yet was it well known unto the ancient Magicians, and by them often with happy success put into practise; And amongst those many noble attempts of that most learned and experienced (though much condemned) person _Paracelsus_, this part of learning was not the least, that he laboured to restore. The truth of which we thus prove. [Sidenote: _Argum. 1._] [Sidenote: Exerc. 196. 6. _p._ 637.] [Sidenote: _Hist. 1._] [Sidenote: Cap. 2.] [Sidenote: _Hist. 2._] [Sidenote: _Vid. Gaffarel_ Unheard of curiosities, _p._ 165. &c.] [Sidenote: _Epist. ad Vazet._] [Sidenote: _Hist. 3._] [Sidenote: _Hist. 4._] [Sidenote: _Ut supra_ p. 164.] 1. That there have been formerly in the World many such like planetary Sigills or Talismans, (as the _Persians_ called them) is manifest from the authority of divers Authors of good credit and account. For the learned and most acute _Julius Scaliger_ relateth this saying: “The novelty of this History also may sharpen the wits of the studious. In the Books of the _Arabick Ægyptians_ (he saith) it is thus written. That _Hameth Ben Thaulon_ the Governour of _Ægypt_ for the _Arabians_ did command that a certain leaden Image or Picture of a Crocodile, which was found in the ground-work of a certain Temple, should be melted in the fire. From which time the inhabitants did complain, that those Countreys were more infested with Crocodiles than before, against whose mischief that Image had been framed, and buried there by the more ancient Wise-men or Magicians. _Junctin_, upon the Sphear of _Sacrobosco_, affirms that his Master who was a _Carmelite_, named _Julianus Ristorius à Prato_, one that was not any whit superstitious, was intreated by a Friend of his to make one of these Images for the cure of the Cramp, which he was very much subject to. This learned Man resenting his Friends sufferings, taught him the manner how to make one: so that he, not content to make only one, made divers of them when the Moon was in the Sign _Cancer_; and that with so good success, and with such certainty, as that he immediately found the benefit of it. _Confecit_ (saith he) _plures imagines, pro se, & amicis suis: quibus effectis, unam pro se accepit, & liberatus est_. The same he reports of a certain Florentine, a very Pious Man, who made one of these Talismans, for to drive away the _Gnats_, which he did with good success. _Nicolaus Florentinus_, (saith he) _Vir religiosus fecit in una constellatione annulum ad expellendum culices, quas vulgo_ Zanzaras _dicimus, sub certis & determinatis imaginibus; & usus fuit constellatione Saturni infortunati, & expulit culices_.” Another Story take from an Arabick Cosmographer, cited by _Joseph Scaliger_ thus: “This Talisman (he saith) is to be seen in the Countrey of _Hamptz_, in a City bearing the same name; and it is only the Figure of a Scorpion graved upon one of the Stones in a certain Tower; which is of so great virtue, as that it