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it, both upon my ſelf, and others in my life-time, upon ſeveral occaſions (where learned Artiſts, not Empiricks have been employed) though all the world ſhould be of another opinion, I think my ſelfbound to honour, as the profeſſion, ſo all Learned, Ingenious Profeſſors of it: and I make no queſtion but the worſt of Agrippa's objections, by any man of competent judgment and experience, may eaſily be anſwered. I lay therefore that as in other things of the world, ſo in matters of Spirits and Apparitions, though lyable to much error and impoſture, yet it doth not follow but there may be reality of truth and certainty diſcernable unto them that will. take the pains to ſearch things unto the bottom, where truth commonly is to be found, and are naturally endowed with competent judgments to diſcern between specious arguments and ſolidity of truth.

But this proveth nothing. No: but the removing of this common objection may diſpoſe the Reader, I hope, to conſider of what we have to ſay with leſſe prejudice. And that shall be our next task, what we have to ſay for Spirits, &c. before we come to particular Objections. Wherein nevertheleſſe I will be no longer then I muſt at this time, becauſe I ſhall have a more proper place in two ſeveral Tractates, the one whereof hath been a long time in looſe notes and papers, not yet digeſted, to wit, my Second Part of Enthuſiaſme: the other, in my head yet wholly, but in better readineſſe to be brought to light, becauſe of later conception; to wit, A Diſcourſe of Credulity and Incredulity, in things Natural, Civil and Divine, or Theological. We ſhall meet there with many caſes not ſo neceſſary here to be ſpoken of, which will help very much to clear this buſineſs.

¶ But here I ſay, firſt of all, It is a Maxim of Ariſtotle's the great Oracle of Nature, which many have taken notice of, and applyed to their ſeveral purpoſes: Ὁ ωᾶσι δοκεῖ, τοῦτο εἲναι φκμὲν, That which is generally believed, is moſt likely to be true. Who alſo in another place of the fame book doth approve the ſaying of Heſiod, Φήμη δ' ὄυτίγε πάμωαν ἀπόλλυται, ἥντινα λαοὶ Πολλοὶ φημίζωσι. Now if any opinion whereof queſtion is made can juſtly pretend to a general aſſent and content of all people, places, ages of the world, I think, nay, I know, and it will be proved that this of Witches, Spirits, and Apparitions may. I do not know ſcarce any ancient book extant of Philoſopher or Hiſtorian (the Writings of profeſſed Epicureans excepted, of Ariſtotle we ſhall give an account by and by) but doth afford ſome pregnant relation, teſtimony or paſſage to the confirmation of this truth. I dare fay, ſhould a man collect the relations and teſtimonies out of ſeveral Authors and books (that are come to our knowledge) within the compaſſe of two thouſand years, of Authors well accounted of, generally, and whoſe teſtimonies (Hiſtorians eſpecially) we receive in other things; a man might make a book of the biggeſt ſize and form that ordinary books (which we call Folioes) are. It is true, many Authors may write one thing which may prove falſe, as the famous hiſtory of the Phenix, perchance, or ſome ſuch; but upon examination it will appear that thoſe many take all from one or two at the moſt, who firſt delivered it. They add nothing in confirmation of their own knowledg or experience. But it is quite otherwile; thoſe many Authors that I speak of (Hiſtorians eſpecially of ſeveral ages) they tellus