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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A92179	Astrologia accusata pariter & condemnata. Or The diabolical art of judicial astrologie, receiving the definitive sentence of final condemnation: being delivered in this following discourse, where the said art is briefly and manifestly opened, justly arraigned, diligently examined, and experimentally condemned by him, who was a student in the same. / By John Raunce, sometime a practitioner of astrologie, and student in the magick art.	Raunce, John, 17th cent.	1650 (1650)	Wing R317; Thomason E618_11; ESTC R206349	30,300	42

it a strange thing in that we sometimes see the Astrologers foretell that which afterwards doth come to pass and when the thing is come to pass we are not then to give ever the more credit to the Astrologer nor yet to think Astrologie to be any whit the law fuller because the event falleth out to be as the Astrologer had afore predicted For if because the event falleth out to be true or shall come to passe according to the prediction I say if any shall beleeve Astrologie to be a lawfull Art from this ground viz Because those things foretold by the Astrologers many times fall out to be true and so come to pass as they predicted again I say if they have no better arguments to prove the legallity of Astrologie then this of the event answering to the prediction Here then I say to all rationall men viz Note that Magick Conjuration Witch-craft and all such abominable wicked and unclean Arts may by the aforesaid argument be proved to be as lawfull as is the Art of Judiciall Astrologie 1 Sam. 28.19 1 Sam. 31.6 As for example I will instance in the death of King Saul with his sonnes and the destruction of his great Armie for we finde that the witch at Endor having conjured up the divell for to resolve the King of his doubts the said divell being raised up by the Witches art answereth unto the King after this manner viz. 1 Sam. 28.19 To morrow shalt thou and thy Sonnes be with me the Lord shall deliver also the Host of Israel into the hand of the Philistims c. Now that this Prediction fell out to be true 1 Sam. 31.6 according to the Devils predicting of the same none can deny for saith the Scripture so Saul dyed and his three Sonnes and his Armour-bearer and all his men that same day together So then from hence you may see the aforesaid argument cannot prove the legality of the art of Astrologie any more then it can prove the lawfulness of the Witch and her art in raising up the Devil at Endor wherefore we may evidently understand from hence as followeth viz. What the greatest and strongest arguments are which the Astrologers can or are able to bring to prove the legality of Astrologie from and by I say that Magick Conjuration and Witch-craft may from and by the said argument be proved and warranted as lawful and as honest as Judicial Astrologie Exod. 22.18 Mic. 5.12 but how lawful and honest Witch-craft is I leave unto all men for to judge from these places of Scripture for it is said in Exod 22.18 Thou shalt not suffer a Witch to live again it is said by the Lord God in Mica 5.12 and I will cut off Witch-crafts out of thine hand and thou shalt have no more Sooth-sayers But to return again to my purpose I have declared a little afore that the greatest and strongest arguments that are set forth by the Astrologers for to prove the legality of Astrologie by is this viz. The event falling out to be according to the Prediction Now that this is the best The greatest argument the Astrologers have to prove the legality of their art and strongest of all the arguments which the Astrologers can bring and produce to warrant the legality of their said art of Judicial Astrologie by I say it is evidently to be seen that this is their greatest and strongest argument as it doth plainly appear by their own words and confessions written by themselves in their own Books as you shall see I will here again manifestly prove although the same is else-where by me done Sir Christopher Heydon in his defence of Astrologie fol 195. But to begin I think it is my best way to set their Champion in the first place because if any man questioneth with our Astrologers about the lawfulness of their Art they in all the haste and speed as may possible be done send him unto their Champion Sir Christopher Heydon's Defence of Astrologie where he may have a full resolution of all his questions and doubts which he hath ag inst Astrologie But now seeing we are in a Dispute about the Arguments that the Astrologers do commonly bring to prove their art of Astrology a lawful art now then seeing Sir Christopher is the chiefest of our Astrologers and unto him they send all that gainsay their art therefore let us hear what he can say for Astrology Heydon 195. Now what he saith made him believe Astrology to be a lawful art is onely because he had seen the event fall out true according to the Prediction as it doth plainly appear by his own words which are as followeth in the 195 page of his Discourse where he saith thus viz. I for my part saith he do freely confess that there is no one thing that hath made me so confident in the validity of this art as that which I have seen to fall out true Thus the great Artist of Astrology in few words hath told us what his strongest argument is whereby he can prove Astrology a lawful and a mighty powerful art now if this be a sufficient warrant to make a man confident in the validity of an art 1 Sam. 31. because he seeth the Predictions fall out true then may these Astrologers be as confident in the validity of Witchcraft as they can be of the legality of Astrology by their own argument for because the greatest and strongest argument which all of them use to plead the validity of Astrology by is this Because they see their predictions fall out true Again to this I answer as I said before That this argument doth prove Astrology no more to be a lawful art then it doth prove Witchcraft to be lawful for all that which was foretold unto Saul by Witchcraft fell out true Therefore Witchcraft is as lawful as Astrology by the best argument of the Astrologers Now that this is the best and strongest argument which the Astrologers have to warrant the legality of Astrology by this I say I will prove by their own words and confessions as I said afore and I will fetch out him first into the light unto whom they all run to hide themselves in the dark He it is whom I cited a little afore Heydon fol. 195. Sir Christopher Heydon in his Defence of Astrology saith thus viz. I for my part saith he do freely confesse that there is no one thing that hath made me so confident in the validity of this Art as that which I have 〈◊〉 fall out true Now you having here understood what Sir Christopher Heydon's great argument for Astrology is Mr. Lilly page 148. of his Intr. in the next place you shall hear what Mr. William Lillie hath declared to be his great argument for the verity or truth of Astrology his words are thus speaking of the markes moles or scars of the querent saith he I have many times admired at the

yet then even then I would denie Astrologie to be a lawfull Art But now to return again to the aforesaid Position of the Astrologers which is this viz That the Stars are naturall causes of such effects as Astrologers foretell First I will examine this Position and then shall we see whether those events which the Astrologers foretell are caused by the Stars or not Wherfore in the first place we are to know what those Effects are which the Astrologers say are caused by the Stars Now the effects which the Astrologers do affirm are caused by the Stars are these viz The particular events of those things belonging to man which things are by the Astrologers appropriate to the twelve houses of Heaven As for the things whose effects Mr. Lilly his Intro pa. 50. the Astrologers say are caused by the Stars I have mentioned many of them in the second Chapter of this Discourse and therefore I refer you thither for there you have them inserted into a Figure according as they are by the Astrologers appropriate to the twelve Houses Now in this place I am to treat of the Effects of the aforesaid things that is to say whether A question The Answer or not the effects of those things are caused by the Stars To this I answer Negatively and say that the Stars are not the causes of the Effects of those things belonging to man as for example I will instance in these particulars following viz Gauricus warned Henry the second King of France Heydons Defence of Astrologie p. 194. Page 81. not to run at Tilt in the one and fourtieth yeer of his age for that the Stars did then threaten a wound in his Head Paulus tertius warned his Son long before of the very day of his death Mr. Christian an Astrologer of Prague Rants zovi● fol. 97. admonished Ladislaus Jagello King of Poland by a Priest that he should beware of eminent Death because that many Planets were conjoyned this yeer and there happeneth an Eclipse likewise of the Moon under the earth notwithstanding the premonition he dyed that yeer 1434. Anno aetatis 49. Also Picus being fore-told by three Astrologers that he should not live above thirty three yeers confirmed the prediction Now that these aforesaid events were fore-told by the said men viz Astrologers I confess But that those men could fore see those events by the Stars or that the Stars were Naturall causes of those events both these things I do deny for these Reasons First then I say that the Stars were not naturall causes of those afore-said Events Because there is a dependence and coherence between the cause and the Effect in Naturall things but in these things there is none For every Effect and Accident doth shew it's Cause So that Naturall and Elementary effects and accidents shew forth Naturall and Elementary Causes Also Metaphysicall or supernaturall Effects and Accidents shew forth Metaphysicall or supernaturall causes Herein the Astrologers are beside the matter and are deceived in their principles for they take Metaphysicall or supernaturall effects and accidents to be effected by Naturall and Elementary causes Now why the Astrologers are here deceived is this viz because they do behold and see many Alterations changes events and accidents effected in mans body Hereupon they do beleeve that the said Alterations changes events and accidents are effected by and from Naturall and Elementary causes because the body of man upon whom the said things are effected is a naturall and elementary substance Wherefore I say that there are many things which the Astrologers affirm to be effected by and from Naturall causes the which Position I do deny and say that those things are not effected by nor from Naturall and Elementary causes But I say that those things are Metaphysicall and supernaturall Effects and Accidents and are effected and accomplished in Naturall and Elementary bodies by a Metaphysicall and supernaturall Cause as I will hereafter in these following examples declare For whereas the Astrologers do impute the Flood Albumazar ca. 3. de Max. conjunc Marcilius Ficinus in his Treatise of the Star that led the Wisemen Spine us in Catastro Mundi which was in the dayes of Noah to a certain great Conjunction of the Planets so in like manner they say of the Birth of Moses Also the coming of Christ and the preaching of the Gospel the promulgation and publication of the Law the sedition of the people their troubles persecutions banishments bloodshed deaths wars these and many other such like things as these are the Astrologers say are fore-shewed by the Stars Now all these things are supernaturall effects that is to say they are such things whose cause is not Naturall but above Nature So then for as much as the cause of these things is a Metaphysicall Agent therefore I denie that the Effects of the aforesaid things can be caused by a Physicall constellation But now I am come to the second thing which is this viz That no man can by the Stars foresee such Effects as is aforesaid Now that no man can by the Stars foresee such events it is very manifest for if all the Star-gazers in the world if they were agazing all together at once on the Stars they are not able to foresee those events in the Stars which events they do not cause That the Stars are not the causes of those events it is the saying of some of your own Authors For saith Spineus that as well the great Conjunctions Spineus as Mo●kstars Comets Eclipses and the like ought not to be called the causes of future events here then you may see that there is so great contradiction between the sayings of the Astrologers and their practises that all Rationall men may behold the Art of Astrologie to be a foolish lying Art and that the Astrologers do profess such an Art whose Rules they are ignorant of For sometimes you shall have them say with Spineus that the Stars are not the causes of Future events but do they alwayes say thus No for if we look upon their Astrologicall Predictions then shall we hear them say the very contrary For whereas they said at one time that the great Conjunctions of the Planets c. are not the causes of future events At another time you shall have them say that the very same Conjunctions do produce great Effects As for example I will instance in the said Spineus who is cited afore Spineus in Catastrophe Mundi whose words are thus in one place of his book viz. That as well the great Conjunctions as Mock-stars Comets Eclipses and the like ought not to be called the causes of Future Events But this very man Spineus writing of a Future Catastrophe to come upon the world in the same book saith thus speaking of the said Catastrophe subversion or end of the world viz that the principall causes are the great mean and lesser Conjunctions of the superiour Planets the other

principall causes are Mock-stars changing of the Absis of the Planets Eclipses and the like so likewise the Genitures of Kings Geniturae validae regna mutant Segment 7. Aph. 166. Strong Genitures do change Kingdoms Causes Adjutant are Revolutions the progressions of the greater Orb of great Conjunctions before Noah's Flood the Birth of Christ Mahomet and the like which things being rightly considered may not only enable us to foretell the end of the world but perhaps the time also and a little after the same Author saith again viz Spineus in Catastrophe That seeing therfore the great Conjunctions of the weightier Planets are wont to produce great effects as the changes of Monarchies and Kingdoms the coming of Prophets c. by them also shall the dead be changed and all things shall be renewed and again he saith viz for like as the Causes are so shall the effects be for good Conjunctions are wont to bestow goodness and good Magistrates but evill Conjunctions produce the contrary Thus Spineus who is so much applauded by many Astrologers doth one while say one thing and another while he saith the very contrary to what he said afore as it is to be seen from his own books for one while he saith that the principall causes of that Catastrophe are the great mean and lesser Conjunctions of the superiour Planets c. and not long after he saith viz that as well the great conjunctions of the Planets as Mock-stars Comets Eclipses c. ought not to be called the causes of future events what shall I say of such an Art as is Astrologie and of such Artists as are Astrologers As for the Art of Astrologie it is as I have elsewhere said viz a foolish and lying Art But as for the Artists of this Art of Astrologie they are Astrologers of them I say thus much that for as much as some of them would needs be taken for to be Prophets I deny that these Astrologers are any of Gods Prophets But that they are the Devils Prophets I grant for if in their Astrologicall predictions of the particular events of things belonging to Man they at any time do predict or foretell such an event which at the time limited by the Astrologer doth come to pass accordingly yet I say that the said particular event could not before seen by the Astrologer in it's cause without the help of a Spirit That this Position is according to your Art Centiloqui Ptol. Aph. 1. I prove by your own Authors for your great Master in Astrologie Ptolomie saith Soli autem numine afflati praedicunt particularia that is none but those inspired with a Daemon foretell particulars Marcilius Eicinus in li. 3. here also I will bring another great Artist who speaking of Astrologicall Predictions saith thus of them viz That such predictions stand not by Learning but by some instinct Wherefore it is apparent from what these two great Astrologers have said that he who doth foretell the particular events of things in Astrologicall predictions doth not foretell those events from the Positians and Qualities of the Stars But by being inspired with a Daemon or by having familiarity with some Spirit Again here I bring another great Astrologicall Author Cor Agrippa who saith Agrippade occulta Philosophia lib. 3. Astrologomania that Magick and Astrologie cannot be separated for saith Agrippa there is such affinity and agreement between these two Arts viz Astrologie and Magick That as Magick cannot be performed without Astrologie so Astrologie cannot have it's end and perfection without Magick So then the differences is not much whether we call these predictions Magicall or Astrologicall predictions Now here it is objected viz Objection Solution that the Astrologer may stay himself in his Figure and proceed no further To this I answer That for as much as the Knowledge of a particular event cannot be known without the help of a Spirit therefore I say that the difference is not great in whatsoever degree he proceedeth so he proceedeth at all with the devill in his illusions So that if he come to the knowledge of a particular event whether it be by conference or by some other means then he doth proceed with the devil in his illusions for we are herein certified that this thing cannot be done by any lawfull Art and Learning but by the help of a Spirit take that help which way you will it is diabolicall For that judiciall Astrologie either hath been or may be altogether separated from Magick this the Astrolegers can never prove if they can then let us see them do it But it is again objected by the Astrologers as followeth viz The great Objection of Astrologers That those events which the Astrologers do Predict and foretell many of those events do fall out to be as the Astrologer fore-told therefore the Art of Astrologie is usefull and profitable in the life of man To this I answer thus That to come to the knowledge of any thing by unlawfull means Answer Vide Epist de T. Vicars Deut. 13.1 does not make the practise warrantable For suppose that their predictions fall out to be as they foretold yet this makes the Astrologer never a whit the more to be believed nor his Art to be ever a jot the more lawfull as it is plain in the 13. Chap. of Deut. verse 1. If there arise amongst you a Prophet or a dreamer of dreams and giveth thee a signe or a wonder And the signe or wonder come to passe yet shalt thou not hearken unto him for the Lord your God proveth you c. Again the devill in Samuels shape 1 Sam. 28.11 being conjured up by the Witch did foretell unto Saul those things which were true and as the devill had predicted the prediction proved true by the event which fell out to be as the devill had said as you may see for said the divell 1 Sam. 28.19 unto Saul 1 Sam. 28.19 Chap. 31.6 And to morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me and the Lord shall give the host of Israel into the hands of the Philistines 1 Sam. 31.6 Which thing was according to the devils prediction for in the 1 Sam. 31.6 you shall finde these words viz So Saul died and his three sons and his armour-bearer and all his men that same day together Moreover we find in the Acts of the Apostles that the Pythoniss there did give a true testimony of the Apostles of Jesus Christ thus we may see that the devill telleth truth sometimes and yet he is still the father of lyes Now here you may plainly see that the devils can foretell what shall be the events of some things so then it being so that God is sometimes pleased to permit unto the devils the foreknowledge of some things and that the said devils do many times declare the future events of things as is aforesaid Therefore I say for this cause we are not to think