Again, I believe that all that use sorceries, incantations, and spells, are not Witches, or as we terme them, Magicians; I conceive there is a traditional Magicke, not learned immediately from the Devill, but at second hand from his Schollers, who having once the secret betrayed, are able and doe emperically practice without his advice, they both proceeding upon the principles of nature: where actives aptly conjoined to disposed passives, will under any Master produce their effects. Thus I think a great part of Philosophy was at first Witchcraft; which being afterward derived from one to another, proved but Philosophy, and was indeed no more than the honest effects of Nature: What invented by us is Philosophy, learned from him is Magicke.
Sir Thomas Browne, Religio Medici