e we watch our Hedges and Hen-roosts for fear of their
thieving?

Either the DEVIL uses us more like Fools than he did our Ancestors, or
we really are worse Fools than those Ages produced, for they were never
deluded by such low-priz'd _Devils_ as we are; by such despicable
_Bridewell_ DEVILS, that are fitter for a Whipping-post than an Altar,
and instead of being receiv'd as the Voice of an Oracle, should be sent
to the House of Correction for Pick-pockets.

Nor is this accidental, and here and there one of these Wretches to be
seen, but in short, if it has been in other Nations as it is with us, I
do not see that the DEVIL was able to get any better People into his
Pay, or at least very rarely: Where have we seen any thing above a
Tinker turn Wizard? and where have we had a Witch of Quality among us,
Mother _Je------gs_ excepted? and if she had not been more of something
else than a Witch, 'twas thought she had never got so much Money by her
Profession.

Magicians, Southsayers, Devil-raisers, and such People, we have heard
much of, but seldom above the Degree of the meanest of the mean People,
the lowest of the lowest Rank: Indeed the Word _Wise Men_, which the
_Devil_ wou'd fain have had his Agents honour'd with, was used a while
in _Egypt_, and in _Persia_, among the _Chaldeans_, but it continued but
a little while, and never reach'd so far Northward as our Country; nor,
however the _Devil_ has managed it, have many of our great Men, who have
been most acquainted with him, ever been able to acquire the Title of
Wise Men.

I have heard that in older Times, I suppose in good Queen _Bess_'s Days,
or beyond, (for little is to be said here for any thing on this Side of
her time) there were some Counsellors and Statesmen who merited the
Character of _wise_, in the best Sense; that is to say, _good_, and
_wise_, as they stand in Conjunction; but as to what has happen'd since
that, or, as we may call it, from that Queen's Funeral to the late
Revolution, I have little to say; but I'll tell you what honest _Andrew
Marvel_ said of those Times, and by that you may, if you please, make
your Calculation or let it alone, 'tis all one.

"To see a white Staff-maker, a Beggar, a Lord,
"And scarce _a wise Man_ at a long Council-Board.

But I may be told this relates to wise Men in another Constitution, or
wise Men as they are opposed to Fools; whereas we are talking of them
now under another Class, namely, as _Wisemen_ or