Dominations

Excerpts from the Fourth Tractate

Thomas Heywood

The publishers acknowledge their gratitude to the Curators of the Bodleian Library, Oxford for their permission to reproduce the Library's copy, Shelfmark: Douce.H.236

S.T.C.No. 13327

Original Copy Published in 1973 by

Theatrum Orbis Terrarum Ltd.,O.Z. Voorburgwal 85, Amsterdam.

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Generous Reader,

Shall not need to apollogiſe beforehand, either for the height of the ſubiect, or the manner of handling this Worke; when the Argument of euery Tractate can ſpeake for the one; and a direct proceeding in the courſe propoſed, for the other. Remembring the French Prouerb,

Qui edefie en publick place,Faict maiſon trop haut on trop baſſe.

Who builds ith’way where all paſſe by,Shall make his houſe too low or hye.

I haue expoſed my ſelſe a ſubiect to all cenſures, and entreat the Reader not to vndertake me with any ſiniſter prejudice. For my hope is, if he ſhall fairely trace me in that modeſt and carefull courſe which I haue trauelled, he may ſay in the concluſion, Facilius currentibus, quam repenti-bus lapſus. For I profeſſe my ſelſe to be ſo free from all arrogance and oſtent, that, Vt caveam timenda, tuta pertimeſco. My Iuvenilia I muſt confeſſe were ſutable to my age then, for being a childe, I ſpake as a childe; but Maruritee hath ſince better inſtructed me: remembring that excellent Sentence of Sophocles,

Si Iuvenis luxuriat, peccat; ſi ſenex, inſanit.

Nor forgetting that of Seneca the Philoſopher,

Ante ſenectutem curandum, benè vivere; in ſenectute, benè mori.

I haue propoſed vnto you Good Angels and Bad; the excellencie of the one, ſtill continuing in their created Puritie; the refractorie rebellion of the other, damning themſelues to all eternity.

In the reading of which, I entreat you to take into your conſideration that wholeſome obſeruation of Saint Chriſoſtome,

Natura rerum ſic eſt, ut quoties bonus malo conjungitur, non ex bono malus melioretur, ſed ex malo bonus contaminetur, ſic unum pomum malum facilè centum bonos corrumpit; at centum mala numquam unum corruptum efficiunt bonum.

Further, to expect any new conceits from old heads, is as if a man ſhould looke for greene fruit from withered branches. But as Time the producter of all things, though he be aged himſelfe, is euery houre begetting ſomething new; ſowe, on whoſe heads he hath caſt a ſnow, as no radicall or naturall heate can melt, in imitation of him, (who as ſure, as he knowes vs borne, will certainly prouide vs buriall) will neuer ſuffer our braines to leaue working, till our pulſes ceaſe beating. But howſoeuer the manner of our working to be, ſo the matter which is wrought vpon be worthy, the value of the ſubiect dignifieth the invaliditie of the Vndertaker. And thus I take my leaue of thee with this gentle admonition,

Heu heu, dij mortalibus nectunt malum,Quando bonum uidet quiſpiam & non utitur.

Thine,

Tho. Heywood

There is no Power, No Domination,But from the Lord of our Saluation.

hat Ternions and Claſſes beIn the Cœlestiall Hierarchee.In what degrees they are inſtated,How’mongst themſelues concatinated.Angels and Dæmons made apparant,By Ethnicks, and the Scriptures warrant.Of Viſions and ſtrange Dreames, that proueSpirits each where, at all times moue:Against their infidelitieThat will allow none ſuch to be.Diſcourſe of Fauour, Loue, and Hate;Of Poetry, of Deaths eſtate.Th’Eſſence of Spirits; how far they know.Their power in Heauen and Earth below.

Little further let my Muſe aſpire,To take myne eyes from Earth, to looke vp higher,Vnto the glorious Hierarchy aboue;The bleſt degrees in which the Angels moue.In this, beſt Theologiſts aſſent,That they are Subſtances Intelligent,Immortall, Incorporeall, Mouing ſtill;Affliſting Man, obſeruant to Gods will.

In three moſt bleſſed Hierarchies th’are guided,And each into three Companies diuided:

The firſt is that in which the Seraphims bee,Cherubims, Thrones; diſtinct in their degree.

The Seraphim doth in the word imply,A Feruent Loue and Zeale to the Moſt–High.And theſe are they, inceſſantly each houreIn contemplation are of Gods great Power.

The Cherubim denotes to vs the FulneſſeOf abſolute Knowledge, free from Humane dulneſſe;Or elſe Wiſedomes inſuſion. Theſe deſireNothing, but Gods great Goodneſſe to admire.

The name of Thrones, his glorious Seat diſplaies;His Equitie and Iuſtice theſe ſtill praiſe

The ſecond Ternion, as the Schoole relates,Are Dominations, Vertues, Poteſtates.

Dominions, th’Angels Offices diſpoſe;

The Vertues (in the ſecond place) are thoſeThat execute his high and holy Will:

The Poteſtates, they are aſſiiſtant ſtill,The malice of the Diuell to withſtand:For God hath giuen it to their powerfull hand.

In the third order Principates are plac’t;Next them, Arch–Angels; Angels are the laſt.

The Principates, of Princes take the charge,Their power on earth to curbe, or to enlarge;

And theſe worke Miracles. Th’Arch–Angels areEmbaſſadors, great matter to declare.

Th’Angels Commiffion hath not that extent,They only haue vs Men in gouerment.

Angeli in quot Choros diuiduntur

The firſt Chorus.

The Seraphim and his office.

The Cherubim.

The Thrones.

Dominions

Vertues

Poteſtates

Principates

Arch Angels

Angels

The Offices of the Three Terninos.

Quomod. Angel Chori funt Concatinati

“God’s in the firſt of theſe, a Prince of Might:“He in the ſecond doth reueale, as Light:“Is in the laſt, his Graces ſtill inſpiring.

To know what’s to their Offices requiring;The formoſt Ternion hath a referenceTo contemplate Gods Diuine Prouidence:Preſcribing what by others ſhould be don.The office of the ſecond TernionDoth his concurring Influence diſperſeVnto the guidance of the Vniuerſe:And ſometimes hath a working. Now we know,The third deſcends to haue care of things below;Affifting good men, and withſtanding thoſeThat ſhall the rules Diuine Lawes oppoſe.

Theſe ſeuerall Companies before related,May with good ſence be thus concatinated:Firſt, becauſe Loue, of all things that haue being,With Diuine Nature is the beſt agreeing,As hauing influence and birth from Him;Therefore the firſt place hath the Seraphim.Becauſe from Loue, all Knowledge doth ariſe,(For who that loues not God, can be held wiſe?)And therefore in it’s proper Manſion ſits.

The ſecond place the Cheribum beſt ſits:Becauſe from Loue and Wiſedome nothing muſtOr can proceed, but what it Good, and Iuſt.Therefore the Thrones haue the third place aſſign’d.So that to Loue, the Seraphim’s inclin’d,Euen loue vnto the Great and Holy–One:Cherubim, to Wiſedome: Iudgement, to the Throne.

Now becauſe Empire (for ſo oft it falls)Muſt needs to ſubmit to Iudgement when it calls,And that to Empire there of force muſt beA Vertue to maintaine that Empiree;And that this vertue cannot exſiſt longWithout a Power that if ſufficient ſtrong.Able their moleſtation to redouble,That ſhall the Empire, or this Vertue trouble:

“The ſecond Ternion in theſe heauenly Bowers,“Are the Dominions, Vertues, and the Powers.

Of ſuch as hold there are no Angels or Spirits.

The opinion of the Peripateticks.

Further, ſince Power or Might nothing preuailes,Whereas a light illuminating ſailes;And this Inftruction but two wayes grow,By Word or Action: therefore they beſtowThe next place on the Principates, as thoſeWho the moſt eminent actions ſtill diſpoſe.Then to th’ Arch–Angels, who from the bleſt Trinity,The chiefeſt Principles of our DiuinityVntuo our deare ſaluation neceſſary,‘Twixt heuen and earth immediately carry.To th’Angels, laſt; whofe induſtry extendsTo Creatures, Men; and ſo their Power endsIn things inferior: this is the OeconomyOf the moſt bleſt and ſacred Hiearchy.

Yet notwithſtanding ſome there are, and thoſePretending no ſmall iudgement, that oppoſeNot onely this faire Order and Degree,But hold, No Spirits at all, or Angels be.

The Sadduces thus argue; If ſuch were?We doubtleſſe ſhould of their Creation heare,From Moſes, who his firſt Booke doth beginBoth with the World, and all things made therein;But makes of them no mention. And againe,If they be nam’d in Text? ‘tis tore ſtraineMan within moderate bounds, and keepe in aweTh’Irregular, that would tranſgreſſ the Law:Elſe, to our dull capacities conuey(By naming ſuch) things, that our weakeneſſe mayThe better vnderſtand. Therefore they blamePlato, who Spirits doth ſo often name:And Socrates, with all the Stoicke Crew,Who to foole men, and make them thinke they knewThings hid from others; in ambitious prideDeuis’d ſuch toyes, neuer exemplify’de.

Beſides, if there be Spirits? it implies,They muſt be either Friends or Enemies.If Friends? they would continue vs in health,Beſtow vpon vs Wiſedome, Empire, Wealth:But theſe, we ſee, are otherwiſe obtain’d;Knowledge and Arts by Induſtry are gain’d;Empire, by Vertue; Riches perchac’d areBy Labour; Health, by keeping termperate Fare.

Natura Intelligilis

Their opinions confuted.

And theſe Creatures, the Angels.

If Enemies? they hourely would extendTheir Powers malevolent, Mankinde to’offend;Eſpecially thoſe that themſelues aſſureThere are none ſuch; and that’s the EpicureAnd Sadduce; yet theſe they hate in vaine:None are from Rocks precipitate, few flaine;But they with others in like ſafety ſtand,As well ſecur’d by water, as by land.

But in opinion contrary to theſe,Plato, Plotinus, Proclus, Socrates,Iamblicus, Porphirius, Biton were;The firſt of whom thinke you thus ſpeaking heare:

The Nature that’s Intelligible, growesTo nine diſtinct degrees; which he thus ſhowes:The firſt is God; Idea’s haue next place;Soules of Cœleſtiall Bodies haue the graceTo be third nam’d, (Intelligences theyAre ſtyl’d;) Arch–Angels in the fourth beare ſway;

The fift, the Angels; the ſixt, Dæmons claime;Heroes the ſeuenth; the Principates haue nameIn the eighth forme; to Princes doth belongThe ninth and laſt: Mens Soules are not amongThis Catalogue; for thefe, as they inclineTo Vertue or to Vice, he doth confineEither vnto thoſe Angels that be good,Or the bad Dæmons, (ſo hee’s vnderſtood;)Being accordingly in that regardSubiect to fence of torment, or reward.I’inſiſt on the theſe too long, and now proceedTo proofes more pregnant, ſuch as we ſhall need.

As God’s eternall, void of all dimenſion,No ſudiect vnto humane apprehenſion;And as of all things th’Vniuerſall Cauſe,Them gouering: not gouern’d by the LawesOf ought which is aboue him. And we finde,Men, Beaſts, and Plants, each Creature in his kindaIs gouern’d; but it ſelfe doth beare no ſway.Reaſon to Truth thus points vs out the way,That in so diftant and remote a ſtate,

Needs muſt be Creatures intermediate.And as we ſee in Nature, bodies be(As Mettals, Stones, and of like qualitie)

Angels and Spiritsproued from dreames.

The Dreame of Simonides.

Sylla a noble man in Rome.

Sabellicus.

Which haue no life; others againe there are,As Men and Brutes, that haue in either ſhare.So betwixt theſe muſt be by conſequence;Vnbodied things that haue both like and ſence

And these the Spirits, Dreames will teach vs plaine,By their euents, that ſuch about vs raine,To warne vs of the future. Thus we read;

Simonides finding a body dead,Gaue it due rights of buriall; with intent,Next day to take leaue of the Continent,And to be ſhipt to ſea. But the ſame night,This body, without terror or affright,Appear’d to him, and warn’d him to refraineHis purpos’d voyage; for is he the MaineProv’d the next day, in that Barke he did hire,He ſhould by Shipwracke periſh and expire.Forwarn’d, he left his paſſage; and ‘twas found,The Ship was that day ſunke, and people drown’d.Now whence can any gueſſe this Viſion came,Vnleſſe ‘twere from a Spirit? for what name

Can the elſe giue it? Sylla in a dreameWas told, his death was neere: in feare extreameHe wakes, he riſes, calls his friends, his ſtareIn order ſets; yet all this while no FateDid ſeeme to threat him: neither ſence of paineHad he that time either in breaſt or braine.Which his Friends feeling, did his dreame deride:Yet he that day was apoplext, and dy’de.

Brutus and Caſsius in a battell ſet,With great Auguſtus at Philippi met:The night before the conflict, Ceſar, cras’d,Kept both his tent and bed; which much amas’dThe general Hoſt. Marcus Artorius, then His chiefe Phyſition, (of all other menMoft chary of his perſon) in his ſleepeWas by Minerva warn’d, The Prince ſhould keepeHis bed no longer, but in any caſeBe in the battels front, the Foe t’outface:For of this (done or not done) was enſuingHis future ſafety, or his preſent ruin.Auguſtus was perſuaded, left his tent,And mounted on his ſteed. Obſerue th’euent:The toile and labour that he tooke that day,

Calphurnia the wife of Julius Cæſars.

Cæſars dreame.

Amilcars dreame.

Pauſanias, of Socrates.

Did not along his Feuer driue away,Reſtoring him to health; but as it hap’d,Was cauſe that he a greater danger ſcap’d.For Brutus ſouldiers thinking him ſtill weake,Did with maine force into the Battell breake;Seiſing his Tent, his Bed away they beare,Preſuming ſtill they had Auguſtus there.

‘Tis noted, how Calphurnia did complaineThe very night before her Lord was ſlaine,Beſeeching him, with fights and many a teare,That he the next dayes Senat would forbeare;Becauſe of her ſad dreame, which told his fate.But he in his ambition obſtinate,Holding ſuch vain predictions of no force,With poniards ſtab’d, was made a liueleſſe Corſe.

Nay he himſelfe not many dayes before,Dream’d, He was ſnatcht away from earth, and boreAboue the Clouds; where, with Majeſticke looke,To welcome him, Iove by the hand him tooke.

Amilcar, who the Carthaginians led;Beſieging Syracuſa, in his bedHim thougth, That in his depth of ſteepe he ſawA ſouldier arm’d, inuiting him to drawHis Army neerer; for (his fame to crowne)He the next night ſhould ſup within the Towne.Encourag’d thus, he early roſe next day,His Carthaginian Enſignes to diſplay;And gaue a braue aſſault: and yet he foundBut falſe Omen, being tooke and bound,Was to the City led, Fate to fulfill,Where he both ſupp’d and lodg’d againſt his will.

Wiſe Socrates, the night which precedeThe day that Plato came to heare him reade,Dream’d, That he ſaw into his boſome flyA milke–white Swan, that ſung ſweet melody.This at the inſtant though he did neglect,Yet on the morrow, pleas’d with his aſpect,He tooke him in his armes, and with extreameRapture of joy, he call’d to minde his dreame.And though the childe was then of tender age,Th’ euent did aptly fit with his preſage.

Examples from the Old Testament.

Examples from the New Testament.

*If the later Herod were called a Fox, the former who

ſlew the young Infants may carrie a worſe title.

Angels.

Angels Viſible.

Nor do I theſe from prophane Authors cull,As if the ſacred Scriptures were not fullOf like examples; Stories manifoldAre in the Teſtaments both New and Old.Ioſeph, from his owne Viſions did diuine;And ſo from Pharaoh’s; of the Eares and Kine.The Baker and the Butler dreamd, it fellTo both of them as Ioſeph did foretell.Nabuchadezzars Image and his Tree,Were of ſuch things predictions, as ſhould bee.God call’d to Samuel in his ſleepe, and toldWhat ſhould betide to Ely, being old.Like Vifions too haue been conferr’d vponGood David, and his ſonne King Salomon.

And in the Goſpell, Iojeph in his reſt,Was bid to take to wife the euer–bleſtand holy Virgin. After, To forſakeThat Countrey; and his Spouſe and Infant take,And with them into Ægypt make all ſpeed,Till the Kings death, which ſhortly did ſucceed.We likewiſe reade, The Wiſe men of the EaſtWere in a dreame forewarn’d, to ſee that *BeaſtHerod no more; nor turne the way they came.How many of this nature might I name?As that of Shimeon, and of Pilats wife:Examples in the holy Text are riſe,And each were frequent. Then there is no doubt

But there are ſuch to leade vs in and out.

Invifible forme they likewiſe haue appear’d,Been ſeen to walke, to eat, to drinke, and heardTo ſpeak more oft. Two Abraham did receiueInto his Tent; and hauing (by their leaue)Firſt waſht their feet, they dranke with him, and eat;At leaſt vnto his ſeeming, taſted meat.An Angell to yong Toby was a friend,And trauel’d with him to his journies end.An Angell ‘twas, of the Cœleſtiall Crew,That in one night all Ægypts Firſt–borne flew.When Daniel was hunger almoſt dead,Him in the Lions den an Angell ſed.An Angell came to Lot. An Angell ‘twasMet Balaam, and put ſpeech into his Aſſe.

Evill Spirits.

Digreffion:

The opinion of Rabbi Achiba concerning Spirits.

Like ſtories from the Goſpell we may gleane,Both of good Angels, and of Spirits vncleane.The Angell Gabriel in full forme and faſhionBrought to the Virgin he Annuntiation.He that before our bleffed Sauiour ſtood,To bring him comfort when he ſweat was blood.He that from priſon did Saint Peter free,And made that night a Gaole–deliuerie:He that tooke Philip vp, and to the placeBrought him where the Candaces Eunuchwas;Those that vnto the women did appeare,(When Chriſt was roſe from death) in Veſture cleare;

All theſe were bleſſed Angels. Of the BadWe likewiſe many preſidents haue had:As thoſe with which mens bodies were poſſeſt,Some dumbe, and others ſpeaking; who confeſtOur Sauiour to be God. Some deaſe; and whenOne did torment the wretched Gadaren,With many other of that helliſh Rout,Whom Chriſt himſelfe extermin’d and caſt out.

But now, with leaue, a little to digreſſe,To finde ſome Learned, (or eſteem’d no leſſe)What they of Spirits thought. It doth exiſtVpon Record, The Iewiſh CabaliſtRabbi Achiba was of conſtant minde,

(And wrot) We Spirits ſhould in all things finde.In Earth, in euery Riuer, Brooke, and Fountaine;In Floud, in Well, in Valley, Hill, and Mountaine;In Plant, Herbe, Graſſe, in Shrubs, in euery Tree:And when theſe Spirits ‘mongſt themſelues agree,Earth yeelds aboundance, and affords encreaſe,Trees ſwell with fruits, Field flouriſh by this peace:The Seas are calme, the Riuers wholſome, andYeeld Fiſh in plenty, floating on the ſand:The Aire is tempe’rate. But when they contend,The Earth growes barren, fruitfulneſſe hath end;Mildewes and Rots deſtroy both Graſſe and Graine,And the labouring ploughman toiles in vaine.Fruits wither on the trees, Riuers rebell,Leaue bare their channels, or in torrents ſwell:The Fountains grow vnheathfull, and diſorder run;By Shoures tempeſtuous, and rough ſtormes of Haile,The Inundations on the earth on the earth preuaile.

The opinion of two learned Rabbies, concerning Amor

and Odium.

Their reaſon of this Antipathie.

Of the eſſence of Angels.

The Lightnings flaſh, and loud-voyc’d Thunders rore,As if Time, tyr’d, his journey had giuen o’re.Now, as th’agreeing Spirits cauſe our health,Pleaſure, ſtrength, gladneſſe, with encreaſe of wealth:So thoſe that are diffentious breed diſeaſe,Want, forrow, dearth, with all things that diſpleaſe.

Learn’d Abram Avenzara the Magition,And Rabbi Azariel (making inquiſitionBy carefull ſtudy) in their Works relateThe cauſe to vs, of extreme Loue or Hate:Why that a man, his Kindred and Allyance,Ev’t his owne nautrall Bloud, ſets at deſiance;And yet his ſtrange loue ſhould ſo far extend,One that’s meere forreigne to ſelect his friend.

Againe, as we by proofe finde, there should be‘Twixt mand and mand ſuch and antipathee,That thought he can ſhew no iuſt reaſon why,For any wrong or former injurie;Can neither finde a blemiſh in his fame,Nor ought in face or feature iuſtly blame;Can challenge or accuſe him of no euill:Yet notwithſtanding hates him as a Deuill.

They giue this reaſon; The good Angles, theySo far to peace and vnitie obey,That in the firſt they labour to attone,And (could it be) to make ev’n Oppoſites one;Bee’ing ſtill at hand, a friendſhip to perſuade‘Twixt ſuch as ſeeke each other to inuade.When the malignant Spirits ſole intentionIs to ſet men at diſcord and diſſention;To kindle malice, and the ſpleene inflame,To hate, yet ſhew no reaſon whence it came;Ready to make him fly in that mans face,Whoſe friendſhip others gladly would embrace.

Yet all this while we haue not gon ſo far,As to deſine to you what Angels ar’.It is the queſtion difficult and hard,And hath been in the holy Text much ſpar’d.Much more perſpicuous ’tis, to ſigniſieThe nature of th’eternall Deitie,Than th’Angels Eſſence: becauſe that relationIs much more neerer vnto our ſaluation.Yet notwithſtanding, Mans induſtrious reach

Ariſt Ethie. Cap. 9

The Platoniſts difference betwixt gods and Demons.

Pſalm 8

The ſolution of the former doubts.

(As far as probabilitie can ſtretch,)Hath ſought to plumbe that Depth with Reaſons Line.Much better ’tis (faith One) of things Diuine,Cœleſtiall, and Superior, to enquireSomething(although but little) and admire;Than of the things Inferior, and Below,Be able to demonſtrate much, and know.

Now the word Angelus doth not implyHis proper eſſence, but doth ſignifieHis Place and Office, as Gods Meſſenger.It is a name, to no PhiloſopherWas knowne of old: Spirits and Minds they knew,But not the Angels; they to them were new.

All that aboue the Moone haue their aboadsAnd reſidence, the Platoniſts call gods.All thoſe ſublunary, they Dæmons ftyl’d;As Apuleius; in his booke compyl’dDe deo Socratis, makes ample mention,According to his humane apprehenſion.

We know their Places, and their Offices,But of their Natures and their Subſtances,Onely ſo far (no farther) we dare skan,That that they are more excellent than man.Thus by the Pſalmiſt warranted, who ſayes,(When our Nobilitie he ſeemes to praiſe,And what Man was before he did tranſgreſſe)

“Thou mad’ſt him than the Angels little leſſe.”

But now, what difficult to ſome may’appeare,To reconcile, and all thoſe doubts to cleare:Ev,n as Mans wiſdome being iuſtly way,dWith Gods, to be meere Fooliſhneſſe is ſaid;Not that it is in its owne nature ſo,And that, than Brutes, he doth no further know;But in refpect of God’s, ſo pure and holy,It in that ſence may be reputed Folly.So th’vncorporeall Spirits, Bodies claime,Which if we with th’Almighties Eſſence name,In that regard, ‘tis palpable and groſſe,No better to by ſtyl’d than Dung and Droſſe.

Now by the Sonnes of God, who beheld then,The Daughters which were ſaid to be of Men,Is meant the Sonnes of Seth, (to make it plaine;)

This Councell was held vnder Pope Innocent the third.

Iohn Cap. 4

The number of a legion.

St. Gregory expounded.

The return to the firſt poſition.

Seeing thoſe Daughters which were come of Cain,Of them tookwiues, each where he liked beſt.

Heare in a Lateran Councell, what’s expreſtTouching Spirituall and Corporeall Creatures;Diſtinguiſh thus: The great God, of all FeaturesThe ſole Creator, Viſible and Vnſeene,Spirituall, and thoſe which Bodied beene;Who from Times firſt beginning hath both fram’d,Spirituall, and thoſe Corporeall nam’d;By which we vnderſtand Angelicall,And Mundance here below. He after all,Did then create Man in his bleſt eſtate,Both Soule and Body to participate.

The Phraſe of Scripture doth confirme as much,As oft as it doth on the Spirit touch:A Subſtance without Body it approues.The Spirit is God (faith Iohn) and it behoouesAll ſuch as will in worſhip fall before him,Meerely in Spirit and in Truth t’addore him.

Beſides, Saint Luke doth witneſſe, One mans breſt,At one of a whole Legion was poſſeſtOf vnclean Spirits. Which had they Bodies, HowCould it ſufficient place to them allowTo’inhabit? when each Legion doth by Lift,Of ſix thouſand ſix hundred fixty ſix conſiſt.

If there be any of Saint Gregories mind,To thinke that Angels are to Place dfign’d?All ſuch muſt vnderſtand, it is not meantAccording to be the limited extentOf their Angel–like Subſtances, but rather(Which from their great employemnts we may gather)Of their own vertues the determination,In the determin’d place of operation.

Nor is’t of force, That Angels by their FallShould gaine a Subſtance more materiall,On which th’infernall Fire it ſelfe might feed:Of ſuch a ſpiffed Subſtance there’s no need,Since of their laſting torments, without pauſe,The Fire is not the ſole and principall cauſe;But as an Inſtrument, a power it hathFrom Gods owne hand and iuſt incenſed wrath.

To the three Ternions I return againe,

Zach. 1.2.

St. Aug. de Cognitione veritatis. Cap. 8.

Dr. Strozza,Lib. de Natur. magia.

Apocal. 7.

Ariſt. Intellig. planet.

Linkt faſt together in a nine–fold Chaine;‘Mongſt whom there’s difference in Intelligence,As there is in degrees of Excellence:For the more Noble, to the Leffer ſtillInfufeth Knowledge, by th’ Almighties will.The Second to the Third is like induſtrous,And, as degreed, ‘tis more and more illuſtrous.

This Knowledge more perſipicuous is and cleareIn the firſt Chorus, than it doth appeareIth’ Second, Third, or Fourth, fo to the Laſt,Of thoſe that are o’re things Terreſtriall plac’t.

This in the Prophet Zacharie’s made plaine:When God his People would redeeme againeFrom their Captiuitie in Babylon;He in his Viſion ſaw the Holy–OneReueale it vnto one of the Superiors,Which he communicates to his Inferiors;They to the Prophet. Vnto this coheres

When in Saint Auſtines Booke as plaine appeares;As we perceiue the Moone, the Stars t’out–ſhine,And the Sunnes light more ſplendrous and Diuine,Than the Moone’s ſhewes; ſo’tis in the degreesOf thoſe forenam’d Cœleſtiall Hierarchees.

Foure Angels, as foure Vice–royes are expreſt,To ſway the foure Windes, plac’d aboue the reſt;All Princes, and with mighty power endu’d,Remarkable for that their Celfitude.

The Eaſt, whence Eurus blowes, ſwayes Micheal:The Weſt, whence Zephyre breathes, guides Raphael:The North, whence Boreas bluſters, Gabriel:The South, whence Auſter comes, rules Vriel.Which from th’ Evangeliſt ſome Doctors ground,

Becauſe ‘tis in th’Apocalips thus found:

On the foure Angles of the Earth I ſawStanding foure Angels, thoſe that kept in aweThe foure great Windes, reſtraining them from blowingOn Earth, on Sea, or any Tree then growing.

Somewrite, That ouer euery Heauen or Sphere,A ſeuerall Angell’s plac’d, and gouernes there.The Sophiſts, thoſe Intelligences call:The Hebrews, Cherubims: whoſe lots thus fall;

Tobit, 6.12.

Apoc. 8.

Theſe they call the Angels of the Zodiacke.

The first Quaternion.

The ſecond Quartern.

Metraon doth the Primum Mobile guide:Ophaniel, in the Starry Heav’n reſide:The Sunnes Sphere, Varcan: the Moones lower rayesArcan diſpoſeth: Mars (his) Lamach ſwayes;Mercuries, Madan: Ioves, Guth: Venus Star,Iurabatres: and Saturne’s ſeene from far,Maion: And all theſe in the height they enioy,Haue power, Inferior Spirits to employ.

Seuen Angels (as the Scriptures witneſſe) ſtandBefore th’ Almighty, preſt at his command;And theſe by his Diuine inſufion, knowHow to diſpoſe of all things here below,As thoſe Cœleſtiall: who doth inſtitutThoſe Seuen, his Diuine Will to execute.Yeares, Dayes, and Houres, amongſt them they diuide;The Planets and the Stars they likewiſe guide.

The Preſident of Sol is Raphael;The Guardian of the Moone, call’d Gabriel:Chamuel the third, Mars his bright Star protects;Micheal, the Sphere of Mercury directs:Adahiel, o’re Iove hath domination;And Haniel, of Venus gubernatino:Zaphiel is Saturnes Prince. And of Spirits ſeuenSaint Iohn makes mention, with their place in Heauen:I ſaw ſeuen Angels ſtand before the ThroneOf the Almighty; and to eueryoneA ſeuerall Trumpets giuen. [&c] The Rabbins, they,And Cabaliſts, further proceed and ſay,(How warranted I know not) That there beTwelue Potents of this Diuine Facultie;Three Orientall, and three Occidentall,Three Septentrionall, and three Meridionall.

Chaoz the firſt great Eaſterne Power they call,Whoſe Prince Mathidielis, and ſwayes allThat doth belong to Aries: the next placeCorona hath; and Varchiel hath the graceOf that to be chiefe Regent: Leo heeHath ſubiect in his ſecond Empyree:Hermaus the third; Adnachiel doth carryThat potencie, and rules the Sagittary.

The firſt Power Auſtral they pantheon ſtile;Aſmodes Prince, in that doth reconcileThe Signe call’d Taurus: and the ſecond, Tim,

The third Quatern.

The fourth Quartern.

Foure Angels ouer the foure Elements.

The ſentence of the Council againſt the Schiſmaticks.

Hamabiel is the Prince that gouerns him.In the Signe Virgo, Haim is the third borne,Hannuel the Prince, and gouerns Capricorne.

The firſt Septentrionall, Bethzan, Manuel Prince,And he the Signe of Cancer doth conuince.The next, Zonocharel by name they know,Barchiel the chiefe, and rules o’re Scorpio.Ouer the third, Elifan, Varchicl reignes;He Piſces in his Principate containes.

The firſt of th’Occidentall, Gelphor, and Ambriel the Prince; the Gemini they ſtandBeneath his ſway. Bleor the next; his Lord,Zaniel, who guides the Scepter and the Sword.Caphet the laſt; Cabriel the Preſident,And o’re Aquarius hath the gouernment.

Others there be that do not doubt to ſay,That the foure Elements are forc’d t’obeyFoure ſeuerall Angels: Seraph reinges o’re Fire;Cherub the Aire; and Tharſis doth aſpireOuer the Water: and the Earths great Lord,Ariel. The Hebrew Robbins thus accord.

But ſince of theſe the Scriptures make no mention,Far be it that the leaſt of mine intentionShould be to create Angels. Hence it came,That at a Roman Councell, in the nameOf Zachary then Pope, one Aldebert,Another Clement, ſeeking to ſubuertThe Church by Schifmes; were to the ConſtiſtorieSummon’d, and there conuict of Herefie.For thus they pray’d; O Angell Vriel,Angell Adimus, Angell Raguel,Angell Sabaothe, Angell Micheal,Angell Tubuas, Angell Semibel, &c.

This in the Synod was no ſooner read,But they thus inſtantly were cenſured.The very words of that Decree theſe are:Of all thoſe names, moſt of them new and rare,Of whome they invocate, Micheal alone,An Angell we acknowledge; the reſt none.By that, and elſewhere it is manifeſt,That other names than are to vs expreſtIn ſacred Scriptures, none ought to deuiſe;

Since from ſuch Curioſities ariſeSchifmes, Hereſies, Opinions execrable,(Erring from Truth) diuelliſh and damnable.Nor are theſe darke words, by theſe Rabbins vs’d,Other than Phancies, not to be excus’d;Wherein ſome things ſignifi’cant are expreſt,Borrow’d from Naturall cauſes at the beſtFor inſtance; Seraph, if we but retyreTo the words force, importeth nought ſaue Fire:Cherub, Aire; Tharfus, Water; Ariel, Earth:And theſe at the firſthand from thoſe Doctors birth,Ev’n by their owne canfeſſion. If you pleaſe,Thinke of the reſt as hath been ſaid of theſe.

Creaturæ quædam æterna ſunt à poſteriore; à priore ſolus Deus eſt æternus.

Explicit Metrum Tractatusquarti.

Theo–