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THE WORKS,
HENRY G. BOHN, YORK STREET, COVENT GARDEN.
P
HALYARD UNIVERSITY LIBRARY MAK 6 1961
PRINTED BY
COX (BROTHERS) AND WYMAN, GREAT QUEEN STREET, LINCOLN'S-INN FIELDS.
PREFACE.
CONTENTS TO VOL. I.
PAGE
DR. JOHNSON'S LIFE OF SIR THOMAS BROWNE
SUPPLEMENTARY MEMOIR BY THE EDITOR
MRS. LYTTLETON'S COMMUNICATION TO BISHOP KENNET
PSEUDODOXIA EPIDEMICA, BOOKS I. to IV.
THE FIRST BOOK; containing the general part. Of the first cause of common errors; the common infirmity of human nature
Chap. 1.
7
Chap. 2.
A further illustration of the same
12
Chap. 3.
Of the second cause of common errors; the erroneous
disposition of the people.
16
Chap. 4.
Of the more immediate causes of common errors, both
in the wiser and common sort; and first, of misappre-
hension and fallacy, or false deduction
Chap. 5.
Chap. 6.
Of another more immediate cause of error: viz.
obstinate adherence unto antiquity
Of other more immediate causes of error: viz. credulity
and supinity
Chap. 7.
Of another of the more immediate causes of error: viz.
adherence unto authority
Of authors who have most promoted popular conceit
Chap. 9. Of others indirectly effecting the same
Chap. 10. Of the last and great promoter of false opinions, the
endeavours of Satan
Chap. 11. A further illustration of the same
THE SECOND BOOK; beginning the particular part. Of popular and
received tenets concerning mineral and vegetable bodies.
Chap. 1. That crystal is nothing else but ice strongly congealed.
Chap. 2. Concerning the loadstone; of things particularly spoken
thereof, evidently or probably true
VOL. I.
a
94
112
26
33
39
59
72
75
Chap. 3. Concerning the loadstone; a rejection of sundry common opinions and relations thereof; natural, medical, his- torical, magical
Of bodies electrical
133
Chap. 5. Compendiously of sundry other common tenets concern-
ing minerals and terreous bodies, which, examined,
prove either false or dubious. That a diamond is
softened or broken by the blood of a goat; that glass
is poison, and that it is malleable; of the cordial
quality of gold; that a pot full of ashes will contain
as much water as it would without them; of white
powder that kills without report; that coral is soft
under water, but hardeneth in the air; that porcelain
lies under the earth an hundred years in preparation;
that a carbuncle gives a light in the dark; of the eagle
stone; of fairy stones; with some others
Chap. 6. Of sundry tenets concerning vegetables or plants, which,
examined, prove either false or dubious. Of man-
drakes; that cinnamon, ginger, cloves, mace, are but
the parts or fruits of the same tree; that miseltoe is
bred upon trees, from seeds which birds let fall thereon;
of the rose of Jericho, that flowereth every year upon
Christmas Eve; of Glastonbury thorn; that Sferra
Cavallo hath a power to break or loosen iron; that
bays preserve from the mischief of lightning and
thunder; that bitter almonds are preservatives against
ebriety
Chap. 7. Of some insects and the properties of several plants.
Of the death-watch; the presages drawn from oak-
apple insects; whether all plants have seeds; whether
the sap of trees runs to the ground in winter; of the
effects of camphor; with many others
THE THIRD BOOK; the particular part continued.
received tenets concerning animals.
157
166
192
210
Of popular and
That a pigeon hath no gall
Chap. 4. That a beaver, to escape the hunter, bites off his testicles
That a badger hath the legs of one side shorter than
of the other
245
Chap. 6. That a bear brings forth her cubs informous or unshaped 247
Chap. 7. Of the basilisk
250
Chap. 10. That a kingfisher, hanged by the bill, showeth where the
Chap. 8. That a wolf first seeing a man begets a dumbness in him 261
Chap. 9. Of the long life of the deer.
262
