Alexipharmacall unto others; and some veins of the earth, and also whole regions, not only destroy the life of venemous creatures, but also prevent their productions. For though perhaps they contain the seminals of Spiders and Scorpions, and such as in other earths by suscitiation of the Sun may arise unto animation; yet lying under command of their Antidote, without hope of emergency they are poysoned in their matrix by powers easily hindring the advance of their originals, whose confirmed forms they are able to destroy. 5. The story of the wandring Jew is very strange, and will hardly obtain belief; yet is there a formall account thereof set down by _Mathew Paris_, from the report of an Armenian Bishop; who came into this kingdom about four hundred years ago, and had often entertained this wanderer at his Table. That he was then alive, was first called _Cartaphilus_, was keeper of the Judgement Hall, whence thrusting out our Saviour with expostulation of his stay, was condemned to stay untill his return [SN: Vade quid moraris? Ego vado, tu autem morare donec venio.]; was after baptized by _Ananias_, and by the name of _Joseph_; was thirty years old in the dayes of our Saviour, remembred the Saints that arised with him, the making of the Apostles Creed, and their several peregrinations. Surely were this true, he might be an happy arbitrator in many Christian controversies; but must impardonably condemn the obstinacy of the Jews, who can contemn the Rhetorick of such miracles, and blindly behold so living and lasting conversions. 6. Clearer confirmations must be drawn for the history of Pope _Joan_, who succeeded _Leo_ the fourth, and preceeded _Benedict_ the third, then many we yet discover. And since it is delivered with _aiunt_ and _ferunt_ by many; since the learned _Leo Allatius_ [SN: Confutatio fabulæ de Joanna Papissa cum Nihusio.] hath discovered, that ancient copies of _Martinus Polonus_, who is chiefly urged for it, had not this story in it; since not only the stream of Latine Historians have omitted it, but _Photius_ the Patriarch, _Metrophanes Smyrnæus_, and the exasperated Greeks have made no mention of it, but conceded _Benedict_ the third to bee Successor unto _Leo_ the fourth; he wants not grounds that doubts it. Many things historicall which seem of clear concession, want not affirmations and negations, according to divided pens: as is notoriously observable in the story of _Hildebrand_ or _Gregory_ the seventh, repugnantly delivered by the Imperiall and Papal party. In such divided records partiality hath much depraved history, wherein if the equity of the reader do not correct the iniquity of the writer, he will be much confounded with repugnancies, and often find in the same person, _Numa_ and _Nero_. In things of this nature moderation must intercede; and so charity may hope, that Roman Readers will construe many passages in _Bolsech_, _Fayus_, _Schlusselberg_ and _Cochlæus_. [SN: _Of_ Luther, Calvin, Beza.]