I have now, Reader, performed my promise, and according to my Posse proved the Antiquitie of Magic. I am not so much a foole as to expect a generall subscription to my endeavours, every man's Placet is not the same with mine; but Jacta est Alea, I have done this much, and he that will overthrow it, must know in the first place, it is his Task to do more. There is one point, I can justly bind an Adversarie too, That he shall not oppose Man to God, Heathen Romances to Divine Scriptures: He that would foyle me, must use such weapons as I doe, for I have not fed my Readers with straw, neither will I be confuted with stubble. In the next place it is my Designe to speake something of the Art it self, and this I shall doe in rationall termes, a Forme different from the Ancients, for I will not stuffe my Discourse like a Wilderness with Lions and Dragons. To Common Philosophers that fault is very proper, which Quintilian observed in some Orators: Operum fastigia spectantur, latent fundamenta; The spires of their Babel are in the Clouds, its Fundamentals no where, they talk indeed of fine Things, but tell us not upon what grounds. To avoid these Flights, I shall

in this my Olla (for I care not much what I shall call it) observe this Composition. First, I shall speake of that One only Thing, which is the Subject of this Art, and the Mother of all Things. Secondly, I will discourse of that most admirable, and more than naturall Medicine, which is generated out of this one Thing. Lastly, though with some disorder. I will discover the means how, and by which this Art works upon the Subject; but these being the Keyes which lead to the very Estrado of Nature. where she sits in full Solemnitie, and receives the Visits of the Philosophers, I must scatter them in severall parts of the Discourse. This is all, and here thou must not consider how long, or short I shall be, but how full the Discoverie: and truly it shall be such, and so much, that Thou canst not in modestie expect more. Now then you that would be what the Ancient Physicians were, Manus Deorum salutares, not Quacks and Salvos of the Pipkin; you that would performe what you publickly professe, and make your Callings honest and Conscionable, attend to the Truth without spleen. Remember that Praejudice is no Religion, and by Consequence hath no Reward. If this Art were damnable, you might safely studie it notwithstanding for you have a praecept to prove all Things, but to hold fast

that which is Good. It is your Duty not to bee wanting to your selves, and for my part, that I may be wanting to none, thus I begin.