Chap. IIII.
ARGUMENT.
The Description of the Rudiments and Schoole, which are the entresses to the arte of Magie: And in speciall the differences betwixt Astronomie and Astrologie: Division of Astrologie in divers partes.
PHILOMATHES.
But I pray you likewise forget not to tell what are the Devilles rudimentes.
EPI. His rudimentes, I call first in generall, all that which is called vulgarly the vertue of worde, herbe, & stone: which is used by unlawful charmes, without naturall causes. As likewise all kinde of practicques, freites, or other like extraordinarie actiones, which cannot abide the true toutche of naturall reason.
PHI. I would have you to make that playner, by some particular examples; for your proposition is verie generall.
EPI. I meane either by such kinde of Charmes as commonlie dafte wives uses, for healing of forspoken goodes, for preserving them from evill eyes, by knitting roun-trees, or sundriest kinde
p.012 of herbes, to the haire or tailes of the goodes: By curing the Worme, by stemming of blood, by healing of Horse-crookes, by turning of the riddle, or doing of such like innumerable things by wordes, without applying anie thing, meete to the part offended, as Mediciners doe; or else by staying maried folkes, to have naturallie adoe with other, (by knitting so manie knottes upon a poynt at the time of their mariage). And such-like things, which men uses to practise in their merrinesse: for fra unlearned men (being naturallie curious, and lacking the true knowledge of God) findes these practises to proove true, as sundrie of them will doe, by the power of the Devill for deceaving men, and not by anie inherent vertue in these vaine wordes and freites; & being desirous to winne a reputation to themselves in such-like turnes, they either (if they be of the shamefaster sorte) seeke to bee learned by some that are experimented in that Arte, (not knowing it to be evill at the first) or else being of the grosser sorte, runnes directlie to the Devill for ambition or desire of gaine, and plainelie contractes with him thereupon.
PHI. But me thinkes these meanes which yee call the Schoole and rudimentes of the Devill, are thinges lawfull, and have bene approoved for such in all times and ages: as in special, this science of Astrologie, which is one of the special members of the Mathematicques.
EPI. There are two thinges which the learned have observedp.013from the beginning, in the science of the Heavenlie Creatures, the Planets, Starres, and such like: the one is their course and ordi-nary motiones, which for that cause is called Astronomia: Which word is a compound of νομοζ αστερων that is to say, the law of the Starres: and this arte indeed is one of the members of the Mathematicques, & not onelie lawful, but most necessarie and commendable. The other is called Astrologia, being compounded of αστερων & λογοζ which is to say, the word, and preaching of the starres: which is devided in two partes: the first by knowing thereby the powers of simples, and sickenesses, the course of the seasons and the weather, being ruled by their influence; which part depending upon the former, although it be not of it selfe a parte of Mathematicques: yet it is not unlawful, being moderatlie used, suppose not so necessarie and commendable as the former. The second part is to truste so much to their influences, as thereby to fore-tell what common-weales shall florish or decay: what persones shall be fortunate or unfortunate: what side shall winne in anie battell: what man shall obteine victorie at singular com-bate: what way, and of what age shall men die: what horse shall winne at matche-running; and diverse such like incredible things, wherein Cardanus, Cornelius Agrippa, and diverse others have more curiouslie then profitably written at large. Of this roote last spoken of, springs innumerable branches; such as the knowledge by the nativities; the Cheiromancie, Geomantie, Hydromantie,p.014 Arithmantie, Physiognomie: & a thousand others: which were much practised, & holden in great reverence by the Gentles of olde. And this last part of Astrologie whereof I have spoken, which is the root of their branches, was called by them pars fortunæ. This parte now is utterlie unlawful to be trusted in, or practized amongst christians, as leaning to no ground of natural reason: & it is this part which I called before the devils schole.
PHI. But yet manie of the learned are of the contrarie opinion.
EPI. I grant, yet I could give my reasons to fortifie & maintaine my opinion, if to enter into this disputation it wold not draw me quite off the ground of our discours; besides the mis-spending of the whole daie thereupon: One word onely I will answer to them, & that in the Scriptures (which must be an infallible ground to all true Christians)Ierem.10 That in the Prophet Ieremie it is plainelie forbidden, to beleeve or hearken unto them that Prophecies & fore-speakes by the course of the Planets & Starres.