A new light of alchymie

Of the Monstrous Signes of Men.

MAny men are brought forth deformed with monstrous marks,* 1.1 or signes: so one abounds with one finger, or Toe, another wants one. The fin∣gers of some grow all together in the mothers womb. Another hath a wry foot, arm, or neck, &c. and brings it with him out of the womb. Another hath a bunch in his back: so also are Hermaphrodites born, i. e. they which are both Male, and Female, and have the members both of Man, and Woman, or else want both. I have observed many of these monstrous signs, as well in Males, as in Females, all which are to bee accounted for monstrous signes of secret evil ascen∣dents. Whence that proverb is made good; The more crooked,* 1.2 the more wicked: Lame members, lame deeds. For they are signes of vices, seldome signifying any good.

As the Executioner marks his sons with infamous markes: so the evil Ascendents impresse upon their yong, supernatural mischievous marks, that they may bee the better taken heed of, which shew some marks in their forehead, cheeks, ears, fingers, hands, eyes, tongues, &c. being short, or cutted. Every one of these infamous signes denotes a peculiar vice. So a mark burnt upon the face of a Woman, or the cutting off her ears, for the most part signifies theft: the cutting off the fingers, cheating Dicers: the cutting off the

hand, breakers of the peace: the cutting off two of the fingers perjured: the pulling out of the eye, cunning, and subtile villains: the cutting out of the tongue, blasphemers, slanderers, &c. So also you may know them that deny the Christian Religion by a crosse burnt in the soles of their feet, because viz. they have denyed their Redeemer.

But that passing by these we may proceed to the mon∣strous signs of Malignants ascending, you must know, that all monstrous signes do not arise from an Ascen∣dent only, but offtentimes also from the stars of Mens minds, which continually and every moment ascend, and descend with the fancy, estimation, or imagina∣tion, no otherwise then in the superiour firmament. Hence either from fear, or terrour of breeding. Wo∣men, many monsters, or children marked with mon∣strous signes in the womb, are borne. The primary cause of these is fear, terror, appetite from which is raised the imagination. If a women with child begin to imagine, then her heaven by its motion is carryed round, no otherwise then the superiour firmament every moment, with Ascendents, or risings, or Set∣tings. For according to the example of the greater firmament, the stars of the Microcosme also are moved by Imagination, untill there be an assault, whereby the stars of the Imagination convey an influence, and impression upon the Woman that is breeding, just as if any one should impresse a seale, or stamp money. Whence these signes, and geniall marks are called Impressions of inferiour stars, of which many Philosophers have wrote many things, and men have endeavoured much to give a full, and rationall account of, which could never yet bee

done. Yet they doe adhere, and are impressed on the infants, as the stars of the Mother, whether frequent or violent, doe rest upon the Infants, or the Mothers longing is not satisfied: For if the Mother long for this, or that meat, and cannot have it, the starres are suffocated as it were in themselves, and dye: And that longing doth follow the infant all its life time, that it can never bee well satisfied. The like reason is there of other things, of which we shall not hear Dis∣course any further.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Divers mon∣strous signes or Markes.
• * 1.2

  What mon∣strous signes shew.