our nation, is yet unknown among professors abroad: The necessity
of justifying myself will excuse my vanity, when I tell the
reader that I have near a hundred honorary letters from several
parts of Europe (some as far as Muscovy) in praise of my
performance. Besides several others, which, as I have been
credibly informed, were open'd in the post-office and never sent
me. 'Tis true the Inquisition in Portugal was pleased to burn my
predictions, and condem the author and readers of them; but I
hope at the same time, it will be consider'd in how deplorable a
state learning lies at present in that kingdom: And with the
profoundest veneration for crown'd heads, I will presume to add,
that it a little concerned His Majesty of Portugal, to interpose
his authority in behalf of a scholar and a gentleman, the subject
of a nation with which he is now in so strict an alliance. But
the other kingdoms and states of Europe have treated me with more
candor and generosity. If I had leave to print the Latin letters
transmitted to me from foreign parts, they would fill a volume,
and be a full defence against all that Mr. Partridge, or his
accomplices of the Portugal Inquisition, will be able to object;
who, by the way, are the only enemies my predictions have ever
met with at home or abroad. But I hope I know better what is due
to the honour of a learned correspondence in so tender a point.
Yet some of those illustrious persons will perhaps excuse me from
transcribing a passage or two in my own vindication. The most
learned Monsieur Leibnits thus addresses to me his third letter:
Illustrissimo Bickerstaffio Astrologiae instauratori, etc.
Monsieur le Clerc, quoting my predictions in a treatise he
published last year, is pleased to say, Ita nuperrime
Bickerstaffius magnum illud Angliae fidus. Another great
professor writing of me, has these words: Bickerstaffius, nobilis