Page:Deespirits.djvu/60

some of those secrets that he pretends unto by his Books. I know some have thought him innocent, or at least, have attempted to justifie him: Some affect such things to shew their wit, and think they shall be thought much wiser then other men, if they contradict received Opinions, though their vanity and strong conceit of their own parts, be their chief, if not onely ground. Learned and Judicious Master Vossius, hath shewed himself very willing to think the best of him and his Book; yet he gives it over at last, and rather concludes on the contrary. They that dare defend Apollonius, the greatest upholder of Ethnicism that ever was, and by most Heathens accounted either a God, or a Magician, need not stick at any thing in this kinde: But say he was, what any man will have of him. (Frithemius we speak of, his Polygraphy, he set out in his lifetime, dedicated to the then Emperor: He tells the world of the greatest wonders to be done by it, that ever were heard of: All Wisdom and Arts, all Languages, Eloquence, and what not, included in it. But I never heard of any man that could make any thing of it or reaped any benefit in any kinde; which I think is the reason that his Steganography, mentioned and promised in this first work was so long after his death before it was Printed: It was expected it would have given some light to the first; but neither of that nor of this latter, could ever any thing, that ever I could hear, be made by any man. I have good ground for what I say: For besides what others have acknowledged, I finde learned Viginaire, (who in his old age was grown himself very Cabalistical, or it may be had some disposition that way, though very learned otherwise, from his natural temper) as much grounded in that book, as any man before him: He doth plainly profess he could make nothing of it: And truly if he could not, that had bestowed so much time and pains in those unprofitable studies, I see little hopes that any man else should. It would make a man almost hate Learning, to see what dotage, even the most learned, are subject unto: I could bless them that know but little, so themselves knew it is but little that they know, and were humble: But it commonly falls out otherwise, that they that know but little, think that little to be much, and are very proud of it; whereas much knowledge (or to speak properly, more knowledge) if well used, hath this advantage, that it makes men most sensible of their ignorance. The reading of Vigenaires book of Cyphers (which I once thought a rare piece, as many other things of the same Author, which I had read) hath expressed these words from me in this place; and because it hath so much affinity with our present Theme, I was the bolder; But to return. Upon this consideration, the Reader I hope, will not be sorry the rest of the Tables (being many in number) were omitted. Though I must adde withal, had I known or thought any use could be made of them, having no better opinion of the Author (him or them) I mean, from whom Dr. Dee had them) I should not have been very forward to have had a hand in their coming abroad.

I should have told the Reader before but it may do well enough here, that besides the particulars before specified, there were other things that belonged to this holy Furniture (as Dr. Dee somewhere doth speak) whereof mention is made in some places: as Carpet, Candlestick, Taper, Table-Cloth, Cushion, and some others perchance. But I know nothing needs be observed uponany