The PREFACE To the unprejudiced Reader.

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As the fall of man made himself and all other creatures subject to vanity, so, by reason thereof, the most noble and excellent Arts wherewith the Rational soul was endowed, are by the rusty canker of Time brought unto Corruption. For Magic itself, which the ancients did so divinely contemplate, is scandalized with bearing the badge of all diabolical sorceries: which Art (says Mirandula Giovanni Pico della Mirandola (1463–1494) was an influential Italian Renaissance philosopher who sought to reconcile Hermeticism and Magic with Christian theology.) original Latin: "Pauci intelligunt, multi reprehendunt, & sicut canes ignotos semper allatrant" Few understand, many condemn, and as dogs always bark at those they know not: so do many condemn and hate the things they understand not. Many men there are, that abhor the very name and word Magus, because of Simon Magus A biblical figure (Acts 8:9–24) who attempted to buy the power of the Holy Spirit, often cited as the father of all heretics and false sorcerers., who being indeed not a Magus, but a Goes Goes: From the Greek word for "sorcerer" or "wailer," referring to a practitioner of "low" or deceptive magic, often involving the summoning of malevolent spirits, as opposed to the "high" or "natural" magic of the Magus., that is, familiar with evil Spirits, usurped that Title. But Magic and Witchcraft are far differing Sciences; whereof Pliny Pliny, Book 30 of his Natural History being ignorant, scoffs thereat: for Nero (says Pliny) who had the most excellent Magicians of the East sent him by Tiridates king of Armenia, who held that kingdom by him, found the Art after long study and labor altogether ridiculous. Now Witchcraft and Sorcery, are works done merely by the devil, which with respect unto some covenant made with man, he acts by men as his instruments, to accomplish his evil ends: of these, the histories of all ages, people and countries, as also the holy Scriptures, afford us sundry examples.

But Magus is a Persian word primitively, whereby