Three Books of Occult Philosophy · 91 of 186

Book II, Ch. 17: Of the various notes of numbers observed amongst the Romans

The notes of numbers are made diverse wayes in divers nations, The Romans did figure them by these following notes, which Valerius Probus ascribes concerning the ancient letters, and which are still in use, viz.

One. Five. Ten. Fifty. A hundred. Two hundred. Five hundred.

I. V. X. L. C. CC. D.

A thousand. Five thousand.

Ten thousand. Fifty thousand.

A hundred thousand. Two hundred thousand.

Five hundred thousand. A thousand thousand. There are also other notes of numbers now a dayes used amongst Arithmeticians, and Calculators, which according to the order of numbers are made after this manner. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. to which is added a note of privation signed with the mark 0 which although it signifie no number, yet makes others to signifie, either tens, or hundreds, or thousands, as is well known to Arithmeticians. Also there are some that mark the number ten with a line downward, and another made cross it; and five by that line which toucheth the other, but doth not go cross it, and a unity by that which is put by it self, as you may see in this example, signifies ten, signifies ten and five, signifies sixteen, ten and seven; and the round o being put by it self signifies a hundred; but being joyned to others, signifies so many hundreds as the numbers are to which it is put, as thus, oo or thus IIo signifies two hundred, thus ooo or thus IIIo three hundred five hundred, ten hundred or a thousand. And these notes are commonly seen added in Magicall Characters.