ſeen almoſt in every Street, or elſe the Sign of Mother Shipton, or of Merlin's Head, and the like.
With what blind, abſurd, and ridiculous Stuff, theſe Oracles of the Devil pleas'd and ſatisfy'd the People, I really know not; but certain it is, that innumerable Attendants crouded about their Doors every Day; and if but a grave Fellow in a Velvet Jacket, a Band, and a black Cloak, which was the Habit thoſe Quack Conjurers generally went in, was but ſeen in the Streets, the People would follow them, in Crowds and ask them Queſtions, as they went along.
I need not mention, what a horrid Deluſion this was, or what it tended to; but there was no Remedy for it, till the Plague it ſelf put an End to it all; and I ſuppoſe, clear'd the Town of moſt of thoſe Calculators themſelves. One Miſchief was, that if the poor People ask'd theſe mock Aſtrologers, whether there would be a Plague, or no? they all agreed in the general to anſwer, Yes, for that kept up their Trade; and had the People not been kept in a Fright about that, the Wizards would preſently have been rendred uſfeleſs, and their Craft had been at an end: But they always talked to them of ſuch and ſuch Influences of the Stars, of the Conjunctions of ſuch and ſuch Planets; which muſt neceſſarily bring Sickneſs and Diſtempers, and conſequently the Plague: And ſome had the Aſſurance to tell them, the Plague was begun already, which was too true, tho' they that ſfaid ſo, knew nothing of the Matter.
The Miniſters, to do them Juſtice, and Preachers of moſt Sorts, that were ſerious and underſtanding Perſons, thundred againſt theſe, and other wicked Practiſes, and expoſed the Folly as well as the Wickedneſs of them together; And the moſt ſober and judicious People deſpis'd and abhor'd them: But it was impoſſlible to make any Impreſvion upon themidling
