The mysteries of love & eloquence, or, The arts of wooing and complementing as they are manag'd in the Spring Garden, Hide Park, the New Exchange, and other eminent places : a work in which is drawn to the life the deportments of the most accomplisht persons, the mode of their courtly entertainments, treatments of their ladies at balls, their accustom'd sports, drolls and fancies, the witchcrafts of their perswasive language in their approaches, or other more secret dispatches ...

CAP. 32. Divine Testimony,

Q. You have expounded the artificial arguments, the inartificial followeth; tell me then what an inartificial argument is?

A. An inartificial argument is that which argueth not by its own nature, but taken force from some artificial argument.

Q. It seemeth by this, when a hidden truth of things is more subtily searched for, that this argument hath small force of proof?

A. So it is, but in civil and humane things, oftentimes this argument effecteth the greatest trust from the moving argu∣ments, if wisdom, vertue, and good will be present.

Q. What is it called?

A. In one name is called testimony.

Q. What are the kinds of testimony?

A. Divine or humane.

Q. What may be comprised under the Head of divine testimo∣ny?

A. Not only the miracles of the Gods, but also the answers of Prophets and Fortune-tellers are counted amongst divine testimonies.

Q. Give example?

A. All these are brought forth Cat. 3. For that I may omit (saith the Orator) the fires seen in the night from the West, and the burning of heaven, as also lightning, as earth-quakes, with other many things done to us Consuls, as those which are now done do seem to proclaime the Gods immortality. And a little after, at which time when the Araspatians were come to∣gether out of all Herturia, they said that slaughter, burn∣ing, perishing of the laws, civil and domestical war, and the fall of the whole city and empire approached; unless the immortal Gods pleased by all reason, by their power should change those destinies. At length when he said that they mocked at the answer of the Arispatians, and that they did more regard the sign of Jove, turning to the East, he then said, But is not he so present, that it should seem to be done at the beck of the mighty Jove; that when this morning before my door, by my command and con∣juration, the Judges being then in the house of Concordia, at the same time there appeared a sign, which being turn'd toward

you and the Senate, both you and the Senate saw manifestly laid open, who they were that were against the health of all men.

Q. Give another example?

A. That of Tibullus is more short.

But if that Oracles true things do tell, Then this in our name see thou do declare? That he doth promise Delius to give, To be thy spouse, with whom thou'lt happy live.