RELIGIOUS OPINIONS. CCCCXXX1X 



diate interference of a superior benevolent or malevolent 

 being ; (0 ) and, having formed an opinion, he entrenches 



Goodwin sands and the shelf that stopped up Sandwich haven. Thither 

 cometh Master More, and calleth the country before him, such as were 

 thought to be men of experience, and men that could of likelihood best 

 certify him of that matter concerning the stoppage of Sandwich haven. 

 Among others came in before him an old man with a white head, and one 

 that was thought to be little less than a hundred years old. When Master 

 More saw this aged man, he thought it expedient to hear him say his mind 

 in this matter, for, being so old a man, it was likely that he knew most of 

 any man in that presence and company. So Master More called this old 

 aged man unto him, and said, Father, tell me, if ye can, what is the cause 

 of this great rising of the sands and shelves here about this haven, the which 

 stop it up, so that no ships can arrive here ? Ye are the eldest man that I 

 can espy in all this company, so that if any man can tell any cause of it, 

 ye of likelihood can say most of it, or at leastwise more than any man here 

 assembled. Yea, forsooth, good Master, quoth this old man, for I am well 

 nigh a hundred years old, and no man here in this company any thing- 

 near unto my age. Well then, quoth Master More, how say you in this 

 matter ? What think ye to be the cause of these shelves and flats that stop 

 up Sandwich haven? Forsooth, sir, quoth he, I am an old man; I think 

 that Tenderden-steeple is the cause of Goodwin sands ; for I am an old 

 man, sir, quoth he, and I may remember the building of Tenderden steeple, 

 and I may remember when there was no steeple at all there. And before 

 that Tenderden steeple was in building, there was no manner of speaking 

 of any flats or sands that stopped the haven, and therefore I think that 

 Tenderden steeple is the cause of the destroying and decay of Sandwich 

 haven. And so to my purpose, preaching of God s word is the cause of 

 rebellion, as Tenderden steeple was the cause that Sandwich haven is 

 decayed.&quot; 



A common instance of this species of error is in the love-note of the 

 spider, called the death watch. Sitting by the bed of a sick or dying 

 friend, when all is still, the noise of the spider is heard a short time 

 before the death of the sufferer; and the events are, therefore, supposed to 

 be connected. Astrology is, perhaps, founded upon this delusion. 



(o) Near to the Hartz mountains in Germany, a gigantic figure has from 

 time immemorial occasionally appeared in the heavens. It is indistinct, 

 but always resembles the form of a human being. Its appearance has ever 

 been a certain indication of approaching misfortune. It is called the 

 Spectre of the Broken. It has been seen by many travellers. In speaking 

 of it, Monsieur Jordan says, &quot; In the course of my repeated tours through 

 the Hartz mountains, I often, but in vain, ascended the Broken, that I 



