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THat we may now come to speak of the origi∣nal of Tempests, & how they may be expel∣led away; Also how and by what meanes any one may preserve himself and his from Thunder, lightning and haile: We shall declare in the first place, that all Tempests do proceed from the four Capital windes, viz. the East, South, West, and North: Then from the Centre of both,
that is to say, of the Aire and Firmament, there are no tempests can arise; But from the four Fountaines before spoken of, which comes chief∣ly to be considered.
Wherefore he that desires to preserve his goods, House, Lands, garden, field, meadow, and such things from all manner of thunder, haile and Tempest; he ought first to know these things, whereby he may also know how to assimi∣late inferiours to Superiours. We will therefore in this place briefly declare the original of all Tempests.
The original of tempests is certainly nothing else, but the appearance of Spirits; and lightning or corruscation preceding, is the presence of them: whereby it may be certainly known, whe∣ther those tempests will pass away with or without danger; and that after this manner is to be understood; to wit, as a stranger will not en∣ter into any ones house, unless first he speake, so these Spirits do not appeare unto us without speaking first. But their voice is thunder, which as we see immediately follows every flash of light∣ning. Also if a stranger should suddenly fly into the house of another, where he is not known; it seems to signifie no good, but evil rather; either he himself is prosecuted by others, or else brings some damage to them. So likewise are we to understand of the lightning of heaven; the more quick it comes, the more dangerous it is, for com∣monly some Thunder-bolt followes. It is there∣fore very necessary to know how every one may defend and save himself herefrom, that he fall not
into some place that he would not, or receive some other hurt: the Ringing of Bells do availe nothing in these cases; although I do not reject them, especially in such tempests as are caused by Magicians inchantments, by reason of the Spirits by them raised in the Aire. For the Spi∣rits do love silence and quietness, whereby it comes to pass that great noises, as the sounds of bells and Trumpets, do partly diminish and dis∣perse tempests by them stirred up: But in Thunders and haile they do no good, as the Monks and Sacrificers have to their loss too often found. And for this cause they used ceremo∣nies, wherewith they seduced the Vulgar and common people, perswading them that besprink∣ling places with holy water (as they call it) pre∣served them safe from Thunder and haile; like∣wise by burning holy candles, or some palme, or other herb by them sanctified, or with the per∣fume of Frankincense, or Myrrhe of these sacrifi∣cers they were preserved secure.
O thou fool, and unwise sacrificer and Monk, who art hitherto Ignorant of these things; and understandest them not, in this place thou mayst be taught the contrary; how that Malignant Spirits are not driven away with sweet perfumes, but are mightily delighted therwith, and do run more freely & swiftly to them, then to stinking smells; whether they be good Spirits or evil. But if in stead of Frankincense and Myrrhe, you had taught to have made a fumigation of Assa Fetida, you might therewith drive away both good and evil Spirits: For the good odour of Frankincense
and Myrrh is nothing else but the sacrifice of the Spirits, wherewith we attract and draw them unto us. But of this we have spoken enough.
Now to return to that which we intended to write of; and first, how any place may be preserved from Thunder and haile: note therefore, that to place a preservative in the centre of a house, gar∣den, or field, &c. availeth not at all; but at the four Angles, East, West, South, and North; then the place shall be secured: as a building set upon four Pillars is more strong and firme then that which is founded onely upon one, which is set in the middle of the centre, or some other place: this is more easily overthrown by the winde or Spirits. Now the materials which belong to this preservative, and of which these four pillars are made, note that they consist of simple bodies, every one whereof is sufficient, and hath strength and virtue in it self for the effects before spoken of: As Mugwort, St John's wort, Perewincle, Celandine, Rue, Devils bit, and many such herbs and roots, and especially if they be gathered and taken in the right influence.
There are also other things of far greater strength and vertue; as Coral, Azoth; and one of the Characters before spoken of being drawn in a certain table, or ingraven: In these three things is a great secret against all Inchantments and workes of witches and the Devil himself. In which preservatives we may trust in our great∣est necessities.