PREFACE.

...him out of the church in the middle of the divine service; though the one failed in his attempt, and the other escaped with no more harm than being called a Rogue by the pious old women—who were said to look like wise old men from an almshouse An "alms-man" was a person supported by private charity, typically an elderly person living in a church-sponsored residence.—and hooted at (as I heard) by some boys instead of them learning their Catechism. But Mr. Whiston William Whiston (1667–1752) was a mathematician and theologian who was expelled from Cambridge for his Arian views, which denied the traditional doctrine of the Trinity. may—next to God's providence—thank the good nature of the English people for his preservation. For in some other parts of the world, following much fewer threats and protests from two priests (not to mention the pulling and hauling of their officer), he would have been torn to pieces despite his clerical gown and his innocence.

As for the rest, there was never a story better supported by evidence than that of Hypatia Hypatia of Alexandria (c. 350–415 AD) was a renowned Neoplatonist philosopher and mathematician who was murdered by a mob of Christian monks., whether you consider the authority of her contemporaries Synesius, Socrates, Philostorgius, and Damascius—the last of whom, if not her schoolmate, was certainly her father’s student—or whether you consider the subsequent accounts of Photius, Suidas, Hesychius, Nicephorus Callistus, Nicephorus Gregoras, and others. Between these authors, there is hardly any variation and not the least appearance of contradiction, regarding either her incomparable character or her unparalleled murder. I do not trouble the reader with what modern authors occasionally write to her advantage or discredit, since they can form no judgment except by using the same authorities I have used. Therefore, everyone may judge for themselves without being biased by the prejudices or self-interested views of others.

III. Mangoneutes original: Mangoneutes; a Greek-derived title meaning "The Juggler" or "The Imposter." The author uses it here as the title for his defense., or the fourth Dissertation, I wrote in defense of another treatise of mine titled Nazarenus original: Nazarenus; "The Nazarene.". The purpose for which I compiled this last work, and what right I had to do so, is so fully explained at the beginning of the first dissertation that I need say very little about it here. The same apology holds true regarding my addressing Mangoneutes to the Lord Bishop of London. I have reason to hope that he will be as ready to grant me justice against those subjects under his authority as any gentleman would be sure to show his displeasure against a servant who insulted another man—an act for which the gentleman himself would otherwise be held accountable. One of my adversaries...

¹². See Mr. WHISTON'S account of this affair in the Political State for the month of February 1718-19.