319 DOMESTIC SUPERSTITIONS. ""Tis a history Handed from ages down; a nurse's tale, AN old writer says, "superstition is the greatest burthen in the world;" and, of the truth of this remark you must have been sensible from your earliest childhood. It would occupy more space than can here be spared, to tell you in how many instances men are superstitious, in their course from childhood to death; and how liable the best and wisest of men have been to believe astrology, in good and bad luck, in omens and charms, in ghosts, dreams, and witchcraft; and in the power of one person, or the occurrence of certain events, to foretell the happening of other events; for, in this belief consists superstition. This prediction, or the power of foretelling events, is, probably, as old as the world: for, it has been well observed, that "the belief, that some human beings could attain the power of inflicting ills on their fellow creatures, and of controlling the operations of nature, is one of the highest antiquity*" Of these bewildering fancies, that 66 overcome us like a summer cloud," we shall not attempt History of the Anglo Saxons. By Sharon Turner. iii. 130. an enumeration; but content ourselves by explaining away a few of the erroneous notions that were, for ages, common in every house, and that still linger about the hearths and firesides in distant parts of the country, whither the effects of education have not been extended, as in cities and large towns. To many persons into whose hands the present work may fall, this exposure of errors, already, to a great extent, disbelieved, may appear unnecessary; but, it must be remembered, that although certain superstitions, as they are called, are no longer so implicitly credited as they were in olden times, those who discredit them, do so, as their ancestors believed them, upon common report; whereas by a little exercise of thought, they may show reason for their disbelief. That education has done much in correcting these errors cannot be denied; and that it will eventually root them out altogether, may reasonably be hoped. In the meantime, it must be allowed that superstition is natural to man: for example, children still fear to go in the dark, but boys and girls no longer tremble at passing a churchyard, as did the youth of the last century. This change has been wrought by the diffusion of education, the prime business of which is to correct and guide nature, and to teach men their duty toward God and good will toward men; and the means by which they may raise themselves to honourable distinction in the world; which are the ends of religion and morality. There are, even in public history, many testimonies of the fondness of the English people for superstitious observances; and it is our present purpose to relate a few of these traits in our olden national character, with such an exposition of their errors as may strengthen the mind of the reader against the fond fears which were entertained by his forefathers. Astrology, or the foretelling of events by the appearances of the heavens, was common among the ancient Britons. Yet they did not derive their system of astrology from the Druids, as might be suspected; but, from the Arabians, in Spain. With the old Britons, nothing momentous was done without astrology; and their calendars even name fit days for "combing the hair," and " courting or marrying widows;" as almanacs of the present year attest. Indeed, these publications may be considered as founded upon astrological speculations, as they relate to the weather and predictions of events: for, the divisions of astrology were into natural and judicial. The former professed to foretell changes of the weather, as cold, heat, rain, wind, &c. The latter undertook to predict the characters and fortunes of individuals and public bodies, as is done in the hieroglyphic picture of Moore's Almanack to this day*. We must not, however, *The largest impressions of any single book, perhaps, ever sold, were those of Moore's Almanack, a proof of the prevalence of superstition. For many years, during the late wars, when political excitement was excessive, the Y suppose that the passion for astrology prevailed only among the common people; for, it was cherished among persons of the highest rank and greatest learning. All our early kings, and many of our earls and great barons, had their astrologers, who resided in their families, and were consulted by them in all undertakings of great importance. The great man kept them to cast the horoscopes of his children, discover the success of his designs, or the public events that were to happen. Their predictions were couched in very general and artful terms; so that whether they came true or failed, the astrologer was rarely to blame. Their grand motto, or maxim, was, "The stars govern men, but God governs the stars;" and, by associating the sacred name with their pretensions, they deluded thousands. It should, however, not be forgotten that astrology, though ridiculous and delusive in itself, hath been the best friend of the excellent and useful Stationers' Company sold from 420,000 to 480,000 of Moore's Astrological Prophesying Almanack. About fifty years since, the Company resolved no longer to administer to this gross credulity, and, for two or three years, omitted the predictions, when the sale fell off one half; while a prognosticator, one Wright, of Eaton, near Woolstrope, published another almanack, and sold 50,000 or 60,000. To save their property, the Company engaged one Andrews, of Royston, also a native of Woolstrope, to predict for them, and their sale rose as above.-Million of Facts. The sale has since considerably decreased. (See page 108.) * By a horoscope is represented the configuration of the planets at the hour of birth. science of astronomy; thus, out of much evil, producing great good. In the reign of Queen Mary, predictions were received with reverential awe, and the conjunctions and oppositions of the planets were believed to influence the affairs of the world. Queen Elizabeth, also, lent her ear to these follies, and her majesty is known to have consulted Dr. Dee, a famous mathematician and reputed conjurer, and, probably, an astrologer too. Lilly, the most celebrated English astrologer, received large sums of money as fees from Charles I. to tell the king in what quarter of the nation he might be most safe, after he should have effected his escape, and where he might conceal himself until he chose to be discovered; thus, when the king was prisoner in Carisbrook Castle, an astrologer was consulted what hour would be most favourable to an escape. The mystery was ridiculed by men of talent; and much of the satire in Hudibras is levelled at the predictions of astrology. Partridge, under whose name an almanack is still published, was one of the last of the English astrologers. He was physician to Charles II. and William and Mary. He was severely bantered by Swift, but he was not the impostor which Swift would make him appear*. There *Some curious facts are recorded with regard to the delusions which astrologers have practised on themselves, and the stratagems which they have contrived to maintain their credit among their dupes. Cardan, |