Blagraves astrological practice of physick discovering the true way to cure all kinds of diseases and infirmities ... being performed by such herbs and plants which grow within our own nation ... : also a discovery of some notable phylosophical secrets worthy our knowledge, relating to a discovery of all kinds of evils, whether natural or ... from sorcery or witchcraft, or by being possessed of an evil spirit, directing how to cast forth the said evil spirit out of any one which is possessed, with sundry examples thereof / by Joseph Blagrave of Reading, Gent. ...

AN Introductory Preface TO THE READER.

HAveing formerly spent some of my youth∣ful years in the Study of Astronomy and Astrology, and since that, in Philosophy and the practice of Physick, and finding by good experience how each part doth depend upon the o∣ther, for without some knowledge in Astronomy, one can be no Astrologer; and without knowledge in Astro∣logy, one can be no Philosopher; and without Knowledg both in Astrology and Philosophy, one can be no good Physitian: and whosoever desireth to make practice, either in the Astrological or Chymical way of Phy∣sick (as for the Drug way, there can be no certainty in careing thereby, as will plainly appear in this book) having laid his foundation as aforesaid (which if any Practitioner or Student in Physick be ignorant of, this Book will sufficiently instruct them therein) must build and rely upon these five substantial Pillars following, without which, there can be no admirable cures done, or wonders wrought in this noble Art of Physick, Viz. Time, Vertue, Number, Sympathy, and Antipathy. First, Time is of great Concern∣ment

whereby to gather each Herb or Plant at the right Planetary hours, which this book will suffici∣ently inform you; and likewise to know the hour and time when to administer your Physick aright, for if the Physick be administred at a wrong hour, be it Purge or Vomit it will work contrary effects, as I have oft times proved: Example, If you give a Purge when the Moon is in an Earthy Sign, As∣pected by a Planet Retrograde, and that the Ascendant with its Lord doth Correspond, then the Purge will turn unto a Vomit: and on the contrary, if a Vomit be given when the Moon is in a Watery Sign, Aspect∣ed by Planets swift in Motion out of Watery Signs, the Signs Ascending with its Lord Corresponding, then the Vomit will turn to a Purge: also an ex∣act time must be obtained whereby to erect your Fi∣gure aright, whereby to give judgment upon the dis∣ease, its cause and termination, which this book will sufficiently instruct you in. For by Urine alone, no true judgement herein can be given, except in some few infirmities which proceed from the blood, or passages of Urine, for Urine is but the excrement of blood: there are many other considerations to be made use of by vertue of time, which I for brevities sake am willing at present to pass over, and so shall proceed unto the word Vertue, which is in brief, a right knowledge and understanding of the Nature, Properties, Elemental Qualities and Effects which each Herb or Plant hath, whereby to cure all kinds of griefs or infirmities whatsoever, either by Sympathy or Antipathy, as this book will sufficiently inform you; and all growing within our Nation. I shall not trou∣ble my self or Reader in setting forth the dangers in using Forrain Drugs, yet I deny not, but that some

Drugs, whose vertue and operations are well known unto us may in many respects be useful, by reason our Climate doth not afford some ingredients which are necessary to be used in some Distempers, as Figs, Rai∣sons, Currants, Sugar, Wine, and Spirits. &c. which are oft times made use of, whereby to make our Dy∣et-drinks and spirits of Plants extracted the more sa∣vory, and doth help to work a more forceble effect in many distempers, as you will find in this book: and I have accordingly in some infirmities made use thereof.

Thirdly, concerning Number: there are certain Numbers attributed unto the Planets, which every Astrological or Chymical Physician ought to know; more especially, such who use this way of cure by Herbs or Plants which is the most assured way extant as best agreeing with our English bodies, yet as I have already declared both in Decoctions, and in Chimi∣cal Extractions, Ingredients, together with Herbs may be used to make it the more forceable and savory; but should we take all Herbs or Plants which are ac∣counted good for every grief, not having regard to any select Number, there being so many sorts of Herbs approved good for the same, there would be no cer∣tainty either for the gathering of the Herbs at a right hour, or yet know when you have enough whereby to work your cure: the certainty of a select Number is not only according unto my own experience, but also its the Opinion of Cornelius Agrippa, an excellent Philosopher, and many others: What Numbers are attributed unto each Planet, and the reasons thereof, I have elsewhere in this book expressed.

Fourthly, Concerning Sympathy, that is, when any Planet who is strongest in the Heavens by essential

dignities, shall afflict the Principal significator of the sick: especially, if more strong than that Planet which is of a contrary nature; then those herbs or Plants which are under his Dominion, shall according unto their Vertues and Numbers be collected to cure the infirmity, alwayes provided, they are gathered at the right Planetary hours, which this Book will inform you; Example, If Mars be the afflicting Planet and is more strong in essential dignities than Venus, then you must make choyce of such Herbs which are under the dominion of Mars to cure such infirmities which he usually produceth, which this Book will also ac∣quaint you with. There is no infirmity or disease whatsoever, but in a second Cause proceedeth from the evil influence of the afflicting Planets; and what infirmity soever any Planet causeth, he hath Herbs by Sympathy to cure it: in this condition, heat must fetch out heat, even as if one should burn ones Finger, and then heat it against the fire, which cureth by Sym∣pathy: Likewise, I have known a great cold taken, to be cured by a Pippin taken in cold water, Venus being strong in essential dignities; and if we should give cooling remedies when Mars is strong, it will de∣stroy the Patient, as I have often proved; for it stands by reason, that if a weak man contend with a strong man well armed, he must needs be worsted: but if Mars be the afflicting Planet, although strong, and Venus also be near equal in strength, then we must chase a select lesser Number of her herbs to joyn with Mars, and so the dose must be proportionable accor∣ding to their strength and weakness, and so the re∣medies will be between both, rather adhereing unto the strongest Planet.

Fifthly, Concerning Antipathy, admit the Moon or

principal Significator of the sick be afflicted by Saturn, a Planet Cold and Dry, and he weak in the Heavens, and the Planet which is of a contrary nature is strong, as instance Jupiter who is Hot and Moist, then a select Number of Herbs under the dominion of Jupiter, be∣ing of vertue to cure the distemper must be used, pro∣vided they are gathered at the hour when Jupiter rain∣eth, which this book will inform you. But if Saturn and Jupiter be near equal in strength, then use a me∣dium between both, and let one part of your Herbs be by Sympathy under Saturn, and the other part un∣der Jupiter, alwayes adhereing unto the stronger Pla∣net, both by Number and Dose; and ever remembring in all Cures whatsoever to use a select number of Herbs which are under the Sun, in regard he is Fountain of Life, and sole Monarch of the Heavens; and all those Herbs which are under his Dominion are always ap∣proved good to comfort the Heart, Brain, Nerves, Arteries, and Vital Spirits, and are likewise good to re¦sist: Poyson: Likewise in all Cures whatsoever, you must have regard unto the age of the Patient, toge∣ther with their Complexion, and the season of the year, that so you may help to support Natures defects, for a Cholerick or Sanguine Man or Woman by nature requireth things more cooling then Flegmatick, or Melancholy Man or Woman, and a Flegmatique or Melancholy man or woman requires things more heating than a Cholerick or Sanguine man or woman; consider the like between Youth and Age, and the sea∣son of the year. Note, that each herb or plant men∣tioned in this Treatise, is set down by way of Cata∣logue under the Planet which owneth the Plant or Herb, it being done according unto their Elemental Qualities and Vertues; Having given sufficient rea∣sons

thereof, I confess I much differ from Authors, for what I have written in this book is no Translation, being meerly according unto my Practice and Expe∣rience for many years, by vertue of which Herbs and plants (through Gods blessing) I have done many great and wonderful cures, I dare say, greater hath not been done since the Apostles times, for I have caused the blind to see; the deafe to hear; both lame and bed∣rid people to go; the dumb to speak, such who have been in extremity of pain, I have eased them; like∣wise I have cured all kinds of Evils, and all kinds of Agues; together with all sorts of Madness, having in this Book given sufficient reasons for the same: I have likewise inserted in this Book, the Names, and places of dwelling of sundry persons who have been by me cured of such infirmities and griefs aforesaid, and how performed; that so others may be informed how to do the like: I have also instructed the Learner, how by the Moon in acute, or Sun in Chronick griefs, or infirmities to find the disease with its cause, and ter∣mination. I have also shewed the way how to Erect a Figure, and thereby to give judgment, either upon the Decumbiture, sight of the Urine or any strong fit of the Patient. And for the benefit of such who desire farther inspection into this Art of Astrology, having by the Rules in this Book, or by their own study at∣tained unto the perfect way of Erecting a Figure: I have shewed the way how to give judgment upon any horary question, as Thefts, Strayes, Fugitives, and Urins, &c. it being according unto my way of Pract∣ice and Experience for many yeares. I have also shewed the way and manner how I have cast forth Devils, out of such who were possest, that so others may be informed to do the like.

Courteours Reader, what I have written in this Book, is not only for my own vindication against all scandals and false aspertions which are usually cast up∣on me, by such who are ignorant of my way of Pra∣ctice, but chiefly to instruct others, and to inable them to do the like Cures as I have done, that so ma∣ny hundreds may be kept from perishing. There are many who do admire at the Cures by me done, but be∣ing unsatisfied of the Legallity of my way of Cure, do thereupon refuse to come, or send to me for help, to cure their infirmities.

And as for the vindication of the Art of Astrology, I shall not at present trouble my self or Reader there∣with, but shall refer those who are unsatisfied, unto those Epistles in my Almanacks, Dated Anno, 1658. and 1659. and unto many other authentique Au∣thors in Print.

Some Observations Concerning Sympathy of Cure.

VVHereas in the Catalogue of Plants, the Planet Saturn hath but very few Herbs or Plants allotted unto him: yet notwithstanding in my Epistle before going, I told you, that what griefs or infirmities soever any Planet caused, there are herbs by Sympathy, as well as Antipathy to cure it; where∣fore know that, although an Herb or Plant may by Elemental qualities be under the Dominion of Mars, as being hot and dry, and so gathered at his hour, yet in regard of his vertues, and being approved good to cure such infirmities which are under the Dominion of Saturn, it may justly and rationally be called a Sympathetical Cure, by reason Mars is exalted in Ca∣pricorn the house of Saturn. Example, Agues, espe∣cially

Quartans, are usually caused by Saturn. Now Worm-wood, Carduus, and such like Plants being hot and dry, are properly attributed unto Mars, both in point of gathering and numbers, yet in regard these Herbs and Plants are of known vertues to cure Agues which Saturn causeth; and Mars being ex∣alted in Capricorn which is the house of Saturn: therefore it may properly be called a Sympathetical Cure: And so Herbs under the Dominion of Sol, cure infirmities by Sympathy caused by Mars, be∣cause the Sun is exalted in Aries the house of Mars: And so herbs under Venus cure by Sympathy in∣firmities under Jupiter, by reason Venus is exalted in Pisces the house of Jupiter; and so herbs of Jupiter cure by Sympathy such diseases which are under the dominion of the Moon, by reason Jupiter is exal∣ted in Cancer which is her house: The benefit which we have from this observation is as followeth; If Sa∣turn, Mars or any other Planet, be the afflicting Planet, and strong (which argueth a Complyance) then those herbs which are under the dominion of that Planet which is exalted in his house, being good for to cure the infirmity may be used and (for the reason aforesaid) it shall be called a Sympathetical Cure, for when Pla∣nets are strong and afflicting we must comply with them, as I have elsewhere expressed. Note, that in all Sympathetical cures whatsoever, there must be one Elemental quality in the Planet of complyance, with the nature of the Planet afflicting; as for Example, Herbs under Mars have the quality of drith with Sa∣turn; and Herbs under the Sun have the quality of heat with Mars; and Herbs under Venus have the quality of moysture with Jupiter; And Herbs un∣der Jupiter have the quality of moysture with the Moon,

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