as born at Lisle in 1616, so deformed, that it was
debated for some days in the family, whether it was not proper to stifle
her as a monster. Her deformity diminishing, they laid aside the
thought. Although she was of a morose and peevish temper, and embroiled
in troubles most part of her life, she seemed to be but forty years of
age when she was above sixty; never made use of spectacles, and died at
Franeker, in the province of Frise, in 1680. From her childhood to her
old age she had an extraordinary turn of mind. She published a multitude
of books, filled with singular doctrines, such as might be expected from
a person who roundly asserted, on the express declaration, she said, of
God Himself, "That the examination of things by reason, was the most
accursed of all heresies, formal atheism, a rejection of God, and the
substitution of corrupt reason in his place." She pretended to
inspiration, and boasted of extraordinary communications with God; but
appears to have been exceedingly defective in the essential duties of
humility and charity. She was a woman of such ill conditions and odd
behaviour, that nobody could live with her; and she seriously
maintained, that anger was a real virtue. She contrived to accumulate
money, but continued always uncharitable upon principle, alleging the
errors of her understanding in defence of the inhumanity of her
conduct.]

[Footnote 54: "_Advertisement._--Proposals for printing the Lucubrations
of Isaac Bickerstaff, Esq., by subscriptions, are to be seen, and
subscriptions taken by Charles Lillie, a perfumer, at the corner of
Beaufort Buildings, in the Strand, and John Morphew, near Stationers
Hall." See No. 80, note. The same proposals are advertised at the end of
the subsequent papers in the original folio, with the following
variation and addition: Proposals for printing, &c. by subscriptions,
"in two volumes in octavo, on a large character and fine royal paper,"
&c. In No. 134, &c., there was this addition: "All persons that desire
to subscribe to this work are desired to send their subscriptions before
the 25th instant, it being intended to print no more than what shall be
subscribed for, and to begin on the 27th in order to have it published
before Easter." In No. 139 (Feb. 25-28) was the announcement, "this day
put to press." The idea of publishing by Easter was given up after No.
153. The books were not ready for the subscribers until July 10 (see No.
195, Advertisement). The