Esoptron Astrologikon. Astrological opticks. Wherein are represented the faces of every signe, with the images of each degree in the zodiack: thereby describing, 1. The nature and quality of every person, according to the degree ascending in the east at his nativity. 2. The virtue and signification of every planet through the 12. signes. 3. A most excellent description of the more hidden and abstruse influence of [symbol for Mercury] in his [symbol for conjunction] with all other the planets. 4. A clear explanation of the signification of the horoscope in any signe of the zodiack. / Compiled at Venice, by those famous mathematicians, Johann. Regiomontanus and Johannes Angelus.

To the Reader.

TAke here the fruits of some cold Winter-nights which I have painfully susteyned, being desi∣rous that the works of this Anti∣ent Author, (being scarce to be had in the originall) should not dye in obscurity but be revived to see the light again: Though I have been both discouraged and preju∣diced in my intents to reduce what of art should come into my hands, into the English tongue; not only by the ignorant and illiterate; (but their reproach I va∣lue not; they doing but their dog-like nature, to barke at that which they know not,) but also by some time-serving, selfe-ended, selfe-ayming, selfe-applauding persons; to them I say no more but 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

Reader, the discourse ensuing was pen∣ned above 200. yeares ago in the Latine tongue at Venice, by a learned Author Jo∣hannes Angelus. It being now almost gone out of Print; I have endeavored to revive it, and suit it to our English fashi∣on;

here he first represents you with an emblem of Astrology; or an jmaginary I∣son of the ascention of every degree of the Zodiack; thereby-setting forth a descripti∣on of the nature and quality of every person, signified by such an ascendant; which being well considered and weighed with the position of the Planets, you may the better ballance your judgment in the describing of any person, native querent or quesited, In the next place followes the most copious judgments on Nativities that ever yet were in the English tongue; with the applications of the ☽ to every Planet: And as I have herein endured much cold, and paines, in the writing of it; I hope you will reape much profit, in the studying of it.

I think it needlesse to say any thing in the praise or vindication of Astrology; its use and lawfulnesse being already well known: but only this I would be glad, if the Vulgar people were not so apt to be frighted at those Raw-heads and Bloody-bones, where-with Mothers use to scare their Children from running abroad: nor to thinke old women Witches, and such silly people, and that they make Con∣tracts

and Seale bonds to the Devill, ride up and down in the Aire with him; dance abroad like Cats while their Bodies have laine as dead by their Husbands (as if the Devill could take a soul out of the bo∣dy and cause it to returne againe! Vah) haunt peoples houses, and render them inhabitable. Indeed these tales use Chil∣dren to terrifie one another with; but they could never learne it, unlesse they were taught by some more Childish then themselves; I wonder that these which have any wit in their heads, or at least would seeme to have, are not ashamed of such idle stories; but the Devill indeed who is the Father of lies is their tutor, and his doctrine they will follow; though nei∣ther they nor any man or woman in the world yet saw his Cloven-foot; but he keeps his schoole in their own bosomes. And therefore St. Paul teaches them how to make their defence against him. That e∣ver there was any such thing as Bill or Bond by any one Sealed to him, or any Contract or Covenant by any witch made with him, is impossible to be true. I could never yet learne where his Scrivner dwels nor who was witnesse to any of his Bonds: if no witnesse, then certainly they are

fooles that let him take them in execution upon his Bonds, and will not pleade Non∣est factum; and make him prove his bar∣gaine, pertestes the Scripture saies he is a Prisoner reserved in Chaines of darknesse unto the judgment of the last day; and if so, then how he can come abroad to drive such bargaines, I do not know: but I believe the brokers are his Factors, for a∣mongst them there are many a simple Wizard, drawn-in to seale devilish Bonds and Contracts indeed; at 30. pounds per cent; and is not this the Devills interest? I am sure its no Christians, by their Law. Some will say, that many have confest themselves to be Witches: that may be; many simple people or persons overcome with melancholy have imagined them∣selves to be Birds, Beasts, Fishes, Froggs, Cats, Dogs, Fire, Water, Rivers, nay any thing, and will not be perswaded by rea∣son to believe otherwise; then judge you what these will confesse: Yet all this while I do not deny, but there are Witches, and too many; wherefore it is Commanded, Thou shalt not suffer a Witch to live; but what these Witches are, those who have two or 300 pounds a yeare to do nothing else but talke to you an houre or two's dis∣course,

in a weeke; might bestow the pains to tell you if they would: if they do not, assoone as I have another opportunity, I will: But one of them hath pusled him∣selfe and all the wit he hath to pusle Astro∣logers; and, very wisely, for want of other Authors quotes those scurilous Ballads and Pamphlets of Fryer Bacon and Doctor Foster; which were idle stories impudent∣ly Fathered on them since their deaths; just like the story of James Hinde the great thiefe; the pranks which they Printed of him, as done by him, are all in an old tale-book, Printed above a hundred yeares agoe which I had when I was a School-boy; nay I have heard some persons impudent∣ly tell some things to have beene done by Mr. Lilly, which you may verbatim read amongst other stuffe in a story of George, a Greene. And I verily believe when ever Mr. Lilly dies; the Pamphlets of Doctor Foster and Fryer Bacon will be new vampt in his name. I cannot tell how he can thinke otherwise, having had the experience of so many impudent lies imputed to him in his life time. But let every one learne to know himselfe, and keepe the Devill out of his own bosome

and he need not feare him any where else.

Reader here is also annexed a Sygil of ♄ to be made when he comes into his Exal∣tation; which I have the rather put in, be∣cause the elected time is now a coming: you may make an experiment of it, which happens but once in 30. yeares; it was taken out of an Antient Author: hereafter perhaps you shall see the rest, in the meane time study the great book of God, and this; and you shall see them both agree to your good; which that it may, is the desire of him who is Amicus omnibus, inimicus nullis, nisi sibipsi.

A studio in Arte Coelesti. 15. Jan. 1655.

R. Turner.