Ashmole’s annotations and discourses upon the preceding work, part 3 of 5

So that this Treatise of the 12. Gates being wrote the yeare after, is unquestionably to be relyed upon, because pen'd from a grounded experimentall Practise, as himselfe Testifies in his Admonition,

I never saw worke truly but one,
Of which in this Treatise the truth I have told.

In which (for the Students safeguard) he gives an account of his own Err[…] nious Experiments, therein following Chaucer, Richardus Anglicus, Dio[…]ifius, Zacharius the noble Trevisan, and divers other honest and Consciencious Philosophers.

Ludovicus Combachiu[…] (who hath lately set forth divers of Ripl[…]y's Works in Latin) tells us that he then had in his hands these Twelve Gates rendred in most pure Elegiaque verse, by one Nicholas May upon the Command of the Emperour Rudolph the second, and that he could willingly have added it to that he published, (which was translated out of English into Latine verse by Sir Edw: Kelley) for the better understanding thereof, but that the Copy was none of his owne.

The learned Faber, (1646.) bestowed much Paines and Cost in publishing to the world Basilius Currus Triumphalis, and others, in one Volume. In the Argument of which Booke Georgius Riplaeus Canonicus Anglus doctissimus & mirandus in quo nihil falsi & supervacui ad metallorum omnium proprictates, & naturas manifestandus, is thus Ingeniously acknowledged. He further assuresus that his Workes are worthy to keep pace with the best Philosophers; and knowes that Policie in Printing is surest, and takes well with the Iudicious, to begin with a good Worke, and end with the best; to which place he refers on Ripley. But I must needs tell the Reader that in pag. 338. and so to the end, he is by mistake called Triplanus instead of Riplaeus. There are other the like notorious faults which the Printer (most likely) is guilty of, as giving Isaac Holland the name of Irsacus. Cornelius Drebble he prints Tornelius, (and sometimes Fornelius) Prebellianus; and besides these, further causes of Exception to other parts of the Worke (too many to be mentioned here) amongst the rest where Faber sayes they were all rendred into Latin out of Dutch, and that this peece of Ripley's, which he there calls Triplanus de lapide Philosophorum (but is indeed an Epitomy of these 12. Gates) was by one Nicholas Barnard a Philosopher Translated out of Dutch into Latin, intimating withall that it was Originally written in the Germain Tongue; which is very false, injurious to our Author, and dishonourable to our Nation.

Thus much for the Worke, and now to say something touching our Author. Philemon Holland in his Translation of Cambden's Britania Printed 1636. is pleased to take the liberty to tell us that the place of his Nativity was Ripley, a Village in the County of Surrey, and calls him a Ring-leader of our Alchimists, and a mysticall Impostor. This Imputation of Mysticall Impostor smells more of Envious dislike then faithfull Account, and therefore I'le passe it by. But as to the place of his Birth, I am induced to believe it to be about Yorkshire, (not that he was a Foundling at Ripley in that County, or of so obscure Parents, that the name of the place of his Nativity must be impos'd upon him in defect of a better) No certainly, his Name, Relation, and Kindred discover him to be the Sonne of a Gentleman; and though I cannot exhibite his Pedigree, yet it appeares in some ancient Manuscript Copies of his Medulla (which I have seene) that his Relation of Kindred lay in the Northerne parts, where (he saith) he had divers Kindred, Gentlemen of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, as Yevarsall, Ripley, Medlay, Willoughbie, Burham, Waterton, Flemming and Talboyes, who (as he there complaines to the Arch-Bishop Nevell, to whom he dedicated that Worke) were by the Conquering Sword of Edward the fourth, (God so permitting) lamentably destroyed. 'Tis also considerable that his Ecclesiasticall Promotion hapned to be at Bridlington, a Towne in the East Riding of Yorkshire.

— According to my Profession,
In Order Chanon Regular of Bridlington.

And probably such his Advancement, might be procured rather in that Country where his Kindred and Friends lived, and himself that Country-man, then if he had been a Stranger.

I determine not whether Holland has done the learned Antiquary or profound Philosopher the greater Injury, in what he puts downe concerning the place of his Birth; for I must let the world know, 'tis not to be found in the Originall Latin which Cambden published Anno 1607. nor can I learne that there was any other Impression, to the time of Translation, nor in probability could there be when Holland fell to worke immediately upon the coming out of the said Impression in 1607. and set forth his Translation within foure Yeares.

So that I cannot but wonder at the Boldnesse of this Translator, not onely in adding many things of his owne score, but for abusing so learned a Philosopher with the Tearme of Mysticall Impostor, and putting it upon the Account of an Author, who should he thus vilifie one of so cleere a Reputation, ingenious Schollars might have just cause to question the Candidnesse of his Pen in other things. But this kind of liberty I finde Holland hath taken in other parts of that worthy worke, The effects whereof, hath rendred Banbury (amongst others) much beholding to him for an eminent Flout: For, where Cambden fames it for Cheese onely, he addes Cakes and Zeale: Neither of which are to be found in the Originall, though doubtlesse both in the Towne, and for better purpose then to be boasted of.

But to leave this Digression & returne to Ripley. Pitts tells us, He was a Man of a Quick, & (more then can be expressed) curious Wit, and that Totam serè suā aetatē in perscrutandis rerii Naturaliū occultis & abstrusis Causis & effectibus consumpfit; He wasted almost his whole Life in searching out the occult and abstruse Causes and Effects of Naturall things. And that he might more copiously and plentifully study Philosophy, and accomplish what he conceived his mind, he boldly travailed through France, Germany, and Italy, where he grew into familiarity with severall of the most Learned men.

Leland saith truly, that he laid the foundation of his Studies in Italy, for there indeed he had the blessing first to see Projection.

In Romanis partibus nuptiis Mercurii,
Accidit post studium semel quod interfui.

'Tis further testified, that He alwayes either Writ, or Learnt, or Taught something; He was perfectly learned in all the liberall Arts, and well red in all manner of Philosophy; a most famous Mathematitian, a Rhetoritian and Poet, per eam aetatem, non vulgaris effectus. Combachius styles him Author procul dubio dignus, qui ab Amatoribus Chemiae sedulo evolvatur, cum in sermone apertus sit rotundus & planus, nec ullis spink aliorum more obsitus: A worthy Author without exception, who is diligently studyed by the lovers of Chimestry, forasmuch as he is open, well compact, and plaine of delivery, and not wrapt in any Thornes, after the custome of others. Habet insuper (saith the same Author) cum Lulii scriptis magnam affinitatem, ut unus alterum explicet, &c. Besides, he hath great Affinity with the Writings of Lully, insomuch that the one explaineth the other.

Amongst other parts, abroad, he visited the Isle of Rhodes, and resided there for some time with the Knights of the Order of Saint Iohn of Ierusalem. An Acquaintance of mine hath in his custody certaine private Observations of an English Gentleman of good quality and credit, who in his Travells abroade, Observes (amongst other things) that in the Isle of Malta he saw a Record, which declares that this Sir George Ripley gave yearely to those Knights of Rhodes 100000l. towards maintaining the war (then on foot) against the Turks.

But at length, that he might bid his farewell to the World, and wholly consecrate himselfe to God, and betake him to his private Studies, upon his returne into England he obtained an Indulgence of Pope Innocent the eighth, that for the future he might be Exempt from Claustrall Observance, and alwaies discharged and freed from the burthen of the Ceremonies and Observancy of his Order; but in regard the Chanons admit no such things, he became a Carmelite in the Monastery of Saint Butolph, which (saith Leland) is a famous Mart Towne nigh the Banks of the River Lindus: This River I take to be the River Witham in Lincolnshire (anciently called Lindis) which passing from Lincoln, runs towards the maine Sea by Boston, more truly called Butolphs Towne, (for it carried that name from Butolph, a most holy and devote Saxon:) And if you observe Cambdens Map of Lincolnshire, you shall see St. Butolph stands neere to Boston. So that in all likelyhood this was the place of Ripley's Retirement, where he continued an Anchorite untill his Death, and was there Buried Anno 1490.

The probability whereof, may be further confirm'd from his Mcdulla, where it appeares he had then a great desire to return into England, and to that end therein became a Suter to the Archbishop of Yorke, that by his meanes he might obtaine an abiding place in some Religious house, within his Dioces. Which Archbishop presently after dying, he could not performe, but not unlike Ripley having still an earnest longing thereto, (because it was his native Countrey,) might without doubt otherwise effect.

And whereas Bale saith he obteined Pope Innocents Indulgence upon his returne into England, and thereupon became a Carmelite, An. 1488. It is manifest from the aforesaid Medulla, that at the writeing thereof, which was in 1476. (at least 12. yeares before the time Bale makes him to enter into that Order) he had this Dispensation, for so he tells the Archbishop: And if so, then it must be either Sixtns the fourth, or Paul the second (his Predecessor) that must grant it unto him.

He wrote divers Bookes worthy of perusing, but amongst those which Bale Registers, I shall onely cull out these, viz.

• 1. Compendium Alchimiae, seu Castellum Duodecim Portarum.
• 2. Concordantias Guidonis & Raymundi.
• 3. Secreta Philosophorum.
• 4. Alcumistarum Misteria.
• 5. Artem brevem vel Clangorem.
• 6. Practicam Ceremonialem.
• 7. Dictata Aegri.
• 8. De Magia Naturali.
• 9. De lapide Philosophico, latine Tractatum rythimicum.

All which Pitts recites, and to them adds the following workes.

• 10. Medullam Philosophiae.
• 11. Pupillam Alchimiae.
• 12. Terram Terrarum.
• 13. Experimenta Philosophica.
• 14. De rerum temperaturis.

What followes Ludov: Combachius has lately printed, and added to some of the aforementioned Peeces.

• 15. De Mercurio & lapide Philosophorū.
• 16. Philorcium Alchimistarum.
• 17. Clavis Aurae Portae.
• 18. Viaticum seu Varia Practica.
• 19. Accurtationes & practicae Raymundinae.
• 20. Cantalena.

And lastly take into the Number the small Peeces published in this Theatrum. viz. His

• 21. Epistle to Edw the fourth, pag. 109.
• 22. Vision. pag. 374.
• 23. Verses belonging to his Scrowle— Pag. 375.
• 24. Preface to his Medulla, 389.
• 25. A short worke supposed to be his, Pag. 393.

Pag. 177. lin. ult.

A Quintessence this Water we call,
In Man, which helpeth Disseases all.

PHysick is a divine Science, even Gods Theologie; for the Almighty wrote his Scripture in that language, before he made Adam to reade it. The Ten Fathers before the Flood, and those that followed, together with Moses and Salomon, were the great Physitians in former Ages, who bequeathed their heavenly knowledges of naturall helpes to those they judged as well worthy in honesty and industry, as capable thereof: and from their piercing Beames all Nations enlightned their Tapers. Abraham brought it out of Chaldea, and bestowed much thereof upon Egypt, and thence a refulgent Beame glanced into Greece. The Coäcks and Aesculapian Family, &c. God greatly incouraged to serve that Age. Democritus and Hypocrates supported Ruinous Mankinde, with their Phisicall administrations, and Schollers successively supplyed their places for at least 400. yeares, untill Galen undertooke by his strong Abilities and incessant Paines to vivifie the then dying Genius of Phisick: which hath since most nobly beene Augmented, by the stupendious paines of Arabians and Europeans.

And in the Progresse this Science has made into severall parts of the World, we may finde, that God hath evermore been pleas'd to call upon the stage thereof in sundry Ages, some choyce and eminent Men, whom (by the Illumination of his blessed Spirit) he hath furnished with ability to reade the Characters of his blessed will, writ in that ample and sacred Volume of the Creation, and the severall Pages of individuall Natures. And further, to testifie his care of his Creatures, hath also given them Balme in their hands to stoppe the over-spreading contagiousnesse of bainefull Diseases. But to contract the Rayes of my Prospective to our owne homes, the Phisitians Colledge of London doth at this day nourish most noble and able Sons of Art, no way wanting in the choycest of Learning; And though we doe not, yet the World abroad has taken notice of sundry learned Fellowes of that Societie, as Linacres, Gilbert, Ridley, Dee, Flood, &c. and at present Doctor Harvey, who deserves for his many and eminent Discoveries, to have a Statue erected rather of Gold then of Marble.

Neverthelesse, it has beene observed in other parts that we English will socner abuse and detract from the worth of any of our owne Nation (though never so well deserving) then render them what they justly m[…]rit by a worthy Applause: And rathercry up a Frie of Illiterate Quacks (for every Galen hath his Plague, [a mounting ignorant Thessalus] that cheate the poore and simple of their Money, and (I wish they did not) often in Conclusion murder their over-credulous Patients;) then give the learned Phisitian the due Honour God has appointed us to pay him.

Now as God hath formerly shed most eminent Beames of the first light upon a few particular Men (as it were to gratifie the deserving Labourers at all times of his day;) So I am confident there are yet most noble seeds of that light of Nature appointed to spring up for the Benefit of Posterity. The Glory whereof we see hath shin'd in other Horizons, shortly it will draw neere to ours; and that which with incessant Toyle cannot yet be Discovered, shall in those dayes be freely Revealed to some that little dreame of it. I am more then Confident Succession will meete with many advantages and helpes, which this corrupt and ingratefull Age deserves not, nor shall have; because we deride, what Posterity will adore with a lasting admiration: The Circuit of that great and Sabbathicall Conjunction of the two Superiour Planets which began An. 1603. in the Fiery Triplicity, will Illustrate, Enlarge, and Refine Arts like the tryed Gold, It shall produce more pregnant and famous Philosophers by Fire, (I meane such as is Etheriall) then yet the world ere saw; and so purifie some ingenious Inquisitors, as to make them fit Mettall for Angells to Project on. This Fiery Trigon shall not passe, before that God make manifest what he commanded former Ages to keepe Secret, Where old Hermes his Aetheriall Phisick (viz. this Quintessentiall Water which Ripley here speakes of, and which is Such as auncient Phisick taught, shall be Restored; whose perfect and incorruptible Qualities of Heate, Cold, Moisture and Drinesse are able not onely to Nourish, Fortisie, and Encrease the Vitall Spirits, but Digest, Correct and Consume all Impediments and Corruptions, those hurtfull and Impure Seeds which crept in with the Curse, (and joyning themselves with the Good,) have ever since (like a growing Tyde) encroached so far upon the Body of Man, till he is almost overwhelm'd and ready to Perish.

But it is to be acknowledged that those Chemists deserve a considerable share of Honour, who, for want of this Aetheriall and Universall Medicine (which God hath hitherto granted to few) zealously apply themselves to finde out a Particular one, (that sedulous Industry may afford to more) and to raise up a Body of Phisick, from those Three Principles which are to be found in every Body, because compounded of them; (though strongly lockt up) namely Sal, Sulphur, and Mercury: (to which De Clave of late adds two more, viz. Earth and Phleagme) and so comfortably relieve decaying Mortality, and heale Diseases by the meanes they are Cured.

In the painefull and curious search of which Experiments, where there is more of Nature that still lyes hid, (yea she is as Infinite in her Productions, as the Minde of Man can be Unsatiable, in the search) let the satisfaction the Ingenious Artist findes in one Truth, leade him cheerfully on to make Inquisition after a further, perhaps the Event of his Labours may discover a Perfection in the knowledge he hunts after, and Providence may be as kinde to so diligent an Inquisitor, as Nature is to the Ant, who bestows Wings on her in her declining Age, as a reward for her former Labours.

And albeit I magnifie Chemicall Phisique, yet I do not lessen the due commendations that belong to Galenicall: nor dare I, when so great an Hermetick Philosopher as Arnoldus de villa Nova has taken so much paines to Joyne them together. And besides him, it has been the worke of Maierus, Faber, and many other consciencious Philosophers, to reconcile them. Who laying aside (indeede abhorring) all thought of Faction, conceive nothing to come neerer the Divinity of Nature, or be any way more gratefull to God and Good men, then to help the Afflicted, and relieve the Sick; nor greater Charity then to bestow health, and support dejected Nature. Nor is Galenicall Phisick hard to come by, it being at all times easy to be met with, the Superficies of the Earth never denying us some thing or other for Medicine, and they, Milde, Gentle, and Safe for weake and tender Natures. Moreover, it is observed by Nollius and others, that where God strikes with any Disease, in those parts he also sends forth a Plant that he endowes with vertue to cure it. And truly I cannot but admire at those snarling humours, who make it their Ta[…]ke to disparage what they affect not, (nay oftentimes what is beyond their owne worth) and rent those noble parts of Art asunder, which Nature has conjoyned in an harmonious Agreement, and whose wide breaches, honest hearted Philosophers endeavour to make up by a friendly Reconciliation, it being not to be denyed, but that each hath their peculiar Eminencies for which they deserve both Praise & Honour. For my owne part, I am none of the Detractors from Learning, but beare an Universall affection to Arts, and am in freindship with each of their particular Branches; Nay even in those I understand not, for I am perswaded by the satisfaction I have received in things which before time I knew not, that there may be something deserving of my faire Opinion, in what I am yet to know.

It has proved a great Errour in some Practitioners, who (tumbling up and downe their owne Speculations) seeke out for Truth in the Little world, and withdrawing themselves too much from the Contemplation of Experimentall Naturall Obsevations, neglect to looke for it in the greate and common World: When certainly such may far sooner arrive at that Truth they seeke for in Man, if they would but observe the Beginnings, Change, declination, and death of all things, in and upon this inferiour Globe, and compare their vertues with our owne internall Natures, for they are certainly united by a Noble, excellent, and secret Harmony and Relation.

And having found the true Originall and Cause of Diseases, then further to search after a proper remedy; for all Diseases are not cured by one sort of Physick (save that which is Aetheriall and Incorporeall) And therefore according to the Doctrine of Paracelsus, such as are bred from so light a cause […]s the impure Seeds of Vegitables, viz. Meate, Drinke, Fruits, Herbes, and the like Elementary things, may be very easily cured with the Secrets of Hearbes, Roots, and such like mild and tender Medicines, of which sort Galenicall Physick is more plentifully furnished then any of the […]est. Those that are produced from the more rude and knotteer Qualities of Mineralls, and what is cast within the Compasse of that Tribe, the Chemicall Phisitian must expell by the power and force of his Metalline Sulphurs, &c. Vegitables being (in this Case) too weake to Master and Dissolve their tenacious and coagulated Spirits: Those which are derived from the Influences of Heaven, must be removed by Plants, &c. Magically gathered and prepared, or by Sigills, &c. framed or made under sutable Positions and Aspects of the Planets, and impregnated with the rayes of Celestiall Vertues, for without opening the Bodyes, Infusing superiour Influences, and (by an additionall Artifice) fixing them to the said Bodies; their own ordinary vertue (be Elections never so propitious) hath not strength enough to conquer Diseases of that Nature: and severall of these choice Secrets (of Nature and Art united) I my selfe have prepared, made and Experimentally verified. Finally, where Diseases happen by Supernaturall meanes, as by Inchantments, &c. none of the other three are able to remedy the same, save onely Magicall and Supercelestiall meanes, by and through the Vertues of particular Intelligences, Or the Red Medicine wrought up to the highest degree of Perfection. And in such cases the Hermetique Philosopher must appeare, who

—In his Reason hath contrived
A Perfeit Medicine, for Bodi[…]s that be sick
Of all infirmities to be releived,
This heleth Nature, and pro[…]onge[…]h lyfe eke.

Therefore le[…] all men cease to wonder why so many Diseases seeme incurable; when many times being Supernaturall we judge them Naturall, and the true Causes unknowne, no sutable Medicamen is administred.

And whereas I have toucht upon Sigills, I thinke it will not be remote from this discourse, if I give a little satisfaction to my Reader therein; Though p[…]rh[…]ps it may be esteemed as a thing of too daring a Nature for my Pen Nor am I ignorant how some, most learned Men, have extremly suffered under the heavy and sharp Load of unworthy and rash Calumny, for manifesting or desending this Doctrine; but it hath only beene (such is their Glory) by those that could never sufficiently Answer their Arguments.

The framing of Sigills, Lam[…]ls, Talesmes (for all depend upon one Radix) is a piece of Learning as Ancient as the Babilonian[…] and Caldean Magi, (who first found out the Secret power of Figures) a chiefe part of their Magick, And practised by the greatest Philosophers in the Easterne World; Where remaine to this day, (as evident Testimonies of their first Invention) very many and ancient Talesmes, the miraculous effects whereof were admired and approved throughout all Aegipt and Persia: although (I confesse) their Name and Use be yet scarce knowne in these parts of the World; Or if, onely to such whose Wisdome thinkes fit to conceale and preserve the knowledg thereof, from the hands of the senslesse and profane.

Among all other Philosophers (famous for this kinde of knowledg) Apoloneus Tyaneus was the mightiest, and his Workes (in my Opinion) most Stupendious: Who though the Envious and Ungratefull World, has throwne some dirt upon him, to blemish the Innocency of his Operations, yet he never deserved other then well; all He did being for the good thereof, and not for hurt; He was no lesse a Pious then Illustrious Philosoph[…]r, Hi[…] whole Life being strict and vertuous, and his Death not blasted with any scandalous Exit. And for a justification of his Praxis, take this Testimony of Justinus, who, saith that he was a Man skillfull in the Dissent and Consent of all naturall Powers; and who wrought wonderfull things by the meanes of this Science; (which were only Naturall and not Miraculous:) For which purpose, he made choyce of such fit Subjects, as might conduce to the perfection of what he intended to Effect: And indeed God did not withstand those Workes of his, in regard they were done by the knowledg of Naturall things, for the use and benefit of Man.

What I have further to say, shall onely be to shew what Naturall powers, Sigills, &c. Graved or Imprest with proper Characters and Figures, and made under certaine peculiar Constellations may have. Albumazar, Zabel, Haly, Alba[…]egnus, and divers other Arabians, give us severall examples of such as have been cured of the biting of Scrpents, Scorpions, Mad dogs, &c. by Talismaticall Figures: And in other Authors we meete with a world of Stories which tell what Admirable effects they have wrought being rightly prepared, (which should I here mention, would swell beyond the limits of my Discourse) But this peece of Art is of extreme difficulty, and not to be performed by every one that takes it in hand.

As for the use of such Characters, Letters, Words, Figures, &c. Formed or Insculped upon any Matter we make use of, we are led to it by the president of Nature, who Stampes most notable and marvelous Figures upon Plants, Rootes, Seeds, Fruits, nay even upon rude Stones, Flints, and other inferiour Bodies.

Nor are these remarkable Signatures made and described by Chaunce, (for there is a certaine Providence which leades on all things to their end, and which makes nothing but to some purpose,) but are the Characters and Figures of those Starrs, by whom they are principally governed, and with these particular Stamps, have also peculiar and disterent vertues bestowed upon them. What Artists therefore doe in point of Character, is onely to pursue the Track, that is beaten out by Nature; And by how much the more the Matter whereupon such Impressions are made, is sutable to the Qualities of those Sta[…]rs whose Characters it is signed with: By so much more apt and inclineable it will be to receive those vertues that shall impower it to produce an Effect, in things whereunto it's applyed.

Neverthelesse, this is not all, for this Body must have as it were a Soule insused, and be Impregnated with a Celestiall vitality, or else it remaines Ineffectuall and Dead. In which respect other meanes must be found out before we can obtaine that Effect. And therefore we are to Consider, that the Soule of the World is not confined, nor the Celestiall Influences limited, but doe indifferently emit and communicate their Vertues alike, as well to things Artificially made, as to those that are Naturally generated, though sometimes they are more, at othertimes lesse vigorous and powerfull, according to the disserent Aspects under which they are wrought: In which regard a fit Election must be built up from the foundation of Astrologie, sutable to the Nature of the Operation proposed, which being effected, and the Stars finding a figure aptly disposed for receiving them, they forthwith Impresse their vertue, which they retaining doe afterwards operate in that they finde to be semblable. And this is not strange if we reflect upon the Vulgar experiments of the Loadestone, who communicating its vertue to a peece of Iron (a thing made fit by Nature to attract and reteine) that Piece thereby becomes of strength to communicate this vertue to a third. But if we should consider the Operations of this Magnet throughly (which proceeds onely from a Naturall Principle) there is no other Mystery, Celestiall, Elementall, or Earthly, which can be too hard, for our Beliefe.

Moreover, these Celestiall vertues and peculiar Gifts are not infused into Individuall and particular things, by the Idea, and by meanes of the Soule of the World alone, But also are invited thither, through the Obedientiality of their Matter, and a certaine aptitude and likenesse that these Inferiours beare to their Superiours; which being once taken in, they thereupon contract and reteine (besides such as they receive from their owne Specieo) those naturall Vertues and Roots of the Starrs, wherewith they suscitate and stir up the Influences of the Celestiall Bodies; who are (as it were by compact when United) Obliged to Operate in and for that purpose, which the Artist appoints them. And more especially if the Minde of the Operator be vehemently inclined towards the same. For that through the strength and Efficacy of the Imagination and Passion, (being seriously intent upon any Operation) is joyned with the Minde of the Starrs and Intelligences, and as sodainly fitted with Vertues, as if it were the proper Receptacle of their Influences, and consequently helpes more effectually to infuse their Vertues into our Workes: And the reason is; because there is an appreheusion and power of all things in the Minde: Whereupon all things having a naturall Obedieuce to it, have also of necessity an Efficacy; and more to that which desires them, with a strong and intent Desire.