ASTROLOGICA ACCUSATA PARITER & CONDEMNATA, OR THE DIABOLICAL ART OF JUDICIAL ASTROLOGIE, RECEIVING THE DEFINITIVE SENTENCE OF FINAL CONDEMNATION: BEING DELIVERED THIS FOLLOWING DISCOURSE, WHERE THE SAID ART IS BRIEFLY AND MANIFESTLY OPENED, JUSTLY ARRAIGNED, DILIGENTLY EXAMINED, AND EXPERIMENTALLY CONDEMNED BY HIM, WHO WAS A STUDENT IN THE SAME.
Book Details + Condition: J. Clowes For W. Learner (London). First Edition, 1650. 20 pages. Very rare. By John Raunce, "Sometime Practitioner of Astrologie, and Student in the Magick Art". Includes an astrological chart of the houses. In this rare early astrological work, Raunce condemns astrology as being an unreliable and false practice of divination, arguing that the position of the stars and planets have little impact upon man's future. He contends that the practice is also contrary to biblical scripture. Upon publication of the article, it understandably and immediately received large pushback from the English Astrological community of the time. There were very few astrologers of the era who wrote against the art - as many were believers and "astrological doctors", following the work of John Dee and others. From 1647-1684, there was a Society of Astrologers which included 40 astrologers, who worked among themselves and sought to legitimize the practice. The same year that Raunce published this condemnation, William Ramsey (1627-1675/6) - astrologer and physician to Charles II, King of England, and member of The Society of Astrologers - quickly published a rebuttal. Titled “A Reply to a Scandalous Pamphlet Entitled A Declaration Against Judicial Astrology, written by the quondam (most ignorant and weak) practitioner Mr. John Raunce. Wherein he is both stript of all his weak arguments, and confuted as altogether ignorant of the art”.
A rare and highly unusual work in very good condition, with firm binding; normal aging and toning to original covers; interior is clean and free of markings. As with many publications of the time, the pages have been closely cropped.
