The Magical-Astrological-Diviner Posed and Puzzled, Treatise · Chapter 14
CHAP. XIV.
14. From the abſurdity of Errours.
VVHether the groſſe errours that have been, and are, and ever will be (ſome or others of them) in Magick, and Aſtrologie, ariſe from the evill diſpoſition of the Authors, or of the Arts? And (in the Arts) whether from the miſapplyed circumſtances, or ceremonies; and not rather from the miſimagined ſubſtance, and ſcope? For from ſome accidentall miſtakes only, how can it be credible, or poſſible that ſuch puerile hallucinations, and anile delirations, ſhould once have ſprung, or ſpread in the world as touching the nature, originall, matter, form, quantity, quality, ſite, orders, numbers, figures, motions and effects of the celeſtiall bodies? As namely,
1. That the Sun is nothing elſe but an Oven, or hollow furnace full of fire. 2. That the Sun is a golden turf, or clod. 3. That the Sun is made either of burning ſtone, or iron. 4. That the matter of the Sun is glaſſey, or made of glaſſe. 5. That the ſun is the compact of ſeverall flames. 6. That there are two ſuns in the firmament, one archetypall, and inviſible, and the other ſun which we ſee but the image or ſhadow, of that which we ſee not. 7. That the ſun riſing out of the Sea, and ſetting in the Sea, is kindled in the Eaſt, and quenched in the Weſt. 8. That the ſun is no bigger than it ſeems. 9. That the ſun is of the ſame breadth, as is the earth. 10. That the ſun is bipedall, or hath two feet. 11. That the ſun is not above a foot broad. 12. That the ſun is ſometimes bigger, ſometimes leſſer. 13. That the ſun ſtands ſtill, and the earth moves round about it. 14. That the ſun was at firſt a mortall man, and firſt reigned in Egypt; and becauſe of his common benefits, was tranſlated into Heaven, and immortalized there.
15. That the moon is in magnitude equall to the ſun. 16. That the moon is bigger than the earth & about nineteen times bigger than it. 17. That the moon is an earthy ſubſtance, covered over with a miſt. 18. That it is inhabited by many huge living creatures. 19. That it is planted in a much more flouriſhing manner, with trees and herbs, than is the earth in its prime. 20. That there are in it Fields, and groves, and mountains, and vallys, &c. 21. That the moon conſiſts of an unequall conſtitution, earthy, and frigid. 22. That it is of an hot and fiery conſtitution. 23. That it is partly conſpicuous, partly obſcure. 24. That the moon is endowed with an intellectuall mind. 25. That it is an half fiery ſphear: a fiery compacted cloud. 26. That it is mingled of ayr and fire. 27. That it is an aſcenſion, or rather an acceſſion, collected from the vapours of ſweet waters. 28. That it attracts to it earthly dregs. 29. That in the globe of the moon (as in a glaſſe) the received ſpecies of mountains are repreſented. 30. That the inequality of the moon is cauſed becauſe of ſome bodies interjected betwixt it, and the ſun. 31. That the moon ſometimes leaves the heavens. 32. That an Aſſe once dranke up the moon. That a great Dragon devoured it. 33. That the moon dyes, when ſhe is in the Eclipſe. 34. That there is another earth within the concave of the moon; and that men live there, after the ſame manner as they doe here. 35. That the moon is made of green Cheeſe: and that there is a man in the moon, with a buſh at his back, (this I adde from the vulgar, which doubtleſs took it up from ſuch authours; and urge it with like authority.)
36. That the Stars are made of an earthy poriſh matter, much like to that of a pumice ſtone. 37. That every Star is a world by it ſelf; containing in it both ayr and earth. 38. That the Stars are compoſed of fiery clouds; which (like coals) are quencht all the day time, and kindled again at night. 39. That the Stars are formed of ayr, and are turned about like wheels; and being full of fire, ſpit out flames. 40. That the Stars are fiery ſtones; and the Sun the great burning ſtone amongſt them. 41. That the Stars are nouriſhed by vapours, abſtracted, and aſcending from the ayr, and the earth. 42. That the Stars are animate, ſenſible, rationall, and intelligent creatures. 43. That the Stars are capable of vertues (morall vertues) and in like manner obnoxious to vices. 44. That the Stars are numerable; and the number of them is 1600. (ſaith one) 1022. (ſaith another) 800. (ſaith another) more, and leſs, ſay others. 44. That the leaſt Star in the Heavens, or the leaſt viſible, is eighteen times bigger than the earth. 45. That the Stars of the firſt honour and magnitude are bigger than the earth 107. times; of the ſecond, 86. or 90. times; of the third, 72. times; of the fourth, 54. times; of the fift 31. or 36. times; of the ſixt, 18. times. (Have not they judged theſe old dimenſions to be errors, that have ſince altered them? and whether theirs be not errors too, let others judge; or let them judge one another by their various opinions in this kind.) 46. That the Planets, when they are loweſt, or are neareſt the earth, yet are they ſo many Semidameters diſtant from it, viz. the moon 53. Mercury 65. Venus 167. The Sun 1122. (or as ſome ſay) 1124. Mars 1216. Jupiter 8854. Saturn 14378. 47. That when they are higheſt, or moſt remote, then are they thus diſtant, viz. the Moon 64. Mercury, 167. Venus 1070. the Sun 1210. Mars 8022. Jupiter 14369. Saturne 18500. 48. That the ſphear of the fixed Stars is 14000. Semidameters diſtant from the earth; others ſay, 19000. others ſay, 20081½. 49. That a Semidameter is 913. German miles 50. That the Moon is diſtant from the center of the earth, 33. Semidameters, or 30129. German miles (ſo that the ſingular regions of the ayr have 11. Semidameters, or 10043. German miles; if the diſtance be computed from the center of the earth.) Likewiſe Mercury 64. Semidiameters, or 58584. Germane miles. Venus 167. ſemidiameters, 152471. German miles. the Sun 1120. ſemidameters, 1022560. German miles. Mars 1220. ſemidameters, 1113860. German miles. Jupiter 6678. ſemidameters 8103788. German miles. Saturn 20100. ſemidameters, or 18360430. German miles. The eighth ſphear 40220. ſemimidameters, 36720860. German miles. 51. That Saturn is 22. times bigger then the whole earth; Jupiter 14. Mars leſſer 13. The Sun greater, 139 2/8. Venus leſſe 6 1/…. Mercury 19. the moon. 42. And again, Saturn greater 91 1/… Jupiter 95½. Mars 1⅓. The Sun 162. and 166, Venus leſſe 37. Mercury 22. the Moon 1900. 52. That it is from the earth to the Moon 15150. miles. From the Moon, to Mercury, 12812. miles. From Mercury, to Venus as many. From Venus, to the Sun 23438. miles. From the Sun, to Mars, 15425. miles. From Mars to Jupiter, 68721. miles. From Jupiter to Saturn, as many. From Saturn to the firmament, 120485. miles.
53. That (for the order and placing of the Stars and Planets) the Sun is in the midſt of the Seaven; and above that Mars, and above that Jupiter, and above that Saturn: but beneath the Sun Venus, and beneath that Mercury, and beneath that the Moon. 54. That Mercury follows next to Mars, and next it Venus, and next it the Sun, and next it the Moon. 55. That the Sun is in the laſt place, but one, or two; and Venus above it, and next after Mars. 56. That Mercury is next to the Sun, and under that Venus. 56. That both Sun and Moon are above the fixed Stars. 57. That the Sun is the Center of the world.
58. That the Light of the Stars is materiall, is a body; is void of matter, is a ſpirituall ſubſtance. 59. That the Light of the Stars is of a middle nature betwixt corporeall, and incorporeall. 60. Is a ſubſtantiall form. 61. Is a manifeſtation of colour. 62. Is a fire. 63. Is an accident reall, or intentionall; either, or both. 64. That the Light of the Stars is proper, is mutuatitious; is partly one, partly another.
65. That the Heavens are unmoveable. 66. That the lower world turns round. 67. That the moving Intelligences, or Angles, are the aſſiſting forms of Stars. 68. That the Stars fly like Birds in the ayr. 69. That the Stars make a melodious harmony in their motion, or revolution. 70. That the celeſtiall bodies not only move with an inſenſible Muſick: but are moved by a ſenſible muſick. 71. That there is in ſounds a vertue to receive the heavenly gifts: and that the Heavens doe conſiſt by an harmonicall compoſition; and doe rule, and cauſe all things by harmonicall tones and motions. 72. That there are two half Orbes carryed about the earth, the one all fire, the other moſt ayr, and they two (as they wheel about) make the day, and the night. 73. That the Stars erratile are ſome male, ſome female: yea ſometimes male, and ſometimes female.
74. That the Heavens and celeſtiall bodies are animated, and have ſouls, and ſouls properly ſo called. 75 That the world, the Heavens, the Stars, and the elements have a ſoul; with which they cauſe a ſoul in theſe inferior and mixed bodies. 76. That they have alſo a ſpirit, which by the mediating of the ſoul is united to the body. 78. That the ſouls of the Stars are not created together with their bodies; but are extrinſecally added to them. 79. That the world lives, hath a ſoul, and ſenſe. 80. That the above named ſouls have reaſon. 81. That the ſoul of the world is placed chiefly in the Sun. 8…. That the …oul of the earth is not to be thought as it were the ſoul of ſome contemptible body; but to be rationall and alſo intelligent; yea and to be a …. 83 That the ſouls of creatures, and men▪ are infu…ed into their bodies by the Stars. 84 That Comets are the ſouls of famous … triumphing in heaven. 85. That Comets be fiery animals, walking upon the ſuperficies of the Elements
80. That the firſt principle of all things is water; from which all things proceed, and into which all are reſolved. 87. That all things are generated through the condenſation, and rarefaction of the ayr. 88. That the Sun, Moon, and Stars have their originall from the earth. 89. That the Sun, and the Stars are begotten of clouds. 90. That the whole body of nature hath the originall from the Sun. and the Moon. That the Sun makes Stars out of clean Chryſtalline water.
91. That the Heavens are a book in which the manners, actions, fortunes and fates of all are ſingularly written. 92. That by the Mathematicall, we receive the caeleſtiall vertues; as motion, ſenſe, life, ſpeech, &c. 93. That amongſt all Mathematicall things, Numbers, as they have more of forme in them; ſo alſo are more efficacious: by which the next acceſs to prophecying is had. 94. That in Geſtures there lyes the reaſon of numbers, and great vertues, &c. 95. That the very elements of Letters have ſome divine numbers, by which collected from the proper names of things, we may draw conjectures concerning occult things to come. 96. That by the number of Letters, we may find out the ruling Stars of any one that is born: and whether the husband or wife ſhall dye firſt; and know the proſperous or unlucky events of the reſt of our works. 97. That the child cannot be long-lived that is born under the horned moon. 98. That men ought not to lye with their Wives, but under good Stars, and happy Conſtellations, that the child born may (by their Government) prove fortunate. 99. That the ſeverall formes and features of mens faces, are wrought by the Stars. 100. That the ſtature of a child is to be judged by the Light of the Stars; and ſo of his colour, motion, qualities, &c. 101. That the Lyons, Bears, Dogs, Buls, Scorpions, Fiſhes, &c. Upon earth, are governed by thoſe in Heaven. 102. That Cottons, and Wools, and Ships, and Buildings, doe laſt the longer if they be wrought and framed under certain conſtellations. 103. That ſo great is the power and efficacy of the celeſtiall bodies, that not only naturall things, but alſo artificiall, when they are juſtly expoſed to thoſe above, doe preſently ſuffer by that moſt potent agent, and obtain a wonderfull life; which oftentimes gives them admirable celeſtiall vertue. 104. That not only by the mixture and application of naturall things, but alſo in Images, Seals, Rings, Glaſſes, and ſome other inſtruments, being opportunely framed under a certain conſtellation, ſome celeſtiall illuſtration may be taken, and ſome wonderfull thing may be received. 105. That inferior things doe obey their celeſtials; and not only them, but alſo even their Images.
But what is a matter of an hundred, to more than a thouſand paradoxall and phantaſticall errors, of Paganiſh, Rabbiniſh, and other Magicians, and Aſtrologers? Only this ſerves to inform us, the more error, the leſſer truth; and therefore the leſs to be believed, or regarded, nay more to be derided, and deſpiſed.