and his ready and penetrating Wit were eafily perceived. Because he had a great Mind to learn the Latin Tongue, they gave him at firft a German Mafter. But afterwards in order to perfect himself in that Language, he made ufe of the famous Francis Vanden Ende, who taught it then in Amsterdam, and practis'd Phyfick at the fame time. That Man taught with good Success and a great Reputation; fo that the Richeft Merchants of that City intrusted him with the inftruction of their Children, before they had found out that he taught his Scholars fomething else befides Latin. For it was difcovered at last, that he fowed the firft Seeds of Atheism in the Minds of those Young Boys. This is a matter of fact, which I cou'd prove, if there was any neceffity for it, by the Testimony of feveral honeft Gentlemen, who are still living, and fome of whom have been Elders of the Lutheran Church at Amfterdam. Thofe good Men blefs every day the Memory of

their Parents, who took care in due time to remove them from the School of so pernicious and fo impious a Master.

Vanden Ende had an only Daughter, who understood the Latin Tongue, as well as Mufick, fo perfectly, that she was able to teach her Fathers Scholars in his abfence. Spinofa having often occafion to fee and speak to her, grew in Love with her, and he has often confeft that he defign'd to Marry her. She was none of the most Beautiful, but she had a great deal of Wit, a great Capacity and a jovial Humour, which wrought upon the Heart of Spinofa, as well as upon another Scholar of Vanden Ende, whose Name was Kerkering, a Native of Hamburgh. The latter did foon perceive that he had a Rival, and grew Jealous of him. This moved him to redouble his care, and his attendance upon his Mistress; which he did with good fuccefs: But a Neck-lace of Pearls, of the value of two or three hundred Pistoles, which

he had before prefented to that Young Woman, did without doubt contribute to win her Affection. She therefore promifed to Marry him: Which she did faithfully perform, when the Sieur Kerkering had abjured the Lutheran Religion, which he profeft, and embraced the Roman Catholick. See the Preface of Kortholt de tribus Impoftoribus, of the 2d Edition.

As for Vanden Ende, being too well known in Holland, to find any Employment there, he was obliged to look for it somewhere else. He went into France, where he had a Tragical end, after he had maintained himself for fome years with what he got by practifing Phyfick. Some fay that he was Condemn'd to be hanged, and Executed, for having attempted upon the Dauphin's Life; but others, who knew him particularly in France, own indeed that he was hanged, but they give another reason for it. They fay, that Vanden Ende endeavour'd to cause an Insurrection in

one of the Provinces of Franee, the Inhabitants whereof hoped by that means to be restored to their Ancient Priviledges; and that he defigned thereby to free the United Provinces from the oppreffion they were under, by giving fo much work to the King of France in his own Country, as to oblige him to keep a great part of his Forces in that Kingdom. That in order to facilitate the Execution of that defign, fome Ships were fitted out, but that they arrived too late. However it be, Vanden Ende was Executed, but if he had attempted upon the Dauphin's Life, 'tis likely that he wou'd have expiated his crime in another manner, and by a more rigorous Punishment.

He applies Himfelf to the Study of Divinity, and then to Natural Philofophy.

pinofa having learn'd the Latin Tongue

Spinof

well, applied himself to the Study of Divinity for fome years. In the mean time

C

his Wit and Jugdment encreased every day: So that finding himself more difpofed to enquire into Natural Causes, he gave over Divinity, and betook himself altogether to the Study of Natural Philofophy. He did for a long time deliberate about the choice he fhou'd make of a Master, whose Writing might ferve him a Guide in his design. At laft, having light upon the Works of Defcartes, he read them greedily; and afterwards he often declared that he had all his Philofophical Knowledge from him. He was charmed with that Maxim of Defcartes, Which fays, That nothing ought to admitted as True, but what has been proved by good and folid Reafons. From whence he drew this Consequence that the ridiculous Doctrine aud Principles of the Rabbins cou'd not be admitted. by a Man of Senfe; because they are only built upon the Authority of the Rabbins themselves, and because what they teach, does not proceed from God, as they pretend with