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ling the Weather, we never meddle with that, but leave it to the Printer, who takes it out of any old Almanack as he thinks fit: The reft was my own Invention to make my Almanack fell; having a Wife to maintain, and no other Way to get my Bread; for mending old Shoes is a poor Livelihood: And (added he, fighing) I wish I may not have done more Mischief by my Phyfick than my Aftrology; although I had fome good Receipts from my Grandmother, and my own Compofitions were fuch, as I thought could, at least, do no Hurt.

I HAD fome other Difcourfe with him, which now I cannot call to Mind; and I fear I have already tired your Lordship. I fhall only add one Circumftance, That on his Death-Bed he declared himself a Nonconformift, and had a fanatick Preacher to be his fpiritual Guide. After half an Hour's Conversation, I took my Leave, being almost stifled by the Closeness of the Room. I imagined he could not hold out long; and therefore withdrew to a little Coffee-House hard by, leaving a Servant at the House with Orders to come immediately, and tell me, as near as he could, the Minute when Partrige fhould expire, which was not above two Hours after; when looking upon my Watch, I found it to be above five Minutes after Seven: By which it is clear, that Mr. Bickerstaff was mistaken almoft four Hours in his Calculation. In the other Circumftances he was exact enough. But whether he hath not been the Cause of this poor Man's Death, as well as the Predictor, may be very reasonably difputed. However, it must be confeffed the Matter is odd enough, whether we should endeavour to account for it by Chance, or the Ef

fect

fect of Imagination: For my own Part, althoug I believe no Man hath lefs Faith in thefe Matter: yet I fhall wait with fome Impatience, and n without Expectation, the fulfilling of Mr. Bicke Ataff's fecond Prediction; that the Cardinal Noailles is to die upon the Fourth of April; and that should be verified as exactly as this of po Partrige; I must own, I fhould be wholly furpri ed, and at a Lofs; and infallibly expect the A complishment of all the rest:

2

T

The following Piece, under the Name of JOHN PARTRIGE, was written by that famous Poet NICHOLAS RowE, Efq; and therefore being upon the fame Subject, although not by the fame Author, we have thought fit to publifh it, that the Reader may have the whole Account together.

"Squire Bickerstaff Detected:

OR, THE

Aftrological Impostor Convicted.

By JOHN PARTRIGE, Student in Phyfick and

I

Aftrology.

T is hard, my dear Countrymen of thefe united Nations: It is very hard, that a Briton born, a Proteftant Aftrologer, á Man of Revolution Principles, an Afferter of the Liberty and Property of the People, fhould cry out in vain, for Justice against a Frenchman, a Papist, and an illiterate Pretender to Science; that would blaft

my Reputation, moft inhumanly bury me alive, and defraud my Native Country of those Services which in my double Capacity, I daily offer the Publick.

*

WHAT great Provocations I have received, let the impartial Reader judge, and how unwillingly, even in my own Defence, I now enter the Lifts against Falfhood, Ignorance, and Envy: But I am exafperated at length, to drag out this Cacus from the Den of Obscurity where he lurks, detect him by the Light of thofe Stars he hath fo impudently traduced, and fhew there is not a Monster in the Skies fo pernicious and malevolent to Mankind, as an ignorant Pretender to Phyfick and Aftrology. I fhall not directly fall on the many grofs Errors, nor expose the notorious Abfurdities of this proftituted Libeller, until I have let the learned World fairly into the Controverfy depending, and then leave the Unprejudiced to judge of the Merits and Juftice of my Cause.

It was towards the Conclufion of the Year 1707, when an impudent Pamphlet crept into the World, intitled, Predictions, &c. by ISAAC BICKERSTAFF, Efq; Among the many arrogant Affertions laid down by that lying Spirit of Divination, he was pleased to pitch on the Cardinal de Noailles, and my felf, among many other eminent and illuftrious Perfons, that were to die within the Compass of the enfuing Year; and peremptorily fixes the Month, Day, and Hour of our Deaths: This, I think, is fporting with great Men, and publick Spirits, to the Scandal of Religion, and Reproach of Power; and if Sovereign Princes, and Aftrologers, must make Diverfion for the Vulgar; why then, farewel,

fay

BICKERSTAFF Detected.

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fay I, to all Governments, Ecclefiaftical and Civil. But, I thank my better Stars, I am alive to confront this falfe and audacious Predictor, and to make him rue the Hour he ever affronted a Man of Science and Refentment. The Cardinal may take what Measures he pleaseth with him; as his Excellency is a Foreigner, and a Papist, he hath no Reafon to rely on me for his Juftification; I fhall only affure the World he is alive; but as he was bred to Letters, and is Master of a Pen, let him ufe it in his own Defence. In the mean Time, I fhall prefent the Publick with a faithful Narrative of the ungenerous Treatment, and hard Ufage, I have received from the virulent Papers, and malicious Practices of this pretended Aftrologer.

A true and impartial Account of the Proceedings of Ifaac Bickerstaff. Efq; against Me John Partrige, Student in Phyfick and Aftrology.

T

HE 28th of March, Anno Dom. 1708, being the Night this fham Prophet had fo impudently fixed for my laft, which made little Impreffion on my felf; but I cannot anfwer for my whole Family; for my Wife, with a Concern more than ufual, prevailed on me to take fomewhat to fweat for a Cold; and, between the Hours of Eight and Nine, to go to Bed: The Maid, as fhe was warming my Bed, with a Curiofity natural to young Wenches, runs to the Window, VOL. I.

K

and