Book 1- '^he Temple ^T/Wifclome. 24s

fered for it, in their repute : infomuch that G leot tufy who is acknowledged by Paidiis Jovius ro IiavC been one of the molr learned , and knowing n\tn of his time; onely for havng undertaken the Dtitnc^ ofthis Truth3(as we ih.dl make it hereafter appcir) hath been handled by fbme, like any bafe, incoiiii- derab'e Fellow ; and Camiilm accounted no better, then an Atheifticall Wretch And this is the ufaee they beftow upon all the ableftmen : whereas they ought rather to anfwf^r iheir Art;unientc pertinent- ly, and to fhcw the infuthciency of them, if they can; but fee the mifcheif of it. It any of thefe men can chance to be in company, where there is any mention n>ade of the moft able Schorcrs,or there be anvQucftion ftarte J , concerning any of thofe Choice Joints of Learning, for which thefe men have been Defer vedly ranked above the Herd of Vulgar Brauis ; youfh-ill havefome giddy- bend- ed fellows, that will not ftick to fay, without biufh* ing, that thevr never wrore any thing of any worth at all , nor ever underrtood the matter they hand- led. I my felf have heard one fay, that Marfilim Ficinui underftood not any thing of Flnto's Do- 6rine ; nor Avero'cs of /Irijiotles : and that the Wits of thefe Times arc much quicker, then thofe of the Ages part. Arid now , Reader, thou raayeft judge what Dcmocritan Aftermongers fomc of our Alma- nack makers are.
It may be here Ob je6l:ed,that this Author, wVofe praftice we have alledged , was a Sufpeft^d perfoni and that his Writins^s are not free from Magick. ThiaObjeftion 1 (hall take occaiion to anfwer, at another time; and (hall at prefent produce fuch Figures onely , as have been made by men, that are beyond all Exception.
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2 46 T^g Temple oj VVifdomc, Book I.
Jim^iin^ upon the Sphear of S'^o^o/c^ , affirms^ that his Mafter^who was a Carmelite, named Julian pu6 Kifiorim a Prato ^ one that was not any whit fu- perlticiQus, was intreated by a Friend of his^to make one of thefe Images 3 fur the cure of the Cramp, which he was very much fubjei^l to. This learned man, refenting his Friends fufFerings , taught him the manner how ro make one : To that He, not con- tent to make onely one ; made divers of thetn^when the Moon was hi the Signe Cancer ^ and that with fo good fucceffej and with fuch certainty, as that he immediately found the benefit of it. Confecit ^ faith he, f hires imagine^j fro fe^ & amicpsfuis : quibm ieffedU , imayn profe accept^ & liber atm eft. The fame he reportsof a certani FlorentinCj a very Pious maiij who made one of thefe T^ekfmam ; for to drive away - tht Gnxits 5 \yhich he did with good fuccefle. Noco' law Florentines y faith he, vir religiofm^ fecit in una con* fieJlatione annulum ^ ad expellendum Culices ^ quoivulgo 2anzaras dicimus , fuh certis & determinatu im.aginibm'y f!}" ufm fuitconjfeHatioHe Saturni infortunaii , & expulit Culices. What more can be faid , both for the In- nocence, and Power oftbefe Figures? Let who will condemn thofe that defend this Truth, and cry down thefe Teftimonies; for my part, 1 (hail ever acknowledge them to be both Certain and Natu-^ rallj and do with all proteft, that I fee nothing m it, that is above the Power of Nature.
The fecond means which I havepropofed to my felftoufe, for theproving ofthe Power of-thefe Fi- gurdS,is,che Power and Vertue of the Refemblance, that there is betwixt the Scorpion and its Imag-_, and the Conflellation chat bears the name of this living Creature. I fiiall then prove this Vertue, by ^.n IfiduQioB ofthatjwhich Refemblance alone pro- .:.;;., ' duceih