and Worship to them, was never heard of among the People of GOD, till they sunk into gross Idolatry, and became Worshippers of Stocks and Stones: When the Creature became worshipped instead of the Creator, then was this Custom first introduced, in the Ages of Popish Ignorance and Idolatry.

There need be no Question, but as this Custom is practically Heathenish, so it is also originally: For the Heathens were wont to worship Streams and Fountains, and to suppose that the Nymphs, whom they imagin'd the Goddesses of the Waters, presided over them. As the Papists have borrowed many of their silly and superstitious Ceremonies from the Religion of the Heathens, so this in particular, a sottish, stupid, and abominable Custom, they could borrow no where else. For we had no such Custom, neither at any Time the Churches of God.

OBSERVATIONS ON CHAP. VIII.

I FIND little that may be added to our Author's Account of the superstitious Adoration of Wells and Fountains. There are Interdictions of this Superstition in the Laws of King Canute also, pre

served in Wheloc's Edition of Bede's Church His

tory.

*

I have frequently observed Shreds, or Bits of Rags, upon the Bushes that over-hang a Well, in the Road to Benton, a Village in the Neighbourhood of Newcastle. It is called the Rag Well. This Name is undoubtedly of a very long standing: The Spring has been visited for some Disorder or other, and these Rag-offerings are the Reliques of the then prevailing popular Superstition. Thus Mr. Pennant tells us, they visit the Well of Spey, in Scotland, for many Distempers, and the Well of Drachaldy for as many, offering small Pieces of Money and Bits of Rags. Pennant's Add. p. 18.

Fitzstephen, Monk of Canterbury, in his Description of the antient City of London, has these Words, "There are on the North Part of London,

principal Fountains of Water, sweet, wholsome, " and clear, streaming from among the glistering "Pebble Stones. In this Number, Holy Well, "Clerken Well, and St. Clement's Well, are of "most Note, and frequented above the Rest, when "Scholars and the Youth of the City take the

* þædenrcype bid. ß man þeorþige — oppe flôdpærer. þýllar. oþþe rranar. &c. 5. Leges Canuti Regis. p. 108.

+ The Custom of affixing Ladles of Iron, &c. by a Chain, to Wells, is of great Antiquity. Mr. Strutt, in his Anglo-Saxon Era, tells us, that Edwine caused Ladles or Cups of Brass to be fastened to the clear Springs and Wells, for the Refreshment of the Passengers. Venerable Bede is his Authority.-This Custom is still retained in many Places in the North.

"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 Contentions.

* Mr. Shaw, in his History of the Province of Moray, tells us, that true rational, christian Knowledge, which was almost quite lost 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.

СНАР.

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, voce funesta & gemitu, qui formidolosa, dirasque necessitates, & magnos moles instare portendit. Alex. ab Alex. Lib. 5. C. 13. P. 680.

great

great misfortune is near at hand. If Salt fall towards them, to be sure something has happened 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.