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Diotimos Library · Esotericism & Spirituality Collection · Parallel Edition

Thomas Vaughan (Eugenius Philalethes)

Coelum Terrae

The Magician’s Heavenly Chaos · The Complete 1650 Text

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Coelum TerraeThe Philosophers’ Testimonies · Original

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Original English Page · Branch 39 of 136

The Philosophers’ Testimonies · Original

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Original English

I know some Sophisters of the Heptarchie, I mean those, whose Learning is all Noyse, in which Sense even Py-annets, and Paraquitoes are Philosophicall, will conclude this, all Bayt and Poetrie, that wee are Pleasing not Positive, and cheat even the Readers Discretion. To prevent such impotent Calumnies, and to spend a little more of our secret Light upon the welldisposed Student, I shall in this place produce the Testimonies of some able Philosophers concerning the first Matter it self, as it is naturally found, before any alteration by Art; and here verily the Reader may discover the Mark, it is most easily done, if he will but eye

Modern English

I know some sophists of the Heptarchy—those whose learning is all noise, in which sense magpies and parakeets are philosophical—will conclude that this is mere bait and poetry: that we entertain without asserting anything and deceive the reader's very judgement. To forestall such feeble slanders, and to shed a little more of our secret light on the well-disposed student, I shall produce the testimony of some capable philosophers concerning first matter itself as it is naturally found, before any alteration by art. Here the reader may indeed discover the mark. He may do so most easily if he attends to

About This Reading Edition

Thomas Vaughan’s complete Coelum Terrae discourse from the 1650 Magia Adamica, with original and modern English, fresh translations of foreign quotations, the complete Hyanthe and closing poems, eight historical marginal notes, the work-specific printed corrections, 91 annotations and the complete supplied Diotimos study apparatus.

Historical Text and Translation

Thomas Vaughan (Eugenius Philalethes), Coelum Terrae, included in Magia Adamica. London: T. W. for H. Blunden, 1650, pp. 78–140 and the work-specific unnumbered errata. Governing textual basis: EEBO-TCP A64768, Wing V151, ESTC R203905, British Library Thomason witness 174:E1299[1]. First-edition image comparison: Getty Research Institute copy 372004, Internet Archive magiaadamicaoran00vaug. The Getty copy lacks the opening page 78 and final errata; these are taken from the TCP/BL witness.

About Diotimos Editions

This historical edition credits Diotimos Editions as its English translator.

Rights

The historical text is public domain; the EEBO-TCP Phase I transcription is released under CC0. The supplied 2026 reading, translations and Diotimos editorial material are published with the site owner’s authorization.