The Sceptical Approach to Magic and Astrology

Pietro Pompanazzi's work on incantations from 1556 shows how apparently magical effects can be explained without recourse to magic. The happy and orthodox medium was to accept that some things are beyond our kin, while steering clear of demonology or astral determinism. Much depended on who was Pope at any given time - you could get away with a lot during the Renaissance, while at other points the Popes were more dangerous even than melons.