Now concerning Charmes, Characters, and such like trumperies that are vsed in these dayes, I adiudge them to bee all false and doubtfull. For some are without all shewe of reason, whereof the Philosophers haue made mention in the woorkes of Nature and Art, to the ende they might conceale secrets from the vnworthie, as if it were altogither vnknowne, that the Load-stone could attract Iron: and one desirous to woorke this feate before the people, shoulde make Characters, and pronounce Charmes, that by this meanes he might bring it to passe, this worke of his should be erroneous and deceitfull. After this maner there are many thinges hidden in the Philosophers bookes, wherein a wise man must beware, that neglecting the Charmes and Characters, he onely attend and make tryall of the worke of Nature and Art. And then he shall perceyue things liuing, and without life, to concurre and agree in Nature, for the conformitie and likenesse of their Natures, and not by vertue of the Charme or Character: whereas the simple people suppose manie things to bee wrought by Magicke, which are nothing else but the secretes of Art and Nature. Yea, the Magitians themselues doo vainelie repose such confidence, in theyr Charmes and Characters, as though they should receyue power from them, that in the meane time they forsake the woorke of Arte and Nature. And by this meanes both these kinde of men are depryued of the benefite of Wisedome, theyr owne follye so constrayning. Neuerthelesse, there are certaine deprecations long since, framed and instituted by faithfull men, or rather ordained by God himselfe, and his Angels, that may retaine their pristine and ancient vertue, as it is yet to bee seene in many Countreyes, where they make certain prayers ouer Iron red hot, & ouer the water of y^e riuer, & suchlike, thereby to approue the innocent, and cõdemne the guilty: and these things are thought to be brought to passe by the authority of the prelates. For euẽ the priests themselues do vse Exorcismes, as we may reade in the consecration of blessed water, and the old law of the water of purification, wherby adultery & breach of wedlock was sifted out. And ther are many other such like things. But as for those things that are contained in the Magicians books, we must vtterly reiect them, though they bee not altogether deuoyde of truth, because they be so stuffed with fables, that the truth cannot be discerned from falshoold. So that we must giue no credit to such as say, that _Solomon_ and other learned men made them: for these bookes are not receiued by the authoritie of the Church nor of wise men, but by Seducers, that take the bare letter and make newe books themselues, and fill the world with their new inuentions, as daily experience teacheth vs. And to the ende men might be the more throughly allured, they giue glorious titles to their workes, and foolishly ascribe them to such and such Authors, as though they spake nothing of themselues: