t^^jg^i^^  He  name  o^AIagih  fomtimcs  applied  (fay  fome)  to  all  the  Perfians,  or
jelfe  to  a  particular  nation  amongfl  them:  fomtime  it  fignifieth  the  mofl
» excellent  in  Philolophie,8/  knov\  ledg  of  nature,or  in  fan£lity  &  holines
'  of  life.Thus  *Sutdas  calls  the  Perfian  Magi,Phtlofophi,zn<\  Phi/otheifiu-
'  dious  of  knowledge, of  nature,&  of  God.  Somtimes  it  fignified  fuch  as
we  now  call  Magictanf,Tpri6iikcs  of  wicked  Arts.Among  the  Perfians
this  name  was  ancient  &  honorablc,faith  ^  Peucertts^nffWed  only  to  the  Priefts,  which
liued  in  high  reputation  for  dignity  &  authority, being  alio  Philolophers,as  the  Chal-
deans were.  To  thefe  was  committed  the  cuffodie  of  religion,of  ancient  monuments,of
later  hiftorie$,ofpublike  records,&  the  explanation  ofthe  Perfian  wifdom,  whofe  ac
count  appcareth  in  the  former  chap.where, after  Camhjfes  death,one  of  them  is  repor-
ted to  fucceed  in  the  Throne.Now  wheras  the  Ethnikes  had  a  tradition  of  two  <;  Genij,
which  attend  euery  man,one  good,thc  other  euill ;  proceeding(in  likelihood)fromdi-
uinctruth,concerning  good  &  euill  Angel$,whicharc  ehhctmimjirtngjptnts {or  mzns
goodjOr  temptersynto  euil:curious  men  hence  took  occafion  to  deuife  new  arts.which
were  called  ^ff/*  and  yn^A* ;  by  the  one  calling  vpon  the  good  Z)<{»wy»  or  Gempu ;  by
thcother.onthe  euill :  which  <•«/// 0«f  could  ca(i\^  tnrn  htmjelfe  mto  an  Angell  efUght  ^lo
delude  blinde  pcople,being  indeed(as  in  our  tVhtte  &  B/acke  witches  at  this  day)worfc
whenanAngell.thenwhenaDiuell.  Hcreofwerediuers kinds;  ^Necromancie,vjhkh
inuocaicd  the  fpiriM  of  the  dead:  of'vvhich  fmoaky  Sootc,thc  Heathens  Diuine.Poets,

;  and


BfJerigPerf.
lob  ti.
n  AEltan.de
Animail.^  f.41

o  Di»d,SJ.i7.
SacCcr.Kom.
BcJ.t.
S»sl(fjk)i  ArtL
call.
a  Smdas'tnv.
Magxi.  PftUtti
de  Dum.  Scal.ex

b  Peuceruide
diuwat.c.de
Mugia.  ^  "Del-
rio  di/quiJ.Mag.
1. 1  .Procliu  de
An.eir  dam.
c  Brutiii  was
terrified  with

tlie  like  they
telloiMariui
and  many  o-
thcrs.
