Book I.

seasons to give them life, by procuring life for them from the stars, our own spirit powerfully co-operating therewith ; for there is so great a power in prepared matters, which we see do then receive life, when a perfect mixture of qualities do break the former contrariety ; for so much the more perfect life things receive, by as much the temper and composition is free from contrariety. Now the heavens, as a prevailing cause, do, from the beginning of every thing, (to be generated by the concoction and perfect digestion of the matter) together with life, bestow celestial influences and wonderful gifts, according to the capa- city that is in that life and sensible soul to receive more noble and sublime virtues. For the celestial virtue otherwise lies asleep, as sulphur kept from flame ; but in living bodies it doth always burn, as kindled sulphur, which, by its vapour, fills all the places that are near.
There is a book called, “ A Book of the Laws of Pluto,” which speaks of monstrous generations, which are not produced according to the laws of Nature. Of these things which follow we know to be true ; viz. of worms are generated gnats ; of a horse, wasps ; of a calf and ox, bees. Take a living crab, his legs being broken off, and he buried under the earth, a scorpion is produced. If a duck be dried into powder, and put into water, frogs are soon generated ; but if he be baked in a pie, and cut into pieces, and be put in a moist place under ground, toads are generated. Of the herb garden-basil, bruised, and put between two stones, are generated scorpions. Of the hairs of a menstruous woman, put under dung, are bred serpents ; and the hair of a horse’s tail, put into water, receives life, and is turned into a most pernicious worm. And there is an art wherewith a hen, sitting upon eggs; may be generated the form of a man, which I myself know how to do, and which magicians call the mandrake, and it hath in it wonderful virtues.
You must, therefore, know which and what kind of matters are either of art or nature, begun or perfected, or compounded of more things, and what celestial influences they are able to receive. For a congruity of natural things is sufficient for the receiving of influence from celestial ; because, nothing hin- dering, the celestials send forth their light upon inferiors ; they suffer no matter to be destitute of their virtue. Wherefore as much matter as is perfect and
pure
Chap. X. NATURAL MAGIC. 43
pure is, as we before said, fitted to receive celestial influences ; for that is the binding and continuing of the matter of the soul to the world, which doth daily flow in upon things natural, and all things which Nature hath prepared, that it is impossible that a prepared matter should not receive life, or a more noble form.
CHAP. X.
OF THE ART OF FASCINATION, BINDING, SORCERIES, MAGICAL CONFECTIONS, LIGHTS, CANDLES, LAMPS, &C. &C. ; BEING THE CONCLUSION OF THE NATURAL MAGIC.*
WE have so far spoken concerning the great virtues, and wonderful efficacy, of natural things ; it remains now that we speak of a wonderful power and faculty of fascination ; or, more properly, a magical and occult binding of men into love or hatred, sickness or health ; — also, the binding of thieves, that they cannot steal in any place ; or to bind them that they cannot remove, from whence they may be detected ; — the binding of merchants, that they cannot buy nor sell the binding of an army, that they cannot pass over any bounds ; — the binding of ships, so that no wind, though ever so strong, shall be able to carry them out of that harbour ; — the binding of a mill, that it cannot, by any means whatsoever, be turned to work ; — the binding of a cistern, or fountain, that the water cannot be drawn up out of them ; — the binding of the ground, so that nothing will bring forth fruit, or flourish in it ; also, that nothing can be built upon it ; — the binding of fire, that, though it
be ever so strong, it shall burn no combustible thing that is put to it ; — also,
the binding of lightnings and tempests, that they shall do no hurt ; — the binding of dogs, that they cannot bark ; — also, the binding of birds and wild beasts, that they shall not be able to run or fly away ; and things familiar to
* The latter part of this Chapter serves as a rule to be observed in the composition of all kinds of mixed experiments ; and it is as appropriate to the materials collected for talismans, seals, &c. treated of in our Celestial Magic, Book II. F. B.
F 2 these,
44
NATURAL MAGIC.
Book T.
these, which are hardly creditable, yet known by experience. Now how it is that these kind of bindings are made and brought to pass, we must know. They are thus done : by sorceries, collyries, unguents, potions, binding to and hanging up of talismans, by charms, incantations, strong imaginations, affec- tions, passions, images, characters, enchantments, imprecations, lights, and by sounds, numbers, words, names, invocations, swearings, conjurations, consecra- tions, and the like.
OF SORCERIES.
The force of sorceries are, no doubt, very powerful; indeed, they are able to confound, subvert, consume, and change all inferior things ; likewise there are sorceries by which we can suspend the faculties of men and beasts. Now, as Ave have promised, we will shew what some of these kind of sorceries are, that, by the example of these, there may be a way opened for the whole subject of them. Of these, the first is menstruous blood, which, how much power it has in sorcery, we will now consider : — First, if it comes over new wine, it will turn it sour ; and if it does but touch a vine, it will spoil it for ever ; and, by its very touch, it renders all plants and trees barren, and those newly set, die ; it burns up all the herbs in the garden, and makes fruit fall from trees ; it makes dim the brightness of a looking-glass, dulls the edges of knives and razors, dims the beauty of polished ivory, and makes iron rusty ; it likewise makes brass rusty, and to smell very strong ; by the taste, it makes dogs run mad, and, being thus mad, if they once bite any one, that wound is incurable ; it destroys whole hives of bees, and drives them away, if it does but touch them ; it makes linen black that is boiled with it ; it makes mares cast their foals by touching them with it, and women miscarry ; it makes asses barren if they eat of the corn touched by it. The ashes of menstruous clothes cast upon purple garments, that are to be washed, change their colour, and likewise take away the colour of flowers. It also drives away tertian and quartan agues, if it be put into the wool of a black ram, and tied up in a
silver
Chap. X. NATURAL MAGIC. 45
silver bracelet ; as also if the soles of the patient’s feet be anointed therewith, and especially if it be done by the woman herself, the patient not knowing what she uses. It likewise cures the falling sickness ; but most especially it cures them that are afraid of water or drink after they are bitten by a mad dog, if only a menstruous cloth be put under the cup. Likewise, if a menstruous woman shall walk naked, before sun-rise, in a field of standing corn, all hurtful things perish ; but if after sun-rise, the corn withers ; also, they are able to expel hail, rain, thunders, and lightnings ; more of which Pliny mentions. Know this, that if they happen at the decrease of the moon, they are a much greater poison than in the increase, and yet much greater if they happen between the decrease and change ; but if they happen in the eclipse of the sun or moon, they are a most incurable and violent poison. But they are of the greatest force when they happen in the first years of the virginity, for then if they but touch the door-posts of a house, no mischief can take effect in it. And some say that the threads of any garment touched therewith cannot be burnt, and if they are cast into a fire, it will spread no farther. Also it is noted, that the root of piony being given with castor, and smeared over with a menstruous cloth, it certainly cureth the falling sickness.
Again, let the stomach of a hart be roasted, and to it be put a perfume made with a menstruous cloth ; it will make cross -bows useless for the killing of any game. The hairs of a menstruous woman, put under dung, breeds serpents ; and if they are burnt, will drive away serpents with the fume. So great and powerful a poison is in them, that they are a poison to poisonous creatures.
We next come to speak of hippomanes, which, amongst sorceries, are not accounted the least : and this is a little venemous piece of flesh, the size of a fig, and black, which is in the forehead of a colt newly foaled, which, unless the mare herself doth presently eat, she will hardly ever love her foies, or let them suck ; and this is a most powerful philter to cause love, if it be pow- dered, and drank in a cup with the blood of him that is in love : such a potion was given to Medea by Jason.
There is another sorcery which is called hippomanes, viz. a venomous liquor issuing out of the share of a mare at the time she lusts after the horse. The
civet-
NATURAL MAGIC.