design to blast my credit, by charging me with so gross a
mistake.
_______________________________________

A famous prediction of Merlin, the British wizard.

Written above a thousand years ago, and relating to the year
1709, with explanatory notes.

Last year was publish'd a paper of predictions, pretended to be
written by one Isaac Bickerstaff, Esq; but the true design of it
was to ridicule the art of astrology, and expose its professors
as ignorant or impostors. Against this imputation, Dr. Partridge
hath vindicated himself in his almanack for that year.

For a farther vindication of this famous art, I have thought fit
to present the world with the following prophecy. The original is
said to be of the famous Merlin, who lived about a thousand years
ago; and the following translation is two hundred years old, for
it seems to be written near the end of Henry the Seventh's reign.
I found it in an old edition of Merlin's Prophecies, imprinted at
London by John Hawkins in the year 1530, page 39. I set it down
word for word in the old orthography, and shall take leave to
subjoin a few explanatory notes.

Seven and Ten addyd to Nyne,
Of Fraunce her Woe this is the Sygne,
Tamys Rivere twys y-frozen,
Walke sans wetyng Shoes ne Hozen.
Then comyth foorthe, ich understonde,