PREFACE.

It is extremely difficult to extricate oneself without the direction and guidance of this thread A reference to Ariadne’s thread, used to navigate the labyrinth of historical accusations., of which I have chosen for this occasion to attach one end to this first Chapter. Immediately following this, I have placed the chapter on Magic and its various types, so that no one can remain ignorant of the chief and principal point of the accusation and the defense. This consists in the distinction between Diabolical Magic original: "Magie Diabolique"; sorcery involving pacts with demons. and Natural Magic original: "Magie Naturelle"; the study of the hidden powers of nature and science.. Following that, I have researched the general causes that may have led to this suspicion—namely, Politics, profound and extraordinary doctrine, the knowledge of Mathematics In this period, "mathematics" often included astronomy and astrology, which were frequently confused with sorcery., the composition of books, superstitious observations, heresy, hatred, the ignorance of the age, the excessive readiness to believe many fabulous things, and the lack of care and judgment among Authors and Writers. All of these are reduced and explained within five Chapters, which have opened and smoothed the path for me to undertake, in the fourteen that follow, the specific defense of Zoroaster, Orpheus, Pythagoras, Democritus, and others, both ancient and Modern. In this, I have not followed the order of the time in which they flourished, because it