together, was notwithstanding ashamed to lay this at our door, in his _Prolegomena_ pag. 26. where he sayes, _An autem verum fit quod vulgò in historiis legatur, &c._ _i.e._ whether that be true which is commonly read in histories, to aggravate the _Iewes_ hatred against the Christians, or rather the Christians against the _Iewes_, that they should annually upon the preparation of the Passeover, after a cruell manner sacrifice a Christian child, privily stollen, in disgrace, and contempt of Christ, whose passion, and crucifixion the Christians celebrate, I will not assert for truth; as well knowing, how easy it was for those times wherein these things are mentioned, to have happen’d, (especially after the Inquisition was set up in the Popedome) to forge, and fain; and how the histories of those ages, according to the affection of the writers, were too too much addicted, and given unto fables and figments. Indeed I have never yet seen any of all those relations that hath by any certain experiment proved this fact, for they are all founded; either upon the uncertain report of the vulgar, or else upon the secret accusation of the Monks belonging to the inquisition, not to mention the avarice of the informers, wickedly hanquering after the _Iewes_ wealth, and so with ease forging any wickednesse. For in the first book of the _Sicilian_ constitutions tit. 7. we see the Emperour _Frederick_ saying, _Sivero Iudæus, vel Saracenus fit, in quibus prout certò perpendimus Christianorum persecutio minus abundat ad præsens_, but if he be a _Iew_ or a _Saracen_, against whom, as we have weighed, the persecution of the Christians do much abound, _&c._ thus taxing the violence of certain Christians against the _Iewes_. Or if perhaps it hath sometimes happened, that a Christian was kill’d by a _Iew_, we must not therefore say that in all places where they inhabit, they annually kill a Christian Child. And for that which _Thomas Cantipratensis_ lib. 2. cap. 23. affirms, _viz._ that it is certainly known, that the _Iewes_ every year, in every province, cast lots what city or town shall afford Christian bloud to the other cities. I can give it no more credit then his other fictions and lies wherewith he hath stuffed his book. Thus farre _Iohn Hoornbeek_.