Book I.

CHAP. III.
OF AMULETS, CHARMS, AND ENCHANTMENTS.
THE inftrument of enchanters is a pure, living-, breathing fpirit of the blood, whereby we bind, or attract, thofe things which we defire or delight in ; fo that, by an earned: intention of the mind, we take poflelflon of the faculties in a no lefs potent manner than ftrong wines beguile the reafon and fenfes of thofe who drink them ; therefore, to charm, is either to bind with words, in which there is great virtue, as the poet fings
“ W ords thrice (he fpake, which caus’d, at will, fweet fleep ;
“ Appeas’d the troubled waves, and roaring deep.”
Indeed, the virtue of man’s words are fo great, that, when pronounced with a fervent conflancy of the mind, they are able to fubvert Nature, to caufe earthquakes, dorms, and tempeds. I have, in the country, by only fpeaking a few words, and ufed fome other things, caufed terrible rains and claps of thunder. Almod all charms are impotent without words, becaufe words are the fpeech of the fpeaker, and the image of the thing fignified or fpokenof; therefore, whatever wonderful effect is intended, let the fame be performed with the addition of words fignificative of the will or defne of the operator ; for words are a kind of occult vehicle of the image conceived or begotten, and fent out of the body by the foul ; therefore, all the forcible power of the fpirit ought to be breathed out with vehemency, and an arduous and intent defire ; and I know how to fpeak, and convey words together, fo as they may be carried onward to the hearer at a vaft diftance, no other body in- tervening, which thing I have done often. Words are alfo oftentimes delivered to us, feemingly by others, in our fleep, whereby we feem to talk and con- verfe ; but then no vocal converfations are of any effect, except they proceed from fpiritual and occult caufes : fuch fpirits have often manifefted Angular things to me, while in fleep, the which, in waking, I have thought nought of, until conviction of the truth taught me credulity in fuch like matters.
In
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Chap. III. NATURAL MAGIC. 31
In the late change of Adminiftration, I knew, at leaft five days before it actually terminated, that it would be as I defcribed to a few of my friends. Thefe things are not alike manifefted to every one ; only, I believe, to thofe who have long ferioufly attended to contemplations of this abftrufe nature ; but there are thofe who will fay it is not fo, merely becaufe they themfelves cannot comprehend fuch things.
However, not to lofe time, we proceed. There are various enchantments, which I have proved, relative to common occurrences of life, viz. a kind of binding to that effect which we defire : as to love, or hatred ; or to thofe things we love, or againft thofe things we hate, in all which there is a magical fympathy above the power of reafoning ; therefore, thofe abftrufe matters we feel, are convinced of, and reflect upon, and Hraw them into our ufe. I will here fet down, while fpeaking of thefe things, a very powerful amulet for the flopping, immediately, a bloody-flux ; for the which (with a faith) I dareflay down my life for the fuccefs, and entire cure.
An Amulet for Flux of Blood.
“ In the blood of Adam arofe death — in the blood of Chrift death is ex- tinguiflhed — in the fame blood of Chrift I command thee, O, blood, that “ thou flop fluxing 1”*
In this one godly fuperftition there will be found a ready , cheap, eafy remedy for that dreadful diforder the bloody-flux, whereby a poor mifera- ble wretch will reap more real benefit than in a whole ftiop of an apothecary’s drugs. . Thefe four letters mrv are a powerful charm, or amulet, againft the common ague ; likewife, let them be written upon a piece of clean and new vellum, at any time of the day or night, and they will be found a fpeedy and certain cure, and much more efficacious than the word Abracadabra : how- ever*, as that ancient charm is ftill (amongft fome who pretend to cure agues, &c.) in fome repute, I will here fet down the form and manner of its being
* Let the party who pronounces thefe words hold the other’s hand.
written .
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