[Sidenote: 1685.]
‘One James Cathcart, a pretended mathematician and astrologer, emitted
a printed paper at Edinburgh, inviting any to come to him, and get
resolutions of any difficult questions they had to ask, such as
anent their death, their marriage, what husbands or wives they would
get, and if they would prosper and succeed in such projects of love,
or journeys, &c.; as also professed skill to cure diseases. This was
a great impudence in a Christian commonwealth to avow such an art;
for if he had it by magic, then he was a sorcerer; if not, he was an
impostor and abuser of the people, which even is death.... In his
paper, he cited some texts of Scripture, allowing an influence to the
stars.’--_Foun._
[Illustration: Mons Meg.]