defects.” Neither are those arguments of that learned person _Galeottus Martius_, for defending the natural and lawful effects of Planetary Sigills, when prepared forth of agreeable matter, and made in their due constellations, of such small weight as some insipid ignorants have pretended, but are convincing to any considerate and rational person, as this one may manifest, where he is speaking of the Figure of a Lion ingraven in a Golden Plate in these words: “The Figure of a Lion (he saith) insculped in the fit hours, in a right constellation, doth not act, but doth bring the beginning of the action, as S. _Thomas_ and _Albertus magnus_ do testifie: not as a Figure and Image impressed Mathematically, but that it may effect this or that preparation in the thing figured: which may in divers moods receive the Celestial action without difficulty: Because if the Image of a Dog, or an Horse, or some other Animal were insculped in a Golden Plate, there would not be that disposition of the matter, which doth accompany the Image of a Lion &c. From whence (he saith) we conclude, that this aptitude to draw in the Celestial virtue in the Figure, is not as Figure, but as the Gold is formed more dense or thin, by the condition of the Image. For even in looking-glasses, the variety of the Figure, doth bring a most vast difference. For how much a Concave doth differ from a gibbous Looking-glass, is even known unto old Wives.” Of these things also our learned Countreyman _Roger Bacon_, who was second to none in the secrets of Art and Nature, doth teach us thus much: “But they who know in fit constellations, to do their works according to the configurations of the Heavens; they may not only dispose Characters, but all their operations, both of Art and Nature, agreeable to the Celestial virtues. But because it is difficult in these things to know the certitude of Celestials; therefore in these there is much error with many; and there are few that know to order any thing profitably and truly.” But we shall shut up this particular with that memorable and irrefragable responsion of _Paracelsus_ to the common objection, which in English runs thus: “But (he saith) they will thus urge; how comes it to pass, I pray thee, that Metals, with their assigned Characters, Letters and Names, should perform such things, unless they be prepared and made by Magical and Diabolical power intervening? But (he saith) to these I return this answer. Therefore thou believest (as I hear) that if such things be made by the help of the Devil, then they may have their force and operations. But should not thou rather believe this? that also the Creator of Nature, God who dwelleth in the Heavens, is so powerful, that he in like manner can give and confer these virtues and operations to Metals, Roots, Herbs, Stones and such like things? As though forsooth the Devil were more strong, more wise, more omnipotent, and more powerful than the