and expoſe your highneſs to the envy of malicious Carpers, and tongues of detracters. Whileſt theſe things troubled me with a various deſparation, the quickneſs of your underſtanding, exact diſcretion, uprightneſs of Judgement, Religion without ſuperſtition, and other moſt known vertues in you, your authority, and integrity beyond exception, which can eaſily check, and bridle the tongues of ſlanderers, removed my doubting, and inforced me to ſet upon that again more boldly, which I had almoſt left off by reaon of deſpaire. Therefore (moſt Illuſtrious Prince) take in good part this ſecond book of Occult Philoſophy, in which we ſhew the myſteries of the Celeſtiall Magick, all things being opened, and manifeſted, which experienced antiquity makes relation of, and which came to my knowledge, that the ſecrets of Celeſtiall Magick (hitherto neglected, and not fully apprehended by men of latter times) may with your portection be by me, after the ſhewing of natural vertues, propoſed to them that are ſtudious, and curious of theſe ſecrets : by which let him that ſhall be profited and receive benefit, give you the thanks, who have been the occaſion of this Edition, and ſetting of it at liberty to be ſeen abroad.
