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"Air abroad in the Summer Evenings*" Stow. p. 710.

A Well was a most valuable Treasure in those hot and dry Countries which composed the Scene of the Patriarchal History, and therefore we find in Genesis that it was a frequent Subject of Contention.

* Mr. Shaw, in his History of the Province of Moray, tells us, that true rational, christian Knowledge, which was almost quite fost under Popery, made very slow Progress after the Reformation ;that the prevailing Ignorance was attended with much Superstition and Credulity; Heathenish and Romish Customs were much practised; Pilgrimages to Wells and Chapels were frequent, &c.-We had a remarkable Well of this Kind at Jesmond, at the Distance of about a 'Mile from Newcastle.-One of our principal Streets is said to have its name from an Inn that was in it, to which the Pilgrims, that flocked hither for the Benefit of the supposed holy Water, used to resort.

↑ Fontinalia, in Roman Antiquity, was a religious Feast, celebrated on the 13th of October, in Honour of the Nymphs of Wells and Fountains.-The Ceremony consisted in throwing Nosegays into the Fountains, and putting Crowns of Flowers upon the Wells.

CHAP

CHAP. IX.

Of Omens: Their Original: The Observation of them Sinful.

OMENS and Prognostications of Things are still in the Mouths of all, though only observed by the Vulgar. In Country Places especially, they are in great Repute, and are the Directors of several Actions of Life; being looked on by them as Presages of Things future, or the Determiners of present Good or Evil: If* a Hare cross their Way it is an Omen of ill Luck: If + a Crow cry, it portends something Evil: If an Owl, which they reckon a most abominable and unlucky Bird, sends forth its hoarse and dismal Voice, it is an Omen of the Approach of some terrible Thing; that some dire Calamity, and some

* Lepus quoque occurrens in via, infortunatum iter præsagit & ominosum. Alex. ab Alex. Lib. 5. C. 13. P. 685.

Sæpe sinistra cava prædixit ab ilice cornix. Virg. Bucol. 1. Maxime vero abominatus est bubo tristis & dira avis, você funesta & gemitu, qui formidolosa, dirasque necessitates, & magnos moles instare portendit. Alex: ab Alex. Lib. 5. C. 13. P.680.

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great misfortune is near at hand. If Salt fall towards them, to be sure something has hap pened to one in the Family, or is shortly to happen to themselves: Such also is the Chattering of a Mag-pye, the Cry of Ravens, the Dead-watch, Crickets, &c.

This is a Copy of the Omens of the Heathens, * who never went upon any Enterprize, nor undertook any Business of Moment, without consulting the Augurs and Wise-Men, and being guided by Omens and Presages of Things. Hence it was that they consulted the Intrails of Beasts, the Flights of Birds, and several other Things: And that the very Things above-mentioned, as the Authorities there declare, have been observed by them; yea, they have observed them, even in the remotest Ages, beyond the Days of the oldest Records. The Heathen World therefore was full of them, and without all doubt they have been handed down to us from these Times.

And as it is not to be question'd, but we had them from the Heathens, so in all Probability the Heathens have taken them from the

* Deinde auguribus & reliqui reges usi: Et exactis regibus, nihil publice sine auspiciis nec domi nec militiæ gerabatur. Cic. de Divin. Lib. 1.

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People of GOD, and built many of their Follies and ominous Superstitions on a Custom which they alone were indulged in. For in the earliest Age of the World, when a Matter of any great Consequence was depending, and the Servants of GOD would know what the Event would be, they asked a Sign of GOD, by desiring that such a Thing might happen, if they were to succeed, and God was sometimes so condescending as to grant them their Desire. Thus we read, That * Jonathan accompany'd only by his Armour Bearer, not fearing the Steepness of the Rocks, nor Multitudes of Enemies, attempted the Garrison of the Philistines and conquered, through a Token of this Nature. If they say, says he to his Armour-Bearer, Tarry until we come up, then we will stand still in our Place, and will not go up unto them; but if they say come up unto us, then we will go up; for the LORD hath delivered them into our Hands, and this shall be a Sign unto us. And so indeed it came to pass, GOD who had inspired Jonathan with this Thought, directing the Tongues of the others according to his Wishes. In like Manner, when the good old Servant of Abraham had

* Sam. i. 14. iii. 20.

arrived

arrived at the City of Nahor, to find a Wife for his Master's Son; we have him desiring of GOD, that the Sign of the Woman he should pitch upon, might be her saying, Drink, and I will give thy Camels Drink also. *And he said, O Lord GOD of my Master Abraham,

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pray thee send me good Speed this Day, and shew Kindness unto my Master Abraham : Behold, I stand here by the Well of Water, and the Daughters of the Men of the City come out to draw Water. And let it come to pass, that the Damsel to whom I shall say, let down thy Pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy Camels drink also: Let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy Servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed Kindness unto my Master. This happened according to his Prayer, by which he knew that the LORD had prospered his Journey. Now this Custom we know the Philistines imitated, when they would know whether they had been afflicted by the God of Israel for keeping the Ark. They took the Ark of the LORD, and laid it on a Cart, and sent it away. And they said, If it goeth by the Way of his

* Gen. xxiv. 12.

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+ Sam. i. 6, 9.

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