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CHAP. XXIII.
Who have power to drive away Devils with their only presence, who shall receive of God whatsoever they ask in Prayer, who shall obtain everlasting life by means of constel∣lations, as Nativity-casters affirm.
THey say also, That he which hath Mars happily placed in the ninth house of the heavens, shall have power to drive away Devils with his only presence from them that be possessed. And he that shall pray to God when he findeth the Moon and Jupiter joyned with the Dragons-head in the midst of the heavens, shall obtain whatsoever he asketh; and that Jupiter and Sa∣turn do give blessedness of the life to come.* 1.1 But if any in his nativity shall have Saturn happily placed in Leo, his soul shall have everlasting life. And here∣unto subscribe Peter de Appona, Roger Bacon, Guido Bonatus, Arnold de villa nova, and the Cardinal of Alia. Furthermore, the providence of God is denyed, and the Miracles of Christ are diminished, when these powers of the heavens and their influences are in such sort advanced. Moses, Isaiah, Job, and Jeremiah, seem to dislike and reject it; and at Rome in times past, it was banished, and by Justinian condemned under pain of death.* 1.2 Finally, Seneca derided these Soothsaying Witches in this sort, Amongst the Cleones (saith he) there was a custom, that the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. (which were gazers in the Air, watching when a storm of hail shoul fall) when they saw by any cloud that the shower was imminent and at hand, the use was (I say) because of the hurt which it might do to their vines, &c. diligently to warn the people thereof; who used not to provide Cloaks, or any such defence against it, but provided Sacrifices; the rich, Cocks and white Lambs; the poor would spoil themselves by cutting their thombs, as though (saith he) that little blood would ascend up to the clouds, and do any good for their relief in this matter.
* 1.3And here by the way, I will impart unto you a Venetian superstition of great antiquity, and at this day (for ought I can read to the contrary) in use. It is writ∣ten, That every year ordinarily upon Ascension day, the Duke of Venice, accom∣panyed with the States, goeth with great solemnity to the Sea, and after certain ceremonies ended, casteth thereinto a gold ring of great value and estimation for a Pacificatory oblation; wherewithal their predecessors supposed that the wrath of the Sea was asswaged.* 1.4 But this action, as a late writer saith, they do Desponsare sibi mare, that is, espouse the Sea unto themselves, &c.
Let us therefore, according to the Prophets advice, Ask rain of the Lord in the hours of the latter time, and he shall send white clouds, and give us rain, &c. for surely, the Idols (as the same Prophet saith) have spoken vanity, the Soothsayers have seen a lye, and the Dreamers have told a vain thing; they comfort in vain, and therefore they went awaey like sheep, &c. If any Sheepbiter or Witchmonger will follow them, they shall gone alone for me.