'Very superstitious-'
I'm always pleased to find snippets of information about belief and superstition, particularly contradictions. Samuel Pepys viewed superstition as 'a foolery', yet whilst trawling his diary for visits to the French Church, I came upon an entry for the 20th of January 1665:
So homeward, in my way buying a hare and taking it home - which arose upon my discourse today with Mr Batten in Westminter-hall - who showed me my mistake, that my hares-foot hath not the joint to it, and assures me he never had his cholique since he carried it about him. And it is a strange thing how fancy works, for I no sooner almost handled his foot but my belly began to loose and to break wind; and whereas I was in some pain yesterday and t'other day, and in fear of more today, I became very well, and so continue.
