On Pcpdar Blufwis. yj 



Sennertus. In the actount of Cowrie's Con- 

 fpiracy, publifhed by authorityj one of the wit- 

 nefles folemnly depofes, that after the Earl had 

 received his mortal wound, he did not lofe a 

 drop of blood, till an amulet was taken out of 

 his pocket. In Germany, it was believed that 

 mufkets might be charmed from firing : Dr. 

 Clauderus, author of feveral eflays in the Mifcel- 

 Janea Curiofa, publifhed on this ufeful art, under 

 this title, De Impedienda Tormentorum Explo- 

 fione*. Naude refuted this opinion in his book 

 De Studio Militari. Moft of the demonologifts, 

 however, follow St. Thomas in believing that 

 thofe charafters^ or particular fubftances, had no 

 efficacy in themfelves, but were enjoined by the 

 devil to the over-curious, as figns of convention, 

 or tokens of fubmiffionf, of which laflr, he adds, 

 the devils are very fond. 



The origin of amulets was very remote j the 

 Trojan Palladium is faid to have been compofed 

 of the bones of Abaris the Scythian, (the firft 

 aerial adventurer recorded in hiftory) and thus 

 was properly an amulet, in flrudure as well as 

 defign. 



Pomponatius ventured to alTert, that all reme- 

 dies of this fort a6t on the imagination alone, and 

 that a dog's bones would produce all the effects 

 of the moft venerated relics, if they were worfhip- 



• Tom. XIV. t Delrio, Wierus, &c. &c. 



ped 



