On those things which in the world

WONDERFULLY OCCUR, AND on the influences of the sky, a little work by F. Claudius Cælestinus.

A large ornamental woodcut initial 'C' features floral and foliate motifs within a square frame.

When something wonderful or unusual happens, the cause of which is not at hand, many (who seem to themselves to be learned) recur to the sky and the unknown influence of the sky, as if to the last and truly wretched refuge: the devout, however, if the thing that has happened is good, attribute it to God; if it is bad, to the demon. This is largely out of ignorance: because they do not wish to note or inquire into the natural causes of things, or certainly they neglect them, or they are not able to do so out of lack of skill. Therefore, it must be opened up what are the diverse causes of wonderful or unusual effects, which for the most part happen out of error regarding natural causes. We intend, therefore, first, to treat of the miracles which take their occasion from an error of the visual faculty. Second, those from an error of hearing. Third, those from an error of taste and touch. Fourth, of the nutritive and digestive. Fifth, of the generative and formative. Sixth, of the errors of the tongue and divinations. Seventh, of the operations of the soul. Eighth, of the operations of demons.