quia progreffus in infinitum non datur^ omni^io in aliquâ aut 
 perfona aut cœtu conjlituendum efi quorum peccata, quia 
 fuperiorem fe judiccm non habent, Deus fibi cur^s peculiar: 
 r/K' tejiatiar, Hugo GrotiU', iibifupia torn. i. p. ic6. 
 
1 14 The Jewish Spy. Lett. CXXXV. 
 
 *' puhlicks at a Senate independent of all other 
 ** Powers except God." 
 
 If we attentively confider thefe Reafons, it is 
 impoiTible, my Friend, that we (hould not yield to 
 them, and agree that in Contrr.cSt,. between Subjects 
 and Sovereigns, Reafon and the publick Good re- 
 quire, that Heaven only fhould jud.je of the In- 
 fractions of which the latter arc guilty. 
 
 Thofe who take upon themfelves the Chara£^ers 
 of Advocates for the Rights of the People, fancy 
 that the Refpedl we alledge due to Princes, is the 
 mere effect of Prejudice, which we want Spirit e- 
 nough to get over. But in this they are deceived, 
 and it is eafy to prove the contrary from the Ex- 
 amples of many great Men, who, tho' born under 
 a Republick, exccifively je.ilous of its Liberty, hive 
 neverthelefs maintained, that it never can be law- 
 ful to take up Arms againft Sovereigns, whatever 
 Faults they commit. ''^ We muff, fays an illuftri- 
 '* ous Roman^ hear the Luxury or Avarice of our 
 *' Governors as we do dear Years, Storms, and o- 
 " ther Irregularities in Nature. There will be 
 " Vices as long as there are Men, but the Mifchiefs 
 *' flowing from them are neither confiant nor per- 
 '' petual ; on the contrary, there are times, in 
 *• which v/e are indemnified for thefe Mifchiefs by 
 " the Benefits we receive *." 
 
 Is it poiTible, my Friend, to fay, that a Man 
 brought up in the midft of Rom^, and w^ho had 
 imbibed from his tender Youth Republican Prin- 
 ciples, fhould be perfuaded that great Pvcfpect is due 
 even to bad Princes through any fort of Prejudice ? 
 
 * ^(omodi JlerHitntem aut nimioi ivihres tf cetera na- 
 turcr mala^ italuxuml^ anjaritiam Dominarrtium tolerate. 
 yitia erunt donee Homines y fed neque hrec continua o me- 
 liorum intewentu fenfantur. Tit. Liv. Hilt. lib. iv. cap 
 Ixdv. num. 4; 
 
Lett.CXXXVL r/'^ Jewish Spy. 115 
 
 I cannot believe that any Man living would advance 
 fuch an Abfurdity. 
 
 Fare thee well, îjaacy may the God of oar Fa- 
 thers give thee continual Profpeiity. 
 
 London. 
 
 //i\ 
 
 LETTER CXXXVI. 
 
 Aaron MoNCECA, ^^ Isaac Onis, 
 Caraite^ heretofore a Rabbi at Con- 
 ftantînople. 
 
 \^EN of Quality in this Country are as little at- 
 ^^ tach'd to the Court, as the meaner fort of 
 People arc to them. For as the People fhew no 
 Refpedl to a Lord farther than his Virtues and good 
 Qualities demand, fo theNobiiity in general adhere 
 to the Court only fo long as it appears to have no 
 Defigns contrary to the Welfare of the People. 
 
 One things dear Ifaac, is very extraordinary in 
 England^ and that is, to obferve a fmcere Love for 
 their Country, in Men whofe Employments oblige 
 them to be about the Court. In all other Coun- 
 tries, Courtier and Slave arc fynonimous Terms; 
 and with Reafon, the Vices of Princes being as much 
 adored by fuch iVIen as their Perfons. But here, 
 the Virtue and Probity of the Prince attracls Ve- 
 neration ; when they difcern in their Sovereign a- 
 ny Faults which may be preiudicial to their Coun- 
 try, inftead of flattering his Defccti, they provide 
 the bell thev can a^^'i^S it. 
 
 This 
 
î 1 6 The Jewish Spy. Lett. CXXXVî. 
 
 Tiiis Grandeur of Soul is the natural Confc- 
 qijence of the thinking Dirpofition of the Eriglijhy 
 who, generally fpeaking, decline Employments, 
 end content themfelves with the PIcafures of a pri- 
 V ne 2nd retired Life. In France all the Gentle- 
 men are naturally attached to the Court, even fuch 
 ?-% live in the Provinces are fo accudomed to enjoy 
 little Emplo\meiUs, that without them they cannct 
 beh'eve thcmfelves happy, or in a Situation worthy 
 of their Birth. Among them the Lcve ^of their 
 Country is a mere Chimœra. What fignifics the 
 Misfortunes of their Countr)'mcn to them, if rhey 
 can but have the Pleafurc of arriving, fome Way 
 or other, at an Employment which puts it in their 
 power to revenge themfelves upon fuch as iia^e 
 ili^hted, ma]fre;:ted or ininred them, while they 
 were yet but private Men? The Ergl'fb think quite 
 othierwife ; there is not a Man amongft them who 
 has any Ambition to be the firft Slave. The Cha- 
 ra(fter of Independency appears more ele\'ated to 
 them than that fhining Servitude which charms 
 mofl: Men in the other Courts of Europe. In this 
 Country there are many private Men, who would 
 refufe even the higheft Pofts of Honour, if they w^ere 
 to be attended with the Lofs of Freedom cf Senti- 
 ment, and that Liberty of Action winch is their 
 Delight. 
 
 It is in EngJmid^ my dear Ifaac^ where it may 
 be faid, that Truth is carried even to the Throne, 
 and appears there with Luftre. Hapnv the Nation 
 iince this Cuftom hath been introduced ! The 
 Prince too hath found his Advantage therefrom, by 
 being delivered from thofe Errors into which In- 
 attention or his Paflions betrayed him, by Reprc- 
 fentations prudent and fmcere. No Monarch ever 
 repented of his liftening to the Advice of thofe who 
 fct his Faults before him freely and truly, whereas 
 
 many 
 
Lett. CXXXVI. T/j,- Jewish Spy. 117 
 
 many Kings have been milled, not a few totally 
 deftroyed by liftening to bale Flatteries. TJjere is 
 no Condition of Life^ Tk) s Montaigm^ ivhich Jiandi 
 in need of more free and finart Advert ijement s than 
 
 that of Sovereign Authority. Kings frequently 
 
 find tbemfiives^ before they are aware^ engaged in the 
 Hatred and Dejlrucïion of their People^ by Steps they 
 
 might have eafily avoided. — Generally fpeaking^ 
 
 Favourites look more to their own Affairs than t9 thoj'e 
 sf their Majters ; and in fome meafure they are in the 
 right. For to fpcak the truths the Liberties of a true 
 Friendjhip are rude and perilous Attempts when exer-^ 
 cifed towards a Prince f . 
 
 It is to themselves, my Friend, that Courtiers 
 owe this unlucky Situation, which Alontai^ie iu 
 well defcribes, the Liberties of a true Friendjhip are 
 rude and perilous Attempts when exer cifed tczuards à 
 Prince, If they all thought as the Englijh do, 
 they would never bring themfelves to fuch a Pafs 
 as not to dare to exercife their Reafon, and to look 
 upon Truth as a dangerous and impracticable Vir- 
 tue. I'hey would by this means have preferved 
 a Right ot being ufeful to their Mailers, inftead of 
 encouraging their Faults, by treating them as fo 
 many excellent Qualities. 
 
 The fame good Senfe which hinders Courtiers 
 and Men of Quality from being Slaves in Etgland 
 to the Superioi: Dignity of tlieir Prince, teaches 
 them alio how to fupport their own Qiiality, with- 
 out fuffering their Grandeur to turn ^heir Heads. 
 We very rarely fee here Men magnificently drefs'd 
 afluminghigh Airs of State, fpeaking in an elevated 
 Tone,, talking everlaftingly of their Birth, their 
 Deptendents, their Horfes, ftrutting a tiptoe, hoift- 
 ing their Shoulders up, taking Snuff, adjuif ijig their 
 Perukes, and then deciding peremptorily, and with 
 
 the^ 
 .4- Mortalgrei ElTnys, Book ril. 
 
ii8 72v Jewish Spy. Lett. CXXXVT. 
 
 the Air of an Oracle on Things of the utmoft Im- 
 portance, fmiling or Tinging while one is talking 
 to them, and feldom deigning to make an Anfwer 
 in more than two Words. A Man of this Char:.c- 
 ter, I fay, is not commonly met with at London ; 
 and when he is, thefe affected Airs which would 
 make him feem fomebody in another place, render 
 him here hateful to the Populace, and ridiculous to 
 his Equals. 
 
 Ignorance is a Vice which has very few Partizans 
 in this Country, even among Men of Quality. In- 
 ftead of blufhing at a ftriâ Application to the Sci- 
 ences, they (hew the utmoft Contempt for fuch as 
 conceive it a declining the Privilege of Nobility to 
 trouble theq^f^lves with more Knowledge than that 
 of being able to read tolerably and write a common 
 Letter. In more Countries than one, a Man that 
 with a certain Air can fay a pleafant thing, is look'tl 
 upon as a fine Fellow, in England he would be 
 ftiled a Blockhead without Mercy, becaufe there 
 Things receive their Value from their Worth ; a 
 Lord who can fing and talk Nonfenfe to a Wo- 
 man, is in that Country a Coxcomb. He who has 
 thefe Phrafes everlatlingly in his Mouth, J Man of 
 piy guilty ^ a Ferfonofmy Birthy is laughed at and 
 derided. Had he all the Quality of the Venetian 
 Senate put together, and nothing elfe to recom- 
 mend him, he would meet but little Efteem at 
 Lcndcn, 
 
 It is in that Countrv abfolutely neccfTary to have 
 Merit in order to have Credit. Nobility has indeed 
 Privileges, but thofe Privileges are rnçrely honora- 
 ry. A Lord who is incapable of diftlnguifning him- 
 fclf by his Parts, muft confjîe himfelf with iherh as 
 well as he can, A Swifs Author introduces a Lord 
 defcribing his own Situation very emphatically, 
 that is, fuch a Lord as hath nothijig but what he de- 
 rives 
 
Lett. CXXXVI. ne Jewish Spy. 1 19 
 
 rives from his Birth. It is tvue^ favs he, we canrnt 
 be arrejî.dfoî- our Debts y but then it is but here and 
 there we can find credit. Liffead of an Oath^ ive fay 
 upon our Honours ; but to ballance this zue arefeldoni 
 believed : there is indeed a Law to prevent People from 
 fpeaking ill of us \ but if his Lordflnp is too bufy with 
 his Cane^ his Lordjhip may be beat *. It is true, 
 dear Ifaac, all this muft not be hterally taken, but 
 however, it is fufficicnt to (hew, that in England, 
 how great Ibever a Man's Quality is, he muft have 
 Merit alfo to render him confiderable. You need 
 not therefore be furprized at feeing more Men of 
 Quality Patrons of the Sciences in this Country than 
 elfewhere ; Ambition and the Defire of Glory ex- 
 cite in them quite different Pafïions than are felt by 
 Men of their Rank in other Countries, where their 
 Heads are turn'd to other Things. A Frenchman 
 thinks himfelf illuftrious enough in right of his 
 Coaches, Horfes, Domefticks, Furniture and fine 
 Clothes ; an EngUjhman admits, that thefe have no- 
 thing to do with Merit, and that all thefe Trifles do 
 not contribute to raife his Charafter in the leaft:. 
 
 There is yet another Reafon which forces People 
 of Diftlnélicn in this Country to cultivate Sciences 
 and the B dks Lettres. It is the Ncceffity they are 
 under of underftanding ancient and modern Poli- 
 cies, which is a kind of Knowledge for v/hich they 
 find frequent occafion. Nut only Lords, but all 
 Men of fuch a Rank as hope for anv Employments, 
 are obliged to be well verfçd in Hiftory and Poli- 
 ticks. In England^ favs an illuftrious Author, Aden 
 ciinmonly think^ and Learning is even in greater Cre* 
 dit there than here. This Advantage zr the natural 
 Ccnjequence of their Form of Governmefit ; there are 
 
 in 
 
 * Mura'l's L.tUn on the EniUjh Natiov. 
 
120 TA^ Jewish Spy. Lett. CXXXVI. 
 
 in London near feven or eight hundred Perfcns whê 
 have a Right to /peak in public k^ and to fupport the 
 Inter ejl of the Nation, At leaj}^ five or fix thoufiand 
 pretend to this Honour in their Turns, All the reji 
 pretend to judge of the Behaviour of this People. E- 
 very Man may print what he thinks fit on public k Af- 
 fairs. Thus the whole Nation is under a Necejfity of 
 knowing more than any other Nation. One hears no- 
 thing talk'd of but the G.overnmetit of Rome and A- 
 thens. A Man is forced ^ whether he will or will not^ 
 to read the Authors who treat of thefe Things ; this 
 Study 7iaturally leads a Man to the Belles Lettres. 
 In Jljorty every Man is a fort of a Statefman. Hoio 
 comes it, that our Magijiratesy our Lawyer s , our Phy- 
 ficians, our Ecclefiaf ticks , have more Learning, a bet- 
 ter Tafte, and a greater Share of IVit than the refl of 
 the Frencli Nation ? Is it not truly, becaufe their 
 Condition of Life requires a greater Cultivation of the 
 Mind*, 
 
 See then, dear Ifaac, the cfientlal Caufeof the dif- 
 ference there is bct\vcen^;;^///Z5 and /"nv/t/j Courtiers. 
 The firll: need notliing to recommend them but Pa- 
 tience, Supplenefs, "and a little Court -Crai't. On the 
 contrary, the latter cannot fucce^d but in right of fu- 
 perior Knowledge, good Sciife and requifite Learn- 
 ing ; thefe, and thefe only, being ths Arts by which 
 Kivals are to be overcome. 
 
 Before I finilh my Letter, I muft take notice to 
 } oil, dear Ifaac, of one of the Privileges of thw No- 
 bility in this Country. Whoever ventures to libel 
 them is liable to fufFer deeply in his Pocket. This 
 is fettled by an exprefs Law f ; and I have been told 
 on this Subjetft a whimfical Story : The Son of a riclî 
 Irm-keeper having been luckv enough to pleafe the 
 Wife of a Man of Quality, did nut apprehend that 
 
 this 
 
 * Vol fair's Letters^ Lett. xx. 
 
 -|- Ht means the Action of S^andalum Magnat urn. 
 
Lett. CXXXVI. TZ^^ Jewish Spy. 121 
 
 this Law could prove any Bar to his Endeav^ours iu 
 this way. He had the good Luck to fucceed in 
 his Amour, and the Lord had the good Luck, if 
 it can be lb called, to find it out ; upon which 
 he ufed means to procure a Divorce, but failing 
 of the neceflary Proof in the proper Court, he 
 was forced to content himfelf with recovering 
 Damages againft the Inn-keeper's Son : Since this 
 Affair it is a fettled Point, that a Man fails in his 
 refpeél to the Nobility, when he becomes too a- 
 greeable to their Wives. However, there are fome 
 arch People who fcruple not to fay, that there arc 
 fprightly Fellows who will ogle Women of Qua- 
 lity, tho' at the Hazard of their Fortunes. If thé 
 Men of Title in Italy had any Privilege of this fort, 
 I dare fay they would be as tender of it as the 
 Eyiglîjh are of their Liberty, * 
 
 Adieu, dear Ifaac^ may the God of our Fa- 
 thers cover thee with BlefTmgs. 
 
 London, 
 
 ■• Our Author hath heen not a l:itîe vtïjîaken in tlis 
 Matter, ^jchich is only the Story of the D. g/'N. fuift^ Sir 
 John Germaine, nvho nvas an Inn-keeper s Son at the 
 Hague, r,ct en the Statute o/'Scan. Mag. but on an Adioit 
 of the Cr.ie, for criminal Converfation -.v'th his Dut chefs. 
 
 mfi 
 
 Vol. IV. U LET- 
 
122 72y Jewish Spy. Lett.CXXXVIL 
 
 LETTER CXXXVII. 
 
 Aaron Moncec a, to Isaac On is, 
 Caraite^forînerly a Rabbi at Conflan- 
 tinople. 
 
 T Have read, my dear Ijaac^ the Relation of a 
 -*- Prodigy inferted in an * hiftorical Journal,and I 
 find in it fome Things fo particular, that I per- 
 fuade myfelf you will concur with me in Opinion, 
 that the Facts contained therein are abfolutely ir- 
 reconcileabie to Philofophic Speculations, and all 
 the Efforts of the reafoning Faculty. I will firft 
 give you a faithful Extract of what I have read, 
 and then my fince.re Opinion of the fupernatural 
 Things therein contained. 
 
 *' We have had in this Country a new Scene of 
 *' Vampirifm, which is duly attefted by two Officers 
 *' of the Tribunal of Belgrade^ who took Cogni- 
 ** zance of the Affair on the Spot, and by an Officer 
 '^ in his Imperial Majefly's Troops at Grad'ifch{\\^ 
 " SclavoTiia) who was an Eye-witnefs of the Pro- 
 *' ceedings, 
 
 " In the Beginning of September there died at 
 •' the Village of Kijlbva^ three Leagues fromjGr^- 
 *' difch^ an old Man of above threcfcore and tv/o : 
 " three Days after he was buried he appeared in 
 " the Night to his Son, and denred he would give 
 *''• him fomewhat to eat. I'he Son did fo, the 
 *' Father eat, and then difappearcd. 'i'Le next 
 
 * Mercure IHjlorique et FzUù{:ic,Qà.oh. i;-j6.p. 403 
 -^11. 
 
 '' Day 
 
Lett. CXXXVII. The Jewish Spy. 123 
 
 " Day the Son told his Neighbours thefe Particu- 
 ''• lars. That Night the Father did not come, but 
 " the next Evening he made him another Vifit, 
 " and defired fomething to eat. It is not known 
 *' whether his Son gave him any Thing or 
 " not, but the next Morning the young Man 
 " was found dead in his Bed. The Magi- 
 " ftrate or Baihff of the Place had Notice of 
 " this, as alfo that the fame Day five or fix Per- 
 " fons fell fick in the Village, and died one after 
 " the other. He fent an exaét Account of this t9 
 " the Tribunal of Belgrade^ and thereupon two 
 *' Ccmniilîîoners were difpatched to the Village at- 
 " tended by i\n Executioner, with Inftrufiions to 
 " examine clofely into the Affair. An Officer in 
 " the Imperial Service, from whom we have this 
 ^' Relation, went alfo from Gradifch^ in order to 
 " examine perfonally an Affair of v/hich he had 
 " heard fo much. They opened in the firil place 
 " the Graves of all who had been buried in fix 
 '* Weeks. When they came to that of the old 
 " M.m, they found his Eyes open, his Colour 
 " fiefh, his Refpiration quick and ftrong, yet he 
 '^ appeared to be flifF and infenfible. From thefe 
 " S-gns they concluded him to be a notorious Vam- 
 *' ).ire. The Executioner thereupon by the Com- 
 *' mand of the CommifHoners f^rack a Stake thro' 
 '' his Heart ; and when they had fo done, they 
 *' made a Bonfire, and therein confumed the Car- 
 " cafs to AQies. There was no Marks of Vam- 
 '' pirifm found on his Son, ^r on the Bodies of the 
 '' other Perfons who died fo fuddenly. 
 
 " Thanks be to God, we are as far as any 
 *' People can be from giving into Credulity, we 
 '•'acknowledge that all the Lights of Phyfick do 
 " not enable us to give any Account of this Fa(5l, 
 " nor do we pretend to enter into its Caufcs. 
 " However, we cannot avoid giving Credit to a 
 G 2 « Mat- 
 
124 îZ^^ Jewish Spy. Lett. CXXXVII. 
 
 ** Matter of Fa6l juridically attefled by compe- 
 '« tent and unfufpeded Witnefles, efpecially fince 
 ^* it is far from being the only one of the kind. 
 <- We fhall here annex an-Inftance of the fame fort 
 *' in 1732, already inferted in the Gleaner^ No.. 18. 
 
 ." In a certain Canton o( Hungary^ which is cal- 
 *' led in Latin Oppida Heidonum^ on the other Side 
 " the Tibifcus, vulgarly called the Teyffe i that is 
 *' to fay, the River vi^hich wafhes the celebrated 
 *' Territory of Tokay^ as alfo a Part of Tranfilvania, 
 *' The People known by x.\\t'^2imtoi Heydukes be- 
 *' lieve that certain dead Perfons, whom they call 
 ** Vampires, fuck the Blood of the Living, info- 
 *' much that thefe People appear like Skeletons, 
 *' while the dead Bodies of the Suckers are (o full 
 <' of Blood, that it runs out at all the Pafiages of 
 *' their Bodies, and even at their very Pores. 
 *' This odd Opinion of theirs they fupport by a 
 ** Multitude of Facts attcfted in fuch a Manner, 
 << that they leave no room for doubt. We fliall 
 *' here mention fom.e of the moft confiderable. 
 
 " Tt is now about five Years ago, that a cer- 
 *' tain Heyduke an inhabitant of the Village of 
 ^* Mcdrdga, whofe Name was Jmcld Patdy was 
 ** bruisM to Death by a Hay-Cart, which ran over 
 ** him. Thirty Days after his Death, no lefs 
 *' than four Perfons died fuddenly, in that manner 
 *< wherein, according to the Tradition of the 
 '* Country, thofe People generally die who are 
 *» luck'd by Vampires. Upon this a Story was 
 ♦«called to mind, that this Arnold Paul had told 
 ••'in his Life- time, viz. that at Coffwa on the 
 *■• frontiers of the Turk'-J}} Servia^ lie had been tor- 
 
 - mented by a Vampire ; !;now the eftablifiied O- 
 '^'- pinion is,' that a Perfon fuck'd by a Vampire, 
 -* necomes a Vampire him ielf, and fucks in his 
 '■^ Tvrnj) But th:\t he had found a way to rid 
 
Lett. CXXXVII. r/j^ Jewish Spy. 125 
 
 " himfelf of this Evil, by eating fome of the Earth 
 
 '^ out of the Vampire's Grave, and rubbing him- 
 
 *« felf with his Elood. This Precaution however 
 
 " did not hinder his becoming a Vampire ; info- 
 
 '' much that his Body being taken up forty Days 
 
 *' after his Decith, all the Marks of a notorious 
 
 '' Vampire were found thereon. His Complexion 
 
 '' was fre(h, his Hair, Nails, and Beard were 
 
 *' grown ; he was full of fluid Bjood, v/hich ran 
 
 '' from all Parts of his Body upon his Shroud. The 
 
 " Hadnagy or Bailiff of the Place, who was pre- 
 
 " fent at the taking of him up, and who v/as a 
 
 " Perfon well acqainted with Vampirifm, caufed 
 
 '' a (harp Stake to be thruft, as the Cuftoni is, 
 
 '' through the Heart of Arnold Pauiy and alfo 
 
 '• quite thro.ug}» his Body ^ whereupon he cried out 
 
 ^' dreadfully as if he had been alive. This dojic, 
 
 " tlicy cut off his Head, burnt his Body, and 
 
 " threw the Afhes thereof into i\\tSaaie, The/ 
 
 *' took the fame Mcafurcs with the Bodies of thoi'e 
 
 *' Perfons who had died of Vampirifm, for fear 
 
 " "that they fhould fall to fucking in their Turn<. 
 *' All thefe prudent Steps did not hinder the 
 
 '^ fame Mifchief from breaking out again about 
 
 *' five Years .afterwards, when fcveraf People in 
 
 *' the fame Vii]age died in a very odd manner. 
 " In the fpace of three Months, feventeen Perfons 
 of all Ages and Sexes died of Vampirifm, fome 
 " fuddenly, and fome after two or three Days fuf- 
 '« fering. Amongft others there was one Stano- 
 " ska^ the Daughter of a Heyduke, whofe Name 
 '« was Jovitzo^ who going to Bed in perfed Health, 
 waked in the middle of the Night, and making, 
 " a terrible Outcry, affirmed that the Son of a cert 
 tain Heyduke whofe Name was Millo, and wJio 
 had been dead about three \Veek.<î, had attemp- 
 ted to flranglc her in her Sleep. She continued 
 ^3 '' from 
 
126 T.be]E\visuS?y, Lett. CXXXVII. 
 
 *' from that time in a languifhing Condition, and 
 *' in the Space of three Days died. What this 
 *' Girl had faid, difcovered the Son of Mil/o to be 
 *^ a Vampire. They took up the Body, and found 
 *' him (o in effect. The principal Perfons of the 
 *' Place, particularly the Phyfician and Surgeons, 
 *' began to examine very narrowly, how. in fpite 
 " of all their Precautions, Vampirifm had again 
 " broke out in fo terrible a manner. After a 
 *' ftriâ: Inquifition, they found that the deceafed 
 " Arnold Paid had not only fuck'd the four Per- 
 '« fons before mentioned, but likewife feveral 
 *' Beafts, of whom the new Vampires had eaten, 
 *« particularly the Son of -MV/?. Induced by thefe 
 *' Circum.fiances, they took a Refolution, of dig- 
 " ging up the Bodies of all Perfons who had died 
 *' within a certain time. They did fo, and a- 
 «^ mongft forty Bodies, there were found feven- 
 " teen evidently Vampires. Through the Hearts 
 ** of thefe thicy drove Stakes, cut off their Heads, 
 *« burnt the Bodies, and threw the Afhcs into the 
 <« River. All the Informations we have been 
 " fpeaking of were taken in a legal way, and all 
 " the Executions were alfo (o performed, as ap- 
 " pears by Certificates drawn up in full Form, at- 
 «' tefted by feveral Officers in the neigbouring 
 « Garrifons, by the Surgeons of feyeral Regiments, 
 *' and the principal Inhabitants of the Place. The 
 ** verbal Procefs w^as fent towards the latter E^d 
 «' of laft January to the Council of War at Vi- 
 •' eniia^ who thereupon eftablifhed a fpecial Com- 
 *' mifTion to examine into thefe Fatî^s. Thofe jufl 
 *' now mentioned were attefled by the Hadnagi 
 *' Barriarar^ the principal Hey duke of the Vil- 
 «* lage, as alfo by Battuer^ fir ft Lieutenant of 
 " Prince Jh-xander of TVirtemberg^ Flickjîcnger^ 
 ^* Surgeon Maior of the Regiment of Furjhmberg^ 
 
 " three 
 
Lett. CXXXVII. «v Jewish Spy. 127 
 
 " three other Surgeons of the fame Regiment, and 
 ** feveral other Perfons.** 
 
 I thought proprer, my dear Ifaac^ to lay before 
 you all the ftrange Stories that have been related 
 of Vampires, that you might the better judge of 
 the Matter, and that the Circumftances of one 
 Story might ferve to enlighten another. I fliall . 
 impatiently expe<£l your Sentiments, and in the 
 mean time fhall give you my ovt'n freely. 
 
 There are two different iVlethods whereby the 
 Falfity of this Opinion, that dead Perfons can re- 
 turn and fuck the living may be demonftrated ; that 
 is to fay, the Fa£l may be (hewn to be impoffible. 
 Firft, by explaining by the means of phyficai 
 Caufes all that is attributed to Vampirifm, and fe- 
 condly, by denying totally the Truth of thefe Sto- 
 ries, wliich I take to be the fafeft and wifeft way. 
 But inafmuch as the Names of the Perfons who have 
 figned this Relation give fach an Authoxity there- 
 to, as ferves to render it credible ; I fhall, before I 
 proceed to (hew how little Refpedt is due to thefe 
 Authorities in Philofophical Matters, admit that fj- 
 veral Perfons have died of that Malady, Vv'hich is 
 called Vampirifm. 
 
 I lay this down as a Principle, that it is poffible 
 to find Bodies, which after having been fome Days 
 interred, have fluid Blood in their Veins ; I like- 
 wife affert that it is an eafy Matter for People to 
 fancy that they have been fucked by Vampires, and 
 fo to terrify themfelves by thefe Apprehenfions, z.s 
 in a (hort time to die of Fright : for having their 
 Heads full all Day of thefe ftrange Stories, what 
 Wonder is it, if at Night, and in their Dreams, 
 thefe Ideas fhould ftiH difturb their Imagination, 
 and produce that Effect which Terror often pro- 
 duces, immediate or co«fequential Death ? How 
 often have we feen Perfons die away on the News 
 G 4 . of 
 
128 77^? JEWISH Spy. Lett.CXXXVÎI. 
 
 of fome terrible Misfortune ? How frequently has 
 even exceflive Joy produced the fame Effect? 
 
 In examining the Story of the Death of thefe 
 pretended Martyrs to Vampirifm, I difcover all 
 the Marks of an epidemic^ Fanaticifm, and I fee 
 clearly that the ImprefTions of their own Fears 
 was the true Caufe of their Deftrudion. Mark 
 the Story of the Heyduke's Daughter ; (he went to 
 Bed well, awakened in the middle of the Night, 
 cry'd out that fhe had been attack'd by a Vampire-, 
 named a certain dead Perfon (lie had been think- 
 ing of, continued in a languifhing Condition for 
 fome Days, and then died. Whoever has Eyes,- 
 and ever fo little Notion of Philofophy, will eafily 
 difcern that this pretended Vampirifm is the pure 
 EfFe6ls of a heated Imagination. Here is a Girl 
 who, by her crying out, pretends to have avoided 
 being fuck'd by a Vampire ; certain it is that fhe 
 efcaped the three other Nights, when to be fure 
 there were People who fat up with her. Is not 
 this a clear and demonftrative Proof, that fhe did 
 not die of Vampirifm, but of Terror, Apprehen- 
 fion and Melancholy ? 
 
 Thofe who have been in Places affli£led with the 
 Plague, know by Experience what flrange Confe- 
 quences Fear can produce. The Moment a Man 
 is a little out of Order, he takes it for granted that 
 he is ftruck with the epidemick Malady, and this 
 alarms him fo much, that *tis ten to one if he ef- 
 capesi The Chevalier de Mai/m told me at,P^'7V, 
 that being at Marfeilles when the Plague raged 
 there, he aftually knew an Inftancc of a Woman's 
 dying with Fear on her Maid's being feized with 
 an Ague, which fhe took for the Plague. This 
 Woman's Daughter alfo fell into a mortal lilnefs 
 from the fame Caufe. Two other Perfons in the 
 lame Houfe took their Beds, fent for a Phyfician, 
 
 end 
 
Lett. CXXXVII. 7/^^ Jewish Spy. 129 
 
 and told him they had the Plague. The hms 
 Phyfician vifited the Maid-Servant, and the reil 
 ot the Perfons who were fick, and affured them 
 that none of them had the Plague, advifed them 
 to rife, to go about the Houfe, and to live as they 
 were wont, and not to frighten themfelves. But 
 with refpe£l to the Miftrefs of the Family, his 
 Care was all in vain, for in the fpace of two IDays, 
 as I have told you, fhe died of mere Apprehen- 
 fion. , 
 
 Let me now, my Friend, examine the firft Re- 
 lation, That of the young Man who died by be- 
 ing fuck'd by his dead Father j be pleafed to con- 
 fider the CircumO-ances, and you will fee that he 
 died in truth of Fear, of Folly, or of the Vapours. 
 The Story he told his Neighbours the firft Morn- 
 ing, is a Proof that his Imagination was difiurb- 
 «d, and that he was exceffively frighted. This 
 firft Attack of his ill-grounded Fear, ferved to 
 diftemper his Reafon, and to render him le fs able 
 to refill the next Return of his Pannick. Ac- 
 cordingly, when it did furprize him, it produced the 
 Effect which might naturally be expevited ; it over- 
 came his animal Spirits, and deprived him of Life. 
 You wi!l take Notice, my dear Ifiûc^ that this did 
 not happen the next Night, very probably for this 
 Reafon, becaufe his Neighbours watched with him, 
 *ind thereby kept up his Courage ; or ia other 
 Words parry'd the Attack. 
 
 I come next to fpeak of the dead Bodies which 
 were found full of Blood, their Beards, Nails, and 
 Hair of their Heads grown, and all the other Cir- 
 cumftances. Of all thefe Orange Things, if we ad- 
 mit the Truth of any part, v;e ihall be as com- 
 plaiiant as can be expected ; for to be fure the 
 greatelf part Qf the Circumft.^iices were pure înii- 
 ^ination. All Philofbphcrs know hew repciv tHe 
 
 G 5 Pcwplri 
 
I30 The Jewish Spy. Lett. CXXXVII. 
 
 People in general are, and even what a Propenfity 
 there is in fome Hiftorians to magnify whatever 
 has the Air of being fupernatural. However, not 
 to infift too much upon this, it is far from being 
 impoffible to account phyfically for thefe Circum- 
 ftances. 
 
 Experience teaches us, that there are certain 
 Earths which have a Property of preferving Bodies 
 put into them for a long Time as frefh as when 
 they were put into the Ground. The Reafons of 
 which have been fo often ftated, that it would be 
 tediou?, and at the fame time needlefs in me to re- 
 peat them. At "^rbcuhufe there is a Vault belong- 
 ing to the Church of a Monaftery, where dead 
 Bodies remain fo entire, that even after two hun- 
 dred Years Continuance there, they {tç.m as frefh 
 as when firft buried ; they fet them againft the 
 Wall in their ordinary Clothes, and they look as if 
 they were alive. What is ftill more extraordina- 
 ry, Bodies buried on the other Side of the Vault, 
 become Food for Worms in a Day or two at 
 moil-. 
 
 As to the growing of the Nails, the Hair, and 
 the Beard, the fame Thing is frequently obferved 
 in dead Bodies in all places. So long as there re- 
 mains any Moifture in the Body, we need not be 
 furprized if thofe Parts grow which require only 
 Moifture to fupply them. 
 
 The Fluidnefs of the Blood, and its being found 
 liquid in the Veins, feems the greateft Difficulty ; 
 and yet even this may befo well accounted for by 
 phvTical Caufes, as to fliut out all NecefTity of hav- 
 ing recourfe to Miracles. With refpeâ: to this, I 
 fay, that the Heat of the Sun rarifying the nitrous 
 Damps in the Graves, where the Bodies lie, enables 
 thereby many of thofe nitrous Particles to infmuate 
 themfelves ioto the Body, where entering the 
 
 Blood, 
 
Lett. CXXXVII. T-Sf Jewish Spy. 131 
 
 Blood, and caufing a Fermentation, they may dif- 
 folve that Coagulum occafioned by Death, and 
 make it by degrees, not flow indeed, but be- 
 come liquid in the Veins. This is the more 
 probable, becaufe fomething like it may be per- 
 formed by a very eafy Experiment. For if we 
 boil in a Pipkin two Parts of Milk, with one- of 
 Oil of Tartar, the Liquor will become red, be- 
 caufe the Salts in the Tartar difTolve the oily Parts 
 in the Milk, and turn it into a kind of Blood ; it 
 is true that Blood is naturally of a more florid Co- 
 lour, but it differs very little in Confiftence. There 
 is therefore nothing impoffible in this Suppofition, 
 that the Juices in the dead Body by nitrous Par- 
 ticles fermenting with them, may furnifh a Liquor 
 nearly refembling Blood ; efpecially if we confider 
 that thefe Juices in their natural State are very 
 oily, and confequently muft by fuch. a Fermenta- 
 tion be of a very high Colour. 
 
 Ycu fee, dear Ifaac^ that without abfolutely de- 
 nying every particular in the Certificates, it is very 
 poflible to rid ourfelves of the ftrangeft Circum- 
 ftances in thefe Stories. To fay the Truth, it 
 would be ridiculous to give any Credit to them, 
 however attefted : For either thefe Vampires ac- 
 tually go out to fuck, or they do not. If they go 
 out, then they muft be vifible, or they muft b:; in- 
 vifible, as it (hould feem they are ; for upon com- 
 ing to the Afliftancc of thofe who cry oit, there 
 is nothing to be feen. It follows then tl at the Bo- 
 dies do net go out. ' This Point being gain:d, we 
 muft fuppofe that it is the Soul. Now the Soul is 
 either fpiritual, or compofed of a very fubrih Mat- 
 ter ; Shall we fuppofe then, that in this fubtile 
 Matter the Blood if carried to the Grave, and 
 there poured into the Body ? Is not this fending 
 ihe Soul of a ftrange Errand ? To fay the Truth, 
 
 my 
 
132 «ra? Jewish Spy. Lett. CXXXVIII. 
 
 rny dear Ifaac^ I am alhamed to fpend fo much 
 Time in expofing Vampirifm, and find myfelf 
 precifely in the vSituation of that Nazarene Dodlor, 
 who faid, that he blufhed for thofe whom he re- 
 futed, and at the Neceflity he was under of fpeak- 
 ing to them in fuch Terms *. Î told you at firft, 
 that there was very fmall heed to be given to thefe 
 wonderful Certificates, which when thoroughly 
 examined, have really very little Authority. 
 Farewel, Ifaac^ live well, contented and hap- 
 
 London, 
 
 LETTER CXXXVIII. 
 
 Aaron Mon c e c a, ifo Isaac Onis, 
 Caraite^ formerly a Rabbi, at Conftan* 
 tinople. 
 
 'TpHERE are in this CiDuntry^ dear Ifaac^ as 
 -■' many différent Seds as in Hollatid. The 
 Englijh are too jealous of their Liberty to fubmit 
 to the NeceHity of thinking in one Way, or to be 
 with-held from ftriking out now and then, to fee 
 what fort of Country the Land of Error is. They 
 will make ufe of their Reafon in all their Acflions, 
 
 and 
 
 * ^ed jam pudet me ijla rcfelkre, du?n eos no» puâue- 
 rît ijîa /entire. Curn -uero aufi fini etiam ea defenderct 
 fionjam eorum^ fed ipfius Generis hu?naniy me pudet , tu* 
 jui cures hac ferre potucrunt* Aug. Epiû. LVI. 
 
Lett. CXXXVIII.TÏ^ Jewish Spy. 133 
 
 and can by no means think of becoming Slaves to 
 the Notions of fome particular Divines. 
 
 Tho' every Man be at Liberty in England to 
 follow what Religion he pleafes, yet what is em- 
 phatically called the Church prevails. The King, 
 and all the People of Quality almoft are Members 
 thereof, and fome of them zealous enough. It is 
 requifite to profefs one's felf a Churchman in or- 
 der to poiTefs any Office or Employment in the 
 State in England or Ireland. The very Name im- 
 plies that it is the chief Faith, and as it were the 
 Religion of the State. The Nonconform i fis how- 
 ever do not ufually call it the Church, or its Mem- 
 bers Churchmen, but cavalierly enough the Par-* 
 tizans of the Bifhops i for whatever the EngUfn 
 may have borrowed from the Sentiments of CcU 
 vrn^ their Common Prayer, and their Church 
 Ceremonies favour not at all of that Divine : on 
 the contrary, they come nearer to the Church of 
 Rome, efpecially in their Cathedral Worfliip, 
 which hath a very great Refemblance thereto. 
 The Biiliops, who are in Number tvi-enty fix, have 
 their Archdeacons, who have Jurifdi6lion over the 
 Pri.efts in their Diocefes. All the Clergy, of what- 
 ever Degree, are very exa6t in receiving their 
 Tithes, and other ecclefiaftical Dues ; thefe, how- 
 ever Popifh, they confcientioufly retain, and very 
 pioufly fenced againft the Reformation's breaking 
 in here. T he Biiliops have even a beat in the 
 Hojfe of Lords J but as the Canon Law does not 
 permit them to give their Voices in Matters of 
 Blood, fo when their Enemies are to be deftrcved, 
 they can do no more than cabal againfl them. 
 
 While the Englijl) were yet in the Humour of 
 burning Proteflants for the Glory of God, the 
 ilngle Determination of one of thefe Pontiffs fent 
 a Man to the Stake, At prefent there is nothine; 
 
 like 
 
134 T;^^ Jewish Spy. Lett CXXXVIIL 
 
 like this, People of all Religions are fafe from Fire, 
 tho* not from the Rage of the Ecclefiafticks. The 
 Priefts of the different Se6ts hate one another mor- 
 tally, and their ill Humour frequently difFufes itfelf 
 thro' their Flocks. There have been feme Biftiops 
 who would have given ten Years Revenue to have 
 indulged themfelves their full Swing in perfecuting 
 the Nonconformifts, as thefe again, ori the other 
 hand, would be infinitely overjoyed, could they 
 but abfolutely extinguiih Epifcopacy, and deftroy 
 that prieftly Pomp, the Sight of which they bear 
 with fo much Pain. For you muft know, that 
 notwithdanding the fundamental Points are the 
 fame with Churchmen, and with Presbyterians-, yet 
 that Heat with which they efpoufe thofe Diffe- 
 rences, which all of them own to be unefTential, is 
 fo violent, that it has fometimes come to fhedding 
 of Blood. Thus by an incomprehenfible Madnefs, 
 at the fame time that the Papifts ardently endea- 
 vour the DeftruiSlion of all Proteftants, Prote- 
 flants themfelves contribute to facilitate their De- 
 figns by mutually deftroying each other, or at leaft 
 contributing to each other's Deflrudlion, only be- 
 caufe they are called hj the different Names of . 
 Churchmen and Presbyterians. You may very 
 poffibly be dcfirous of knowing what are the Sour- 
 ces of thefe Divifions 5 it is by chance in my 
 Power to give you fome Account of this Matter, 
 efpecially in refpe<5i: to the French and îVaîloon 
 Preibyterisn Refugees in England. 
 
 I was going t'other Day with one of my Friends 
 by the French Church, he defired I would go in 
 and hear the Sermon ; you know it is a Cuftoni 
 with me to go into the Places of Devotion of all 
 Se6ts, in oraer the better to comprehend their 
 Doctrines and their Ceremonies ; I therefore rea- 
 dily agreed to his Propoflil, and in we went. I 
 
 was 
 
Lett. CXXXVIII.7^^ Jewish Spy. 135 
 
 was perfeélly ravifhed with the modeft and fober 
 Beginning of the Preacher's Difcourfe ; yet before 
 he had well opened it, I heard a prodigious Noife 
 in the Church. All who were prefenc began to adl 
 like the Convulfionifts in France^ one cough'd, 
 another fneez'd, fome (hook their Heads, moft of 
 them put their Hands to their Hats ; but above all, 
 ibme People in a Gallery over-againft me feemed 
 to lofe all Sort of Patience, they fpread out their 
 Arms, put themfelves into fuch ridiculous Poftures 
 that I could not forbear asking my Friend what 
 was the Matter ; but guefs my Surprize, when on 
 tnrning towards him, I faw him playing Tricks 
 like the reft. Lord blefs me^ faid I, zvhat is the 
 Matter P Is it thus you behave in a Place of Pub- 
 lick îVor/hip! Let us go out y faid he, I find it is im- 
 poffible for me to keep my Temper^ or to avoid giving 
 a public k Tejlimony of the juji Senfe I have of the 
 Affront offered to our Church, Upon this up he ftart- 
 ed, and out he went, followed by at leaft three 
 Fourths of the Congregation. Pray tell ?ne^ faid 
 /, luhen we were in the Street^ what this Matter 
 is ; Is there in your Religion any Feafts which ap- 
 proach the ancient Bacchanalia ^ or have yoir Prie/fs 
 the Power of tumirg your Heads before they have 
 well opened their Mouths f Ah ! that Preacher^ faid 
 hè, hath violated one of our moft facred Rites ; / 
 will tell you his Crime ; he had the Affurance to 
 preach without putting on his Hat. Blejs me^ re- 
 plied I, what great Har?n was there in that ? 
 iVoidd his Do^rine have been a Qrain the worfe on 
 this Account ? Do you think that having a Hat on 
 alters a Man's Thoughts^ or that it gives hi?n clearer 
 or brighter Ideas^ than if his Head was uncovered ? 
 I begin now to underfîand luhat you all meant by clap- 
 ping your Hands to ydur Hats ; at firfl I mufi oivn 
 that I thought you VJere all dijira^ed. It were ta 
 
 he 
 
136 The Jew I s H Spy. Lett. CXXXVIII. 
 
 he w'ljhcd^ faid my Friend, that we had Jlill had 
 lefs Patience^ and that we had ordered the Man to 
 hold his Tongue ; what will the World fay^ when 
 theyjhall hear what has pajjed at our Worjhip to-day ? 
 ^hey will think us a Sort of amphibious Creatures ; 
 they will expect next to fee us go to the efîahlijhed 
 Church : This comes of the Folly of letting frange Mi- 
 nifer s preach without acquainting thetn with the Rules 
 and Orders of our Congregation. 
 
 Surprized at what I heard, I could not help fay- 
 ing, Jnd do you place this amorig the Number of the 
 Grievances which keep you out of what the People call 
 here the Church? Tes! faid he haftily, I do ; their 
 Bovjingy their Fe/lmenis^ their Surplices^ and their 
 Epifccpal Robes are like this, and all impure Rags 
 of Popery. It feems then, returned I, that you dif 
 pute warmly about Trifles. How is it poffible, that 
 you ivho look upon all Cere?nomes as indifferent, fhould 
 notwithfandhig bAicve there is any Thing in a Man s 
 wearing a longer or a foorter Garment, in his ap- 
 pearing in a black Robe or a white ? Did your Le- 
 gijlator, and his primitive Difciples leave you Pat- 
 terns for Clothes ? Is there a?iy thing in your fa- 
 cred Books about how many Ells of Stuff are to enter 
 into a PriefTs Garment F 
 
 My Pleafantries were very far from pleafmg my 
 Friend, who was a zealous Presbyterian. I fee, fays 
 he, you affeâî to jujlify the Church, )et let me tell 
 you, that you a5î in this contrary to the few s %vho 
 fllcw our Cufiom in their Synagogve, That is true, 
 laid I, becaufe it is our Cu/iom, and univcrfally re- 
 ceived among/i the Ifraelites. TVe act in this refped 
 uniformly in all Countries where the People drcfs in 
 (Vigs, and ivhcre they drcfs in Turbans ; amongft. 
 the Turks, the Pern ans, o-r. we never uncover cur 
 Heads* But ive look upon this purely as a Civil 
 Rite, and not at all as a Thirg effcntial to Rdigion. 
 
tett. CXXXVIÏI. The Ji;\vish Spy. 137 
 
 Tou do well, replied my Friend, you have a Right tê 
 a fit as you pleaje^ and fo haie we ; ivhile there are 
 French and Walloon Presbyterians^ there zvill. 
 Than As be to God, be found Men who will flick to 
 their cwn Cuflcms, and preach with their Hats en, 
 in fpight of all the lordly Prelates upon Earth. Saj^- 
 ing this, he turned about, and left me abruptly, 
 and with an Air of Difcontent. 
 
 You muft not be fjrprized, my dear Ifaae, at 
 this want of Decorum in my Friend, or at the 
 Intemperance of his Zeal. The Presbyterians in 
 general are excefTively prejudiced in favour- of 
 their Mode of Worfhip, and of all their Guftoms. 
 They are morofe and very petulant, ^ and have no 
 fort of Complaifance, if you attempt in the verieft 
 Trifle to put them out of their way. The greater 
 Credit their Adverfaries have, the greater Obfti- 
 nacy they put on. It would be an eafier Tax to 
 perfuade the Janfenifls to accept the Bull Unigeni^ 
 tus, than to perfuade the Presbyterians to put their 
 Hats on when the Pfalms are fung, or to put them 
 off, when they are only read. Behold, dear Ifaac, 
 for what Whimfies thefe People contend. A Man 
 muft be very fond of the Title of Nonconformity, 
 who merely for the Sake thereof would refufe to 
 quit fuch ridiculous Cuftoms. 
 
 You muft not fancy that the Churchmen in 
 this Country, are a Grain more reafonable, or lefs 
 whimfical. If one of their Preachers was to put 
 on his Hat, it would put his whole Congregation 
 in a Flame, and they had rather fee all the Non- 
 conformifls in the Univerfe perifh, than (hew them 
 (o much brotherly Love and Tendernefs as to part 
 with their Surplice, or the feveral Genuflexions 
 of their Clerj-y in the Celebration of divine Ser- 
 vice. You are an obftinate Crew, fay they impe- 
 rioufly to the Presbyterians, v/ho will not be per- 
 
 fuad ed 
 
138 The Jewish Spy. Lett. CXXXVIII. 
 
 fuaded to liften to the Church in Things which 
 a^e confdTedlv indifFerent. You are Perfecutors, 
 reply the Presbvterians fiercely, inafmuch as you 
 would tyraiînically fubject us to Cuftoms of human 
 Invention. It is precifely becaufe they are indif- 
 ferent, that you are inexcufab!e, becaufe while you 
 confefs them to be fuch, you would compel us to 
 receive and to fjbmit to ihem, tho' we know this 
 to be a Thing indifferent. 
 
 The Drefs and Countenances of the Presbyte- 
 rians, efpecially of their Preachers, anfwers exact- 
 ly their true Character ; they walk gravely, and 
 with a very ftiff Air ; their Heads and Faces are 
 in a manner hid by overgrown Hats, and their 
 Shoulders covered with a moil enormous large 
 Clo^k. If one of thefe Reverend Perfons was to 
 appear at Paris^he would be taken for Tome grave old 
 Divine, who by appealing to fome future Cou ncil'^^. 
 had embarrafled hinifelf with his Bilhop, and was-- 
 in abfolute Difgrace at Court. 
 
 A Clergyman of the Church is quite another 
 Creature ; he is dreffed in a light eafy CafTock, . 
 tied with a Surcingle ; over this he wears a large 
 flowing and magnificent Robe, very gracefully ga- 
 thered on his Shoulders into a hundred Plaits i a 
 good Wig well powdered, or light enough to want 
 none, fets off his Face, and an excellent good 
 Beaver with a comely Hat-band and Rofe fur- 
 mount this. Thus equipped they refemble ftrong- 
 ly the better Sort of Ecclefiafficks in France^ v.'ho 
 pique themfelves upon Drefs, and are frequently 
 to be met with in great Cities, haughty, fuperb, 
 and fcornful. Such a Clergyman looks down o\\ 
 other Mortals as pitiful Infedts fcarce worthy of 
 his Attention, confidering himieif as already a 
 Biihop, and in confequence thereof a Member of 
 the Houfe of Lords. Glad at his Hesrt to fee the 
 
 Presby- 
 
Lett. CXXXVm. The Jewish Spy. 139 
 
 Presbyterians exprefs a Diflike at his Grandeur» 
 laughing within himfelf to think that this very 
 Diflike keeps them out of the Road of acquiring it ; 
 and inftead of defiring to unite him and the reft 
 of the Nonconformifts to the Faith he profefles, 
 he thinks of nothing but forcing their Obedience, 
 which without Ceremony he praélifes whenever it 
 lies in his Power. In a word, fierce and untrac- 
 table, becaufe he is of the eftabh/hed Religion, he 
 would have all Things bend b&fore him, and to 
 paint him to the Life, do but figure to yourfelf, 
 Ifaac^ a Jefuit, who to convert all the Proteftants 
 in the World, would not part with a fingle Lamp 
 which burns before the Image of St. Ignatius the 
 Chief and Lawgiver of his Order. 
 
 I own that when I left Paris^ I thought I had 
 loft for ever the Janfemjîs and the Molini/h, but 
 fmce my Arrival in England^ I have found them 
 again, in the Churchmen and DifTenters, who have 
 copied them fo perfe<Si:ly, that if Miracles were in 
 fa&ion here, as in France and in Italy^ Iftiould not 
 queftion in the leaft feeing now and then an Eng- 
 lijh Prelate canonized for having been zealous in 
 perfecuting Non Cons^ or many DifTenters in Con- 
 vulfions at the Grave of fome Saint Paris of their 
 own Fraternity. 
 
 The Englijh make a Jeft of the religious Difputes 
 which at this Day divide France^ and they have 
 certainly PvCafon. There cannot be a greater 
 Weaknefs, or a more flagrant S"gn of Superftition 
 amongft any Nation, than their being the Dapes 
 of the Hatred, Ambition, and falfe Faith of cer- 
 tain bold Ecclefiafticks, who under pretence of en- 
 lightening certain Points of Do(5trIne, difturb So- 
 ciety, and in the End intereft the State \u their 
 petty Quarrels. After all, are not the Englijh how- 
 e\ er in the fame Condition with the French F Are 
 
 not 
 
140 The Jewish Spy. Lett. CXXXVIII. 
 
 not the Church Divines as defirous of inflaming 
 their Zealots againft the Nonconformiils ? If it 
 depended upon them, will they not force all the 
 World to blind Obedience, even tho' it were at 
 the Expence of half Mankind ? Are not they in- 
 finitely delighted with that Share they have in the 
 Government, and do they not make the utmoft 
 life of it they are able ? In (hort, Can there be 
 found a more perfed Copy of the French Jefuit, 
 than in the E??glijh High Churchman ? Or can tv/o 
 People reft-mbls each other more than the Prcf- 
 byterian and the JunfeniJ} ? Thefe lad are equally 
 obftinate in their Opinions ; they declaim con- 
 ftantly and loudly againft all Honours and Prefer- 
 ment;, with which howfc\er it is impoiT-ble that 
 tirher fhould be troubled. 7'hey' afîecl a morofe 
 h'Wy a Twang through the Nufe in Picaching, a 
 kind of ^nrpG Drefs, are declared Enemies to 
 Pleafure, hate their Enemies devoutly, are exccf- 
 fively ambitious, and cloak all ti;efe hopeful Qua- 
 lities with exteriour Piety. Can Mortals refemble 
 one another more perfe<Sl:ly ? 
 
 You muft therefore, dear Jfaac^ -acknowledge, 
 that the Englijh very unjuftly reproach the French 
 Vi'ith the Troubles which Mdimfin and yanfcnifm 
 create in their Country, It would' be eafy for the 
 French to juflify themfelves by recriminating. I do. 
 admit that the Madnefs of one People cannot juf- 
 tify the Madnefs of another, but however it may 
 ferve to excufe it. Every where if you find Di- 
 vines, you find amongft them Ambition, Jealoufy, 
 Vanity, and of confequence Difputes and Perfecu- 
 tion. The common People but too readily ad- 
 here to different Opinions, juft as they flrike 
 them. They have neither Senfe enough to fathom 
 them,nor Prudence enough to avoid them. We need 
 J ot then be aftonifhed that they follow blindly the 
 
 Guides 
 
Lett. CXXXIX. The Jewish Sp v. Ï4.1 
 
 Guides they have made choice of. At London the 
 State adls with refpe6"t to the Church and the Pref- 
 byterians, juft as at Paris between the Molinljîs and 
 the Janfenîjîs^ and always without knowing vvhy 
 it inclines rather this way than that. If there 
 were none but Philofophers and Divines in the 
 World, the latter would certainly be obliged to 
 abandon their Difputes for want of finding Dif- 
 ciples to maintain them. 
 
 Farewell, dear Ifaac^ live happy and content, 
 and may the God of our Fathers remove far from ■ 
 thee a pertinacious difputing Spirit. 
 London, 
 
 LETTER CXXXIX. 
 
 Aar on Mo nce c a /<5 Isaac Onis^ 
 
 Caraite^ formerly a Rabbi at Conifen- 
 tinople. 
 
 *npHE Englijh^ my Friend, are perfuaded, that 
 ^ with refpect to the Sciences they excel all o- 
 ther Nations. They imagine that Nature hath 
 furnifhed them with Talents, which fhe hath 
 denied to other People. When they are told 
 that there is no convincing Reafon appears in Juf- 
 tification of this their AfTertion, and that there is 
 fomething very odd in fuppc5rmg that a Man born 
 ten I^eagues off their Shore, or indeed that any two 
 Men born ten Leagues afunder, (hould not have 
 as much V^~ it the one as the other ; they prefently 
 run ycu over a iiffc of their celebrated Authors, 
 char^ôerize each of them in a pompous manner, 
 
 and 
 
142 r/J^ Jewish Spy. Lett. CXXXIX. 
 
 and then put the Queftion ; Why, if the Thing be 
 not as they fay, there are not as many great Men 
 found in any other Nation ? Such as difpute unfairly 
 with the Englijh^ and fuch as cannot get over their 
 natural Prejudices, endeavour to rid themfelves of 
 this Difficulty, by denying that tke Authors of 
 whom the Englljh boaft are at all fuperior to thofe 
 of other Nations. But if we fpeak truly and ,fin- 
 cerely, we muft confefs that this Objection is not 
 eafily fhifted off. It muft on the contrary be 
 owned, that the EngllJ}) have amongft them Wri- 
 tings, which feem to have been dictated by Per- 
 dons of more than human Capacity. Whoever 
 has read Locke and Nevjton with fuch Application 
 as is neceflary, in order to tafte the Excellency of 
 their Writings, cannot but be convinced that there 
 are among the Englijh certain learned Perfons who 
 til ink more freely, and more folidly than the 
 Learned in other Nations. 
 
 I know, dear IJaac^ that the Liberty which the 
 People enjoy here, gives a certain Hardinefs and 
 Elevation of Mind which is not to be found in 
 many Countries. If we will have Men Philofo- 
 phers, we muft allow them Liberty of Thought, 
 and the free Ufe of their Reafon. It would be as 
 wild and as ridiculous to look for fuch a Perfon 
 as Locke in Spaln^ as to think of making an Orange 
 grow as happily, and to the fame Degree of Per- 
 fedlion in a little Tub as in the open Air, and in 
 a Soil fit for it. But if there are Nations ham- 
 pered and Qpprefled, there are alfo fome other Na- 
 tions not a Grain lefs free than the Englijh, and 
 who might therefore give the fame Loofe to their 
 Imaginations as they do. Whence then comes it, 
 that even amongft them there are not Philofo- 
 phers equal to the Englijh ? 
 
 You 
 
LettCXXXIX. TbeJEWiSHSpY. 143 
 
 You lee, dear //'^rrr, that fome Reafons there are 
 which feem at leali; to favour the Opinion the In- 
 habitant:> of this Country have taken up, that 
 there is moiG Wit, and a deeper Reach in Science 
 amongil them than amongft their Neighbours ; but 
 after all, thefe Reafons are rather fpecious than fo- 
 lid ; For if Things are fearched to the Bottom, 
 we fhall find, that there are among other Nations 
 Perfons of as great and fnining Part?, as amongft 
 the Engiijby tho' they have not written fuch per- 
 fe6l Pieces. What I advance on this Subjed will 
 appear a Paradox, however there is nothing more 
 certain. In the time that Philofophy was obfcured 
 by the dark Mifts thrown thereupon by the Com- 
 mentators of Arijîotle and the Schoolmen, the 
 Englijh were in the fame Condition with their 
 Neighbours, as much blinded, and cramped in 
 their Difcoveries as they. All the Force of their 
 Imaginations did not fet them at Liberty ; they 
 were as much the Slaves of Arijhtle^ and as much 
 in Love with the eflential Forms, which was the 
 Jargon of his Difciples, as thofe whom they now 
 excel ; they fubmitted to the Yoke of the Romijh 
 Divines, and had Schoolm.en amongft them as 
 well as elfewhere. A Frenchman^ in thofe Days 
 of Darknefs, had the Courage to refufe paying 
 Homage to this Idol. He did more, j^.e wrote 
 againft its Worfhip ; and Gajfendi^ by his learned 
 DilFertations againft Arijiotlc^ became the Fore- 
 runner of i^^-^r^'f^, the Reftorerof true Philofo- 
 phy, and the great Scourge of the Peripateticks. 
 Mankind after having been {o long plunged amidft 
 Vificns and Chiinsras, began on a fudden to ufe 
 tl^eir Reafon, and to examine Opinions before they 
 received them. In confe-quence of this a Multi- 
 tude of Difcoveries equ:iliy furprizing and ufeful, 
 fuccceded to lying Taki and grofs Puerilities Na- 
 ture's 
 
î4:4 î7^dEWïSH Spy. Lett.CXXXIX. 
 
 ture's abhorring a Vacuum was found to be a mere 
 Whim, the Air appeared to be a lieavy Body, Te- 
 lefcopes were invented, Geometry was extended 
 much farther thaxi it had evçr been ; and by habi- 
 tuating themfelves to Reafon, Men went infen- 
 fibly far greater Lengths than at the firft them- 
 felves could have hoped. 
 
 While thefe happy Revolutions were made in 
 the Republick of Science in France, what paffed 
 in England f Little } one might fay, nothing. 
 Hobbes, the Friend and Admirer oî Ga[fendi^ was 
 almoft the only great Philofopher in this Country, 
 But what a Difference was there between Gajfendi 
 and Hohbcs f His Works*, tho' they have in them 
 good Things, may yet be appealed to in proof of 
 the Superiority of the French Author. We fee in 
 them no eftabliihed Syflem fupported by perfuaiive 
 Arguments ; in many Places he is very hard, and 
 in others not at all to be underftood. Where he 
 feems to make Matter thcfirjî Caufe of all Things, 
 he feems to be below Spinoza ; where he afferts 
 God to be the Creator of the World, he is by no 
 means equal to Defcartes, who, to fiy the Truth, 
 opened the Eyes of the Englijh Literati, 
 
 No fooner they faw their Errors, than they be- 
 gan to make extraordinary Ufes of the Lights 
 they had received, and perfected many Things 
 which others had but begun ; they did that for 
 fucceeding Generations, which the Difcipies oï DeJ- 
 cartes bad done for them ; that is to fay, they put 
 Knowledge into a proper Train, and left it to be 
 farther cultivated by their Pofterity. 
 
 * 
 
 Ele mentor urn Philofophio' feâio prima de Cor pore. 
 See 2\(o Prteleciiones fex ad prof eJTor es S avili anas. And 
 another Book, entituled. De Homine, Jive Bkmintcrum 
 P h h'c! ophite Seitio fecunda, 
 
 I 
 
Lett. CXXXIX. rhe Jewish Spy. 145 
 
 I make no Difficulty of affirming, that there 
 wants as much Quicknefs of Thought, and as 
 great Strength of Genius to diitinguilh the Road to 
 Truth in the midft of Errors, as to purfue that 
 Rout happily when once it is difcovered. I do ad- 
 mit, that Newton is much fuperior both to Def^ 
 cartes and Gajfendi, But if the Englijh Philofopher 
 had lived at the fame time they did, it is 
 poffible he might not have gone fo far. Con- 
 lider, my Friend, that the firft Principles of Neiu- 
 ton's Phiiofophv, are the fame which Gajfendi efta- 
 biifhed on the Ruin of Peripateticifm. The Ne- 
 ceffity of a Void which had been fo long exploded, 
 and almoft forgotten for twelve hundred Years, 
 was fir ft demonftrated by the Gallick Sage. It is 
 on this Void io ifrangely recovered, that Newton 
 founds thofe Reafons of his, whereby he fliews the 
 Pofitions laid down by Defcartes to be impoffible. 
 And if by this means he has vanquifhed the Clar- 
 tefians^ it muft be allowed that he does it bv vir- 
 tue of the Force borrowed from Gajfendi. 
 
 I am fatisfied, my dear Ifaac, that if we refl^tt- 
 attentively we fhall fee no Caufe to allov/ this 
 Claim the Engl'ijh put in, to Superiority of Genius 
 over all otherNations. It mufc be acknowledged that 
 tliey are actually the greateil Philofophers in the 
 World. But as I have fhewn they ovv'e this in 
 fome Meafure to the French^ fo it is not impoffible 
 that this Nation in its Turn may hereafter produce 
 fome great Man who may not only equal, but 
 even exceed the illuftrious Newton. But with re- 
 fpecl to fuch as to defeat this Claim deny the Ex- 
 cellence of the Englifi) Philofophers, we muft ne- 
 ceflarily afcribe this to Blindnefs owing either to 
 Prejudice or to Ignorance. In order to be afTured 
 of this, we need only compare the Sazes of Eng- 
 
 VoL.lV. H '^ la^id 
 
146 72^^ Jewish Spy. Lett.CXXXIX. 
 
 land with thofe whom their Adverfaries oppofe to 
 them, and the Truth will clearly appear. 
 
 Defcartes deftroyed the Chimaeras of the School- 
 men ; he taught Mankind how to difcover the Er- 
 rors of the Ancients, and thereby pointed out the 
 Means of diicovering his own. He made a great 
 Progrefs in Geometry ; and we owe to him the 
 Application of Algebra to Curves. He wanted but 
 little of perfeding Dioptricks, which in his Hands 
 became in a manner a new Science. He made ufe 
 in this Branch of Science of that Geometrical 
 Turn and Quicknefs of Invention with which 
 Heaven had bieffed him, and which he had height- 
 ned by a mod afliduous Application. Behold the 
 mighty Talents of this Man, but remember at the 
 fame time his Defects. He was deceived in his 
 Notions of the Soul. His Proofs of the Being of a 
 God are not always either juft or evident. Innate 
 Ideas, which he obftinately maintained, have not 
 the leaft Appearance of Truth. He has advanced 
 ibme Errors about the Laws of Motion and the 
 Nature of Light. He has doiie flill more, he has adap- 
 ted thofe Puerilities, and that playing with Words, 
 with which he reproached the Schoolmen. He 
 treats his own Term indefinite exaôtly as they were 
 v.'ont to ufe their Terms, alledging that Space and 
 Matter are not either finite, or infinite. In fine, 
 he would perfuade us that his Belief was that God 
 could change the Ellence of Tilings. 
 
 Ntivion did not only make ufe of the Lights, 
 but of the Faults of Defcartes ; he went as far 
 beyond the Point where he left Geometry as Def- 
 cartes had done beyond that Point where he found 
 it. In this refpedi I muft own, that the Merit 
 is equal in each of our Philofophers. But at the 
 fam.e time it mufl be acknowledged, that Nezvton 
 is a much greater GeomcLiician than Defcartes^ 
 
 and 
 
Lett. CXXXIX. 7y&^ Jewish Spy. 147 
 
 and in all the other Parts of Philofophy he has the 
 fame Advantage, One may fay that Newton has 
 difcovered a new World, and found the Means of 
 explaining the moft abftrufe Things. He has 
 fhewn the Errors of Defcartes as to the Nature of 
 Light, and which is much more, he has fubftituted 
 in their ftead, Principles that are true, and which 
 are demonftrated to be fo by many Experiments. 
 He has deftroyed all his Vortices ; he has fhewn 
 the Impoffibility of their Exiftence, he has fubfti- 
 tuted in their Place Attra^icn^ the EfFeds of 
 which he has demonftrated, and calculated its 
 Proportions. 'Tis to this Philofopher the Univerfe 
 {lands indebted for that prodigious Knowledge 
 which he brought to Light. It was Newtcn who 
 taught all the Learned, to their no fmall Amaze- 
 ment, that a Tende?icy to the Center was the fole 
 Caufe that Bodies weigh in Proportion to their 
 Matter 3 and that to the fame Caufe was owing 
 the Motion of Planets and Comets. If it were 
 poffible to believe that any Man might remain un- 
 equalled, one would be tempted to fuppofe it was 
 this Philofopher, who has fo clearly manifefted the 
 Laws of Nature. At leaft, it muft be acknow- 
 ledged, that if any one hereafter fhould arife ca- 
 pable of rivalling this great Man, fuch Philofo- 
 phers as we have at prefent in the World are in- 
 finitely his Inferiors. 
 
 Some very learned Men, and above all the Car* 
 fefians, afFeâ to compare Mallehranche with Locke, 
 I find, dear Ifaac^ the fame Difference between 
 thefe Philofophers, or at leaft as great a one as 
 between Newton and Defcartes. Mallehranche in 
 his fublime and extravagant lilufions appears ra- 
 ther a Poet than a Philofopher. He aim'd toa 
 high, and inftead of reaching Heaven as he intend- 
 ed, he has got but half way. So that he can nei- 
 H 2 ther 
 
Î43 The Jewish Spy. Lett. CXXXIX. 
 
 ther difcover what he endeavours to find out, nor, 
 by his Height, can he penetrate the S^^crets cf 
 IMen. He admits innate Idea^, and alfo others by 
 which we fee all Things in God. He could not 
 perfuade himfelf that the Exirtence of Bodies couM 
 be demonftrated. In a word, liis Philolophy is 
 ro more than an ingenious RoQjance, which is 
 fometimes very unintelligible. 
 
 Locke always wife, and aKvays ftudious of Truth, 
 lays down Principles perfecftly right, draws Con- 
 lequences from them which are ftridly jjfl, is 
 exa6l in all his Proofs, and has difplaved all the 
 hidden Secrets of the human Underftanding. He 
 has taught the Learned not to decide on any thing 
 which is not thoroughly knov.'n. Before his time 
 Philofcphets had given us their own Vifions on the 
 Nature of the Soul for Truths, he has deltroyed 
 thefe Chimaeras, ruined the Dodlrine of innate I- 
 deas, and demonftrated to us that all our Ideas are 
 derived to us from our.Senfes. Having anatomi- 
 zed as it were the Caufes of the human Reafon, 
 and expofed to Mortals all the Knowledge it is 
 poflîble to hope of the Elïence of the Soul, he has 
 rnade them obferve with equal Candor and Saga- 
 citv, that they never could have comprehended 
 thé Nature of the human Mind, if God had not 
 been pleafed to grant to a material Being the Fa- 
 culty cf thinking. 
 
 Confiner, dear Ifoac^ how much more certain, 
 more natural, and if I may be allowed the Ex- 
 prefTion, lefs rarifled his Sentiments are than thofe 
 o^ Alallehranche. Compare the Candor and Sin- 
 ceritv of the Englijh Metaphyfician with the Pre- 
 fumption and Pride of this Frenchman. He not 
 only bounded the Power of the Divinity with re- 
 fpecSt to the Souls of Men, but adopted a Syftem as 
 ridiculous as it is unfuftainable with refpe6l to thoie 
 
 of 
 
Lett. CXXXIX. rbe Jewish Spv. 149 
 
 of Beads, whom he would have to be mere Ma- 
 chines, like to Clocks, eatiJ-ig without PU u jure ^ roar- 
 ivg without Paifiy neither dejlring nor fearing any 
 thing. Certainly, my Friend, Mallehranche muil 
 have had a great deal of Vanity ; if he fancied 
 that it was in his Power to induce Men to take 
 up with fuch Dreams as thefe. I know very '.veil 
 that he did but follow Defcartes who invented 
 them, but he is nothing the lefs blâmable for 
 that, he ought not to have embraced, but to have 
 rejecied them. But hov/ came he to take into 
 his Head that Matter was fafceptible of Thought ; 
 be, 1 fay, who admitted the Exigence of Bodies 
 out of mere Complaifance, and who found fault 
 with his Mafter for not abfolutely denving it. In 
 crder to be fully conviticed^ faid he, that there an 
 BqcUcs^ it ought not only to he dctmnjlrated that 
 there is a Gcdy and that God tu ill not deceive us. Ont 
 aifo that God has ajfured us, that he has effcclually 
 created thetn, ivhich I do not find proved in any of 
 the JVorks of M. Dcfcartes. God' informs the Un- 
 derjlandirg, and olUgcs us to afford om J-Jlnt two 
 •uays : By Lvidence, and hy I'aiih, T admit thr>.'^ 
 Faiih olUges i{S to ovjn that there are Bodies, hat .- , 
 for any^ E'vidence I fee it mi, Kcr do I ihiJ: îh.re 
 is ar.yjuff tient to enforce cur Bt:Hef^, Do tou be- 
 lieve, my Friend, that Locke would have ever at- 
 tempted to prove, that there is nothing exiils but 
 God, and our Minds f No, no, hg was too wife to 
 amufe himfelf with fuch blind Illufion?. 
 
 Farewel, dear Ifaac, live happy and content, 
 and never become the Votary of any Philofophy, 
 which is not v/arranted by Reafon. 
 London. 
 
 * F.erherche de la Veritc, Eclaircifieir.ent fur la I Yli- 
 vr^, p. 499. 
 
 H 2 LETTER 
 
î^ô He Jewish Spy. Lett. CXL. 
 
 LETTER CLX. 
 
 Aaron Monceca, fo Isaac Onis, 
 Car ait e^ heretofore a Rabbi at Conftan- ^ 
 tinople. 
 
 7 N my lafl: Letter, dear Ifaac^ I gave you fome 
 -*■ Account of the EngUjJ) Philofophers. ïn this I 
 propofe to continue that Account, and to give you 
 ibme Ideas of the ether iearned Men of that Coun> 
 try. You are acquainted Vv'ith the Works of the 
 famous Chancellor Bacon. He was in fome fort 
 the Precurfor of Defcartes and Gajfend'u One may 
 fafely fay, that he foretold that the Ruinof Schû« 
 laftick Impertinencies was at hand. He fav/ the 
 ImperfedlioA of that Philofophy, and was the firft 
 who pointed out the Means of redrefHng it *. 
 
 A 
 
 * He very fully proved, that the Philofophy of 
 Arijîotle did not deferve to be preferred before the Syf- 
 tems of other ancient Authors ; that it had been lo'ng 
 hated and defpifed by the Greeks 2^^^ other Heathen Na- 
 tions, and never found Admirers but in times of profound 
 Ignorance when the Sciences were utterly neglefted. 
 ^od <vero putant Homines in Philofophia Arifioielis mag- 
 num utique co7ifenfitm ejfe ; cum pojl ilia?» editam A7iti- 
 quorum Philofophia ce£a<verint et exole<verint ; ajî apud 
 temporal quee fequuta funty nil tneliui in<ventum fuerit y 
 adeo ut ilia tarn bene pojtta et fundata 'vidcatur, ut w 
 irumque tempus ad fe traxerit : Primoy quod de cejjati^ 
 one Jntiquarum Phikfcphiarum p^Ji Ar.ijlotelii opera édita 
 
 Ug mi fi es 
 
Lett.CXL. 77j^ Jewish Spy. i^r 
 
 A Proteftant of my Acquaintance was faying to 
 me the other Day that Savonarola prepared the 
 "Way for Luther^ Calvhi, and the other Reformers, 
 and that Bacon had done the fame for the Philofo- 
 phers of our times. Fortune, faid he, feems to 
 take a Pleafure in perfecuting thefe Precurfors as 
 you call them ; Savonarola v/as hanged, and Ba- 
 con fined, and loft his Office by Judgment of the 
 Houfe of Peers. The Englijh value the Moral Ef- 
 V fays of this Author at a high Rate. They have 
 reafon for fo doing ; thefe Eflfays are indeed very 
 good, but they are by no means equal in point of 
 Beauty or of Delicacy, to the Efiays of Michael 
 de Montagne. As much as the Phyfical and Meta- 
 ph) fical Philofophers of the Englijh tranfcend the 
 French Literati in the fame kind ; (o great is the 
 Difference between the French Scepticks and the 
 Englijh Writers in that Way. No Author of this 
 Country ever came up to Montague^ much lefs to 
 Bayle. I very much doubt whether they ever bad a 
 Writer pcfiefled of fuch a prodigious Fund of E- 
 rudition as that Philofopher enjoyed, and who 
 had the inimitable Faculty of treating the moft 
 abftrufe Queftions in fo entertaining a manner, as 
 to make them agreeable to Men, the World, and 
 even to Ladies themfelves. 
 
 You know, dear Ifaac^ that the Englijh have no 
 Hiftorian comparable to 7?>«f Livius^ to Tacitus^ 
 
 Homines cogitant id faljum eji ; diu enim pojfea, ufque 
 ad tempera Ciceronis et Jecula fequentia, mavfenint o- 
 fera 'ueterum philojophorum. Sed temptrihus infequenti- 
 tus y ex inuiîdatîGve Barbarorum in imper ium Romanuw, 
 pcf^uam DoBriiia Humana t'elitt naufragium perpejja 
 effet \ turn demum philojcphite Jrijîotelis et Platon: s tan- 
 quant tabulée ex materia le-j'iora^ et minus Jolida per 
 fuéîus temporum Jervat^e funt. Bacon Novum Organum 
 Scientiarum, Lib. i. cap. LXXVII. p. 298. 
 
 H 4 to 
 
152 7X^ Jewish Spy. Lett. CXL. 
 
 to SaluJ}^ to Father Ptud^ to de Thou^ or even to 
 Father Daniel. Is it not a furprizing thing that 
 Party-Spirit fliould more itrongly influence this 
 whole Nation than ': does the Jefuits themfelves. 
 Of iate Years Bur mi took it into his Head to imi- 
 tate de Tljou^ but vm fee plainly that he had it in 
 his Head only ; for In peint of Exactnefs, Me- 
 thod, and Purity of Stile, he comes not near him ; 
 wot to fpeak of his Partiality, with which all Par- 
 ties reproach him. They tell us, that in^his firll 
 Volume there are not above five or fix Characters, 
 2nd his own is placed at the Head of them all> 
 This Crlticifm hov/ever may be unjufl:, bccaufe 
 it is poiiîble the Defcéf may not proceed iVom any 
 Malignity in the Kiiloriar, but from the Wagt 
 «f proper Subjeds for Panegyrick. In a v/ord, it 
 would be a difncult thing to pick out of the ^77^- 
 lifû Kiftory any two Reigns fo conupt and ty- 
 rannical, £s thcfe v/hich he has painted out. 
 However that be, this we know for certain, that a 
 Whig never keeps v/ithin Bounds when he writes 
 of a Tory Auminiilraticn, and that the Tories 
 agaij; are not a grain more mcdeft, or more rea- 
 ibnable in their Keprtfentations of the Whigs. 
 
 The Authority of Erghjh Hijiorians is on a 
 Level with thofe who wrote in France under th« 
 Fvcigns of Charles the Ninths and Henry the Third. 
 And it would be a difficult thins; ever to find in this 
 Country Perfons capable of Writing what Poflerity 
 may give an entire Credit to. There feems to 
 be two Caufcs for this. The firfl is the Hatred of 
 oppofite Parties ; one Part of the Nation is at all 
 times the fworn Enemy of the other. The fécond 
 is that Prefumption and good Opinion which ail 
 the Er'iglijh \Vriters have of themfelves. They 
 cannot find in their Hearts to allow other Nations 
 ajiv Advantages which appear to them dclhucfivc 
 
 of 
 
Lett.CXL. TZ^d' Jewish Spy. 153 
 
 of their own Glory. If they difguife without 
 Scruple, and even taliify fuch Facts as happen un- 
 der their own Eyes to ferve their Party-Purpofes, 
 how much more ready muft they be to mifrepre- 
 fent what happens abroad, when it does not fuit 
 them to tell the Truth ? 
 
 If the EngUJb have no good Hiflorians, it is made 
 up to them by their excellent Poets. You are ac- 
 quainted, dear Ifaac^ with the Faradife loji of 
 MUto7i. This Poem hss not all the Beauties of the 
 JEneiiU but I confefs I like it much better than the 
 Guru] ale rnme libérai a of T^ajfo ; to me it feems 
 that the En^H/l:) Poet has made a much better ufe 
 of Religion than the Italian. I do not think that 
 we can find either in Virgil ox in Hoincr ■any thing 
 more fublimc than the Portrait Milto7i has given 
 us of the Deity making war en the rebellious An- 
 gels He favs, the J.hlgbfy took his Arms fromTfrr^r, 
 
 There is fomtthing very majefiick in this Idea, 
 2nd if one dares to bring the Divinity like a Hero 
 iiito the Field of Battle, one cannot certainly give 
 him a better Squire than Terror, whom this Bard 
 aingns him. 
 
 tValler is a Post very far below CainUvs, and 
 yet very m.uch fuperior to Vulture. His Writings 
 are gallant and full of Beauties, but faint and 
 languiûiing, at leaft fometimes ; his Verfe having 
 neither the Bright^e(^-5 nor the Beauty of La Fon- 
 taine^ at the f<r,me time that it wants the unna- 
 tural Flights 0Ï Gi^arlnl. In fhort, he has not quire 
 tlie Merit of the French Author, nor quite fu 
 many Faults as the Fallan. 
 
 Pope is without Contradiction one of the great-^ 
 eft Poets in the Univeife. One may, indeed one 
 ought to look upon him as a formidable Rival to 
 BrAlcay.^ Corneille^ F acme, Vhgil ^nà Hcîncr. This 
 laft Author is perhaps more perfei9- in his EngUjh 
 H 5 Tranf- 
 
1S4- 'I'he Jewish Spt. Lett. CXL. 
 
 Tranflation, than in the Original. I cannot think 
 that there is any thing in Poetry more ingenious^ 
 more arch, and more gallant than his Poem of the 
 Rape cf the Lock, The Lutrin of Boileau is a 
 ftronger and more manly Piece, but it is very far 
 from being fo pleafant. They aiTure me in this 
 Country, that Pope was not above twenty Years of 
 Age when he compofed that charming Poem. The 
 noble Defcription given us by Virgil of the Em^- 
 ploym.ents ofdeceafed Heroes in the £/v//^;2 Shades, 
 does not furpafs Pope's pleafant PicSlure of the A- 
 mufement of the Ladies after their Deceafe. 
 
 Think not, when Woman's tranfient Breath is fled>. 
 That all her Vanities at once are dead : 
 Succeeding Vanities (he ftill regards, 
 And the' fhe plays no more, o'erlooks the Cards. 
 Her joy in gilded Chariots, when alive. 
 And love of Ombre ^ after Death fur vive. 
 For when the Fair in all their Pride expire^ 
 To their firfl; Elements the Souls retire : 
 The Sprites of fiery Termagants in Flame, 
 Mount up, and take a Salamander s Name. 
 Soft yielding Minds to Water glide away. 
 And fip> with Nymphs, their elemental Tea» 
 The graver Prude hnks downward to a Gnome^ 
 In fearch of Mifchief ftill on Earth to roam. 
 The light Coquettes in Sylphs aloft repair. 
 And fport and flutter in the Fields of Air. 
 
 It mufl beacknov/iedged, dear Ifaac^ that it is 
 fimply impolTible to conceive the Reveries of the 
 Cabalifts better applied, than they ai-e by him, in. 
 order to form a juft and delicate Critique on the- 
 Fair Sex. 
 
 All the different Chara£ters of Women are cx- 
 a<5^1y defcribed in this Account of ^thçir Amufe- 
 
 mcnts 
 
Lett. CXL. T'/^^ Jewish Spv. 155 
 
 ments after Death, and by a Stroke familiar to 
 great Mafters, the Poet, the* he fuppofes them 
 dead, paints them fo to the Life, that nothing can 
 be either more entertaining or more inftrudive. 
 
 The Earl of Rochejler hath written feveral Sa- 
 tires in a Stile as nervous and as beautiful as that of 
 BcUeau, He had indeed a ftrong and piercing, 
 Wit, a brifk and lively Imagination. He lived 
 like Petro-niusy and died like La Fontaine. He piqu*d 
 hirnlelf through the Courfe of his Life on main- 
 taining the Character of a Free-Thinker. Some 
 time before he went out of the World however^ 
 he thought fit to change his Sentiments entirely. 
 The fear of Death, and of the Confequences that 
 might attend it, aftonifhed him. In his laft Mo- 
 ments he had recourfe to a Divine. But in order 
 to fave his Reputation as a Philofopher, he chofe 
 to capitulate rather than furrender at Difcretion, 
 However, after feme Conferences with the Doctor, 
 he yielded, fign'd whatever was thought fit, and 
 facrificed even his dear Philofophy, after all the 
 pains he had taken to preferve it. He acknow- 
 ledged all his Errors, and a little after his Deceafe 
 Dr. Burnet publifhed an Account of this extraor- 
 dinary Converfion. 
 
 This, dear Friendy is the ordinary Cuftom of 
 Atheifls. While they enjoy perfeft Health, they 
 will not forfocth believe that there is a God, or at 
 leaft they do their utmoft not to believe it, becaufe 
 they imagine that ridding themfelves of this Be- 
 lief, they may plunge with greater Security into 
 Vice. But when they are ready to leave the 
 World, their falfe PHilofcphy vanifhes, ajid they 
 throw them.felves into the Arms of thofe v/ho of- 
 fer their AiMance to difpel the Horrors of their 
 Hearts. They become then as fubmifllve, as be- 
 fore they were mcredulous. There is|fcarce any 
 
 thins 
 
156 72'é' Jewish Spy. Lett. CXL> 
 
 thing of which they may not be perfuaded in thefe 
 their laft Hours. They take ontruft whatever h 
 faid unto them, refume all th-e Prejudices of whicli 
 they fancied themfelves cured for ev€r ; v/itnefs 
 thofe weak Creatures who have ordered thtmlelves 
 to be cloathed in the Habits of Monks, and direct- 
 ed that they fhould be fo interred. 
 
 It" is not Rtafon, it is Fear and Terror that 
 makes a Man make fuch a Change as this on the 
 Verge of Life. To be convinced of this, one need 
 only reflet: on the confiant Cuflom of thefe Per- 
 fons, which is to die in the Religion in which they 
 were born, If their Converfions were Fruits of 
 Conviction, they would in this cafe a-fl as others 
 do in their full Health, who often (ee caufe 
 to alter their religious Opinions, and to live in a- 
 nother Faith than tl at which they received in their 
 Childhood : With how much Juftice then, dear 
 Ijhûc, may we defpife a Man who all his Life 
 long refufes to acknowledge the mod evident 
 Truths, and on a fick Bed condefcenda to refume 
 the moll ridiculous Prejudices ? 
 
 Eefides the Poets of whom I have been fpeaking, 
 there have been many otiief^s v^ho deserve the F- 
 ftesmcfMcn of Parts. Ihe Ergl'Jh are by no 
 means deficient in Dramatick Poçt". I fliall vciy 
 fpeedily give you my Thoughts on their Theatre. 
 
 It is not at all furprizing that Poetry hath been 
 carried fuch a Length in this Nation. Men of the 
 firfl Quality have not difdaiijed lo bee n.e Follow- 
 ers oftheMufcs-. My Lord RojccTim.on^ the Duke 
 OÎ Buckingham Jlnre^ the Earl of Dcrftt^ and many 
 other Ptnlns of an elevated Rank have written 
 Pieces which give them, with Ju,tice, the litlecf 
 great Poets. Thee iixamples liave excited the 
 Knvy and Ambition of private Men, every body 
 naturally imitates the Grandees of his Ccuntry, 
 
Lett. CXL. ^ke Jewish Spy. 157 
 
 and it is the Happinefs of the Etiglijl) to have al- 
 ways amongft them Men of Qiiality of diftinguiih- 
 ed ?vierir,' paflionately fond of Glory and the Belles 
 Lettres. To be in the Mode here, there is no 
 NecelHtv of learning ridiculous Grimaces, and an af- 
 fccled Laugh, or a contemptuous Difregard for the 
 Sciences, lince whoever would pretend to treat as 
 Pedants all fuch as devote thcmfclves to Learning 
 and to Book?, would be thought dull- ftupid Crea- 
 tures, and become as ridiculous as they would en- 
 deavour to make others. 
 
 Before 1 finifli this Letter, I muft take notice 
 of one of thofe aiiiiable Wonders, one of thofe 
 plcafing Prodigies, with which once in twenty 
 Ages, Providence is pleafed to amaze Mankind, 
 'J his Phenomena fo favourable to Engla-nd and the 
 Sciences,, is the prefent ^leeyi Co?ifort. This Prin- 
 cefs is not only free from all the Foibles of her 
 Sex, but is alio unblemifhed by any of thofe flight 
 Failings which we difcern iii the greateft Men. 
 She is a Heroine, but a Fhilofophick Heroine, Her 
 Grandeur hinders not her having all the Kindnefs, 
 1'endernefs,and Aflability that can be wiflied, neither 
 GO the neceilary Cares of a Crown prevent her 
 cultivating end protecting the Sciences. Her Li- 
 ber;ilitic5 are conftantly afforded to the Unhappy, 
 but of the unfortunate Learned (he is particularly 
 tender. 
 
 It mufl appear furprizing to you, Ifaac, tliat (o 
 many Taleiîts, and fo great Virtues Ihould centre 
 in one Perfon ; be afilired however, that all the 
 Prai.'cs I bellow, are much inferior to what that 
 Princtfsdeferves. You know that the Luftre of a 
 Throne is not apt to dazzle, me. My Philofo- 
 phlck Eyes can through that Splendor difcern the 
 Truth, v/hich when I cannot divulge with Ho- 
 nour, I keep a profound Silence. 1 leave to the 
 
 VVriterG 
 
ïjS The Jewish Spy. Lett. CXLI. 
 
 Writers of Dedications the Trade of praifing the 
 Great to an extravagant Degree, in order to ac- 
 quire fome very moderate Penfion. I am willing 
 to grant the fame Indulgence to a Poet; the 
 Mufes have for a long time proftituted their 
 Praifes, they may now do it by Prefcription. How 
 many Tyrants, how many Drivellers, how many 
 illuftrious Good-for-Nothings have they commend- 
 ed ? But never can I admit that a Philofopher 
 Ihould debafe himfelf fo far as to betray the Truth, 
 and offer Incenfe to an Idol, the WorthklFnefs of 
 which he knows. 
 
 Farewela dear Ifaac^ live content and happy, 
 and write mean Anfwer fame time or other. 
 Loridon, 
 
 LETTER CXLL 
 
 Aaron MoNCECA, /(? Isaac Qnis, 
 Caraitey heretofore a Rabbi at Con- 
 ftantincple. 
 
 T 
 
 H E E7iglijl7 have certain Cuftoms, dear Ifaacy 
 which appear to me as idle as any that I iiave 
 obferved amcngft other Nations. I was invited 
 the other Day to affift at the Funeral of a Citi- 
 zen, and I confefs to you that I found it almofl 
 impofnble to penetrate into the Reafon of their 
 Ceremonies, which feemed to me as extraordinary 
 as thofe I had obferved at Parisy on the like Oc- 
 
 As 
 
Lett.CXLI. TZ^é» Jewish Spy. 159 
 
 As'foon as a Man expires in this Country, they 
 ftrip him with all imaginable Care of every thing 
 made of Linen. A Mohammedan is not more care- 
 ful in wafliing a dead Body, a Jew in clofmg itslffues,. 
 er a PcipiJ} in muttering his fuperftitious Prayers 
 over it, than the EngUf/j are in putting on a Wool- 
 len Shroud. There are a great Number of thefe 
 fort of Veftures alv/ays to be had ready madc^ 
 great Numbers of People gaining their Livelihoocr 
 thereby. It is forbidden to ufe about a dead Body 
 any Material w^hich is not of Woollen ; and if even 
 Cotton, or flaxen Thread be employed, it is con- 
 fidered as a Crime againft the State. I was ex- 
 ceedingly furprized, v.'hen I firft heard of this Cuf- 
 tom, but when I came to underftand the Reafon 
 of it, I v/as very far from condemning the EngUjh^ 
 The Intention of the Law whicli forbids burying- 
 in Linen is to encourage the Confumption of 
 Woollen Goods. I muft confefs, that it is fcarce 
 poiTible to carry a Concern for Trade farther, than 
 £0 make the very Dead intereft themfelves in it. 
 This without doubt is a home Pufli, and if the 
 reft of their Funeral Cuftoms were as well found- 
 ed, I fhould not pretend to criticife them, but 
 ihould as readily approve them as focn as I un- 
 derftood their Caufes. But there are many, of 
 v;hich they do not only find themfelves at a lofs 
 to af^lgn the Reafon, but alfo freely admit that 
 they fcarce know any End that they have. 
 
 When a dead Man has been attended by his 
 Woollen Vaht de Chambre , and is equipt with a 
 fine or a coarfe Suii'^according to his Degree; for 
 the Chriftians, you Icnow, carry their Vanity even 
 to their Graves ; they leave him for two or three 
 Days in the middle of his Apartm.ent, to give him 
 time to come to Life again if he {hall io pleafe. 
 1 cannot attribute to any other Caufe this Cuftom 
 
j6o TZv* Jewish Spy. Lett. CXLL 
 
 of keeping a dead Body two er. three Weeks,,^onie- 
 times till it be putrified. If this be the trueRea- 
 fon of the Cuftom, then I am- perfuaded that the 
 Heads of FaniiUes fiifl: brought it up, and that their 
 their Children had no fnarJ therein. For many 
 of them would to my knowledge look not a little 
 out of Humour, if from time to time fome of 
 thefe dead Folks fhould take it into their heads to 
 live again, and in confequence thereof quit their 
 Shrouds. 
 
 It appears to me, dear Ifaac^ that notwithftand- 
 ing thefe Precautions, for fear any fuch fhould be 
 buried alive, People are notwithlfanding eafier on the 
 Article of the Lofs of their Relations than in any 
 other. When the Deceafed has fliewn an obflinate 
 Refoluticn to remain where lie is, they nail him 
 up in his Coffin, and when this is carried to the 
 Grave, it is covered with a large black Pall bor- 
 dered with white. This Covering ft fo wide, 
 that fix Men can fland underneath it, Vv^ithout ei- 
 ther difcovering tliemfelvcs, or any part of the 
 Coffin's being expofed to view ; thefe Chrillians of 
 the Reformed Religion pretend hereby to do ho- 
 nour to the Dead. I fhould have eafily guefîed 
 this, if I had not been told it, having obferved 
 that all the Eurûpean Nations, except the Turks^ 
 take a great Pride in feeing certain Pieces of Stufi' 
 or Silk born up by Perfons appointed for that Pur- 
 pofe. This we fee in rcfpecl to the Robes of 
 Kings and other Sovereign Princes ; Counfellors of 
 Parliament at Paris have likewnfe Traia- Bearers, 
 and fo have Priefls in their Proceffion?. But 
 Women are follicitous above all in this refpeél, and 
 as if their Honour lay chiefly in their Tails, when 
 they are of a certain Rank, expe£l to have them 
 born up after them. Surely, Ifaacy there is ibme* 
 
 thing 
 
Lêtt.CXLI. T^^ Jewish Spy. i6i 
 
 thing very pleafant in this. Bat to return to the 
 Englijh Funerals. 
 
 The Coffin thus covered with its fable Veil is 
 preceded by a certain Number of dilnial-looking 
 Fellows, who look like fo many Serjeants, each 
 with a black Staff in his Hand tipp'd with Silver; 
 next march the Parfons with a flow and folemn 
 Motion ; the Relations of the deceafed clofe the 
 Proceilion, and now and then appear extremely 
 ibrrowful. At length the Body comes to the 
 Church, there it is fet down for a Vr'hiie. In the 
 mean time there is a Sermon preached, in which 
 the Praifes of the dead Perfon are not forgotten. 
 They iikewife take this Opportunity of receiving, 
 certain Fees on account of the Permiifion of the 
 Corpfe's entering the Church witk the black Pall or 
 Covering before mentioned. Each Parifli has three, 
 of difterepit Prices. The £7^/.;)^ Churchmen, tho' 
 they no longer talk of the Fire of Purgatory» 
 keep up however a good many Money-getting Ce- 
 remonies in' Funerals, and have only changed the 
 P.'-jiv.Jh Prayers for the Dead into very harmlefs 
 Compliments on their Memory. In this repeci', I 
 cannot but commend their Decency and Candor. 
 They don't think it proper to take Church-Dues, 
 without returning fome way or other Church Fa- 
 vours. 
 
 When the Corpfe is interred, the People return 
 In the fame Order to the Houfe. There thev give, 
 tliem Wine, white and red, and fometimes burnt 
 with Spiccii 3 every one takes a little to comfort 
 him for the Lofs of his Friend, and the W^omen 
 drink a Glafj or two in order to keep up their 
 Spirits. 
 
 I find thcfe Cuftoms altogether as ridiculous as 
 thofe of the PapiO.j--, th'V I confef^ they are a little 
 more checifuL Litiead of dokful lamentable 
 
 Pùiîms, 
 
102 TJje Jewish Spy. Lett CXLI, 
 
 Pfalms, they content themfelves with a iliort Ser- 
 mon, and in the room of the Popifh Holy Water, 
 thefe Churchmen have wifely brought in a Glafs of 
 Wine for themfelves. One may well enough com- 
 pare the Popifti Burials to the Ceremonies of Magi- 
 cians employed in calling up departed Shades ; 
 whereas thofe of the Church of England differ no- 
 thing fi-om the Feafts of People in good Humour, 
 Compliments and good Cheer are here united -, and 
 in comparing Folly with Folly, I muft own that 
 which entertains is much more excufable than that 
 which afflids me. 
 
 People of Diftindiion in this Country are buried 
 in the fame manner as at Paris ; they are carried 
 in a Hearfe attended by feveral Coaches full of 
 Mourners and Friends. In this manner they are 
 conducted to the Churches, and placed in the Vaults 
 belonging to their refpedtive Families. 
 
 I muft own, my Friend, that I am exceedingly 
 aftoni{hed,onconrideringthe Ceremonies ufed by the 
 Churchmen in this Countr}^ at their exclaiming 
 fo loudly at the Papifts. They are lefs exempt 
 than they fancy from thofe Reproaches which 
 they beftow fo liberally upon others. In my Opi- 
 nion, the Presbyterians are lefs in danger of being 
 retorted upon in this refpedl. Their Ceremonies 
 are fewer and more fimple, which renders them 
 lefs (hocking in the Eyes of a Philofopher. Give 
 me leave for a Moment to fuppofe myfelf a Papill. 
 I will undertake, fays I to a Churchman, to prov£ 
 that you have Cujioms of as extraordinary a Nature 
 as curSy and that the Thing with which you mcjl 
 reproach us, and which in Fa 51 never did happen a- 
 nior-gji us, 'hath fallen out frequently amongji you. 
 Hew often have your DoSfors, and your Hijiorians ; 
 nay, and even your Poets, made themfelves merry at 
 i'nr Expcnce on Pope Joan ? " How happy, fay 
 
 " y Oil 
 
Lett. CXLI. The Jewish Spy. 163 
 
 " you, was the Church when under this Fernale 
 '* 'PrefJent P A pleafant Succejfor this of St. Peter ! 
 " Would not the Apojtle^ think you ^ look down from 
 *' Heaven with Amaxemeyit at the Sight of a Woman 
 *' in his Chair ? JVloat could the People fay when 
 ** Jhe ivas brought to Bed of a little Popeling in a publick 
 " Place ? '* T^hefe Plcafantries^ however^ belong 
 more properly to the Englifh Church than to the 
 Roman, as I will undertake to prove. For take 
 zvhich Side you will : Suppofe that with the Learned 
 if thefe Times you give up the Story as a Forgery^ 
 and acknoivledge that there never was fuch a Thing 
 as a Female Pope^ you muft then grayit^ that the 
 Clamours made on this Subje£i are very ill founded^ 
 and you mujï likewife alloWy that this is a Jhrewd 
 S^n of your Readinefs to charge us with Things of 
 which we never were guilty. On the other hand\t 
 if you perfij} in believing that this Tale of a Female 
 Pope is really no Fiâfion^ I will then undertake to 
 prove to you on your own Principle s .^ that this could not 
 fojfîbly bring any Dijhonour en the Church, fince what 
 according to your own Account^ hath hut once happened' 
 amongfi us^ has been however freajient enough amongfi 
 you.. The Sovereign is confiantly allowed to be Head 
 of the Church in England. Ifhat think you then 
 during the Reigns of Elizabeth and Anne ? Had 
 you not then Female Popes ? You ca7it deny the 
 Matter of Fa£f^ which expofes you to thefe Pleafant- 
 ries ? Did not the Marfnal de Biron hoaf that he 
 had feen the Head of the Church in England dance, 
 I know very zvell^ that your Authors Jioutly difputt 
 this Pointy maintaining pofitivdy that this Princefs 
 did no more than play on, the Harpfichord. Be that 
 as it will-, you mull admit that foe ??2ight have danced^ 
 if foe had fo pleafed ; nay, Jhe might have gone far- 
 ther^ and imitated Pope Joan in all Things, Let 
 me ask you then 5 Would you have thought the worfi 
 
164 T7j^ Jewish Spy. Lett. CXLI. 
 
 of ycjur Religicn for fuch an Jccident f IPlthout 
 doiiht you would anfwer^ that the Failings of a par- 
 ticular Pcrf'.n cannot prejudice any Church. I alfo^ 
 on wy Partit alledge the fame Tlnng^ a-nd I dfy you 
 to find a Reply ; 77iove which zvay you will-^ I pall 
 always have it in ?ny Power to recriminate. But, 
 fay you^ when our Queens happen to be at the 
 Head of our Religion, it is a mere Accident ; they 
 enjoy an empty Title, and perform none of the 
 Fanerions. Now this is tvhat I ahfolutcly deny^ 
 for they have a direSf Authority over the Clergy., 
 and in ^jj.ality of Heads of the Church.^ perform all 
 that any other Heads of the Church do at any other 
 time. Before you can rid yourfelf of this ObjeSiion.^ 
 you 7?2ufl ftiew hoiv Kijigs are Heads of the Church., 
 and vSherein the Difference lies betiveen their Exercife 
 of that Office^ and the manner in which it is dif 
 charged zvhen you have a ^leen Regent. 
 
 Wuen the Provinces of Zealand and Holland of- 
 fered hy their Ainhaffadors to acknowledge ^leen 
 Elizabeth for their Sovereign, fie rejet^ed thai 
 Offer, and told them ivithal, that they were in the 
 wrong to revolt ahoid fo fmall a Matter as the Mafs, 
 If you \von*t aflift thereat, faidjhe, as a Ceremony 
 of the Church, eo to it as to a Play. Suppofe I 
 took it into my Head to zEX fuch a Scene before 
 you, would you run away ? I know you would 
 not, but ftand ilill and look on. You fee I am 
 in a manner jeady^ for I am drefs'd in a white 
 Robe, and that is one of the main Things in the 
 Bufmefs. 
 
 Do you believe that a ^ueen who was fo well verfed 
 in a Ceremonial of another Church, as to have been 
 able to have gone through it in cafe of need, fijould 
 be at all at a lofs about the Rites of her o%vn Churchy 
 of which JJ:e was the Head, or at all diffdeni of 
 her Right f Performing them:, ^f P^ ^^^ /^ thought 
 
 fî. 
 
Lett. CXLII. 7ï^ Jewish Spy. 165 
 
 fit. For my part, I bdirue that if Elizabeth had 
 taken it into her Head to preach, none of her Sub- 
 jecls would have had any Pretence to cetifure her 
 Sermons. This, Sir, is my way of talking to 
 Englijh Churchmen. 
 
 Confider, dear Jfaac, that different Seels attack 
 each other in the weakeft Parts, without confider- 
 ing whether they are not guilty tbemfelves of the 
 fame Faults which they impute to tlieir Adverfa- 
 ries. The Presbyterians indeed may be allowed 
 to throvy Pope joan in the Difh of the Papifrs, 
 becaufe they ftand in no fear of a Recrimina- 
 tion. The Church in this Country feems to be 
 the Mean between that of Rome, aiid the Cm^ 
 venticle of Geneva. The Members of that Com- 
 munion have not fo many Ceremonies as the 
 former, neither have they the Simphcity of the 
 latter ; they feem to be afraid of doing too much 
 on one Side, or of doing too lIiLle on the o- 
 ther. 
 
 Farewel, dear IJaac, live cont^int and happy, 
 London, 
 
 . <-*^ 1 V *if *ii *à ♦«* ùi*€( '.V ♦?» *it »f> V * ♦«.' * *ii." ♦«* ** *kY *»♦ ♦?< '4y ♦«' '4i ^ii ♦«■' ''ïi ^* 
 
 LETTER CXLIL 
 
 Aaron Moncec a, io Isaac On is. 
 Car aite^ formerly a Rabbi at Conftan- 
 tinople. 
 
 A Very melancholy Affair, my dear IJaac, of 
 •^^ which I was unluckily a Spediator a few davs 
 ago, compelc me to make' fome ferious Reiiedion s 
 
 on 
 
i66 T^É- Jewish Spy. Lett. GXLII. 
 
 on the force of Prejudice, fince I am convincM 
 how far wrong Notions and a falfe Love of Glory 
 can carry Men. 
 
 One of my Friends propofed to me going to fee 
 a very pleafant Sight : I asked him very ferioufly 
 whether there v/as any thing in it curious. There 
 cannot, anfwer'd he, be any thing more entertain- 
 ing, and befide§ there are excellent Rope-Dancers. 
 The Gravity with which my Friend fpoke, fuffi- 
 ciently perfuaded me that I fliould have no rea- 
 fon to be difpieafed with the Sight, and therefore 
 I readily came into his Propofal. I followed my 
 Conduûor, and at a fmall diftance from London^ 
 "we fell upon a great Road where there was an in- 
 finite Number of Spectators afiembled in a Groupe. 
 But judge, dear Ifaac^ at my Surprize, when looking 
 about me I faw a Gibbet, and twenty Kighway- 
 men and other Malefadlors on the point of being 
 executed. I cannot fay that I faw both at the 
 fame time, for the latter were not yet come, but 
 the People fpoke of their coming with a high Air 
 of Satisfaction. How I faid I to my Friend, JVhat is 
 this ! The charyning Speâlacle cf which you fpoke to 
 me! Be quiet ^ faid he. Ton ziHI hûve all the Reafon 
 in the 'tVcrld to he fatisfy'd^ the Play will frefently 
 hegiji^ they only wait for the A^ors who are upon the 
 Rjjod, 
 
 While my Friend was a fpeaki ng, I heard a 
 prodigious Noife ; I turn'd my Head and faw a 
 Cart, and in it feverai People fome of whom were 
 well drefs'd. Jy! Ay 1 cryed jny Friend, / fee 
 by the Looks cf the Gentlemen that you luill be well 
 enough pica fed with this Scene, TVhy^ returned Ij 
 what are thefe People ? And what do they come here 
 for ? Come here for^ returned he, laughing, 
 why thefe People are to fcrfrm the principal Parts, 
 I then began to confider with Attention the Peo- 
 ple 
 
Lett. CXLII. The Jewish Spy. 167 
 
 pie in the Cart, who as they pafled near me 
 appeared, notwithftanding they were fo well 
 dVefled, to have each a Cord about his Neck, 
 with which a Moment after he was to be tyed up. 
 I was going to ask my Friend fome Queftions 
 about the Drefs of thefe People, which I thought 
 pretty extraordinary, and at the fame time ill 
 chofen ; but I was prevented by the Harangue 
 of one of the Highwaymen : He cough'd, he fpif, 
 looked about him, as unconcernedly as if he had 
 been a Spectator j next he pulled ofF a pair of 
 white Gloves and put them up in his Pocket, and 
 then addreiïing himfelf to the Croud, he told 
 them, that God permitted him to come to that - 
 End for playing at Cards on Sundays; had it not 
 been for this Crime, he fancied it feems that 
 he fhould never have been difccvered, but 
 have gone on quietly and methodically in the 
 way of his Profeffion. 
 
 While the Gentleman was m.aking his Speech, 
 another of his Companions pracflifed a thoufand 
 whimfical Grimaces, and faid from time to time 
 twenty Droll Things in order to make the Specta- 
 tors fmile. If I had not been informed how this 
 Comedy was to end, I fhould certainly have fan- 
 cied I had been prefent at a Mountebanks Stage, 
 Our Highwayman Orator fpokc pretty much with 
 the Air of one of thefe itnerant Do£tors when he 
 is diftributing his Packets; and the ether P'ellow, 
 who contented himfelf with IciTer Motions and a 
 fort of dumb Shew, refembied pretty ftrongly a 
 Pierrot or Jack Puddlrg. As I was looking very 
 attentively upon thefe unhappy Creatures, in order 
 to difcovcr whether this falfe Bravery with v/hich 
 they mimick Heroifm in their lafl Moments 
 v/ould really hold out, the Hangman, who had 
 already faften'd the Ropes to the Gallows, gave 
 
 tiie 
 
î68 T/j^ Jewish Spy. Lett. CXLIL 
 
 the Horfes a ftrcke with his Whip, and the Cart 
 -Aiding away, the Actors remained pendant in the 
 Air, wiiere they made a very odd figure. Im- 
 mediately upon this a great Number of People ran to 
 put them out of their Pain. Some pulled them 
 by the Legs, others ftruck them with their Fiils 
 upon the Stomach, and by the Eafe and Coolnefs 
 with which they did this, I perceived that the 
 Engli/I:) were far enough from that Delicacy which 
 infpires other People on fuch Occafions, and fills 
 them with a Horror for fuch as by their Crimes 
 have brought themfelves to a violent Death. 
 
 As foon as I had loft Sight of this difmal Spec- 
 tacle, I could not help thinking of that Infenlibi- 
 lity with which thole vv^hom I juft now cenfiired 
 fuffered, and concerning which I took occafion 
 to queftion my Friend : Pray^ faid I, what could be 
 the caufe that tlyefe two Highwaymen put on an Air 
 of Intrepidity^ unaffe^îed by any of their Companions in 
 Death? The Rcafon^ returned my Friend, was^ he- 
 c/iufe they had on Inclination to die as they had liv'd, 
 and to leave behind them the CharaSîer of Men 
 cf Spirit. In other Countries zvhcn a Cri?ni7ial is 
 condemn d^ hiy Head is prcfe'ntly taken up with the 
 Importance cf his Voyage^ and his Confcience^ forfooth^ 
 clai?ns all his Attention. Here it is quite another 
 Thing., a Man of Courage who hopes to wipe off a 
 part cf the Shame by his Manner of fuflainmg his 
 Punijhment^ has other Jort of Thoughts in his Head. 
 He takes care to get himfelf frjav'd^ powder' d, and 
 well drefd, and then this Dr ef s again is in party 
 to have the Air of a îVedding^ and part that of a 
 Funeral. He likewife equips hi?nfclf with fuch a 
 Speech as you heard the Man make jujl now^ of which 
 he gives a Copy to a Perfon zvho conjoles him in his 
 laft Moment s y by giving him folcmn Affuranccs of 
 feing it printed and publijhcd. 
 
 Plow 
 
Lett.CXLII. 77j^ Jewish Spy. 169 
 
 HjW ! cried I, Jimck tuitb AJloniJhment at what 
 my Friend had told me^ is it pojible that all the 
 fad Stuff I heard that Fellow fay flvjuld he printed 
 and laid before the JVorld? I fhall be 7io longer afto^ 
 nijhed that Malefactors die here like Beafis^ zvith- 
 out Jhe^ing any Marks of Concern for the flagrant 
 Villanies they have committed^ or like Fools trifle 
 away their laji Moments in playing antick Tricks 
 to divert a Mob* Is it permitted a??iongfl a People 
 who pique themfelves fo much 'on their Reflexion and 
 good Senfe-f that publick Executions fhould be thus 
 in a manner burlefqud^ the neceffary Confequence 
 of luhich mufi be the encouraging all thofe Crimes 
 that are mofi dangerous for the Publick F The 
 Fear of Shame is as Jlrong in a human Soul^ as 
 the Fear of Punijhment. Hotu many People would 
 rifque their Lives to refcue themfelves from Wanty 
 if the Fear of expofing their Fajnilies to everlafling 
 Infamy did ??ot withold them ! Tet in this Country 
 it is not only thought an A5Î of Injufiice to refeSî on. 
 the Family of a Criminal^ but it is Ukewife thought 
 reafonable to abate as much as is poffible the Sham.e 
 of his Execution, Whatever he has done in his Life^ 
 a Malefactor may acquire the Efleem of this Nation 
 at his Deaths provided he behaves then like a Beaji 
 or a Madman. Confidering this y I am really a^ 
 înazed there are ?iot in England many more 
 Thieves of all Stamps, than there are. Sure I am^ 
 that all imaginable Pains is taken to encre afe their 
 Number. It is true they are punijhed, but provided 
 they die intrepid, this Punifhment carries along with 
 it very little Shame. If a Fellow dies boldly and 
 with Spirit, his Memory infiead of being abhorred is 
 cherijhed, and the Prefs is employed to tranfnit an 
 Account of his Bravery to Pojlerity. 
 
 If injiead of applauding a MalefaCîor'' sflitpid Ha- 
 rangue, who is impudent enough to ?nake a Jejl of 
 
 Vol. I\^. I his 
 
170 The Jewish Spv. Lett. CXLII. 
 
 his Sufferings his Behaviour tuas treated ivitb a 
 proper Contefript^ and his ill-placed Intrepidity re* 
 ceived the Refmtment it deferved^ by an Appearance 
 of double Indignation in the SpeJfators^ Men capabk 
 cf bad Pra£lices would be abajhed at the Conftdera- 
 tion of their Confequences^ and the Fear of the In- 
 famy attending them would affright them more^ than 
 the Fear of that violent Death to which they are ex- 
 pofed^ the Horror of tvhich is greatly abated by the 
 Applaufe they expeèf fro?n the Refolution with which 
 they die. It is really with me a ^efiion who is 
 leafî in his Wits^ the Man zvho applauds a hardned 
 Criminal^ or the Criminal who fancies he can efface 
 his Guilt by Jhewing no Sort of Concern about it. 
 
 All thefe Arguments, dear Ifaac^ made no Im- 
 prefTion upon my Friend ; (o far from it, that he 
 jjretended to defend this crying Abufe founded on- 
 jy on ridiculons Prejudices, and flattered himfelf 
 that he had fully excufed it by attributing it to 
 the natural Intrepidity of the Englifh^ and the 
 Contempt they have for Death. It is^ faid I, for 
 that very Rcajon^ that the People of this Country 
 Jhoidd have other Motives to refrain them ; when 
 taking azuay their Lives ivill not terrify Folks ^ 7nufl 
 you not have Recourfe to other Methods to deter thefn 
 from doing Mifchief. It might be allowable amongfî 
 Illations where the Fear of Death terrifies beyond de- 
 fcription^ to abate fotnething^ of Shame in their Exe- 
 cutions^ becaufe in other refpeÛs they have force e- 
 mugh to produce the Eff'eSîs which are looked for 
 from the?n ; but amcngjl you English, hozu is it pof- 
 fibU to keep you to your Duty ? This was received 
 juft as my former Difccurfe had been. My Friend 
 contented himfcif w^ith laughing in my Face, and I 
 muft own that as to this Head, the EngUJlo are a 
 very odd fort of People. 
 
 1 dare fay, dear Ifaac^ you will be no lefs fliocic'd 
 than I5 at this ridiculous Pradtice of extenuating 
 
 in 
 
Lett. CXLII. T/je Jewish S?Y, lyi 
 
 in Tucha manner the Infamy which fuch Wretches 
 deferve who perifh by the Halter, and that you 
 will readily admit that the Prejudices of fome po- 
 lite Nations are frequently as ridiculous as thofe 
 of untaught Savages. Every Man who will make 
 ufe of his Reafon, will eafily difcern that it is a 
 Thing more excufable to pufh to Extremity the 
 Severity with which fuch Men are treated, as bring 
 themfelves to fufFer ignominious Deaths, than 
 by pitying them to hurt Society. All imaginable 
 Pains Ihould be taken to find out Means of flrik- 
 ing fuch People with Terror, and this more efpe- 
 cially as they pretend to defpife Death. The Du^i 
 de Vendofme, during the laft War in Italy ^ caufed 
 a great Number of Banditti and Aflaffins to be 
 hang'd up, but without bei^ig able to put an end 
 to fuch Diforders ; which on the contrary conti- 
 nued as frequent as ever, the moft horrid Mur- 
 ders being committed every Week, either on ac- 
 count of Jealoufy or private Piques. At length 
 however the Duke fell upon a Remedy unthought 
 of before ; he took hold of the Italian Superftition, 
 and gave Orders that no Afiaffin ftiould for the 
 future be allowed a ConfelTor, in order to fettle 
 his Confcience before Death. This had the defired 
 Effed, for it terrified thofe Mifcreants infinitely 
 more than the Fear of Death. The Rifque of be- 
 ing hang'd was nothing ; but to be hang'd without 
 Confeflion was a Chance they could not be brought 
 to ftand. 
 
 When Lwas at Paris ^ the Chevalier de Maifin 
 told me a Story of a Soldier who was condemned 
 to be (hot, and who abfolutely refufed to have any- 
 thing to do v/ith the Priefts. All imaginable Pains 
 were taken to convince him of the Folly and Wic- 
 kednefs of fuch a Behaviour, but in vain, he re- 
 mained firm to the very Hour of his Execution, 
 I 2 notwith- 
 
172 57j^ Jewish Spy. Lett. CXLII. 
 
 notwithftanding all the Reprefentations of his be- 
 coming the Prey of Devils, and of his fufFering 
 the moft intolerable Torments to all Eternity when 
 he came to die. In this fuUen Difpofition he was 
 led out ; but as he went along, he took it into 
 his Head to ask what they would do with his Body P 
 To which it was anfwered, that it would be 
 thrown into the Common Sewer. How ! faid he, 
 ft)a7it I he buried in holy Ground f No, replied the 
 Prieft, fmce you are determined not to die like a 
 Chriftian, we fee no reafon why you fhould fare 
 like a Chriftian after Death. The Thoughts of 
 not being interred in a Church-Tard, did more with 
 this Fellow than the Fear of Damnation. He 
 thought nothing of his Soul's lying eternally in 
 Hell, but he could not bear that his Body fhould 
 be thrown into a Common Sewer. 
 
 Behold, my dear I/aac^ an evident Proof of the 
 Eftects which Shame and a Senfe of Infamy will 
 produce even in the Minds of the moft hardned 
 Men. There will always remain even among fuch 
 Creatures as thefe, fuch a Portion c{ Self- Love, 
 as wmU make them extremely fenfible of any Ex- 
 preiTions of Horror towards them. For this rea- 
 fon I am perfuaded that it is fo far from being 
 unjuft, that it is in Truth a Thing ufeful to So- 
 ciety, to keep up a fort of Shynefs towards fuch 
 Families as have had any of their Branches cut off 
 by the Hands pf the common Hangman. Throw- 
 ing an indelible Blemifti upon thofe who are moft 
 dear to a Man, is a Curb that will reftrain fome 
 J)irpofitions untraceable by other Means ; and Ex- 
 perience will fhew that fach as are no way fen- 
 fible of the Fear of Death, retain yet a Dread 
 of covering with perpetual lvA:imy a Fatlier, a 
 Mother, Wife and Children. 
 
 I 
 
Lett. CXLIII. 7he Jewish Spy. 173 
 
 I know very well, that this Maxim will appear 
 contrary to Equity, inafmuch as it renders inno- 
 cent People obnoxious to thofe Punifhments which 
 only the Guilty have deferved. But then wt muft 
 remember, that it is fimply impoffible even the 
 wifeft Laws fhould prove beneficial to all the 
 World. All that can be expedîed is, that they fnould 
 turn to the Benefit of the greateft part of them . 
 This is the Sentiment of a very great Philofo- 
 pher, who in order to prove the Juftice of the 
 Roman Laws againft infolvent Debtors, maintains 
 that it is better a fmall Number of People ihould 
 run the Hazard of lofing the Benefit of a juft Ex- 
 cufe, than that the whole World fhould be left at 
 Liberty to look out fpecious Pretexts for not pay- 
 ing their juft Debts *. 
 
 Fare thee well, dear Ifaac^ live content, and 
 may ft thou be happy in all thy Affairs. 
 London» 
 
 LETTER CXLIIL 
 
 Isaac On is, Car ait e^ formerly a Rabbi 
 at Corrflantinople, to Aaron Mon- 
 
 GE c A. 
 
 ^HE Letters you have written me, dear Mon- 
 
 ^ ceca^ and wherein you fpe^k fo freely of the 
 
 Men of Letters in England^ have induced me to 
 
 * Sat'ius enim erat à paucis eùamjujîum excufationem 
 non accipiy quam ah omnibus aliquam tentaru Seneca 
 de Beneficiis, Lib. vii. cap. xvi. 
 
 I 3 reflea 
 
174 "The Jewish Spy. Lett. CXLIII. 
 
 Tefle£t a little on the great Men our Nation has 
 produced, and who are utterly unknown but to 
 the fmall Circle of the Learned. The Nazarenes 
 in general believe, that our Brethren are plunged 
 in the grolTeft Ignorance, and that Obftinacy is 
 the (ble Support of our Religion. Some of their 
 Doftors have gone yet farther, and have taught a 
 mofl extraordinary Doctrine incompatible with 
 any found Notions, even of the divine Being. 
 7"hey fay, that he permits the Ifraelhes to remain 
 in the State they are, that their perfifting in their 
 Faith, may ferve as a Proof of that of the Naza^ 
 renes. Is it poflible to advance any Thing more 
 apparently falfe ? For let us fuppofe for a Moment, 
 that the Jeivijh Religion were faHe, would it not 
 ftill be ridiculous to fuppofe, that God damns a 
 certain Number of Creatures merely to afford the 
 means of Salvation to others ? As if it were necef- 
 fary for him to make ufe of fo cruel a Strata- 
 gem to oblige fome People to flick to their Belief. 
 The Vanity of the Nazarenes glares exceffiv^ely, 
 in their pretending to defend fuch an Opinion as 
 this ; they thii^k it not enough, it feems, to treat 
 us upon all Occafions with fovereign Contempt, 
 but they would alfo make God participate with 
 them in this fort of Ufage, without refledling that 
 fuch a Manner of a6ling is repugnant to his Ef- 
 fence. We need not be aftonifhed, dear Monceca^ 
 at the Pride of fome Philofophers, who would per- 
 fuade us, that the Univerfe is made for Man a- 
 lone, and that fo many Worlds exceeding in Size 
 that which we inhabit, fo many Suns larger and 
 brighter than that which enlightens our Syftem, 
 are fcattered through the boundlefs Expanfe, mere- 
 ly to entertain the Sight of one of us Worms upon 
 the Earth, How abfurd foever this Opinion may 
 be, it is ftill lefs fo, than to believe that God makes 
 
 one 
 
Lett. CXLIII. The Jewish Spv. 175 
 
 one Soul everlafting \y miferabJe, that to another 
 he may faciHtate the Means of becoming eternal- 
 ly happy. 
 
 Vifions of this Stamp are (o ridiculous, that 
 there is nothing difficult in expofmg them even to 
 People of very moderate Abilities. But the Na- 
 zarene Divines are by no means for allowing us 
 the Liberty of refuting their Errors. WJien one 
 of our learned Men v/rites a Book in our Defence, 
 our Adverfaries are not only forbid the Reading 
 of it, but in certain Countries they pufh this Se- 
 verity fo far as to hinder even our- felves from 
 reaping the Benefit of fuch Inftructions. In Italy, 
 the yews are forbid to have in their Cuftody the 
 Cûnmi'mtaries of Abarbinel on the ?mno7' PropJ)ets. 
 You know as well as I do, dear Monceca^ how ex- 
 cellent a Book that is, and that the more our Ene- 
 mies condemn it, the more they reprefent it as 
 dangerous, the more with refpcifl to us they com- 
 mend and applaud it. The Jealoufy and Tyranny 
 of their Priefts hath not flopp'd at this fingle Pro- 
 hibition ; many of their Docliors have written, 
 that it would be both ufeful and necefTary to pro- 
 hibite all the Books of Jbarbhiel to the Jews^ be- 
 caufe they are capable of confirming us in our 
 Sentiments. Is it not, Monceca., a pleafant way 
 of refuting a Book to fupprefs it? What Judg- 
 fnent do they think, I will not fay the Learned, 
 but even the middle fort of People, who ufe their 
 Underftandings, will pafs on fuch a Conduct ? 
 
 The Nazare7ies have indeed Reafon to fear the 
 Spirit and the Learning of Abarbinel. That illuftri- 
 ous Rabbin was equal even to our famous Maimoni- 
 des. What Spleen foever our Enemies have fhewn 
 againft his W^ritings, they acknowledge, however, 
 that where his Interpretations have nothing to do 
 between them and theirControverfies with the Jcws^ 
 I 4 he 
 
176 77^^ Jewish Spy. Lett. CXLIIL 
 
 lie is fublime, judicious, perfpicuous, and full of 
 Candor. Can we expe6l any more ^ ought v/e to 
 Lope they will overturn their own Objections ? 
 
 1'he Merit of Aharhinel was fo great, that it 
 overcame the Prejudices of many of the Nazaren^s^ 
 infomuch that after his Death, many Venetian 
 Noblemen did not difdain to attend his FuneraJ, 
 which was celebrated by the principal Jews of 
 Padua. It was in a Church-yard of that famous 
 City, that- this famous Jew was buried, and fome 
 time after they interred Juda Ment% in the fame 
 Place. This Rabbi was alfo an illuftrious Man, 
 He died Redor of the Academy of Padua. All 
 Perfcns of Letters agree, that he had a brisk and 
 lively Imagination, and that he fpoke and wrote 
 with great Facility. But, however, he had not ei- 
 ther the Knowledge of Menajfah Ben Ifrael^ or the 
 profound Erudition of Solomon Ben Virga. The 
 Ccjiciliatcr of the firft mentioned Rabbi, is an 
 excellent Work, and the Hiftory of the Jews com- 
 pofed by the latter is a Piece worthy of the high- 
 eft Efteem. 
 
 Abraham de Balmis deferves a diftinguifhed 
 Rank among the Learned of our Nation. That 
 illufrrious Phyfician was an excellent Grammarian, 
 and an excellent Philofopher, compofed a Book 
 of the utmoft ufe of the Means of acquiring the 
 Knowledge of the Hebrew Tongue. * A Chriftiari 
 Critique did not however fpare this great Man. As 
 he had too much Candor to decide haftily upon 
 
 * Abraham de Balmis nihil aliud agere mihi <vifus eji 
 quam <veterum Doéîrinam perpétua connjellere atque impug- 
 nare, 7nagis infeSlatido occiipatiis, quam in àocendo, at in 
 dubium tantu?n njocare prifcorum praceptio?ies ; cum interim 
 nihil certiftatua\ non dicer e cfi^fed ridere. Munilerus in 
 Praefatione Grammatices, ^/z^^Spizelii Feliccm Litera- 
 tuni, p. 91 S. 
 
 Things 
 
Lett. CXLir. Tî?'^ Jewish Spy. 177 
 
 Things which feemed to him to lie beyond the 
 Reach of human Capacity, and as he chofe to ex- 
 amine Things to the Bottom before he admitted 
 them to be abfolutely certain, they charged him 
 with a Defign of deftroying all Syftems, without 
 intending to ere<Sl any thing in their ftead. Thus 
 becaufe he was not rafh and overbearing, they 
 would needs have him a Sceptick. 
 
 The Nazarenes are fo given to fearch out what- 
 ever may tarnifh the Reputation of our Authors, 
 that they feldom fpare any. They feem efpecially 
 to bend their Attacks againfl thofe who have mofi 
 Merit. You know, my dear Monceca^ that it is 
 to the illuftrious Akiba we ftand indebted for all 
 that is either true or reafonable in refpe^^ to the 
 Oral Law 5 and tho' I am a Caraite^ yet I muft 
 frankly own, that if nothing had been added to 
 the Writings of this great Man, all that he fays 
 with refpecl to the written Law, ought to be re- 
 ceived among all the different Se6ls of y^z:;j. How- 
 ever, the Merit of Ak'iha is far from ftanding un- 
 impeached by the Nazarefie Doctors : They re- 
 prefent him as a crafty Fellow, a Cheat and an 
 Impoftor. Such are the Appellations they beftow 
 on a Rabbi, who by his Candor and Knowledge, 
 merits, that all true Ifraelites fhould agree in giv- 
 ing him the Title ot Sethumataah, or, The Au- 
 thentick. 
 
 It muft however be ccnfelTed, my der.r Mon- 
 ceca^ that if all the Books wh'ch the Jews at- 
 tribute to Akiba were really and truly his, the 
 Nazarenes would have abundant reafon to reje'fl 
 them as full of Lyes and Fables. In this refpcdi: 
 they would only follow the Example of the Ca^ 
 raites. For I muft do fo much Juftice to the 
 Skill and Merit of that Rabbi,, as to ftand per- 
 fuaded that all the Reveries in the Talmud^ did not 
 I 5 . f.ow 
 
178 7X<?Je\vish Spy. Lett. CXLII. 
 
 flow from him, as from their Source, nor were 
 originally collected from his Writings. It is very 
 true, that Jkiba was the firft Compiler of the 
 Deuterofes^ or y^ztv)/; Traditions, and that he drew 
 together and di gelled into one Work, what Hillely 
 Simeon and other Doétors had written in different 
 Treatifes ; but that learned Rabbi was far from 
 colleding all the Extravagancies which we now 
 fee in the Talmud. It was fuch who afterwards 
 laboured in that Work who invented them, or at 
 leaft had the Weaknefs to tranfmit them to Pc- 
 fterity. Even the moft zealous Partizans of the 
 Talmud^ are compelled to own that Jk'iha was 
 dead before Rabbi 'Juda compofed the Mifna or" 
 Tahmid of Jerufalem, they pretend that this laft 
 mentioned Rabbi was born the very Day the othsr 
 died ; but fure it is without all Foundation, that 
 after having reported this, that they break out 
 thus, when one Sun was eclipfed, another appeared 
 in the Horizon *. I proteft, dear Monceca, a Man 
 muft be prejudiced to a high Degree, who can fee 
 any thing like anEquality between thefe^^it-j ; and I 
 muft own to you, that even at the time that I had 
 no Thoughts of becoming a Caraite^ I always 
 looked on the one as a Man of Learning of the 
 £rft Clafs t^ and on the other as an Author of a 
 very fufpicious Authority. Heaven has at length 
 been pleafed to remove the Clouds which hindred 
 my Sight, and I now clearly diftinguifh the Folly 
 
 * R . Juda P "biceps natus eft Hlo Die quo ohUt R. A- 
 kikû, de quo o.iu'nt Sol exottus eft, et Soloccidit. Pezron, 
 Defence cf the Antiquities cf Times, p. 76. 
 
 •f- Hujus nomen [inquit Autor Libri Ze?nach Da-vid) 
 ixiit ah imo extremo Mundi ufque ad aliudy at que tot am 
 legem Oralem ex ejus ore accipimus. Konig» Bib'iothe- 
 ca Yetus & Nova, p 19. 
 
 a of 
 
Lett. CXLIII. The Jewish Spy. 179 
 
 of thofe pretended Traditions, for which Reafon 1 
 rejeét them. But before I took this Step, Î was 
 refolved to examine thoroughly into the Matter, 
 that I might avoid doing that haftily which I 
 might repent at leifure. I am therefore pretty po- 
 fitive that I had good Grounds for rejecling the 
 Tahnud and all its Dreams. At leaft, I flatter 
 my felf, that I omitted nothing in my power, in 
 order to difcover and come at the Truth, and if I 
 have been deceived, I truft that the Dehy^ who 
 knows my good Intentions, will have Mercy upon 
 me j for it appears abfolutely impoffible that he 
 fhould have given any Authority for the puerile 
 Obfervations diftated by cur Rabbies. Can it be 
 believed, that he would ever defcend into a Tale 
 of the Neceflities to which we are fubjeâed by 
 the Structure of our Bodies? Is it not a moii afto- 
 ni filing Folly to place among the Nu;nber of re- 
 ligious Ceremonies our manner of easing of Na- 
 ture ? However fome of our Rabbies hnv c not bc-on 
 afhamed to write very copioully upon this Subj(;CL, 
 In the firft place,^ they have fettled the Points of 
 the Compafs towards which thefe fort of Conve- 
 niences fliould be turned, and thefe are the North 
 and ^outh. Next it is fettled, that we are not to 
 remove our Garments but in a fitting Poflure'j 
 this is the fécond Rule : And the third is, Th?J: in 
 all Affairs of this Nature we ufe the left, and not 
 the right Hand, which v/ould be a grievo\!s Of- 
 fence ; fuch, according to thefe Rabbins, are the 
 facred Myfteries of the Law^ which are not to be 
 difpenfed with ; and to give greater Weight to 
 thefe Impertinencles, they are inferted in the Wri- 
 tings of Aklha whom they have made the Author 
 of thefe ridiculous Precepts, which doubtlefs lie 
 never thought of. For it is impofilble to b-4ieve 
 that a Man fo truly Içariied as he was, fhould 
 
 hâiyç 
 
i8o T7j^ Jewish Spy. Lett.CXLIII. 
 
 have run into fuch low and pitiful Abfurdities ; 
 but they were glad, no doubt, to lay hold of (o 
 venerable a Name as his, in order to give a Sanc- 
 tion to their Chimseras '*. 
 
 The Rabbles, dear Monceca^ have done as much 
 Mifchief to the Jewi/J) Religion by their Imperti- 
 nencies, as the Chriflian Monks have to theirs, by 
 their deplorable and fometmes ridiculous Superfti- 
 tions. The filly Works both of the one and the 
 other,have prejudiced but too manyPeople againfi all 
 the Books in general, v^hich treat of both Religions. 
 They are fo much fcandalized at the Fooleries 
 which they fee not only tolerated, but approved 
 and commended, that they cannot perfuade them- 
 felves that there can be found any fenfible Wri-- 
 ters in thofe Communions, wherein fome Mem- 
 bers receive as ufeful, and neceiTary Rules, fuch 
 Follies and Extravagancies as are fcarce pardonable 
 in îdeots. 
 
 Thus on Account of a Prejudice fatal to the 
 Learned amongft us, the Nazarenes will not be 
 brought to diftinguifh between our Rabbles, but 
 condemn them in the Lump. In the very fame 
 manner the Proteftants defpife many excellent 
 Works written by Catholick Divines, but fure 
 with very little Reafon. For Inftance, they flight 
 the moral EfTays of M. Nicole^ the Sermons of 
 Bcurdaloue, and many others, becaufe they judge 
 of all their Books of Piety by the Legend of 
 
 * Dixit Akiba, ingrejfus fum aliquajido poji Rahhi 
 'J ofuam in fedis fecreta locum t5f tria didici. Didici I. 
 qmd non 'verfus orientem et occidentem, fed ^vcrfus fep- 
 tentrionem et aujîrutn, con'vertere nos debemus. Didici 
 II. quod non in pedes ereâlum^ fed jam confident em ^ fe re- 
 tegere liceat. Didici III. quod P ode x non dextrâ Jed fi- 
 nifirâ Manu abjîergendus fit . . . Legis hac Jrcana funt.- 
 Barajetha, in MafTech. Beruchot./^/. 62. 
 
 < 5t« 
 
Lett. CXLIV. 72»^ Jewish Spy. i8 
 
 St. Francis^ the Life oï Mary Alacoque^ the Works 
 of the Monk Cafanus^ thofe of the Jefuits Outer- 
 man and Gazeus, the M)^ical City of God, by 
 Mary d'Agreda^ and fuch like. On the other 
 hand, it muft be allowed, that there are very few 
 Papifts who will be at the pains of diftinguifliing 
 between the learned and judicious ProteflantS) 
 and thofe Vifionaries who wait for the Accom- 
 plifhment of the pretended Prophecies of Jurieu 
 or fuch like Rhapfodies. Such are the unhappy 
 EfFe£^s of that Prejudice which weak and wicked 
 Writers beget in others againft the Religion they 
 profefs. 
 
 Farewel, dear Monceca^ live eafy and contented,, 
 and m ay ft thou be always profperous. 
 From Cairo. 
 
 LETTER CXLI7. 
 
 Isaac On is, Caraite^ formerly a Rabbi. 
 at Conftantinople, /(? Aaron Mon- 
 
 CECA. 
 
 T Have within thefe few Days, my dear Monceca^ 
 ^ contraéled an Acquaintance with a Samaritan 
 Jew. He has fet me right as to abundance of 
 Things, of which till now I had but very *con- 
 fufed Ideas, I looked upon the Samaritans in ge- 
 neral as Hereticks plunged in an Abyfs of Errors.. 
 I believed that none of their Ceremonies did at 
 all refemble thofe of the ancient If r a elite s j nay, 
 I would fcarce admit that their formerWorfhip had 
 any thing in common with thatof the Jrujs. Thefe 
 
 Prejudices 
 
i82 57j^ Jewish Spy. Lett.CXLIV. 
 
 Prejudices of mine are entirely dilTipated, and I 
 am thoroughly fatisfied that I have been in an 
 Error. 
 
 Of all the Jewijh Seas, the Sa?nartta7is differ 
 leaft in their Cuftoms from thofe of our Anceftors. 
 M oft of thefe People live at Gaza, Damafcus^ 
 Cairo, but principally at Sichem, now called Nea- 
 polis. They offer Sacrifices upon Mount Gerizimy 
 affirming pofitively that this is the chofen Place of 
 the Lord. They not only cite in Defence of this 
 their Opinion, a Paffage of their Pentateuch *, 
 which they charge our Anceftors with corrupting, 
 by putting Mount Hebal whence the Curfes were 
 to be pronounced for Mount Gerizhn, whence the 
 Bleffings were to be derived. But they infift alfo 
 on Preicription, on the uninterrupted Succeffion of 
 their High Priefts, on Tradition, on Hiftory, and 
 fon the tacit Confeffion of the Author of the 
 Chriftian Law, who did not difpute or deny the 
 Truth of what the Samaritan Woman alledged, 
 that their Fathers worfhlpped on Mmnt Gerizim ||. 
 This Reproach of Corruption which our Anceftors 
 threw by wholefale on this poor People, has been 
 adopted by certain learned Men among the Na- 
 zarenêSi without refledling that the eftablifhing 
 this Propofition as a Truth, would be equally pre- 
 judicial to them and to us. As I am fully per- 
 fuaded of this, I fhould be glad after resxiing my 
 Letter, if you would give me your T'houghts upon 
 the Matter. 
 
 The Samaritan from whom I karncd all thefe 
 Particulars, affured me that their Prieils are to this 
 Day of the Race of Jaron ; and that they never 
 
 * Deuteron.xxvii. 4. 
 
 f Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. iv. cap. uî:. t: Ijb. xiii cap, 
 vi. 
 
 Ij 1 John iv. 21, 22. 
 
 inter- 
 
Lett. CXLIV. Tbe]E\visn Spy. 183 
 
 intermarry out of that Family, that they may not 
 fully the Honour of their Defcent. He tells us 
 likewife, that the Altar on which they facrificed, 
 is the very fame- which was built by the Ifraelites 
 immediately after their Paflage over Jordan. I 
 muft own to you, dear Monceca^ that I can fcarce 
 give Credit to the Antiquity and Authenticity of 
 thefe Stories, but rather think it a Tale fit to be 
 inferted among the fabulous CoUe6lions of the 
 Rabbie?. If indeed any thing could give . it 
 Weight, it muft be that wonderful Care and In- 
 duftry with which the Samaritans have always 
 preferved the Cuftoms of their Anceftors, and 
 whatever came down to them with the venerable 
 Stamp of Antiquity. They yet keep up and make 
 ufe of the ancient Hebrew Characters which differ 
 much from thofe that are in ufe with us, and which 
 were the Invention of Efdras^ after the Return 
 from the Bahylonijh Captivity. 
 
 You w^ill eafily apprehend, my dear Monceca^ 
 that People fo much attached as the Samaritans 
 are to the Cuftoms of our earlieft Ancefrors are 
 far enough from admitting as Rules of Faith, all 
 the Reveries of the Talmud. Far from adopting 
 the Sentiments of the Rabbies, they go yet far- 
 ther than the Cdraites^ and acknowledge no Scrip- 
 tures but the firft Books q{ Mofes^ looking on the 
 reft of the facred Code, as v/ritten by pious Men 
 under the immediate Dire(5lion of Heaven, but yet 
 of no decifive Authority with refpeél to Matters of 
 Faith. It is eafy to perceive that the Samaritans 
 run into a grofs Error in this refpe^l : For fmce 
 they admit that thefe Books v/ere really written by 
 the Perfons whofe Names th^y bear, and that 
 their Authors were pious Men, influenced bv the 
 Spirit of God, why fhould they hefitate at admit- 
 ting the A^uthority of the Books themfelves ? If 
 
 it 
 
184 Tbe Jewish Spy. Lett. GXLIV, 
 
 it could once be made out to the Caraîtes that- 
 thofe who compofed the Talmud were Perfons of 
 Wifdom and Learning, they would receive it 
 without Delay ; much more if could be made 
 appear that the Rabbies by whom it was compo- 
 fed were enlightned by the Spirit of God. 
 
 It is necefTary, à^zr Monceca^ when one would 
 avoid giving a blind Obedience to whatfoever is 
 contained in a Book, to alledge that its Author 
 was a mere Man and uninfpired. For when once 
 it is admitted that a Book was written by Infpi- 
 ration, abfolute SubmilTion is due thereto. It is 
 ridiculous to attempt to range in different CI afles, 
 fuch Pieces as have fallen from the Pens of in- 
 fpired Men. For we cannot believe that Men 
 are more or lefs infpired, or that whatever they 
 receive by Infpiration ought to be received with 
 any different Degree of Credit. 
 
 A famous German Divine went very near affert- 
 ing this erroneous Opinion *. In the Heat of a 
 difpute, he advanced a Propofition with which 
 his Adverfaries for ever after reproached him. He 
 ai^rmed that a certain Work written by an an- 
 cient Divine, whom the Nazarenes fuppofe to be 
 one of their Apoftles, was low, poor, and little 
 better than Chaff, in Comparifon of the Writings 
 of other Doctors f- His Enemies did not fail to 
 attack him vigoroufly on his maintaining fo evi- 
 dent a Falfhood. In the End he was obliged to 
 acknowledge his Error, and at this Day the moft 
 zealous of his Difciples readily admit that h^ 
 committed a very great Fault in endeavouring to? 
 eftablifh a Sentiment, fo diredly oppofite to- 
 
 * Luther. 
 
 t The EpiHIe general of St. James» '■ 
 
Lett.CXLIV. r/jé' Jewish Spy. 185 
 
 Rcafon *. This Divine, in order to deliver himfelf 
 from fome Difficulties, durft not deny the Cre- 
 dit of the Book which made againft him, but then 
 he diminiihed it as much as he could, and made it 
 much inferior to another Book w^hich appeared to 
 favour his own Sentiments. 
 
 Strange is the EfFe6t of that blind Prejudice in- 
 to which even the greateft Men are apt to fall, 
 through an over-haity Defire of fupporting what- 
 ever they advance ! Is it poiTible to find out a 
 greater Abfurdity than this of diftinguifning De- 
 grees of Wifdom in the Spirit of God ? Or can 
 there be any thing more oppofite to common 
 Senfe than this Notion, of giving more or lefs 
 Credit to divinely infpired Writings, as they agree 
 more or lefs with our ov/n Opinions ? 
 
 I know, my dear A^onceca^ that the Rabbins 
 and the Caraites, far from imitating the impious 
 Boldnefs of certain Naxarenes^ or the ill-founded 
 Scruples of the Samarita77s preferve equally for the 
 Books of the Sacred Code, an infinite Refpeét, with- 
 out pretending to judge by the Light of their 
 Reafon of the Worth of any of the infpired Wri- 
 tings. But in avoiding this Error they have run 
 into another, which is common to them and to 
 the Nazarene Do(5lors ; that is to fay, they tear 
 and torture certain PafTages in order to bring them 
 
 * Cum autem illud legijjem, non rem dijp.mula<vi, fed 
 fatehar in refponjîone mea ad Gregorium Martwum. In 
 ilia quidem Frcpfaiione fcribit Lutherum, S. J acobi Epi- 
 Jiolajn non pojfe dignate certare cum Epijlolis S. S, Petri ^ 
 Pauli, fed Epif olam fr amine am ^ Ji cum aliis comparetur. 
 ^uam ejus fententiam non proho^ atque in rece-ntioribus 
 Editionibus Cum o m iff a fiat ilia 'verba, opinor ipfum fofiea 
 Lutherum banc fuam fententiam imfrobaffe. Whitakeri 
 Refponf. ad Rainoldi Refutationem, />. 103. 
 
 to 
 
i86 TZ;(? Jewish Spy. Lett.CXLIV. 
 
 to favour their Sentiments, and by this means they 
 vouch all the Vapours of their heated Imaginations 
 by thefe forced Applications of the Holy Writings, 
 infomuch that there is nothing foabfurd, not only 
 with regard to Rites and Ceremonies, but alfo 
 with refped to the Doétrines of Religion, which 
 they do not attempt to prove in this manner. 
 
 Js it, for Example, poflible to find out any 
 thing more wild and extravagant than the Rabbi- 
 nical Interpretation of this Verfe in thePfalms? 
 Beheld I vxis Jhapen in TVickednefs, and in Sin hath 
 my Mother conceived me. Inftead of going into 
 the Opinion of the Nazarene Do6lors, who have 
 fully proved, that the Prophet fpeaks Iiere of that 
 original Blemifh derived to all Men from their firfl 
 Parents, ti":ey will needs have it, that Jeffe the 
 Father of Z>û7;£V/ begat him in Adultery, tho' on 
 his own Wife, v^^hom he took to have b'-^en one of 
 her Maid-Servants, upon whofe Chaftity he had at- 
 tempted. Is not this, dear Monceca^ a fine Expli- 
 cation of fo clear and eafy a 7'ext ? And what 
 Opinion may we not expe6i: to fee fupported by 
 Scripture Proofs, alledged by the Rabhins, when 
 out of the plaineft things, they can forge fuch ro- 
 mantic Adventures, and gravely deliver fo extra- 
 ordinary a Story as this of the pretended Adultery 
 of David's Father, tho' there be not a Word of it 
 in the holy Books ? 
 
 An Italian Jew not only adopted this fabulous 
 Tale, in a Work which he publifhed, but even 
 attempted to carry it further than any of his Bre- 
 thren had done, by making a pretty long Difier- 
 tation to prove forfooth that JeJJe had done per- 
 fe6lly well in endeavouring to go to Bed to his 
 Maid, becaufe his Wife was grown pretty far in 
 
 Years, 
 
Lett.CXLIV. TZyJewishSpy. jS/ 
 
 Years, and as he apprehended paft Child-bearing *. 
 This Sentiment, my Friend, contains an exxellent 
 Moral, and if thefe wife and honsft Rabbins would 
 but effeclually eftablifli it, it would in all human 
 Probability contribute pretty much to the railing 
 Servants VVages, in coniideration of the Likelihood 
 of their finding more Employment than at pre- 
 fent. 
 
 Confefs then, dear Monceca ^ihat we Caraites have 
 fome Reafon to reject thefe Rabbinical Comments, 
 tho' as yet you are attached to their Sect, it is 
 impoffible you {hould not fee their Errors. That 
 Uneafmefs and EmbarafTment which naturally at- 
 tends a Man's changing his Religion, keeps you 
 as yet in the v/rong Track ; but as I earneftly 
 wifh, (o I fmcerely hope, that the God of cur 
 Fathers will afford you his victorious Grace which 
 he vouchfafes to fuch, as he leads to the Know- 
 ledge of the Truth, and that thereby breaking the 
 Chains which for the prefent bind you to theRabbins, 
 you fhall come and range your felf under the Ban- 
 ner of the Caratiesy who are not only the true Jews, 
 but almofl: the fole People in the World who fub- 
 mit their Judgments to the Divine Writings, 
 without attempting to abufe thefe in order to efta- 
 blifh their own Opinions. 
 
 Many oftheNazarene DoftorSjas alfo of the Cadies 
 and Mufties among the MufTulmen, run into the 
 fame Fault with the Rabbies. They do not fubmit 
 their Opinions to thofe contained in the Writings 
 which they believe infpired, but explain all thefe 
 Works in a manner conformable to their own No- 
 
 * // Venfiero (T Ifai era hitom, perche ejfendo la Pa- 
 tronwvecchia^ e la Majfera gionjane^ ka-veva Dcflierio di 
 ka^oer altri Figlluoli. Percecti da elTer imparati dalie 
 DoKne Ebree, /». 69. 
 
 tiens. 
 
i88 îra^ Jewish Spy. Lett. CXLIV. 
 
 tions, infomuch that ten Divines, each of a différent 
 Opinion, fha'll equally pretend to fupport his own 
 Do6lrines by Authority of Scripture ; and it is this 
 Gonducl fo inconfiftent with publick Peace and 
 pubiick Safety, that hath occafioned fo many re- 
 ligious Wars, and fuch Broils and Dilturbances in 
 States. 
 
 The Nazarcnes would be happy, mv dear Mon" 
 ccca^ if they did but obferve the fame Laws with 
 us Caraites, who never venture to WTite any Com- 
 mentaries on the facred Scriptures. It is held with 
 us a Prcphanation to mingle human Opinions with 
 divine Laws. The Caraites believe implicitely 
 whatfoever they find in the Scriptures without pre- 
 tending to penetrate their Obfcurities, but fubmit;- 
 ting their Underfirandinas v/hen they meet with 
 Paffages which tranfcend them. But for this wife 
 and eafy Maxim, they would at this Day be as 
 full of Trouble and Confufion as other Seds. They 
 would have a Train of Doctors differing in Opi- 
 nions, and darkening by their Difcourfes the 
 Points they pretended to illuftrate, till by Degrees 
 fo many and fuch arduous Doubts would be brought 
 into People's Heads, as in the End vrould lead 
 them either into Scepticifm, or Irreligion. 
 
 In order to prove the Inutility of Commentaries 
 on the facred Writings, there is nothing more rc- 
 quifite than to fhew, that they are calculated to 
 do more Hurt than Good. Now there is nothing 
 eafier, than to produce the ftrongeft Evidence in 
 favour of this Propofition. It muft, in the firft 
 place, be laid down as a Principle, that fmce God 
 has been pleafed to give certain Laws and Rules 
 to Mankind, he has like wife been pleafed to ex- 
 plain himfelf in a manner clear and intelligible. 
 For it would be abfurd to {^y, that God had re- 
 vealed his Will to Man in fuch a manner, as that 
 
 it. 
 
Lett.CXLIV. r^é» Jewish Spy. 189 
 
 it was impofTible it fhould be comprehended. 
 Nor is it lefs unreafonable to fay, that God com- 
 manded Men to obey him, but however did not 
 defire they fhould obey him. If therefore we arc 
 bound to acknowledge that God hath revealed his 
 Will to Men in Terms perfe6lly intelligible, why 
 (hould we attempt to explain them more clearly ? 
 A Divine, a Rabbi, a Mufti, or a Bonze, do they 
 underftand the Extent of Mens Capacities better 
 than he who made them. If he had intended to 
 teach Men the Myfteries which thefe fort of Peo- 
 ple propagate, he would without queftion have 
 taught them plainly. 
 
 But it may be faid, that many of the facred 
 Books are written evidently in a very obfcure Stile, 
 and in which there are many things not to be un- 
 derftood. Thefe without queftion were given by 
 God to Men for fome ufe or other, and how fhail 
 this ufe be made of them, if they are not under- 
 ftood ? It is ncceflary therefore to enquire into their 
 hidden Senfe. 
 
 This manner of reafoning, dear Monceca^ is 
 however falfe and captious. If there are in the 
 Scripture certain PafTages which we do not under- 
 ftand, we ought to conclude that they are not ne- 
 ceffary to our Salvation, becaufe we cannot «per- 
 form v;hat we are not informed of, and it is in 
 vain for us to endeavour to penetrate thofe Secrets 
 v/hi'ch Providence hath but half revealed. Heaven 
 knows that it is for our Good that we fhould not 
 have clear Ideas of fome Things, and when Men 
 would penetrate into thefe, this Crime of theirs 
 is punifhed by their feeling themfelves bewildered. 
 The Nazarene Doctors who have employed their 
 Pens in v/riting Commentaries on the Revelations^ 
 a very obfcure Piece, which they believe facred, 
 afford a clear Proof of the Truth of what I fay. 
 
 I'he 
 
igo The ]ev7isk Spy. Lett. CXLIV. 
 
 The Proteftants make this Book the Bafis of all 
 their* Invedivesagainft the Papifts, and the Papifts 
 again make ufe of rlie fame Book, in order to 
 paint out their Adverfaries in the moft odious Co- 
 lours *. Is it poflible to make a worfe, or a more 
 unwarrantable ufe of fuch Works as are fuppofed 
 to be dilated by the Deity bimfelf ? 
 
 Farewel, dear Monceca^ live content and happy, 
 and beware of indulging a rafh Spirit of Cu- 
 liofity. 
 
 Cairo, 
 
 * The Re'veJations hath been in all times one of the 
 principal Books whence the Divines have drawn abun- 
 dantly injurious Exprelïïons, in order to pelt thofe a- 
 gainfl whom they had a Spite. What is ftill more fin- 
 gular, is, that the Rabbies alfo have profited of thefe 
 Obfcurities in the Revelations. They pretend that this 
 Book was written by one of their Brethren, in order to 
 deceive the primitive Chriftians. See in refpedl to 
 this Subjeifh the Letter CLX. Vol. V. As alfo 
 the 4.th Letter of the Secret Memoirs of the Republick of 
 Letters. In which Letters this remarkable Point of 
 ■HiHory is fully difcuffed, and the original Paffages from 
 the Rabbins alfo are there produced at large. 
 
 le^» 
 
 LET- 
 
Lett. CXLV. T/6^ Jewish Spy. 191 
 
 LETTER CXLV. 
 
 Aaron Moncec a, fo Isaac On is, 
 
 Caraite, formerly a Rabbi at Conilan- 
 ' tinople. 
 
 'Tp H E Englijhy dear Ifaac, are not fatisfied with 
 -■' enjoying uninterrupted Liberty in this Life : 
 They think alfo they ought to be permitted to 
 quit it when theirMisfortunes prefs them too clofely, 
 whenever they grow tired of it, or of what pafTes 
 therein. I was prodigioufly furprized at my firft 
 Arrival, at the frequent Accounts I heard of fuch 
 Deaths. It fometimes happened, that a Man I 
 had converfed with in the Evening, thought pro- 
 per to cut his Throat next Day. Such as brought 
 tlie News of this Accident, inftead of appearing 
 aftonifhed, generally approved the Acflion mad as 
 it was. If I enquired what the Reafons were, 
 v/hich determined the diftra£ted Creature to take 
 away his own Life, ^P^e know not, anfwered they 
 coldly, 'tis very probable he did not like his Situation 
 In this îVorld^ and had a mind to fee hsw they went 
 on in the other. His Life was his own^ and in 
 ailing as he did., he hurt nobody but himfelf. 
 
 I fancied for a good while, that fuch as thus 
 took it in their Heads to make away themfelves did 
 it in confequence of Diftradion, ^d I was very 
 far from imagining that the EngUJJj hang'd them- 
 felves, or cut their Throats after mature Delibe- 
 ration ; but by the many unhappy Inftances I have 
 fiien, and by the Relations I have had from Per- 
 
 fons 
 
192 77^tf Jewish Spy. Lett. CXLV. 
 
 fons of undoubted Credit, I am convinced it is 
 even (o. 
 
 About two Years ago a working Man and his 
 Wife being both weary of the Troubles they en- 
 dured here, determined to put an End to them. 
 They had a Daughter of about five or fix Years of 
 Age, They thought it but reafonable not to 
 leave her expofed to thofe Mifchiefs which they 
 found too hard for themfelves : On mature Con- 
 fideration they refoh'ed that flie fhould make the 
 Voyage with them. When they had once fettled 
 and adjufted all things neceflary for the Execu- 
 tion of their Defign, they determined to juftify it 
 to the Publick. Hereupon they compofed a Nar- 
 rative of their Misfortunes, entered into a long 
 Detail of the Miferies under which they had la- 
 boured^ and the Caufes of their dying as they did. 
 They complained that in fpite of their utmofl: En- 
 deavours in an honeft way, they found it impofiible 
 for them to fubfifl ; that they were more diftrefied 
 the more they ftrove againft their hard Fortune. 
 That in fine, they faw but one way left to avoid 
 doing bafe Things, and to this they had Rccourfe, 
 beieeching God, to w^hom, in quitting Life, they 
 bequeathed their departing Souls, to have Me-xcy 
 , upon them, as they firmJy trufled he would. 
 Having finiihed this their Apology, they firft cut 
 the Throat of their Daughter, and then hang'd 
 themfelves. 
 
 This' pernicious Cuftom of making themfeivea 
 away, is far from being peculiar to the meaner 
 fort of People, the Great are not exempt there- 
 from. Men of Figure and Quality now and then 
 cut their Throats, as well as other Folks, purely be- 
 caufe the World is no longer pleafant to them. 
 And fo far is this from drawing any Refledtions 
 
 or 
 
Lett.CXLV. T& Jewish Spy. 193 
 
 or Stain upon their Memories, that they find very 
 often Numbers who approve and applaud them. 
 
 You cannot imagine, dear Ifaac^ for what flight 
 Reafons the Englijh difpatch themieives. Some 
 Months ago, here was a Man who did his Bufi- 
 nefs, becaufe truly a new Duty was laid upon 
 Strong-Waters. He would live no longer tbrfooth, 
 fmce Geneva was to be dearer. I am credibly 
 informed of the Truth of a ftill flranger Bufmefs. 
 An Englijhman on reviewing his Life, fancied he 
 f^w in it a tedious Repetition of the fame things. 
 îVhat^ faid he, ham I been doing all ?ny Days ? 
 I rife in the Morning ; / eat and drink at Noon ; 
 / walk about all Day^ arid at Night I go to Bed ; 
 this, without Alteration^ is ?ny Courfe of Life. Par-t 
 of 7ny time is fpent in dr effing and undrejfing. A fine 
 Piece of Drudgery truly ! Come, come, I am quite 
 jaded uith this en die f s infipid Part I am to aâf^ 
 and IV ill even quit it and the World together. This 
 Rcfolution once taken, our Englifhman to rid him- 
 {t\ï of his Wearinefs, took up a Piflol and fhot 
 himfelf through the Head. Without doubt you 
 muft apprehend that a Adan who deftroyed himfelf 
 on fo flight an Account was looked on with Hor- 
 ror. No fuch thing, the Bravery he {hewed in 
 meeting his Fate gained him the Reputation of a 
 Hero. But if it had been known that he difco- 
 vered any Reluctancy or Appréhendons at the 
 drawing near of Death, it would have leflened 
 his Reputation. In vain had he killed himfelf, h"s 
 ifibrt would have been looked on with Contempt. 
 He who would acquire the Chara6ler of a Man of 
 Courage in England, mufl not only do the greateft 
 Crimes, but mufl alfo do them without any Signs 
 of Shame or Repentance. 
 
 Some Years a ago a Frmchman killed himfelf, 
 but without derivins: any Reoiitation from it, on 
 
 Vol. IV. ^ K^ the 
 
194 77:^^ Jewish Spy. LettCXLV. 
 
 the contrary, he had the Misfortune before he ex- 
 pired to hear himlclf loaded with the heayieft Re- 
 proaches. He had, unhappily for him ! taken it 
 into his Head to imitate the EngU/h. "Whenever 
 he heard of a Man who had cut his Throat, he 
 felt an inward Motion of Envy, which at the fame 
 time ftimulated him to follow fo glorious an Ex- 
 ample. Tcufcall fee one cf thefe Days^ faid he to 
 his Family, fomethwg will furprize you. I Jhall 
 convince the World the French have as high Spirits 
 as the Englifh. Tes, yes, this is a Task I take up- 
 mi me. As he explained himfelf no farther, *his 
 Friends and Family couid not divine what it was 
 he meant. After fome Deliberation, he at length 
 fully determined to vindicate the Honour of the 
 French Nation, which he conceived to be excef- 
 fively tarniihed by their want of Refolution to kill 
 themfelves. Accordingly he took a Razor, and 
 .w4ien he was left alone attempted to cut his 
 Throat. But wanting Courage thoroughly to do 
 his Work, he only gave himfelf a large Wound, 
 and as foon as he faw the Blood ftream, he called 
 in People to aflifl him. Some EngUJh, who amongft 
 others ran in, inftead of aftbrding him Help, be- 
 gan to infult him. Ihefe French Dogs, faid they, 
 would needs imitate us, una yet have not the Cou" 
 rage to cut a Throat as it jl:Quld he. Lock now, look 
 at this cowardly Scoundrel, he has not cut deep enough 
 by half an Inch. While the EngUfj were making 
 - thefe fine ReficClions, in came the Relations of the 
 v>'ounded Perfon. A Surgeon was fent for, but 
 to no purpofe, his Care had no EfFed, the poor 
 Man after two days Torture died, and died with- 
 out demonftrating that Equality he talked of. 
 
 I am out of all Patience, dear Ifaac, when I fee 
 People who ufe their Senfes to fo good Purpofe in 
 Other Matters of Moment, neglect the ufe of them 
 
 m 
 
Lett.CXLV. Tlie ]e\visu Svt, 195 
 
 in Things of the lail Importance, and run into fo 
 extraordinary an Abfurdity as to applaud fuch 
 Madmen, as for very light Subjeds of Chagrin at- 
 tempt upon their own Lives. Not to treat the 
 Memory of fuch a Man with proper Indignity, 
 who throws away his Life without any real Necef- 
 fity, is foolifhly to approve Adlions the moft cruel 
 and unnatural, which either Melancholy or a bru- 
 tal Difpofition can fuggeft. For from thefe Sources 
 flow, in Fa61:, thofe Effects which the EnglijD 
 would willingly attribute to Greatnefs of Soul, and 
 particularly this Propenfity to Self-Murder. AIL 
 thofe bitter ReflecSlions by which they are led to 
 this Extremity of FoJly, are the Produce of a dark, 
 fullen, cloudy Temper of Mind, and of a fierce 
 Humour incapable of fupporting with Conftancy the 
 flighted Change of Fortune. It is therefore not thro* 
 Courage, but through Weaknefs rather, that the 
 Englijh difpatch themfelves as they do. To fay the 
 Truth, there is much more Spirit requifite to 
 fupport generoufly an tinforefeen Adverflty than 
 to rid one's felf of it by violent Means. 
 
 The Crime of fuch People as murder themfelves 
 is inexcufable, look upon it in what Light you 
 will. If we confider it as Philofophers, we difco- 
 ver an exceeding Weaknefs no way fit to enter in- 
 to Comparifon with that Firmnefs of the great 
 Men of Antiquity, who died indeed bravely, but 
 did not die unlefs they were forced to it for the 
 Prefervation of their Country, or their Glory. 
 Never did any Greek or Roman cut his Throat out 
 of too quick a Senfe of private Misfortunes. The 
 fame Hero who threw himfelf into a Gulph to 
 avert the Danger of Ro?ne^ would have fupported 
 any private and perfonal Misfortunes, without, ever 
 thinking of a violent Death by wav of Difcharge. 
 Marius is an Example of a great Man induring 
 K 2 Adverflty 
 
•içô rije Jewish Spy. Lett. CXLV. 
 
 Adverfity without any Meannefs. How many 
 EngUjhnun would have difpatched themfeives into 
 the other World under fuch a Perfecution as that 
 of Sylla ? Profcribed, purfued, reduced to the 
 hîird Neceflity of hiding himfelf in a filthy Mo- 
 rafs, MGfius ftill waited the Decifion of his Fate 
 from Heaven, and thought it no way worthy of 
 his heroick Courage, to feek in Death a Refuge 
 from his Sorrows. 
 
 I am, dear Ifaac^ more charmed with the 
 Courage and Firmnefs of a certain Spaniard^ than 
 with this Ferocity they difguife under the Name 
 of a great Spirit. This Man with much Induftry 
 laboured for twenty Years together, to fcrape up 
 ss much as might keep him comfortably in his 
 old Age. Fortune, however, in an Inftant ftrip- 
 ped him of all that he had been faving. A Mer- 
 chant whom he had entrufted with his All broke, 
 and left him not v/orth a Groat. A hundred Eng- 
 Ujh would have refolved on a Leap in the Dark 
 at fuch News. The Spaniard wifer, and of a 
 jufter Turn of Thought, determined to conquer 
 Adverfity, and to make his Deftiny afhamed of 
 her Injuftice. Preferving therefore his Moderation 
 and wonted Refolution, he faid, prefenting a Cord 
 to Fortune^ Here's a Rope^ foolijh Sht^ take it and 
 go hang thyfelf^ fince thou art not able to ?nake me 
 have Recon?-fe to hanging. 
 
 If, on the other hand, we refle(5f on this Prac- 
 tice of Self-murder, as it regards Society and 
 the publick Tranquillity, we fliall find it extremely 
 pernicious, and capable of producing great Mifchiefs. 
 What Revolutions, what Confufions, what Dangers 
 may we not fear in a Country where People not only 
 get over all Apprehenfions of Death, but of all that 
 is to happen after it ? It is m^oft certain, that a 
 Man who is neither afraid of going hence, or of 
 
 the 
 
Lctt.CXLV. 7ï.^ Jewish Spy. 197 
 
 the Place to which he may go, is capable of do- 
 ing ftrange Things before he takes his Journey. 
 There are no other ways of retraining People, 
 but by Religion or the Fear of Death. Now when 
 both thefe Cords are broke in any Society, what 
 Diforders may there not be expeéled r A Man 
 who has committed the greateft Crimes which can 
 be imagined, may make a Jeft of all legal Punifh- 
 ments however fevere, if he only ufes fo much 
 Precaution, as to provide himfelf with the Means 
 of putting an end to his Life as foon as appre- 
 hended. Murders, Robberies, AlTaiiinations muft 
 be frequent. Kings themfelves are not fafe on 
 their Thrones. It is the Nature of thofe Tor- 
 ments to which {-jch as attempt on the Perfons of 
 Princes are referved, that deters Paricides and 
 Traytors from, fuch Aclis much more than the 
 Thoughts of dying. The lad Words of Clj?nent 
 the Monk who afla/Tinated Hemy III, are clear 
 Proofs of this. / biefs God^ cry'd that Monfter, 
 while the Soldiers ftabb'd him, that I die fo eafdy^\ 
 for I did not hope fo quick a Paffage out of this Life, 
 or to efcape at fuch a Rote, 
 
 It muft be confefTed, dear //^^r, that there can be 
 nothing more dangerous to a State, than to have in 
 it a Set of People not to be reftrained by any Fear 
 of Punifhment. For one whom a Senfe oï Ho- 
 nour and Probity keeps within the Bounds of Ju- 
 ilice, there are a hundred reftrained by Fear, k 
 cannot be denied, that Men are more inclined to 
 Evil than to Good. All Cuftoms, all Ufages 
 which tend to weaken thefe Bands, are prejudicial 
 to Society. How much therefore ought we to ab- 
 hor a Crime which opens a Door to all forts of 
 Evils? And can it be efleemed lefs than Madnefs 
 to give this Crime the Titles of Courage and 
 Greatnefsof Soul ? 
 
 K 3 Fare- 
 
195 7*^^ Jewish Spy. Lett. CXLVL 
 
 Farewel, dear IJaac^ and mayft thou always ufe 
 
 thy Reafon in thy Adverfity. 
 
 LETTER CLXVL 
 
 Aaron Monceca, to Isaac On is, 
 Caraite, heretofore a Rabbi at Conflan- 
 tinople. 
 
 |T feenie to me, dear Ifaac^ that the tragick 
 -^ Poets among the French are as much fuperior 
 to the Englijh^ as the Philofophers of the former 
 Nation are inferior to thofe of the latter. I find 
 ss great a DifFerence between Shake/pear and Co7'- 
 neille^ Addîfon and Racine^ as between Defcartes 
 and Nezvtcn^ Locke and Malkbranche. It is not 
 that the Poets of this Country want Fire, or a 
 lively Imagination ; on the contrary, they have a 
 great deal of Spirit and Force. But the mifchief 
 of it i?5 that Vv'hen they have raifed themfelves up 
 to Heaven, they are immediately dazzled with 
 their own Height, fmk all on a fudden as fwiftly 
 2S they rofe, and fully by their Fall tlie Honours 
 they have acquired. As they have not the leaft 
 Knowledge of the Rules, or if they afFe6l to de- 
 fpife thern, we need not be furprized that they are 
 unable to condudt in a proper Manner that Strength 
 of Fancy v/hich they derive from Nature. 
 
 Whatever Fecundity of Invention ! Whatever 
 Sprightlinefs of Wit ! Whatever Boldnefs of Senti- 
 ment there may be ! yet Regularity is wantipg 
 
 in 
 
Lett. CXLIV. T?^^ Jewish Spv. 199 
 
 in all Arts. The meaneft Archite£l: who follows 
 the Rules of FcAladio^ will fucceed much better 
 than a Mafon who has Genius, but who is notv/ith- 
 ftanding ignorant and rafh. The little Church of 
 St. Jufthia of Pad-.'.a^ affords the Eye more Plea- 
 fure than the Pvramids of Egypt, Monuments of 
 Grandeur indeed ! but which have a ftronger Re- 
 lifh 0Î Eajiern Barbarifm than of the Graces of the 
 Greeks and Romans. 
 
 . Such is the -State, dear Ifaac^ of the EngUJ}) 
 Theatre. I have feen there a great deal of Genius, 
 and yet very îzsfj good Pieces : They play every 
 Day at Z:;7£u' a kind of horrible Farce^^ to which 
 without Hefitation they give the pompous Names of 
 Tragedies. I have {zzxi in a very fine EngUJh 
 Play, three Witches introduced in theoddeft Man- 
 ner imaginable, and pretending to boil Herbs to- 
 gether in a Caldron. I have fometi mes ît^n the 
 Stage in the Light of a Church-yard, and Grave- 
 Diggers diverting themfelves with toHing Skulls 
 of dead Perfons about ; nay, and which is ten times 
 worfe, I have feen this applauded. 
 
 DrydcU^ ar.d above all Addifoj^^ hath taken pains 
 to teach this barbarous Meipwiene a little Man- 
 ners. But in fpite of all their Care, their Tra- 
 gedy has ftill too much of a favage Appearance, 
 It feems they are not able to attain that modeft 
 and majeftic Air which heretofore diftinguifhed 
 the- Greeks^ as it nov/ does the French Poets. 
 Figure to your felf, dear Ijaa<^ the ftrange Al- 
 . teration made when Voltaire's Tragedy of Zara 
 came to be play'd on tnQ Engr-jh Stage ; they were 
 forced to make that young Princefs tear off her 
 Hair by Handfuls, and roul herfelf on the Stage us 
 if fhe had been in Fits. One would think, that 
 an Author had little Obligation to a Tranflator 
 for fuch extravagant Additions. The- Englijh Poet, 
 K 4 how- 
 
200 Tbe Jewish Spy. Lett. CXLVL 
 
 however, was forced to accommodate the Piece 
 to the Genius of his Nation ; that is, to make it 
 fucceed he made it ridiculous. In fhort, to ob- 
 tain Applaufe at Londo?!^ it is abfolutely necefTary 
 to exhibit beautiful Mpnfters. If you keep too 
 rear Truth, it will never do. 
 
 Yet this does not arife from a want of Liking 
 to natural Defcriptions, there are in Shake/pear 
 iiumberlefs Paflages extremely juft, and every way 
 perfeiSt. But what then ? If thefe continue any 
 time, the Audience grow fick of them, and their 
 Attention muit be awakened by fomething won- 
 derful and out of the common Road. 
 
 Within thefe few Years, the Englijh have had 
 Poets who have written very regular Pieces, but 
 they have not fucceeded, becaufe the Audience 
 thought them languifhing and cold ; in truth, I do 
 not think they did them wrong ; they were fo in 
 Facl, and one would be apt to think on feeing 
 thefe modern Tragedies, that the Englijh Poets had 
 a Faculty of {training their Subje£ls, fallying be^ 
 yond Truth and Nature to {hew the Force of their 
 Genius, and to be under a Neceffity of mingling 
 in their befl Pieces the greate{l Beauties, and the 
 greatefl Faults. It feems^ 'fays a modern Author*, 
 that the Engli{h Genius hitherto hath produced only 
 irregidar Beauties. ShakefpearV fiining Monjiers 
 are a thoiifand times more pleafing than the Wifdom 
 of modern Poets. In Jhort, the Engli{h Poetry re- 
 Jhnbles a luxuriant Tree., which in its natural State 
 throws out a multitude of Branches^ and gives un- 
 equal Marks of a prodigious Force^ and yet dies if 
 you attempt to put a Force upon Nature^ and to 
 bring it into the Mode of the Garden at Marli. 
 
 How far off foever the Englifi Poets may be 
 from the Perfedion and Merit, which mufl be al- 
 
 * Voltaire^ Lettres Philofophi^uesj Let^ xviii. p. 162. 
 
 Lowed 
 
Lett. CXLVI. 77:?^ Jewish Spy. 201 
 
 lowed to thofe who have cultivated the French 
 Tragedy j it is not however impoflible, that fome 
 time or other they {hould reach, nay go beyond 
 them. That time will come, nay, I am per- 
 fuaded it is near at hand, v.'hen the Englijh (hall 
 corre6t all their Errors. Their Genius ftill 
 remains, they begin by degrees to accuflom 
 themfelves to the Rules, and they will in time 
 arrive at Perfedion in an Art which hitherto 
 they have not underflood. In procefs of time they 
 will join the Wifdom, Majefty, Purity, and De- 
 cency of the French T'heatre, to the Strength, the 
 Sublimity, and the pathetick Energy of the Englifh 
 Tragedy, with an Exclufion ofv/hatfoever is mon- 
 flrous, mean, or ridiculous. The Poets of this 
 Country have a great Advantage over others by 
 their introducing To orach Action in their Plays ; 
 ' many even of the belt French Pieces are in Truth 
 but Ccnverfations in five Acts, which we read 
 with greater Pleaiure than Vv-is fee, bccaufe the 
 A£tion langu'ifhes for want i}i a proper Variety of 
 Incidents. 
 
 The Theatres of Pi^rr J and Lmehii (ccm to ,me 
 perfect Repreientationsof the Characters of the two 
 Nations. At Paris they fpe.ik, -at Lcnckn they 
 act. It is not tlierefore at all wonderful, that the 
 French (hould fpeak better than the EngUjh^ becaufe 
 every IVlan is iMaiter of his own Trade. For this 
 vcr)' Reafon. the amorous Intrigues in the French 
 Pieces are better wrought and conducted than in 
 the Erglijh. We may venture after the fame man- 
 ner to détermine on the Merit of the tv/o Theatres. 
 The Chara6ler of ti:e French is Tendernefs, Love 
 is their prevailing PafTion, it is their principal Oc- 
 cupation, and Gallantry is the Soul of the Court. 
 The Language of the Heart is naturally that of the 
 Ladies, and thu' they will now and then con - 
 K ■:, traduit 
 
^.o^ T/jd' Jewish Spy. Lett.CXLVI. 
 
 tradi6l it a little in their Behaviour, yet there is 
 not one of them who will yield in the Dignity of 
 her ExprefTion to the Heroine of a Romance. It is 
 a common Thing at Paris, to meet with a female 
 Platon ick, who reafons with the greateft Delicacy 
 en the Inconuftency between the Com.munications 
 pf Senfe and AfFedions in Perfons of diflinguifhed 
 Birth ; affirming that Love is confined only to the 
 Heart, and to the Thoughts j and yet makes her 
 Appointments every Night. 
 
 In Frafice the Men fpealç and a6i: in the fame 
 Manner with the Fair Sex : They declaim againft 
 Infidelity : They fometimes afi^e6l to contemn a 
 Vv oman who has tript. In fl^.ort, there are certain 
 Moments when you would take a French Petit- 
 Ala itj-e ioï x.htOngm2i\Vi'htViQQ d^'RomTiriCQCh-Md^^QX 
 had been drawn. But if you watch his Motions, 
 or connder his Conduct but for four and twenty 
 Hours, you fhall be able to deteâ: him in twenty 
 Breaches of his Syftemof amorous Morality. 
 
 It is natural, dear Ifaac^ in a Country where the 
 Language, the Arts, the Tricks and Cheats of 
 Love are lb well underftood, that they fhould be 
 ^\(o v7clKexprefied, A Painter who works after 
 excellent Pvlodels, and v/ho has Nature always 
 "before his Eyes, will fhew more Spirit, and add 
 more Graces to his Figures than he who paints from 
 Idea, and the fole Strength of Imagination. Ra- 
 cine felt that Love which he Ça w^ell exprefies in his 
 Verfes. He faid in Prcfe to Chanmcjc *, all that as 
 a Poet he fays to his Heroines. We owe to his* 
 Conftitution'and the Tafle of his Naticn a great 
 Part of ii]ofe Beauties- whicli we admire in his 
 Works. If he had been an Englijhman he would 
 •without doubt have v/anted this Advantage. He 
 
 * A (ekhratid Aftrefs, ^jiUh ^^hom Kacinc nvas ia 
 
 Hîlîft, 
 
Lett. CXL VI. The J e w i s h S p v. '203; 
 
 muft, in order to have pleafedjhave fought fome other 
 Method of movnig the Spectators than by tender 
 Scenes, or he would have run the rifque of failing, 
 or falling into the Error of Addifon at leaft. The 
 Cato of that Author is a moft perfect Piece if we 
 take away a cold Love-Scene, which fervesonly to 
 hinder the Attention due to the reft of the Play. 
 If Corneille had been an ErgUJh Writer, he would 
 havelofi: much lefs than Racine ; becaufe he had all 
 the Talents neceflary to fucceed on an Englijh 
 Theatre. The laft Act of his Rkodcgune is a 
 ÎNInfter-piece which ought to be admired every 
 where, but feems particularly calculated for 
 London, 
 
 The Englljh Poets have Strokes as beautiful and 
 as fublime as any in Corneille^ but then they are 
 not fo equal ; if that Author falls, it is neither fo 
 frequent, nor fo perceptibiC j the French Poet may 
 be indeed low in fome Places, but the Englifb are 
 very often ridicubus. One is furprized at Paris to 
 fee fo great a Genius as Corneille making Ufe even 
 in his heft Pieces of lov7 Expreillons, and we are 
 apt to cenfure pretty freelv fuch Thougiits of his 
 as appear to be -below the Dignity of Englijh 
 Tragedy. How often have the following Lines in 
 his NicGinedes been burlefqueJ t 
 
 Aîcida?nc^ encore un ccup^ cet Homme e/f — // a 'vous i 
 Et^ pour v/jus divertir^ eft il fi ncccjfiaire^ 
 ê(U2 VOUS ne lui pnijjies ordonner de fe taire? 
 
 Bjt what would our Parifians^ who are fo nice as 
 to Style, fay if they v/ere to fee the Julius Cafar of 
 ^/;i?^cy^^^r reprefv^nted on their Sta^e, in whiclvrhcre 
 is a Scene v/here the Coblcr,-:: and Taylors convcrib 
 with Brutus and Cajfius P 
 
 The 
 
204 7/?^ Jewish Spy. Lett. CXLVII 
 
 The fame Reafon which incline People at Paris 
 to pafs by the Faults of the great Corneille^ ferve at 
 London to excufe thofe of Shake/pear^ and other 
 tragick Poets ; their ravifhing and fublime Beauties 
 ftrike us fo much, that for the Sake of them we 
 pafs by their Faults. It is true the Englijh Authors 
 feem to ftand in need of more Indulgence than the 
 French ; but as the Tafte of that Nation is not 
 entirely formed, many Things are as yet allpwed, 
 which will not pafs in Times to come. 
 
 Love is in PofTeflion of the Theatre at London^ as 
 well as Paris^ and there are few modern Pieces in 
 which it has not a large Share. But as I have al- 
 ready told you, dear Ifaac^ the EîiglîJJj Poets have not 
 fo well fucceeded in defcribing the Motions of that 
 Paillon, as in painting thofe of Greatnefs of Soul, 
 Valour, and of publick Spirit. The CharatSler of 
 Cato in AddiforH Tragedy is perhaps the moft 
 beautiful that ever appeared on the Theatre : that 
 of Pc?npey in China ; that of B'urrhus in Britanni- 
 cus ; nay, even that of JoaJJy in Athaliah is not fo 
 ihining. Yet each of thefe Tragedies is more per- 
 feâ: than that of the Erigl'ijh Author; becaufe he 
 had. the Wcaknefs to pleaie the Women, who de- 
 cide ail Things as well at London^ as at Paris^ to 
 introduce~tender Speeches, tho' he was unacquainted 
 wiih the Language of Love. This has cccafioned 
 his enervating the fierceft Tragedy that perhaps ever 
 appeared on any Stage. 
 
 V/hen the Science of Sophocles and oï Euripides 
 com.es to be thoroughly underftcod in Eugland^ it 
 will be much more difrxuft for their Poets than for 
 the French^ to produce any thing that is excellent, 
 and capable of fatisfying the Tafte of the Nation. 
 They will then be obliged to have Complacency 
 enough to treat of certain Subjc^Sb, and to fpeak of 
 fomc Matters where their Wit will not (hine, as in 
 
 other 
 
Lett. CXLVII. 77v Jewish Spy. 205^ 
 
 other Things, when the Spedator has been 
 moved by feme impetuous Speeches j when he has 
 felt the Force of poetick Terror, and has been 
 ravifhed by Strokes truly divine, he muft ftill be. 
 foftned by the Complaints of an unfortunate Love, 
 in order to fatisfy the Ladies, and tlie young People,- 
 It will be more difficult to touch this Jall PaiHon: 
 than any of the reft, and there will feldom appear 
 a Genius capable of doing it. 
 
 It feems that the reigning Philofophy, and the 
 favourite Syftem of Politicks, maintains in England 
 the fame Authority on the Stage as in ether Places. 
 Their Poets are much more Citizens of their own 
 Country, than of Parnajfus^ and it is eafy to dif- 
 cover the Party they embrace in all their Pieces. 
 
 Farewel, dear Ifcac^ live happy and content, 
 London» 
 
 
 L E T T E P. CXLVIL 
 
 Aaron MoNCECA, folzAAc Onis, 
 Caraite, heretofore a Rabbi at Gon- 
 itantinople. 
 
 '\^ E fee no fuch Thing, dear Ifaac^ in this 
 ^ ^ Country, a-s People's difappearing nobody 
 knov^^s how ; and being carrieJ from their Families, 
 by a ivlinifter's Order, are fuffered to figh out the 
 Remainder of their Days, under the Weight of 
 Arbitrary Pov/er, in Prifons where no Mortal can 
 find them. A Tradefman of Lo?idon has no Ap- 
 prehenfion of being condemned without a Hearing; 
 
 they 
 
2o6 77?^ Jewish Spy. Lett. CXLVII. 
 
 they cannot keep a Man here, even in the Tower, 
 without due Ccurfe cf Law. A Lcttre-de-cachct * 
 is here an unintelh'gible Term. Happy Country, 
 wherein Fear belongs only to the Guilty f 
 . A private Man in this Kingdom is in no fort of 
 Fear of being falfely accufed by any wicked Rafcal, 
 kidnap'd thereupon from his Houfe, and not allowed 
 a Hearing 'till after a long Confinement. The 
 Prejudices, nay even the Hatred of the Great, 
 and of the Priefts are harmlefs here. As long as a 
 Man is honeft, and does nothing to the Prejudice of 
 Society, he is under the Protection of the Laws, 
 and 'till he violates them, he needs be in no Pain. 
 An Engljfhman need^f not in the Evening run over 
 ■ in his Mind whatever pafied in the Day's Converfa- 
 tion, from a dread of being ham per 'd two or 
 three Years after, for aii unguarded Expreffion. 
 He adis and fpeaks freely, and may, in cafe he fays 
 nothing injurious to the Laws, give his Opinion 
 freely on any Sjbje£l. If a Miniiter does any' 
 thing amifs, he. condemns it roundly. Inafmuch 
 as he is a Member of Society, the Law prefames 
 him honeft, permits that he fpeak his Sentiments to 
 his Friends, and fecures him from falling into the 
 Hands of a lav/lefs Statefman, whofe Power fancli- 
 fies his Errors, and ftamps Authority on his wrong 
 Steps. 
 
 They commend, dear Monceca^ in this Country, 
 the Great, if they have Merit. By the fame 
 Rule they blame them if thev have none, or if 
 their good Qualities are exceeded by their bad ones. 
 If Cardinal /}V:^*7 was Prim^ IMinifter in Evglandy 
 the People of L:ndm would do him Juftice, they 
 
 * A Lettre de Cachet is a Mandate, by which a Per- 
 fon is baniilied, or committed to Prifon by the Royal 
 Authority, not unlike our Warrants frcm a Secretiry 
 of State. 
 
 would 
 
Lett. CXLVII. The Jewish Spy. 207 
 
 would unanimoufly commend his Abilities, his 
 Prudence, his Integrity, his Dilmtereflednefs, his 
 Love for Peace, and his Regard for his Mafter's 
 Glory. But if inftead of this truly-illuftrious 
 Minifter, they had Cardinal Z)z/ Bois -at the Head 
 of their Affairs, they would without Scruple expofe 
 his Condu(ft, nor iliew him a Grain the greater 
 P.efpeét on account of his Purple. In the midil of 
 all his Greatnefs, he difcovered the Vices of a 
 pedantic Life, and very ill became the Rank to 
 which- he was raifed j as much above his Klerit as 
 his Birth. Whatever Liberty they might think 
 fit to take with fuch a Minifter, they would have 
 been fo far from fearing its cofting them their 
 Lives, that they would not have expeéfcd fo 
 much as a fhort Exile. At Paris, however, they 
 would have had more Tendernefs for a Man wiio 
 bad violated all the Laws, than one who had fpoken 
 freely of the notorious Vices of that Prieft -, whom, 
 at this day, all the World condemns. The Great 
 and the Mob agree in detefting his ill Qualities. 
 They cannot help admiring how he came to ar- 
 rive at the Helm. Yet could he revive, and be 
 again pofteffed of Power, moil of thofc who nov7 
 cenfure him fo freely, would run as fervilely as ever 
 to offer him Incenfe ; the Terror of a Lettre de 
 Cachet for a rafh Exprefiion, would keep them in a 
 fhameful Slavery, exceiîively detrim.ental to the 
 Publick, and to the Prince, who can never be in- 
 formed of the Faults of his Minifters, if the People 
 are debarred the Freedom of Speech, and the Right 
 of carrying their Complaints to the Foot of the 
 Throne. 
 
 It is beyond all Queftion as much the Interefts 
 of Sovereigns, as of their Subjects, not to allow 
 their Miniftexs too extenfive a Power, or not to 
 inquire into their Condud. Becaufe it comes fre- 
 quently 
 
2o8 77><? Jewish Spy. Lett. CXLVII. 
 
 quently to pafs, that they themfelves fuffer for the 
 Blunders of thofe they trufh How happy vvculd 
 it have been for Henry ILL (of France) if any 
 Courtier of his had been fincere enough to have 
 fhewn him the Danger into which he ran headlong, 
 by his blind Attachment, his wrong-placed Affec- 
 tion, and his unworthy Tendernefs for his Minions ? 
 But fuch is the Fate of Princes ! they need Counfel 
 more than other Men, yet nobody dares give it 
 them. An unluckv Experience hath confirmed 
 moft People's Opinion, that the Lot of fuch as 
 venture to difabufe Kings, is vtxy unfortunate. 
 If atfird fuch an Information is favourably received 
 from a faithful Subject:, yet it often happens the 
 Minifter. finds a Way to juftify him.feif, and his 
 Juftification induces of courfe the other's Defiruc- 
 tlon. Sometimes again the Miniller hath no need 
 of Excufes, his Mal'ter's Confidence is an impregna- 
 ble Intrenchm.ent ; which, whoever attemps to 
 force, is fure to perifh. Heroes 'and great Princes 
 are liable to Prejudices, as well as ether Men. It 
 h"as fo happen'd, that great Mcnarchs have fancied 
 their Glory fome way interefled in fupporting thofe 
 they had made choice of, tho' they knew they were 
 unfit for the Pofls they filled ; of which Chamillard- 
 and others are recent Examples'. 
 
 Since then it is ïo dangerous, that it can fcarce be- 
 expecled a private Perfon about a Court fhould 
 venture to tell important Truths to a Sovcreigji, 
 true Policy requires that the People {l^.ould be per- 
 mitted to bring their Complaints, v/hatever they 
 sre, againft Miniders, direc'ily to the Throne. 
 Otherwife all Minifters m.uft pals for infallible with- 
 their Makers; fince their Faults could neither be 
 "difclofed by particular Perfons, nor the People in a 
 Body. It is therefore impofiible to- remove tlfis 
 Mifchiefj fo dcitructive to King and People, but by 
 
 allowing 
 
Lett.CXLVII. TXf Jewish Spy. 209 
 
 allowing the World to fpeak freely of the Virtues 
 and Vices of great A4en, and abfolutely fuppreffing 
 v/hat the French call Lett 7' es de Cachet y whereby a 
 Minifter hath any Man at his Mercy with whom 
 he is ofFended -, and this whether he has done any 
 thing amifs or not. 
 
 In this Point, Aç.2,x Ifaac^ the EngUjl) are per- 
 fecflly right. There is no Juilice done if any Man 
 is brought to Punifhment otherwife than by open 
 Trial, and according to the known Laws of the 
 State. When once (under whatever Pretence) we 
 vary from this plain Rule, we leave ourfelves none ; 
 and it cannot but happen, that the Innocent wnll 
 frequently fufFer either thro' the Calumnies of their 
 private Enemies, or the Refentments of the Great. 
 Behold an Inftance asconclufive as extraordinary ! 
 
 In 1723 Father Fouquct, a Jefuit, returned into 
 France J from China, where he had refided twenty- 
 five Years, and was fo unlucky as to have fome 
 Difputes with his Brethren of a religious Nature. 
 He had taught fome Chinefe Do6trines not altoge- 
 ther confiftent with the Rules of the Society, of 
 which Memorials were carefully tranfmitted into 
 Europe, -Two Perfons of Learning, who were 
 Natives of China *, came over with him. The 
 one died on board the Ship, the other, who came 
 fafe to Paris, was to go to Rome^ in order to give 
 Evidence in relation to the Conduct of the Fathers 
 'in that Part of the World, from which he came. 
 Father Fouquet, and his Companion, lodged in the 
 Street of St. Anthony^ and as fecret as they kept their 
 Intentions, the Jefuits gueiTed at them, refolved to 
 traverfe them, and to be revenged. Father Fouquet, 
 on his fide, penetrated their Defign, and v/ithout. 
 lofmg a Moment's Time, took Poft one Night for 
 
 * A Man of Letters amongft the Chine/?, is a Per- 
 fon devoted to Study, as other Men to Trades. 
 
2IO 7:?v Jewish Spy. Lett. CXLVII. 
 
 Ro777e^ together with his Chinefe Man of Letters. 
 They followed with the utmolt Expedition, and 
 came up unfortunately with the latter. As the 
 unlucky Stranger fpoke not a Word q>î French^ the 
 Fathers applied themfelves to Cardinal Du Bcis, to 
 whom at that Time they were neeefTary, and in- 
 forming him that they had a young Man amongft 
 them who was become crazy, defired Leave to 
 fhut him up. The Cardinal on this flight Informa- 
 tion, granted on the Spot what he was always too 
 liberal in granting, a Lettre de Cachet, The 
 Lieutenant de Police, who was charged with the 
 Execution of this Order, when ha came to feize 
 the Lunatick, found a young Man, who compli- 
 mented him in the Chinefe Way, who feemed to 
 fing rather than fpeak, and look'd as in amaze. 
 He exprefled his Concern at his Condition, but 
 fent him however to Charent072, where he was 
 regularly whipped twice a Day, as the Abbe des 
 Fontaines was fmce at Biffètre"^, The poor C^/- 
 nefe^ underftanding nothing of the Matter, took 
 all this for the Cuifom of France \ .and tho' he had 
 been but two Days at Paris,, was heartily fick of 
 their Behaviour. In this Manner he paiTed three 
 Years on Bread and Water amongft the Reverend 
 Father F/cggers, and the poor diftraded Creatures 
 v.'ho were fiogged,, without ever comprehending 
 there v^^ere any third Sort of People in France,, but 
 fuppofing it the fole Employment of one Part of the 
 Nation, to make the other dance to the Whip. 
 At the end of that Space of Time there happened a 
 Change in the Miniftry, and a new Lieutenant de 
 Police^ v/as appointed. ' He began his Office with a 
 Review of the Prifons belonging thereto, and 
 vifited that of the mad Folks at Charenton amongft 
 
 * This Anecdote i> cleared up in the nrH Part of cecret 
 Memoir i of the RfPrwlick of Letters. 
 
 the 
 
Lett.CXLVIL T/^^? Jewish Spy. 2ii 
 
 the reft. After he had examined all who v/ere pro- 
 duced, he afked if there were nojie yet to fee ? 
 They anfwered but one, and that he was a poor 
 Creature v/ho fpoke a Language nobody underftood. 
 A reverend Jefuit who accompanied this Magiftrate, 
 affured him it was a kind of Madnefs peculiar to 
 this Man not to anfwer in French^ and advifed 
 him not to call for liini, becaufe it v/ould be to no 
 purpofe. The Lieutenant did not reliih tnis Ad- 
 vice, and fo the young Man was brought out. He 
 prefently fell on his Knees to that Magiftrate, who 
 caufed feveral Perfons to fpeak to him in Spanijh^ 
 Italian, Latin, Greek, and EngUjh in vain, he only 
 repeated the fam^e Word, Kanton, Kanton. The 
 Father pioufly affirmed he was poftefTed ; but the 
 Lieutenant recolleâiing there was fuch a Place in 
 China, fent for an Interpreter, who underftood 
 Chinefe, and then the Story came out. The Ma- 
 giftrate knew not what to do, and for once a Jefuit 
 knew not what to fay. The Duke of Bourbon^ 
 who was then at the Head of Affairs, being ac- 
 quainted with the Thing, took care to have the 
 Chinefe cloathed and provided for, 'till an Oppor- 
 tunity offered of fending him home to China ; 
 whence, it is generally thought, few Men of 
 Letters will for the future venture in the Cornpany 
 of Jefuits to make the Tour of Rome. 
 
 See, dear Ifaac, how terribly thefe Lettres de 
 Cachet may be abufed ! How many Wretches may 
 yet labour under this Tyranny, fo inconfiftent with 
 a'il the Rules of Juftice and Equity ? If a Prelate finds 
 himfelf at a lofs how to deal with one of his Clergy, 
 he has nothing more to do than inform againft hitn 
 as a Janfenift ; a Lettre de Cachet comes inftantly 
 forth, and he is difpofed of for ever. A Man fo 
 exiled is fo far from having it in his power to do 
 himfelf Juftice, by explainmg his Conduâ:,~ that 
 
 generally 
 
212 7ï^ Jewish Spy. Lett.CXLVlL 
 
 generally fpeaking he is prohibited all Correfpon- 
 dence, and fent to refide in the midft of his Ene- 
 mies J who fet their Wits to work, by well-invented 
 Stories, ta- keep up, and even to augment the Pre- 
 judice taken againil an innocent Perfon. How 
 many People v/ithin this laft Age have been ar- 
 refted, and lain long in loathfome Prifons, on ill- 
 grounded Sufpicions, and falfe Accufations ? What 
 dreadful Abufes have there been qï Lettres de Cachet? 
 And how many flill fubfift ? To fuch a Height 
 at length this Evil came, that private People coun- 
 terfeited thefe Letters, and a Crin-^inal was hanged 
 with this Infcription in large Charad^ers on his 
 Breail, A. Forger of Lettres de^ Ca- 
 chet. ~ 
 
 It is in vain, my Friend, that in order tojuftify 
 this Practice of punifhing without Trial, the ab- 
 folute Power of Princes, and the Neceiîity of fe- 
 curing fome Sort of People is alledged. Both thefe 
 Objeélions are trivial. Princes ought for their own 
 Interefls to accuftom the People to fee all Things 
 done according to Law. Befides, if they are 
 Lords, they are, at leaft they ought to be. Fathers 
 alfo to their Subjeâ-s ; and Equity in this Gafe 
 forbids that they fhould fuffer the "Weaker to be 
 the Victim.s of the more Powerful ; or that any one 
 Man fhould have fuch Authority as to injure others 
 with Lmpunity. 
 
 If there could be any Security had, that fucceed- 
 ing Miniflers in France w^o'M refemble the prefent, 
 the Prince might, without fear, intruft them with 
 the Management of his Power v/ithout Referve. 
 He might be affured that it would be exercifed fo as 
 to make the People happy ; and they on the other 
 hand would be fo far from fearing any digreffions 
 from the ordinary Rules of Juflice, that they would 
 apprehend Lettres de Cachet Ads of Lenity, ferving 
 
 to 
 
Lett. CXLVII. The Jewish Spy. 213 
 
 to withdraw People from the too great Severities of the 
 Law. But for one Cardinal Fleury^ there are thirty- 
 Cardinals Du Bois. Is it then at all jufl that the Peo- 
 ple {hould be expofed to the Caprice of a Man, 
 who abufes the Power of his Sovereign 5 or that 
 the Lives and Liberties of Subjeds fhould depend 
 on the Credit their Enemies have with a Prime 
 Minifter ? 
 
 The principal Care of Kings ought to be render- 
 ing their Subje6ls exa£l Juftice -, and thereby pre- 
 venting the Small from {landing in fear of the 
 Great. It is therefore abfolutely neceiTary, that 
 every Man (hould have an Opportunity of defend- 
 ing himfelf in a legal Way, before he is condemned; 
 and that Judgment fhould be pronounced by Per- 
 fons abfolutely impartial and unbiased. Obferve 
 one thing, my Friend, thaf the A4inifter is com- 
 monly, if not always, an Adverfary to thofe who 
 fuffer by thefe Lettres de Cavhet : Does not Equity 
 then require that there fhould be fome Judge be- 
 tween a private Perfon, and his avow'd Adverfary ? 
 What would be faid of a Court of Juftice, where, 
 on the Attorney General's winding up his Harangue 
 againfl the Criminals, they were hanged up with- 
 out more ado ? Would not all the \Vorid blame 
 fuch a fhameful Dependancy on the Opinion of 
 one Man ? And what in this Capacity of granting 
 Warrants is a Minifler more than a Peace-Officer ? 
 It is true, thofe who offend againft the Laws ought 
 to be punifhed ; but then they ought alfo to be 
 punifhed according as the Law direvfis. 
 
 The fatal Effeéfs which follow wherever there 
 are evil Minifters, the Bloodihed and Murders- 
 they occafion, the Profcriptions v/hich they are 
 but too ready to attempt on very flight Provocations, 
 are but too flrong Motives to induce Sovereigns to 
 ad cautioufly in the Powers they indulge them, 
 
 and 
 
214 The]Ewisu Spy. Lett. CXLVIL 
 
 and not to fufFer them to aèl but according to 
 the Rules which Juftice prefcribes. It is not eafy 
 to fay whether Princes or private Men are moft 
 concerned to fee Jullice adminiflred fteadily, ac- 
 cording to the eflablifhed Rules, and with the ut- 
 moft Solemnity. If the People have juft Caufe to 
 tremble at the defpotic Power of abfolute Mini- 
 fters, their Maflers have no lefs Cauie to be a- 
 larmed if they confider their defperate Effects. If 
 they could but know fometimes how much they 
 ftand indebted to fuch as oppofe their Minifters, 
 and thofe whom they intruft with their Affairs, 
 far from allowing them to be opprefTed, they would 
 hear and make ufe of their Counfeh. 
 
 As to the reft, dear Ifaacy I am fenfible enough, 
 that let a Minifter be ever fo able, there will be 
 uneafy and malicious Men, who will oppofe, thwart, 
 and mifreprefent his A6fions, however wife, how- 
 ever ufeful. It is not fuch fort of Folks I would 
 have Kings regard, who are in truth but bad Sub- 
 jeâs, as well as indifferent Men. When I fpeak 
 of Princes liflnlng to private Informations, I fijp- 
 pofe them always to come from Perfons of known 
 Probity, and remarkably well afFe£led. It would 
 be ridiculous indeed to expect a Monarch fhouid 
 liften to the Clamour of a few feditious People, 
 That would be an Evil not much inferior to . the 
 former, fmce it is certain the greateft and the 
 beft cannot vanquifh Envy. 
 
 Cardinal F/eury in all Probability will one Day 
 be more refpeûed by Pofterity, than Cardinal 
 Richelieu ; at leaft, I am perfuaded that all Phi- 
 lofophick Judges of Mankind will prefer him to 
 ail the Miniffers that have been in France, But 
 this however does not hinder fome from being blind 
 enough, or Knaves enough not to acknowledge 
 his Virtues, 
 
Lett.CXLVII. The ]Ewisn Spy. 215 
 
 Sir Rokrt IValpole, who is the Minifter here, 
 is a Man of a vaft penetrating and fublime Genius, 
 and is no lefs follicitous for the Good of his Coun- 
 try, than attentive to whatever concerns the Glo- 
 ry of his Mafter. He fupports with wonderful 
 Capacity and confummate Prudence the whole 
 Weight of publick Affairs. He has carried Com- 
 merce and Credit to the higheft Pitch. However, 
 Multitudes declaim againft him. He has indeed 
 more Enemies than the /r^W/6 Mi nifler. In fpite 
 however of their impotent Clamour, not only the 
 moft reafonable People among the EngUfn^ but all 
 Europe in general do Juflice to his Capacity, and 
 applaud his Merit. It is very pofnble his Enemies 
 would be more moderate if his Qualifications were 
 lefs confpi<;uous. I am thinking, Ifaac^ while I 
 write, that if by any Accident this Letter had 
 fallen into the Hands of an Englijh Malecontent, 
 he would not fail to afTur^ you thefe Praifes were 
 beflowed for certain Reafons which he would have 
 the Charity to guefs at. Nor would he ever ad- 
 mit, that I, tho' a Jew, a Stranger in England^ 
 and unknown at Court, would commend a Perfon 
 merely becaufe T thought him commendable. 
 
 Fare thee well, dear Ifaac^ live happy and con- 
 tent, and may the God of our Fathers cover the« 
 witli Profperities, 
 London, 
 
 0®ffiv3 
 OS 
 
 LET- 
 
224 The Jewish Spy. Lett. CXLVIII. 
 
 LETTER CXLVIIL 
 
 Jacob Brito, to AaroxM PvIonceca. 
 
 B 
 
 A D Weather and contrary Winds, dear Mon- 
 ceca^ have hindred my embarking. I wait 
 with great Impatience the happy Moment when 
 I fhall quit this Country. In fpite of my Dif- 
 guife, notwithftanding all the Precautions I take, 
 I am under mortal Inquietudes, I am terrified 
 when I confider the Avarice of the Monks, and 
 I perfedlly tremble, when I call to mind their 
 exceffive Power in this Place. Yet exceffive as it 
 is, it is much lefs fo than ever it was in times 
 paft ; judge then to what a Length it was once 
 carried, and with what Infolence and Tyranny 
 they abufed it. 
 
 There has happened here within thefe few Days 
 an Adventure very mortifying for the Priefls. The 
 Goaler and his Archers who have the Cuftody of 
 the Prifon of the Officiality, committed all forts of 
 Crimes. They robbed, beat, abufed the Prifon- 
 ers at their pleafure, and gave ail the Liberty 
 they could defire to fom.e who had it in their 
 power to pay for it ; fo that the moft guilty were 
 favoured m>ofl:. The Corregidor or chief Magi- 
 ftrate of the City being ^jnform^ed of thefe Irre- 
 gularities, caufed the Goaler and fome of his Mir- 
 mydons to be apprehended and conducted to the 
 publick Priions. Upon this the Patriarch took 
 fire, as fuppofmg himielf bound at all Events to 
 fupport thefe Rafcals, becaufe they defended en his 
 Jurifdiction. He therefore excommunicated the 
 
 Corrc- 
 
Lett. CXLVIII. r/jé» Jewish Spy. 217 
 
 Corregidor immediately, as guilty of a great and 
 notorious Crime. That Magiftrate being extreme- 
 ly fenfible of tliis x^frront, appealed to the King, 
 informed him of the injurious Treatment he had 
 received, and met with the Redrefs he expected. 
 The King eafily apprehended that the Infult of- 
 fered to this Magiftrate reflecled on the Crown, 
 and that his Majefty's Authority was wounded 
 by this A£t of Prefumption in the Patriarch. In 
 fine, he was compelled to recall his Excomm.u- 
 nication, and even to write a very polite Epiftlc 
 to the Corregidor, befeeching him to excufe the 
 Rafhnefs he had fhewn in endeavouring to exclude 
 him from the Communion of the Faithful. 
 
 Thisjuft and commendable Aftion of the King's,, 
 vi^hich in any other Country would pafs for an 
 ordinary Occurrence, it belonging to the Royal 
 Authority to do Juftice in all Cafes to its Subjecls, 
 ■is looked on here at Lisbon as a very bold Thing, 
 -and worthy of the moft heroick Courage. The 
 French could not make more to do about the Py- 
 ramid v/hich Levjis XIV. caufed to be erected ia 
 the midft of Rcm^, than the wifeft of the Porta- 
 guefe do about this A6tion, fo glorious for the 
 King, fo equitable for the Magiftrates, and {q 
 mortifying to the Ecclefiafticks. This will how- 
 ever appear the lefs extraordinary, if you conilder 
 the Difference between the Characters of the 
 French and Portuguefe : You will then eafily ac- 
 knowledge that it was not more difficult for the 
 Monarch of France to humble the Pope, than for 
 the King of Portugal to check the Pride of the 
 Patriarch, who is revered as a kind of Divinity 
 by feven Eights of his Subjeds. 
 
 Whenever at Pans the Sovereign is inclined to 
 
 act againft the Roman Pontiff, all things favour his 
 
 Defign. The Parliament fees its mortal Enemy 
 
 Vol. IV. ' L humbled 
 
2i8 T?'^ Jewish Spy. Lett. CXL VIII. 
 
 humbled with Pleafure. Many Ecclefiafticks blefs 
 the Hand which proteds the Rights of the Gallican 
 Church. The People are thankful for the Prefer- 
 vation of their Liberties. And as for the Great, 
 thofe everlafting Slaves of the Throne, ready to 
 turn 'Turks if the King put on a Turban, they go 
 to bed Moïinijîs and rife yajifenijis^ as their Inte- 
 refts direâ: them. Their Concern for their For- 
 tunes regulates their Faith. If Circumcifion was 
 the only Road to Preferment how many Brethren, 
 dear Monceca^ fhotild we have at Court ? 
 
 People in Portugal think in quite another Way. 
 The Priefts, the Monks, and the Inquifitors are 
 all concerned in Supporting the Autharity of their 
 Chief; any Attempt on him rouzes them all. A 
 prodigious Croud of bigotted Laicks, inftead of op- 
 pofing the Invafions of the Ecclefiafticks, refpeâ- 
 fully kifs the Cords with which they are bound. 
 The People in general, grofly fuperftitious, never 
 diftinguiili between the Interefts of Priefts and that 
 of Religion. Blind alike in Judgment and in 
 Conduce-, to what Excefs may they not be car- 
 ried when influenced by the Authors of their En- 
 thufiafm ? There remains therefore to fupport the 
 King in any fuch Defign of moderating the Power 
 of the Clergy, only fuch as in fpite of national De- 
 lufion have the Courage to make ufe of their Rea- 
 fon. Amongft thefe W€ may generally reckon the 
 Men of Quahty whom a good Education and Con- 
 yerfation with the World hath qualified to fee far- 
 ther than others into the Frauds of Priefts, the 
 Avarice of Churchmen and the Difference between | 
 the Intereft of Religion and that of the Clergy. | 
 But however confiderable this Succefs may be, it 
 is not to be compared with the Facility the King 
 of France meets with in the Profecution of the like 
 Pefign. There is therefore as high a Spirit, and 
 
 as 
 
Lett. CXLVIII. TA^ Jewish Spy. 219 
 
 as great a Degree of Courage neceflary to do fmall 
 Things at Lisbon^ as to perform great and cele-- 
 bra ted Exploits at Paris. 
 
 The reigning King of Portugal has had feveral 
 Struggles with the Court of Rome, He has indeed 
 done what none of his PredecefTors durft attempt. 
 And by his Firmnefs he has always hindred them 
 from carrying their Point. Happily for himfelf 
 and his Kingdom, he is always ready to hear 
 the Advice of true Patriots, and which is more, 
 to follow when he has heard it. 
 
 The Misfortunes which Don Sebajîtan drew up- 
 on himfelf, by blindly and imprudently following 
 the Advices of Monks, ought to deter all future 
 Kings of Portugal from fuch a Proceeding. That 
 unfortunate Monarch ruined himfelf by yielding to 
 the Perfuafions of fome Jefuits he had about him, 
 who engaged him to give the Moors Battle, tho* 
 their Army was three times as ftrong as his own. 
 Thefe Priefls flattered him with the Hopes of mi- 
 raculous Affiftance. But alas this failed ! and that 
 imprudent and unhappy Prince paid with his Life 
 for his Weaknefs and Credulity ; a juft indeed, 
 out fure a fevere Chaftifement for his Facility in 
 fufFering himfelf to be direded by Monks in Things 
 fo remote from their Profeflion, as is whatever re- 
 lates to Arms. 
 
 The Fate of Don Sebajlian was h much the 
 more unhappy, fmce many have inclined to think 
 that the Jefuits gave him this Advice on purpofe 
 to deftroy him. Tho' this is a Thing by no 
 means certain, yet fome have ventured to adopt it 
 as an indubitable Truth. So7ne there are^ fays Bran- 
 tome *, who ajfure us^ that the Jefuits did and /aid 
 all with good Intention : Others again fuppofe they 
 were [educed and corrupted by the King of Spain, to 
 
 * Daf^es Galantes, Tom. 11./. 88. 
 
 L 2 pujt 
 
220 îHv Jewish Spy. Lett. CXL VIII. 
 
 pujh this iinforturMte young Prince^ too full of Cow 
 rage arid of Fire ^ on his Fate^ that the Spanifh Mo- 
 narch ?night the more eafily feize ivhat it is certain 
 he afterwards did feize. 
 
 If, dear Monceca^ you fhould inquire what my 
 Judgment is in refpect to this Difpute, I muft free- 
 ly own that it is a Doubt Vv^ith me which Opinion 
 has the greatefl: Appearance of Truth. It may 
 be alledged that this ought to be added to the long 
 Lift of imaginary Crimes which the Enemies of 
 the Jefuits have placed to their Account, as no 
 doubt that fuch a Lift there is ; But then it may be 
 on the other hand fuggefted, that it is by no means 
 improbable that the Jefuits, fo much at that time 
 devoted to the King of Spain^ fhould take this 
 Step, in order to his acquiring Dominions he had 
 already fwallowed in Imagination, fmce in that 
 cafe, they only aded in reality in Portugal, what 
 moft zeaioufly, as well as bafely, they endeavoured 
 to bring to pafs in France in the Times of the 
 League. 
 
 Don Sehaflian is not the fole Monarch v/ho has 
 fallen thro' too great confidence in Priefls. Louis 
 King of Hungary was flain in a Battle againft the 
 Turkic which Engagement was owing to the obtti- 
 nate Perfuafions of a Cardinal in whom he had too 
 great truft. A French King of the fame Name, af- 
 ter he had, at the follicitation of the Clergy, made 
 many Wars, as bloody and without ufe to his King- 
 dom, as cruel and unjuil with refpect to his unhap- 
 py Subjects, went at lad: to fall amidil the Ruins of 
 Carthage^ where periih'd with him, at leafl, one 
 half of a gallant Army, which he had tranfported 
 from Francs into Africk. 
 
 One of the greateft Mifchiefs which, in my Opi- 
 nion, dear Monceca^ can befall a Sovereign, is his 
 paying any fort of Attention to a Set of People, who, 
 
 void 
 
Lett. CXLVIII. The Jewish Spy. 22 i 
 
 void of all Knowledge in the Affairs of the World-, 
 are full of a wild as well as falfe Zeal for Religion ; 
 which induces them to approve and execute, as far 
 as they can, the moll: extravagant Defigns. A Man 
 i^'ho has Capacity enough to direct thirty De- 
 'voîees^ may and muft want the Talents neceflary to 
 govern a Kingdom. States are net regulated as 
 Convents are, nor mufl we expecft from Subjc(fts 
 what Superiors look for from their Monks. Yet 
 hov/ often have we fsen Princes fnrinking into the 
 defpicable charadler of Slaves to their Con fefTor?, 
 and learning at the feet of their Clergy what ought 
 to be the fate of their People, 'till they became thcm- 
 felvTs the mere Organs of a Monk or Pf ieft ? A- 
 mong the Proteflants, where the Clergy pretend to 
 keep to their Inuitution and to ftick to their Duty, 
 there are too many for direéling their Mafterr. 
 What amazing Alterations in the h^-d\vsoï Eng- 
 land^ nay and of the Affairs of the High Allies, were 
 produced by the political Sermons of one Sacheverel'^ 
 Elfewhere hs'/e we not Teen a certain Prescher, to- 
 lerably bright for a Norman^ giving himfcif the 
 Airs of a Statefman, r^nd treating cavalierly enough 
 the evangcl'ck Miniftry ? In a word, is it not 
 generally remarked, that every where thefe Peo- 
 ple are but too well heard ? 
 
 Happy is the Prince who knows how to make 
 a right Choice of thofe he honours with his Con- 
 fidence. It is on that Choice his Glory and his 
 Peace depend. How many Sovereigns fland di- 
 ftinguifhed to Pofterity, who were perhaps but 
 Men of moderate Parts, and would have appeared 
 (b, but for their Minifters of State. The Epi- 
 thet of Great fo liberally beftowed on Princes, 
 would in moft Cafes, if narrowly fcann'd, belong 
 rather to their Minifters. Unaffifled bv Agrippa 
 and Meccs-nosy where fliould we have placed Au^ 
 L 3 giiRuî 
 
222 7^^ Jewish Spy. Lett. CXLVIIL 
 
 gitflus ? The Hiftory of Louh XIII. what i's it 
 but the fhining Ads of Richelieu ? Louis XIV. 
 was indeed a great King ; but the CondeSy the 
 Turennes^ as well as the Louvois and Colberts^ haei 
 no fmall Share in acquiring the Glories of his Reign. 
 The Monarch now reigning in France hath a thou- 
 fand and a thoufand Virtues, worthy the Efteem 
 of remote Pcfterity. He polTefTes above all, that 
 Sweetnefs, that Benificence, that Wifdom and 
 Piety which rendered Titus the Mafter of the 
 Hearts of Mankind. Thefe Qualifications are ne- 
 ver the lefs his, on account of the Obligations he 
 owes to that wife Minifler he has chofen to di- 
 rect his Councils. If Burrhus and Seneca had not 
 been fucceeded by Narcijfus^ Nero had been always 
 vir tiicus. It was the Minions of Henry III. mif-led 
 and ruined that unhappy Prince, 
 
 In all Situations of Life, evil Counfellors and 
 wicked Acquaintance are dangerous. But they 
 are flill more fo to Princes. A private Man will 
 find a thoufand Perfons ready to open his Eyes^ 
 by reproaching him with the wrong Steps into 
 which bad Advice drew him, whereas Courtiers 
 approve and applaud whatever the Prince does, be 
 it ever fo bad ; fo that he has no Refource but to 
 the Advice of fome faithful Friend, to whom he 
 accords the Liberty of fpeaking freely. There 
 are but few Princes wife enough to a£t thus, which 
 is the Reafon why there are few Princes who 
 «fcape fuffering by a contrary Condu(5l, and which 
 is ftill worfe, all their Faults recur on a Multi- 
 tude of innocent People; who, tho' they have no 
 part in their Offences, fuffer for them *. The Er- 
 rors of princes are defperate Scourges for their 
 Subjects. The Plague is more merciful to Men 
 
 f ^idquid délirant Reges pîe^untur Achi<vi. 
 
 than 
 
Lett. CXLVIII. T/^^ Jewish Spy. 223 
 
 than the mad Ambition of Princes to their Neigh- 
 bours. Famine cannot reduce a Country (o low as 
 it may be brought by the Luxury and Vanity of 
 a Prince criminally avaricious of what is the Pro- 
 duce of his Subjects Labours and Sweat, and prodi- 
 gal at the fame time of his own Revenue to a flatter- 
 ing Courtier, or fome faithlefs Concubine. Rain, 
 Storms, and Inundations do not mifchief People 
 more than a Prince's idle Love, or the Penfions 
 paid to corrupt the Minifters of his Neighbours. 
 
 Happy are thofe Nations where Monarchs ftudy 
 to aét like tutelary Deities, by preferving Peace 
 and Abundance to their Subjedts, without expell- 
 ing they fhouU ere6l Temples in their Turns any 
 where but in their Hearts. Such were the Senti- 
 ments of thofe excellent Monarchs who feem born 
 for the Good of Mankind, and who were an. 
 ciently through Gratitude number'J v/ith the 
 Gods. Thofe Heroes, who placed all Senfe of 
 Greatnefs in the Good they did to others ; what 
 would they have thought if they had feen one King 
 ftiled Great^ for deftroying a whole People, and e- 
 ftablifh his Glory on Rapine and Murder ? Ano- 
 ther Magnificent^ for impoverifhing his Subjeci.s P 
 And a third Intrepid for his Delight in Slaughter ? 
 They would have thought no doubt fuch Titles 
 very ill beftowed. 
 
 Farewel, dear Monceca^ live content and happv, 
 and may the God of our Fathers blefs thee with 
 Abundance. 
 
 Lisbon, 
 
 "L J^ LET- 
 
224 ^>^^ Jewish Spy. Lett. CXLIX. 
 
 LETTER CXLIX. 
 
 Aaron Mon ci^ ca, fo Lsaac Onis, 
 Caraife^ formerly a Rabbi at Conflan- 
 tincple. 
 
 I Wrote you fome Days ago, my dear Ifaac^ my 
 ^ Sentiments as to the Merits of the EngUJh Tra- 
 gic Poets : I ihall now proceed to give my Judg- 
 i-nent on the Comic Writers. They feem to me 
 to exceed thofe 1 mentioned firft a good deal. I 
 v;;:nt yefcerday to a Comedy, and I was very well 
 1ati;fied with the Performance. The Charaders 
 were in Nature, the Plot v;elllaid, the Style challe, 
 i5c. and which was much more important, the 
 IVi oral was wholefome andjufi-, accompanied with 
 a ftrong, well-turned Vein of Humour. This Piece 
 fell from the Pen of Congreve^ the heft, the wifeft, 
 and the moft modeft of all the EngliJ]} Authors in 
 this way. It had been well if Wychcrley and Van- 
 hrvgh had VvTOte as perfe6tly. Their Works, to 
 fpeak the Truth, are full of bold Strokes, and 
 abound with Wit, but they too often bear hard 
 on Modefiy, and make the Stage an Engine of 
 Corruption, whereas it ought to be a School of 
 Morals. 
 
 It is without hefitation, my dear Friend, that 
 I place the be ft Pieces of Molière far above the 
 Produ6lions of ÎVycherley, Befides their furpaiTmg 
 them in Delicacy, they alfo are exadtly fuited to 
 the Decency which ought to appear in all publick 
 Specbcles, in order to free thera from any Dread 
 
 of 
 
Lett. CXLIX. r/^c' Jewish Spy. 225 
 
 of thofc too zealous Doctors ever burning with a 
 ftrong Inclination to decry them. The befl Ar- 
 o;umcnt which we can poffibly ufe in favour of the 
 Theatre, is its Ufefulnefs in cqrre6i:ing Manner?. 
 The Speclacles or publick Reprefentations of the 
 prefent Age are certainly adorned with Sentiments 
 Which render them very Inflruclive. ^ Few People 
 of Rank are very attentive at Sermons, whereas at 
 the Play-houle they mind what is faid well enough. 
 I dare fay therefore, that Molhres Comedies havç 
 done mere Service among the Courtiers, than the 
 Sermons of Bourdakuc and MaJJûUn, Without 
 teizing you with Examples, do but remember how 
 much Good v/as done by that fingle Play of Pre-> 
 cieufes ridicules. But for that excellent Comedy, 
 the French^ and their Neighbours in Imitation of 
 them, had to this day affecied IManners flifF, im- 
 pertinent, and unnatural, and had delivered them- 
 îelves up to an afreéled way of fpeaking, which 
 was the Mode for feveral Years among a Multi- 
 tude of People. If we drive from the Stage that 
 Modefty which is a neceflary part of good Man- 
 ners : if inftead of amending the Heart while v/e 
 amufe the Imagination, we do our utmoft to cor- 
 rupt both, by giving feducingpiclures of Vice, as 
 in the little Entertainments of Danuur and other 
 Pieces of the like Stamp \ whatever Genius may 
 appear in the Execution, we ought only to be re- 
 garded in the fame Light with Poiforiers, who af- 
 ford, if they can, an agreeable Flavour to make 
 their mortal Drenches go the mere eafîly down. 
 
 Wycherley feems to have ccllefted with the ut- 
 mofl care the Subjedrs capable of admitting a cri- 
 minal Intrigue ; thofe which did not admit one, 
 he forced to that Purpofe, and even fucli Pieces 
 as he purloin'd from McUtre he corrupted to hi^ 
 Tafle. That Comcdv v.herein he has made ufe 
 L 5 .<rf 
 
226 Ty6^ Jewish Spy. Lett.CXLIX. 
 
 of L Ecole de Femmes^ though full of Fire, and by 
 no means deficient in Wit, is yet far {hort of the 
 Wifdom difcoverable in his Model. Inftead of 
 MoHere's Sagacity in making a future Husband 
 rifque his Spoufe's Fidelity, and his Caution in a- 
 voiding any Expreiîion tending to a Breach of De- 
 corum, JVycherley introduces a Man pretending to 
 be a Eunuch, and letting all the World into the 
 Secret of his Incapacity : The Husbands charmed 
 with fuch an innocent Inamorato^ bring their Wives 
 readily into his Company. Thefalfe 0/igen hav- 
 ing made choice of a Country Lady, obtains of 
 her the laft Favours ; and if, unluckily for the 
 Er.glijh^ their comic Writers were not fomewhat 
 nicer than their tragic Poets, they might have 
 in the ccnclufion of the Play a very fine Scene on 
 the Stage, at leaft in their way. There could not 
 certainly be any thing in it more fhocking or 
 abfurd than in the introducing in a Tragedy a 
 Husband ftrangling his W^ife with his own Hands, 
 a Thing the Englljh fee not only without Horror, 
 but with all the Marks of Admiration in the 
 Moor of Venice, 
 
 One may venture to aiHrm, my Friend, that 
 if the Writers of EngU/I) Tragedies are to be juft- 
 ly cl arged with offending againft the Rules of their 
 Art, the comic Authors are not lefs culpable in 
 lefpecl to their Tranfgrefiions againft Modefty and 
 good Manners. The latter are indeed more per- 
 fect in their way. WycherUy and Vanhrugh come 
 jiearer to T^erence and Molière^ than Dryden and 
 Shakefpcar to Sophocles and Ewipides^ Corneille and 
 Racine. We fometimes meet in their Works with 
 Strokes bolder and more fparkling than in the 
 Greeky Latln^ or French Poets ; but the Luftre 
 of thefe fine Things is more than obfcured ^ by 
 hr^^ PafTages utterly irreconcileable to Decency 
 
 and 
 
Lett. CXLIX. The Jewish Spy. 227 
 
 and Decorum, and wherein the Authors feem lofl 
 to Shame. 
 
 Congreve's Pieces are the moft perfect Comedies\ 
 the Englijh have. He is indeed a worthy Rival of 
 the great Molière^ and hath perhaps fewer Faults 
 than he. Congreve is exaft, lively, prudent, cau- 
 tious in his Expreffions, and who never runs into 
 low ridiculous Pleafantries purely to keep up the 
 Laugh. He is thoroughly acquainted v/ith Man- 
 kind, and all his Charaélers are natural, full of 
 Truth, and exceedingly flriking. Jf the Englifb 
 Comedies in general were as good as his, the 
 Theatre of London would furpafs that of Paris ; 
 but in the firft place Iiis Plays are but few, and 
 in the next few of their Authors come near him. 
 
 The meanell: of the comic Writers in thi^ 
 Country have a Cuiiom pleafant enough, l^hey 
 pillage Molière^ they disiigure his bell; Pieces, and 
 criticife him with the utmofl Infolence. That 
 Author is really as ill-treated in England^ as Ho- 
 mer^ Virgil^ Horace^ i^s. by the Adverfaries of the 
 Ancients. All the Dablers in Parnaffus open a- 
 gainlt him as a common Enemy, and yet do 
 their utmoft to make their miferable Pieces go off", 
 by interlarding them with Sentiments ftole from 
 him ; it is true they manage thefe fo forrilv, that 
 if one was to form a Judgment of Molière Dy 
 the Samples they give us, we ihould condemn thar 
 illuilrious Writer without Mercy. Eut what El- 
 fefl: on his Reputation can the Attempts of theîe 
 Blotters of Paper ever have, or what can a fev/ 
 Authors of miferable damned Farces tay to preju- 
 dice him? I am allured that Congreve has the 
 higheit Efleem in the World for Moiier/s Writ- 
 ings, and no Poet of Eminence among the Eng- 
 lijh ever decried his Play?. How is it poflible to 
 be fo prejudiced, as not :o be fenfible of ihe 
 
1.228 The Jewish Spy. Lett. CXLIX. 
 
 Delicacy, the Salt, the good Senfe, which reigns in 
 his Tartuffcy his Mifanthrope^ his School of TVomeny 
 and his Learned Ladies ? Corneille and Racine never 
 put Pen to Paper againft Sophocles or Euripides» 
 On the contrary, they gave thofe Authors all the 
 Praifes they could bellow. Boileau and Pope are 
 zealous Advocates for the Honour of Homer and 
 Virgil ; is it not furprizing, that only the Peraults^ 
 the Terrajjhns^ and other fecond-rate Authors 
 fhould form the ridiculous Defign of tarnifliing the 
 Glory of thofe ancient Heroes ? Scarron^ d'Ajfouci^ 
 ^nà Marivaux^ who in attempting to travefty Vir- 
 gil^ Ovid^ and Fenelon have rendered themfelves 
 ridiculous, are hov^'ever far lefs blameable than thefe 
 People, becaufe they had ftill high Thoughts of 
 their Originals, tho' they drew after them mife- 
 rable Copies. 
 
 It feems in the learned World a neceflary Con- 
 fequence of attaining a certain Pitch of Reputa- 
 tion to be attacked by thefe Zoilus's^ the Scum and 
 Offsccuring of Letters. I do not know, Ifaacy 
 whether ever it might enter your Head to confider 
 îb^ Number oî bad Books written againft the beft 
 y\uthors. There is not one, however eminent, who 
 has efcaped Criticifm -, and which is worfe, thofe 
 who venture to carp at them, do it as if they were 
 every way their Superiors, and were taking to 
 ta'^k the Works of Bonnecorfe or P radon. 
 
 Not to fpeak of the impertinent P^;W/^/ ^^/w^^a 
 the Ancients and Moderns^ in which they have fhewn 
 \é.^ care to demonftrate the Equality between the 
 Ages of Louis XIV. and Augufrus^ than to injure 
 the Charaélers of the Greeks and Romans^ how 
 many miferable Criticifms have we feen againft 
 •the Tragedies of C(9r«^/7/(?, Racine^ Crebillon^ and 
 Vcltaire P It is true, their performances are ap- 
 plauded nctwithftanding, and thefe filly Attacks 
 
 are 
 
Lett. CXLIX. Tfo Jewish S py. 229 / 
 
 are forgot ; yet it is ftill true, that fuch things were 
 once publifhed, and that there were not w^anting [ 
 Fools who admired them. 
 
 Is it not a certain Truth, that a Folio was pub- 
 lifhed againft Bayle's Di6lionary I It is owned i 
 that Men of Tafte laughed at the Attempt. How- 
 ever it was approved by fome half- letter 'd Folks, 
 nor was the Contempt of good Judges fuiEcient 
 to hinder'the Sale of this dull Piece among thofe 
 who buy at Random, and whofe indigefted Col- 
 ledlions are not fo properly Bibliothèques as Biblio* 
 taphs. You rauft allow me this Word in order to 
 exprefs a place where dead Books are buried. 
 
 A certain Monk * was weak enough to publifh 
 a DilTertation full of Invedives againft the Cha^ 
 raâfers of la Bruyère. Some Numfculls had the 
 Patience to read it, and others of their Brethren 
 would ftill afford it that Honour, if the Tranlla- 
 tor of Locke had not taken the pains to exhibit the 
 Nakednefs of that Criticifm to the Publick 
 
 Montaigne long after his Death fuftained the Spite 
 of the Ja-dfenifts. Certainly his Works are in -àà 
 much Efteem as ever, while the Criticifm would 
 fcarce be remembred if it was not taken notice of 
 ' in the Preface to the laft Editions of that Author's 
 ElTays. 
 
 Dr Stîllingjîeet wrote againft Locke, By good 
 luck his Criticifm was never tranflated ; fo thrt 
 it was never known to a great part of Europe, 
 otherwife it would v/ithout queftion have had its 
 Admirers. 
 
 The Fate of fo many excellent Works hath al* 
 moft induced me to believe it ought to be accounted 
 one of the Marks of a good Book, that it hath been 
 
 * A Carthufian who v/rote under the Nome de Guerre 
 oî Vigneul'Marijillet 
 
 criticized. 
 
f 530 "Tloe Jewish Spy. Lett. CXLIX. 
 
 eriticized. If this was certain, one would allow 
 that the Jmrnalijis of Trevouii have for many- 
 Years paft done the Labours of the Janfenijis great 
 Service, as well as to thofe of Proteflants and o- 
 ther Adverfaries, by not allowing one of them to 
 be tolerable. In order to be even with them, 
 I have often thought that inflead of that foolifh 
 infipid Thing called Novelles' Ecclefiajilques^ they 
 ought to fet up Tome kind of literary Journal, 
 and therein tear without Mercy the fine Writings 
 çiï Petau^ Sirmond^ Bourdaloue^ de la Ru^^ Daniel, 
 i^c, and cry up the poor Performances of name- 
 lefs* Authors^ who with all the Rage of Party a- 
 bufed the Society. But indubitably they have been 
 difcouraged from this by the bad Reception given 
 to the Journal de Trévoux, They muit have per- 
 ceived that the Publick hath long difregarded 
 what is faid of many Books in that Molimjl 
 Journal, and conjedured from thence what Fa- 
 vour would be (hewn to a Jahfenift Colledion in 
 the fame Tafte. They have therefore made it 
 their Choice to bring out a weekly Sheet fuited to 
 the Genius of the Many, hoping by thefe Courfes 
 thro' the open Country to do fome mifchief to 
 an Enemy pofTeffed of all the Places of Strength. 
 Happy for them that their Adverfaries have alfo 
 run themfelves into Extravagancies, and thereby 
 •ruined their Credit, which would otherwife have 
 h^zxx much better than that of the Janfen'ijls, In- 
 finite Numbers of Perfons of Judgment have been 
 difgufted, when on confidering the Condua of 
 both Parties clofely, they have been convmced that 
 they are equally animated by Rage and Refent- 
 
 jnent^ , , ,^ n 
 
 If we fpeak the Truth, dear Ifaac, we muft 
 
 'confefs that when one refleds coolly on the Tranf- 
 
 aaions in the Republick of Letters, one is pro- 
 
 voked 
 
Lett. CL. The Jewish Spy, 23 t 
 
 voiced to fee how little Sincerity appears, and how 
 much Injuftice and Partiality is evident in the Cri- 
 ticifms and Decifions of the Learned, in regard to 
 the Writings of their Adverfaries. 
 
 Fare thee well, my dear Friend, live content and 
 happy, and never embarafs thyfelf with captious or 
 tefiy People, 
 
 LETTER CL. 
 
 Aaron Moncec a, fo Isaac On is^ 
 Caraite^ formerly a Rabbi at Conftan- 
 tinople. 
 
 npHE greateft Philofophers fall fometimes, dear 
 •■• Ifaac^ into the fame Faults and Puerilities with 
 which they reproach their Adverfaries. They for- 
 get thofe Principles on which they eftabliih their 
 own Arguments againft fcholaftic Chimasras. They 
 afFe6l to eftablifh fuch ftrange Opinions, and to ex- 
 plain fuch inexplicable Things, that we turn, with 
 Juftice, upon themfelves their Criticifms on certain 
 Authors whom they have treated with fovereign 
 Contempt. 
 
 Obferve, my Friend, how Mallehranche hath ex- 
 plained himfelf on the bold and yet ill-founded De- 
 cifions of AriftrAle. Certainly an extraordinary mea^ 
 Jure of Faith is necejfary in order to credit what Ariftotle 
 thus advances when he affords only Logical Proofs^ and 
 when he explains the Effets of Nature m ctherwifethan 
 by the confufed Notions ofSenfe^ efpecially zvhen he de- 
 tides roundly on ^le/lions which fee^n above human reach* 
 Hi therefore tells us^ very often as well as Permptorily^ 
 
 that 
 
232 77je Jewish Spy. Lett. CL. 
 
 ibat we are to take his Wordy it 'being a fettled Peint 
 with this Author y that a Difciple is to believe. ■* 
 
 What think you, my dear Ifaac^ of a Philofo- 
 fopher who condemns fo exprelly, fuch as advance 
 Opinions v/hich they can neither prove nor explain 
 clearly, and yet decides, with an air of Authority, 
 on the Caufe of Evil with refpe6l to Mankind, and 
 explains philofophically the Juftice of the Deity 
 with regard to the Damnation of Children, which 
 fome Nazaretus hold inevitable tho' they die in the 
 Cradle, if they have not gone thro' a certain Cere- 
 mony which is equivalent to Circumcifion amongft 
 us. If Mallcbranche had faid fimply what every 
 Man of Senfe ought to fay, that he fubmitted the 
 Lights he derived from Nature to the Di£lates of 
 "Faith, according to the Notions entertained of fuch 
 Myfteries by his Church, and had aîledged he be- 
 lieved that Children were damned, even who died 
 in their Cradles, becaufe he apprehended it to be fo 
 revealed, and therefore received it as an Article of 
 Faith, he would have merited Praife for knowing 
 how to fet bounds to human Cur/ofity j but in- 
 flead of this, he has gone further than ever Arijiotle 
 did, whom he reproaches, and has faid more extrava- 
 gant Thing'?, and attempted to explain more unintel- 
 iigible Myfteries in four Lines than the Greek Philo- 
 fopherhas difcovered in his eight Books of Phyficks. 
 Behold, my Friend, the pompous and fublime 
 GaVmwtias.^ by which Mallehranche would prove 
 that it is reconcilable to the Divine Juflice to punifh 
 .an Infant for a Sin in which it had no part, A Mo- 
 ther^ fays this Philofopher, whofe Brai?i is full of 
 Ti'aces which mujl have been left by Objets introduced 
 'by the Senjes.^ arid which fne could not efface by reafon of 
 the Concupifcence reigning in her, as having not Power 
 
 * Mallebranzhe. Recherche de la Veriic. Li'vr. ii. 
 pflg. 18. 
 
Lett. CL. Ti?^ Je WISH Spy. 233 
 
 over. her Body, communicates them to her Child, wh-s^ 
 fpringing from her is a Sinner tho'Jhe herfelf may he 
 jujî. The Mother is jujî hecaufe foe actually loves or 
 hath loved God by choice^ neither doth Concupifcence 
 render her criminal tho' fie ?nay have followed its Mo^ 
 tions in Sleep. But the Infant Jhe carries having never 
 loved God by choice, mr ever turned its Heart towards 
 him, it is moji evidently in Diforder and Blindnefsy 
 nor can there be any thing in it but zuhat is worthy of 
 his Wrath, 
 
 I don'c know whether you obferve that all thefe 
 fublime Illufions are rediicible to this : A Mother 
 brings forth a Son a Sinner, becaufe fhe communi- 
 cates to him the Concupifcence, of which flie is 
 guilty. She hath however a pov/er of delivering her- - 
 felf, becaufe fhe is at liberty to ufe her Reafon aji4 ta 
 luve the Deity 5 whereas her Son ought to be damned, 
 as not having the Faculty of reflecting on himfelf,^ 
 and the power of loving God. 
 
 Do you not perceive a fine Chain of Reafoning 
 flowing from excellent Principles ? I will, for a 
 Moment, fuppofe myfelf that Ariflotle, whom 
 Mallebranche has fo grievoully infulted. Tell mCy 
 would I fay to him, thou French Metaphyfician, 
 who inform'dyou that a Mother coidd communicate to 
 a Creature incapable ofRefleSiion, concupifcent DefireSy 
 which ought to render it ?niferable ? What Proofs have 
 you that it is confijlerjt with God's Juflice to punifn an 
 Innocent for a Fault cominitted without its Knowledge^ 
 Oi^d alfo thro' Neceffity ? Be plea fed, if you think it, 
 pcffible, to Jhew me how an h f ant in its Mother's 
 JVornb can refjl the Imprejfions it receives from her ?\ 
 If then it is incapable of Rejijlance and is obliged ta 
 follo'cu the general Laws of Nature, is it not ridicidous 
 to fay that it is punijhedfor doing what was nece[fary ^ 
 for it to do ? I would rather chufe to fay that a Child 
 becomes a Sinner after it is born, by fucking the Milk of 
 
2J4 T^e Jewish Spy. Lett. CL. 
 
 a Nurfe who is a Smner^ than to afcrihe it to the Im- 
 prejfton made thereon in its Mother's Womb. Thefirjl 
 cfthefe Pcfitions is lefs repugnant to good Senfe^ hecaufe 
 a Child may live without fucking^ hut not without' feel^ ■ 
 ing the Motions communicable by bis Mother while he 
 remains within her. 
 
 You muft own, my good Friend, this Is a pleafant 
 way of explaining the Source of human Mifery. 
 What would the ancient Greek Philofophers fay could 
 they return to Life again, to thofe French Wits 
 who have dealt with them fo fharply, and who are 
 yet for explaining Original Sin as fome Phyficians 
 account for the Marks or Blemifhes v/ith which 
 Children are born. 
 
 The Conclufion drawn by Mallehranche is ftill 
 more abfurd than the Principle from which he draws 
 itj after fhewing the Manner in which Infants 
 become Cri minals,he concludes, that not having the 
 Power of knowing God, and of confequence of re- 
 penting and feeing their Faults, it is but juft they 
 Ihould be damned. 
 
 Is there any thing more extraordinary than to 
 fuppofe what is fo oppofite to any rational Idea of 
 God, that he fhould punifh. fuch Creatures of his 
 as have not only no power of r-efifting Sin or of re- 
 penting of it, but which ismuch worfe, have really^ 
 no ufe of Reafon, and ad: only by a kind of Inftin(Sl? 
 For I cannot apprehend, that even Father Malle- 
 hranche would affert that a Child in the Womb 
 ought to be a Doctor of the Sorbonne^ and in con- 
 fequence thereof, know that one who loves not God 
 by a Love of Choice^ and whofe Heart is not turned to- 
 wards the Deity ^ is not in any other State than that of 
 Diforder and BUndnefs^ and in which there is nothing 
 but what merits the IVrath of God. An Infant is ig;- 
 norant of all this, even many Years after its Birth 
 How then fhould it have any fuch Ideas in its 
 
 Mother's 
 
Lett. CL. The Jewish Spy. 235; 
 
 Mother's Womb ? If then it has no fort of Notion 
 either of Good or Evil, and its Soul, tho' of a fpiri- 
 tual Naturg aélsas yet, but as the Germ in a Plant, 
 is there not a vifible Abfurdity infayingit ispunifh- 
 ed on account of the Matter which ferves for its 
 Aliment ? 
 
 When certain Nazarene Do£lors attempt to give 
 Philofophical Reafons in fupport of this Dodrine, I 
 fancy to myfelf fo many Fools arguing for the cut-, 
 ting down of Orange-Trees, becaufe the Gardner 
 who planted them had done fomething amifs. A 
 Man of Learning muft lay his Account with fay- 
 ing very filly Things, when he will, by the Light 
 of his Reafon, endeavour to explain Points of pure 
 Revelation, ^y it we are direéled to believe 
 Myfl-eries. Let us believe them then without al:- 
 lov/ing Reafon, under pretence of explaining, to 
 render them incredible by making them appear 
 abfurd. 
 
 It is however certain, that if we embrace this 
 Sentiment, it brings along with it great Difficulties. 
 If one ought^ it will be faid, tojuhmit blindly to what 
 we are affured haï betn revealed, there is nothing but 
 may be fupported by Revelation. In all Religions, in 
 the Jewifh, the Nazarene, the Mohammedan, the 
 moji abfurd Chi?naras are received. Hozu many ridi^ 
 culous things do many of the Rabbies, an infinite Num- 
 ber of Qhn^'vàn Divines, and Multitudes of Dervifes 
 and other Turkifh Enthufiafts, pretend to have been 
 pofttively revealed? To this I anfwer, that we ought 
 to examine carefully if a Thing hath been reveal'd 
 or not. But I fay, that this Inquiry fînifhed and we 
 thoroughly aflured that a Thing hath beenrevealed^ 
 there remains no more room for Doubts about it. 
 
 When I aflert that a Jew fhould fubmit his Under- 
 ftanding to Revelation, I do not mean that he fhould 
 receive and adopt all the Notions of the Rabbles as 
 
236 Ti;^ Jewish Spy. Lett.CL. 
 
 fo many Articles of Faith ; if they attempt to im- 
 pofe on him an Error, let him, as foon as he has 
 feiioufly and thoroughly confidered, rejeâ it. But 
 if any Doubts enter his Mind, as to Fadls recorded 
 in the Holy Scriptures, the Authenticity of thofe 
 Books and their Revelation ihould incline him to 
 humble himfelf and to receive them implicitly, 
 without feeking by human Reafons to explain divine 
 Myfteries ; left, by fharing the prefumptuous Folly 
 cf Mallebranche in fuch an Undertaking, he fhould, 
 as he inevitably muft, expofe himfelf to thofe Re- 
 proaches which are y^\y juftly beflov^^ed on that 
 vain Philofopher. 
 
 I return, my dear Ifaac^ to my firft Idea. Is it 
 not very furpriaing that a great Genius, an Author 
 of the iirft/I^lars, who fees To clearly the Giddinefs 
 cf another Writer and his grofs iVîiftakes as to refute 
 them invincibly, fnould never thelefs fall immediately 
 after into the fame Errors, without perceiving that 
 he aded therein diredly oppofite to his own Princi- 
 ples, or at leaft to thofe on which it became, in his 
 Opinion, a Philcfcpher to argue ? Such a deplorable 
 Blindnefs is a very fenfible Proof of the Weaknefs 
 of Human Underftanding, and of that foolifii Pre- 
 judice a Man is apt to entertain far whatever comes 
 from himfelf; he fancies there is nothing hid beyond 
 his reach, yet he condemns others for having at- 
 tempted to explain unintelligible Things ; but fan- 
 cies, at the fame time, a Power in himfelf of fuc- 
 ceeding even in thofe things v/hich he cenfjrcd 
 others for attempting. Moft of our Modern Phi- 
 lofophers, and the Metaphyficians efpecially, have 
 done nothing but added new Miftak'ès to thofe 
 which the Ancients left behind them, and for 
 which they infulted them fo grolly, as themfelves 
 will be, in procefs of time, by their Succeflbrs, 
 who probably will do xiothing more than augment 
 
 the 
 
Lett. CL. The Jewish Spv. 237 
 
 the Doubts and Incertainties with which Philofophy 
 is already encumbred. 
 
 To me it feems probable that the outrageous Cri- 
 ticifms of each other's Syftems which the Philofo- 
 phers daily publifh, are the juft Punifhments of 
 their Pride. To this I am the rather led, becaufe I 
 have always obferved, that in the fame Proportion 
 a Man is vain of his Difcoveries, his Enemy con- 
 temns them. The Fate of AriJ}otle of late is little 
 better than that of Cotin and Pradon, The Carte- 
 ftans have carried their Averfion to excefs, they, 
 take no pains to diftinguifh the good from the bad, 
 but condemn, without diftinflion, all the Works 
 of the Greek Philofopher, tho' there are abundance 
 of ufeful things in them. If the great Tutor of 
 Alexander were to revifit the World, he would be 
 furprized to fee his Works, which made formerly 
 fuch a noife, now valued only by a few Monks. 
 His fmgle Confolation would be, to fee the fame Fate 
 attend his two great Antagonifts Def cartes and 
 Mallehranche^ whofe Works grow daily into Dif- 
 credit. The Prudence, the Sincerity, the Candor, 
 the Penetration of thofeof Locke^ have drawn all the 
 wifer part of the Logicians and Pvletaphyficians to 
 his Party ; on the other hc.nd, thofe who ftudyPhyfics 
 are all become Difciples oî Newton. And the extraor- 
 dinary Modefty with which thefe two Philofophers 
 have delivered their Opinions, will efFedually fecure 
 them from a like reverfe of Fortune. 
 
 Adieu, dear Ifaac^ may the God of our Fathers 
 continue to heap on thee his Bleffings. 
 
 LET. 
 
238 The Jewish Spy. Lett. CLI. 
 
 LETTER CLI. 
 
 Aaron MoNCE CA, to Isaac Onis, 
 
 CaraifCy heretofore a Rabbi at Conilan- 
 tinople. 
 
 T Have met, dear Ifaac^ here in England^ with a 
 -*- Cabalift, whom I firft became acquainted 
 with at Hamburgh. After complimenting him on 
 his fafe Arrival, I intreated him to allow me the 
 Honour of converfmg with him fome time during his 
 Stay in this City. / give you my Confent, faid he, 
 with a great deal of Pleajure to what you defire^ 
 and I promife you that I will not conceal from you 
 any of the Myfteries of our Art. Charmed with To 
 frank an Offer, as well as with the Opportunity 
 of knowing whether there was any thing real in 
 that Science or no, I thanked him in the warmefî 
 and tendereft manner Words would permit. / 
 am, willing^ continued he, to begin this very Day 
 to explain to you the firfi Principles of Hermetick 
 Philofophy. Let us go take a Walk in fome proper 
 Place^ zvhere we need apprehend ne Interruption I 
 readily followed my new. Mailer, and took a Seat 
 with him in the Corner of a publick Garden, 
 which is fo far from being over-frequented, that it 
 fometimes looks like a Defart. 
 
 We were hardly fet down when the Cabbalift 
 lifted his Eyes to Heaven, kept filence for fome 
 Minutes, and feemed to be wrapt in a profound 
 Contemplation. Then coming to himfelf again, 
 
 he 
 
Lett.CLL Tbe Jewish S?Y. 239 
 
 he fetched a deep Sigh, afking me if I had never 
 read any Books treating of their Art ? I anfwer" 
 ed him, that I had looked over feveral, but that 
 I found them fo obfcure, that they had abfolute- 
 ly deprived me of all Hopes of being able to find 
 out their Senfe. At thefe Words the Cabbalift' 
 fetched another deep Si^h. " See, faid he, the 
 " fad EfFeas of the Wickednefs of Men. The 
 '' Sages are obliged to veil, and to conceal the 
 *' Knov^^ledge of the Treafures which they poflefs 
 *' even from Men of worth, who- ought to 
 " participate of them, through a Fear that wic- 
 '' ked and prophane People fhould make ufe of 
 '' their Writings. All the learned Secretaries of 
 " Nature have therefore chofen to write fo ob- ' 
 *' fcurely as to render it fimpiy impofîîble to pe- 
 *' netrate the Meaning of their Difcourfes, unlels 
 -*' enlightened by the Holy Spirit, or by fome Ma- 
 *' fier of the Art. Infomuch that thefe illuftrious 
 " Philofophers plainly avow, that they write not 
 *' for all forts of Readers, but for the chofeflr 
 *' Scholars of the golden Doârine*. ' Agmon^ the 
 *^ great Agmon^ towards the End of the Turh f,- 
 *' delivers himfelf thus. If we had not multi- 
 '^ plied the Names of the Art^ and taken Fains to 
 
 * See the Proem to the Introduftion, or School oF 
 the tranfmuting metallick Philofophy, by Da'vid de 
 Plants Campy ^ p. i. 
 
 t The Turh is a Colleflion of all the Vifions which 
 they ridiculoufly afcribe to the ancientPhilofophers whom 
 they fuppofe to have been acquainted with the Art of 
 making Gold, among whom they reckon Arijiotle, So- 
 crates, and Pythagoras. In this Book alfo are contain- 
 ed all the Follies of the Cabbalifts. The Turb is in 
 ihort the Talmud and the Alcoran of the Artifts, and 
 contains yet more abfurd Things than thofe Colle6lions 
 of extravagant Fables. 
 
 shfcure 
 
240 The Jewish Spy. Lett. CLI. 
 
 *' obfcure it^ our Scholars had by this ihne prophaned 
 << zV, and brought it into Contempt. If I., fays the 
 " illuftrious Rafis^ was to reveal its My/Ieries^ 
 *' there would be no longer a7iy Difference betzveen 
 ^^ the Sage and the Sifnple, The Almighty^ ^isRa- 
 «^ fon writes in the fame Book, hath obliged the 
 *' Philofophers-not'to teach this Art to the Vulgar^ 
 *' leji the World fnould perijh. For this caufe the 
 *^ Philofôphers have carefully concealed that precious 
 *' Medicine^ becaufe it enlivens and confer ves all 
 ^' Things in an equal Temperament. For if all 
 *' Men were alike rich^ none %vould obey others^ 
 *« there would be no longer either Rule or Order in 
 « the World. 
 
 " Thefe Reafons, continued the Cabbalift, are 
 ^« as you fee fo elTentiaL, that the Philofôphers are 
 «' tied down by them not to write but in this ob- 
 ** fcure Manner, and fo as only to be underftood 
 *' by fuch as are initiated in the facred Myfteries. 
 ^^ But that which is a farther Check, and binds 
 '* them to a ftill clofer Silence, is the barbarous 
 *« and inhuman Treatment fuch Men have met 
 <' with, as through a fatal Eafmefs have been in 
 *' this refpecl guilty of fome Indifcretion. There 
 *« are a Multitude of tragical Hiftories whence 
 *' Examples of this fort might be drawn. The 
 '*' unfortunate Hermit who trufted Braggardin died 
 <« by the Hand of that Robber. Richard the 
 *' Englijhman, who confided his Secret to a King 
 *' of that Country, was put to death in the 
 *' Tower. You fee then, how much the Philo- 
 *' fophers are interefted in the Obfervation of this 
 *' Rule, of either keeping a profound Silence, or 
 *' fpeaking in a Language intelligible only to 
 " their Difciples." 
 
 To zvhat End then^ fa id I, do you zvrite Books 
 upon your Arty fmce they are intelligible only to fuch 
 
 as 
 
Lett. CLI. 77j^ Jewish Spv. 241 
 
 as have no need of them^ hccaufe they already know 
 what they contain. Ton ought^ I thinks to avoid 
 publijhing Books which ferve Qnly to make Fools of 
 Men of avaricious Tempers., and to reduce the?n to 
 an extreme Poverty ', the jufi Chaftifement of their not 
 being content tvith moderate JVealth^ fufficient for the 
 Supply of their Necejjities. 
 
 *« I perceive clearly, faid my new Mafter, that 
 '' you look upon the Books of our Science, to 
 
 be much more unintelligible than they really 
 
 are. For you muft know, that tho' our Wri- 
 ' tings are very obfcure, yet it is nor however 
 ' impofTible, through the Affiftance of God, with- 
 '^ out which Men cannot do any thing, to reach 
 '' their fecret Meaning, and to come at the true 
 " Senfe of all their Enigmas. It is this that I 
 '' {hall make you clearly apprehend, by giving 
 *' you the Key of each different Style in which 
 " our Philofophers write. But in order to make 
 '' this Matter the more eafy, I will firft difcover 
 '« without Difguife the fundamental Principle of 
 '' our Philoibphy. 
 
 " When the Eternal Being, continued the Cab- 
 ^' balift, created the Univerfe, he divided the Wa- 
 " ters from the Waters. He then feparated the 
 *' purer Part of thefe into three Portions. Of the 
 '• firft and moft perfect Part, he made whatfo- 
 *^ ever exifls above the Firmament ; of the ÏQcond. 
 '' the Firmament it felf, the Planets, Stars, and 
 '* all that is thereiiî ; of the third, he compofed 
 '* the four Elements, through which he diffufed 
 " the Soirit of Life, which ous^ht to be reo-arded 
 " as a fifth Element, the Principle, the Seed, the 
 " Ligament, the operating Virtue, by which the 
 " whole Univerfe is kept together. It is this 
 *' fifth Element of which the Generality of Mea 
 " are ignorant, that the true Phiiofophers call the 
 
 Vol. IV. M ^^ U?2z- 
 
242 î;^^ Jewish Spy. Lett. CLI. 
 
 *' Univerfal Spirit^ Natural Magick, the ^mfef- 
 *' fence ^ the Elixir^ Aurum potahile^ the Stone ^ Mer- 
 *' cury^ A%oth^ Water^ Fire^ Detu^ &c. They 
 *' make ufe of fo many different Names, the better 
 '^ to cover their Secrets ; but however it is alfo 
 " true, that each of thefe different Denomina- 
 *' tions fuits perfedly well the Thing intended 
 '^ thereby. When they call this ths ^mnfejence^ 
 ** it is becaufe it is the Refult of the Aiitmblage 
 ** of the Four Elements. When they afcribe to it 
 ^' the Name of the Elixir^ it is on account of its 
 ** admirable Properties in prefervtng Life, and ' 
 ** freeing Men from all Difeafes. The Title 
 *' of Aurum potatile is given it, becaufe it 
 ** is excellent as Gold. It muft alfo be obferved, 
 '* that thefe Phiîofophers do not contradict thtm- 
 *' felves in afTerting that their Matter is vegetable^ 
 '' an'imaU and mineral. For as the univerfal 
 *' Spirit or fifth Element could not fubfifl with- 
 "*' out fome fort of Body ; and as on the other 
 *' band, no Body can fubfift without Life, it is 
 *' diffufed through all the different Elements ; fo 
 *' that the vegetable, the animal, the mineral 
 " Faculty, are each of them properly afcribed 
 " thereto. All the Secret of the Art then confifts 
 *' in this, the Capacity of finding the vital Spirit^ 
 " and putting it into a Condition to aâ freely on 
 *' any Body. For abounding in Heat, it clears, 
 ** purifies, and in the end certainly performs the 
 *' grand Operation. 
 
 " The wife Phiîofophers who have written on 
 *' the Method of extracting, or of drawing out 
 *' of other Elements this prolifick and vivifying 
 *' Seed, have employed different Methods of Ex- 
 ^^ plication, alike dark and obfcure, and thefe are 
 '' called the Styles. Merlin made ufe of the allé- 
 " goricj^y King Arthur oixYit par abolie k^ the great 
 
 Hermes 
 
Lett. CLI. 27j^ Jewish Spy. 243 
 
 *' Hermes of problematick^ Arfilens of the typkah 
 " Balgus and the Cofmopolite of the Enigmntlok- 
 *' With refpeél to thefe different Methods, or, as 
 *« we phrafe it, the Interpretation of the Styles, 
 " the Key of the two firft will fufEce to render 
 " the Knowdedge of the reft eafy. 
 
 " Merlin^ fpeaking in the allegorick Style, pro- 
 <' ceeds thus : A King having drank of the TVater 
 *' could not rnount his Horfe^ i.e. by a proper Mixture 
 *' ofJVater and Earthy the Matter is re?2dred fluid, 
 *' He then proceeds ; The King having taken a Me- 
 " dicine coinpofed of Sal Armoniack and Nitre ^ was 
 " found dead. By which he would inftnuaie that 
 *' hy the Means of the fpecifick ProjeSfion, or of 
 *^ the Spirit extra^ed fro?n the Elements^ the li- 
 " quid Matter was fixed and converted into Gold^ 
 *' the Fire of the Furnace having confumed all the 
 " Humidity, 
 
 " The Enigmatick Style, which is that made 
 *' ufe of by Balgus and the Cofmopolite.^ is as ob- 
 " fctire as the allegorick for thofe who are un- 
 " acquainted with this /^i'Z? Element ; this 5^// or 
 '' this Spirit which I have told you is the true 
 '*■ Powder of Projedticn. For inftance ; Lock, fay 
 '^ they, upon an hfant that fucks, and be not 
 " troubled, for there lies the Secret of the Art, 
 " Thefe Words fignify. That we ?nujl purify the 
 *' active and the pajjive Matter, the Sulphur and 
 '' the Mercury, by a Fire which mvjl be managed 
 " with Care, and which we muft augment in the 
 " fam.e manner as we encreafe the Portions of 
 *• Aliment given to Children as they attain to rip^r 
 « Tears, 
 
 " You now fee, continued the Cabbalifc, that 
 
 *' the Writings of the Sages are not abfolutely un- 
 
 '' intelligible to fuch as are initiated in the My- 
 
 " fteries of which they treat, and that they have 
 
 M 2 Rea- 
 
244 ^raé» Jewish Spy. Lett. CLI. 
 
 «' Reafon to take the Precautions they do for the 
 " better concealing their Secrets from the Pro- 
 *' phane." 
 
 / Jhall readily^ returned I, admit of the Ohfcw 
 rity for 'which your Philofophers cojiiend^ becaufe they 
 fay it is fo neccffary to them. But I have Jiill a 
 great Doubt upon me \ I can hardly bring myfelf to 
 believe that any of them have carried Matters fo fardas 
 equally to extras this vivifying Salt fro7n the o- 
 ther Elements. I think alfo that they .have never 
 made Gold, fwtwithjiandi-ng their boafling of that 
 Art, You, for Example, who are one cf their 
 moji famous Difciples, do you know the Secret of 
 extra ning this Spirit of Life ; this Powder cf Pro- 
 jection, which is abfolutely neceffary to the Work of 
 Tranfmutation P 
 
 *' Such, replied the Cabbalift, as are acquaint- 
 " ed with the Manner of working, are yet at a 
 " ereat dii-lance from the Completion of the great 
 *• Work. One finds not in a whole Age above 
 <• one or two Perfons fortunate enough to direft 
 «' their Fire v/ith that Juftice as to arrive at the 
 *' great End of the Art. The fmalleft Excefs or 
 *' Deficiency in Heat is fufficient to defeat the 
 " Labour of twenty or of thirty Years, and what 
 " Knowledge foever a Man has, it is God alone 
 '' who can prevent certain Accidents which are 
 '' too frequent for all human Precautions -, this 
 *' is the Reafon v.'hy among fo many of the Sages, 
 *^ fo few have fully fucceeded *. I muft even ac- 
 
 " knowledge 
 
 * The Chymifts compare the DifHculties attending 
 the Search cf the Pliiiclbphcr's Store to thofc enccun- 
 tred by f ap7i, in his locking for the Golden Fkece. 
 They pretend that it is not till after a lon^ and labour- 
 ed Furfuit, that v,e arrive at length at the great, the 
 
 important 
 
Lett. CLT. T;^^ Jewish Spy. 245 
 
 " knowledge to you, that tho' I have revealed 
 " the moft hidden Myfteries of the Art, I would 
 " by no means advife you to apply yourfelf to 
 '' it ; nay, if I had not long ago embraced, I 
 " fliould not at this day have chofen it prefer- 
 " rable to many other Occupations. I muft tell 
 *' you, that I have already confumed very con- 
 '' fiderable Sums, but tho' I have not reached 
 " the Art of making Gold, I have difcovered 
 •* many other Secrets that have recompenfed my 
 
 important Secret. As alfo that fuch as are unable to 
 bear Fatigue and Difappointments, ought to forbear the 
 Search of thePhilofophick Tranfmutation. This Cau- 
 tion is of mighty ufe in conducting to their utter Ruin 
 fuch as feek to make Gold. JHi funt -paululurn do5lio~ 
 resy humaniofcs^ ^ rat'ione infaniunt^ qui arhiirantiir 
 lapidem it à a Natiira effedum^ ut ahfque omni labor e, <^ 
 Jifie pr^eparatione, vietallis njiolenter pau:is Teviporis ml- 
 nutis, alias <jf no-jai formas induetc -caleat. Hoc <?/?, 
 Jt quis lapidem habcat, ipfum pojj'e fiatim quis-vis vutalla 
 transform are : qu^ tamen cerdonica indoStaque imperii 
 tijjî.fii Vtilgi opinio, re ipfa, falfa^ 'van a iff nullis fun- 
 damentis, répugnât e-videntiffttnis Philojopho;um Argumen- 
 tis iff Raiionibus. Poetry Deoruni Filii, ex^ifjplo J a- 
 fofiis docent, quanti fit labor is ante quant tantum rem 
 liceat aufcrre. Oportet prudentijpmis confiliariis, five 
 deliberationibus iff confidiis exquifitis rem aggredi, din 
 navigare, ac ubi tandem ex Mari per veneris in terram, 
 materiam folidam, con ft ant em (sf fix am, arte <vera tan- 
 quam Meded, Jolis filii Terram aéripedibus Tauris ada- 
 menteo jugo jundis^ qui fiammas ex naribus fpirant, a* 
 rare, ac in earn Terram ex Galea Draconis dentés femi^ 
 nare ex quibus, Hofies natos miris armis infiruélos inter' 
 ficere. Lapide in medio projeâîo, de quo certabunt inter 
 fe, Draconi truculentijjtmo inducere fomnum, quibus cunciis 
 fummo labore iff diligentia peraclis, pat et Aditus in Martis 
 Templum ad aureum 'vellus. Epiftola ad Fuggeros, p. 
 5W& 52. 
 
 M 3 «' Pains, 
 
246 ira^ Jewish Spy. Lett. CLI. 
 
 ^' Pains, and encouraged me to purfue my Enter- 
 '* prize.' 
 
 It would then^ replied I, he in 'uahi for me to 
 perfuade you to quit fo decehfid a Study, I ivill 
 ■nOt then offer to tell you what you muji many 
 Tmes in your cooler Moments have told yourfelf. 
 But I Jljall at all times be grateful for your Com- 
 plaifance tozvards me^ and Jhall hear with Pleafure 
 whatever you Jloall think fit further to communicate 
 cf your Secrets. With thefe Words I took Leave of 
 the Chymift^ who repeated to me his Promife of 
 ccmmmiicatir.g whatfoever he found curious. 
 
 How great foever, my dear Ifaac^ the Folly 
 may be of the Cabbaliils, and Lovers of fublime 
 Chemiflry, it muft however be acknowledged, 
 that the World is much indebted to them for a 
 Multitude of Difcoveries in experimental Phyficks. 
 For in fearching their fifth Element, and imagi- 
 nary Powder of Projeftion, they have difcovered 
 the' Methods by which vitriolick and metallick" 
 Fluids coagulate in the Entrails of the Earth, and 
 form there Minerals, Metals, and Stones, ac- 
 cording to the different Kinds ef Matter on which 
 they a£i:. Chemiftry has gi'\en us alfo a fenfible 
 Idek by its Fermentations and Sublimations of the 
 Vegetation of Plants, and the Growth of Ani- 
 mals. From its Diftillations we learn how the 
 Sun after having rarified the Waters of the Sea, 
 or of Rivers, draws them into the Air where they 
 form Clouds, and again fall down in. Rain or 
 Dew. So many Difcoveries for which we are in- 
 debted to the Studies of the Chemifts;, ought to en- 
 dear to true Philofophers the vain Refearches of 
 the Cabbalifts, and pretended Sages, of whofe Ex- 
 travagance and Folly, they make fuch wife and 
 rofiuble Ufes, 
 
 Fare- 
 
Lett.CLII. ?/?'<? Jewish Spy. 247 
 
 Farewel, dear Ifaac, live happy and content, 
 and take Care not to embarrafs your felf by fearch- 
 ing after the Philofopher's Stone. 
 
 London. 
 
 
 i'i/i'.i\ 
 
 LETTER CLII. 
 
 Aaron Monceca /o Isaac Onis, 
 Caraite^ formerly a Pvabbi at Con- 
 ftantinople. 
 
 ^HE RE is no Nation, dear Ifaac^ exempt from 
 -*• fome falfe Step or other ; the French bl:ime 
 the Englîjh for having unjuftly burnt "Joan q{ Arc^ 
 commonly called the Maid of Orkans^ for no 
 other Crime than that {he had faithfully ferved 
 her Prince and Country. They fay, farther to pal- 
 liate this Injuilice done to the illuftriorus French 
 Woman, they have had Recourfe to Fraud and 
 Falfhcod, and moft ridiculoufly charged her with 
 Conjuring and Witchcraft. 
 
 The Englijh agree at this Day, that their An- 
 ceftors were in the wrong to act fo contrary to the. 
 Laws of Equity and of War ; they afiert that the 
 Maid of Orleans^ whom the French Hiftorians, ge- 
 nerally fpeaking, treat as a Saint, was in reality 
 no more than a bold, enterprizing, high- fpiri ted Wo- 
 man, of whom the Courtiers of C/;^r/^j VII. made 
 ufe to re-eftabliih the AfFairs of the Kingdom, 
 and to difpel that Panick with which the Soldiers 
 had been feized. 
 
 This Diverfity of Opinions in the French and 
 Englijh Hiftorians, begat in me a Curiofity of go- 
 ing to the bottom of this Hiftory, and of bring- 
 ing the Truth to Light, notwithftanding the Mifts 
 M 4 with 
 
248 7^^ Jewish Spy. Lett. CLII. 
 
 v/ith which it is covered. Pafqiiier^ an Author 
 hy no means to be fufpeéted of favouring Super- 
 fiition, hath given us an exacSt Detail of the Pro- 
 cefs againft ^ofin de Arc^ whom he looks upon as 
 a Saint, and whofe Memory he has warmly de- 
 fended, ff on examining the Proofs which he 
 brings in order to demon{trate the pretended Re- 
 velation made to this "Joan^ their JFalfity can be 
 clearly made appear, one may fafely affirm, that 
 Heaven had nothing to do, ftriélly to fay, with the 
 Tranfactions of that Woman ; and one may al- 
 low, that the Englijh at this Day are in the right 
 in alledging fhe was an Inftrument made ufe of 
 hy the Counfellors and Generals of Charles VII. 
 l.zt me befeech you, my Friend, to reflect atten- 
 tively on the Reafons alledged by Pafquier^ as thofe 
 which led him to believe the Maid of Orleans a 
 Saint, and I perfuade myfelf that you will quickly 
 fee through them. 
 
 It is a great pity *, fays my Author, 7iever 
 did any Perfcn fuccour France Jo opportunely, and 
 fo happily as this Maid, and never was the Memo- 
 ry of any Woman fo torn^ and dijhonoured as hers 
 has been, The Englifh looked upon her as a Heretick 
 end a Witch, in which Light they burnt her. Some 
 of our Writers have fuggefied, that Jhe ivas an art- 
 ful Whnan, fuch a one as Numa Pompilius pof- 
 fed upon the Romans for a Ny?nph, in order 
 to render himflf more refpeSJed by the People : 
 û?id this is the Opinion of hsr.gy in the third Book 
 a?îd third Chapter of his Military Difcipline. To 
 this others have added, that the French Lords engaged 
 this Wench to a6l as jhe did, and to feign that fne 
 was fent by Gcd in order to Juccour the Kingdom ; 
 they alfo affirm, that at Chi non, whf>re Jhe diflin- 
 guij})ed King Charles amidjl the Croud that atten- 
 ded him, Jhe was affijied by a certain Signal given 
 * Recherches de Pafquier, lib vi. chap, ç- 
 
 1er 
 
Lett. CLII. The ]ev/ish Spy. 249 
 
 her by her Confederates. Nay\fc7?ie have hecnfo hafe and 
 impudent as to fiiggejî that one Captain Baudncourt 
 debauched her^ and findir.g her to have a very Jharp 
 JVit^ put her upon this A^lon. 
 
 You muft obferve, Ifaac. that even in the time 
 this Tranfaclion happened, the Truth of her Divine 
 MifHon was very much doubted, and that this Opi- 
 nion fpread and prevailed by degrees. In the Age 
 ^\\ç.ït\wPajqiiier wrote, moll People gave no fort of 
 Credit to the Holinefs of "Joan de Arc^ or to her 
 Wifdom ; but on the contrary, were perfuaded that 
 all her Pretences to Infpiration were founded in the 
 Secrets revealed to her by Baudricourt, 
 
 As to the Manners of this }oung Woman, I rea- 
 dily agree with Pafquier^ that they were abo\'e 
 Reproach. The Proof he has given us, hath the 
 Appearance of Truth. Her Chajlity jhc maintained^ 
 faid he, to her Deaths even in the midj} cf the Troops, 
 It is certain that the Englijh^ v/ho Ibught by a 
 thoufand Methods to defame her, in order to cover 
 that Severity with which they proceeded againfl 
 her, would not have failed to mention her Incon- 
 tinence, if any Teftimony thereof had been in their 
 power, and yet there is nothmg of this fort in her 
 Procefs, But what of all thib r It may prove the 
 Chaftity indeed, but it cannot prove the Sandtity 
 of Joan de Arc. In- admitting that Baudricourt àià 
 not debauch her, it no way follows that Ihe liad a 
 divine Revelation j J do not think that behng a 
 Maid, includes the Character of a Prophetefs and 
 Deliverer of Nations. I fhall agree with the French 
 Hiftorians that Jaan of Arc never had a Baftard, 
 but then I concur with the Englijh Authors in 
 alTerting that her pretended MiiTion was a down- 
 right Impoiture. In order to be convinced of 
 this, we need oiiîy hear w^hat Paffuier fays, who 
 would fain have her canonizM. 7 Jl)aU^ fays he, 
 M 5 run 
 
250 77j^ Jewish Spy. Lett. CLII. 
 
 run over the principal Articles on which Joan of Arc 
 was interrogated. Being asked as to her Name^ Jhe 
 faid^ that in her own Country /he luas called J ea.nnQttey 
 but ftnce foe liv'd in France flje hath been called 
 Joan of Arc, of the Village of Doniprez ; that her 
 Father'' s Name is James Arc, a^id her Mother's 
 Ifabella ; that the Name of one of her Godfathers is 
 John Lingue, and of the cther^ John Berry ; that 
 one of her Godmother s Names ivas Jane, the Name of 
 another Agnes, and of another Sibill, atid that Jhe had 
 heard her Aiother jay Jhe had fame others ; that at 
 this time Jhe was about twenty-nine Tears of Age ^ that 
 Jhe was, by Profejfion a Sempftrefs, and not a Shep- 
 herdefs \ that foe went once a Tear to Confejfion, and 
 jhe had frequently heard a Voice from Heaven, that it 
 %vas remarkably clear and Jiro'ng, and that Jhe took it 
 for the Voice of an Angela that it admonijhed her to go 
 into France, zuhere fhejhould raife the Siege ^^Orleans, 
 and that if Jhe went to Captain Robert de Baudricourt, 
 be IV ould grant her an Efcort to conduéf her thither ^ 
 which accordingly he did. 
 
 I fancy, dear Ifaac, that if I had not admitted the 
 Virginity of our Heroine, I might have compared 
 her Story to the Tale of Brother Lucius, which the 
 ingenious La Fontaine hath put into Verfe. Do not 
 you think that Captain Baudricourt a6led a httle 
 like the Hermit in that Story, who in a Voice hke 
 Thunder cry'd out, Good Woman, carry your 
 Daughter to the Servant of God, for betvveen him 
 ' and her there fnall come a Child who will one day be- 
 come a great Pope. I knovv very well that^^WnVi'z^r^ 
 afted in this Cafe from another Motive didinâ from 
 Brother Lucius ; it was Policy, and not Love, that 
 played off this Scene. Taken in this Light, the 
 Maid herfelf might have been deceived into the 
 Part fhe acled, but her fubfequent ConducSl (hews 
 that ihe was very well acquainted with the Defiga 
 3 ^e 
 
Lett. GLU. The Jewish Spy. 251 
 
 fhe was to ferve, and knew perfccStly well how to play 
 her Game. She was extremely defirous of paffing fora 
 a Saint and a Heroine, and without all doubt, fhe aded 
 her Part beyond Comparifon. 
 
 I muft tell you, my Friend, a pleafant Notion 
 that is juft firuck into my Head. I think I difcover 
 a Ibong Refemblance between Joan of Arc and 
 La Cadierc ; the one had in view the Defeat of the 
 Englijh^ and the other of the Jefuits ; both intended 
 to cheat the Public and to pafs for Saints, each of 
 them pretended to a perfed Acquaintance with 
 Heaven and v/ith the Blefled. As for our Maid, 
 fhe pretended to have-P^evelations from the Deity. 
 For Inftance, it is is faid in lier Procefs, She of- 
 ferts that fhe knows God^ loves the Duke ^Orleans, 
 and thatf)c had had 7/wre Revelations in refpeSi to hini^ 
 than to any other Man livir.g^ except the Perfon whom 
 jle calls her Kirg. * 
 
 You fee, dear Ifaac^ that the Supreme Being 
 communicated his Secrets to this Saint, as (he faid. 
 We fhall next fee what care was taken to provide 
 faithful Mcflengers; it v/as fhe lierfelf informed 
 her Judges of this Particular. 
 
 Being interrogated whether fie had heard û Voice^ 
 
 fne arfvjc-ccd^ Tefterday 1 heard it three times ; firjl in 
 
 the Mornings then about the Time ofVefpers^ and the 
 
 third time in the Night. Being asked if /he had ever 
 
 feen any Fairies^ pe anfwered no ; hut that a Godmo^ 
 
 ther cf hers had horfted of feeing them at the Fairies 
 
 Tree^ in a littleCopfe not far from their Village ^Doni pre. 
 
 Being asked who they were that fpuke to her, fhe an- 
 
 fwcred St. Catherine a?id St. Margaret, whom fie 
 
 had often feen and touched, even pice her being in Pri- 
 
 fzn, and kiffed the Ground whereon they trod \ that 
 
 * Itevi dixit, quid bene fat, quod D eus diligit Ducem 
 
 Aurelicnenjem\ ac etia?n phues Rei'clatio^ies de ipfo habw 
 
 (rat, quam dealio homine -vi-jente, excepto il/o qnem dixit 
 
 Re^getnfuum. 
 
 M 6 fhe 
 
2^2 The Jewish Spy. Lett. CLII. 
 
 JJoe asked them their Advice on each Examination^ and 
 that /})e had ajfumed the Habit of a Man at their 
 exprefs Co7nmand. 
 
 Was I in the wrong to fay that there was great 
 Care taken as to the Meflengers who vifited this 
 Maid of ours? Methinks Catherine and Margaret 
 were Perfons of fomeDiftin6lion. ACircumftance 
 of this nature would furnifh a Monkifh Writer 
 with abundance of fine Reflections if the Life of 
 our Saint was his Theme ; he would doubtlefs ob- 
 ferve the great Wifdom in fending She and not 
 He-Saints to converfe with this holy Maid, fince 
 fhe would certainly have been afraid to have ftaid 
 long alone with a Man, or even with the Appearance 
 of a Man, efpecially if the Saint had been of the Or- 
 der-of Cordeliers and wore the Habit : for you are to 
 remark, that thefe celeftial Vifitors came firft to Joan 
 cf Arc at a time of Life when fhe might have been 
 very eafily frighted \ for in one of her Anfwers fhe 
 fays, that at the Tree of the Fairies, andat a Foun- 
 tain near to Dcmpre^ fhe had fpoke with St. Catharine 
 and St. Margaret^ but not to the Fairies, and 
 that her firfl Converfation with them was when fhe 
 was thirteen Years old. 
 
 Is it lawful, my Friend, for an Author who has 
 otherwife a great deal of A4erit, to attempt to prove 
 the înfpiration of the Maid of Orleans^ by Stories fo 
 vifibly fabulous as thefe are ? Whenever thefe An- 
 fwers are mentioned to a Philofopher who makes ufe 
 of his Reafon, he will not hefitate a Moment, let his 
 Religion be what it will, in aflerting that the whole 
 was a Scheme of Policy. Ought we to be aftonifhed 
 at the odd Things we m^cet with in Greek and Roman 
 Writers, when we fee French Hiftorians in great 
 Lfteem boldly tell fo puerile a Fable as this, and 
 fo contrary to common Senfe ? How ihail a 
 Chriilian^ who pretends to fwallow this Tale, give his 
 
 Reafons 
 
Lett. CLII. The Jewish Spy. 253 
 
 Reafons for rejecting' the Stories with which the 
 Writings of an Herodotus are fprinkled. 
 
 To be thoroughly convinced of the Abfardity of 
 this pious Fraud, we need only confider a Httle the 
 Conduct of this Woman while fhe was in Prifon» 
 B sing f elicited by her JudgtS to put on again the Habit 
 of a WoynaUy fie faidy Jhe defired never to ufe any 
 female Garment^ except a Shift ??iight be put upon her 
 dead Body : And being afterwards told that Jhe Jhould 
 he admitted to the Communion if Jhe would lay a fide Men's 
 Clothes y Jhe took it into her head to prefer her Breeches 
 to all Things^ and to chuje rather to live as an excom- 
 municated Perfon than to put on a Petticoat, At laft 
 however fhe fubmitted to go to Mafs in a Gown, 
 but upon this exprefs Condition, that fhe might 
 again put on Men's Clothes when flie came from 
 Chapel. Was not this a whimfical Fancy ? * 
 
 What is ftill more extraordinary, it was in com- 
 plaifance to the Orders of St. Catherine and St. Mar- 
 garet that fhe was fo much attached to her Breeches ; 
 it is true fhe fufFered dearly for following their 
 Advice, l^he Profecutor having finijhedhis Evidence^ 
 fays Pafquier, Sentence zv a s pronounced hy the Bijhop, 
 He Jaidy that all that had been done by this Woman was 
 to be accounted Fi^ion and Delujon^ in order tofeduce 
 the poor People^ or elfe the hwention of the Devil ; and 
 that in aéJing in this inamierjhe had blafphemed againfi 
 the Honour of God^ aâfed undutifully towards her 
 Parents^ befides focwing h erf elf a very impious Perfon 
 in declining the holy Communion rather than part with 
 the Habit of the other Sex. There concurred in this 
 fudgment the Bijhops of Qoi\{{?iUQQ and Lifieux, the 
 Chapter of the Cathedral Church of Roan, Sixteen 
 * We are told this in Latin, e'very^ujoy ^ujorthy of the times 
 nvherein the Maid of Orlt^iXii fuj ere d as a Witch. Noluit 
 huic prscepto obfequi : in quo app-iret Pervicacia ejus> 
 et Obduratio ad Malum; et conteniprus Sacramentorum. 
 
 Do^ors^ 
 
254 TlJé» Jewish Spy. Lett. CLII. 
 
 Do^GTS^ Six Liceiîtiatcs and Bcichekrs of Divinity , 
 and eleven Advocates of Roan ; this Sentence was 
 tranfmitted to the IJrJverfity cf Paris in order to have 
 their Opinion thereupon : The Vniverfiiy declared that 
 the Maid was truly a Heretick and a Schifmaticky and 
 direâfed two Letters^ cne to the King^ the other to the 
 Bijhop c/^Beauvais, dejlring (he might he put to death. 
 
 Notvvithftandiiig the Decifion of the Univeriity, 
 the Englijh were for faving her Life, provided always 
 {he would confentto quit thofe curfed Breeches, of 
 which die had been hitherto fo vervfond. The holy 
 Warriour finding at laft that die fhe muft, or put on 
 a Petticoat, (he wifely refoived to make choice of 
 the latter, and this without waiting for the Advice 
 of St. Margaret, TJjcy expofed her on a publick Scaf- 
 fold^ fays Pcfguier, where, after /he had been ad- 
 monifhed^ fie declared aloud that JJoc fubmitted to the 
 yudg?nent of Gcd and of cur Holy Father the Pope, 
 *T1^ en perceiving, thai they expe^ed /lill more from her y 
 Jhe prcfejfed her iirftigned Belief of all that the Church 
 taught \ and faid farther, that fince many wife and 
 difcreet People were of Opinion that the Appearances 
 Jk>e had fcen were not from God, Jhe was content to 
 believe fo, and to make a publick Abjuration, which is 
 infertcd at full lergth in her Procefs. Upon this followed 
 ar.other Sentence^ whereby Jhe is abfclved from her Ex' 
 communication and condemned to perpetual Imprifon- 
 tient. After thi', Jhe rejumed the Habit of her Sex, 
 and ivas accordingly conduced back to Prifon. 
 
 5ee, my Friend, the Maid's Affairs now in a 
 pretty tolerable Condition, and her Life fecured at 
 the Êxpence of her Breeches. But the mifchief 
 was, ihat f>;e had put on her Coats without con- 
 fulting St. Catharine, who was extremely vext to 
 find her in Woniiui's Garb ; when fhe came next 
 to make her a viAt, fhe reprimanded her feverely. 
 Who, faid fhe, put you upon changing your Garb? 
 
 xefume. 
 
Lett.CLII. T/:'^ Jewish Spy. 255 
 
 refume, at all Events, that which I recommended, 
 and let me fee you do it this Minute, ^cayi of Arc 
 obeyed, and very unluckily for her, as the Sequel 
 of her Story, given us by Pafquier^ will fhew. 
 
 They had however 'left her Men's Clothes by 
 her, in order to fee what ihe would do. No fooner 
 was fhe alone, than, upon fécond Thoughts^ fhe 
 repented of her Abjuration, and put on again the 
 Clothes fhe had th rov/n afidc. This Abjuration, 
 dear Ifaac^ in my Opinion, refembles ftrongly that 
 Recantation which La Cadiere made of the Crimes 
 by her charg'd upon Father Girard j fhe too, quickly 
 refum'd her former Sentiments. Joa?! of Arc did 
 the fame thing. The one was fchool'd by the 
 fanfenifls^ the other by St. Catharine ; but Joan 
 paid for it very dearly. Early the next Morning 
 flie was vifited, and being found in her old Habit, 
 was asked how fhe came to make this Change ; fhe 
 faid, fhe did it at the Command of the Saints^ 
 and that ihe was willing rather to obey God than 
 Men. On thefe Words fhe was declared a Here- 
 tick relapfed, and in confequence thereof delivered 
 over to the fecular Arm and condemned to be burnt 
 
 alive. The Univerfity of P^rn alfo, willing to 
 
 play its part, ordered a ProcefTion on the Feaft of 
 St. Martin^ whereat a Dominican Fryar made a 
 folemn Declamation againfl this poor Wench, in 
 order to fhew that whatever fhe had done was by 
 the afTiftance of the Devil and not of God. 
 
 You fee what a Noife and Difturbance a Petticoat 
 and a Pair of Breeches occafioned, and what a 
 flruggle there Vv'?.s which of the two this mafculine 
 Maid fhould //ear. Surely this appears very ridi- 
 culous, and yer if we go to the Bottom of Things we 
 muft acknovv'li^dge that the Drefs of this Wench 
 was a Point of State, and a proper Subjeâ: of refined 
 Politicks. Thofe of the French Nation required that 
 
 Joan 
 
2-56 7^0^ Jewish Spy. Lett. CLII. 
 
 'Jean (hould not quit her Breeches, and on the other 
 liand, it was requilite for the Englljh that fhe fhou'd 
 appear in Petticoats. The Reafon you'll cafilj' per- 
 ceive to be very vrell. founded. The aftonifhing Im- 
 preiTion which die Sandity of Joaji of Ara had made 
 on the other Minds of the Soldiers qî Charles V\\, 
 had totally ruined the Englijl) Affairs in France. In 
 order therefore to reftore them, and to deftroy a 
 Notion which v/as fo advantagiousto their Enemies, 
 it became neceiTary for them to make the Maid 
 difavow all her pretended Revelations. The Mo- 
 ment fhe laid afide her Breeches their Point was 
 gained. On the other hand, Jean of Arc knew 
 perfe£lly well of how great Ufe her Impofture was, 
 and of what miihty Confequence her interefting the 
 Saints in the Affair. .This made her remain firm 
 till the Fear of an approaching. Death got the better 
 of her Diffimulation. But being terrified with the . 
 fear of Punifhment, (he confented at length to own 
 tiheFalfhood of the Tale {he had told. When flie 
 had once taken this ftep, the Englijh ought to have 
 refted there, as having effectually deftroyed her 
 Credit. But it feems they were not of this Opi- 
 nion, they laid therefore a Snare for her utter De- 
 ftruâiion, by leaving her Breeches in the way. They 
 might as well have {hut up an hungry t)og in a 
 Chamber full of Provifions, and charg'd him not to 
 eat. The Maid being recovered from her. firlt 
 Fright, faw the Confequence of the falfe flep fhe had 
 made, and had a mind to repair it. She flattered 
 herfelf that the Englijh durft not put her to death 5 
 but {he midook their Tempers. 
 
 After all, dear Ifaac^ tho' I deny the Holinefsof 
 Jean of Arc ^ I am far from detradllng from the 
 juft Praifes fhe deferved. She was certainly a He- 
 roine, and delivered her Country. The Cruelty of 
 the Englifi towards her, is a Stain upon them as a 
 
 Nation» 
 
Lett.CLIII. The Jewish Spy. 257 
 
 Nation. They ought to have look'd upon their 
 Prifoner with the Refpcct due to a Perfon faithful to 
 her King and Country, and who ferv'd them as far 
 as her Wit and Courage would carry her. Ir the 
 Englijh h-îd at prefent fuch another Woman in their 
 Hands, they would admire her Valour and venerate 
 her Perfon, as much as they would contemn her 
 Pretences to Saintfhip» 
 
 Adieu, dear Ifaac^ live content and happy, and 
 let me have the Satisfa6tion of hearing from you. 
 London. 
 
 LETTER CLIII. 
 
 Aaron Mon ce c a, ^0 Isaac Onis, 
 Caraite^ formerly a Rabbi at Conftan-. 
 tinople. 
 
 AS much as I am prejudiced in favour of 
 •^^ Mr. Locke's Sentiments, I can fcarce grant him 
 that the Soul fometimes ceafes. totally to think, 
 that is, while we are afleep. 
 
 I do admit that I am not thoroughly fatisfied 
 that this Opinion is abfolutely faife, but 1 look upon 
 it as doubtful, and therefore Iftould have been glad 
 he laid down his Notion as probable only, and not 
 ascertain. Thisfage Philofbpher feems tome too 
 much perfuaded that the Cartcfiam are miftaken in 
 their Definition of the EfTence of the Soul, when 
 they allure us that it confiffs in actual Thought. 
 We know^ fays he, certainly^ by Experience^ that 
 fometimei We tjnnk^ and hence we deduce this infalli- 
 bk Conchifîonj ifjat zve have in us fomething which 
 ^ ^ hath 
 
258 The Jew i s h S pr. Lett. CLIIL 
 
 "' hath a Bower of thinking : But to know whether this 
 Sub/îance thinks continually or noty is vjhat we cannot 
 he ajfured cf, farther than Experience informs us. For 
 to fay that aSiual Thinking is an effential Property of 
 the Sou ly is vifibly to beg the ^ejiion^ without atiy 
 kiyid of Proof ^ 
 
 I am of Opinion,, my Friend, that Locke had no 
 jufl Reafon for this Reproach on the Cartefeans^ be- 
 caufe there are feveral ftrong Reafons which feem 
 to authorize this Definition, that the Eflence of 
 the Soul confifts in the adual Faculty of thinking. 
 *' The Soul, fay the Philofophers, hath neither 
 " Magnitude, Extent, nor Depth. Thus then, 
 *' none of thofe Attributes which belong to Matter 
 ** can be affigned theieto. We know then but one 
 *' of its Qualities, viz. that of thinking. Have 
 " we not Reafon then to alledge that it cannot fub- 
 *' fift without this, and that it is its EfTence, becaufe 
 *' it is the only Quality which v/e have difcovered. 
 ^' For, as we are acquainted with the Exiflence of 
 <' Matter, only by the means of its Extenfion, fo 
 " all the Knowledge we have of Souls is by 
 *' Thought. In as much as we hefitate not to de- 
 " fine the Eflence of Matter by Extenfion, on 
 " account of our knowing no material Subftance 
 " but what is extended, why fhould we not define 
 " the Eflence of the Soul by the a£lual Exercife of 
 " Thought, fince we cannot perceive a fpiritual 
 *' Subfl:ance but what has this Faculty of thinking ?" 
 
 Tho' it may be poflible to anfwer thefe Objeétions, 
 or at lead to fhew that they are not convincing, it 
 mufl: however be acknowledged that they ought to 
 be thoroughly examined, and that they very well 
 deferve our Attention : The Cartefians are far from 
 
 * Locke's Effay on Human Undcrflandjng. Book II. 
 Chap. i. §. 10. Jll ihc Rotations are ih this Chapter, 
 
 «iTerting 
 
Lett. CLIII. ThejBWisu Spy. 259 
 
 aflerting that the Soul always thinks, wiihsut Proofs, 
 Locke therefore had no Right to reproach thefe Phi- 
 lofophers for advancing, without Evidence and a- 
 gainftReafon, a Queftion with refpect to Fac^, and 
 that there was nothing but might be proved, accord- 
 ing to their Method. " I need only fuppofe, /aid 
 *' be^ that all Watches think while the Balance is 
 "' in motion, and I fhall have thereby fufficiently 
 " prov'd that my Watch thought all laflNight ^ong." 
 But the Cartefians might fay. Ton have no Right to- 
 fay that your JFatch thinks while the Balance moves ^ 
 becaufe you have not only no probable Reafon to offert 
 that the Motion of a Balance hath any thing to do 
 with I'hought^ but you are^ on the other hand^ fully 
 ajfured that in as ?nuch as it is a material Subjlance^ 
 it has no other Qualities than thofe of Extent^ ^an- 
 tîty and Thicknefs, But with refpe5t to us^ the Cafe 
 is very different* IVe fay that the Soul thinks as well 
 when we are afeep as when we are awake^ becaufe 
 we were fur e that the Faculty of thinking belojigs thereto^ 
 not only when the Body is awake, but afeep, ofzvhich 
 the Reme7nbrance of our Drea?ns is a certain and evi- 
 dent Proof, IVe therefore have fome foundation to 
 conclude, that it may do continually what it does for 
 fatne Mo7nents ; whereas your Suppcfttion of the Ba- 
 lance and the Watch is abfurd and ridiculous. 
 
 I will continue, dear Ifaac, my Examination of 
 Z(?r>é^*s Sentiments, and I befeech you to give me 
 your Opinion of the Difficulties 'which appear in 
 them to me. '' The firft time we fail faft afleep, 
 " fays that Philofopher, I apprehend we (hall be 
 " fufHciently fatisfied that there is nothing in their 
 " Doctrine, who teach that the Soul always thinks. 
 *' At leaft thofe who have flept without'dreaming 
 " can never be convinced that their Thoughts were 
 " in AcStion, during the fpaceof four Hours, while 
 " they knew nothing of the matter -, and if they 
 
 '^ are 
 
200 The Jewish Spy. Lett. CLIIL 
 
 '^ are taken in the very h€t^ waked in the middle 
 *' of that fleeping Contemplation, can give no 
 " manner of Account of it. It will perhaps be faid, 
 *' that the Soul thinks, even in the foundeft Sleep, 
 " but the Memory retains it not ; That the Soul 
 " in this fleeping Man, fhould be this Moment 
 '' bufy a thinking, and the next Moment in a 
 " waking Man, not remember, or be able to re- 
 '' colleéï one Jot of ail thofe Thoughts, is very 
 '^ hard to be conceived, and would need fome bet- 
 *' ter Proof than bare AfTercion to make it be be- 
 *' lieved." 
 
 The Carte/tans might reply to thefe Obje6^ions, 
 that far from refting theirNotions on the AfTurance 
 they give us of their Juftice and Truth, they rely 
 on daily Experience for the Proof of their Opinions. 
 For in fa£i:, does it not feem an odd thing to be 
 amazed that a Man, waking on a fudden, fhould 
 lofe in an Inftant, the Thoughts which occupied him 
 while he flept -, whereas we daily fee Men in their 
 full Senfes and broad awake, forgetting one Minute 
 what they thought on a Minute before, and ftriving, 
 to no purpofe, to recover their £rft Thouglit? 
 There is nota Man in the World to whom thefe 
 Slips do not fometimes happen, and there is no- 
 thing more common than to hear a Man fay, I bad 
 this Minute fomething to tell' you, it has efcaped 
 me, I have done all I can to recolle6t it, but I find 
 it is abfolutely in vain. I would ask, my dear 
 Ifaac^ if the Soul, forgetting totally certain Thoughts 
 which occupied it a Moment before, while the Body 
 k occupies is wide awake, we ought to think it extra- 
 ordinary that it lofes the Remembrance of thofe 
 Thoughts which employed it while the Body was 
 afleep, of which confequently it could have but 
 light Imprefllons, its Organs being, in a man- 
 ner, ftopt up and able to ferve it but faintly. Shall 
 
 we 
 
Lett.CLIlI. The Jewish SvY. 261 
 
 v/e fay that it is not impolfible that the Soul may- 
 reft for a Moii:ent, that is, ceafe from thinking, 
 even when a Man is awake; and that his forget- 
 ting iti Perceptions is owing to this fhort and imper- 
 ceptible Celîation of Thought ? This^ would be an 
 Abfurdity (o great and fo evident, that Experience 
 alone would fufHciently dete6lit. The fage Loch 
 was too quick-fighted to adopt fuch an Opinion. 
 He fays on the contrary, that it is admitted the Soul 
 never ceafis to think while a Man is awakê^ becaiife 
 this is precifely what^ in this refpecf^ ccnjiitutes his 
 Condition, Who then can fhew us a Reafon for a 
 Man's forgetting his own Thoughts while he is 
 awake ? Let us, I fay, fee him who will anfwer 
 this Queftion, and he will have a Right to oblige the 
 Cartejians in their turn, to explain how a Man may 
 think all Night without knowing, the next Morn- 
 ing, any thing of the Ideas which occupied his Mind 
 for fo many Hours. 
 
 The Difficulty which Locke propofes, as to the 
 Inutility of the SouFs thinking during the Time of 
 Sleep, docs not appear to me very confiderable. 
 ^' To think often, fays he, and never to retain it, 
 '^ fo much as one Moment, is a very ufelefs fort of 
 *' thinking, and the Soul in fuch a State of thinking 
 *' does very little, if at all, excel that of a Look- 
 " ing-Glafs, which conftantly receives Variety of 
 " Images or Ideas, but retains none ; they difap- 
 " pear and vanifh, and there appears no Footfteps 
 " of them; the Looking-Glafs is never the better 
 *' for fuch Ideas, nor the Soul for fuch Thoughts. — 
 " If the Soul retains no Memorycf its ownl'houghts, 
 " if it cannot lay them up for its Ufe, and be able to 
 *' recall them upon occafion, if it cannot reflect 
 *' upon what is paft and make ufe of its former 
 " Experiences, Reafonings and Contemplations, to 
 *' what Purpofe does it think ? They who make 
 
 the 
 
202 The Jewish S?Y. Lett. CLIII. 
 
 *' the Soul a thinking Thing, at this rate will not 
 *^ make it a more noble Being than thoie do whom 
 *' they condemn for allowing it to be nothing but 
 
 *' the fubtileft parts of Matter. Nature never 
 
 *' makes excellent Things for mean or no Ufes ; and 
 *' it is hardly to be conceived, that our infinitely wife 
 *' Creator fhould make fo admirable a Faculty as 
 " the Power ofThinking, to be fo idly employed, 
 " at leaft a quarter Part of its time, as to think 
 *' conftantly without remembring any of its 
 '« Parts.'^ 
 
 This PafTage, my dear Ifûdc^ contains two Ob- 
 jections. The firft refpeds the Inutility of Thoughts 
 to a Man afleep. But to this the Carte/tans may 
 well reply to Locke^ that thofe Thoughts which 
 he looks upon as fuperfiuous may be very neceflary, 
 tho' we are not acquainted with their Ufe : Be- 
 caufe 'tis too hafty a Conclu fion that in confcquence 
 of our not knowing what Ufe a Thing is for, there- 
 fore it ought not to be. The Weaknefs of human 
 Underftanding hinders it from penetrating the Ufe 
 of a multitude of Beings, which exifc notv/ith{l:and- 
 ing, nor have v/eany Right to deny their Exigence. 
 Befides, Experience inclines us to believe that Men 
 really reap Profit from the Thoughts which their 
 Souls have in Sleep, tho' they are not communicated 
 to the Body. The Trr.nflator of L:che remarks 
 very juftly, that the Inutility of thefe Kind of 
 Thoughts is not fo certain as our Author imagines. 
 A Child ^ fays he, is oblige d to get by L^art a dozm or 
 ffteen Verfes out 5/" Virgil ; He reads hhn three cr four 
 Times jiiji before his going tojieep, and repeats them 
 as foon as he avjakes in the Mormng^ perfeâfîy ivelL 
 Does his Soul think of thefe Verfes while he is buried in 
 a profound Sleep P The Child knoivs nothing of the 
 matter. However^ if the Seul aSfually rumjnaied 
 en ths^VerfeSy as I think I may fufpeâfy with feme 
 
 Appearance 
 
Lett. CLIII. TZ>^ Jewish Spv. 263 
 
 Appearance of Reafon^ then here are certain Thoughts 
 not altogether ufelefs for Man^ thd* he has no fort of 
 Remembrance that his Soul was e?nployed about them 
 fo much as one Mo?nent. * 
 
 The fécond Objection &î Locke falls of itfelf. For 
 when we have deftroyed thefirft, and hav:; proved 
 that the Thoughts of a Man afleep maybe ufeful to 
 him tho' he cannot remember that he .thought, it 
 can no longer be faid that Nature does nothing in 
 vain, and that God, aéling always with infinite 
 Wifdom, beftows not fuperfluous Faculties on any- 
 Being. In order to have made his Reafons clear 
 and conclufive, it ought to have been evidently 
 and unanfwerably proved that the Thoughts of a 
 Man afleep are abfolutely ufelefs, and even after 
 that there would remain a Difficulty to be refolved. 
 Of what Ufe^ might one fay to Mr. Locke, are 
 Dreams ? Are they very ufeful or neceffary to Men, 
 or do they draw any great Advantage fro'ni the dark 
 Remembrance of certain whimfecal Ideas prefented to 
 their Imaginations f Hi re are Thoughts that are little 
 better than ufelefs^ and yet occupy the human Soulivhile 
 the Body is afeep God therefore may have afforded 
 J\Aan a Faculty affirming other Tl^oughts, ofivhich he 
 entirely hfss all Remembrance, 
 
 Fare thee well, dear Ifaac, live content and 
 happy. 
 
 London, 
 
 * Remarque a la Page'j'},. de la zd Edition. \. e. of^ 
 P. C^y?f^sTranflationof Z«r*^^'s ElTay on Human Under- 
 ilanding. 
 
 LET- 
 
264 The Jewish Spy. Lett. CLIV . 
 
 LETTER CLIV. 
 
 Isaac Onis^ Caraite^ formerly a Rabbi 
 at Conftantinople, /^ Aaron Mon- 
 
 CEC A, 
 
 T Have examined, with all imaginable Attention, 
 ^ the Letter you wrote me concerning the Difficul- 
 ties you find in that Opinion, which will not admit 
 a£lual Thinking to be the ElTence of the Soul. Af- 
 ter comparing your Objeâ:ions with what Locke hath 
 written on the Subject, I am thoroughly perfuaded 
 that it was on a good Foundation this fage Philo- 
 fopher maintained that there is an Appearance of 
 the Soul's refling, during confiderabie Intervals, 
 without thinking. 
 
 The Comparifon you make between Extenfion as 
 the EfFence of Matter, and the actual Exercife of 
 Tlooiight^ as the Effence of the Soul, doth not appear 
 to me either juft or conclufive. I could farther 
 deny that Extenfion is the EfTence of Matter, and 
 could alledge that you are fo far fromknowingwhat 
 conftitutes a Spiritual Subftance, that you are ig- 
 norant even ofthefirft Principles of material Things. 
 Defcartes, fays a modern Philofopher, * makes the 
 Effence of a Body conffl in Extenfion^ and concludes 
 that there is Extenfion wherever there is Matter.-—^ 
 
 * Philofophie du Bon Sens, ou Reflexions Philofo- 
 phiques a PU fage des Cavaliers et du Beau Sexe. />.-?§■. 278. 
 That is, li>e Philo fophy of Good Scnfe, or Philofophical 
 Refeâiions for the Ufe of Gentlemen and Ladies. By the 
 Marquifs D'Argens, the Author of this Book, 
 
Lett.CLIV. T/jcJev/isu Spv. 26 j 
 
 / ûsk then what Reafon there is that Extenfiôn Jhould 
 conjiitute the Nature and Ejjence of a Body rather 
 than Solidity^ êr any other ejfential ^ality of Matter. 
 For by this Attention to a fingle Attribute abjîraâftd 
 from all the reft^ we are given to underfiand that tl>e 
 ether polities may fubjiji without it, which is contrary 
 however to their Nature, I may Jingle out any parti- 
 cular Attribute^ flop there ^ andfuppofe it to conjUtute 
 the Ejfence of Body. If I hold in my Hand a Sphere ^ 
 I may^ by Abjîracîion^ fuppofe that all its Weight is 
 in its Centre, and attend only to this Idea of its Centre^ 
 It would however be abfurdfor me to conclude that the 
 Nature and Effence of Body confifts in Gravity only, 
 Befides, We do not know all that is in this Bcdy^ 
 .'StleaJ}, we cannot demonjir ate thefe Notions ef ours„ 
 Therefore we do not certainly know how it is conftitu- 
 ted; ajid tho' we perceive not above f even or eight At- 
 tributes, yet can we not ajfure ourfelves that it hath 
 none others, without which its Exijlence would be as 
 impojjible as without thofe feven or eight which are 
 known to us. If the Nature of a Thing confijls of 
 thirty Attributes neceffary and infeparahle, and ten of 
 thefe Jliould be taken away ^it would be ridiculous in us t0 
 fnppofe we fill had that thing which abfolutely required 
 thirty. On the contrary, we have another Thing 
 zuhich abfolutely requires a leffer number of Attributes 
 to form its Exijlence, It is the fame thing with refpecî 
 to Body ; of which, as we cannot demon/Irate that we 
 .know all its Attributes, it is alfo impojfthle that we 
 jhculd precifely know what co7ifitutes its Ejfence. 
 
 You lee then, Monceca, that there are very ftrong 
 -Reafons againft the pretended Certainty of the 
 Cartefians, with refped to the Ellence of Matter, 
 Now if it be true that Men are uncertain as to' the 
 Nature of Bodies, why fhould they flatter them- 
 felves that they have clear anddiftind Notions of the 
 Nature of the Soul ? Might not Locke very well fay 
 
 Vol. IV. N to 
 
266 Tie Jewish S?Y. Lett. C LI V. 
 
 to the Carte/kins^ Before you perfuade you7'fehes that 
 you ought to define the Ejfence of Matter by Extenfion^ 
 and that of the Soul by actual Thought^ becaufe you 
 cannot hnagme any corporeal thing without Extenfton^ 
 cr any fpiritual Being ivithout the Faculty of Thin king \ 
 Jlay till you are clearly informed as to all the different 
 Attributes which are abfolutely neceffary to thefe diffe^ 
 rent Subjlonces^ that you may not .allow a fingle Attri- 
 bute to be the EjfetKe of a thing y which it maybe re- 
 quires thirty^ of which jou are '.gnorant^ and yet ne^ 
 verihelefs^ they are abfolutely neceffary as t-o its Ex- 
 iflence. Tou believe ^ or at leajl you %vould perfuade 
 others that you believe that you are certai'n^ hi the No- 
 tions you have of the Effence of fpiritual and material Be- 
 ings ; yet one may very reafonably fay that you are fo far 
 from knowing the Nature of thefe Subflances^ that you are 
 abfolutely ignorant .yjhereifi confifls the Difference be- 
 tween them. 
 
 I don't know, my F'riend, whether ever you 
 have taken notice of what Lccke wifely objects to 
 the CarteftanSy on the Subjecl: of Man's Ignorance 
 as to the Effence of the human Soul. " We have, 
 ^' fays he, the Ideas of Matter and Thinking, but 
 *' poffibly fhall never be able to knov/ whether any 
 ^' meer material Being thinks or no, it being im- 
 *' polîible for us, by the Contemplation of our own 
 *' Ideas, without Revelation, to difcover whether 
 *' Omnipotency has not given to fome Syftems of 
 <' Matter fitly difpofed, a Power to perceive and 
 «' think ; or elfe joined and fixed to Matter fo dif- 
 *^ pofed a thinking immaterial Subftance ; it being 
 *« in refpedl of our Notions, not much more re- 
 *' mote from our Comprehenfion to conceive that 
 «' God can, if he pleafes, fuperadd to Matter a 
 *' Faculty of thinking, than that he fhould fuper- 
 *' add to it another Subftance with a Faculty of 
 
 *' thinkiiig For fince we mufl allow God has 
 
 annexed 
 
"Lett. CLIV. The Jewish Spy. Q:6y 
 
 " annexed EfFeils to Motion, which we can no 
 ^' way conceive Motion able to produce, what 
 " Rcafon have we to conclude that he .[could not 
 *' order them, as well to be produced in a Subject 
 " we cannot conceiv-e capable of them, as well as 
 *< in a Subject we cannot conceive the Motion of 
 ^'^ Matter can any way operate upon ?" 
 
 Before it is defined that the Soul always thinks, 
 and that it is contrary to its ElTence to remain Tome- 
 times altogether una6live while the Body lleeps, 
 the Carte/tans ought to fhew us, not only full An- 
 fvvers to Lockis Objections, but alfo that we ar^ 
 under no kind of Uncertainty as to the Nature of 
 the- Soul. If they cannot demonftratively prove 
 that it is not material, which they cannot do, be- 
 caufe they are ignorant of its Nature, what do they 
 mean bv defining its ElTence, and founding all their 
 Reafonings upon that raih Definition ? Dr. Stillhtg- 
 fleet v/ould have perfuaded I.ocke^ that the NeceiTity 
 of the Soul's being fpiritual might be demonilrated, 
 and that the giving to a Matter a Power of thinking 
 was im.poiTible, even to God. To the old Reafons 
 of the Cartefiaiu^ he added feme new ones. You 
 may find a clear detail of this whole Difpute in 
 the Notes to the Eflay on Human Underftanding. 
 The EngUjh Philofopher fays to his Adverfary, 
 " Our Idea of Matter in general being a folid Sub- 
 '' itance, and our Idea of Body a folid, extended, 
 " figured Subftance ; you pretend, if I admit Mat- 
 " ter to be capable of thinking, I confound the 
 " Idea of Matter with the Idea of a Spirit ; to 
 *•'" which I anfwer. No, no more than I confound 
 "the Idea of Matter with the Idea of a Horfe, 
 '• when I fay, that Matter in general is a folid 
 " extended Subftance, and that a Horfe is a mate- 
 *' rial Animal, or an extended folid Subftarce 
 " with Senfe and fpontaneous Motion. The Idea 
 N 2 "of 
 
268 The Jewish S p y. Lett. CUV, 
 
 *' of Matter is an extended folid Subftancej where- 
 *' ever there is fuch a Subftance there is Matter, 
 " and the Efience of Matter, whatever other Qua- 
 '' lities, not contained in that Subftance, it fhall 
 *' pîeafe God to fuperadd to it. 'For Example, 
 *' God creates an extended fohd Subftance, v^'ith- 
 " out the fuperadding any thing eh'e to it; and fo 
 *' we may confider it at reft: to Tome Parts of it 
 " he fuperadds Motion, but it hasftfilthe EfTence 
 *' of Matter; other Parts of it, he frames into 
 '*' Plants, with all the Excellencies of Vegetation, 
 *' Life, and Beauty which is to be found in a 
 *' Rofe, or a Peach-Tree, above the Effence of 
 '' Matter in general ; but it is ftiil Matter: to other 
 ■*' Parts, he adds Senfe and fpontaneous Motion, 
 *' and thofe other Properties that are to be found 
 ■*' in an Elephant. All this is allovv'd ; but if one 
 ** ventures to go a ftep farther, and fay, God may 
 *' give to Matter Thought, Reafon, and the Power 
 *' of Willing, as well as Senfe and fpontaneo-js 
 " Motion, there are Men ready prefently to limit 
 '' the Power of the omnipotent Creator *." To 
 thefe Objeclions, dear Monceca^ Dr. Siillingfieet could 
 oppofe nothing that w^as reafonable. He had re- 
 courfe to general Terms, which had been over and 
 over examined, and invincibly refuted. Let us 
 acknowledge then frankly, that we know nothing 
 of the Soul. We know that in Men awake it al- 
 ways thinks, but whether it hath any Perceptions 
 while we are afleep, is a thing we never can bs 
 clear in. 
 
 As to what you fay of the fudden Lofs of Thought 
 which Men daily perceive when they are awake, it 
 can, by no means, be compared with thofe into 
 which the Soul falls, in cafe it were certain it 
 
 * Locke'i EfTay on Human Underllanding, BookW. 
 chap iiu 
 
 thought 
 
Lxtt. CLlV. 773^ Jewish Spy. 269 
 
 thougJit while we flept. For a Man awake, who 
 forgets fomething which was in his head a Moment 
 before, remembers he thought, though he cannot 
 recoiieifh of what, becaufe ^iis Mind is diftracled by 
 other Ideas J he retains, however, a certain Con- 
 vi(5^ion and perfcdl Remembrance that he had fome 
 Perceptions, whereas a Alan who has fiept all Night, 
 wakes the next Morning without knowing that his 
 Mind perceived any Idea whatfoever. One ought 
 to regard fuch {lips in a Man, who is awake, as the 
 confequence of a continual Circulation of Ideas. It 
 is not reafonablc therefore, to explain after this 
 manner, that Ignorance in which the Soul appears 
 to be on the waking of the Body, as to all the fine 
 Thoughts with which. he is fuppofed to have been 
 occupied. Had not then Locke reafon to fay, Wake 
 a Man out of a deep Sleeps and ask him what he vjas 
 thinking of. If he knew not that he had been thinkings 
 he muji be a vert, extraordinary F erf on to affert that 
 he never ceafed to think. Alight not one with more 
 reafn affirm that he'had'not flcpt? This is bey end 
 all doubts a Matter out of t(:s reach of Philfphy ; 
 end there is nothing but an exprcfs Revelation could 
 difcover to another that certain Thoughts pajfed in my 
 Souly though I did not difcover them my fclf Thcfe 
 People muj} certainly have very piercing Eyes to difcern 
 certainly that I think^ while 1 my felf camiot perceive 
 it y and exprefsly declare as much. What isflillmore 
 remarkable^ thefe fame Eyes^ which fee more in me 
 than I fee in my felf can alfo perceive that Dogs and 
 Elephants do not think^ though thefe Animals give us 
 all imaginable' Demonfîrations of their thinking except 
 telling us as much. 
 
 As to Dreams, àçzï Monceca^ w^hich you fancy fa- 
 vour your Sentiment, take care that it does not over- 
 turn it, for it feems that they are evident Proofs that^ 
 when the Soul does think in our Slf ep we are fenfible of 
 N 3 ^ i^\ 
 
2/0 TiSé» Jewish Spy. Lett. CLV. 
 
 it; and that it cannot think at all, but the whole 
 human Machine muft be fenfible thereof. I agree 
 with you as to the Inutility of Dreams, but then 
 they are occafion'd by fécond Caufes : They are 
 occafion'd by certain Motions in the Brain during 
 ûur Sleep. Their Inutility therefore cannot excufe. 
 that of the pretended Power of Thinking in the 
 Sou), which it mufl derive immediately from God,, 
 fmce it cannot be produced by any PafTions of the 
 Eody, otherwife it would have knowledge of them, 
 as this Sennbility in Dreams clearly proves. Luke 
 then had reafon to fay that Nature makes nothing 
 in vain, and that it is by no means likely that the 
 Soul (houîd have a faculty of employing itfelf about 
 ufelefs Thoughts while the Body is afleep. Read 
 over again with attention, dear Monceca, ail that 
 Locke has faid in fupport of his Sentiment, and L: 
 am perfuaded you will never more accufe him of: 
 being tco decifive. 
 Adieu my Friendj live content and happy, , 
 Cairo» 
 
 LETTER GLV. 
 
 Aaron MoNCECA, /(? Isaac Onis^. 
 Car ait e^ heretofore a Rabbi at Con- 
 flantinople. 
 
 n^HE Englifn^ dear Ifaac^ are very nice Ob- 
 
 -*- fervers of their Laws, they follow the Text 
 
 flridly without feeking Explications which may 
 
 elude them, or under pretence of entring into the 
 
 Idea 
 
Lett. CLV. The Jewish Spy. 2yi 
 
 Idea cf the Legiflator, converting the Study of 
 their Laws into an arbitrary Science. The Courts, 
 wherein Juftice is dillributed, are never in the leaft 
 doubt, whether fuch a Crime is to be punifhed in- 
 Tuch a manner. It is the Care of the Judges only 
 to difcover whether the Party accufed be really 
 guilty. This once decided, the Lav/ fpeaks the 
 Penalty of its Tranrgreilion. Li England the Judge 
 only reports the Procefs j the Law itfelf is, properly 
 fpeaking, the Judge. 
 
 One cannot, my Friend, fufficiently approve a 
 Practice fo prudent and fo judicious. Whatever 
 Probity Men may be endowed with, who are placed 
 in the Seats of Jadice, it is expedient to limit their 
 Decifions, and not to leave it in their Breafis to 
 punifh' or to leave unpunifhed, as they think fit, 
 thofe who come before them. The Heart of Man 
 is the Seat of fo many Paflions, and his Underftand- 
 ing is fo often the Dupe of his Prejudices, that it is • 
 next to an impoffibility he fnould not err whenever 
 he afts without reftraint. If Judges did not need 
 direction, written Laws had never been compiled ; 
 but all things had been left to the Underiiandings 
 of the Judges. But it was juftly apprehended, that 
 Judges might a6l like Men, even in difcharge of 
 their Offices, and fee things through fuch Mifts of 
 Paffion as might change their Form and P'igure, or 
 difguife them at leaft. 
 
 I am very fenfible, my Friend, that a rigid Ob- 
 fervance of La\Ts may fometimes create mifch iefs: 
 for which there can be no Remedies. I know too, 
 that there are Cafes wherein it might be juftly 
 wifh'd that we might interpret the Will of the Le- 
 giflator, (o as to give it a more or Iefs extended 
 Senfe. But I know too, that if fuch a Liberty as 
 this might be in fome cafes ufeful to private Per- 
 fons, it would not however fail to become dangerous, 
 K 4 - - and 
 
^2 7??^ Jewish Spy. Lett. CL V.. 
 
 and even fatal to the Publick. It would accuftom 
 the Judges to arbitrary Decifions, and open a gate 
 to a thoufand Inconveniences, which would not- 
 fail to enter. But when a general Rule is efta- 
 hiifli'd, we feek not the Good of tv/o or three Per- 
 fons,>but of the fzr greater Part of the Society*. 
 Se^Kca, fpeaking of the Fom^in Laws about infol- 
 vent Debtors, which made no diftindlton between 
 fuch as grew infolvent through inevitable Accidents, 
 and thofe, who bv Gaming and Debaucherv, drew 
 tiieirPunifhmentsjuftly upon them ; obferves roundly, 
 that it is better a few fb.ould run the rifque of lofmg 
 the benefit of a juft Excufe, rather than room be 
 left for all the v.^orld to avoid paying, or fuffering 
 for nonpayment by fetting up fpecious Pretences f. 
 
 It is fufïîcient, dear Ifaac^ to compel our Appro- 
 bation of this wife Cuflom, to fubmit entirely and 
 without referve to the Laws, that Reafon and Ex- 
 perience fnev/ this Cuflcm is more beneficial to.the- 
 Publick than that '^hich leaves an arbitrary Au- 
 thority to the Judges. For as nobody pretends to 
 doubt, that Men in general need fome fupport to 
 prevent their giving way to their Paillons, fo, as 
 Judges are not Angels, they want Supports as well 
 as other Men: and this they may find by a fteady 
 
 * Nulla Lex fat h commoda om-nihits eft: id modo qtc^' 
 ritur fîîKajori Parii^^ in fu7ntKam ^rcdeji. Tit. Living 
 libxxxiv. cap. 3. num. i. 
 
 -j- ^id tu tarn imprudentes judicas. ^^'ajore: nÔfîros fu- 
 rjfe, ut non i'ntclligerejit^ . iniqulffimujn ej[e ecdem loco ha- 
 beri eum qui Pecu.nia?/}.^ quxini à Creditore acceperat, Li- 
 bidine aut Aleâ abfumpfi', ^ eum qui hcendio, aut La- 
 trccinio, aut aliquo Cafu triftiore^ aliéna cum fuis perdi- 
 dit ? Nul(a7n Exxufationem recepeiunt^ , ut Ihn.ines farei.t 
 Fidem utique prafiandam. Satius enim erat à paucis 
 etiam jufiavi Excufaticne?;: non accipi, quam ah criniiiis 
 Aliquam tentari. Seneca de Benefîciis, Lib. vii. cap. xvi. 
 
 adherence 
 
Lett. CLV. The Jewish Spy. 273 
 
 adherence to the Laws, which will alike prevent 
 their Hearts from being feduced, or their Under- 
 ftandings inipofed on. ^ 
 
 FVom this necefîity of yielding a precife Obe- 
 dience to the Will of the Legiflators, there flows a 
 need of having no Laws in force, but v/hat are 
 ftriclly equitable and juft. Whenever, through a 
 change of Times and Circumftances, Laws, which 
 were once wife and falutary, become of another 
 Nature, there is a neceiTity of refcinding and making 
 them void. There cannot be a more dangerous 
 Error for a State, or one more capable of difturbing 
 the publick Tranquillity, than the Refpeft which 
 fome Nations afFeîl to pay to certain whimfical 
 and ridiculous Laws, and the Memories of thofe 
 who made them. One would imagine, that they 
 were not Men but Deities who inftituted thefe 
 perpetuated Cuftoms; and that being reveal'd to 
 them, who yield to them, as the Contents of our 
 fa'cred Scriptures were to us, they flood in awe of 
 their Indignation who gave them, in cafe they 
 broke through them. Unhappy Confequences of 
 Prejudices embraced in "bur Infancy, whereby a • 
 whole Society is facri-ficed to an Ln pertinence I n- 
 ferted in the written Law, or ingrafted into a Body 
 of old Cufloms! 
 
 We fliould have much lefs refpeft for Legiflators 
 if we reflc'xSted that there is fcarce one of them, 
 even amongft the moft knowingOr illuftrious, who 
 has not introduced fomething extravagant or ridi- 
 culous, or contrary to the Rules of ftrTct Morality 
 and Humanity at leaft. Lycurgus ordaiii'd, by the 
 Laws he gave to Spa?-tû^ that young Women fliould 
 wreflle ftark-naked before Men, and that they 
 (hould dance before them in the f^^ime manner, and 
 fmg certain Songs. This Legiflator, in the Infti- 
 tutionof this extravagant Cuftom, had in view, the 
 N 5 giving 
 
274 ^^^^ Jewish Spy. Lett. CLV. . 
 
 giving ftrength to the young Women's Bodies that 
 they might bring forth ftrong healthy Children, and . 
 feel lefs Inconveniency in Child-bearing. Such a me- 
 thod of rendring Women robuft was not to be prac- 
 tifed, without bidding adieu to all Senfe of Shame 
 or Decency ? or muft not a Man have banifh'd from 
 his Thoughts air the Rules of good Manners and 
 of natural Modefty, before he could think of intro*- 
 ducing a Cuftom fo inevitably deftruftive of them? 
 The Pagans themfelves in the midft of the Impieties 
 and Darknefs of their Religion, could not avoid . 
 difcovering how contrary this infamous Law was 
 to good Manners. In the Andrcmache of Euripides^ 
 Pehus attributes the Loofenefs o^ Helena entirely to 
 her being educated at Sparta. It is not in the power < 
 cfSp^rt^n Ladies^ fays he, to be modeji if they would\ 
 they come cut cf their Parents Houfes with Petticoats 
 through which their Limbs are vifible. They run and 
 %urejile with the young Men ; which I cannot fuffer. 
 After ihis^ are you aftonijh'd that thefe Wo^nen are 
 debauched onj.and -all * P This Paflage from a Greek 
 
 * ^ I QJç clv^ li |3cuAoiTo nÇy 
 
 jfu.a-.orc"; ^TipoXy >^ zrî7r?.oiç Minusyoiç^ 
 A^f^ïf 'urxXonr^ocç T ax d^j:ca-)(^îTii c iy^oi^ 
 
 Ei /x») ^/ivaTxxç (Tic(pf>cvce^ -sra^^svêTf. 
 
 » ■ Negue, Ji ^elit aliqua 
 
 Tuelîa Spartana^ poj/it ejfe cafia : 
 
 ^^i relinqueates Domos, cum JwvenibuSy 
 
 Nudis FemoribuSt Cf 'Tunicis laxatis, 
 
 C.ur/as, iff Pahftras, non tolerandas mihi, 
 
 L crKn.unes haltnt. Deinde an rnirari cportet, 
 
 Li hQn tdi.catis Mulieres cafas? 
 
 Euripides, Androm. Ver. 598. p-;»9. 
 
 Poet, 
 
Lett. CL V. The Jewish ^Sp y. 27 J 
 
 Poet, which fo juftly condemns that Debauchery 
 which Lycurgus had eftabhlh'd on fuch falfe and 
 ridiculous Pretences, is an evident Proof that Pro- 
 bity and Modefty have found Advocates, even a- 
 inongft Nations whofe eftabhfh'd Religions were 
 impious, and but too favourable to the Motions of 
 the PaiTions. Virtue^ fays a Nazarene Father, was 
 refpc^cd^ even vjhere Debauchery bore ihefivay^. May 
 "we not with Reafon fland amazed, that fuch as 
 took upon them the care of Mankind, and the 
 prefcribing to them Laws, fhould neverthelefs be 
 more deficient, in refpeél to a Senfe of Shame and 
 Good-manners, than private Men? 
 
 The Errors of ancient Lawgivers ought to ferve 
 as Cautions to fuch as have, in thefe Days, the 
 power of altering or refcindiirg Laws. They fhould 
 be hindred, by confidering of them, from having 
 any Prejudices in favaar of fuch as have been en- 
 abled by their Anceftors, fo as to doubt of the Ex- 
 pediency of repeahng them, whenever they are 
 found either ufelefs or dangerous. L it not ridicu* 
 lous to have more refpecl, either for a Man or for 
 a Guftom, becaufe the Man has been dead or the 
 Quftom eftablifhed five hundred Years, than if the 
 Perfon was now living, or the Cuftom juft infti« 
 tuted? If we were once agreed on this Principle, 
 it would be eafy to fnew that fuch as are charged 
 with the Care of fuperintending the Laws of feveral 
 Nations, would find enough to point out fuch as 
 ought to be abrogated, and to diftinguifh the Good- 
 frum the Bad. 
 
 * Tavta Vis efl Prohitatîs & Caftitatis, ut omnis, 'vel 
 fene omnis^ ejus Lauds morjeatiu- Hu?Jia?îa Katura ; nee 
 uCqiie adeo fit Turpitud'me ^'iciofa, ut totum amiiiat.Se?iJum 
 Honejlatis. Augult, de Civit. Dei, Lib. ii. cap. xxvi. 
 p. 255. 
 
 N 6 Lycurgus 
 
Zj(y "The Jewish Spy, . Lett. GLV. 
 
 Lycurgu$ had eftabliflv'd m Sparta a Senate com- 
 pofed of twenty-eight Penonsj who ballanced and 
 kept within bounds the Power of their Monarchs. 
 Arijhile cenfures the Gùnilru(Stion of this Senate, 
 becaufe the Ivléinhers were for Life. The Mind^ 
 fays he) grows old us well a s the Body) it is unjuft to ■ 
 comtnii the Lives and F^riuyies of cur Countrymen to- 
 fucb as may become incapable of preferving them, 
 
 Plato could by no means approve what Zycwr^z^j 
 had ordain'd,.as to throwing into a certain Pool at 
 the Foot. of Mount Tagetes fuch Children as were 
 born ill-ihaped, tender,, or with any kind of De-- 
 
 fea..^ 
 
 Arif.cftle^ on the contrary, praifes this unnatural 
 Gruehy, which ought rather to be exercifed by • 
 wild Beafts than by Men. As to Cl-)ildren, who- 
 fhould be bred up or expofed, that Philofopher fays, 
 the Law ought to provide againft the bringing up « 
 fuch as are imperfeâ, or any ways maim'd in their ^ 
 Limbs: and that in fuch Places as the Laws of the^ 
 Country would not permit of this, another Expe-- 
 dient, which he mentions, fhould be pra»5tifed. . 
 
 After reading a Propofition fo abfurd,^ fo^eruel,': 
 and fo apparently repugnant to Humanity, ought* 
 we blindly to adopt Lav/s made- by i^kn^' who are^ 
 held ever fo much fuperiour 'to-the* reiV of their- 
 Species, on account of the ftrength oftr.eir Under-- 
 ftandings? Happy, my Friend, is the Nation where 
 the Laws are in vioh.bly adhered to; and where, 
 at. the fame time^nane are received but what are- 
 founded in Virtue, Prudence, and Probity! Tha^ 
 which, in too many Countries, gives the Judges 
 room to raife themlelves above the Laws, to at-, 
 tribute to themfeives a kind of dcfpotic Authority, 
 and in criminal Matters efpecially, to eredl a kind 
 of arbitrary Jurifdiition, is the vihble Flaws in the 
 written Laws of thofe Nations. As they have it 
 
 not 
 
Lett. CLV. Tbe J-ev/îsu-Spy: 277 
 
 not in their powers either to alter or abrogate thofe 
 Laws, they take this Method of explainmg them 
 to their fdncy; and this-, after a hundred dlftereiTt 
 Methods, according as they apprehend a variety of 
 Cafes may require. . In .all thefe different Explica- 
 tions, tney very orten iiriftake the Motions of their 
 PafTions for Impreffions of Juftice; and if at any 
 time, they lave thereby fome innocent Perfons, it 
 i^probab'e^.tlicy.free as.many v/ho are guiitv.' ' 
 
 I return, dear Ifaac, to the manner in which the 
 £w^i%'Z;adminrfter Juftice. It is wife, prudent, and 
 worthy the Imitation of all other Natiojis^-JW^j^, 
 ever they perceive a Law to^iie-wanting, they ena6t 
 It; and take care to execute it ftridlv, till they fee 
 caufe ta abrogate it. If, in procefs V time, they 
 perceive it to be hurtful, they do not endeavour to 
 elude it by Explicat;ions, but repeal it. From an 
 Apprehenfion of introducing this pernicious Cuf- 
 tom, of leaving Judges at liberty to follow their 
 Caprices in matters of Life, or even of the Proper- 
 ties of their Fellow- Citizens, inflead of granting 
 an unlimited Authority to Magiftrates, thé E}îgli% 
 allow their Kings to be only Protectors of theXaws 
 and not Tyrants. ' 
 
 Adieu, dear Ifaac, live content and happy, and ■ 
 may the God of Qur Fathers cover thee. with Blef-^ 
 fings. 
 
 Londm, . 
 
 l^Y^T^ 
 
2/8^ TZy Jewish Spy; . Lett. CL VI. 
 LETT E R CLVL 
 
 AAR on. m O N C E C a fol s A AC O N IS^ 
 
 Carakây formerly a Rabbi at Con- 
 ftantinoplco 
 
 ^**pHE ftrange Humours, dear Ifaac^ which I have 
 -"- obferv'd in the Nations through which I have 
 rambled j thofe Errors and Prejudices which, gene- 
 rallv fpeaking, blind Mankind, have obliged me to 
 reReft ferioufly on the bad State of Aloralit}' aniong 
 the E'U7'ûpecî?is^ They are thoroughly perfuaded that- 
 the Maxims they follow are more conformable to 
 Reafon, and the Nature of Things, than are thofe - 
 of the Africans and Afiatlcks. However, when ^ we 
 nicely examine their Sentiments, efpecially fuch as 
 are founded on the Authority of their Divines, we 
 eafily difcover that they are as wide of Juftice and 
 Equity as thofe of the CannibahyQi any other Sa- 
 vages. 
 
 We need not be aftcnifli'd that People do not 
 perceive Errors in w-hich they are grown up, and 
 of which they grow every day more and more 
 perfuaded. They cover them with a Veil of Re- 
 ligion and Piety ; and thus they render them vene- 
 rable. They believe that they ferve God. in di- 
 greiTing from the Rules of Morality. How then 
 fhould we wonder at fuch DigrefTions ? 
 
 The firft Nazarene Doctors, whom they com- - 
 inonly call thé Apoftles, preach'd a Doctrine fo 
 conformable to Equity, and of fuch high Ufe to 
 
 Society^ . 
 
Eett. CLVI. . TZ?^ Jewish Spy. 279' 
 
 Society, that their greateftAdverfaries acknowledge • 
 their nioral Precepts to bs infinitely fuperiour to thole • 
 of the wifeiiPhilorophers among .the Ancients. Our 
 Rabbi's themfelyes readily admit, that if the Naza^ - 
 rencs follow'd exactly the fundamental Principles of 
 their Syftem: of Morals, they would be oblig'd ta 
 efteem them as Men every v/ay more worthy of 
 Vm\^^ than Socrates himfeif. • But unfortunately for 
 them,- and-ftill m.ore fo-for us, they hav« entirely 
 abandon'd the Sentiments of their firft Do6lors ; . 
 and their Morality at this Day, is a kind of politi- 
 cal Patchwork, wherein they have endeavour'd to 
 preferve fome outVv^ard Refemblance of their true . 
 and ancient Syftem.' 
 
 It fe^ms to me, dear Ifaacy that Men are born to 
 be the Dupes of all fuch as pretend to inftruft them 
 for their own good, and yet really intend to ferve 
 their private Interefts thereby : Two hundred Years 
 after thefe iîrft Nazarene Dc6^ors had open'd the 
 Eyes of their Difciples, and taught them the Rules 
 of exa£l Equity, a Set of Divines fprung up, who 
 made it their Bufmefs to deftroy what the others 
 had built up*». Among thefe there was one 0« 
 rigen, a Man of a dark and gloomy Temper, who 
 was for pufliing things to Extremity. His Humour 
 carried him fo far, as to make him the firft Vidim 
 of the VVhimflcalnefs of his own Ideas. For in a 
 ftrong Fit of Enthufiafm, he caftrated himfeif, that 
 he might be able to inftruct Women in the Prin- 
 ciples of Religion, without running any rifque of 
 yielding to Temptations. 
 
 ^ TertuWan departed ilill farther from the Rules of 
 true Morality. He publifh'd and maintained Opi- 
 nions which abfolutely^ overturn'd all Rule and 
 
 * See t\iQ fécond Part of 7he Secret Memoirs of the Re^^ 
 puhlîck of Letters , in which our Author treats amply of 
 the Fathers of the Church. 
 
 Order 
 
z^o TZj^ Jewish Spy. • Lett. CLVL 
 
 Order in States : He pretended that a Nazarene 
 could not in Confcience execute the Office of a 
 J^dge, damning ail Magillrates without Reftric- 
 tion, and infinuating, that to be an Emperor, and 
 remain a Chrillian, was impra<5^icable. 
 
 Thefe firft Errors, To contrary to found Morality, 
 were quickly increafed by new ones, invented and 
 publifhed by other Doétors ; each Age produced an 
 Author,, who fapped fome eflential Point of that e- 
 q^uitable Syftem- which the hrÇt Nazarene 'DoGtox^ 
 had eftablifhed^ For tho' thefe Writers were Men 
 of Genius^-Learning and Merit, they neverthelefs 
 gave.way to -the impetuous Motions of their refpec« 
 tive Tempers, and became the firft Dupes of their 
 ownPaflions. In the time when the Arians had the 
 Emperors on their fide, Gregory Nazi a nzen declaim- 
 ed againft all Perfecutions ; he preached warmly for 
 Toleration, and maintained, that only gentle Me^ 
 thods were to be made ufe of to perfuade the Minds 
 of Men. But when on the death of an Emperor, . 
 his Su ccelTor proved no Favourer of j^riani/my the 
 fame Gregory wrote a Letter to NeSfarius^ exhorting 
 him to reprefent to the Emperor, that Piety and Re- 
 ligion demanded helhould not permit the Hereticks^ 
 to afllmble, or fhew any kind of regard to the Prr*'' 
 vileges which had been granted them.' So- far waS' 
 this Nazarene Doé^or from preaching a Morality as- 
 pure as that of the firft P'ounders of this. Religion, 
 that his Do6lrines fell infinitely below-:thof& of the > 
 Pagan Philofophers, who all acknowledged, that 
 that Fidelity, which confifts in Sincerity, and ivi> 
 maintaining oae's Word, is the. Foundation of all 
 Juftice*.- 
 
 * Fundament um eji autem yûjîîtîte Fides i id efiDic- 
 
 iorum Corfventorumque Con liant ia ^ Veritas, Cicero de 
 Pfiiciis, Z.;^r. i. Gap.VÏL' 
 
 ' This 
 
Lett. CLVL TZv Jewish Spy. 281 
 
 This Gregory was not the only one amongft thofe 
 which the Nazarenes called the Fathers^ who fup- 
 ported Errors diredlly contrary to right Reafon, and 
 dangerous to publick Tranquillity. Aujiin^ a Man 
 truly illufrriouS) and of a fublime and quick Wit, 
 but vain, hafty, and of an extravagant Temper, 
 wrote at firft with moderation and prudence again{j> 
 the Donatijfsy who were his Adverfaries \ but at lafl, 
 the ^V''armth of his Genius carried him away. From 
 that moment the Philofopher vanifhed, and the 
 controverfial Divine appeared in his true light : He 
 then began to maintain, loudly and openly, that it 
 was neceflary to perfccute, deftroy, and extermi- 
 nate fuch as are called Hcreticks ; and for this Doc- 
 trine, he juftly deferves the Title of the Patriarch 
 of Perfecutcrs, He even dared to advance, that- 
 v/e are not bound to keep faith with Hereticks, be- 
 caufe all things belong to the Faithful by divine . 
 Rigin ; and there is nothing unto which Here- 
 ticks can have any legal Title. In this manner, , 
 this red-hot Africari eftablifiied it as a thin?; certain, 
 that Contracfs made by Nazarenes with Men of o- 
 ther Religions, were to continue in force, till fuch 
 time only as they had the power of violating them. . 
 How much more pure is the Morality of Cicero? 
 Fraud J fays the Roman Philofopher, aggravates^ 
 injhad of excuftng Perjury *. 
 
 It was not only in their religious Drfputes, that 
 the Fathers, or Kaxarcne Divines,, fubver red mor"al 
 Principles. They fometi mes abufed certain PafTages- 
 taken from our facred Scriptures, in order to autho- 
 rize their ov.'n erroneous Opinions. Anibrofe^ in ex- 
 plaining the Pfalm, wherein David fays that he liad 
 
 * Fraus enlm adjlrin^^it, non dlfToh-it, Perjurium^ 
 Ciceio de Qfficiis, Libr. III. Cap, XXXIL 
 
 ofîended^ 
 
aSz «ra^ Jewish Spy. Lett.CLVI. 
 
 offended againft God alone *, takes occafion from 
 thence to fet up a Principle the moft abfurd, and 
 the moft contrary to Humanity, He fays exprefly, 
 thztDûVîd did nrd fm againft Uriah, ivhen he caitfid'' 
 hi?n i^ be put in the Fore-front of the Battle^ that he 
 7mght fall ; hecaufe Kings ^ being Majlers of the Lives 
 and Gcods of their Suhjecfs^ may take them azvay when 
 they think fit ^ without bei fig guilty of any 'wrongs in re- 
 fpeâf to Men^ en account of thefe JSfs of Cruelly and 
 Caprice f Make this Principle agree, if you can, 
 with the fierce and imperious Behaviour of this very 
 Dod^or towards the Emperor Theodofius^ which the 
 Nazarenes have however extolled beyond meafure, 
 or with thofe outrageous Injuries, with which, with-- 
 out difficulty, he loaded Magncntius. This was far 
 enough from correfponding with that excefiive 
 power, which, in the before-cited Pafiage, he fo 
 liberally beftows on Kings. Can there be any thing 
 more frightful, extravagant, or worthy ofPunifh- 
 ment, than to afî'ert, that a Prince, who takes a- 
 way the Wife of one of his Subje6ls, and caufes 
 afterwards the innocent Husband to be put to death, 
 fms only againfl God, and does no real Injuftice to- 
 wards him who is the Martyr of his Cruelty ? To 
 be fenfible of the pernicious Confequences of an O- 
 pinion like this, one needs onlyreile6l on the fright- 
 ful Diforders which it muft neceflarily draw after 
 it. T}?ere is, hys th^idig^ La Bruyère I, a certain 
 
 * T^ihi foil pecca^i, ^ malum coram- te feci \ ts'c, 
 Pfalm. L. i;erf. 6. 
 
 f Rex liiique erat, r.ullts Legihus tenehatur, quia liheri 
 funt Reges à VincaUs Deildorutn, Neque erii?n ullis ad' 
 P^.-^narn 'vocantur Leoibus, tuti Imperii Poteftate. Ho' 
 ff!tf2z ergo 71071 peccauit, cm not; temoatur obnoxius. bed 
 qitam'vis tutus Imperio, De'votitine tamen ac Fide erat Deo 
 fubditus. Ambrofii Apologia Davidis, Cap. X. 
 
 II Carafteies oa . Mœurs du Siècle, Tom. I. pag. 479. 
 
 Com'- 
 
Lett. CLVL îT^é- Jewish Spy. 283 
 
 Cormnerce^ or Exchange of Duties betzueen Sovereigns 
 and Sy.bjeSfs ; ivbich are the rnojl difficult to perforin^ 
 L deter mine not : This would he to judge ^ on the one fide ^. 
 of thejirin Obligations to Refpecf^ Duty^ Fidelity fibe- 
 dience^ and Dépendance ; and on the other^ the as in- 
 difpenfihk Obligation of doing Juflice, and aSiliig bene- 
 fi€ently^ zvhich belojig to the Prince. To add to this^ 
 that he is abfolute Majler of the Goods of his Subje^s^ 
 zvithout regard, without accotmt ; i/^j', to add this^ is 
 running into the Notions of a Favourite^ who would 
 add any thing. 
 
 Behold, my Friend, a Morality quite different from 
 that of Ambrcfe^ which is fo much the more fur- 
 prifing, becaufe this flavifh Submilîion was never in- 
 fifted upon among the Pagans, the mofl devoted to 
 defpotick Government. So far were they from be- 
 lieving, that Kings were at liberty to poiTels them- 
 felves of the Goods of their Subjects unjuftly, and to 
 take away their Lives at their Will, that Hsrodcini'^ 
 informs us, the Perfians^ who were fo fubmiilive to 
 their Princes, had amongfi: them a Law, by which 
 their Kings were forbid to put a Man to death for a 
 fmgle Crime. By the fame Law, great Lords were 
 forbid to treat their Slaves rigoroufly for the firffc 
 Fault. They were di reared to confider, whether 
 the Mifchiefs they had done were greater than the 
 Services they had render'd them ; and in cafe they 
 were, then it was allowed them to punifh the Cri- 
 minals as they thought fit. 
 
 What Di^fference, dear Ifaac^ between thefe wifs 
 and prudent Laws, and the Opinions of certain Na- 
 zarene Doclors ? Is it not in truth amazing, that 
 People, enlightned only by the weak Rays ofRea- 
 fon, and remaining as yet under the dark Cloud of 
 Paganifm, fhould have |^as notwithftanding of a 
 Morality much more wife and equitable, than that 
 
 * Herodot. Lih\ I. p^g^ 67. 
 
 taught- 
 
284 T/^^ Jewish Spy,. Lett.GLVL 
 
 taught by the wife Men and Priefls among thofe 
 who acknowledge the Spirituality and Unity of the 
 Deity ? 
 
 Some amongft thefe feem to be ignorant of the 
 Laws even of good Manners, and at the fame time 
 incapable of being reftrained by the moft facred 
 Ties of Society,- They have violated the Duties of 
 Friendi]:iip j their PàfTions and their Prejudices have 
 fo blinded them, that they have thought it excufe- 
 able to aecufe and blacken, by the bafeft Calum- 
 nies, thole with whom they have lived on the beft 
 Terms, and with whom they had no other difpute; 
 than what was occafioned by fome flight difference 
 as to certain Points of Dodfrine. "Jerome^ a Man 
 of a bold Genius, one who wrote a vehement Style, 
 which, it muft be owned, in Purity comes little 
 fhort of that of Cicero^ falls without mercy on his 
 old Friend Rvffinus^ becaufe he had embraced the 
 Opinions of Ongen. The good terms they had 
 lived in, and the intimate Friendfhip which had 
 fubfifted betwixt them for many Years, could not 
 allay his Fury ; he was forced to give way to his 
 Choler, and let it empty itfelf in a Libel. Happy 
 had it been for him, if he could have made ufe of 
 the wife LelTons which a heathen Writer hath given 
 the World on this Subjedl. I mean, if he had prac- 
 tifed the fage Maxims delivered by Cicero in his 
 Traâ de amicitia ; he would then, without doubt,, 
 inftead of decrying Ruffinusy endeavour to convince 
 him by fair means, and by ufmg the moft gentle 
 methods. 
 
 True Tendernefs hath no Tafte of Pleafure, Sa- 
 tisfa<Slion, or of Glory, if thofe in whom it has an-: 
 Intereft, take no part in |i^m-*. This delicate Sen- 
 
 * Nee fas cjfe ulla tne VoWptate frui, 
 Decre-ui tantifpert dum ille abeji meus 
 Farticeps. 
 
 Terent. Heaut. Aa. I. Scene IL 
 
Lett. CL VI. Tbe Jewi s h Spv. 25^^"^' 
 
 timent has been long out of the Heads of Divines, 
 and controverfial Writers. There is nothing they do 
 not facrifice to their Paflions, and the moment any- 
 one of their Friends ceafes to be of their opinion, 
 their regard for him ceafes alfo. Their Friend- 
 {hip is turned into Hate» and they offend alike a- 
 gainft the Laws of Equity and the Rules of De- 
 cency. They would, if it depended upon them, 
 exterminate, by Fire and Sword, all fuch as are 
 guilty of the unpardonable Crime of being no longer 
 their Slaves *. Unhappy EfFeds of the Weaknefs 
 of thofe Principles, which make up that falfe and 
 pernicious Morality th.it covers with an Appear- ' 
 ance of Virtue thofe Errors which are moil contrary 
 to the publick Good, and moft deftru6live of the . 
 Peace of civil Society. 
 
 If a true and whclefome Moraiïty be known a- 
 mongft the Nazarenes^ they are indebted for it 
 wholly to Laymen. Grotius and Puff'endcrf have 
 
 » The Ecclefiafticks have in all Ages found out hne 
 Titles to gild their cruel Perfecutions againfl their Ene- 
 mies, or rather agr.inft thofe they did not Hke. '* I l'hall 
 '* bury in Silence, y2?>'; « Bijhop of the fifth Century, nvho 
 " ■'u.'as perfecuted for Isejlorianifm, the Chains, Confif- 
 ** cations, Marks of Infamy, MafTacres worthy of Com- 
 ** paffion, and of which the Enormity is fuch, that thofe 
 ** who were Eye-witnefTes of thefe Slaughters, fcarce 
 ** believe what they favv'. All thefe Tragedies were adted 
 
 *< byBifhops; amongll them Effrontery 
 
 ** pafles for a mark of Courage, they call their Cruelty, 
 ** Zeal, and their Fraud is honoured with the Name of 
 ** Wifdom". EiftJTsû ra. 5g(r/xà, rx îcer/xcTj^p/a, txc, ly,fjifciç, 
 
 SpxixxTHpysWat 5<à tcAAù»' Hjfe'xv ..... i^^fxc-jTijÇf àvdpeiet 
 vcvéïxiqxh^ wfLOTki^C ÎUjAoç aVo/xaq-a/, c îoAoç ffo^tx ^f^oyiqai» 
 Etherius Tyrannorum Epifcopus, inter Opera Theodo- 
 rsti, Tom. V, pag. 688 i^ 689. 
 
 done 
 
286 The Jewish Spy. Lett. CLVI. 
 
 done more good to Mankind by their Writings, 
 than all the Divines antient and modern. Thefe 
 ■fage Lawyers have gone up to the Fountain ; they 
 ihave examined with care the Motives furnifhed by 
 ^the Law of Nature. They have fupported thefe by 
 ithe Authoritli^s of the firft Nazarene Legiflators, 
 whom I have before recommended, in correding 
 the Abufes, and deftroying the Errors which had 
 been introduced by thofe Men who were defirous 
 of eftabhfhing as Points of MoraHty, whatever wa^ 
 diâ-ated to them by their Caprice, their Hatred and 
 their Ambition ; they have fhewn their Readers the 
 naked Truth, which others had made it their buil- 
 nefs to conceal. However, notwithftanding the 
 Efforts they have made to become ufeful to all 
 the World, they have hitherto been able to do but 
 a Part of the Good they propofed. Too many 
 Divines, zealous in fupporting their own Errors, 
 and thofe of their PredeceiTors, have done all they 
 could ; and are yet ufifig their utmoft Endeavours to 
 difcredit all Works, which teach a pure, fimple, 
 and humane Morality^ and which difapprove of all 
 the Violences they would coniecrate under the fpe- 
 cious Pretext of Religion. îFhen the admirable 
 Treat! fe of th^ Rights ofWzr and of Peace, fays 
 Fuffeiidorf^^ <i firft appeared^ the Ecclejiafkh^ infiead 
 of thanking the Author^ rcfe up ogaivfi him^ one and all^ 
 a7îd not only procured it to he put into //^ê Index Expur- 
 ga tori us, hy the Popijh Inquifition^ at tvhich one needs 
 not be furprized^ butalfo excited fever al Protef ant Di- 
 'Vines to write agapft^ and to do their utmojl to decry 
 it. T'he fa77ie Prahices were repeated on the puhlijh- 
 i>îg the'i^av/ of Nature and of Nations 3 4h^ Jefuits 
 *it Vknua. procured its Prc^biiion. 
 
 * Traité du Droit des Gens^ Prface de Barbeyrac, 
 fage 22. 
 
 Be- 
 
a:.ett. CLVI. 77^^ Jewish Spy. 287 
 
 Believe me, dear Ifaac^ that this outrageous Aver- 
 fion of the Divines towards all fuch as have at- 
 tempted to fupport the Lawi ot Humanity, and to 
 make known its Duties to their Fellovv-Citizens, is 
 the ftrongeft Obftacle to found Morality ; infomuch 
 that one may fafelv fay, that there is more benefit to 
 be received by reading the Books left us by Pagan 
 Philofophers, than tnoie of certain Do6lors,who pafs 
 notvvithftanding for the great Oracles of Mankind. 
 Haplefs are thofe Nations, who are unacquainted 
 with any other moral Syftem, than fuch an one as 
 is to be pick'd up out of Books approved by the iS/^ 
 «///>, Portuguefe^ and Italian Inquifitors; ! 
 
 Farewel, dear Ifaac^ and addrefs thy Prayers to 
 the Supreme Being, that he would be pleafed to <xiea 
 the Eyes of ail Mankind ; for tho' we are Jeivs^ 
 we ought notwithftanding to wifh that the Av7z^- 
 re7ies knew and praclifed a more equitable Mora- 
 lity. If the Spaniards and Pcrtuguefe would become 
 pifciples of Grotius and Puffendorf., they wou Id not 
 ilaughter our Brethren in the iniquitous manner 
 they do. May the God of our Fathers heap Blei- 
 fings upon thee, 
 London. 
 
 LETTER CLVII. 
 
 Isaac Onis Caraite^ formerly Rabbi 
 ^Z' Conflantinople, to Aa«r,on Mon« 
 
 CECA. 
 
 ^• 
 Vr O U are, without queftion furprized, my dear 
 * Mcnceca^ at my Silence, and accufe me, I dara 
 b<y^ of Lazinefs and Negligence 3 but you will 
 
 change 
 
288, TZv Jewish Spy. Lett. CLVÎI. 
 
 change your Opinion, when I tell you, that I have 
 lately made a Voyage to Jerufalem. The Nearnels 
 of the holy City of Dav'ià^ the Defire I had of fee- 
 ing that illuftrJous Capital of the Kingdom of our 
 Anceftors, the Facility of fatisfying my Curiofity, 
 engaged m.e to lay hold of the Opportunity which 
 offered, of making a Trip in a Veilel bound from 
 Alexandria to Saint Jchn d^ Acre. 
 
 It is impoiTible for me to exprefs to you, my dear 
 Monceca^ the Agitations of Mind I felt in paffing 
 through Paleftine, Joy, Grief, Pity, Anger, Re- 
 fpeel, Spight ; each of thefe Paffions fucceeded the 
 other in my Heart, and fometimes rofe there all at 
 once. Happy Place ! cried I, ivhrre the God of Ifrael 
 was ferved heretofore with fuch Sphndcr as his IVor- 
 Jhip deferved ; have my Eyes the pleafure of beholding 
 ihee ? But alas ! in what flat e are thy Cities and Pa- 
 laces, of which thou wert formerly full ? I fee nothing 
 hut Ruins, melancholy Remains, which have efcaped the 
 Cruelty, the Rage and Fury of our Enemies, fuji and 
 good pod, to whom alone belorigeih Vengeance, rcinemher 
 thy iesple'l 
 
 AVthefe Words, my dear Monceca, my Eyes were 
 filled with Tears ; and tho' I difapprove the re- 
 vengeful Temper of my Brethren, yet a holy Fury 
 at that time feized me, and got the better of all my 
 philofophical Reflections. I proftrated myfelf upon 
 the Ground, and turning myreif towards the Ruins 
 of the Temple, from which I was not diftant above 
 fifteen Leagues ; I there pour'd forth the Prayer 
 which -our Brethren ufe many times in the Year in 
 their Synagogues. 
 
 Look down^ O Lord! Look down on the Evils which 
 Dur Eyicmies do unto us. Remember thou the Cruelties 
 ij/'Nebuchadonafar, ayid thofe of Titus ; and above 
 ell, O Lord remember Adrian, the mo^fi cruel of all the 
 Dejhoyers cf our Nation^ who ere^edjhamful Statues 
 
Lett. CL VII. 72;^ Jewish Spy, 289 
 
 on thy Jitar, and defiled thy holy City with Idolatry : 
 Who raxed and utterly dejlroyed nine hundred and four - 
 fcore Towns ^ and burnt four hundred and four f core Sy- 
 nagogues *. My Grief grew flill ftronger, when I 
 came to Jerufalem^ and I felt my Heart pierced 
 with a thoufand Wounds, when I look'd upon the 
 Ruins of the Temple. The Turks have built a 
 Mofque upon its outward Court, which is ftill paved 
 with black and white Marble. In the middle, and 
 where heretofore was the Holy of Holies, there is a 
 MohammedanTQm'^\Q, covered with a grand Dome, 
 fijpported with two Rows of Columns of Marble. In 
 the midft of this Dome there is a large Stone, from 
 v/hich the Turks afTure us Mohamed went up into 
 Heaven. 
 
 Judge, my dear Monceca^ of the Defpair of a 
 true Ifraelite, at the fight of this infamous Edifice, 
 laifed on the Foundation of Solomotis Temple. The 
 Grief, which I was unable to {hake ofF, would not 
 allow me to remain long at ferufalem. Satisfied 
 therefore with kifPrng the holy Earth, which our 
 Pofterity fhall one day purify from all the Impieties, 
 and all the Abominations which our Enemies have 
 comm.itted there, I returned to Cairoy carrying with 
 me a Box full of the precious Earth on which the 
 Temple was built. I did this not in Imitation of 
 the Superftition of the Nazarenes^ who, becaufe 
 they have an infinite Refpe6t for certain Places at 
 ferufalem^ believe that there is fomething more in 
 that Earth than in any other ; but becaufe I was 
 
 ♦ There is in the J eivljh Ritual a Hymn for the ninth • 
 Day of the Month Ah^ in which we read thefe Words, 
 Recordare, Domine, qiialis fiierit JdrianuSy Crudelitatis 
 ConfiJia awpkxuSy confuluit Idola fe pervertentia^ <f? fuflulit 
 combiijjitque quadringinta cff o3oginta Synagcgas. Traila- 
 tus Talmudicus, Gifra didtus, apud Joan, à Lent, de 
 fud^orum Pfeudo-IV'leiBis, /^j:. i8. 
 Vol. IV, O glad 
 
290 7^^ Jewish Spy. Lett CL VII. 
 
 glad to have it by me as an efficacious Memorial of 
 the Evils our Crimes have brought upon our Coun- 
 try, and that I might thereby be excited to be once 
 more virtuous. 
 
 When I confider, dear Monceca^ the Mifchiefs 
 our Fathers have fuffered, I am inclined to believe 
 that they were guilty of Tome prodigious Crimes, 
 the Knowledge of which hath not reached us. 
 Nay, I muft own to you freely, that were I riot 
 moft firmly perfuaded of the Truth of our Reli- 
 gion, I fhould, on examining the Ills we have fuf- 
 fered, Tmce the Se6ls of the Nazarencs commenced, 
 be led to believe the Prophecies were accomplifned, 
 and that the God of ^-^^Z having abandoned us his 
 People, had made choice of fome other. 
 
 Without flaying to ccnfider the firfl Deflruc- 
 tion of 'Jerufulem by T^itus^ I run over in my mind, 
 with Aflonifhment and Horror, thofe Evils with 
 which the 'Jeivs were overwhelmed by Adrian, 
 Aft^r that cruel Emperor had flain Barcokehas^ and 
 taken the City oï Bitter^ the laft Refource of Ifraely 
 lie ordered the Image of a Hog, cut in Alarble, to 
 be placed on that Gate of Jerufakîn vrhich looks 
 towards Bethlehem, He caufed a Theatre, and va- 
 rious Temples to falfe Gods, to be erected with 
 Stones collecfed out of the Ruins of the Temple of 
 Solomon^ and fet up the Statue of Jupiter in the 
 Place of the holy Sanctuary. He forbid the Jeivs^ 
 on pain of death, to enter Jerufal£?n^ and cut oiF 
 the Ears of a Multitude, whom he caufed to be 
 .tranfported into feveral Countries. 
 
 If the Miferies we daily fufFer in Spain and Por- 
 tugal^ did not fhew us too clearly how far the Ma- 
 lice of Men may extend, one could not give credit 
 to the Cruelties which our Authors alTure us were 
 cxercifed on our Nation by Adrian and his Soldiers. 
 They fay, that after the taking ^Bitter, thg Slaugh- 
 ter 
 
Lett.CLVII. The Jewish Spy. 291 
 
 ter was fo grcat^ and Rivulets of Blood ran with fuch 
 Force, that they carried before them Stones of four 
 Pounds IVeight, and difcoloured the Sea at a confide^ 
 rahle dijlance^. They tell us farther, that when 
 the Romans had pojfejjed themfehes of this City, they 
 drove all the Scholars into one Place, and there burnt 
 them, with their Books j becaufe at the beginning of 
 the Siege thefe Touths had made ufe of their Pen- knives 
 and Steel-pencils, to kill their Enemies f . Thus they 
 made it a capital Crime for Perfons to defend them- 
 felves when they were attacked. The Lofs of Bit- 
 ter was attended with the entire Difperfion of our 
 Nation. The Ills we endured under Titzis were 
 but flight things, compared to what we fuffered un- 
 der Adrian, He caufed Numbers of Jews to be fold 
 at Fairs, at the fame Price with Horfes; and fent 
 Multitudes into Egypt, where they perifhed with 
 Hunger, Thirft and Fatigue. Is it poiTible, dear 
 Monceca, that God fhould expofe a People to fuch 
 Mifchiefs, if their Crimes had not merited fo rude 
 a Chaftifsment ? I cannot think but I am in the 
 right to fay, that our Authors have hid from us the 
 true Caufes why the Almighty thus abandoned his 
 People to the Rage of their Enemies. Surely the 
 fews had committed fome great Crimes again ft the 
 Romans, with which the Deity was juftly offended. 
 Under colour of Religion perhaps they had commit- 
 ted Murders, and denied themfelves with the Blood 
 of Innocents. We (hall fee fome caufe to credit 
 thefe Sufpicions, if we give credit to the Writings 
 of a Nazarene Father, who lived within two Ages 
 
 * ^inimo Sanguis rapiehcit fecum Petras Magnitudinis 
 quadraginta Modiorum, donee ad quadraginta Mil liar ia uf- 
 que in Oceanwn fluerit. L,cnty pag. 18. 
 
 •f- Ijla Pubes pfincipio Hojies hnpetum facientes Graphiis 
 fuis confodiebat. Cum 'verh hi pravalerent^ TJrbe?nque cœ- 
 pij/ent^ in<vûlverunt Puendos ilk s cum Libris Jiiis, eofque 
 Jgne Jic cremarunt. Joan, à Lent, pag, 13. 
 
 O 2 after 
 
^(^Z TJt' Jewish Spy. ' Lett. CL VII. 
 
 after Adrian. By him we are informed, that the 
 famous Barcckebas^ the Author of the War made 
 by the Jews againft the Romans^ was a celebrated 
 Impoftor, who plunged our Nation into an Abyfsof 
 Mifery, out of which it has not dehvered itfelf to 
 this day. This Wretch, who called himfelf the 
 Mefjiah^ made ufe of a Trick to breathe Fire and 
 Smoke *, which is now common to our Jugglers. 
 By this means he excited the Jews to revolt, and 
 by an Excels of Fanaticifm, fcarce to be diftin- 
 guiflied from Madnefs, he obliged all the y^tcj wdio 
 came to ferve in his Army, which became at length 
 to be two hundred thoufand ftrong, to cut off a 
 Finger, as an Inftance of their Courage. This 
 Monfter, born for the Deftruclion of his Brethren, 
 feduced almoft the whole Nation. They entred in- 
 to his Views, fhook off for a time the Roman Yoke, 
 and, in Extenuation of their Revolt, and of thefe 
 Murders, fet up the mofl frivolous Pretext that ever 
 was heard of. To this our Authors agree, and, by 
 the Reafons they offer in defence of the Jews tak- 
 ing Arms, juftify all the Cruelties of the Romans. 
 
 If we believe what is told us in the Talmud., the 
 War againft Adrian was occafioned by the putting 
 feveral Romans to death moft cruelly and unjuflly. 
 Therein we are told f, that it was a Cullom among 
 the Jews, for a Man to plant a Cedar when a Son 
 was born unto him, and a Pine at the Birth, of a 
 Daughter 3 they made ufe of the Timber of thefe 
 
 Trees 
 * Ui ille Barcolelas, AuBcr ^edltionis Judaic^, Stipu- 
 lât» inOre fuccenfam, Anhelitu n^entilahat, ut Jiam?nas e- 
 ■vomere 'videretur. Hieronymi Apologia li. adverfus 
 Ruffinum. • ' 
 
 *y In More fuit ut cum nafcereiur Infans plantarent Ce- 
 r^umy cum Infantula Finum : cumque Nati ccrtraherent 
 Matrimoniurn^ ex iis conficerent Thalamum. 'Die quddam, 
 ticnfdiit Filia C^fariSt ^ ccnfra^um cji ei Crus Car- 
 
 penti 
 
Lett. CLVII. 7Z?^ Jewish Spy. 293 
 
 Trees for making the nuptial Bed, when thofe Chil- 
 dren came to be eftablifhed in the World at whofe 
 Birth they were planted : The Daughter of the 
 Emperor Adrian palling through Judea^ the Vehicle 
 in which fhe was carried, broke down, and the Ro- 
 mans not knowing the ufe to which thofe Trees were 
 deftin'd, cut down one of them to repair the Prin- 
 cefs's Carriage ; hsreupon the yews rofe in an In- 
 fiant, and murder'd all her Train, for daring to de- 
 flroy a Tree they held lacred. 
 
 There can be nothing more ridiculous, or more 
 falfc than this Story, fince nothing is more certain 
 than that the Emperor Adrian never had a Daugh- 
 ter. But admiuiiig the Story to be true, did not 
 our Anceftors deferve to be feverely punifhed, for 
 revolting on {o Oight an Occifion ? VVas it not a 
 frightful A(5t of Barbarity to flaughter the Guards of 
 a Princefs, for a thing of which they knew not the 
 Confequences ? 
 
 Without having recourfe to the chimerical No- 
 tions of the ^Talmudy let us, MoJiceca^ freely own, 
 that the Irnpoftor Barcokebas prevailing on the mu- 
 tinous Difpofition of our Anceftors, drew upon them 
 thofe Ills, by which they were crullied. Inftead of 
 thinking of the Mifchiefs which fell upon them in 
 the days of Titus^ and which ought to have ferved 
 'em for Warnings, they irritated the Ro?nans by 
 their Difobedience ; and, by their Cruelties and 
 Murders, offended God, in whom alone they ought 
 to have put their Truft. It ought therefore to be 
 fairly owned, that as never any People in the World 
 fuftered as we have done ; fo did there never exift 
 penti Cedrum ijiiufmodi exciderunt, atque earn attulerunt. 
 Infurrexerunt in eos Jud^ei, atque eos c e cider unt. Re latum 
 eft C^fari rehellare Jud^os. ProfeSius ille in eos ira- 
 cundiis excidit totum Cornu Ifraelis. Traftatus Talmu- 
 âico-Babyl. Giffin diftus, folio 57. apud Joh. à Lent de 
 Jadasorum Pfeudo-MelTiis, /i-a^. y, 
 
 O 3 any 
 
294 7"^^ Jewish Spy. Lett. CLVIL 
 
 any whofe Cruelty, Pride, and Obftinacy, did fo 
 much merit to be abandoned by God. And which 
 is ft ill worfe for us, moft of the Crimes of our Na- 
 tion have been committed through the Inftigation 
 of fuch as have pretended to defend -Religion by 
 committing 'em. 
 
 We ought to have our paft Misfortunes everlaft- 
 ingly before our Eyes, in order to hinder our be- 
 coming Dupes to fome new Impoftor. Whenever 
 the Meffiah fhall come to put an end to our Sla- 
 very, and to break our Chains in pieces, he will 
 not need to dire(5l us to dip our Hands in Blood, 
 His Power alone will fubdue the proudeft Hearts, 
 and his Will muft fuffice to do whatfoever he de- 
 fires : To him nothing will be impoflible; falfe 
 Prophets and Impoftors only found their Do^lrine 
 in the Deftruâion of a Part of Mankind. Is it not* 
 madnefs and follv to maintain, that God will fend 
 us a Deliverer, who fhall authorize us to commit 
 all forts of Cruelties ? Thofe who form fuch an 
 ïdea of the Meffiah, make little difference betweea 
 him and a Spani/blnquxûior. Let us, Monce^a^ re- 
 jeét thefe idle Notions, and let us be affured, that 
 our Deliverer, inftead of lighting up new Diftur— 
 bances in the World, will fpread Peace and Tran- 
 quillity over all the Earth. 
 
 Farewel, dear Monceca^ form no hopes but what 
 are wife and worthy of the Saviour whom we ex- 
 
 LET- 
 
Lett. CL VIII. 7/?'^ Jewish Spy. 295 
 
 LETTER CLVIII. 
 
 Aaron Mon c e c a, /o Isaac Onis, 
 Caraite^ formerly a Rabbi at Conftan- 
 tinople. 
 
 'Tp H E Nazarenesy dear Ifaac, feem to have rea- 
 ^ fon for thofe Reproaches with which they load 
 moft of our Authors. They accufe them of having 
 invented a thoufand odious Stories injurious to their 
 Legiflator, and to have falfified antient Hiftory with 
 equal Ignorance and Malice. It is impoffible for us 
 to de-ny, that the Jeivijh Writers have given their 
 Adverfaries juft reafon to make thefe Complaints, 
 For without fpeaking of the grofs Fables which are 
 inferted in the Talmud^ on purpofe to hurt the Me- 
 mory of Jefus of Nazareth, whofe Syflem of Mo- 
 rality is fo pure, that no Ifraelite Philofopher can 
 forbear admiring it ; what Writings, big with Ca- 
 lumny, have not the Rabbins fcatter'd abroad ever 
 fmce the firft Appearance of this Se6l ? I do not 
 know, my Friend, whether a certain Book has fal- 
 len into your hands, the Author of which lived a- 
 bout four or five hundred Years ago, but who has 
 difguifed himfelf as well as he could, with intent to 
 make his Work appear as if written fhortly after the 
 death of the Legiflator of the ISlazarenes. This 
 Fraud, however, is eafily difcovered, and may be 
 clearJy made out ; fo that the Nazarenes, far from 
 fearing its Confequences, have themfelves taken the 
 pains to publil"h them: They have caufed it to be 
 printed J accompanied with fuch learned -Notes, as 
 O 4 cover 
 
296 Tlie Jewish Spy, Lett. CLVIIL 
 
 cover with Confufion, not only the Author of this 
 fabulous Tgle, but alfo our whole Nation ; fond of 
 Stories prejudicial to the Nazarenes^ and incapable 
 of diftinguifhing Truth from Falfhood *,. Thofe 
 who adopt, without Examination, all the Calum- 
 nies that are publiflied againft our Adverfaries, are 
 not aware that in doing this they furniih them with 
 Arms againft themfelves.. Such as make ufe of their 
 Reafon, and who are not blinded with Prejudice, 
 are filled with Indignation, when they fee us reafon - 
 ing on Fafts notorioufly falfe, and thenceforward 
 give no fort of credit to the Writings of a Man who 
 blufhes not at the advancing a notorious Falfhood, 
 of which he is at the time he advances it perfecflly 
 convinced. This is the reafon that the Truth gains 
 no ground, but is in a manner obfcured and buried 
 under the Falfities which accompany it. 
 
 There can be nothing ïo horrid, dear Ifacc^ as 
 the Impoflures inferted in the Work of which I am 
 fpeaking. When our Rabbies maintain the Legiflator 
 of the Nazarenes not to be the Mefîias, I look upon 
 them as Men a6ling conformable to the Principles 
 of their Religion; but when they invent the mod 
 atrocious Falfhoods,. I do not fee how they are to be 
 excufed. It is a Truth of publick Notoriety, that 
 Jefus of Nazareth was born of a Woman, whofe 
 Morals were perfedlly pure. His Followers fay, 
 that this Woman conceived by the Operation of the 
 Holy Spirit. The more moderate Jews content 
 themfelves with making him the Son of Jofeph and 
 
 * The Title of this Work runs thus : nn*?^n "^£0 
 ■^■^X'^n yi©^ Hiftoria Jefchuae Nazareni, à Jucl^eis blaf- 
 phemè corrupta, ex Manufcripto haclenus inédite nunc 
 demum édita, ac Verfione & Nctis (quibas Judseorara 
 Nequitiae propiiis deteguntur, & Authoris Afferta Inep- 
 tias ac Impietatis convincuntur,) illuftrata, à Joh. Jac. 
 Huldrico Tigurino. Lugduni Batai'orum, 1 705, in 8-x-o. 
 
Lett. CLVIII. The Jewish Spv. 297 
 
 Mary ; but the Author of this Manufcript hath pub- 
 lifhed, with refped to his Birth, a Fable every way 
 abfurd. 
 
 According to him*, under the Reign of Herod, a 
 certain Perfon, whofe Name Wâs Papus, the Son of 
 Jehy married a Woman whofe Name was Miriam^ 
 
 * Ecce, Tempore Regni Herodis Profeîyti, erat Fir quif- 
 fiatn cui Nome': Tafus F. J eh. Huic Uxor erat Nomine 
 Miriam, Tilia Kalphus, Soror R. Simeonis Hakalph. Erat 
 autem ilia Miriam ( Celebris ilia) antequam zVz Matrimo- 
 nii urn d'uceretur, Comttrix Capillorum muliebriiim. Nup- 
 ta ilia erat Papo,juxta Legem Mojls ^ I/raelis, Forma- 
 eve Speciojitate fupra alias eminehat. Oriunda ex Tribu 
 Benjarnin. Nee Mari tus ejus Papus ei permittebat ex jE- 
 dibus egrsdi in picblicum, Jed Fores eum injinem claufasha- 
 bebat : fufpicabatur enim lafchvos HomAnes (Formée pra- 
 fiantia ille.^oi) Rem forte cur.i ilia hahituros. Fad urn 
 it^ro ej}^ ut Die una, quo Jejunium Expiationum agitabatur, 
 Ftnejiras ejus tranfiret improbus ilk Jofeph Pa;idira, Na^ 
 %arenus, qui Formes ctiam Pidchritudine irjignis erat. Is, 
 cum animad-ver terete Virum in j^ dibus tunc nullum ejp, e^ 
 lAa 'voce inclamat : Miriam, Miriam, quo ufque fede- 
 bîs feclufa ? ProfpeSIat ilia de Fenejlra, eique rcfpondei : 
 Jofeph, Jofeph, hberam me fac, fodes ! // ergo Jofephus, 
 ^ adducit fecum fcalam^ Miriam e Fer.ejîrâ defcendit, l^ 
 
 fugiunt ambo Hierofolymd Bethlehemam^ ipfo Expiationii 
 Die Jejunioy ibique degunt Diebus multis mmip.i cogniti. 
 Concubuit autem "J ofephus cum Miriam ipfa Exp. Die, Fe- 
 ria efuriali. Concepit ilia, eique parit Jttno njertenteje- 
 
 fchuam Nazarenum. Concepit rurfus, ^ peperit Filios Fi- 
 liafque ■\. 
 
 Hift. Jefchuae, ^«2^. 4. ^5. 
 f Filios Filiafque ] Secundum Litersm Nebulo in tell i. 
 gere petulanter voluitquae in Evangelio memorantur de 
 ChrilU Fratribiis & >ororibu£. Math. XIl. 46. X[IÎ. 55, 
 56, t^c. Cum tamen nofTe facile potuiffet recutiius, Phrafi' 
 Heb. Fratres denotare quofvis propinqua Cognatione can* 
 
 jundosj 6cQ. 
 
 Iluldrici NotaeinHift. Jefchuae,/^?^. 10. 
 O 5 the 
 
29S> ?■& Jewish Spy. Lett. CLVIII. 
 
 the Daughter of Cnlphus, and Sifter of Rahbt Si?neon 
 Hakalf. This Miriam was very handfome, and Papus 
 her Husband very jealous. He therefore took care to 
 have her (hut up conftantly. His Precautions, how- 
 ever, in the end proved fruitlefs. On a certain Feaft-- 
 day,when this jealous Man was gone abroad, onejo- 
 Jeph Pandira^ a Nazarene^ came under the Window 
 of Mirianis Room, and fpoke to her thus : Miriain ! ' 
 Miriam ! how long will you continue thus imprifoned? 
 To which fhe anfwered, looking out of her Win- 
 dow, y^/)y6 / Jofeph I deliver me^ and I ivill go with 
 ihee. Jofeph went and brought a Ladder, and x^z- 
 riam got out of the Window. They went then 
 together to Bethlehem^ and at the end of a Year 
 Miriam bore Jefus^ and afterwards many Sons and . 
 Daughters. 
 
 Can there be any thing more abfurd, dear Ifaac^. 
 than this odious, this infamous Falihood, to which 
 the greateft Part of our own Authors give the lye. 
 This the able Editor of that Book hath made clear- 
 ly appear in his Notes. He has farther {hew'd, 
 that the Jewijh Author, in order to give an air of 
 Truth to his Fables, hath taken feveral things from 
 the Na-zarene Scriptures, and disfigured them to 
 jTJake them ferve his purpofe. For Inftance, in the 
 clofe of the laft Paff^ge, the Sons and Daughters 
 are plainly copied from the Brethren and Sifters 
 mentioned in the Gofpeîs, tho' thefe Terms fre- 
 quently fignify no more than near Relations^ 
 
 The Hatred of this Jeiinjh V/riter is not fuffici- 
 ently glutted, by defaming the Legifiator. of the 
 Nazarenes 2iS to his Birth j he therefore proceeds to 
 make him a Parricide, and his Fable on this Sub- 
 je6^ is more grofs, and more ridiculous than the firft. 
 He tells us*, that finding himfelf flighted at A^a- 
 
 zareth 
 
 * Acadit autem ut Je/chua, his 'vifi^ cogrAtoque f.u- 
 rium/e ejj'e^ ac iddrca Nota (Cahitii) à ^apievtibus de- 
 
 honejïatum. 
 
Lett. CLVni. 7*^^ JÊwish'Spy. 299 
 
 %areth on account of his Birth, he went home to 
 his Mother, pretending to have the Tooth-ach : : 
 He told her, that he had found in his Books an eafy 
 Remed}r for his Pain, which confifted in holding 
 the Nipple of her Breads between his Teeth. The 
 Mother no fooner confented, than he told her, he 
 would never let go his hold, until (he confefled to 
 him the Truth of his Birth ; which when (he had 
 done, he was fo enraged, that he flew Jofeph^ and 
 then retired into Galilee. 
 
 Is it poiîible, dear Ifaac^ that our Brethren the 
 yews (hould be fo wanting to themfelves, as not to 
 ftifiea Book filled with fuch evident Falfhoods ? Or 
 how is it poiïible they could avoid feeing that, by 
 fufFering it to go abroad in the World, they {hould 
 juftify the Reproaches heap'd upon 'em by thei\^^- 
 zarenes^''2iZ on Men void of all regard either for 
 hmejlatum, ahterit Nazaretham^ conveneritqjie Matretn 
 fuam^ ibique'^'^cVTctKyio(,/e gran; iter ajjligi Jlmulans, Matri 
 ojferuerit^fe cum Acadetnicis Studiis incu?nberet, p-ohatum 
 contra Dentium Dolores Remedium audi'vijje ; illudque hoc 
 ejfe^ fi Mater Affiiili Mammas immittat inter Januam 
 Cardinefque media Si Dentibufque labor ans eas exjugat, euni 
 renjalifuriim. Refpondit Mater ( indulgent ijjime, Malique 
 nihil fufpicata) Agedum, Fili mi, ponam ego Mammas 
 meas inter Cardines médias : tu eas exfuge. Mater ita 
 que Mammarum alteram interponit: fed J ejchua Fore 
 clandens. Mammas Maternas gra^vijfime affligity Matrem 
 que lia alloquitur : Non te priùs dimitto, quàmihiedixe 
 ris, qua ratione in Lucem éditas ego fim, & quse Studi: 
 oiim cua fuerint, Refpondit ergo Mater : Spurius tu ei 
 Mari tus enim alter etiam mihi eft, oui Nomen Pap 
 Progenitor autem tuus Jofeph in Matrimonium me acc^ 
 pit, non accepte a legitime Marito Divortii Libell 
 Omnes itidem Liberi mei reliqui Spurii (unt. Hc-ec 
 percepifftty Jefcbua Ira excandefcit^ iâ ahiens Patrem 
 j'ephum Qcàdit : pofîea ^'ero in Ga/ilo'am Jud^a aufug\ 
 Hill. JefchuK, pag, 32, ^" ^Ja 
 
 T 
 
 cVC cul 
 
 
50O . 7^^ Jewish Spy. Lett. CL VIII. 
 
 Truth or Decency, when violating either of them 
 will enable them to injure their Adverfaries ? When 
 a Philofbpher reads ' thefe Abfurdities, and refieds 
 that they are not only approved by the Jevjs^ but 
 maintained by 'em to be inconteftible Truths 4 has 
 he not a right to conclude, that all our Authors in 
 general are Cheats and Deceivers, and that fuch as 
 give any credit to their Works,, are Creatures void . 
 of common Senfe ? Was there ever fuch a pitiful 
 Tale as that of the Tooth-ach, and all its Confe- 
 quences ? Ifay nothing of the Death oïjofeph^ be- 
 caufe that fs a Faéï to which not only all the Na-- 
 %arene Authors give the \jq^ but alfo all the Writ- 
 ings of our ancient Rabbins^ who, amid ft their 
 moft malicious Reproaches, never fay a word of 
 this fort. 
 
 For my part, I am no longer aflonlfhed, , ^^r, 
 at the hatred the Nazarmes bear to us Jjws. The. 
 Excefs to which moft of our Writers carry their 
 Difcourfes, feem to me the juft Caufe thereof ; and 
 I am rather amazed, that, confidering our Behavi- 
 our, they bear with us at all. 1 readily own one 
 thing, that thefs ridiculcms Tales, odious and infa- 
 mous as they are, are properly treated by our Ad- 
 verfaries, who efîedually revenge the flat Jefts our 
 Authors break upon them, by treating their Writ- 
 ings as they do with the utmofl: Contempt. 
 
 Before ] finifh this Letter, I muft take notice of 
 an Attempt made by this Author to ridicule a Mi- 
 çacîe of the Nazarene Leglflator. He went, fays, 
 he *, v/ith two of his Difciples to an Inn, and ask- 
 ing 
 
 * Veneruni Itaqus inde in Di'verforium. ^<^'- it ihi ye- 
 b ex Hofpite: Ell-ne tibi unde hi edant ? Refpondit Hbf- 
 ' 's: Non niihi fuppetit, nifi Anferculus unus alTatus. 
 imit ergo jfefus Anferem^ illijque ûpponitt aiens : Anfer 
 c exiguus nimis eil, quàm ut a t.vjas comedi debeat. 
 irmicura eamus : & ilie, qui fomiiiaat Scmnium opti- 
 mum 
 
Lett. CLVIII. The Jewish Spy^ 3^i' 
 
 ing the Hoft if he had any thing to eat, he an- 
 fwered that he had only a Goofe ; whereupon turn- 
 ing to his Dlfciples, he faid, This is too little for us 
 all, let us go to our reft, and he that has the beft 
 Dream, let him eat it when he awakes. They did 
 (o ; but in the Night Jehuda arofe, and eat the 
 Goofe. When Day broke, Peter faid, I dreamed 
 I fat on the right hand of the Son" of God. I am 
 he, faid his Mafkr, and 1 dreamed thou did ft lit 
 at my right hand ; mine therefore is the better 
 Dream, Bût Jehuda faid, I dreamsd that I eat 
 the Goofe. Hereupon they began to look for it ; 
 bat in vain, Jehuda had really eat it. 
 
 A Nurfe does not quiet her s Child with fuch 
 fimple Stuff as this. Such low, fuch pitiful Abfur- 
 dities, were referved for the laft Shifts of the Jews ! 
 Have tis^i^hQ Na:i}3renes all the r«afon in the world, 
 rathèH^o fcosPjà^and defpife thefe mean malicious Ef- 
 forts of our Spight, than to be angry or in any degree 
 vexed at them ? Let us pray to the fovereign Be- 
 ing, dear Ifaav^ that he would enlighten the Minds 
 of all Ifraelites^ teach them to defpife thefe Fables, 
 and not to attempt to outface Truth, by coining 
 fuch evident and abfurd Rhapfodies of Error and 
 Impofture. 
 
 Farewel, dear IJaac^ live content and happy. . 
 
 London. . 
 
 mum comedet Anferem folus, Decumhunt igitur. ^em- I 
 fejiâ <vero Noâie fu}-git Jehuda, i^ Jvferem de-vorat. Ma- * 
 ne itaque illis furgentibus, Petrus ait : Somnio mihi vifus j 
 fui affidere Solio Fiiii Dei Schaddai : Jefus ait. Ego fum | 
 Filius ille Dei Schaddai, & fomniavi te prope me federe. ' 
 Ecce ergo me praellantius quid fomniaiTe te. Quare me- J 
 um erit Anferem comedere. Jehuda tandem aiehat : f 
 Ego quidem ipiemet in Somnio comedi Anferem. ^^eritl 
 ergo Anferem Jefus, fed frufra ; Jehuda enim de^orabat 
 illum> 
 
 Hi ft. Jefchuae, fag. 5 1 . 
 
 LE-I^^ 
 
 
302^ 7J^ Jewish Spy. Lett. CLIX. 
 
 LETTER CLIX. 
 
 Isaac On is, Car at te, formerly Rabbi 
 at Conftantinople, to Aaron Mon- 
 
 CECA.. 
 
 T Am perfeâly well acquainted, dear Monceca, with 
 •*• the Book you mentioned in your laft Letter. It 
 is one of thofe pitiful Performances which have 
 fprung from the Rabhies^ and is as difhonourable to 
 judaiftn^ as that wretched Collection of Fables and 
 V^ifions, the Talmuà. By embracing the wife Sy- 
 ilem of the Caraites, I am no longer obliged to pay 
 any regard to thefe fiiflitious Writings, didiated by 
 Spleen, and which PaiEon and Prejudice have con- 
 fecrated to the Service of Religion, or rather have 
 veiled themfelves under the fpecious Pretence of do- 
 ing Religion Service. 
 
 The PafTages you have cited from the pretended 
 Hiftory of ^efus of Nazareth, are far from being, 
 the moft ridiculous things in that ColIe6tion. Be- 
 hold one, which in my Judgment exceeds in Ab- 
 furdity whatever has been written in that kind *. 
 
 Jelmday 
 
 * Jehuda 'vero dancuhim fe ad Regem confert, eique 
 tiunciai, J efum cum fuis ejfe in JEdihus Pur<re. Mitttt 
 ergo Rexjuue?ies Sacerdotes in jSdes Pur^, qui cum illuC 
 njenijfeyit ad J efum aiunt : Homines nauci non fumu?, 
 & in te ac Verba tua credimus. Tantum nobis da, ut 
 coram Facie noftra Miracula patres. Patrax'it itaque 
 'J ejus coram its Mira, per Komen immcnfum. Ederunt au-^ 
 [em'Jej'us ^ Difcipuli ejus ipjd Die Expiât iomm. Fer id 
 
 Efurialiy 
 
Eett. CLIX. T/'^ Jewish S PT. joj- 
 
 Jehuda^ fays that Author, went to the Kmg privately^, 
 and told h'wi that Jefus zuas arrhcd. That Prince 
 fent the yomig Priefis to rneet klm^ and they fa id to Je- 
 fis, We are neither Deceivers nor wicked Perfons ; 
 we give credit to your Difcourfe. All that we de- 
 fire is, that you would do before us Ibme Miracle. 
 J c fis yielded to^ their Requefi, and by virtue of the all* 
 powerful Name of God^ did, in their fight,. many IVon^ 
 ders. Now fefus and his Difciples didmt obferve the 
 Fafls appointed even on the mofi folemn Qcca fions» On 
 the great Day of Expiation they drank Wine mingled 
 with the Waters of OblivioWy and went tofieep their 
 Senfes in Sleep, . But in the Night -^ Soldiers furrcunded 
 the Houfe wherein tbey were, and hcund them, fefus 
 did all he could to recolle;^ the all-powerful Name, but 
 he could not. ..... 7he Soldiers then conduSfed him 
 
 Eftirialiy nee jejunarunt. Biherunt etiam de Vino y quod 
 mifcuum erat /Iquis Obli'vionis, cuhitumque poftea injerunt. 
 Circa tempejlam %-erQ No fie m , Satellites Regis ad ejus 
 MsLndatum .Mdis Puree Corona circu7Kclant. Aperit Pur a 
 J anuarn : ingrediuntur Satellites CsKclave fefu i^ Afe- 
 :larv}n ejus, eof^ue Compedibus conf.ringunt fe/us itaqiie- 
 .ntendebat Animum in Nofnen irnmenfium, fed non <valehnt 
 'Jlud ajjequi, omnium er.im ejus Connexionutn oblitus eiut, 
 7unc dixit Jefus : De me diftum eft ; Vinum <^ Mufum, 
 iffc. {Hof. iv. I I.) Satellites autem Jcfum U Ajjeclas cth^ 
 dutunt in Career, dictum Domus Biafphemainis, quia 
 Probris iff Blafpheîniis affecit Deum. Mane itaque Rtgi 
 nunclabatiir fefum iff Seguaces ejus c^ptos ejje, iff Carceri 
 inclufos. Fracepit 'vci^ Rex, cujîodire eos iifque ad Feftum 
 Tab erjiaculorum. Veniehat tunc 07nvis Populus Domini, ad 
 fe profiernandum cora?n Domino in Feftc, juxta id quodpree- 
 ceperat Mofes. JuJJit ergo Rex lapidare fefu Difcipuloi 
 extra Hiero^olmam, iff <viderunt omnes IfrUeUtee, (jLapi- 
 dibus obruerunt Sequaces fefu. Uni'verfus autem Ifrael 
 Cantica^ lûudes deferehat Deo Ifraeli, quodViros hofce 
 Belial in Ma?ius eorum tradiderit. 
 
 Hill. Jefchu^,^^^. 67, 68, ^ 69. 
 
 ftrd 
 
504 ^he Jewish Spy. Lett. CLIX. 
 
 and his Difcipies to a certain Prifon^ called the Houfe 
 of Blafphemy, hecaufe they had blafphemed God. In 
 the Morning therefore it was told the King^ that Jefus 
 and his Followers tvere apprehended. The King gave 
 Direi'^ions thereupon.^ that theyfnould be kept clofe Pri- 
 foners until the Feaft of Tabernacles, when^ as the 
 Laiu ^Mofes direâfs^ all the People came to affemble 
 before the Lord. Then the King gave command that Je- 
 Jus's Difcipies fnould be carried out «j/' Jerufalem, and 
 Jioned ; zvhich was executed before the Eye s of all Ifrael, 
 who fang Songs of 'Joy ^ and render d Glory to God^^jor 
 having enabled them to punijl} thus thefe wicked Men, . 
 Without animadverting, dear Monceca^ on the- 
 numerous Falfities and notorious Blunders in this 
 PaiTage, which are (o eafily and effedually deftroy'd, , 
 not only by the Nazarene^ but alfo by our own 
 Hiflorians, give me leave to mark out an evident 
 Abfurdity which every unlearned Reader mufl: dif- 
 cern. If the Difcipies oî Jefus were ftoned about 
 the Feaft of Tabernacles.^ and himfelf crucified fome- 
 fmall time after without ever coming out of Prifon, 
 how came the Se6l of the Nazarenes to fpread, and 
 to become fo powerful ? Who were they who went 
 to propagate its Dodrines into the moft diftant 
 Climates ? How, being thus deftroyed in the Be- 
 ginning, came iftofpring again out ofitsafhes? 
 The Rabbinical Hiftorian forefaw fome of thefe 
 DifEculties,and endeavoured to provide againft them, 
 but in as lame a manner as if he had drank fome of 
 his own Waters of Oblivion, which hindered fefus 
 from rerulle£ling the all-powerful name. Is it not 
 an inconteftible method of proving Faéls, to ground 
 the Evidence produced in their favour, on poetical 
 Pagan Fictions, and the Dreams of the Cabbalifts, 
 the greateft Fools in the whole World ? For there, 
 Monceca^ among^i thefe worthy People muft we find, 
 the Sources of this Water of Oblivion, which never 
 
 fwelled 
 
Lett. CLIX. The Jewish Spy. 305^ 
 
 fwelled any Streams but thofe of Lethe^ and that 
 boundlefs Power of the ineffable Name, which indeed 
 has had the Power of turning the heads of inume- 
 rable Cabbalifts paft all recover)^ 
 
 This Man, whofeWritingsyou contemn fo much,, 
 ought, in my Opinion, to hold the fupreme Rank 
 among worthlefs Authors, for I think verily none 
 of his Brethren ever came up to what he has writ-- 
 t€n concerning the Eftabliûiment oï ISfazareniffn^ 
 after the Death of Jefus,* *' It came to pafi^. 
 '* fays Zv, that the Inhabitants of Ji having heard 
 '* that Jefus was crucified, had a (harp Difpute. 
 ** with the IfraeUtes. They fiew all they could. 
 *' meet with, and having murdered upwards of two 
 " thoufand, the IfraeUtes dux 9i no longer go up to 
 " the Temple on the appointed Feafts. The King_ 
 " therefore made war upon the Inhabitants of Aiy 
 *^ but he found it impraticable to fubdue them,. 
 *' There were however, at this time, in the City, a 
 *' great number of feditious Spirits, Lovers of No- 
 *' veltiesand prone to Infurreâions. Some of thefe 
 
 *' unquiet 
 
 * FaSlum <verQ ef, cum inaudirent Aitae fufpenfum 
 effe yefchu, ut Litem indicerent acerbam Ifraeli. ^uando 
 ergo offendcrwnt Aitae Ifraelitcbn^ eum Neci dederunt } 
 Cff occifa ita funt Ifraelitarum hina millia Virorum, Nee 
 pot er ant Ifraelitae adfcendere in Fejium^ proper Firos Aï: 
 BelluTn igitur gerehat Rex cum Aitis. Sed eofdem fuhigere 
 non <valebat. Nam ipfs etiam Hierofolymis increfcehat 
 Numsrus Hominum improbijjimorum coram Rege. ^i- 
 dam aufem illorum Hominum Propudia Ai ibant, Men- 
 daciaque Aitis referebar:t, fcilicet triduo pofquam fufpenfus 
 fuijfet y efchu Ignem de Cœlo cecidij/e, Jefchu circum- 
 cinxij/hy indegue iilum e Vejîigio re^ixijje, pofîeaque in 
 Ccelu7n afcendijje. Fide m njero adinbebayzt Aitae Verbis 
 Scelejîorum illorum, iff Jurisjurandi Fide interpofita. 
 confpirabant fe Crimen ulturos in Ifraelitis, cujus Reatum 
 fibi confci-verantje/elmfufpendendo, J ehuda autem cum 
 
 fjideret: 
 
^66 77je Jewish Spy. Lett.CLIX. 
 
 " unquiet People found means to confer with cer- 
 *' tain Perfons who dwelt in Ji^ and told them a 
 *^ thoufand Fables. They faid, that three Days 
 '* after the Death oïjefus. Fire fell from Heaven, 
 *' furrounded his Body, reftored him to Life, and 
 *' that he afterwards afcended to Heaven. The 
 *^ Inhabitants of y// giving credit to all that they 
 *' were told, became more and more determined 
 '' to revenge on the Ifra elites the Death of Jefus^ 
 *' whom they thought unjuftly crucified, jehuda 
 *' knowing the Difpofitions of the Citizens of Ji^ 
 ** vv^rote to them to diffuade them in thefe Terms : 
 •' The Peace of God refis not on the impious \ Why 
 *' then do the People fuffer themfelves to be deluded 
 " with Lyes? Come f^Jerufalem, and bury your Jup- 
 " pofed Prophety &c. Hereupon the Inhabitants of 
 " Ji fent Deputies to ferufohm^ who were fhewn 
 ^ the Body of Jefus wh^re it was interred. Thefe 
 ** Deputies returning to the City, inftead of giving 
 
 mideret horrenda Ait as Facinora mollri^ ad ea Ltteras in 
 hunc Ssnfum dedit. Non eft Pax, ait Dominus, Impiis. 
 Quare confoirant Gentes, & Nationes meditantur Vani» 
 tatem ? Venite, quaefo, Hierofolymam, & confpicite 
 Pfeudo-Prophetam veftrum. Ecce enim ille eft cadaver 
 protritum, Canis mortuus & fœtidus, quern depofui ego 
 in Reconditorio Stercorum ! Inutiles ergo illi Ho^nines, 
 cufn haec perciperent, Hierofolymam pergunt, ibique vident 
 Jsfum depofitum in Loco Sordibus iff Stercoribus inquina- 
 iijjimo. Re dpi en te s autevi fe in Ai, divulgant ibi fur a 
 Mendacia effe, quae tranfcrifferit Jehuda. Nam ecce 
 [aiebant] venimas nos Hierofolymam, & plures ibi 
 funt qui contra Regem infurrexerunt, eumque expule- 
 runt, quod noluerit credere in Jefum : multi qaoqi e 
 Sapientum occifi funt ob ipfam etiam Infidelitatem in 
 Jefum. Aitae itaque crcdehant Verbis mendacibus Ho- 
 minum ?:auci, Bellumque indicebant IfraeL 
 
 Hift. Jefchu^,/^^. 95» 96' 97- 
 
 " glory 
 
Lett. CLIX. T7j^ Jewish Spy. 307 
 
 " glory to the Truth, affirmed all that was con- 
 " tained injebuda's Epiftle to be notorious Lyes and 
 *' Falflioods, as alfo that Numbers, in ^jerufafem- 
 " itfelf, were come over to Jefus?inà had revolted 
 •* againft the King. On this News the People of 
 *' Ai cut the Throats of many wife Citizens who 
 " had been Enemies to Jefus, and continued the 
 *' War as vigoroufly as ever againft the Ifraelites.^^ 
 
 Behold, Monceca^ a Series of Fa6ls, of which no 
 other Author, Pagan or Chriftian, ever fpake a 
 Word. It is really matter of Surprize, how a Per- 
 fon ever fo well trained to lying, could, without 
 blufhing, give fuch a Romance as this to the World 
 as true Hiftory. This Rahhi ought at leaft to have 
 given fome appearance of Truth to his Fictions. 
 There never was any thing fo ill-contrived, fo in-- 
 connedied, or fo sontradi6lory, as to fay,- that the' 
 IDifciples of Jefus were ftoned, that the Inhabitants 
 of Jerufalem were pleafed therewith ; that People 
 from Ai came and faw the dead Body of Jefus ; and 
 yet that thefe very People fhould fight mod zealouf-- 
 ly in his Quarrel. Have not X.h^_Na%arenes z\\. 
 the reafon in the World to treat our i^^i'^/Vj as a 
 Crew of Impoftors, and to decry Judaifm^ becaufe 
 built upon their Writings, and confequently refting 
 on a wretched Mafs of Lyes, ridiculous Fictions, and; 
 groundlefs Calumnies? 
 
 If all our Brethren of the Houfe of Ifrael were 
 of the fame Difpofition with the Caraites^ they 
 would not ftand in fear of any fuch Reproaches. 
 Our Faith is grounded folely on the facred Scrip- 
 tures. Our Oracles alone are infallible, and there- 
 fore we are never deceived. In order to defend our 
 Caufe againfr the Chriftians, we are not obliged tO' 
 have recourfe to Frauds unworthy of an honeft Man. 
 They attack us from the Scriptures, and in the fame^ 
 Scriptures we find matter for our Defence. If they 
 
 could; 
 
jo& The Jewish Spy. Lett. CLIX. 
 
 could once prove to our Satisfaction the Prophecies . 
 to be accomplifhed, we fhould readily go over to 
 their Faith. But we do not conceive this po/Tible, 
 that the great Lamp of Ifrad ihould as yet have 
 fhined amongft us. When he fhall appear, his Light" 
 fhali be vifible unto all. It will be to no purpofe to 
 fhut our Eyes. His Rays will pierce through the 
 thickeft Darknefs ; and tiierefore we ought not to* 
 fuppofe the Meffiah, coming to free all the Jewsy 
 fhouid leave the gieateft Part of them in Ignorance 
 and Bhndnefs. 
 
 This, dear Moyiceca^ is the capital Argument a- 
 gainlt the Nazarenes. They fay the Mejftah is come. 
 What good has he done the Jews ? For from them, 
 and for them, the Scriptures fay he was to come in- 
 to the World. However, all forts of Mifchiefs 
 have fallen on our Nation. We are all driven from 
 Jerufalem. The Temple of the living God is de- 
 Sroyed. Sacrifices are no longer offered. We are 
 a Prey to the Malice, Hatred, and Cruelty of all 
 Nations. Are thefe the Bleffings promifed on the 
 coming of tht MeJJiah ? Is this the fhining Star 
 which was to illuminate Ifrael^ which was to bring 
 us Profperity without End ? Our Miferies prove but 
 too ftrongly, that our Redeemer is not come. When 
 he (hall truly appear, the Nazarenes themfelves will 
 eafily know him by the Favours which he will be- 
 flow upon us.. He fhall lead us forth out of Slavery, 
 and our Liberty, our Glory, our good Fortune, 
 {hall become fuch fhining Evidences, as toconvince 
 even the moft obftinate and the moft infatuated of 
 our Enemies. 
 
 Farewel, dear Monceca^ live content and happy, 
 and depend on my giving you, in my next, fome 
 farther Remarks on the impertinent Work of thiS' 
 Rabbinical unpoflor. 
 Cairo, 
 
 LE T- 
 
Lett.CLX. Tbe Jewish S?y. 309 
 
 LETTER CLX. 
 
 Isaac Onis, Car aite^ formerly a Rabbi 
 at Conftantinople, /^ Aar on MoN- 
 c e c a . 
 
 T Pro mi fed you, dear Monceca^ to write to you 
 ^ once again, on the Head of the Abfurdlties and 
 Falfities which the Rabbins have inferted in the 
 J^ife of the Legiflator of the Nazarenes. I ihall 
 begin v/ith a PaiTage which follows that I copied in 
 my lafr, and v*'hich the fhamelefs ridiculous Hifto- 
 rian continues m thefe Terms *. 
 
 '« The 
 
 * P^e,x ergo ^ Sapîenies perfp'.clentes, Aitas Ifraelitis 
 fuperiores coadere^ ^ a da vr err etiani Agmen Ho:ninum im- 
 piij/lmofum^ [e-rant hi Frattss dff Cognati jefu,) Conf.lia 
 t>:-^\cim ineunt J^ludarnque rogant^ quid opti:,::cm Fa5Iu 
 in J'.e difficili fibi <vider£tur? Refpondit J ecu da: Ecce 
 Avunculus Jefu eft Simeon Hakkalpafi, qui itidem eft 
 Senex venerabjlis admodum. Tradite, faltis, ei Nomen 
 Immenium, ic ablegate ilium Aï, ibi ut pa tret Miiacula, 
 Civibufque edicat, omnia ilia fe facere *iU/^ Pyi "7^. 
 Kv.-at vero opmiabuntur, dicere ilium velle Vi>^ CDti^l^j 
 in Nomir.g jefu ; cum Expiicatio tamen \'ocularum ^^7 
 py"^. ambigua lit, atque adeo apta nata ad decipiendcs 
 illj Aitas: nam HyT '7y (quod notare etiam poteft ex 
 Me',ite J efu, in Nvmine Jeju^ Stylo Rabbinico eft \W^ 
 DU'.'^, Phrafis qua3 exprimit Afturn, quern coaL^us quis 
 & invitus ob Lirgentem NecefTitatem fufcipit. Viri vero 
 A'i:ae credent \ erbis Simeonis, Avunculus Jefu cum fit. 
 Oportec autcm perfuadeat Siraeon illis, in Mandatis ei 
 dediiTe Jefum edicere iis ne belligerarent cum Ifraelrtis,- 
 
 cum 
 
3 lo The Jewish Spy. Lett. CLX. 
 
 " The King and the Wifemen about him, ob- 
 •<=' ferving that t^iC Ai'mu grew every day more 
 ^' powerful, and that the Number of Innovators 
 ■*' and impious Perfons encreafed continually, 
 «« among whom the Relations of Jefui eminently 
 *' diftinguifh'd themfclves, deliberated ferioufly 
 *' what meafures it became them to take; inviting 
 ^' Jehuda to Council, and intreating him to give 
 «' his Advice freely. To which Jehuda anfwer'd 
 «« thus: Behold Simeon Hakkalpafi, Uncle to ]q(us. 
 
 " He 
 
 cum Jefus ipfemet Vindi^Hiam de illis fumturus effet. Ap- 
 prohabat fe hoc Cofijilium Regi iff Sapientibus, Accerfunt 
 itaque Simeonem, ilUque Rim totam enarrant. Refpondit 
 Simeon: Jurate mihi fandè, H?eredem me futiirum Se- 
 :€uli venturi. Tunc ibo ego lubens, illifque proponam 
 Statuta non bona, atque ceffare faciam Bellura ab Ifraele. 
 jurant proinde Sapientes ^ Senicres Si^fiecni, eique com' 
 mittti7ii Nominis hnmenjt Arcanum JacratiJJivium. 
 
 Ah lit ergo Simeon, Cf cum prope jam Ai ejjfet, efinxit 
 ï^ubecalam aliquam minorem j Tonitruhufque <i5 Fulgetris 
 inde emijjîs, ipje Nubecul^^ in/edit, Mugituque Tonitru^ quo 
 Altai ptrcelleretj ediîo, in hrec Verba fari ccepit: Audite, 
 viri Ai'tas. Convenite ad Turrim Aïticam, & ibi prae- 
 /cribam vobis Statuta Jefchu. Ait a: y Voce hac audita per- 
 ■ierrefaîli, undique ad Turrim ijram concurrurit. Et ecce 
 Simeon fertur fupra Kubem. Defcendit <vero pofiea de 
 Nube in Turrim; iff iiiri Ait a fe coram eo projiemunt. 
 Dicit autem Simeon: Ego fam Simeon Hakkalph, Avun- 
 culus Jefchu. Jefus veio convenic me, nieque ad vos 
 amandavit, ut edocerem vos Statuta ejus; nam Jefus 
 Filius Dei ell. Ego porro Simeon edcceho vos Legem 
 Jefu, Statuta nova. Edidit "vero Simeon in CcnfpeSiu eo- 
 rum Signa iff For tent a mag-': a. Aitce proin Verbis Si" 
 meonis Fidem adhibuerunt, eique dixerui.t : Faciemus, Sc 
 «bfequemur omni, quod prjecepturus es nobis Simeon 
 xiit: Recipite vos in ^Edes vellras. Omnes ergo Ait^e 
 j^des fuas repetunt. Simeon autem in Turri Aiiica reji- 
 Aebat^ iff confer iUbai Statuta ilia, prout ei edixerant Rex 
 
 iff 
 
Lett.CLX. Tbe ]ewish Spy. 311 
 
 *' He is a mofl venerable old Man. D if cover to him 
 " all the Myjieries and all Properties of the All- 
 *' powerful Name. When you have done all this., let 
 <* him go immediately to the Citizens of K\\ let him 
 *' perform before their eyes Signs and fFonders; and 
 «' lei hi?n fa}', Thefe Things I do by the Power of An- 
 ^' other, The People of that City will undoubtedly 
 '< believe he does all this by the Power of Jefus ; th& 
 <' Phrafe being exa5lly calculated to deceive them. For 
 " thefe îVords^ By the Power, or through the Vir- 
 
 y Sapientes. Immutahat ttiam Alphahetum^ alifque Li- 
 teras Nominihits infign'iehat, ad dandum tacite Indicium^ 
 omnia qua pro'cepturus erat Mendacia fore. Hoc ^ero 
 Alphaheium efi quod ilk cudit : a, be, ce, de, e, ef, cha, 
 i, ke, e], em, en, o, pe, ku, er. es, te, vv, icx, etzet, 
 zet. Et ho'c Explicatio ejus: l^i^S Pater meus eft E- 
 faii, B^yi 1 -li Venator, & lalTus ille erat : & ecce Filii 
 ejus credant in Jefum, qui *78D ^H vivit ut Deus. Suf- 
 focetur Anima illorum ; quia Deo J^i^ QH non eil 
 Mater, Jefjs vero habebat Matrem : fed Ollp'SH 
 irai ;r;pyQ> t^n Eplcareus, Seduaor, &c. 
 
 Confer ipfit infuper in Ufum illorum Libres niendacijjîmos^ 
 tûfqne n;ocanjit "j^^*?3 )^y, Iniquitatem Confumptionis, 
 Putaverunt njero illi, eum dicere ]V*7J! [Qt^ q. d. Pater, 
 & Filius, & maiiifeihtus Spiritus S Et confcrip/ît illii 
 etiam Libres 'Nomine Difcipulorum Jefu, ^ fpeciatim Jo- 
 hannis : dixit fvero Jefum omnia ilia Jtbi tradidijfe. Nee 
 ahfque Intcntione fngulari concinna'vit Librum Johannis. 
 llli prain putabant Myjicria ea e^f, cum tamen omnia ilia 
 non fint niji VatiîtaSs iff Figmentum Cordis: uti qucs {<v. g) 
 fcripfit in illo Libra Johannis, cap. xiii Johannem vidifTe 
 Belliam ahquam, cui fuerunt feptem Capita, & deceni 
 Cornua, cum decern etiam Coronis ; Nomenque Beftiae 
 eft Nomen blafphemias, & Numerum Norainis Beftiae 
 t^Q. 666. Eic Verborum ?.enfus eji : Beftia hsc eft JelcKu 
 Nazarenus : ei funt feptem Capita, tot nimirum Litera 
 funt in binis Focabulii hifce ^"IX; II^V, ^r. 
 
 Hift. Jefchuae, /. 100 — 115. 
 
 '^ tUC 
 
312 T/jt» Jewish Spy. Lett. CLX. 
 
 " tue of Another, imply ^ in the Rabbinical Style-, 
 '^ aâîing by conjlraint^ and^ as it were y under ths 
 '« Dire£îion of Another. Beyond all doubt ^ the Citi- 
 *' %ens of Ai will give entire credit to what Simeon, 
 «' the Uncle of Jefus, Jh all fay to them; and then he 
 <' mifi perfuade them,, that it is the TVill of Jefus 
 *' they Jhould ceafe to perfecute the Ifraelites; becaife 
 *' he would revenge himfelf in an exemplary manner, 
 *' The King, and all the Wifemen who were with 
 '' him, approved the Advice given by fehuda. 
 *■' They fent inftantly for old Simeon^ and declar'd 
 '« to him all they had refoiv'd upon. Swear to ?7ie^ 
 *' faid he, that I fhall never fuffer "Reproach here- 
 " aft£r^ on account of what you command me^ and I 
 " fiall obey you in all things with Pleafure. I will 
 " lead your Enemies into criminal Opinions^ and will 
 " engage them to put an end to the War they carry on 
 " agairfl you. The Wifemen and Elders fwore 
 " then to Suneon^ as he had defired, and reveal'd 
 *« unto him the Myfleries of the AU-pov/erful 
 *' Name. 
 
 " lie fet out immediately; and when he came 
 ** into the Neighbourhood oi Ai^ he form'd a thick 
 " dark Cloud, whence Lightnings play'd conti- 
 " nually. He placed himfelf thereupon, and fpoke 
 " thence to the People thus : Hear tne^ ye Inhabi- 
 ^ tant s of Aï., call an Affembly at the Foot of the 
 'f Tovjer., and I" will inform you of the Conwiands of 
 " Jefus. The Inhabitants, extremely frighted, 
 «' ran together in Crouds. Si?neon riding on his 
 '^ Cloud, came alfo unto the fame Place, and de- 
 '« fcended at laft on the Tower. The Citizens of 
 <' Ai proftrated themfelves at his Feet ; and he 
 " then fpake to them after this manner: I am Si- 
 «^ meon Hakkalph., Uncle to Jefus^ who came to m« 
 '' latelv, and fent me unto you, to inform you of 
 " his Willi hç is the Son of God, and I will teach 
 
 " you 
 
Lett. CLX. The Jewish Spy. 3 13 
 
 *' you his Law. Then did he many ftrange Mi- 
 
 " racles J in'bmuch that the Inhabitants of yf/ be- 
 
 " lieved him, and faid^ IVe will obey you in tvhat^ 
 
 ■ *' ever you command, and whatever you direâf us^ 
 
 *' that will we do. -Stîtieon thereupon ordain'd, that 
 
 <' they fhould retire to their Houfes; while he, 
 
 *' remaining in the Tower, compiled wicked and 
 
 " prejudicial Laws, according as he had promifcd 
 
 ^' the King and the Elders. He changed likewife 
 
 *' the Alphabet, and gave new Names to the Let- 
 
 " ters, to ferve as a fecret Index, that all he taught 
 
 ** them was Lyes and Impoftures. Now the AI- 
 
 <« phabet he invented ran thus: a, he^ ce^ de^ e^ 
 
 <^ ef^ cha-i i, i^, el, em, en, o, p, qu^ er, efs, te, 
 
 ^* u, icx, etzet, zet. Of which this is the Expli- 
 
 *' cation: My Father was Efau th^ Hunter, and he 
 
 *' was faint, &c. He compofed alio many Books 
 
 "^' in the Names of the Difciples of Jefus\ and par- 
 
 '' ticularly, the Revelations in the Name of y^?/;;?^ 
 
 Do you think, dear Monceca, that among the 
 Tales of the Fairies, there is any thing more ridi- 
 culous than this Tale of Hakkalpafi? Is it pollible 
 for Man to devife a more monlhous or more ab- 
 lurd Story than the extravagant Fiélion of the Law-, 
 given from an high Tower by a Perfon riding thi- 
 ther on a Cloud. The Oath he exacted of the 
 Elders, that the Fran J he ufed againft the Dwel- 
 lers in ^2 fhould not prejudice his Salvation, and 
 their Promife thereupon, is it not wounding all 
 MoraUty to the quick? Where is, I will not l^iy 
 the honeft Man, but where is the Villain, who 
 will dare to maintain, that it is lawful, under co- 
 lour of ferving any Religion, to deceive a whole 
 People, and perfuade them to commit the greatef?; 
 Crimes, under colour of obeying the Will of God? 
 
 Vol. IV. P This 
 
314 ^/^^ Jewish Spy. Lett. CLX. 
 
 This Rabbinical Hiftorian had Notions no way 
 reconcikable to Equity or right Reafon. It feems 
 that he was as much a Cheat as a Lyar ; and th^it 
 be approv'd, in his Heart, any fort of Frauds, 
 which might turn to advantage. Of this, nothing 
 can be a ftronger Inflance than the following Paf- 
 fage, 'n\ his own Words*. " Rabbi Ak, fays he, 
 *' went to Nazareth, and informed himfelf where 
 *■ Mezaria, thQWiïeoï Kûnhat, dwelt* As foon 
 '' as he knew it, he tranfported himfelf thither, 
 *' and found Miriam all alone^ her Hufband being 
 *'• gone abroad. Daughter, faid he, it is by thefpe- 
 * ' cial Favour of Heaven, that I have foiaid you alone, 
 *' your Husband being abroad. I conjure you to tell 
 *' me truly your Adventures ; and if you inform ?nê 
 ^'' jujViy, I prcmife you evirla/lirg Happinefs. Rabbi 
 " Ak, alfo to fatisfy her^ gave her his Oath.; but 
 
 * R. JK Igiinr Ka^aretham it, exque în colts IJrbis 
 inquirity uhinam hahitet Me^aria, Conjugio junda ann 
 Karchat. Movjfrant indigent Rahhino jEdes, quas cuni 
 adiijjet R. j^K, non ofhidit ibi Maritum, fed Uxorem fo' 
 lam, illam itaaiie it a affafur : Filia mea, fmgulari Do^ 
 mini Providentiâ eile^lum eft qaod Maritrs tuus Demi 
 non fit. Ego itaque te per Dominum Deum Cce;ortim 
 adjure, ut edicas mihi, quse Studia tua, & fint, & fue- 
 rint olim ; tibique (fldeliter Gcfta narranti) fpondeo Se- 
 culum futurum. Refpondit ei Uxor: Jura, quaefo, mihi 
 per Nomen Domini. Juijuravdum confejîïm prcejlat 
 i?. AKy Ore fuo, fed Corde illud rrulluni facit. Tunc 
 Uxor iicc od etim kqiiitur : Miriam ego fum, Soror Si- 
 meonis Hr.kkalph, Uxor.Pàpi. Aufagi vero cum Jofe- 
 pho Pandira, & procreavit ille ex me Libcros fpurios 
 Bethlehemss. Eo autem Tempore, quo H erodes illûc 
 venit nos lapidaturus, in yEgyptum fugimus. Ibi cum 
 ingravefcerct Annona, hiic jevertimur, Nominaque 
 noftra immutamus, ne nofcerent nos Homines. Ha:c 
 X'lm audifjet R. JK, Vefes lacera-vit eique ita cdlxit^ iffc, 
 Hiih Jefchuce, p. 24 & 25- 
 
 « iti 
 
Lett. CLX. Ke- Jewish Spy. 31J; 
 
 it was Lips only fwore, and he promiied notiring 
 in Heart. Then the Woman, to whom hs 
 fpake, anfwer'd: I am M'lrhm, Sj/hr to Simeon 
 Hakkalph, iffc. Rabbi Ak having heard all her 
 Story, rent his Clothes, &c." 
 Behold, dear Mmceca, in this Rabbi Ak a moft 
 extraordinary Perfon. He makes no fort of DifH- 
 culty of Swearing falfely, and of invoking the 
 Holy Name of God, to give weight to his abomi- 
 nable Lyes. He tears his Clothes, however, at the 
 News told him by Miriam; as if Adultery was a 
 greater Crime than premeditated Perjury. B'Jt a 
 Man, like this worthy Writer, feldom examines 
 nicely what he delivers. How fhould we expect 
 any thing wife or fage from fo great a Fool, fa 
 meer a Beaft as this ignorant Rabbi? 
 
 I will conclude this Letter with a comick and 
 moft extravagant Adventure of fome of the Difci- 
 pies of Jefus^ which this wife Author thus gravely 
 fets down: " Simeon Hakkalph^ fays he, went to the 
 *' King, and faid, that if he would give him leave 
 *' to a6l as he thought nt, he would pre fently de- 
 " ftroy all the Followers of Jefus, who v^ere m 
 *' the City of Jerusalem. The King anfv/er'd : / 
 *' gin>e you my ConfefU; go^ and the Lord be with you* 
 " Then Simeon went to the Lnnovators, and laid, 
 *' Come-, let us go /^ Ai ; there youfnalljee the Signs and 
 " Wonders I have done by the Power cf J^fuSy-and 
 ^' thofe which I am yet to perform. Numbers there- 
 '' fore of thefe impious Perlons took the Road to 
 '■^ Ai^ as he direclcd, and others rode with him in 
 '' a Cloud. But as they went thither, Simeon 
 " pullied them out of the Cloud, and threw them 
 *' on the Ground, where they lay flain. Simeon 
 *' returning thereupon to Jerufalem, told the Ad- 
 " venture to the King, which gave him great plea- 
 P 2 '* i"iJ^es 
 
^3î6 ?7'^ Jewish Spy. Lett.CLX* 
 
 *' fure; and thenceforward Simeon never ftirred 
 ** from the Court of that Prince * ?'* 
 
 I would ask you, dear Monceca^ didi wrong, ta 
 embrace the prudent Sentimeiits of the Cara'ues^ 
 and ought I to have relied in a Se^l, the principal 
 Doctors whereof efpoufe fuçh abfurd Impertinen- 
 cies? If one ftudied to invent a Fable, capable of 
 turning a whole Work into ridicule, could one 
 have fucceedcd better than this Rabbi? I do not 
 believe, that in all Ariofto^ there is a more whinin- 
 cal Vifion than this of carrying Men, whom we 
 would deflroy, into the Air in a Cloud, and then 
 breaking their Necks from thence. A Perfon 
 veiled with fuch Power?, who knew how to open 
 iiew Hoads through the Air, did lie Hand in need 
 of fuch an extraordinary Expedient as this, to put 
 iuch Criminals to death? He might queftionlefs 
 have punifn'd them in a common Method, he who 
 liad fuch Gifts, and not have troubled himfelf to 
 carry Folks along in a Cloud ; and then hazard the 
 laming fome honeft Man, by throwing them down 
 on his Head ? Surely, furely, vny Friend, none 
 
 * Tzim Simeon Hakkalp adit Regem, -aitque: Domine 
 Hex, concede mihi, & removebo ego nequifiimos hos 
 Homines ex Hierofolymis. P.efpondet Kex Simeon: Va- 
 de; Dominas tecum ft. Simton ergc, clanculum fe ad 
 Xsehuloms conferens, its ait: Surgitc ; afcendamus Aï, & 
 ibi videbitis Prodigia, quée ego edidi HVT '7^ Jefu, 
 quseque infuper fa(flariis ibi fum. ^idam igitur Homi- 
 Tium turfiJJiTr.orum A'i eunt. ' ^Idam etiam Nubi juxta 
 Shneonem inipofiti Hierofolymam iinquunt. In Itinere 'vero 
 contigit ut Simeon Nube 'vecius décerner et in Terr am illos 
 dejicere', ^ ceciderunt Homines illi nullius Frugi de Kuhe, 
 ac moriuntuf. Simeon 'vero, Hierofolymam repetens, Regi 
 Negotinm enarrat^ Rex que de co ga^vifus eji. Ex eâ ^jero 
 Die, Cf po/iea, ncn rccejjit Simeon ex Aula Regis ufqtie nd 
 Mortsm fuam. Hift. Jefchuse, p. 125, 126. 
 
 but 
 
tett. CLX. TJje Jewish Spy. 327 
 
 but a Rabbi would ever have been fuch a Villonary, 
 as to think of raining Men. 
 
 Fareweî, live content and happy, and may the 
 great God cover tliee v/ith Profperities, give thee 
 perfect Health- and the Victory over all ihy Ene- 
 mies. 
 
 Cairo, 
 
 fk End of the Fourth Volume^ 
 
An Alphabetical INDEX. 
 
 A. 
 
 aBJRB ANE ly Rabbi, iii Commentaries on the 
 
 ■^^ lefTer Prophets, /. 175. Jenvs forbid to read 
 them, ib. His Chara£ler, ib. Grand f antral 
 for him at Fadouay 176. 
 
 Abraham, Rabbi, his abfurd Doftrine as to Satyrs, 7. 
 
 Aciions, the moft important do not fometimes correfpond 
 with the Difcourfe of the Performers, 74. 
 
 ^/^^//ff« much inferior to Racine, 198. Has improved 
 the £-^^///^ Fragedy, 199. Hurt his C^/o by a cold 
 Scene of j-oye, 203. The principal Character in that 
 Tragedy the lîneil that ever appeared on the Stage, 
 204. 
 
 Adrian the Emperor fack'd 980 Towns, and burned 
 480 Synagogues in Judea, 288. The Prayer of 
 they<?ct'j againfl him, 288. His exceffive Cruelty £t 
 Jerufalem and at Bitter, 290. Caufes J e^xvs to he 
 fold like Beafb, 291. Reafon of his Hatred towards 
 them, 292, 
 
 Ad-verfdy requires great Strength of Mini to endure it^ 
 196. 
 
 Agamemnon, the Butcher of his Family, ^^^ 
 
 Agmon^ the Hermetic Philofopher, 239. 
 
 AgrippUy procured to ^r^^///?«imc I of his Glory, 221. 
 
 At, Je^vi/h Fables concerning that City and its Inhabi- 
 tants, 305, Iffc. 310, i5c. 
 
 Ajax, nobetter than a Madman, 63. 
 
 Air, fix Foot thereof urikes the Senfes no more than one, 
 3 . Full of Bodies, tho' it appear empty, ib. Its 
 Weight obferved, 144. 
 
 Akiba, a very learned Je-v, 177, 178, 179. Firll 
 
 Compiler of the Dcuterojes or Jcn^-iJJy Traditions, 
 
 178. His V/ritingsfadlj interpolated, 179. Defervea 
 
 P 4 ths 
 
INDEX. 
 
 ihe Title of Authentick, 177. Ill treated by tlié 
 Chriflians, ib. 
 
 'v^lacoque^ Mary, her Life, i8i; 
 
 Alchimyy fee CabaJa, Cabal ills, and Philofopher's Stone. 
 
 Alcoran, tortured by its Commentators, 187. 
 
 Alexander the Great, his laft ExcefTes mofl fhameful,, 
 (>l. His Body deprived of its goid Shrine and puticto 
 one of Glafs, 76. 
 
 AUxander VII, Pope, conflrained to raife a PUlar to thd 
 Glory oîLenvis XIV, 217. 
 
 Ambajpidcn, EngUjk, ill received in Mufco-vy, 5 8. 
 
 Amity, fee Friendihip. 
 
 Aporalypfe, fee Révélations. 
 
 Apofiles, the Unity of the Godhead preached by them té 
 all the World, 21. They fealed their Doclrines witlr 
 their Blood, ib. 
 
 'Arabia, its Defer ts without Water, 4. 
 
 Arc, Joanoî, kt Puce lie. 
 
 Aryens, Marquis de, PhilofopKyofgood Senfe written bj)^ 
 him, cited, 264. 
 
 Arianifm, St. Gregory perfuaded an Emperor toperfecutô 
 People for it, 280. 
 
 'jîrifiotle, PafTages.from Malkhranche, Locke^nA J^e/cartet^. 
 againilhis Philofophy, Preface, Brifkly criticized by 
 Malhbranche, 231. Deiîroyed by the Carteftans^ 
 237. In credit only with tbe Monks, ib. Look'd 
 on as a Cabalirt, 239. Cenfared the Senate contri- 
 Ted by Lycurgus, but approves his Law for expofmg 
 Children, 276. Advifes a worfe Expedient, ib. 
 
 'Arnauld,Tper{ec\iled by the y^/^/Vi out of pureSpite,22. 
 
 Arfikus, an Hermetic Philofofopher, 243. 
 
 Arthur, King, deemedan Alchemilt, 24-2. 
 
 JjfaJJins, rarely efcape Punifhment, 78. Examples,/^. 
 Retrained in ItaAy by hanging without going to Con- 
 feffion, 171. 
 
 AjfoHci, burlefqued O^vid, and thertby rendered himfelf 
 ridiculous, 228. 
 
 Afirologers, often banifned Pofne, always remained, 79. 
 
 Athatiafms, St. wrote the Life qï St. Anthony, 8. Re- 
 ports that Saint's Converfation with a Satyr, ibid. 
 
 %âthei(îs, beUeve nothing in Health, and all things when 
 
 •at- 
 
I N DE X. 
 
 St the Point of Death, 1 5 6. Very contemptible Fel^ 
 lows, ib. 
 
 Jlthenagoras thought the Satyrs fallen Angels, 7. 
 
 Attraaiov, fubftituted by KeiKiton in the Vortices of 
 Mr. Des Cartes, 147. 
 
 Ad^oenturerSf or foreign Sharpers, many in Lotidon, 97. 
 Makes the EngUfh diffident of Foreigners, ib, 
 
 Jld^entures of two fquabbling Authors, 22, 23. Of 
 Mr. and Mrs. Michon, 72, 73. Of a Mufician and 
 Metaphyncian, 80. Of an Inn-ke€per's Son with 
 an Englijh Woman of Quality, 120. Tragical one of 
 a whole Englijh Family, 1 92. Fatal one of a French^ 
 man who would needs imitate the Englijh, 193. Of 
 a Spaniard reduced to Want, 1 96. Of an unlucky 
 Chinefe in France, 209, Cfc. Of the Patriarch and 
 Corregidor at Lisbon, 224. 
 
 Augujliny St. his excellent Remark en the Beauty of Vir- 
 tue, 275. Becomes of a mild and diicreet Man fo vio- 
 lent as to be ÙiJed the Patriarch of Perfecutors, 281. 
 
 JuguJius,Tiù honefter in his Youth than a Highwayman, 4^. 
 When old fulhlled the Proverb, ib. He would have 
 made a bad Figure but for his Miniflers, 221 . Vifits 
 the Tomb oï Alexander the Great, 76. 
 
 Jliithor, being fo, does not leffen a Man's Quality, Tref. 
 
 Authors, two quarrel and outrage each other, 22, 23. 
 Never commend but with Defign, 23, 
 
 AxQthy the£fth Element of the Cabaliils, 242. 
 
 B. 
 
 Bacon, Chancellor, in fome meafure Predeceflbr to 
 Des Cartes "Sine. G ajfendi in the new Philofophy, 150. 
 Forefaw and predidled the Fall of Arijiotle, and the 
 Schoolmen, ibid. \\\% OrganumScientiarum zil^à, ib. 
 His moral Writings fine, but not fo agreeable as 
 Mûntaign''s, 151. Deprived of his Employment, ib, 
 
 Valgus, an Hermetic Philofopher, 243. 
 
 Salmis, Abraham de, a moll learned Jeiv, 176. A 
 Phyfician, Grammarian, and Philofopher, 177. 
 Ccmpofes an excellent Work on the Hebrei^j Tongue, 
 177. hQÇ^kàoîPjrrhoniJni, ib, 
 
 P S Ban 
 
I N E» E X. 
 
 ^:^ndittt defpifing Death, the Duke of Vendôme ter- 
 rifies them by hanging them without Confeffion, 171. 
 
 ^arcokebas, an Impoitor who call'd himfelf the MelTiah, 
 292 Put to death by the Command of Adrian, 290. 
 
 jBartolccciy owns the Writings oï Jbarbanel are prohibi- 
 
 ■ ted, 17c.. 
 
 BaptifmyMalkbranche*s flrange Notions concerning Chil- 
 dren who die without receiving it, 232, isfc. 
 Baudrhourt, Robert de, fuppofed to be the Inflrudor of 
 
 , the Alaid oï Orleans, 249, Cfr. 
 Bayle, an admirable Writer, 151. His Diftionary cri- 
 
 • ticifed, and the Criticifm defpifcd, 229. 
 B.card, The Moiliure of dead Bodies occafions its 
 
 . Growth, 130. 
 benefices, prevailing things with the Clergy, 47. The 
 
 _ Molinijïs poflefs all in France, ib. 
 Bihliotaphs, what? 229. 
 Biron, his Jell on Q^ttn Eliz^aheth, 163. 
 Bijfetre, Houfe of Correélion at P^?m, 210. The Abbe 
 
 \ Fontaines whipp'd there twice a day, ib. 
 Bitter, taken by Adrian^ and the miferable Slaughter 
 there, 290, 291. More fatal to the Jen,>js than the 
 
 . Deilruclion of "J erufalem, ib. 
 Bojars oïMufcoV)i Grandees and Slaves, 59. 
 Bois, Abbé de, becomes from nothing a Cardinal, 207. 
 A very odious Minifrer and jullîy fo, ib. Diftributes 
 Lettres de Cachet liberâlTy, 210. 
 Bcnnecûrfe, a very poor V/ri ter, 228. 
 Bourbon, Duke de, delivers a poor Ci»/»^/^ out of Prifon 
 
 ■ and fends him home, 211- 
 
 Bou^dahue, Father, his Sermons excellent, i8o, 230. 
 Bragardine, kills an Hermit who was an Adept, 240. 
 Brantôme, wnat he fays concerning the Death of 
 
 F'on Sebafiian Kicgof Portuga/, 2I9. 
 Brutality, (ome would have it a Cor; feq j^.^ rvce of Liberty,^ ç . 
 Bruyère, liis- .'ri tings attack'd by rigneul de Mor'ville 
 . and defended by M Co/lc, 229. 
 .ÏH^nety Bifhop, a poor Imitator of M. De Thou, 152, 
 
 Charged with Vonity î-nd Malice, but excufable, ib. 
 
 Converts the witty Earl af Rcchejîery and publifhes a 
 
 Book of it, 155. 
 
 Burrhus^ 
 
I N BTË'Xr 
 
 Burrhus, ferved Nero :vifh great Capaciî7, 212. Hh 
 Charadier £nely drawn by Racine, 204, 
 
 C. 
 
 Cahaîa, fo me Notion's thereof not impofîibîe, r. Con-' 
 
 verfation on this Subjcft, 238. 
 Cahaiijls, their Fidions happily applied by Mr: Pote, 
 154. A learned Difcourfe on their Syilem, 238. 
 Their Writings exceeding obfcure. 239. Reaibns af- 
 iigned for this, 26. Their £fth Element- goes under 
 various Names, 242. Keys of their particuL-^.r Styles, 
 243. Few obtain the grand Secret, 244. Their La- 
 bours, compared to thofe of J^^yS//, 244. They are 
 however offome ufein difcoveiing ufeful Secrets. 246. 
 
 Cat-lies, 7}<r/^//?', make fometim.es free withRevelation, i 87. 
 
 Cairo J many Samaritans fettled there, rSz. 
 
 Calais, the wife Saying of an Engiijh OiHccr on the gi- 
 ving up this Place to the F;-^«c/^, 53. 
 
 Cahin, how ■ far the Englijh have adopted his Senti- 
 ments, 133. 
 
 Carai.^eSftheSaducfes. held firH their Opinions,4i . The on- 
 ly true yc'ujs (in their own Opinion) in the World, i 87. 
 
 Carcajfes are long preierved found in fome Places, 226. 
 Strange Infiance at Thouioufe, 30. 
 
 Carlijle, Earl of, very badly treated in i?/'^«, 58, ^r, 
 
 Caroline Q^ttTioï England, herFraiies. 157. 
 
 Cartejians, compare, without reafon, Mallebranche to- 
 L'.cke, 1 47. 1 heir Opinion as to the EITenceof the 
 Sc ul argued, 264. Argum.ents for and agairfil their 
 Opinion on the Effence of Matter, ib. 
 
 Catalonia, Miçuelets'mthât Country terrible Villains,64, 
 
 Chat bar ine, St. a great Dirediefs of the Maid of 
 Orleans, 251, ISjc, 
 
 Catullus Khttter Poet thzn fValler, 153. 
 
 Cecilia^ St. fapplies the Pla.ce of il/mfr^'^, 7 1, 
 
 C^z-Z/^/^V^/-^/ cannot give credit to Abfurdities, 127, 132^. 
 
 Cafar, Julius, no better than an illuilriouâ Robber, 64» 
 
 Cafarius, a fuperilitious iVionk, i8î. 
 
 Chamillard, an unworthy fjrft Miniiler, 2cS. 
 
 Change, disagreeable to ftudious F^^rfons, 61. 
 
 ChanmeU, a famous Aclreft beloved by Raiine, 202. 
 
 P 6 Channiinj. 
 
INDEX 
 
 Qharentofty a Prifon there for Mad Folks, 210. MP 
 
 Ter je A-cideac of a poor Chlnefe, ih. 
 Charles V ptrjur'd in regard to Francis Î. 65. 
 Charles ÎI of £''/g-/«K^ applauded at the beginning of his 
 
 Reign, and plotted agiinft in the end, 106. His Go- 
 vernment exceedin;j corrupt, i x; 2. 
 Chartes XII. o^, ^nveden^ his Courage tarniihed by hisf 
 
 Cruelty, ^Çi. His Severity towards P^/i«/, (i'j, 
 Chatel, John, (lobbed ^<?^'-y IV. of />^«r^, 79. 
 CUrhury, Lord, Cited as to true Delftp, 42. 
 Chicane^ the 5/?^//^^ much addided thereto, 1G3. This 
 
 m-3.y be owing to their Defcent from the Normans ^ 
 
 104. 
 Che;7vjiry\ has procured great Helps to Phyfic, 246. 
 ChinOi Chriftianity eilablifhed there by the Jefuits, 29. 
 Cicero, cited again ft the Abufe of Speculations, 82.-^ 
 
 On Fidelity in Promifes, 281 . His Treatife of Friend-- 
 
 fh.ip well wrote, 284. 
 Cletneytt aï Ale.xandria^ thought the Satyrs were fallei}* 
 
 Angels, 7. 
 Clement, John, the AfTaffin, killed by the Guards, 197." 
 
 His laft Word'ri on that manner of Dying, ib. 
 Colbert, Le'vjii XIV. much obliged to him, 222. 
 Collegian appears with a kifF fierce Air, 82. 
 Comedy, Obfervations thereon, 225. 
 
 £';^^/i/^, too looie, 226- 
 Conime7itators on the facred Scriptures not only Uïclefs» 
 
 but dangerous, 188. Very often full of Contra- 
 
 diftions, 189. 
 Commerce, feldom fiourinies where there are many of the 
 
 Nobility, 33. The £/?^/^ and Z);/*f-^ great Gainers ' 
 
 thereby, 33. 
 Co'igre've, the befi Writer of Englijh Comedy, 224. 
 
 Charader of this excellent Author, 227. A real Ad- 
 mirer of Molière, ib. 
 Conjîancy, ofa. Spatuard who had loft all, 196. 
 ContraSl, between Sovereigns and Subjed?, î 13. 
 Co?itro'verfial Writers facrifice all Things to their Pique^ 
 
 285. 
 CorrvulfiorAjh, incorrigible, 62..D<?mQniaçks, or elfe Cheats ^ 
 
 api Impofiors, ib, 
 
 'Corneilh^ . 
 
INDE X. 
 
 ^^ir/îÈîUe, much fuperior to Shakefpear, \G%. Woul'î' 
 lofe leis, if his Pieces were play'd in London, than 
 Racine, 203 The lail A<fk oî his Rhodogune ^x?/Ûy 
 in the Englijh 1 afte, ih. Sinks fometimes very loWs - 
 ib. Inftance, /<^. His Fcw/^v an admirable Charaàer,^ 
 204.. He commended Sophocles and Euripedes, ih. Is 
 cenfured only by bad Criticks, ih. 
 
 Cofmopolite, an hermetic Philofopherfo filled, 243. 
 
 Cijfo'va, the Village of, afflidled by Vampires, i 24. 
 
 Cojîe defends La Bruyère again ft Vigne ul de Mor'veille, 
 229. I'ranfiates Locke, yet differs from him, 263. 
 
 'Cvîip d'Etat was once, in plain Ef^^^fij a Pair of Breeches, 
 2 6 
 
 Court of Ro?r,Sy always enterprizing on the Rights of 
 others, 16.- Caufed the Proteflants to be banifhed 
 France, 87. Little favoured by the French^ 218;- 
 
 Courage, does not appear in EngliJhSmziàe^, IÇS»- 
 
 Curves, firll accurately examined by i)if J C«/-/c/, 146. 
 
 Courtiers ready to embrace any Religion for Gain, 218.^ 
 More attentive to their own Inter efts than thofe of 
 their Mafters, 1 17. Difference between the French'-. 
 ZxA EngliJJ?, 119, 120. 
 
 Crehillon cited againft Parents Severity towards their. 
 Children, 34. His Works have been rudely criti- 
 cized, 228. 
 
 Cri7/ies, one ought not to be punifhed by another, 16, 
 
 Croulas, his Critick on BayWi Didionary little efteemedj 
 22g. 
 
 Cyprian, St. believed Satyrs to be fallen Angels, 7. 
 
 D. 
 
 Damafcus, 5«/«^r;Viz».' inhabit there, iS'z.. 
 
 jyamnat ion, (ome Papifts lefs afraid of it than of not be- 
 ing buried in holy Ground, 172. that of Children ex- 
 plained by Mallebranche,^sia his Explanation refuted^ 
 232, l^c. 
 
 Danccurt, a middling Writer of /Vf^c^Comedy, 225,. 
 not abiolutely void of Genius, but carelefs in Decency^ 
 ib. 
 
 J>m;gf, Father, a valuable Writer, .153. 
 
 Dancm 
 
INDE X. 
 
 Va-ficers on the Ropes have a particular Saint for their 
 
 Patron, 71, 72. 
 David, Im; ertinencies of the Rabbies about his Con- 
 ception, 186. 
 Debtors, infolvent, Seneca cited on the apparent Hard- 
 fnip of the Lawagainft them, 173. 
 
 Deijh, compared to the Sadiucees, 41, 42. The true, 
 acknowledge a future State, 42. 
 
 Des Cartesy the Reftorer of Philorophy, 143. cited 
 againft Arijîotle, Pref. His Writings cleared the 
 Eyefight of the Englijh, 144. Superior to Hobbes, 
 inferior to Neivion, ib. The lail overturns his No- 
 tion of Vortices, 14c. His Excellencies and his 
 Errors, 146. Look'd on Animals as mere Ma- 
 chines, 14g. His Philofophy lofes its Credit every 
 day, 237. 
 
 Deuterofes originally compofed by R. Akiba, 178. 
 
 Dioptricks rendered a nev/ Science by Defca> tes, 1 46. 
 
 Dirrachlum, or Dura%%Qy a Satire prefented there to 
 Sjlla. g. 
 
 Difcourfcs of Men correfpond little with their Adions, 
 
 74- 
 Di^-init)-, the wifeii of the Ancients had very vague No-> 
 
 tions concerni.'^g it, 20. We are much clearer than 
 
 they, 21. 
 Dompré, the Birth-place of thé MpJd of 0;-/f«;7i, 25c. 
 Dorfet, Earl of, an excellent £;^^//y/c' Poet, 156. 
 Dry den has mended the Efjgiijh Tragedy, 19g. 
 
 Ecdefiaftich, a bold enterprizing P.ace of People, 6g, 
 compared to £;;zf//<:^j, zi». The Good Vv^orthy V-'ene- 
 ration, the bad to be condemned, z';^. In Holland \.\izy 
 cannot perfecute, 86 Great Diilurbers of publick 
 Quiet, 1 34. Thofe of Lijbm reprimanded and morti- 
 fied, 217. Have ruined many f rinces, 219. 
 
 Ednjoard IV. of England, an aftive debonair Prince, 1 06 . 
 depofed, ib. 
 
 Education, Politenefs depends folely thereon, 56, l5c. 
 
 Equality^ amongft Men nsceSkry to encourage Trade^ 
 
INDE X. 
 
 Egyptians, tKeir Tombs defcribed, 71 . Make ufe of vo- 
 "tive Tablets, z<^. Embalmedtheir dead, 75. Wrought 
 only for Virtmjt^ ib. 
 
 Elixir, the fifth Element of the Chemills, why fo cal- 
 led, 242. 
 
 Elizabeth, Queen of England, as Head of the Church a 
 She-Pope, 163. Refufed the Sovereignty of Hi^//^»:/ and 
 Zealand, 164. Riuicules the Mafs, ibid. 
 
 Elogia, Authors hold a vile Commerce in them, 27. Ne- 
 ver beftow them but in hopes of having themreturn'd, 
 ib, 
 
 Embalments, of the Egyptians, made for our Virtuojî, 
 
 Emetkks, ufeful when ikilfulîy applied, but othervvife 
 dangerous, 69. Ecclefiallicks compared to them, ib. 
 
 England, happy Confequences of the Toleration in that 
 Country, 90. Great Troubles therein bccafioned by 
 the Papills, g i . Exceedingly powerful, populous and 
 plentiful, 94. Its frade very proiîîable and exten- 
 f^'e, 96, i^ c. Nobility efieemed only according to 
 their Defert, 101. Power and Prerogative of their 
 Kings, 107. Charafters of their Men of Quality, 
 loi. They are Lovers of Learning and look on Ig- 
 norance as a PvCproach, 118. There are amongfl them 
 many very learned Alen, 142. Its Inhabitants very 
 corrupt under King C/^^r/pj II. 152. Tyrannically 
 treated by James II. ib. Strange Things happen 
 there from the Preaching of Dr. Sachenjerel, 221. 
 The Laws firisftly put in Execution there, 27 1 . Juftice 
 is there wifely and fairly adminiilred, 277. 
 
 England, Church of, the Mem.btrs thereof hate the 
 Papifts and Prefoyterians, 104, 134. None but of 
 this Communion can enjoy Offices, 133. Some Re- 
 femblance between its Government and that of the 
 Popifh Church, ib. Character of their Clergy, 134, 
 Great Enemies to wearing a Hat on, i 37. Very warm 
 in defence of Ceremonies they own to be indiffferent, ih. 
 Their Drefs, Temper?, Manners, 138. Compared to 
 the Jefuits, ib. 1 heT Ceremonies as whimfical as 
 the PapiUs^ 159. Their Jefts on Pope Joan may be 
 
 fbveiely 
 
Î-N DE X, 
 
 Te verely retorted, 163. This Church the Mean jbè^ 
 twixt Papiits aiid Calviniib, 165. 
 x»^///' Natian, haughty and rude, 55, Of penetrating 
 Judgments, 61 . Their Manners full of Xnconfutencies, 
 102. Large, well made, veryrobuft, 94 Far from- 
 being fo rude as represented, 94. Always prefer 
 themfelves and their Cuil:oms to thofe of Foreigner?, - 
 95 Jn which Strangers are even with them, 96. 
 Judge rafhly of other Nations by a few Sharpers, 97, 
 Hate the French exceffively, ib. Nature of their- 
 ■ Wars with that Nation, ib. Greati-tefs ofSoul vifible 
 in their Exiles in France, 99. Trade in high elteem 
 with them, ico. Confider thsir Quality only as they 
 deferve, loi. Generally fpt;aking affuming, 102. 
 Pique themfelves on their good Senfe, ib. Are tender 
 and full of Pity in fome reipefts, in others cruel and 
 bloody, 102. Defpife Trifles, and yet are very at- 
 tentive to 1 alhiorrs, ib.' Litigious and Lovers ©f 
 Chicane, 103= ■ Very tender of Falfe WitneiTes, ib. 
 Every Man hath a Religion to himfelf, 104. Lefs 
 filly than other Nations, ib. Readily reject -feolifti 
 old Cuftoms, 105. Not nice in Drefs, ib. Muti- 
 nous towards their Governors, 106. Limited Autho- 
 rity of their Princes, 107. The Law is properly 
 their Judge, ib'. Lovers of Truth, 115. Cultivate 
 the Sciences, 1 1 8.* Peculiar Privilege of their No- 
 bles, 1 20. Fancy their-learned iMen fuperiour to o- 
 thers, in all Sciences, 'i4r. This Notion examined, 
 142/ Formerly as much in the dark as their Neigh- 
 bours, 143. Owe their Improvements in Philofophy 
 to the French, ib. Their iceptical Writers fail fhort 
 o{ ûiQFre7Jch, 151. Have no good Hiilorians, 152.- 
 More addided to Party than the Jeluits themfelves, ib. 
 Entertain too good an Opinion of themfelves to write 
 wellonthe Affairs of Foreigners, 153. Have excellent 
 Poets, z^. Succinél Account of the moil famous, 153^ 
 ^c. Their Care in improving woollen Manufactures. 
 159. TheirCuftcms at Funeral-, 160. Havefubftituced 
 Compliments inftead of Prayers for the Dead, but take 
 the Fees, 161 . Their Ceremonies on fuch OccaiRoae 
 £ayer^ but^uite as ridiculous as Uofç of ihç Papiitir, 
 
INDEX. 
 
 (k D.efcription of their Executions, lôô. Do^ îic^ 
 ftrike a proper Terror, 170. Cenfiire of this Cor»* 
 ^(flj-i-i. Their Contempt of Death, 191. Pro- 
 penfity to Suicide, ?3. Reflexions thereon, ig^. 
 Their Tragic Poets inferior to the French^ 198. 
 Their Tragedies P^arces, Jog. Defcription of their: 
 Genius, 200. Have co! reded many of their Errors,. 
 201. Commit frequent Extravagancies, 203. Enjo/ 
 an unbounded Liberty, 205. Their Comic Poeta. 
 more- able,. but roo loofe, 224. They are better ac-- 
 quainted with t?ie Rules than the Writers of Tragedy, 
 226. Spoil what they take from the French by in- 
 ferting wanton Strokes, ib. Caufed the Maid of 
 Qrleam to be burnt, 247,. ^c. Took many ftep3|t> 
 oblige her to refu me Petticoat?, 254. Rigi^d Obfervers- 
 of their Laws, and ftrict in doing Jullice, 271, 277, 
 
 ^jdrai introduced Ùi&Hehrevj Charadexs now in ufe^ 
 183. 
 
 ^JJenes, a Je-vAjh Seft more Uriel in Morals than anv^ 
 other, 44. Believed the Immortality of the Soul, and- 
 yet denied the Refureftion of the Body, ib, ProfelTed 
 many Cahijiijîick O^'inxoniy 4.3, 44.. 
 
 $ibenus^ z Nejiorian Biihopy per{ecuted,,-285. A £ne 
 PafTage from his Books, ibU. 
 
 Euripides highly commended by Corneille and Racine^ 
 228. Cenfures the fcandalous Behaviour of the Spar-^ 
 tan Ladies, 274. 
 
 TaftaticSy .their Revolt in France, 64. 
 
 Falfe WitnefTes flightly punifhed in England, 104. 
 
 Jayette (Madam de la) her Memoirs of the Court 0? 
 France, 87, 88. Remarkable Obfervation in them 
 Qïi- Jeunes II.! 83. 
 
 ^ortltiidey a hard Virtue to pra^îfe, 196. Remarkable 
 IniUnce in a Spaniard \vh.o v/as reduced to want, ib. 
 
 ■Tleury, Cardinal, his jufl Commendation?, 206. Bla- 
 med by fome warm, turbulent Spirits, 215. Kis 
 Matter duely fenfible of his Services, 222. 
 ^QlUssy each. Nation hath its ihare of them, 104. 
 
I N D E X. 
 
 Fontaine^ Mr. la^ fuperiour to Waller and Guarinly 1 55." 
 Converted at the Hour of Death, 155. 
 
 fontaines^ Abbé des, confined and whipped twice a 
 day at BiJJ'etre^ 2 1 o. 
 
 Force ^ central, the Caufe why Bodies weigh in propor- 
 tion to the A^atter they contain, 147. Firft difco- 
 vered by Sir 1. Nenjcton^ ib. 
 
 Fouquet, Father, a Jefuit, quarrells with his Brethren 
 in China, 209. Comes mt.o Europe in order to carry 
 his Appeal to Rome y ib. Forced to fly Paris t ib. 
 
 France, AH Jews banifhed thence, i \ . 
 
 French^ their Politenefs, 55. Civilize the Mufco'vitesy 
 57. Why fo much defpifed and hated in Englayidy 
 96, l3c. Nature of their Wars with the Englijh and 
 Germans, 98. Too fond of Foils, Offices and Employ- 
 ments, Î 16. Know not what true Patriotifm means, ib, s 
 AiFe<^ a ihming- Exterior, 119 Speak better than\vi 
 the iï"/.^//'^, 201. Gallant by nature, ib. Not much 
 inclined to the Court of Rome, 2 1 8 Their Grandees -"^ 
 ready to turn Je-ivs to pkafe tht^ir King, ib. Their 
 Addref? in managing the Vlaid of Orleans, 247.'^ 
 
 French Refugees, their Cnarafter, 98. Mean and bafe 
 Flatterers, 99. 
 
 French Language, Molière preferved it from Corruption 
 by his Precieufes Ridicules, 225^. 
 
 G. 
 
 Garizim, the Hill whence Mofes blefTed the Ifraelites 
 (according to the Samaritans) 182. This is not de- 
 nied by ChriJ}, ib. The camarita7is facrifice there 
 to this Hour, ib 
 
 Gajfendi had the Courage to declare againft the School- 
 men, 143. Inferior ro Nenvton btJt fuperior to Hobbes, 
 144. His Labours in combating the Peripateticks, 
 tb. 
 
 Gaza, Samaritans rQiiàeûitïÇ., 182- 
 
 Gazeus [Angelinus) Jefuit, his Verfes cited, 30, 31. 
 The Compiler of a good many filly Stories, 181. 
 
 George, St. is properly the i\^/?vofthe Papifts, 71. 
 
 Gladiators, 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Gladiators, much admired in £'/^/^;/rt', Î03. 
 
 GOD, all Syflems which exclude his Agency and Power 
 are to be rejedled, 18, 20. He cannot be either ma- 
 teria or cocvai with Matter, 21. The Knowledge 
 of his being One owing to the 7^w/ and firxl Chriflians, 
 22. The great Utility of MifTions is the propagating 
 this Doflrine, 24. Des Cartes''s?rooïi, in refped to 
 him, very inconclufive, 146. And believed he could 
 change the Eflence? of Bodies, ib. 
 
 Great, that Title ought to be merited by a Man's being 
 the Author of Good to many, and not Mifchief to 
 Thoufând% 223. A Title oftner due to Minifters 
 than to Subjefts, 221. Madnefs to bellow it on an 
 Author of Blood and Mifchief, 222. 
 
 Greatnefs of Soul, appears in bearing Evils, not in run- 
 ning away from tiiem by Suicide, 196. 
 
 Great Work of the Alcheii>iih atchieved with difficulty, 
 
 243- 
 Grandees, their Charaéler in England, 116. Ready in 
 
 France to be circumcif^d at the King's Command, 218. 
 Greeks extremely polidied and civjjized, 56. Hung 
 
 up Votive 1 ables in their Temples, 7 1 . 
 Gregory Nazianzen, St. v^ry quiet when his Party was 
 
 not uppermoft, but an Advocate for Perfecution when 
 
 it was, 280. 
 Grenada {Leivis of) a celebrated Spanijh Divine, Pref. 
 Grotius, cited on the head of fovereign Authority, iia, 
 
 111,113. By no means favourable to Anti-Royalifts, 
 
 in. ^\s Rights ofPeuce and War, an excellent 
 
 Treatife, 286 Pût into the Expurgatory Index at 
 
 Pome, ih. And was no lefs decried too by Protellant 
 
 Divines, ib. 
 Guarini, a celebrated Italian Poet, inferiou.r to Waller 
 
 and La Fontaine, 153. 
 Guignard (John) a Jefuit, advifed the Murder of 
 
 Henry ÏV. 79. 
 
 H. 
 
 Hadnagys, 'BzxW^^ m Hungary, 126. 
 Hebal, the Mountain whence the Curfes were produced-^ 
 h^ Mo/es, 182. Bibreix^ 
 
INDE X. 
 
 jîelretVf the Ancient Charadlers preferved by Bamayf" 
 tans, 183. The modern introduced by Efdras, ibid»' 
 
 Heidukes-^ a People in Hungary, 124. 
 
 Henry III. affalEnated by Clement, 79, 176. Fell a 
 vidim to his Minions, 221. 
 
 Henry IV. of France preferr'd before all Princes, 62. 
 Commended exceffively, 63. Almoil ador'd by .the 
 Aucnor, -Q. HisDeathftrangejV revenged, 77. Ka^ 
 ther by Providence than human Jullice, ibid. 
 
 Henry VII. Emneror, poifon'd by a Daminican- in th& 
 Hoft, 79; ' 
 
 Hereticks, deiperate Confequences of the Popifh Maxim 
 that they ought to be exterminated, 85. Thofe who ■ 
 arc efteem'd for fuch in one Country are held Ortho- 
 dox in another, 85, 86. 
 
 Hermes y an Hermetick Philofopher, 243. 
 
 Herod, to pleafe the Romans had a mix'd Religion of 
 Je-j:iJJ? and Pagan Rites, 45. 
 
 Herodians, a Se<5l of their Mailers Religion, 46. The 
 Zaducees]Q\vità. them in time, this Seft fubfifts Hill in 
 mofl Courts, ibid. 
 
 Hierarchy, Rofnijh, iliU preferved :n the Church of Ehg*: 
 land, 133. 
 
 Hijîorîans, Englijh, vaift and partial, 152; By no means 
 worthy of Elleem, ibid. The French very much ad* 
 diéled to Paflion in their Accounts of the Civil Wars, 
 ibid. Too often relate impertinent Tales, 250. 
 
 Hobbes, a Friend and Admirer oîGaJJendi, 144. Inféri- 
 eur to him, to Spinofa, and to De/cartes, ibid. Re- 
 marks on fome of his Writings, ibid. 
 
 Holland, its Inhabitants plain honeft People, 55. En- 
 dowed with good Senfe, 60. The Clergy have no 
 power of perfecuting there, 86. Happy Confequen- 
 ces of this Toleration, 90. 
 
 Homer, his Heroes vicious and not over-honefl, 65. 
 
 Horace cited in defence of Raillery, 31. 
 
 Huldric, {John-James) publiihed in Hebren.v with a Latin 
 Tranllation and Notes, containing an ample Refutation 
 of the JenjAJh Romance concerning the Life and Actions 
 cf 7. C. 296. Copious Citations from that Work, 2g7.> 
 
I N D E X. 
 
 1. 
 
 Beria, Chevalier of, a kind of Don %/v9/in the Caufe 
 
 , of Spain. Pref. A miferable Trar^fcriber of the Dic- 
 tionaries of Moreri an^ Corneille, ibid Abundance of 
 Circumftances in regard to his publick and private 
 Charafter, ibid. 
 ■Idea s derived to us entirely by onr Senles, 148, innate, 
 warmly maintained by Des Cartes y ibid. Deflroy'd 
 by Locke^ ibid. 
 
 'IdJr.ters, continue fuch or recant as the Mifllonaries 
 give tnem Money, 52. 
 
 Idomeneus, the Murderer of his own Son, 63. 
 
 Jmpofls, a very fevere one on the Je^vs in Germany^ i ^. 
 
 Indrfinite, a very confufed Term introduced by the Car^ 
 ipjiansy 146. 
 
 Infamy, a necefiary Attendant on Punifhment, 169. 
 Quite midaken by the ^;7^/>'^, 167, tffc. Seems un- 
 iuft as to tire P.elations of Malefactors, but necefiary 
 to Society, 173. 
 
 Inquifitorsy dreadful Confequences of their Method of 
 proceeding, 8,. 
 
 Infpiratioriy it is impiety to fuppofe any degrees therein, 
 ' 1 84. Luther jufily reproved for his Rafhnefs in Cen- 
 -faring an Apoftle, ibid. 
 
 J- 
 
 Jamei, St. theApoHle vindicated againfl Luther, 784, 
 
 James II. of England dethroned by his Son-in-iatv, 
 65. Weak enough to be govemM by Prieils, 87. 
 Contemned by the French, ibid. 
 
 Janfevifts decry the Jefuit MifiloHC, 50. Compared to 
 the Pkarifees among the Je^vs, 43. Set up for Saints, 
 ibid. Hypocrites and Cheats for the moft part, ibid. 
 Would be mere tTa<5lab]e if they had their Share of 
 Preferments, 47. Malicious and very enterprizing, 
 68 . Very like the E>7glijh Presbyterians, 137, 139. 
 AfFefl to criticife Mcntaign, 229. 
 
 Jehuda, exceffivelmpertinences of the JeviN about him, 
 303. 
 
 jerom, St. of a mofi: intemperate Spirit, 284. His 
 Violence ?gainft Rt^nus, ibid. Wrote a Pure and 
 
 Elegant 
 
I N D E X. 
 
 Elegant Latin Style, 284 His itrange Tale of St. 
 Anthom and a Satyr, 8 • 
 
 JerufaUm, taken by Ponrpn. 49. DeftroyM by Titus, 
 290. The Je^ivs expert its reftoration, 54. The 
 Turks have a Mc fk where was the Holy of Hoiies, 289. 
 
 Jejfe, tht Father of Va^vid^ ridiculous Story of his A- 
 dultery, 186 A very proiiigate Pra«^ice gr2:fted 
 thereon, 187. 
 
 Jefuiis, abufe cxceffive-y Lettres de Cachet^ 210. Per- 
 fecuted Arnnuld qmx. of Spice, 22. Their Milfionaries 
 not always to blame, 29. Sometimes very unjuftly 
 cenfured, ibid. Pn-judiced Z^a'/.-iXIV. by their Coun- 
 cils, 66. SufF- x^'si thro' an unaccountable V\'c,akners 
 in the Courts of Princes, 79 Aiade James IJ. lofe 
 three Kingt'oms, 87, b8. Compared to the Englijh 
 Clergy, 141. Signalinitance of their ryrannic Oif- 
 pofition, 209. Caufed the Ruin of Don Seb'ajîian 
 KJngot Fui tuga/f 219. ExcefTively malicious towards 
 the Janfenifis, 230. Caufed Puffendorff' % excellent 
 Book to be proLibited, 2S6. 
 
 Jesus Chr 1ST, Forgeries of the^fw^concerninghisHi- 
 llory, 296, ^c. Did not deny Mount G^îr/«/>/î to be 
 the Mount of BleiTings, 182. 
 
 yenvs, hated by all Nations why? lo, ^c. Accufed 
 of Cruelties in facrificing, ibid. Banifh'd Fratrce, ibid. 
 Extremely Avaricious, 14. Said to want Honefty, 
 15. Miferably harraiTed, ihid. Poor Kxcufes for 
 Covetoufnefs, ibid. Ought to have fpread their Re- 
 ligion, 26. Account of their anciei't Sects, 41, CfrV. 
 Iheir Precifenefs as to the Sabbath prejudicial, 48. 
 In Portugal behave as good ChrilHans, 50. Great 
 Courage of the Je'<ws of old, 51. As numerous now 
 as ever, ibid. Prohibited the reading Murba'nel\ 
 Writings in Italy, 175. Foolifh Ceremonies at the 
 Privy, 179 Accufed of corrupting the Pentateuch, 
 182. Cruelly dealt with by Tyrants, 288. Their 
 Prayers againft them, ibid, their faratick Zeal for 
 Barcokebas, 292. Seditious and cruel, and therefore 
 
 abandoned by God, 293 Lyes invented by them-a- 
 gainft the Chrillian Meihah,. 296, i^c. 
 Joy y excefii thereof occanons f'a«dden Death, 128. 
 
 3 Je/^A 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Jofeph, a forged Hiilory of him by the JevjSy 297^ 
 Je^itzo [Staf2oJka). dies of Vampirifm, 125. That 
 
 Fad examin'd. 128. 
 Judaifm, the apparent Excellency of its Precepts, ^-6. 
 
 The opinion that it fubfiils only as a proof of Chriili- 
 
 anity, warmly refuted, 174. Grievoufly injured- by 
 
 the ridiculous Tales of the Rabbles, 180. 
 JuJca, its prefent mifcrable Condition, 2â8. 
 Judges, necefjary for the Pubiick Saletythat they fhould 
 
 not decide arbitrarily, 27$. Becaufe their Paffions 
 
 would then naturally govern, 272. 
 Jurieu, Mr. his prophetick Dreams Hill dillurb the 
 
 heads of fome Refugee.., 181. 
 JufJce IS never ex;<5l oui where only the Merits ofxhe 
 
 Caufe are confidereJ, 209. 
 Juftin Mûrtp% believed batyrs to be fallen Angels, 7. 
 J u-oenal ciitd as to a perfecucing Spirit, 104. 
 
 K. 
 
 Kîffiîonja, a Village in. Scia^joJiiay infefled with Vam- 
 pires, 122. 
 
 L. 
 
 Lacedemoniam^ had fome ftrange Laws exceiTively blamed 
 by Euripides, 274. The Conftrutfticu" of its Senate 
 cenfured by Arijiotle, 276. Who notwithilanding 
 approved a Law for murdering weak Children, cen- 
 fured by Plato, ibid. 
 
 La Croze cited as to the good Conduct of Miffionaries, 
 28, 29, 30. 
 
 Laclantius believed Satyrs fallen Angels, 7. 
 
 Lajiteau, Jefuit, Biihop of Sifîerofi, his fcurrilous Book, 
 68. Publifnes as fcurrilous a fécond part, tho' the 
 firft cenfured by the King and fupprelTed, 6g. 
 
 Laymen, better Moralifls than the Clergy, 285. 
 
 Lavgey, look'd ofl the Aftaij of the Maid of OrleaTts^zl 
 a Projeft of the Genertils of the French King Charles 
 Vn. 249 
 
 Language, French, Molière did it prodigious fervice hy 
 his Precieufes Ridicules, 225» 
 
 LegiJJahrs^ 
 
I N D E X. 
 
 -Lcgljlaiors^ many even of the moft celebrated have ruit 
 into ftrange Extravagancies, 272. Of which there^ 
 are many examples, ibid. 
 Lent [Joannes a) his Treatife de Pfeudo-MeJJïis Jttde8(j*.\ 
 
 rum^ 28g. Farther Citations from him, 291. 
 Lepidus the Triumvir, an Abfolute Robber on the High-*!' 
 way, 64. 5 
 
 Leo of Mcdena, a very learned Jen.<j and a warm Defen-«> ' 
 
 der of his Brethren, i ç. 
 
 Letters de Cachet abafed by the Jefuits, 21 0. Are a, 
 
 Curfe unknown in £«^/aW, 206. Terrible under am. 
 
 evil Minifter, 207. Perfon hanged at Paris forCoun^ 
 
 terfeiting them, 212. 
 
 Letters, Je^vifh, where reprinted and tranflated, Tref. 
 
 Lilerty, civil, is by no means the Parent of Brutality, 
 
 56." N-ccefTary in- order to right thinking, 142. 
 Lisbon^ the Ecclefiafticks mortified there, 216, (Sc. 
 Locke cited againil Jrijlotle, Pre/. Has not hisi equal in 
 Spain, 142. Much a.wifer Alan than Mallebrariche, 
 .256. His Sentiments as to the Soul, iJj.S. Deilroys 
 the Notion"^^ of Innate Ideas, ibid. Criticifed by Dr. 
 S tillin^fleet, 2-3,1. His Anfwers, 267. His Candour 
 and Penetration placed him at the head of the Meta- 
 •phyficians, 237. His Notions as to the Soul's conti- 
 nual Thinking attacked, 257. And defended, 264. 
 -London, fwarms with foreign Sharpers, 97. as alfo 
 with Pettifoggers and Knights of the Pcft, 103, 104. 
 Zfiv/jIX. expofes a fine Army to ruin by the perfua- 
 
 £ons of the Prieils, 220. 
 Le-i-:is XIV. gives too much into the Schemes of the 
 Clergy, 66.— Tho' a Papift, perfecutes the Pope, 217. 
 Owed' much to Tunnne, Ccvde, Cfr. 222. 
 Le^jjis XV. juftly commended, -68. His Goodnefs and 
 Clemency, 69. Hath a juft Senfe of the Merit 01 
 Cardinal de Fleury, 222. 
 Le^is, King oï Hungar^^, a Victim to the Priefts, 220. 
 lowvois, a great Minifter, Levsis XIV. owes much to 
 
 him, 222. 
 Luce, St. ferves the Papills inftead of the Goddefs Lud- 
 
 na, 71. 
 Luther cenfur'd for want of RefpeQ to St. Jameu i8j. 
 
 Ljcur^us 
 
I N D EX 
 
 Lycurgus, fome of his laws not over-wife, 27^. Cen- 
 fured by LuripidcSy 274. His Senate at Sparta cen- 
 fured by Arif.otk^ 276. Another Law of his approved 
 by Ari'jlotky and condemned by Flato^ ibid. 
 
 M. 
 
 Mahometans (or Mohammedans) caufe Te?:ts from the 
 Koran to be interred with them, 70". ^ Hate thé J e~jjs 
 more than the Chriilians, 11. Do not uncover at 
 divine Worfhip, 137. Their Clergy make free with 
 their Scriptures, 187. Have built at J erufalem a 
 Mcfk over the Holy of Holies, 28g. 
 
 Malherbe, his fine Verfes cited on the Tombs of Kings, ■ 
 76. His Writings fcarce inférieur to thofeof iïvv^ff, 
 "^i • 
 
 Miallehranchey rather a Poet than a Philofopher, 147, 
 His Syftem a Romance, 148. Admits innate Ideas, 
 ibid. Could not be convinced of the Exilkncê of Bodies, 
 149. Cenfures ^r//?o//^ feverely, 231. His Cenfure 
 retorted upon himfelf, ibid. Attempts to prove the ' 
 juftice of Children's Damnation, 2>2. His Credit 
 drops daily, 237. Cited againil Arifiotle, Pref. 
 
 Manajfeh Ben Ifrael, a very Learned ^enj-\ 176. His 
 Book intitled the Conciliator, excellent, ibid. 
 
 Mark Antony, no better than a Thief, 64. • 
 
 Merchants, mod honourable Characfter at Londo7t, \ 00. 
 Wife and Honourable Perfons, loi. 
 
 Margaret, St. one of the Directors of the Maid of Or-- 
 leans, z^l, &c. 
 
 Marriage, curious Obfervatidns thereon, 32 — 40. 
 
 'Mariana, a ^pa^iijh Jefuit, his Hiilory oï Spam admira- 
 ble, Pref. commended by the Learned Co^iringius, ibid. 
 
 Maria d'Jgreda, her Seraphick Treatife cenfured, 181. 
 
 Marius, more a Highwayman than the Miquelets, 63. 
 Reduced fo low as to take fhelter in a Bog, 195. 
 Gives a noble Inftance of true Courage, ibid. 
 
 Mars, the Papifts have fuch a Divinity in St. George, 71.- 
 
 Medreiga, a Village of Hungary, infeded by Vampires, 
 125. 
 
 Melancholy, diiTipated by Mufick, 84. • Is the grand 
 Caufe why the Englijh murder themfelves, 19?. 
 Vol. IV. CL Mmdes, 
 
INDEX. 
 
 ^'Undss, Jlphonfo, Jefuit, deftroys ail the Fruits of Kis 
 Predecelîors in the Miffion, 29. 
 
 M£Ke%es, a Portuguefe Miffionary, bis Cruelty towards 
 the hdiansy 28. 
 
 Mevtx. [Judo] a Learned JeiM Rector of the Academy at 
 Padua, i~6. 
 
 Mercury, the fifth Element of the Chemiib, 242.. 
 
 Merlin, an Hermetick Philolbpher, 242. 
 
 MelJlah, ftill hoped for by the Je^ivs who talk in a high 
 llrain of him, 54. 
 
 Mejftahs, pretended ones, Johi a I^^/z'sTreatife concern- 
 ing them, 292- Barcokebas, an infamous Impoftor of 
 this fort, 292. 
 
 M.etaphxftcian, difputes with, a Mufician the Dignity of 
 his ProfeiTion, 80, C^r 
 
 Mkhon,. Mr.. his whimiical Adventure,. 72, 
 
 Micro/copes reveal to us many things wiiich otherwife 
 would haveefcaped notice, z. 
 
 M/Z/o, the Beidiike, dies of Vampirifm,. 126. 
 
 Milton, his Poem inferior to Virgui, but fuperior to 
 Tcijfrj^,. \c^'}^. Religion better ernploy'd therein, ihtd, 
 Jnitance of this, ibid, irlad b/en of all the Sedls in 
 Efigland, 90, Was for allowing them all Toleration 
 except Papiils, whv, 91.. 
 
 T>Ji}ier--va, the Papifls in her flead have St. Cecilia, 7!. 
 
 Minijiers of State, ought not to have abfolute Power, 
 207. Sometimes get the better of fuch as fpeak a- 
 gainil them to Kings, 2o5. Some Remarks on their 
 Power, ibid. Blamed fometimcs without Reafon, 214. 
 Tv^'O extraordinary Inftances in Cardinal Fleury and 
 S:r Robert Walpole, ibid. Many have better defervcd 
 the Name of Great. than, their Mailers, 22.1. 
 
 Miquekts, , moll: enormous Thieves, 6.|. 
 
 Mijhna, the Text, of the Talmud lefs ridiculous than a- 
 ny ether part, 178., 
 
 il^i^^ijz?i7;y^^ highly. commended, 24, ^c. Their Extra- 
 vagancies blam.ed, 28. The German and French, 
 Men of.Ham.anity, ibid. The Spaniards and ?07-tiu- 
 gi'.efe ail Perfecutors, ibid. Some Jefuits very wor- 
 thy Rerfons, 29. Unite, whatever differences are a? 
 nLor^gft them, in the goodCaufe of Perfecution, 92, 
 
 Misons,. 
 
I N D E X. 
 
 Mljionsy Foreign, commended, 24. 
 
 Mode, the Englijh ibnd of it to a Degree of Folly, 104. 
 
 Monks, have frequently alïaiîinatcd Princes, 7S Suffer- 
 ed in their Courts tiiro' weaknefs, ibid Are not per- 
 mitted 2it Verfdiles, ibid. Le^uis XIII trembled if 
 they came near him, il^id. Perfuade weak People to 
 be buried in their Habit,. 156 Their filly Tales ve- 
 ry prejudicial to the Chriiban Religion, r8o< 
 
 Molière, much fupericr to IVicherky^ 224,. Beauty and 
 great Utility of his Comedies, 225. His Precieujfes PJ^ 
 dicules drove out afi'bctcd Language among the Ladies, 
 Hid. His Bcole^ des Femmes civr'Iv interpolated by 
 Wicher!c:, 226. Pilk-ged, disfigured and decry'd by 
 bad Evglijh P jcts, 227. His nioft Eiteemed Pieces, 
 22S: 
 
 Molinijlsi a fierce unruly fort of People, 68. 
 
 Monceca, Aarcn, arrives at London^ 93. 
 
 Montagne cited as to the Danger of aavifmg Princes free- 
 ly, 117. An agreeJoie and dc'icious Sceptick, 151. 
 Attacked by the Janfenijisy 229. 
 
 M'jntefpan, Madim, taking her from her Hufband the 
 greateft fiain on Lenvis XIW Charasfler, 65^ 
 
 Morality, fome curious Remarks on its prefcnt State, 
 279, ^V. 
 
 Mufco-vites, Brutes and Slaves, 56. Inflance thereof in 
 their Treatment of Amb/.iûidors, 58 Rendered 
 more fociabieand Politeby P^.'^y-I. 57, 59, 6^. Be- 
 haviour of their young Gentlemen in France, 59. Per^ 
 fecutors and Perfecuted, 86. 
 
 Mufti's make free fometimes Vvith what they call Scrip- 
 tures, 187. Suppofe abundance of things on the Cre» 
 die of Revelîiti'onj 235. 
 
 Munfier charges the Learned Abraham de Bahnis with 
 Birr boni I'm, 1 76. 
 
 Murait cited as to the State of People of Quality in Eng- 
 land, 118. 
 
 Mufe^s, reduced to Circumftances of extreme Diflrefsj 
 158. 
 
 Mufician, mamtains a pleafant Difpute on the Dignity of 
 his Profeirion, 80. 
 
 Myfiicks among the Chriftians. compared with the The 7 
 ra^utc? among the 7tav/; 44. N. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 N. 
 
 Naplujta^ heretofore Sich£m, the Abode of the Samaritans, 
 182. 
 
 Narcijfus ruined Nero by his evil Counfels, 222. 
 
 Nationsy all have their Follies, 104. Thofe are wifeft 
 who have fewell, ibid. 
 
 Nazarenes, i. e. Chriilians, hate the Je^jcs more than the 
 Turks, ÏI. Their Syftem of Morals admirable, 16. 
 Do Juflice to the ancient Je^s, 5 1 . Put Images into 
 their Coffins, 70. Ridicule their own Superllitions, 
 and yet continue Slaves to them, 7 c. Are abfolutely 
 under the Power of Monks, 79 Vain and proud even to 
 their Graves, 15g. Always difpofed to condemn the 
 y^au/, 174. Rack and Torture their Scriptures, 187. 
 And pretend Revelation for all things, 235. 
 
 IhceJJtty difpenfes with abundance of things, 49. 
 
 NeivtoJi, fuperiour to Des Cartes and Ga/fendiy yet if they 
 had not lived before him would not probably have 
 gone fo far as they, 146. Admits many things from 
 Des Cartesy 147. Is at the Head of the new Philofo- 
 phy, ibid. 
 
 t<icile^ his moral EfTays excellent, 1 80. 
 
 JVi/f, the Egypian Tomh^y ^c. on its Banks, 71. 
 
 Normands, much given to Chicane, 103. 
 
 No'vehy, thofe who are ftruck with it adl as if PofTefled," 
 ,61. An incurable Folly, ibid. 
 
 Kou-vellcs Ecclefiajîiques, d. French J anfeniji^ Libel poorly 
 written, 230. 
 
 O. 
 
 ■Ohfîinacy, a Vice in confequence of our adling againft 
 Reafon, 52. ' f 
 
 Ondins, \ kind of Water-Spirits in the language of the 
 Cabalilis, 2. NotimpoiTiblethattheremay befuch, 4.- 
 But impraticable to converfe with them, 5. 
 
 Onis, Ifaac^ gots XOikt Jerufalemy 288. 
 
 Opera,' \ioyt the fight of one delights the Mind, 84. 
 
 Orthodox, thofe who are foin one Country are regarded 
 as Hereticks in another, 85. 
 
 Ovid, burlefquedby AJfouci, 228. 
 
 Outreman, a Jefuit, the Compiler of many tedious Tales,^ 
 18 ». ?^ 
 
INDEX. 
 
 p. 
 
 pagans y the Impiety of their Prayers, 14. 
 
 Palladio, an admirable Archited, 199. 
 
 Pau, the Papifts have replaced him in St. Anthony, 7 1. 
 
 Panialeon, St. Tome whimfical Memoirs of his Votaries, 
 72, i5\. 
 
 Papijls, the great blow given them in England, 8 7. Copy 
 many of their Ceremonies from the Pagan Greeks, 7 1 . 
 have re-edified Paganilm by fetting up Male and Fe- 
 male Saints inflead of Gods and Goddeffes, ibid. Scan- 
 dalous Abufe of this praélice, 72. Perfecuted where 
 their Religion is dominant, and tolerared among Pro- 
 tellants, 86, Dreadful in England, not as a Sect, but 
 as of Tyrannical Principles, 91. Ready to drop all 
 Difputes to profecute others, 92. have the Advan- 
 tage over the Englifp in the Cafe of Pope Joan, 162, 
 l5c. Some lefs afraid of Damnation than of being 
 buried out of Holy Ground, 172. Bad Judges of the 
 Writings of Proteitants, 179. 
 
 Papus, the filly Legend of him by the Je-j-s, 297. 
 
 Paracelfus, a famous Cabalilî, i . His Secret for con- 
 XQYÏmgWiÛmSalamaiîd^r, 5. An impudent Lyar, 7, 
 
 Paris, Abbé, a Janfenift Saint, 44. 
 
 P^/V/^^wt";?/ of P-^wfevereagainil: Rebellion, 16. Watch- 
 ful as to any Attempts from Rome, ihid. 
 
 Pafcal, bears very hard on the Zpanljh Divines, 3 1 . Has 
 quite demolifhed the Jefuits, 52. 
 
 Pajquier, his Hiftory of the Maid of Or/^^^^x, 248. Re- 
 prefents her as a Saint, ibid. But is pofitive ihe wai 
 a Maid, 249. -Her ufe in the French Armies, 250. 
 Her Conferences with Saints, 251. Fondnefs for a 
 pair of Breeches, 253. Prefers her Life to them, 254. 
 Falls in love again with Breeches, 255. And is 
 burnt, ibid. 
 
 Patkull, cruelly executed by order of the King of S^-u:sden, 
 66. 
 
 Paul, St. a Hermit, converfes with a Satyr, 8. His 
 Life written by St. Jerome, ibid. 
 
 Paule, -Arnold, a Heiduke, crufli'd by a Wa^eon, izi,. 
 Vol. IV. R ^" A 
 
INDE X. 
 
 A mofl notorious Vampire, and how he became fo» 
 125. 
 
 "Pentateuch is the only Part of the Bible read by the 
 Samaritans^ 182. Who charged the Je<^s with cor- 
 rupting it, ih. 
 
 Tarents^ had too gre?t Powers by the i?o/«fl» Laws, 34. 
 fometimes hate their Children, ih. 
 
 /'<^/'/^â/^/zV Philofophy decried by Des Cartes^ 143. 
 
 Peraulty a fecond-rate Writer, 228. 
 
 Perjians Gilecmed Barbarians, 56. Exceedingly obedi- 
 ent to their Prince, 283. Yet he could not puniih any 
 OfR^nder with Death for the i:ril Fault, lâ. Obliged 
 to ufe their Slaves well, i6. 
 
 Petau, Father, an able and excellent Writer, 230. 
 
 Petits Maitresy incorrigible f cols, 60. elttemed in 
 jE';ç^/^;7^/a kind of Apes, gq. Pretend to much Gon- 
 ftancy, and have none at all, 202. 
 
 Pelronius, a fine PalTage from his Writings, 13. 
 
 Pbarifces, fo called Irom their feparating, 43. Their 
 Vifions occafioned t\i^ S adduces, 41. The Rabbles 
 their Defcenclants, 43, ExceiTive proud and meer 
 Hypocrites, ib. Have invented Chimsras, and father 
 them on Scripture, ib. J a^ifenijhXùiZ them in their 
 Stiffnefs, ib. 
 
 PhilcJopI:ers, the new add to the Errors of the old, 2360 
 Dellroy each other's Syftems, ib. 
 
 P y fies, have been improved by the Difcoveries of the 
 Chemift?, 246. 
 
 Pf/^/- J. civilized the /►/iy/roi-vV*?^, 57. Had great Vir- 
 tues and as great Vices, 66. Unnaturally cruel to 
 his Son, ib. 
 
 Plants, their manner of growing explained by the Che- 
 milts, 246. 
 
 Planis Campi, an hermetic Philofopher cited, 239. 
 
 Plato cenfures a Law of Lycurgvs, 276. 
 
 PU7iy fpeaks of Satyrs in the Indies, g. 
 
 Plutarch, his Account of a Satyr prefen ted to 5)'//^, g. 
 
 Poetry, much encouraged and highly applauded in 
 England, 156. 
 
 Poets, Tragic, among the Englijh excelled (in this Au- 
 thor's Judgment] by thQ French, 19S. The former 
 
 write 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Vvrite with Fire and Spirit, but without Judgment, }h- 
 
 "ïïïQ Englijh Comic Poets underiland the Rules bettei, 
 
 but do not obferve Decency, z 24. 
 Politencfs is every where the EfFedls of Education, 56. 
 Politicks in £k^/<2W appear even on the Theatre, 209. 
 Por/ipey made a good ufe of the yenjjs Obfervance of their 
 
 Sabbath, 49 . Admired the Intrepidity of their Prieib, 
 
 51. At the bottom he was no better than an illuftrious 
 
 Robber, 64. 
 Pope, a formidable Rival to the Ancients and Moderns, 
 
 153. His Rape cf the Lock commended, 154. A 
 
 Quotation from thence on Women, ib. A zealous 
 
 Defender of Homer and Virgil, 228. 
 Portuguefe, cenfured for perfecuting the Indians, 2S. 
 
 The Heat ar^d Fury of their Miifionaries, 29. Thc-ir 
 
 Ecclef.ailicks mortified at Lijhon^ 217. Look on 
 
 their Patriarch as a Divnity, ib. Slaves to Prieits and 
 
 Monk?, 218. 
 /*<7;^^^r of Pi ojettion rarely found by the Chemifis, 244. 
 Pradon, a miferable Author, 227, 237. 
 Predejlination, a Cahinijîical Doélrine held b/ the 
 
 Ej}nes, 44.^ 
 Prejhyterlans, in England, hate the Church heartily, 
 
 104, 134. Whimfical Inftance of their Zeal, 135. 
 
 Their moody melancholy Air, 138. Compared to 
 
 the Janfenijis, ib. Their Ceremonies lefs fuper- 
 
 ftitious than thofe of the Church, 165. 
 Priejls, fatal Counfellors to Princes, 220. 
 Prideaux, cited as to the Fortitude of the old Je^vijb 
 
 Priefts, 51. 
 Probity, efteemed even amongll thofe who held an 
 
 impious Religion, 275. ^ 
 
 Prodigies, that of the Vampires accounted for, 1 22, &c. 
 P rot efi ants, tolerate Papifts,tho* everywhere perfecuted 
 
 by them, 86. Do not allow any great authority to 
 
 their Clergy, ib. Bad Judges of the Writings of the 
 
 Papifts, 180. 
 Pucelle, i. e. Maid of Orleans, fee Pafnuier^ Account of 
 
 her. ' ■' . 
 
 R 2 Puffendorf, 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Tufendorf, his excellent Treatiie of the Law of Nature 
 and Nations, 286. Prohibited by the Intrigues of 
 the Jefuits, ibid. 
 
 Punijhments, mild among the ancient Perjîans, 283. 
 
 ^aherSf have no Sacraments, 10. Yet are not hated by 
 
 other Sefls, ib. 
 Squint ejfence y the iifth Element of the Chemiils, 242, 
 
 R, 
 
 Rahhins, their flrange Notions as to Satyrs, 7. Write 
 nothing folid or inftrudive, 1 3. Some of their Wri- 
 tings prohibited under fevere Penalties, 175. Have 
 injured the Jei<:ijh Religion exceedingly by their 
 Impertinences, 180. Strain and torture Scripture 
 exceedingly, 186. Inflancc thereof, ib. Pretend to 
 juilify all their Notions by Revelation, 187. 
 
 "Rahhinifts ; fee Pharifees. 
 
 Racine, much fuperior to Jddijofry ig$. Was really in 
 love with ChanmeU the Aélrefs, 202. Would not 
 have fucceeded in England, 203. His Heroes won» 
 derfully well drawn, 204. A great Admirer of So' 
 f bodes and Euripides, 228. His Works attacked by 
 the low Criticks, ib. 
 
 J^apin, the Jefuit, feverely cenfured, Pref, 
 
 Rajis^ an hermetick Philofopher, 240. 
 
 Rafon, an hermetick Philofopher, 240. 
 
 Rebellion, condemned by all Laws human and divine» 
 16. 
 
 Reformed, fee Prejhyterians. 
 
 Religion, how much that of the Sovereign influences his 
 Subjefts, 45. There is none but what is divided into 
 Sefts, 40. It is unworthy of a Man of Honour to 
 change from temporal Motives, 52. Religious pif- 
 putes ought not to difturb the State, go. 
 
 Religions, adopt Puerilities from each other, and per- 
 petuate Superftition, 7 1 . Seldom create Difturbances 
 where they are mutually tolerated, 91. Differences 
 ©f this fort create Urong Antipathies, 98. Juvenal 
 
 cited 
 
INDEX. 
 
 cited on Penecution, 104. All fuppofe particular 
 
 Revelations, 235. The moil impious and immoral 
 
 have not eradicated the Love of Decency, 275. 
 Kepuhlkk of Letters, little Sincerity flirring therein, 
 
 231. 
 RefurreSIiony denied by the Saaucees, 42. And by the 
 
 "Efenes, 43. 
 KevelatioKs, Remarks on them, 235. 
 Riccius, the Jefuit, a v^ry worthy iVIan, 29. 
 Richard, an Englijh Hermit, and an Adept in Chemiftry, 
 
 240. 
 Richard y a Child fo called, crucified by the Jc^j:s at 
 
 Raris, 1 1 . 
 Rlchlieu, Cardinal, the Hiftory of Le^\:is XIII. a Panegy- 
 
 rick on him, 222. Jealous of his Character as an 
 
 Author, Rref. 
 R:;iord, Hiftoriographer to Rhilip Augujlus, vouches the 
 
 Jei^s crucifying a Child, 11, 
 Rigour, the fureil way of keeping Subjeéls to their 
 
 D.ty, 69. 
 Rochejier 'B.2.ï\ oîy a Wit, 155. Lived \ïk.Q Petroràus, 
 
 died like la Fontaine, ib. 
 Rodrigue-z, an indifferent Spanifrj Author, indifferently 
 
 tranllated, Fref. 
 Romans^ had too great Power over their Children, 34. 
 
 V/ere perfetflly polite, 55. 
 Rofcommonj Earl of^ au excellent Poet, 156. 
 
 S. 
 
 Sabbath, the Superftition of the Jei>:s in keep'ng it ex- 
 tremely fatal, 48. The Nuzarenes far from being fo 
 firia, 50. 
 
 Sàchcverel, Dr. occafiOns a great Change in England, 
 221. 
 
 Sacrifices, barbarou» ones, ofTerM by the Je^Ms, 1 2. 
 
 Saducees, were at firft no more^than Caraitts, 41 . By op- 
 pofing the F hart fees in all things they became mcrc- 
 dulous and profane, ib. Deny the Refurr.ftion, Spi- 
 rits, and the Life after this, ib. The modern- Dvuis 
 are of îhis Se<.% ib, 
 
 R 3 Siaint 
 
INDEX. 
 
 ^aînt Jupna, hath an elegant Church in Venice, 19g. 
 
 Saints, have fucceeded in the room of HeathenDeities, 71. 
 
 Salamanders, an Account of them, 2. 
 
 Sallujty an excellent Roman Hiilcrian, 152. 
 
 Salomon Ben Virga, a learned Je^, 1 76. His Hiflory 
 of the Jenj:i excellent, ib. 
 
 Samaritans, that Se£l of the Jevjs who have digrefTed 
 leafl from Scriptures, 182. Account of them and 
 their Opiraons, ibid. Charge the Je^-vcs with corrupt- 
 ing Scriptures, ibid. Receive only the Pentateuch, 
 183. CenfurM on that Head, z^. 
 
 Satjrs, various Opinions concerning them, with Re- 
 marks, 7, i^c, 
 
 Scandalum Magnatum, an Englijh, fo called, 1 20. 
 
 Scarron, burlefquea Virgil, and made himfelf ridiculou?, 
 227. A forry Author, Pref. 
 
 Sceptics, the French more entertaining than the Englijh^ 
 
 Schall, the Jefuît, a very worthy Man, 29, 30. 
 
 Sciences, cultivated with grtat care in England, 1 1 8. 
 
 Scholajlicks, their Ruin forefeen by Bacon^ i ç 1 . 
 
 Sehajîian, King of Portugal, ruin'd by following the 
 Councils of the Jefuits, 220. 
 
 ScBs, a general Hiftory of them, 40. Thofe of the 
 Chriftians only Jenxijh with new Names, 41. The 
 old ones worn out, 45. 
 
 SeJeucus Cybiofa/les took Alexander^ Gold Shrine, and 
 gave him a Glafs one, 76. 
 
 Seneca, cited as to the Juilice of a Roman Law, 173, 
 272. Did great Service to Nero, 222. 
 
 Sermon of a French Prefbyterian Parfon, 44. 
 
 Shake/pear, much inferiour to Corneille, 198. Has fome 
 very fine PafTages, 200. His Irregularities more plea- 
 jing than the writing according to the Rules, ib. In- 
 troduces a Converfation between Julius Cafar and 
 the Rofnan Coblers, 203. 
 
 Sirmond, the Jefuit, an excellent Author, 230. 
 
 Socinians, accufed of Want, of Candour, in lliling their 
 Adveriaries Tritheifls, 24. 
 
 Sccrates, accufed of Pyrrhonifm, 39. Suppofed to have 
 been an Adept, 239. 
 
 SophocleSf 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Sophocles highly commended by Ccrneil/e -and Rachei 
 226. 
 
 Sovereigns, their Religion becomes commonly the. Reli- 
 gion of their Subjedls, 46. Difpofed to change it 
 when Interelt requires it, 106. Have all their Im- 
 perfeftions, 63. The bell: fometimes worft treated, 
 69. Adored in their Life-time, and when dead not 
 fufFered to reft in their Graves, 75. Malherbe* % fine 
 Thought on that Subje(5l, 76. Providence punifhes 
 fuch as aflaffmate them, 78. In Chriftendom this 
 Crime moilly committed by Monks, 79. Rebellion 
 never lawful or eligible, 1 13, iffc. Want Advice moft, 
 yet dangerous to advife them, 1 1 7. Undone when 
 direvSled by their Priefts, 220. Glorious and happy 
 in right of chuùng good Minifters, 222. 
 
 Specîacles, bloody and brutal, pleafe the EngUJh, 103. 
 
 Spefiator, cited againlt Philofophy, 24. As to conjugal 
 AfFedion, 36. And on Views in Marriage, 37. 
 
 Speailationsy Cicero , quoted againft the Abufe of them, 
 82. 
 
 Statue of Henry ÎV. of France, almoil adored by the 
 Author, 69, 70. 
 
 Stillin^Jleet criticized Locke^ 229. His Anfwers report- 
 ed, 267. 
 
 Suhje^s, it is never lawful or their Intereft to rebel, 133, 
 ijc. Ought to have accefs to their Prince with their 
 Complaints, 208. Suffer for their Rulers Faults^ 
 222. 
 
 Suijfe, plain downright People, 5^. 
 
 Super ftition, runs from one Religion to another, 71.' 
 The Chriitians laugh at it, but are its Slaves for al] 
 that, 74. An odd Inftance ofthis, 171. A Stranger 
 ftili,-i72. 
 
 Syjiems, have all their Difficulties, 17. Such as admit 
 not a Deity ought to be rejeded, 1 8. 
 
 T. 
 
 ftz^/f//, ^ hung up by the Egyptians in their Temples; 
 7 1 . Originals of thofe efc voto, hung by the Papills 
 in their Churches, Of, 
 
 Radius, 
 
I N D E X. 
 
 Tacitus, his flirewd Obrervation on Aflrologers, 79. 
 
 Tagetus, a Mountain near Sparta^ 275. 
 
 Talmud, the wifer Je^-ws give no heed to it^ Imperti- 
 nences, 17g. Inftances of thei'e Impertinences, ih. 
 Not all compofed by Akiha, 180. 
 
 Tarentula, Dancing expels its Venom, 84.. 
 
 Tajp), inferior to Milton^ «53. 
 
 TtlUer (Maurice le) Archbifhop of Rheims, contemns 
 James IL 87, 88. 
 
 Terrajfon, an Knemy to the Ancients, 228. 
 
 TertuUian, look'd upon Satyrs as fallen Angels, 7. Re- 
 verfed all Degrees, and damn'd Men for being Ma- 
 giftrates, 27g. 
 
 Theatre, French, a juft Pifture of that Nation, 201. 
 
 Theatre, ?x London, Tragedies pitiful, igg. A jult Pic- 
 ture of the Nation, 204.. Mix'd with Politicks, 20^. 
 Comedies too loofe and dangerous, 224. 
 
 Theodojiiis, the Emperor, too rudely treated by St. Am- 
 brofe, 282. 
 
 Thou, Monfieur //<?, an excellent Hiftorian, 152. 
 
 Therûpeutfe, a yenjoifh Se<^, Account of them, 43, 44, 
 Compared to the Mxfticks, ib. 
 
 There/a, St. a Vifionary, Pre/, 
 
 Titles, thofe given to Princes rarely deferved, 223. 
 
 Toleration, very extenfive in Holland, go. And in Eng' 
 /^zW likewife, gi. Produces good EfFe<^t3 in both 
 Countries, ib. 
 
 Tombs, û\q(c 0Î Ùi^ Egyptians defcribed, 71. Pyra- 
 mids erecied for Kings, 74. Fine Verfes of Malherbe 
 ' on Royal Sepulchres, ib. 
 
 Tories, their Hiflories always Satires againfl the Whigs, 
 1^-2. . 
 
 Touloufc, wonderful Property of a Vault there, 130. 
 
 Tragedies, their Fate decided by the Women- at London 
 and Paris, 204. 
 
 Tragedy, Englijh ; fee Theatre at London. 
 
 Tragedy, French, carried to Perfeftion, igS. Superior to 
 ûiQ Englijh, ib. .Sometimes wanting in A<^ion, an4. 
 no bet;er than Eve A6ls of Converlation, 201. 
 
 Trift/e^ 
 
INDEX; 
 
 Trente, the Je'i-vs accufed of facrificing a Child there, 
 
 1 1 . The CouLcil there declared Marriage valid, tho* 
 
 without Confent of Parties, 32. 
 tre^coux. Journal de, exceffively partial and defervedly 
 
 defpifed, 229. 
 7urh, a CoUeftion of Rahhinical Dreams, 239. Th€^ 
 
 Talmud and Alchoran of the Cabalids, ih. 
 Turks, rude and brutal, 56. 
 Tùrenne, Lenvis XiV. obliged to him for his Glory, 
 
 222. 
 
 U. 
 Vîyjfesy no tetter than a cunning Sophifter, (:ii^ 
 Vni'verjîiies, Enemies to Rebellion, 16. 
 
 Vampires, fome extraordinary Stories of them, 122, 
 Examined and fhewn to be Delufions, 127. 
 
 Vanhrugh, a good Writer oi EngUJJo Comedy, 224. 
 
 Vapours, Mufick a good Remedy for them, 84. 
 
 Vanity attends the Nazarenes to the Tomb, 159. 
 
 Vega, Lopez de, commended, Pref. 
 
 Vendôme, Duke de, how he punifhed i?^;;^////, 171. 
 
 Venetians, affable and polite, 56. 
 
 Verbieji, Jefuit and Man of Merit, 29, 30. 
 
 Verfailks, no Monks permitted to come thither, 79. 
 
 Virtue, every where lovely, 60. 
 
 Vinagre, full of imperceptible Worms, 2 . 
 
 Vinci, his Opera of Artaxerxes commended, 80. 
 
 Virgil, cited on the eafy Defcent to Hell, 37. His 
 Heroes in the £/v/7^7« Shades majeftick, 157. Bur- 
 lefqu'd \iyScarron, 228. 
 
 Voiture, inferior to Catullus and to Waller, 153. 
 
 /V/a/r^, cited as totlie £«^///^ Talle, 119,120. His 
 Zaire tranllated and fpoiled, 199. His Judgment on 
 Englijh Poetry, 200. Has felt the Lafh of the fmali 
 Criticks, 228. 
 
 Toivj, whimfical Account of them, 71, i^c. 
 
 W. 
 
 Waller, înferiour to Catullus, and to la fontaine ; but 
 fuperiour to Voiture and Guarini, i c 3 . 
 
 Walpele, 
 
INDEX. 
 
 ^alpoîe. Sir Ttohert, a jufl Charafler, 21^. 
 
 J^ycherley, an En^llJJ? Poet, criticized, 264, iffc. 
 
 IVhiggSy partial tv h en they write of Tories, T52. 
 
 Whitaker, blames Luther for want of Refpedl to St. 
 James y iS;;. 
 
 Wiiquefort^ his Account oï Mufccoîte Civility,' 57. 
 
 William III. his Glory obfcured by his Treatment of 
 his Father-in- Law, 65. Well ferved by FrenchKc» 
 fugees, 86, i5c. Owed his Crown to the Perfecii- 
 tion of ProteiUnts, 87. A warm vigilant Prince, 106. 
 Rais'd to the Throne by the People, and confpired- 
 againfl when fet thereon, ib, 
 
 Z. 
 
 Zocoiora^ People of thatllland would not hear ùïs^Par- 
 
 tuguefe Milhon, 28. 
 ZoiluSi his numerous Pofterity in all Countries, 22S. 
 Zurita, a good Spanijh HiHwiian, Pre/. 
 
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