AS the Husband-man first chops off , and kicks aside the brush and rubbish that he may with his Axe come at the root of the Oke ; so must I deal with Will . Ramsey ; wholying in the way , must be first spurned aside before I can come to Sir Christopher , as Will . hath ordered his Method .

THe Doctour hath spoken so much , and to so good purpose , in his Demonologie against Judiciall Astrologie , and Will . Ramsey so little to it , whereby to enervate any thing of that Treatise ( it still standing as an impregnable Bullwark ) that as to him , there is little left for me to say , unlesse it be to tell W. Ramsey so much ; and to reprove him for his ill handling the Question ; that deceived souls may be reduced .

Poor Will. it seems by his Pamphlet , he was distracted when he penn'd it . For he confesseth in his Epistle to All Well-willers &c. that he was more perplexed , and troubled at that instant of time his Treatise was penn'd , then all his life . So he . O strange distemper ! and as strange a phantasie , that counts the time of his penning of eleven sheets , but at the rate of an instant . He confesseth further ( ibid. ) that his Genius was weak ; and that he went , or ran from house to house , and made it where ever he came . By which words , I professe I do really suspect , Will . Ramsey went about to his Brethren Astrologie-favourers , to beg , or borrow some Latine , Greek , and Hebrew ; but lost some of it as he went home . See anon whether I speak not really true . Out of all let the judicious Reader make the Crisis of the mans Cranie . Collate his Epistle to the Reader , with his Book , and you shall see sutable fits and feits . Where ( poor man ) he sinnes grievously , sometimes in his raving , and sometimes in his mopish melancholick fits .

In his raving , Ira furor Inevis est . Hor. he miserably fomes at the mouth , with the froth and spittle of Malicious , Fool , Ignorant , Knave , Babling Priests , Wretch , &c. some of which he drivels and slavers on M. Raunce ( for writing against Judiciall Astrologie ) the rest on the Doctour , and all Ministers without distinction . He is so bold a youth in his Title page as to stile himself Gent. I am informed that in comparison he is but a Boy . which I should have construed Gentile-man , or at least Gentle-man , but that his language is the language of a Peasant or Boore ; unlesse the Astrologer excuse himself , that he was then under the powerful influences of the Constellations , Canis major minor , Taurus , Aries , Lupus , Leo , Scorpius , Serpens , Draco , &c. Never any in their sober witts , have accounted D. Homes ignorant , or fool . And of malice against Astrologers , the Doctour must needs be free , in that he professeth that the Astrologers never did him ( that he knows ) any personall wrong afore the penning of his Demonologie , whereby to kindle any malice against them in his breast , and to vent it in that Book . His Treatise of Demonologie fairly testifies for him , wherein he doth soberly handle the question of the unlawfulnesse of Judiciall Astrologie ; touching upon no mans person . And there also professeth his love to the true Mathematicks , even as with great delight he studied them in the Universitie . And further , I can assure the Reader that he calls God to witnesse , that meer pressures of conscience , to discharge his faithfullnesse to Christ ( as he is a Teacher to one of his Churches ) in declaring against sinne and errour , for the preservation , or reduction of poor souls , made him write . But as was the manner of the times in the reign of Arminianisme in England , to question any mans learning , though the ablest Scholar , if he spake against their Tenets ; so now are the manners of Astrologers , to call their betters every way by the names of fools , ignorant , &c. if they do not sing to their tune but contrary . You shall hear by and by Will . Ramsey despise Fathers , School-men , Councills , See his book . c. 2. p. 38. &c. that speak the least word against Astrologie .

When Will . Ramsey is in his mopish fits , I cannot , I ingenuously confesse , either gather that he sayes any thing at all to the Head he propounds ; or what it is he would have said : For instance , let the Reader consider well that head , chap. 1. sect. 6. p. 33. Astrologie profitable for health . Nor can I reconcile Will . Ramsey with Will . Ramsey , there is such contradiction in his words . For page 11. line 25. me thinks saith he , Doctour Homes being a wise man , ( the phrase signifies an habituall wisedome , as t is spoken without limitation and so left universall ) yet in the very next page , but twenty three lines after , he calls Doctour Homes a fool . If he say the Doctour was a fool in condemning Astrologie ; then W. R. further like one impos contradicts himself . For in his Epistle to the Reader parag . the third , he confesseth , that of his knowledge many Discreet Gentlemen would sometimes condemn Astrologie .

Finally this Epistle , and his whole book compared together will sufficiently argue , that the man was miserably lost in his reason when he pen'd it . For what are those Astrologicall predictions that D. Homes levels his Demonologie against , but of such things , as which either they themselves are ( as to us ) accidentall , as the successe of businesses , or their causes are internall , as mens wills , and free choise , as to undertake a journey , build , &c. or not . Thus D. Homes in his very entrance upon the point of Astrology ; chap. 1. §. 1. and § . 2. And in the very next page , viz. 112. he allows conjecturing , and of things whereof any naturall reason can be yielded ; as ( saith he , quoting and consenting with D. Willet &c. ) there are naturall signes in the simple bodies , as the heavens and air , of the alteration of weather , as into winds , or rain , &c. as also in compound bodies , either vegetable , of seasons to set plants , or trees ; or in humane bodies of convenient time to let blood , or purge . These are immediate effects in nature , of the Celestiall bodies . There are also mediate effects , as Comets , which shew siccity , heat , and combustion ; so the Crow cryes against rain , because the clammy moysture of the air affects and afflicts him in the clinging of his feathers , &c. But the Doctour doth there deny signs of humane events . So also in page 160. of his Demonologie he opens his he art wide to shew what he means by the Astrology against which he raiseth his battery of reason , viz. against such an Art or Science ( as Astrologers would have it called ) that undertakes to predict and foretell what shall befall MEN , and CITIES , and COMMON-WEALTHS , in relation to HVMANE affairs , ARBITRARY actings , SPONTANEOVS and voluntary transactions , that depend upon the movings of mens wills . To the same effect the Doctour speaks in his 113 , 165 , 167 , pages of his Demonologie . And therefore it is WILL . RAMSEYS ILL CUSTOME OF TELLING UNTRUTH ( to call it no worse , though justly I might ) to say , the Doctour or other Antagonists to Judiciall Astrologie know not , or do not ponere what they mean , when they speak against Judiciall Astrologie . The Doctour as clearly , as if written with Sun-beams , doth often inculcate what he allows , and what he disallows , as even but now hath been plainly declared ; The state of the question . adding oft in his Demonologie , that all Naturall Predictions ( which the Astrologers would cram in to their Judiciall Astrologie , with contradiction enough ) is to be called , and considered in a way of Art or Science , either as METEOROLOGIE , or PHYSIOLOGIE , or pure ASTRONOMIE according to the nature of the subject under consideration .

Thus you have heard the Doctour as plain ( as they say ) as a Pack-staff ; now let us hear what those predictions are that Will . Ramsey is pleased in his Epistle to the Reader to disavow or grant . Which are the very same that the Doctour denyes or grants , and William speaks them in higher words then the Doctour . I will give them unto you in his own words . His heads upon a just particular account are six . 1. Saith he , the rules of Astrologie doth ( so W. Ramsey is pleased to joyn a Nown plurall and Verb singular together ; but this is a small matter with him , who after is miserably out in his Latine , Greek and Hebrew . But for present , I was forced to touch his English upon whose score it lyes , because I promised to give you his mind in his own words ) I say , Will . Ramsey saith in the first place , that the rules of Astrology doth not meddle with vain contingencies ; or such as have an indifferent respect to the opposites , as depending upon unknown , or indeterminate causes , which may happen one way or other . 2. Will . Ramsey saith , Mans will is not subject to the influence of the stars ; neither hath Astrology to do with it , but accidentally so farre as the soul with the faculties thereof follow the temperature of the body , which ( the friends of Astrology themselves acknowledge ) is impeded and altered so many wayes , as that Astrologicall predictions of man come to nothing . See the Doctours Demonologie chap. 10. §. 4. 3. Neither doth Astrologie meddle with the Providence of God . 4. Or shew cause of miracles . 5. Or meddles with the secrets of God , for they are past finding out . Astrologers are but men that contemplate naturall causes . 6. Astrologie or the influence of stars have no fatall necessity , except some contingency be mixt therewith ; for this were to deny the providence of God . Thus W. Ramsey ; whereof the last is delivered with that wonderfull contradiction of fatall necessity and contingency .

But you have them as he gives them .

Now let the Reader that hath a mind to understand the right , compare the Doctours , and W. R. his stateing of the Question together , and he shall find those six things afore said , set down by William in that his Epistle to the Reader , fully to agree with the Doctours Tenet in the main . Therefore W. R. in his great warfare in his ensuing Pamphlet against the Doctours Demonologie , either as a distracted man departs from his own principles ; or else plainly fights against himself ; let William take his choyse .

And if he be like some of his brethren he will choose the former . For however they state the question in words , I am sure they practise in deeds quite contrary ; undertaking to know by the starres who , and where are the Theeves and stollen goods of such , and such a robbery ; the cattle and Drovers that carried them away , from such and such a ground , at such a time ; and the like feits ; and these they practise for money . Yea they are bold to predict the events of warres , the successes of marriages , and thousands of such meer humane events , which the Scripture pronounceth uncertain to us . The battle is not to the strong , nor the race to the swift . Promotion cometh not from the East ( starres ) nor the West ( starres ) &c. but all fall out as Gods providence disposeth . Yet those Astrologers will boldly undertake to predict such things , as their Almanacks and Astrologicall Predictions , &c. do testifie . By which writings they gain credit and custome of miserable seduced souls , to fee them and feed them with money for meer impostures , as many of their Clients do daily complain ; saying , the Astrologers had their money ( not forbearing to name the men and the money , ) but they were never the neerer to find that they promised them . But if this were all that Astrologers did do , it were not so intolerable . But they have practised some things that are not to be indured in any Common-wealth , viz. to disswade men of quality from marrying worthy Gentlewomen , using lies for their arguments , An intolerable practise of Astrologers . forgeing those things of the Gentlewomen , to disinable their persons , and to reproch them in their repute , as are not fit here to be named ; but at due time and place shall be made good before any Court of Justice by undenyable proof . And at the rate of Will . Ramsey's sounding the Trumpet , the battle is likely speedily to begin .

And William Ramsey himself , for all his stateing of the question aforesaid , undertakes to predict many humane events ( quite without the sphere of the state of his question ) in his discourse of the Eclipse of the Sun at the end of his rayling reply to D. Homes his Demonologie . Amongst the rest he predicts , In the last page save one . that before that Eclipse hath finished its effects , Ministers shall be in lesse esteem , then they would fain perswade the vulgar , concerning the students in Astrology . Whatever the Epithets be he gives to Ministers there ; he intends not them for distinction , but for agnomination to them all , good as well as bad , or else he would not lay the cause of that prediction to be the Ministers opposing Astrologers , and upbraid Doctour Homes .

And let me tell thee William a prophesie out of the Word of God against Judiciall Astrologers , A Prophecy against Astrologers . that as Aarons rod swallowed up the Enchanters rods ( Exod. 7.12 ) ; Balaam was killed when the Priests and Levites of the Lord were preserved ( Numb. 13.22 . ) ; Daniel the Prophet is preserved and honoured , when sentence of death was pronounced against the Astrologers , ( Dan. 2. vers. 2.14.27.28 . &c. to the end of the chapter ) : and the persons having familiar spirits , and the Diviners , and Exorcists , &c. fell before the Apostles ( Acts chap. 8. chap. 19. &c. ) : So these last and greatest sort of wicked men , that lead poor souls from God to the Devill , from his word to their circles and figures shall ( without repentance ) according to all the prophecies of the old Testament against Astrologers , Magicians , Enchanters , Sorcerers , &c. quoted in the Doctours Demonologie , perish with Antichrist and all Christs enemies at the great destruction of the wicked near approching , for making way for the Saints Triumph a while on earth over all their enemies , Revel. 21.8 . & 22.15 . Now William , and thy brethren , runne your course in Judiciall Astrology , according to your wonted manner of practise at your perill ; and venture it whither your Eclipse , or the light of our Sun ( the word of God ) will prophesie more truly .

I wonder in what starre or constellation , or their postures William could reade this goodly change , that godly Ministers must be discountenanced , and lying Astrologers ( as the Scripture calls them ) shall be advanced ? His telling me there of ☽ to a □ of ♄ &c. with many the like anticks , figures , gibberish and cantings , is lesse , is worse then nothing , unlesse he could demonstrate to me ( for that 's the honour of a true Mathematician to demonstrate most potently ) by reason , why such postures and features of starres and constellations must needs pre-signifie such and such events , Demonstrationes Mathematicae 〈◊〉 pot●n●●ssimae . of which the Astrologers so confidently predict . To tell me of Traditions , that of old time for many generations upon such signs , such events have come to passe ; is no more ( if Astrologers say true in that ) then what Conjurers teach and practise , viz. draw such and such circles , making these and those figures , with using of this posture and that form of words and the spirit will rise at command ; which , though true , is called by the consent of all good men , conjuring , and is diabolicall , because there can be no naturall reason given of it , nor a divine rule to justifie it . The application in a due proportion is obvious .

If thus therefore Judiciall Astrologers ( as ye call them ) do constantly in their practise transgresse against W. Ramsey's stateing the question ( in his said Epistle before his Christian Judiciall Astrology , as with a strong contradiction in adjecto he calls it ) William hath little reason to weary the readers eyes and ears with irksome and nauseous repetition of that common rule ( liable enough to exception ) Abuse should not take away the use ; or that instance , Heresies crept into Religion , should not put away Religion . We have a Bible for our Religion ; no Scripture for Judiciall Astrologie , as before stated . And other Astrology ( if they will have it so called ) that is naturall , not meddling with the six particulars aforesaid ( as W. R. resolved the question ) will get them little credit ( the meer Naturall Philosopher will tell as much ) , and gain them lesse money . You heard afore by Austin of himself and others , and by Master Perkins , and M. Brigges ( in the Doctours Treatise of Demonologie ) that Astrology hath an innate tendency further , and beyond an immoration within the bounds of Naturalls , and therefore they repented of their studies in that way . For that which constantly ends in unlawful practise , argues the principles to be naught . If a thing were once of good use , but now of none , but of much abuse , that 's warrant for lawfull state-powers to remove it ; and Hezekiah's breaking in pieces the brazen Serpent will justifie it . 2 Kings 18.4 . So that in things not necessary , the rule is , Abuse must take away the use . Yea in necessary things , Paul would not eat flesh , rather then offend his brother , as Astrologie doth the generality of true godly men , The judgements of God hang over a nation for the sins of Astrologers & their clients , a State permitting . fearing that it will hasten judgement on the Nation ; as Saul at last favouring such kind a-stuff , brought himself and the nation to great ruine : If Astrologers can not , as those among the Egyptians ( when Israel was in Egypt , ) and those among the Chaldeans ( Judah being captivated in Babylon ) and those in the Roman Empire ( in the time of the ten Persecutions ) cause persecution , ( as their practise hath been by testimony of histories ) yet their own impieties by that very Art , and their seducing poor souls from fear , and faith in God , do greatly threaten a common calamity , especially if connived at by the State . So the Prophet , Isa. 2.6 . Therefore thou hast forsaken thy people the house of Jacob , because they be replenished from the East with Soothsayers like the Philistims . How home this reacheth Astrologers , hath been discussed in the Doctours Demonologie : Daemonol . c. 10. §. 3. p. 124 , 125. Little therefore can be justly spoken for Judiciall Astrology , more then to say 't is all drosse , 't is all abuse , 't is all ( as Austin saith ) A great Errour .

Yet W. Ramsey will make an Essay to justifie Judiciall Astrology ( if he can ) but in such a dialect as would make a wise man the rather believe that the Art is of the Devill , because the Artists in their defence of it speak the language of the Devill . Not Evil speakers , or slanderers , are saith the Apostle Devils , 1 Tim. 3.11 . where the Greek is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , id est , Not devils ; and 2 Tim. 3.3 . false accusers , the Greek is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Devils . See the like phrase , Tit. 2.3 . So W. R. here . So some others in their Almanacks or Prognostications . But my purpose concerning Will . Ramsey's language ( at once for all , to quit my hands of his words , and be free for his matter ) is this .

1. I shall most willingly give the day and Garland for railing and reviling gratis to W. Ramsey . It may be the poor miserable creature can speak no other language ; he knowing no more then what his Physicall and Astrologicall profession teach him , which savour no other . And if he be a Scot ( as some judge by his name ) then 't is proper for him to be infinite proud and opprobrious where he dreams he may domineer . He thinks ( to use Virgils phrase ) ARIETE CREBRO , as with the battery of the Ramshead . rather to force the fort of the Doctours Demonologie , then to winne it by the art and reason of School Polemicalls . Rather ( as Alexander M. ) to cut the Gordian knot then solve it ; Quint. Curt. de vita Alex . thereby ( as he said ) to delude the Oracle , in case he could not fulfill it . Doth Will . Ramsey dream that he onely hath the wit to jeer , or the sole liberty to rail in print ? or doth he dote that he is a man of that composure of person and parts , that he is shot-free from all darts of Rhetorick ? Could I but match him in profanenesse of spirit , and errour in judgement , I could repay him home neer from all the Topicks of Rhetorick Cicero useth in his invective orations . But ( as Chrysostome said ) I fear sin . Yet he might , especially pretending to predictions , have prognosticated to himself that IF THE DOCTOVR SCORNED TO ANSWER , HIM , some body else might shew William his folly , least ( as Solomon saith ) he should be wise in his own conceit : And might ( like a wise man ) with soft words , but with arguments of steel endeavour to convince William of the viciousnesse of Astrology , which God and all good men generally detest . That William hath not taken the like sober , modest , serious way to defend his art , it hath got him nothing . It is to prudent men the sign of a bad cause , that needs to be defended with bad words ; which perhaps , may raise a great dust , and cast a fogg before the eyes of men partially passionate ; but do loose with men of a pure judgement in the credit of the cause .

2. I shall also passe over ( as not regarding ) his silly jests and jears ( unworthy nameing ) savouring of a light and slight spirit in him , as if some PEG — A — RAMSEY guided his pen not W. R. Gentleman .

3. For his lifting and labouring to confute the Doctour , puffing blowing , and panting ( as if almost out of breath , ) fetching his wind with As I hope , and I believe , and I do think ( so often repeated ) I have confuted the Doctour ; with his calling a main ( as he recovers his breath ) to the Reader , in his Nota , Nota , Nota bene , to attend ; I pitty both the man , and the Reader that follows him ; that he should be so clamoured by him to run to fee ( in comparison ) a NOTHING . Whether I speak truly , let the sequell prove . And had it not been to tell the Reader so , especially young men in danger to be led away with Astrologicall impostures , I should never accounted Will . Ramsey worthy any thing that might be called a Reply , Survey , or &c. And therefore I was loath Doctour Homes should so much disgrace himself , and credit Will . Ramsey as to have his name in print to any paper to him . For 't is wittily observed by the Heathen , Ovid. l. 13. Fab. 1 that it was too much honour to Vlysses , being a Coward , that he might contend , but in words , with gallant , valiant Ajax for the Armour of Achilles . Galenum non parùm errasse puto qui Thessalū , dum nomen ejus proterit , Aliquem esse docuerit , & cujus rationem haberet . Cardan . de vita propria cap. 16. And it was the judgement of the great CARDANVS one of William's profession both wayes , that famous GALEN ( William's Master ) did much erre in so often mentioning in his writings his frivolous Antagonist Thessalus ; for by that ( saith Cardanus ) Galen did teach men to think that Thessalus was some body , and at all regarded by Galen .

Let not William or his adherents puff at this , as if but flourishes ; but attend the short Surveyes of his chapters and sections , and then see whether reason can cry him up , for wit , honesty , or learning .