This digital edition by Joseph H. Peterson,
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Chap. xlvi. Of the Images of the Mansions of the Moon.
They made also Images for evert Mansion of the Moon; in
the first for the destruction of some one, they made in an
Iron ring, the Image of a black man in a garment made of haire,
and girdled round, casting a small lance with his right hand; they
sealed this in black wax, and perfumed it with liquid Storax,
and wished some evil to come. In the second, against the wrath
of the Prince, and for reconciliation with him, they sealed in
white wac and mastick, the Image of a king crowned, and perfumed
it with Lignum Aloes; In the third, they made an Image
in a silver ring, whose table was square, the figure of which was
a woman well clothed, sitting in a chair, her right hand being
lifted up on her head; they sealed it and perfumed it with
muske, Camphire and Calamus Aromaticus. They affirmed that
this giveth happy fortune and every good thing. In the fourth,
for revenge, separation, enmity and ill will, they sealed in
red wax the Image of a soldier sitting on an horse, holding
a Serpent in his right hand; they perfumed it with red myrrhe,
and Storax; in the fifth, for the favor of Kings and officers,
and good entertainment, they sealed in Silver the head of a
man, and perfumed it with Sanders; in the sixth, for to procure
love betwixt two, they sealed in white wax two
Images imbracing [embracing] one another, and perfumed them with
Lignum Aloes and Amber; in the seventh, for to obtain every
good thing, they sealed in Silom the Image of a man
well clothed, holding up his hands to heaven as it were
praying and supplicating, and perfumed it with good odors;
In the eight, for victory in war, they made a seal of Tin, being
an Image of an Eagle, having the face of a man, and perfumed it
with Brimstone. In the ninth, to cause infirmities, they made a
seal of Lead, being the image of a man wanting his privy parts,
shutting his eyes with his hands; and they perfumed it with
Rosin of the Pine. In the tenth, to facilitate child-bearing, and
to cure the sick, they made a seal of gold, being the head of
a Lyon [lion], and perfumed it with Amber: In the eleventh, for
fear, reverence and worship, they made a seal of a plate of
gold, being the image of a man riding on a Lion, holding the
ear thereof in his left hand, and in his right, holding forth a
bracelet of gold, and they perfumed it with good odours and
Saffron. In the twelth, for the separation of Lovers, they made a
seal of black lead, being the image of a Dragon fighting with a
man, and they perfumed it with the hairs of a Lion, and Assa fetida
[asafoetida]. In the thirteenth, for the agreement of married couples,
and for the dissolving of charms against copulation, they
made a feal of the images of both, of the man in red Wax, of
the woman in white, and caused them to imbrace one another,
perfuming it with Lignum Aloes and Amber. In the fourteenth,
for divorce and separation of the man from the woman,
they made a seal of red Coppcr, being the image of a
Dog biting his tail, and they perfumed it with the hair of a
black Dog, and black Cat. In the fifteenth, for to obtain
friendship and good will, they made the image of a man sitting,
and inditing of letterss, and perfumed it with Frankincense
and Nutmegs. In the sixteenth, for to gain much Merchandizing
they made a seal of Silver, being the image of a man sitting
upon a Chair, holding a ballance [balance] in his hand, and they perfumed
it with well smelling spices. In the seventeenth, against
Theeves [thieves] and Robbers, they sealed with an Iron seal the Image
of an Ape: and perfumed it with the hair of an Ape. In the
eighteenth, against Feavors [fevers] and pains of the belly, they made a
seal of Copper, being the image of a Snake, holding his tail above
his bead, and they perfumed it with Harts-horn, and reported
the same seal to put to flight Serpents, and all venemous
creatures from the place where it is buried. In the nineteenth for
facilitating birth, & provoking the menstrues [menstruation], they made a seal of
copper, being the image of a woman, holding her hands upon her
face; and they perfumed it with Liquid Storax. In the twentieth,
for hunting, they made a seal of Tin, being the image of Sagittary [Sagittarius],
half a Man, and half an Horse, and they perfumed it
with the head of a Wolf. In the twentie one for the destruction
of some body, they made the image of a man with a
double countenance, before and behinde, and they perfumed it
with Brimstone and Jet, and did put it in a box of brass, and
with it Brimstone and Jet, and the hair of him whom they
would hurt. In the two and twentieth, for the security of Runaways,
they made a seal of Iron, being the image of a man with
wings on his feet, bearing an helmet on his head, and they perfumed
it with Argent vive. In the three and twentieth, for
destruction and wasting, they made a seal of Iron, being the
image of a Cat, having a Dogs head, and they perfumed it with
the hairs of a Dogs head, and buried it in the place where they
did pretend to hurt. In the four and twentieth, for the multiplying
of Heards of Cattle, they took the horn of a Ram,
Bull, or Goat, or of that sort of cattle which they would increase,
and sealed in it burning with an Iron seal, the image of
a woman giving suck [breast feeding] her son, and they hanged it on the
neck of that cattle who was the leader of the flock, or they
sealed it in his horn. In the five and twentieth, for the preservation
of Trees and Harvests, they sealed in the wood of a Fig-tree,
the image of a man planting, and they perfumed it with
the flowers of the Fig-tree, and did hang it on the tree. In the
six and twentieth for love and favor, they sealed in white Wax
and Mastick the image of a woman washing and combing her
haires, and they perfumed it with things smelling very well. In
the seven and twentieth for to destroy Fountains, Pits, Medicinal
Waters and Baths, they made of red Earth the image of
a man winged, holding in his hand an empty vessel, and perforated,
and the image being burnt, they did put in the vessel
Assafetida, and liquid Storax, and they did overwhelm and
bury it in the Pond or Fountain which they would destroy. In
the eight and twentieth, for to gather Fishes together, they
made a seal of Copper, being the image of a Fish, and they
perfumed it with the skin of a sea fish, and did cast it into the
water, wheresoever they would have the fish to gather together.
Moreover together with the foresaid Images, they did
write down also the names of the Spirits and their Characters,
and did invocate and pray for those things which they pretended
to obtain.
Chap. xlvii. Of the Images of the fixed Behenian Stars.
But now for the operations of the fixed stars, according
to Hermes opinion, under the head of Algol, they made
an image whose Figure was the head of a man with a bloody
neck; they report that it bestoweth good success to Petitions,
and maketh him who carrieth it bold and magnanimous, and
preserveth the members of the body sound: also it helpeth against
Witchcraft, and reflecteth evil indeavors [endeavors] and wicked
incantations upon our adversaries. Under the constellation
of Pleiades, they made the image of a little Virgin, or the
Figure of a Lamp; its reported to increase the light of the
eyes, to assemble Spirits, to raise Winds, to reveal secret and
hidden things: Under Adlebora [sic. Aldeboran], they made an image after the
likeness of God, or of a flying man; it giveth riches and honor:
Under the Goat they made an image, the Figure of which was,
as it were, a man willing to make himself merry with musical
instruments; it maketh him who carrieth it acceptable, honored
and exalted before Kings and Princes; and helpeth the pain
of the teeth: Under the greater Dog-star, they made the
image of an Hound and a little Virgin; it bestoweth honor and
good will, and the favor of men, and Aerial spirits, and giveth
power to pacifie and reconcile Kings, Princes, and other men:
Under the lesser Dog-star they made the image of a Cock, or
of three little maides; it conferreth the favor of the gods, of
spirits, and men; it giveth power against Witchcrafts, and
preserveth health: Under the Heart of Leo, they made the
image of a Lion or Cat, or the Figure of an honorable Person
sitting in a Chair; it rendretb a man temperate, appeaseth
wrath, and giveth favour: Under the tail of Vrsa Major [Ursa Major] they
made the image of a pensive Man, or of a Bull, or the Figure
of a Calf; it availeth against incantations, and maketh him who
carrieth it secure in his travels: Under the wing of Corvus,
they made the image of a Raven, or Snake, or of a black Man
cloathed in black; this maketh a man cholerick, bold, couragious,
full of thoughts, a backbiter, and causeth naughty
dreams; also it giveth the power of driving away evil spirits,
and of gathering them together; it is profitable against the
malice of Men, Devils and Winds: Under the Spike they
made the image of a Bird, or of a man laden with Merchandize;
it conferreth riches, and maketh one overcome contentions,
it taketh away scarcity and mischief: Under Alchameth
they made the image of an Horse or Wolf, or the Figure of a
man dancing; it is good against Feavers, it astringeth and
retaineth the bloud [blood]: Under Elphrya, they made the image of
an Hen, or of a man crowned and advanced; it bestoweth the
good will and love of men, and giveth chastity. Under the
Heart of Scorpio they made the image of a man armed, and
with a coat of Male [mail], or the Figure of a Scorpion; it giveth understanding
and memory, it maketh a good colour, and aideth
against evil spirits, and driveth them away, and bindeth them:
Under the Vulture, they made the image of a Vulture or Hen,
or of a traveller; it maketh a man magnanimous and proud, it
giveth power over devils and beasts. Under the tail of Capricorn
they made the image of an Hart, or Goate, or of an angry
man; it bestoweth prosperity, and increaseth wrath. These are
the images of some of the fixed stars which they command to
be ingraven on their stones under them.
Chap. xlviii. Of Geomanticall Figures, which are the middle betwixt Images
and Characters.
There are moreover certain other Figures, framed by
the number and situation of the stars, and ascribed both
to the Elements, and also to the Planets and Signs, which are
called Geomantical, because that Geomantical Diviners do
reduce the points of their lot projected, by the excess of parity
or imparity into those figures; and they also being engraven
or imprinted under the dominion of their Planets and Signs,
do conceive the vertue and power of images; and these Figures
are as a middle betwixt Images and Characters; But whosoever
desireth exactly yo know the natures, qualities, proprieties,
conditions, significations, and Nativities of these Figures, let
him read the Volums of Geomancy; but they are in number
sixteen, whose names and figures are these.
| Figure. | Name. | Element. | Planet. | Sign.
|
|---|
| Way
Iourney [journey]
| Water |  | 
|
| People
Congregation.
| Water | | 
|
| Conjunction
An Assembling
| Aire |  | 
|
| A prison
Bound
| The Earth |  | 
|
| Great fortune
Greater aid
Safe-guard entering
| The Earth |  | 
|
| Lesser fortune
Lesser aid
Safe-guard going out
| Fire | | 
|
| Obtaining
Comprehended within
| Aire | | 
|
| Acquisition
Comprehended without
| Fire |  | 
|
| Ioy [joy]
Laughing
Healthy
Bearded
| Aire | |
|
| Sadness
Damned
Cross
| Earth | | 
|
| A Girle
Beautifull
| Water | |
|
| A Boy
Yellow
Beardless
| Fire |  |
|
| White
Fair
| Water | | 
|
| Reddish
Red
| Fire | | 
|
| The head
The threshold entring
The upper threshold
| Earth |  |
|
| The Taile
The threshold going out
The lower threshold
| Fire |  | 
|
Chap. xlix. Of Images, the figure whereof is not after the likeness of any
Celestiall figure, but after the likness of that which the mind
of the worker desires.
There remains as yet an other manner of images not according
to the similitude of Celestiall figures, but according
to the similitude of that which the mind of the worker desires,
of whose they are the effigies, and representation: So to procure
love we make images embracing one the other: to discord,
striking one the other; to bring misery, or destruction as dammage [damage]
to a man, or house, or City or any thing else, we make images
distorted, broken in members, and parts after the likeness
and figure of that thing which we would destroy or damnifie;
And Magicians advise us that in casting or engraving images
we would write upon it the name of the effect; and this on
the back when evill, as destruction; on the belly when good,
as love. Moreover in the forehead of the image let be written
the name of the species or Individuum which the image represents,
or for whom or against whom it is made. Also on the
breast let the name of the signe or face ascending, and Lord
thereof be written; also the names and Characters of its Angles.
Moreover in making the image they advise that prayer
for the effect for which it is made, be used. All which Albertus
Magnus in his Speculo affirms. Now they use the images
being made diversly according to the vertues thereof; Sometimes
they hang them or binde them to the body; Sometimes
they bury them under the Earth, or a River; sometimes
they hang them in a Chimny over the smoak [smoke], or upon a tree
that they be moved by the wind; sometime with the head upward,
& sometimes downward; sometimes they put them into
hot water, or into the fire. For they say as the workers of the
images do affect the image it self, so doth it bring the like passions
upon those to whom it was ascribed, as the mind of the
operator hath dictated it. As we read that Nectanabus the Magician
made images of ships with wax after that manner, and
art that when he drowned those images in water, that the ships
of his enemies were in like maner drowned in the Sea, and hazarded.
Now that part of Astrology which is writ concerning
elections, teacheth us that the constellations also are to be observed
for the making of images, and such like.
Chap. l. Of certain Celestial observations and the practise of some Images.
I will now shew thee the observation of Celestiall bodyes,
which are required for the practise of some of these kind
of images; So to make any one fortunate, we make an
image in which these are fortunate, viz. the significator
of the life thereof, the givers of life, the signs, and Planets.
Moreover let the ascendent, the middle of the heaven,
and the Lords thereof be fortunate: also the place of the Sun,
and place of the Moon; part of fortune, and Lord of conjunction
or prevention made before their nativity, by depressing
the Malignant Planets. But if we will make an image to
procure misery, we must do contrarywise, and those which we
place here fortunate, must there be infortunate, by raising malignant
Stars. In like manner must we do to make any place,
Region, City, or house fortunate. Also for destroying or prejudicing
any of the foresaid; Let there be made an image
under the ascension of that man whom thou wouldst
destroy, and prejudice, and thou shall make unfortunate,
the Lord of the house of his life, the Lord of the ascending,
and the Moon, the lord of the house of the Moon, and the
lord of the house of the lord ascending, and the tenth house,
and the lord thereof. Now for the fitting of any place, place
fortunes in the ascendent thereof; and in the first, and tenth,
and second, and eighth house, thou shall make the lord of the
ascendent, and the lord of the house of the Moon fortunate.
But to chase away certain Animals from certain places, that
they may not be generated, or abide there, let there be an image
made under the ascension of that Animal, which thou
wouldst chase away, and after the likeness thereof; as if thou
wouldest chase away Scorpions from any place, let an image
of the Scorpion be made, the sign of Scorpio ascending with the
Moon, and thou shalt make unfortunate the ascendent, and
lord thereof, and the Lord of the house of Mars; and thou
shall make unfortunate the lord of the ascendent in the eighth
house, and let them be joyned with an aspect malignant, opposite,
or quadrant: and let there be writ upon the image the
name of the ascendent, of the Lord thereof, and of the Moon,
and of the lord of the day, and of the Lord of the hour. And
let there be a pit made in the middle of the place, from which
thou wouldst drive them; and let there be carryed into it,
some of the earth taken out of the four corners of the same
place, and let the image be buryed there with the head downward,
with saying, this is the burying of the Scorpions, that
they may not come into this place, and so of the rest. So for
gain let there be made an image under the ascendent of the
nativity of the man, or under the ascension of that
place to which thou wouldest appoint the gain; and thou shall make
the lord of the second house, which is in the house of substance
to be joyned with the Lord of the ascendent in the trine or sextil,
and let there be a reception amongst them; thou shall
make fortunate the eleventh and the Lord thereof, and the
eighth; and if thou canst, put part of the fortune in the
ascendent, or second; and let the image be buryed in that
place, or carryed from that place, to which thou wouldest appoint
the gain. Also for concord, and love, let there be an
image made in the day of Jupiter under the ascendent of the nativity
of him whom thou wouldst have be beloved, make fortunate
the ascendent, and the tenth, and hide the evil from the
ascendent; and thou must have the Lord of the tenth, and
planets of the eleveneth fortune, joyned to the Lord of the
ascendent, from the trine or sextil with reception; then make
an other image for him whom thou wouldest stir up to love;
consider if he be a friend, or companion of him whom thou
wouldst have be beloved; and if so, let there be an image made
under the ascension of the eleventh house from the ascendent
of the first image; but if the party be a wife, or a husband, let
it be made under the ascension of the seventh; if a brother, or
a sister, or a cousin, let it be made under the ascension of the
third, and so of the like; and put the significator of the ascendent
of the second image, joyned to the significator of the
ascendent of the first image; and let there be betwixt them a
reception, and let the rest be fortunate, as in the first image;
afterwards joyn both images together into a mutual embraceing
or put the face of the second image to the back of the first
image, and let them be wrapt up in silk, and cast away or
spoiled. Also for success of petitions, and for the obtaining
of a thing denyed, or taken, or possessed by an other, let
there be an image made under the ascendent of him who petitions
for the thing; and cause that the Lord of the second be
joyned with the lord of the ascendent from a trine, or sextile,
and let there be a reception betwixt them, and if it can be, let
the Lord of the second be in the obeying signs, and the Lord of
the ascendent in the ruling, make fortunate the ascendent, and
the Lord thereof, and take heed that the lord of the ascendent
be not retrograde or combust, or falling, or in the house of
opposition i.e. in the seventh from his own house; let him not be
hindred by the malignant, let him be strong, & in an angle; Thou
shalt make fortunate the ascendent, and the Lord of the second
and the Moon; and make another image for him that petitioned
to, and begin it under the ascendent belonging to him,
as if he be a King or a Prince, begin it under the ascendent of
the tenth house from the ascendent of the first image; If he
be a father under the fourth; if a son under fifth, and so of the
like; and put the significator of the second image, joyned with
the lord of the ascendent of the first image, from a trine,or sextile,
and let him receive it, and put them both strong, and fortunate
without any let; make all evill fall from them.
Thou shall make fortunate the tenth, and the fourth if thou
canst, or any of them; and when the second image shall be perfected,
joy nit [knit] with the first, face to face, and wrap them in clean
linnen, and bury them in the middle of his house who is the
petitioner under a fortunate significator, the fortune being
strong, and let the face of the first image be toward the North,
or rather toward the place where the thing petitioned for
doth abide; or if it happen that the petitioner goeth forward
towards him with whom the thing petitioned for is, let him
bring the images with him as far as he goes. And let there
be made an image of dreams, which being put under the head
of him that sleeps, makes him dream true dreams concerning
any thing that he hath formerly deliberated of; and let the
figure of that be the figure of a man sleeping in the bosome of
an Angel, which thou shall make in the Lyon [Lion, i.e. Leo] ascending, the
Sun keeping the nineth house in Aries; thou shalt writ upon
the breast of the man the name of the effect desired, and in
the hand of the Angel the name of the intelligence of the Sun.
Let the same image be made in Virgo ascending, Mercury being
fortunate in Aries in the ninth house, or Gemini ascending
in Mercury being fortunate, and keeping the ninth house in
Aquarius; and let it be received from Saturn with a fortunate
aspect, and let the name of the spirit of Mercury be writ upon
it. Let also the same be made in Libra ascending, Venus being
received from Mercury in Gemini in the ninth house, by
writting upon it the Angel of Venus. Besides also let the same
image be made in Aquarius ascending, Saturn fortunately
possessing the ninth house in his exaltation, which is in Libra,
and let there be writ upon it the Angel of Saturn. Moreover
let it be made in Cancer ascending the Moon being received by
Jupiter and Venus in Pisces, and being fortunately placed in
the ninth house, and let there be writ upon it the spirit of the
Moon. There are also made rings of dreams of wonderfull
efficacy; and there are rings of the Sun, and Saturn and the
constellation of them is when the Sun or Saturn ascend in
their exaltations in the ninth house, and when the Moon is joyned
to Saturn in the ninth house, and in that signe, which
was the ninth house of Nativity; and let there be writ upon
the rings the name of the spirit of the Sun, or Saturn. Let this
which hath been spoken suffice concerning images, for now thou
mayst find out more of this nature of thy self. But know this
that such images work nothing, unless they be so vivified that
either a naturall or Celestiall, or Heroicall, or animasticall, or
demoniacal, or angelicall vertue be in them, or assistant to
them. But who can give a soul to an image, or make a stone
to live, or mettal [metal], or wood, or wax? and who can raise out
of stones children unto Abraham? Certanly this Arcanum
doth not enter into an Artist of a stiffe neck; neither can he
give those things which hath them not. No body hath them
but he who doth (the Elements being restrained, nature being
overcome, the Heavens being over-powered) transcend the
progress of Angels, and comes to the very Archetype it self, of
which being then made a cooperator may do all things, as we
shall speak afterwards.
Chap. li. Of Characters which are made after the rule and
imitation of Celestial, and how with the table thereof they are
deduced out of Geomantical figures.
Characters also have their community from the rayes of
the Celestials cast together according to a certain number
by a certain peculiar property, which Celestials as in divers
strokes of their rayes falling severall ways amongst themselves
produce divers vertues: so also Characters being variously
protracted, according to the various concourse of those rayes
quickly obtain divers operations, and also more efficacious many
times then the properties of naturall commixtions. Now
the true Characters of the heavens is the writing of Angels,
which amongst the Hebrews is called the writing Malachim,
by which all things are described and signified in the Heaven
for every knowing man to read. But of these hereafter; But
now they make Characters of Geomantical figures binding together
the points of each variously, and attributing them according
to the manner of their figurings, to those Planets
and signs of which they were made, the making of which the following
table will shew:
| The Characters of the Moon.
|
| From the way | 
|
| From the people | 
|
| The Characters of Mercury.
|
| From Conjunction | 
|
| From White | 
|
| The Characters of Venus.
|
| From loosing | 
|
| From girle | 
|
| The Characters of the Sun.
|
| From a greater Fortune | 
|
| From a lesser Fortune | 
|
| The Characters of Mars.
|
| From Red | 
|
| From a Boy | 
|
| The Characters of Jupiter.
|
| From obtaining | 
|
| From joyfulness | 
|
| The Characters of the Saturn.
|
| From a prison | 
|
| From sadness | 
|
| The Characters of of the head of the Dragon.
|
| From Characters of the tayle of the Dragon
|
Chap. lii. Of Characters which are drawn from things themselves
by a certain likeness.
We have spoken above of a certain manner of Images
made not after the likeness of Celestial Images, but
according to the emulation of that which the minde of the
Operator doth desire. In like manner also it is to be understood
of Characters; for such like Characters are nothing else
then images ill dearticulated; yet having a certain probable similitude
with the Celestial images, or with that which the mind
of the Operator desires, whether that be from the whole
image, or from certain markes thereof expressing the whole
image. As the Characters of Aries and Taurus we make thus
from thwir horns .
Of Gemini from imbracing [embracing] . Of
Cancer from a progress and regress ,
of Leo, Scorpio, and Capricorn, from their tail
,
of Virgo, from Spike 
of Libra from a ballance [balance]
of Sagittarius from a dart , of
Aquarius from Waters and of Pisces
from Fishes . In like
manner the Characters of Saturn is made from a Sickle
of Jupiter, from a Scepter
. Of
Mars from a bolt
of the Sun from roundness, and a golden
brightness 
of Venus from a Lookinglass , of
Mercury from a Wand 
of the Moon from her
horns of increasing and decreasing . Besides,
of these, according to the mixtions of Signs and Stars, and Natures, are
made also mixed Characters, as of a fiery triplicity 
or Earthly 
of Aiery 
of
Watery 
also according to the hundred and
twentie conjunctions of Planets, result so many compound characters
of various Figures; as of Saturn and Jupiter, viz. thus,
or thus 
or thus of Saturn and Mars,
or thus 
of Jupiter, and Mars 
or thus 
of Saturn, Jupiter and Mars, 
or thus
. And as these are exemplified by two and three, so also
of the rest, and of more may they be framed: after the same
manner may the Characters of other Celestial images ascending
in any face or degree of signs, be compendiously drawn after
the likeness of the images, as in these which are made according
to the way of imitation of that which the minde of
the Operator desires, as to love, the figures be mixed together
imbracing [embracing] and obeying one the other, but to hatred,
on the contrary, turning away the one from the other; contending,
unequal, loosed. But now we will here set down those
Characters which Hermes assigned to the fixed stars, and
Behenii, and they are these,
 | The head of Algol.
|
 | The Pleiades.
|
 | Aldaboram [Aldeboran].
|
 | The Goat Star. [Hircus]
|
 | The greater Dog-star. [Canis Major]
|
 | The lesser Dog-star. [Canis Minor]
|
 | The heart of the Lion. [Cor Leonis]
|
 | The Tail of the Bear.
|
 | The wing of the Crow.
|
 | Spica.
|
 | Alcameth. [Alchameth]
|
 | Elpheia.
|
 | The heart of the Scorpion.
|
 | The Vulture falling. [Vultur cadens, i.e. Lyra]
|
 | The tail of Capricorn.
|
We have spoken in the foregoing Chapters of the divers kindes
of Divinations: But this is to be noted that all these require
the use and rules of Astrology, as a key most necessary for the
knowledge of all secrets; and that all kinds of Divinations whatsoever
have their root and foundation in Astrologie so, as that without
it they are of little or no use; yet Astrological Divination,
in as much as the Celestials are causes and signs of all those
things which are, and are done
in these inferiors, doth give most certain demonstrations by the
situation, and motion onely of Celestial bodies, of those things
which are occult or future; of which we shall in this place
speak no further, since of this Science huge Volums have been
wrote by the Ancients, and are everywhere extant. Therefore
whether the Physiognomists look upon the body, or countenance
of forehead, or hand, or the Soothsayer, searcheth by dreams or
Auspicia, that the judgment may be right, the figure of heaven
is also to be enquired into. From the judgements whereof,
together with conjectures of similitudes and signs, are produced
true opinions of the significators. Also if any prodigie
shall appear, the Figure of the heaven is to be erected; also
such things are to be enquired after, which have gone before in
the revolutions of years from great conjunctions, and Eclipses:
then also the Nativities, beginnings, intronizations, foundations,
and revolutions, perfections, directions of Princes, Nations,
Kingdoms, Cities, when these shall appear, and upon
what place of the Celestial figure these fell; that by all these
at length we may come to a rational and probable signification
of these things. After the same manner, but with less labour,
we must proceed in the Expofition of dreams. Moreover,
they that being distempered foretell future things, do it
not but as they are instigated by the stars, or inferior instruments
of these, whence their Predictions must at length be
imputed to the Celestials, as we read in Lucan the old Prophet
Tuscus,
The Light'nings motion, and the veines which are
Fibrous, and warm, and motion of a fair
Plume wandring i'th aire, being taught -----
After the City was viewed, the Sacrifice slain, the inspection
into the intrals did at length by the dispositions of the Celestial
stars pronounce judgement. Also Geornancy it self the
most accurate of Divinations, which divines by points of the
earth, or any other superfices, or by a fall, or any other power
inscribed, doth first reduce them to Celestial figures, viz. to
those sixteen which we above named, making judgement after
an Astrological manner, by the properties and observations
thereof: and hither are referred all natural Divinations by lots
whatsoever, the power whereof can be from no where else then
from the heaven, and from the minde of them that work them.
For whatsoever is moved, caused or produced in these inferiors,
must of necessity imitate the motions, and influences of the superiours,
to which, as to its roots, causes, and signs it is reduced,
the judgement whereof is shewed by Astrological Rules.
Hence Dice, Tetracedron [tetrahedron], Exacedron, Octocedron, Doderacedron [dodecahedron],
Icocedron being made by certain Numbers, Signs, and
Stars at opportune times, under the influencies of the Celestials,
and being inscribed, obtain a wonderful vertue of Divining,
and foretelling by their castings, such as those Dice Preneste
had, in which we read the Destinies of the Romans were
contained.
Chap. liv. Of Lottery, when, and whence the vertue of Divining is incident
to it.
Whatsoever Divinations and Predictions of humane
events are made by Lottery, must of necessity, besides
the lot, have some sublime occult cause; which indeed shall not
be a cause by accident, such as Aristotle describes Fortune to
be. For in the series of Causes, seeing according to the Platonists,
a cause by accident can never be the prime and sufficient
cause, we must look higher, and finde out a cause which may
know and intend the effect. Now this we must not place in
corporeal Nature, but in immaterial, and incorporeal substances
which indeed administer the Lot, and dispence [dispense] the signification
of the truth, as in mens souls, or separated spirits, or
in Celestial Intelligcnces, or in God himself. Now that
there is in mans soul a sufficient power and vertue to
direct such kinde Of lots, it is hence manifest, because there is
in our soul a divine vertue, and similitude, and apprehension,
and power of all things; And as we said in the first Book, All
things have a natural obedience to it, and of necessity have a
motion and efficacy to that which the soul desires with a
strong desire; and all the vertues and operations of natural
and artifical things, obey it when it is carried forth into the
excess of desire, and then all Lots of what kinde soever are assisting
to the appetite of such a minde, and acquire to themselves
wonderful vertues of passages, as from that, so from the
Celestial opportunity in that hour in which the excess of such
a like appetite doth most of all exeeed in it. And this is that
ground and foundation of all Astrological questions, wherefore
the minde being elevated into the excess of any desire,
taketh of it self an hour and opportunity most convenient and
efficacious, on which the Figure of the heaven being made, the
Astrologer may then judge in it, and plainly know concerning
that which any one desires, and is inquisitive to know. But
now because Lots are not directed alwayes by mans minde,
but also, as we said before, by the help of other Spirits; nor is
the minde of a Prophet alwayes disposed to that excess of passion
as we spoke of: hence amongst the Ancients, it was a Custome
to premise before the casting of the Lot, some sacred
performances, in which they called upon divine Intelligencies
and spirits for to direct the Lot aright. Whatsoever kinde of
presage therefore these kinde of Lots portend, must of necessity
not be by chance or fortune, but from a spiritual cause, by
vertue whereof the Phantasie, or hand of him that cast the
Lot is moved, whether that power proceed from the soul of
the Operator through the great excess of his affection, or from
a Celestial influence, and oppotunity, or from a certain Diety
or spirit assisting, or moving from on high, whether these
Lots are placed in casting of Cockalls, or throwing of
Dice, or in the meeting of Verses, such as were formerly the
Lot of Homer and Virgil, of which we read in Ælius of
Sparta, Hadrianus long since made enquiry, and which we
read befell Trajanus the Emperour.
What's he far off grac'd with the Olive bough
Presenting offerings? how white chin we know,
A Roman King, whose laws first setled Rome,
And from small Curets a poor soyl [soil] shall come
To great command -----
Be which Verses he did not in vain become to have hopes of
enjoying the Empire. Also amongst Hebrews, and even amongst
us Christians (some Divines not dispproving of it) Lots
are taken out of Verses of Psalms. There are also more, & other
kindes of Lots, as are humane Lots, which had no Divination
in them amongst the Ancients, and are observed by as in choosing
of Magistrates, to prevent envy, of which also Cicero against
Verres makes mention: but they are not of our purpose:
But those which are divine, and sacred Lots, respecting
Oracles, and Religion, of which we shall discourse in the following
Book: Onely thus far I would advise you, that how
much presaging, divining or Southsaying [soothsaying] soever Lots are found
to have, they have them not as they are Lots, but by reason of a
vertue of a higher operation joyned to them.
Chap. lv. Of the soul of the World, and of the Celestials, according to the
traditions of the Poets, and Philosophers.
It is necessity that the heaven and Celestial bodies, seeing
they have a power, influence, and manifest operation upon
these inferiors, should be animated: seeing an operition cannot
proceed from a meer body. All famous Poets, and Philosophers
affirm therefore that the world and all Celestiall bodies
must have a soul, and that also intelligent: Hence Marcus
Mavillius in his Astronomy to Augustus, sings,
The great Corporeall world, which doth appear
In divers forms, of Aire, Earth, Sea, and Fire,
A divine soul doth rule, a Diety
Doth wisely govern -----
Also Lucan,
The Earth that's weigh'd i'th aire, 's sustained
By great Jove -----
And Boetius
Thou dost joyn to the worl a soul, that moves
All things of threefold nature, and diffuse
It through the members of the same, and this
Into two Orbs of motion rounded is
Being divided, and for to return
Into it self makes haste -----
And Virgil most full of all Philosophy, sings thus,
And first the Heaven, Earth, and liquid plain,
The Moons bright Globe, and Stars Titanian
A spirit fed within, spread through the whole
And with the huge heap mix'd infused a soul;
Hence man, and beastsm and birds derive their strain,
And monsters floating in the marbled main;
These seeds have fiery vigor, and a birth
Of heavenly race, but clog'd with heavy earth.
For what do these verses seem to mean, then that the world should
not only have a spirit soul, but also to partake of the divine
mind: and that the originall, vertue, and vigour of all inferiour
things do depend on the soul of the world? This do all Platonists,
Pythagorians, Orpheus, Trismegistus, Aristotle,
Theophrastus, Avicen, Algazeles, and all Peripateticks confess,
and confirm.
Chap. lvi. The same is confirmed by reason.
The world, the heavens, the Stars, and the Elements have
a soul, with which they cause a soul in these inferior and
mixed bodies. They have also as we said in the former book, a
spirit, which by the mediating of the soul is united to the body:
For as the world is a certain whole body, the parts
whereof are the bodies of all living creatures, and by how
much the whole is more perfect and noble then the parts, by so
much more perfect, and noble is the body of the world then
the bodies of each living thing. It would be absurd, that all imperfect
bodies and parts of the world, and every base Animal,
as Flies, and Worms should be worthy of a life, and have
a life and soul, and the whole entire world a most perfect,
whole, and most noble body, should have neither life, nor soul;
It is no less absurd, that Heavens, Stars, Elements, which give
to all things life, and soul most largely, should themselves be
without life, and soul; and that every plant, or tree should be
of a more noble condition then the Heaven, Stars, and Elements,
which are naturally the cause of them; And what living
man can deny that earth, and water live, which of themselves,
generate, vivifie, nourish, and increase innumerable trees,
plants, and living creatures? as most manifestly appears in
things that breed of their own accord, and in those which
have no corporeall seed. Neither could Elements generate and
nourish such kind of living creatures, if they themselves were
without life or soul. But some haply may say, that such kind
of living creatures are not generated by the soul of the earth,
or water, but by the influencies of Celestiall souls; These the
Platonists answer, that an Accident cannot beget a substance,
unless haply as an instrument it be subjected to the next substance,
because an instrument removed from an artificer is not
moved to the effect of the art; so also those Celestiall influencies,
seeing they are certain accidents being removed far from
vital substances, or from the life it self, cannot generate a vital
substance in these inferiors. And Mercurius in his book which
he cals De Communi, saith, All that is in the world is moved either
by increase, or decrease. Now what moves, must needs have
life; and seeing that all things move, even the earth, especially
with a generative and alterative motion, they must themselves
live. And if any doubt that the heavens live, saith Theophrastus,
he is not to be accounted a Philosopher; and he which
denyes the heaven to be animated, so that the mover thereof
is not the form thereof, destroyes the foundation of all Philosophy;
The World therefore lives, hath a soul, and sense; for
it gives life to plants, which are not produced of seed; and it
gives sense to Animals, which are not generated by coition.
Chap. lvii. That the soul of the world, and the Celestiall souls are rationall,
and partake of Divine understanding.
That the above named souls have reason, is apparent hence;
For whereas the universall works of the foresaid souls do
with a certain perpetuall order conspire amongst themselves, it
is necessary that they be governed not by chance but by reason;
by which reason they do direct, & bring all their operations to
a certainty. For it is necessary that the earth should have the
reason of terrene things, and water of watery things; and so
in the rest; by which reason each in their time, place, and order
are generated, and being hurt are repaired. Therefore Philosophers
do not think the soul of the earth to be at it were
the soul of some contemptible body, but to be rationall and
also intelligent, yea and to be a diety. Besides it would be
absurd, seeing we have reasons of our works, that Celestiall
souls, and the soul of the universe should not have reasons of
theirs. But if (as saith Plato) the world be made by very
goodness it self, as well as it could be made, it is certainly endowed
with not only life, sense, and reason, but also understanding.
For the perfection of a body is its soul, and that
body is more perfect which hath a more perfect soul; It is
necessary therefore, seeing Celestiall bodies are more perfect,
that they have also most perfect minds. They partake therefore
of an intellect and a minde; which the Platonists also
prove by the perseverance of their order, and tenor, because
motion is of its nature free, it may easily swarve, and wander
now one way, now another, unless it were ruled by an intellect
and a mind, and that also by a perfect mind foreseeing from
the beginning the best way, and chief end. Which perfect
mind indeed, becaue it is most powerfull in the soul, as is the
soul, and as are the souls of Celestiall bodies, and of Elements,
without all doubt doth most orderly, and perfectly govern the
work allotted to it. For bodies do not resist a most powerfull
soul, and a perfect mind doth not change its counsel. The soul
of the world therefore is a certain only thing, filling all things,
bestowing all things, binding, and knitting together all things,
that it might make one frame of the world, and that it
might be as it were one instrument making of many strings,
but one sound, sounding from three kinds of creatures, intellectall,
Celestiall, and incorruptible, with one only breath and life.
The names of Celestiall souls are very many, and diverse according
to their manifold power and vertue upon these inferior things,
from whence they have received divers names, which the ancients
in their hymnes and prayer made use of. Concerning which you must
observe, that every one of these souls according to Orpheus's
Divinity, is said to have a
double vertue; the one placed in knowing, the other in vivifying,
and governing its body. Upon this account in the Celestiall
spheres, Orpheus cals the former vertue Bacchus, the other a
Muse. Hence he is not inebriated by any Bacchus, who hath
not first been coupled to his Muse. Therefore nine Bacchus's
are designed about the nine Muses. Hence in the ninth
sphere Orpheus puts Bacchus Cribonius, and the Muse Calliope;
in the starry heaven Picionius, and Urania; in the sphere
of Saturn, Amphietus, and Polyphymnia; in the sphere of Jupiter,
Sabasius, and Terpsichore; in the sphere of Mars, Bassarius,
and Clio; in the sphere of the Sun, Trietericus, and Melpemene,
in the sphere of Venus, Lysius, and Erato; in the sphere of
Mercury, Silenus, and Euterpe; in the sphere of the Moon,
Bacchus, Lyeus, and the Muse Thalia. Also in the spheres of
the Elements, he names the souls after this manner. In the
fire he puts the planet, and the morning; in the air lightening [lightning]
Jupiter, and Juno; in water the Ocean, and Thetys; in the
earth Pluto, and Proserpina; but the soul of the world or
universe Magicians call the Jupiter of the world, and the
mind of the world Apollo, and the nature of the world, Minerva.
Besides in the fire they put Vulcan, in the water Neptune,
and they did name them by divers names. Also in the Stars of
the Zodiack the Pythagorians did put twelve particular Gods
or souls placed in the hearts of those Stars, and thence governing
the whole Star, viz. in the heart of Aries is placed a particular
Pallas, in the heart of Taurus a particular Venus, of
Gemini a particular Phebus, of Cancer Mercury, of Leo Jupiter,
of Virgi Ceres, of Libra Vulcan, of Scorpio Mars, of Sagittarius
Diana, of Capricorn Vesta, of Aquarius a particular
Juno, in the heart of Pisces a particular Neptune: This did
Manilius sing forth in these verses.
Pallas doth rule the Ram, Venus the Bull,
Phebus the Twins, and Mercury doth rule
The Cancer, and the Lyon [The Lion, i.e. Leo] guides doth Jove,
Ceres doth Virgo, Vulcan Libra move.
For Scorpion Mars; for Sagittarius faire
Diana cares; for Capricorn doth care
Vesta; Aquarius Juno doth protect;
And Neptune Pisces -----
And most ancient Orpheus writing to Muscus, reckons up more
Dieties of the heavens then these, signifying their names, respects,
and duties, calling them all in proper songs. Let no one
therefore think that they are the names of evill deceiving spirits;
but of naturall, and divine vertues, distributed to the
world by the true God, for the service, and profit of man, who
knew how to use them: and antiquity it self hath ascribed to
each of these Dieties the severall members of man; as the ear
to memory, which Virgil also dedicates to Phebus, saying,
Cynthius puls my ear, and admonisheth me. So the right hand
being a token of fortitude, & by which an oath is made, Numa
Pompilius, as saith Livy, hath dedicated to faith: The fingers
are under the tuition of Minerva, and the knees given to Mercifullness;
Hence they that beg pardon bend them. Some dedicate
the Navell to Venus as the place of luxury; some who refer
all the members to it as the center, say it is dedicated to
Jupiter Hence in the Temple of Jupiter Hammon the effigies
of a navel is celebrated. Many other things the ancients did
observe, ascribing every little member and joynt to their Dieties,
which if they be rightly understood, and the true Dieties
ruling over them known, would not at all swerve from their
duty, seeing also sacred writ testifies that all our members are
governed by the superior vertues, of which we shall speak
more largely in the following book; and not members only,
but every exercise of men is distributed to its Dietie [diety], as huntings
to Diana, wars to Pallas, husbandry to Ceres, of which
thus speaks Apollo in his Oracles in Porphyrie [Porphyry].
Pallas loves wars, woods to Diana fair
Ascribed are, to Juno humid Aire,
To Ceres Corn, and fruits; to Oryris [Osiris]
The water, also humors waterish.
Chap. lix. Of the seven governers of the world, the Planets, and of their
various names serving to Magicall speeches.
Moreover they did call those governors of the
world, (as Hermes calls them) Saturn, Jupiter, Mars,
the Sun, Venus, Mercury, and the Moon, by many names,
and epithites; viz. calling Saturn Coelius, sithe-bearer [scythe-bearer], the
father of the Gods, the Lord of the time, the high Lord, the
great, the wise, the intelligent, ingenious revolutor, of a long
space, an old man of great profundity, the author of secret
contemplation, impressing, or depressing great thoughts in
the hearts of men, destroying and preserving all things, overturning
force and power, and constituting, a keeper of secret
things, and a shewer of them, causing the loss, and finding of the
author of life and death. So Jupiter is called as it were a helping
Father, the King of heaven, Magnanimous, thundering,
lightning, unconquered, high and mighty, great and mighty,
good, fortunate, sweet, mild, of good will, honest, pure,
walking well, and in honour, the Lord of joy and of judgements,
wise, true, the shewer of truth, the judge of all things,
excelling all in goodness, the Lord of riches, and wisdome.
Mars is called Mavors, powerfull in war, bloody, powerfull
in arms, a sword-bearer, magnanimous, bold, untamed, generous,
lightning, of great power and furious hast [haste], against whom
none can defend himself if he resist him, who destroyes the
strong, and powerfull, and deposeth Kings from their thrones,
the Lord of heat and power, the Lord of fiery heat, and of
the planet of blood; who inflames the hearts of contenders,
and gives them boldness. The Sun is called Phæbus, Diespiter,
Apollo, Titan, Pean Phanes, Horus, Osiris, as it is in that Oracle,
The Sun, Osyris [Osiris], Dionysus gay,
Apollo, Horus, King ruling the day
Who changeth times, who giveth winds and rain,
The King of Stars, and the immortall flame.
He is called also Arcitenens, burning fiery, golden flaming, radiating,
of a fiery hair, of a golden hair, the eye of the world,
Lucifer, seeing all things, ruling all things, the creator of light,
the King of Stars, the great Lord, good, fortunate, honest,
pure, prudent, intelligent, wise, shining over the whole world,
governing, and vivifying all bodies that have a soul, the prince
of the world keeping all the Stars under himself, the light of
all the Stars, darkening, burning, overcoming their vertue by his
approach, yet by his light and splendor giving light and splendor
to all things: in the night he is called Dionysius, but in the
day Apollo, as if driving away evill things. Therefore the
Athenians called him Alexicacon, and Homer Vlion, i.e. the
driver away of evil things. He is also called Phæbus from his
beauty and brightness, and Vulcan from his fiery violence, because
the force thereof consists of many fires. He is also called
the Sun, because he contains the light of all the Stars: hence he
is called by the Assyrians
êàãà
Adad, which signifies only,
and by the Hebrews ùîù
Schemesch, which signifies proper.
Venus is called the Lady, nourishing, beautifull, white, fair,
pleasing, powerfull, the fruitfull Lady of love and beauty, the
progeny of Ages, the first parent of men, who in the beginning
of all things joyned diversity of sexes together with a growing
love, and with an eternall off-spring propagates kinds of men
and Animals, the queen of all delights, the Lady of rejoycing,
friendly, sociable, pittifull, taking all things in good part, alwaies
bountifull to mortals, affording the tender affection of
a mother to the conditions of them in misery, the safegard of
mankind, letting no moment of time pass without doing
good, overcoming all things by her power, humbling the high
to the low, the strong to the weak, the noble to the vile, rectifying,
and equalling all things: and she is called Aphrodite, because
in every sexe, she is found to be of every mind: and she is
called Lucifera, i.e. bringing light, bringing the yeers of the
Sun to light; and she is called Hesperus, when she follows the
Sun, and Phosperus, because she leads through all things though
never so hard. Mercury is called the son of Jupiter, the
cryer of the gods, the interpreter of gods, Stilbon, the Serpent-bearer,
the rod-bearer, winged on his feet, eloquent, bringer of
gain, wise, rationall robust, stout, powerfull in good and evil,
the notary of the Sun, the messenger of Jupiter, the messenger
betwixt the supernall and infernall gods, male with males,
female with females, most fruitfull in both sexes; and Lucan
cals him the Arbitrator of the gods. He is also called Hermes
i.e. interpreter, bringing to light all obscurity, and opening
those things which are most secret. The Moon is called Phebe,
Diana, Lucina, Proserpina, Hecate, Menstruous, of a half
form, giving light in the night, wandring silent, having two
horns, a preserver, a night-walker, horn-bearer, the queen of
heaven, the chiefest of the Deities, the first of the heavenly
gods and goddesses, the queen of spirits, the mistris [mistress] of all
the Elements, whom the stars answer, seasons return, Elements
serve; at whose nod lightnings breath forth, seeds bud, plants
increase, the initiall parent of fruit, the sister of Phæbus, light,
and shining, carrying light from one planet to another, enlightening
all powers by its light, restraining the various passings of
the Stars, dispensing various lights by the circuits of the Sun,
the Lady of great beauty, the mistris of rain and waters, the
giver of riches, the nurse of mankind, the governor of all States,
kind, mercifull, protecting men by Sea and land, mitigating
all tempests of fortune, dispensing with fate, nourishing all
things growing on the earth, wandering into divers woods, restraining
the rage of Goblins, shutting the openings of the earth,
dispensing the light of the Heaven, the wholsome rivers of
the Sea, and the deplored silence of the infernals, by its nods;
ruling the world, treading hell under her feet; of whose majesty
the birds hasting in the Aire are affraid, the wild beasts straggling
in the mountains, Serpents lying hid in the ground, fishes
swiming in the Sea; But of these and the like names of Stars
and planets, and their Epithites [epithets], Sirnames [surnames], and callings upon,
he that will know more, and make more curious enquiry, must
betake himself to the hymnes of Orpheus, which he that truely
understands, hath attained to a great understanding of naturall
Magick.
Chap. lx. That humane imprecations do naturally
impress their powers upon externall things; And how mans mind
through each degree of dependencies ascends into the intelligible
world, and becomes like to the more sublime spirits, and Intelligencies.
The Celestiall souls send forth their vertues to the Celestial
bodies, which then transmit them to this sensible world.
For the vertues of the terrene orb proceed from no other cause
then Celestiall. Hence the Magician that will worke by them,
useth a cunning invocation of the superiors, with mysterious
words, and a certain kind of ingenious speech, drawing the one
to the other, yet by a naturall force through a certain mutuall
agreement betwixt them, whereby things follow of their own
accord, or sometimes are drawn unwillingly. Hence saith
Aristotle in the sixth book of his Mysticall Philosophy, that
when any one by binding or bewitching doth call upon the
Sun or other stars, praying them to be helpfull to the work desired,
the Sun and other Stars do not heare his words, but
are moved after a certain manner by a certain conjunction,
and mutuall series, whereby the parts of the world are mutually
subordinate the one to the other, and have a mutuall
consent, by reason of their great union: As in mans body one
member is moved by perceiving the motion of another, and in
a harp one string is moved at the motion of another. So
when any one moves any part of the world; other parts are
moved by the perceiving the motion of that. The knowledge
therefore of the dependency of things following one the other,
is the foundation of all wonderfull operation, which is necessarily
required to the exercising the power of attracting superior
vertues. Now the words of men are certain naturall things,
and because the parts of the world mutually draw one the other,
therefore a Magician invocating by words, works by
powers fitted to nature, by leading some by the love of one to
the other, or drawing others by reason of the following of one
after the other, or by repelling by reason of the enmity of one
to the other, from the contrariety, and difference of things,
and multitude of vertues; which although they are contrary,
and different, yet perfect one part; sometimes also he compels
things by way of authority, by the Celestiall vertue, because
he is not a stranger to the heaven. A man therefore, if he receives
the impression of any ligation, or fascination, doth not
receive it according to the rationall soul, but sensuall, and if he
suffers in any part, suffers according to the Animall part. For
they cannot draw a knowing and intelligent man by reason,
but by receiving that impression and force by sense, in as much
as the Animal spirit of man is by the influence of the Celestials,
and cooperation of the things of the world, affected beyond
his former and naturall disposition. As the son moves the father
to labor, although unwilling, for to keep and maintain
him, although he be wearied; and the desire to rule is moved
to anger and other labors, for to get the dominion. And the
indigency of nature, and fear of poverty, moves a man to desire
riches. And the ornaments, and beauty of women is an incitement
to concupiscence. And the harmony of a wise Musitian [musician]
moves his hearers with various passions, whereof some do
voluntary follow the consonancy of art, others conform themselves
by gesture, although unwillingly, because their sense is
captivated, their reason not being intent to these things. But
these kinds of fascinations & ligations the vulgar doth neither
admire, nor detest, by reason of their usualness: but they admire
other naturall things, becaue they are ignorant of them,
and are not accustomed to them. Hence they fall into
errors, thinking those things to be above nature, or contrary
to nature, which indeed are by nature, and according
to nature. We must know therefore that every superior
moves its next inferior, in its degree, and order, not only
in bodies, but also in spirits. So the universall soul moves the
particular soul; and the rational acts upon the sensual, and
that upon the vegetable; and every part of the world acts
upon another, and every part is apt to be moved by another;
and every part of this inferior world suffers from the heavens
according to their nature, and aptitude, as one part of the
Animall body suffers from another. And the superior intellectuall
world moves all things below it self, and after a manner
contains all the same beings from the first to the last, which
are in the inferior world. Celestiall bodyes therefore move
the body of the elementary world, compounded, generable,
sensible, from the circumference to the center, by superior,
perpetual, and spirituall essences, depending on the primary intellect,
which is the acting intellect; but upon the vertue put
in by the word of God, which word the wise Chaldeans of
Babylon call the cause of causes, because from it are produced
all beings, the acting intellect which is the second from it depends;
and that by reason of the union of this word with the
first author, from whom all things being are truely produced;
The word therefore is the Image of God, the acting intellect
the image of the word, the soul is the image of this intellect;
and our word is the image of the soul, by which it acts upon
naturall things naturally, because nature is the work thereof.
And every one of those perfects his subsequent, as a father his
son, and none of the latter exists without the former. For
they are depending amongst themselves, by a kind of ordinate
dependency, so that when the latter is corrupted, it is returned
into that which was next before it, untill it come to the
heavens, then unto the universall soul, and lastly unto the acting
intellect, by which all other creatures exist, and which it
self exists in the principall author, which is the creating word of
God, to which at length all things are returned. Our soul therefore,
if it will work any wonderfull thing in these inferiors,
must have respect to their beginning, that it may be strengthened,
and illustrated by that, and receive power of acting
through each degree from the very first author. Therefore we
must be more diligent in contemplating the souls of the Stars
then their bodies, and the supercelestiall, and intellectuall
world, then the Celestial corporeall, because that is more noble,
although this be excellent, and the way to that; and without
which medium the influence of the superiour cannot be attained
to. As for example, the Sun is the King of Stars, most
full of light, but receives it from the intelligible world above
all other Stars, because the soul thereof is more capable of intelligible
splendor. Wherefore he that desires to attract the
influence of the Sun, must contemplate upon the Sun, not only
by the speculation of the exterior light, but also of the interior.
And this no man can do unless he return to the soul of the Sun,
and become like to it, and comprehend the intelligible light
thereof with an intellectuall sight, as the sensible light with a
corporeal eye. For this man shalbe filled with the light thereof;
and the light thereof which is an under type impressed by the
supernal Orb it receives into it self, with the illustration whereof
his intellect being endowed, & truely like to it, & being assisted
by it shall at length attain to that supreme brightness, and to
all forms that partake thereof. And when he hath received the
light of the supreme degree, then his soul shall come to perfection,
and be made like to the spirits of the Sun, and shhall attain
to the vertues, and illustrations of the supernaturall vertue,
and shall enjoy the power of them, if he hath obtained
faith in the first author. In the first place therefore we must implore
assistance from the first author, and praying not only
with mouth but a Religious gesture and supplicant soul, also
abundantly, uncessantly, and sincerely, that he would enlighten
our mind, and remove darkness growing upon our souls by
reason of our bodies.
Title: Three books of occult philosophy [microform] /
written by Henry Cornelius Agrippa of Nettesheim ... ;
translated out of the Latin into the English tongue by J.F.
Library: MNCAT U of M Twin Cities
Authors: Agrippa von Nettesheim, Heinrich Cornelius, 1486?-1535.
Uniform Title: De occulta philosophia. English
Published: London : Printed by R.W. for Gregory Moule ..., 1651.
Description: [28], 583, [12] p. : ill., port.
Series: Early English books, 1641-1700 ;
Subjects: Occultism. -- mn
Contributors: French, John, 1616-1657.
Notes: The translator is probably John French. Cf. DNB.
First edition in English.
Cf. Duveen, D.I. Bibliotheca alchemica et chemica. London, 1949, p. 7.
Errata: p. [24].