WORTHIES OF LONDON 
 
 
fore the end of the world should properly 
occur on the thirty-fourth jublilee of the 
Christian era, or A.D. 1704. The four 
grace years are added to compensate for 
the blunder of chronologists respecting 
the first year of grace. 
  The most popular dates of modern times 
for the end of the world, or what is prac- 
tically the same thing, the Millennium, 
are the following :-1757, Swedenborg; 
1836, Johann Albrecht Bengel, Erklelrte 
Offenbarung; 1843, William   Miller, of 
America; 1866, Dr. John Cumming; 1881, 
Mother Shipton. 
  It was very generally believed in France, 
Germany, etc., that the end of the world 
would happen in the thousandth year 
after Christ; and therefore much of the 
land was left uncultivated, and a general 
famine ensued. Luckily, it was not agreed 
whether the thousand years should date 
from the birth or the death of Christ, or 
the desolation would have been much 
greater. Many charters begin with these 
words, As the world is now drawing to its 
close. Kings and nobles gave up their 
state: Robert of France, son of Hugh 
Capet, entered the monastery of St. Denis; 
and at Limoges, princes, nobles, and 
knights proclaimed "God's Truce," and 
solemnly bound themselves to abstain 
from feuds, to keep the peace towards 
each other, and to help the oppressed.- 
Hallam, The Middle Ages (1818). 
  Another hypothesis is this: As one day 
with God equals a thousand years (Psalm 
xc. 4), and God labored in creation six 
days, therefore the world is to labor 6000 
years, and then to rest. According to this 
theory, the end of the world ought to 
occur AM. 6000, or A.D. 1996 (supposing the 
world to have been created 4004 years 
before the birth of Christ). This hypothe- 
sis, which is widely accepted, is quite safe 
for another century-at least. 
 
 
  Worldly Wiseman (Mr.), one who 
tries to persuade Christian that it is very 
bad policy to continue his journey towards 
the Celestial City. Bunyan, Pilgrim's 
Progress, i. (1678). 
 
  Worms (Language of). Melampos the 
prophet was acquainted with the language 
of worms, and when thrown into a dun- 
geon, heard the worms communicating to 
each other that the roof overhead would 
fall in, for the beams were eaten through. 
He imparted this intelligence to his jailers, 
and was removed to another dungeon. 
At night the roof did fall, and the king, 
amazed at this foreknowledge, released 
Melampos, and gave him the oxen of 
Iphiklos. 
 
  Worse than a Crime. Talleyrand 
said of the murder of the Due d'Enghien 
by Napoleon I. "It was worse than a 
crime, it was a blunder." 
 
  Worthies (The Nine). Three Gentiles: 
Hector, Alexander, Julius C.Tsar; three 
Jews: Joshua, David, Judas Maccaboeus; 
three Christians: Arthur, Charlemagne, 
Godfrey of Bouillon. 
 
  Worthies of London. (The Nine). 
  1. SIR WILLIAM WALWORTH, fishmonger, 
who stabbed Wat Tyler, the rebel. For 
this service King Richard II. gave him 
the "cap of maintenance" and a "dagger" 
for the arms of London (Lord Mayor, 
1374, 1380). 
  2. SIR HENRY PRITCHARD or PICARD, 
vintner, who feasted Edward III., the 
Black Prince, John, king of Austria, the 
king of Cyprus, and David of Scotland, 
with 5000 guests, in 1356, the year of his 
mayoralty. 
  3. SIR WILLIAM SEVENOKE, grocer. "A 
foundling, found under seven oaks." He 
 
 
WORLD 
 
 
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