cher and thinker on first principles. But he
left the field immediately.

* * * * *

(The following is the passage referred to at Vol. II, page 54.)

Michael Stifelius[679] edited, in 1554, a second edition of the Algebra
(_Die Coss._), of Christopher Rudolff.[680] This is one of the earliest
works in which + and - are used.

Stifelius was a queer man. He has introduced into this very work of Rudolff
his own interpretation of the number of the Beast. He determined to fix the
character of Pope Leo: so he picked the numeral letters from LEODECIMVS,
and by taking in X from LEO X. and striking out M as standing for
_mysterium_, he hit the number exactly. This discovery completed his
conversion to Luther, and his determination to throw off his monastic vows.
Luther dealt with him as straight-forwardly as with Melanchthon about his
astrology: he accepted the conclusions, but told him to clear his mind of
all the premises about the Beast. Stifelius {374} did not take the advice,
and proceeded to settle the end of the world out of the prophet Daniel: he
fixed on October, 1533. The parishioners of some cure which he held, having
full faith, began to spend their savings in all kinds of good eating and
drinking; we may charitably hope this was not the way of preparing for the
event which their pastor pointed out. They succeeded in making themselves
as fit for Heaven as Lazarus, so far as beggary went: but when the time
came, and the world lasted on, they wanted to kill their deceiver, and
would have done so but for the interference of Luther. {375}

* * * * *

INDEX.

Pages denoted by numerals of this kind (_287_) refer to biographical notes,
chiefly by the editor. Numerals like 426 refer to books discussed by De
Morgan, or to leading topics in the text. Numerals like 126 indicate minor
references.

Abbott, Justice, I, _181_.
Abernethy, J., II, _219_.
Aboriginal Britons, a poem, II, 270.
Academy of Sciences, French, I, 163.
Adair, J., I, _223_.
Adam, M., I, _65_.
Adams, J. C., I, _43_, 82, 385, 388; II, 131, 135, 140, 303.
Ady, Joseph, II, 42, _42_.
Agnew, H. C., I, 328.
Agricola, J., I, 394.
Agricultural Laborer's letter, II, 16.
Agrippa, H. C., I, _48_, 48.
Ainsworth, W. H., II, _132_.
Airy, I, _85_, 88, 152, 242; II, 85, 140, 150, 303, 347.
Alchemy, I, 125.
Alfonso X (El Sabio), II, _269_.
Alford, H., II, _221_.