Erōtomania or A treatise discoursing of the essence, causes, symptomes, prognosticks, and cure of love, or erotique melancholy. Written by Iames Ferrand Dr. of Physick

CAP. XXIII. Whether or no, by Magick a Man may know any one to be in Love.

THere have not been wanting some, that out of those words of Plato, in Convivio, where hee saies, that Love is, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, a great Magician and Inchanter, have beene bold impious∣ly to maintaine, that this disease of Love can neither be found out, nor cured, with∣out the use of Magick. But this opinion of theirs I shall hereafter in a more conve∣nient place examin, only telling you here; that as there are some Stomacks of so ill a Complexion, as that they corrupt the best Meats, in stead of digesting them: so are there some men of so malicious and viru∣lent a disposition, as that they will not stick to deprave and corrupt the meaning

of the writings of the most Authentique Authors.

It is true indeed, that there are two findes of Magick: the one Naturall, and the other Artificiall. By the former of these we understand, an Exact and Per∣fect knowledge of the Secrets of Nature; which makes us able to Prognosticate and ••••retell Future Events, by the knowledge of things Past, and Present. And this is that Magick which is stiled by Hippocrates, ••n Prognost. & Epidem. the Sister of Medicine; as being both of them Daugh∣ters of one Father, Apollo. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

But the Artificiall, whether it be Ope, ••ative, or Divinative, is most abominable, and utterly forbidden by all Lawes, both Divine and Humane.

Professors of this Impious Art were of old, Numa Pompilius, Zoroaster, Pytha∣goras, Hostanus Procones, Democritus, the Aegyptian Priests, the Persian Magi, and the French Druides: and at this present time, as they say, the Jewish Rabbins. This Accursed Art comprehends within it a

Thousand other kinds, reckoned up by the Canonists, Cap. Illud. 26. q 2 seq. & Cap. Igitur, & seq, q, 3. and also by Giraldus Franciscus Ʋenetus, Polydor Ʋirgil, Vec∣kerus, Delrio, and Others.

We have also sometimes among out silly Wenches some, that out of a foolish curiosity they have, must needs be putting in practise some of these Feats that they have receaved by Tradition from their Mother perhaps, or Nurse; & so, not thin∣king forsooth to doe any harme, as they hope, they Paganize it to their own Dam∣nation. For it is most certaine that Bota∣nomancy, which is done by the noise or crackling that Kneeholme, Box, or Bay∣leaves make, when they are crushed be∣twixt ones hands, or cast into the Fire, was of old in use among the Pagans, who were wont to bruise Poppy flowres betwixt their hands, by this meanes thinking to know their Loves: And for this cause The∣ocritus cals this hearb 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, quasi 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, as if we should say, Tel-love.

Oionoscopy is a kind of Divination that is performed by the observing of certaine Birds, as Magpies, Crowes, Ravens, Spar∣rowes,

Owles, and all those other kindes of Birds which they call, Oscines. To which kinde of Divination wee may also referre those Auguria, so much in use a∣mong the Ancient Heathens: and in fine conclude with the Poet Pacuvius con∣cerning these Bird-masters, who saies thus of them.

Istis, qui ex alieno Iecore intelligunt: Plus{que} ex Alieno Iecore intelligunt, quàm ex suo, Magis audiendum, quàm auscultandum censco.

Those men, saith he, that peepe into the Entrals of Beasts, and understand more thence, then from their own Insides; I think they are to be heard onely, rather then hearkened to.

Theocritus in his Idyllia, makes menti∣on of the Art of Coscinomancy, which is to be done with a Sive, or Search made of Haire: and some others of Cleromancy, ••y the chance or hazard of Fortune, which they call Prenestine. Others speake also of another kinde of Divination, by the o∣pening

of a Booke at all adventures: and this was called the Valentinian Chance, and by some Sortes Virgilianae: of which the Emperour Adrian was wont to make very much use. I shall omit to speak here of Astragalomancy, that was done with Huckle bones; Ceromancy, and all other such like fooleries: and conclude, that no man ought to have recourse unto the Pro∣fessors of them, either for the finding out, or curing of this Malady, but rather to a skilfull and discreet Physitian.