Pus-mantia the mag-astro-mancer, or, The magicall-astrologicall-diviner posed, and puzzled by John Gaule ...

26. Of Astromancers turning Pantomancers; or presa∣ging, not onely upon prodigies, but upon every slight occasion, by every vile and vaine means: and so occa∣sioning superstitious people to an omination upon every accident, and after any fashion.

DArius in the beginning of his raigne, but changed the scabbard of his Sword, from the Persian into the Graecian fashion: and the Chaldaeans (loath to let slip any occasion of keeping their art in ure) straight way prognosticated thereupon the translation of his Kingdom to the Greekes.

A Raven let fall a clod upon Alexanders head, and it brake to pieces: and then flying to the next Tower, was there intan∣gled in pitch: Aristander interprets it as a signe of the ruine of the City, with some perill to the Kings person. But what was last and least prognosticated, was first and most found.

Alexander steeping Barley (as the Macedonian custome was at the making of walls) the birds of the ayre came and picked it up. Now many took this for an unlucky token. But the di∣viners (that would spend their verdict in the most triviall mat∣ters, rather then sit out) told them it betokened, that that Corn should nourish many countries.

Cicero derided the Baeotian vaticinators, for predicting victory to the Thebanes, from the crowing of Cocks. So doth he the Lanuuian Aruspicks, for making such a marvelous portent, in that the Mice gnawed the Belts.

The City of Rome being mightily devested by the Gaules, the Senators began to deliberate, whether they should repaire their ruined walls; or flit to Vejos. Now a certaine Centurion of theirs comming by at that instant, commanded the Ensigne to set down his Standard, or Banner in that place, saying, it was best for them to abide there. The Senators over▪ hearing that voyce, interpreted it as an omen, and so desisted from consul∣ting any longer about their migration, or removall, but resol∣ved to stay at Rome still.

Lucius Paulus being about to warre with King Perses, as he returned from the Court home to his own house, his little daughter met him, whom he kist, and askt her why she lookt so sad? she replied, Persa was dead, meaning her whelp or Pup∣per. And this he took to be an omen or presage of the vanquish∣ment and death of Perses.

Caecilia the wife of Metellus, leading a Neece of hers (now marriageable) to the Temple, to heare some hopes of a good husband; she standing long there, and hearing no answer to any such purpose, desired her Aunt she might have leave to fit by her: That thou shalt (said she) and I will yeild thee my seat. This the Virgin accepted for an omen, that she should suc∣ceed her in being married to Metellus after her decease.

Caius Marius fleeing to the house of Faunia for safeguard, set up his Asse, and gave him Provender; which he refused to eate, but got out, and went into the water: and that made him to ruminate, that there was no safe abiding for him in any house or countrey, but he must get him to sea.

Pompey being routed by Caesar, fled for safety to the Isle of Cyprus; and spying there a stately building, asked the name of it; it was answered, that it was called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; this he sighing interpreted, as portending ill to him, touching the Em∣pire or Kingdom.

They of Perianna imploring the ayd of the Samians, against their adversaries of Cerra: they to deride them, sent them a Sybill in a little Bark; which they interpreted as a good omi∣nation. So they of Apollonia being in distresse, and sending to the Epidamnians for succour, they returned them answer, that they would send the river Aeas for their reliefe: which they accepted as a good omen; and making the river Captaine in chiefe, got the victory, and afterwards sacrificed to it, as a God.

The old Druides gathered a Serpents egge at a certaine time of the Moon, according to certaine rites and ceremonies; and so reserved it for omination of victory and prevalency in warres, strifes, contentions. And such an one a Noble man of Rome, is said to have hatched in his bosome in a controversie that he had with the Emperour Claudius.

Of Zoroaster it is said, that he laught at his birth; and that

his braines beat so hard, that they beat off the hand that was laid upon his head: and this must signifie his profound science. Plato while an infant, and asleep in his cradle, there sate hony Bees upon his lips: and this must signifie his Eloquence. To Mydas in like manner there came pismires and carried graines of Wheat into his mouth: & this was a prediction of his riches. Servius Tullius, a mean child, while he was sleeping a flame appeared to shine round about his head; and this was made to presage a crown. Roscius his nurse awaking observed by moon-light a Serpent as it were imbracing the child: and this must prognosticate his eminent fame and glory; although his height was a Stage-player. If these occasions were not slight, yet could there be slighter divinations, or more worthy to be slighted?

Alexanders father dreamt that his mothers belly was sealed with the impresse of a Lyon upon it. Hecuba, when she was bringing forth Paris, had a vision of a firebrand, or burning Torch, that should set on fire Troy, and all Asia. There appea∣red unto the mother of Phalaris the image of Mercury, pouring forth blood upon the earth. The mother of Dionysius dreamed that she brought forth a Satyr. Adde to these and the like, the prodigious birth of Zoroaster, their Prince and master, and then aske the Magastromancers, what need such prodigies at births? and such presagings upon them? if the natalitiall conjunctions be sufficiently portending without them.

The Oracles themselves would give answers to any kind of questions, were they never so triviall; and would presage the erection and restauration of scenicall enterludes (as parts of divine service) though never so Iudicrous: And would enjoyn and accept of divining means, matters, instruments, rites, cere∣monies, though never so ridiculous. As among the Colophoni∣ans in Ionia there the Oracle would afford them the vertue of prophecying from the drinking of water. Among the Bran∣chides in the same Province, from the sucking in of certaine vapours. In another Oracle a woman sate upon a Trevet at the mouth of a cave, and was filled with the fury of divina∣tion. In another a glasse was let down into a fountaine, by a slender thred and after sacrifices and imprecations, the images of things future were seen in the glasse. In another, they descen∣ded

into a fountaine, and so vaticinated as they desired. In another, they consulting burnt lamps, offered Incense, gave gifts, and put their eares to the mouth of the Image; then stopping them, they went out of the Temple, and opening them again, the first voyce they heard from any they met, they took it for an Oraculous answer. In another they judged of things future by casting of Dice, &c.

Severall Countries had their severall waies of divining, and all of them esteemed alike acceptable to the Gods, and alike effectuall among themselves. Tacitus writes thus of the man∣ners of the Germans, that they sing as they goe to warre, and encourage each other by their Bardian odes, acquiring the fortune of their fight by their singing, and he that makes the harshest noise is thought to doe it best. They take this to be much of providence in children, (especially females) neither neglect they their counsels and answers. Ʋelleda the Prophe∣tesse (although she was a trouble to them) they held for a Goddesse. Auspicies and Lotteries they observe especially. And for lots the custome is simple. A bough cut off from a fruitfull tree they divide into lesser branches or slips; and those distinguished by certain marks, they cast carelesly upon a white garment: and in publique consulting use the ministry of the Priest; in private of the father of the family; who loo∣king up to heaven takes up every one of them thrice, and in∣terprets them according to the imprest markes. If any forbid, there's no more consulting for that day: if it be permitted, then to answer the faith of the auspicies, they goe on to inter∣rogate the voyces and flights of birds. It is also the property of that Nation to experience the presages and monitions of horses. They are nourished publiquely in woods and groves; white they are, and touch no common work; onely put into a sacred chariot they are accompanied by the Priest, and the Prince, and so they observe their neighing and sweating. Nei∣ther is there more faith had in any other auspicie either by the common people, the Nobles, or the Priests. For they conceive these to be the Secretaries of the Gods, and themselves their ministers. There is another way of auspicie, whereby they ex∣plore the event of warre: they get a captive by any means of that Nation with which they warre, and commit him and one

chosen out of their own common sort, to try together in their own Country armes: and the victory of the one or the other they make to be a great presage to either side. They couple not, unlesse some sudden thing chance, but on certain daies when the Moon begins to be in the ••ull; for that they believe to be a most auspicious beginning for the doing of businesse.

The mother of Sapor King of Persia being with child, and it doubted whether it was a male or a female she went withall, (for if it proved a female, it might not succeed in such digni∣ty.) For this cause the Princes convented the Magicians, to try their skill, and pronounce upon the birth. Therefore they brought a Mare ready to fole, and the Magicians vaticinated upon it; and it falling out according to their prediction, they thereupon concluded, it was a male child the Queen went with∣all: upon this they without delay layd the Crown upon the Queens belly, and proclaimed the child scarce conceived to be their King, according to their Countries rites and laws.

Augustus and Marke Anthony were playing together, and what a businesse of caution a mathematicall Aegyptian presager made upon it? advising the one (as concerning their after earnest) to take heed of the other, as whose genius was too strong for him, or his daemon afraid of his.

As Pope Eugenius sung Masse in the Church of Rheimes, some drops of the consecrated wine chanced to be spilt; and what prognosticating was upon it? And no lesse was there upon Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury his singing a Requiem the same day he was reconciled to the King.