Moreover all Poets ſing, and Philoſophers do not deny, that by verſes many wonderſull things may be done, as Corn to be removed, Lightenings to be commanded, diſeaſes be cured, and ſuch like. For Cato himſelf in Country affairs uſed ſome inchantments against the diſeaſes of beaſts, which as yet are extant in his writings. Alſo Joſephus teſtifies that Solomon was skilled in thoſe kind of inchantments. Alſo Celf Africanas reports, according to the Egyptian doctrine, that mans body, according to the number of the faces of the Zodiack Signs, was taken care of by ſo many, viz. thirty ſix ſpirits, whereof each undertake, and deſend their proper part, whoſe names they call with a peculiar voice, which being called upon, reſtore to health with their inchantments the diſeaſed parts of the body.
CHAP. LXXIII.
Of the vertue of writting, and of making imprecations, and inſcriptions.
THE uſe of words, and ſpeech, is to expreſs the inwards of Tthe mind, and from thence to draw forth the ſecrets of the thoughts, and to declare the will of the ſpeaker. Now writing is the laſt expreſſion of the mind, and is the number of ſpeech and voice, as alſo the collection, ſtate, end, continuing, and iteration, making a habit, which is not perſected with the aſt of ones voice. And whatſoever is in the mind, in voice, in word, in oration, and in ſpeech, the whole, and all of this is in writing alſo. And as nothing which is conceived in the mind is not expreſſed by voice, ſo nothing which is expreſſed is not alſo written. And therefore Magicians command, that in every work, there be imprecations, and inſcriptions made, by which the operator may expreſs his affection: that if he gather an Hearb, or a Stone, he declare for what uſe he doth it; if he make a picture, he ſay, and write to what end he maketh it; which imprecations, and inſcriptions, Albertus alſo in his book
called
