Gynaikeion: or, Nine bookes of various history. Concerninge women inscribed by ye names of ye nine Muses. Written by Thom: Heywoode.

De VRANIA.

FRom Polymnia I proceede to Vrania, and from Memorie we are drawne vp to Heauen: for the best remembrancers, as Pliny saith, comprehend the whole world or vniuerse, in which the heauens are included, and all the secrets therein, as much as by inuestigation can be attaind to, haue the full and perfect knowledge: for the most secret and hidden things, are contained in the Heauens aboue, and therefore such as are expert in them, cannot be igno∣rant of these lesse and more easie to be apprehended below: Plutarch of Vrania thus speakes: Plato (as by their steppes) hath trac'd all the gods, thinking to find out their faculties by their names. By the same reason we place one of the Muses in the Hea∣uens, and about coelestiall things, which is Vrania: for that which is aboue hath no need of diuersitie of gouernment, hauing one vniuersall directresse, which is Nature: where ther∣fore there be many errors, excesses, & transgresses, there the eight remaining are to be trans∣mitted (and one particular Muse still reserued) one to correct this fault, and another that. Vrania therefore (according to Plutarch) hath predominance in things coelesti∣all, which by how much they are aboue things terrestriall in excellence, they are so much the more difficult. Some stretch the influence of the starres to Zo∣riasta's magicke, in which he was popularlie famous, nay more, his name by that art enobled: notwithstanding, the annalls testifie that he was subdued and slaine in battell by Ninus. Pompey the great was curiouslie addicted to these diuinations; yet his potencie fayl'd him, and he dyed a wretched death in Ae∣gypt. Howbeit by these instances it is not to be inferred as the mysticallest and powerfull part of the Mathematicall desciplines. The inuentions of Ma∣nilius most indirectlie conferres it vpon Mercury. Plato in Epinomide, would haue all that contemplate Astrologie, to begin in their youth; such is the excellencie of the art, and the difficultie to attaine vnto it: for these be his words, Be not ignorant that Astrologie is a most wise secret: for it is necessarie, that the true A∣stronomer be not that man (according to Hesiod) that shall onelie consider the rising and setting of the starres, but rather, that hath a full inspection into the eight compasses, or circumferences, and how the seauen are turned by the first, and in what order euery starre mooues in his owne spheare or circle: in which he shall not find any thing which is not miraculous. If therefore the prayse of Astronomy be so great, What encomium then is Vrania worthy, who first illu∣strated the art? This onelie shal suffice, that by her is meant coelestiall Astrolo∣gie, so cald of the Heauen, for (as Pharnutus saith) The intire vniverse, the ancients cald by the name of Heauen. So by this meanes Vrania is acknowledged to be fre∣quent in all sciences below, and speculations aboue whatsoeuer. Her Etimo∣logie importing Sublimia spectantem, that is, Beholding things sublime and high. Of her Ouid thus:

Incipit Vrania fecere silentia cunctae, Et vox audiri, nulla, nisi illa potest.

Vrania first began to speake: The rest themselues prepar'd, To heare with silence, for but hers, No voyce could then be heard.

She is then receiued from the Heauen, either because all nations and langua∣ges beneath the firmament, haue some learned amongst them; or that such as are furnisht with knowledge, she seemes to attract and carry vpwards; or, to conclude, because glorie and wisedome eleuate and erect the mind to the con∣templation of things heauenlie. Fulgentius saith, That some of the Greeke au∣thours haue left written, that Linus was the son of Vrania: but it is elsewhere found that she was called Vrania of her father Vranus, otherwise stil'd Caelum, whom his sonne Saturne after dismembred. Xenophon in Sympos. remembers, that Venus was called Vrania, speaking also of Pandemius: of both their Temples and Altars, the sacrifices to Pandemius were called Radiouorgaraera; those to Venus, Agnotaera. Some (as Lactantius Placidas) call Heleneuae that menacing star, Vrania. In a word, that coelestiall Muse called Astrologia, or Vrania, intimates nothing else, than after mature iudgement, to deliberate what to speake, what to despise; to make election of what is vsefull and profitable, and to cast off what is friuolous and impertinent, is the adiunct of a mind coelestial, and a wise∣dome inculpable.* 1.1 Most true therefore is the sentence of Plato, who tells vs that Vrania is she that first attracts the eyes of our mind to sublime things a∣boue, and if it were possible, would drawe our selues after.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Lib. 7. de repub.