〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 caput redundantium The Sanguine Complexion from the abundance of Bloud causeth men to dream of the Incubus which Physicians hold is the cause of a future Apoplexy And that is the reason that many ignorant people that are of Sanguine Complexion and feed on Flesh Eggs Veal and drink Wine and such like which causeth Bloud that believe that in their Sleeps they often feel the Night-mare or an Incubus which is nothing else but a Disease arising of Vapours disturbing those that are at repose in the night whose external force doth seem to evade their senses and to press their Bodies with their ponderous weight and this is the reason that Physicians hold that the Incubus is a sign of future Apoplexy because the Apoplexy is a stupefaction of the Nerves in the whole Body with a privation of the sense and motion Again Apoplexia stupefactio nervorum totiue corporis cum privatione sensus motus a verbo Graeco 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quod est percutio aitonitum reddo some hold that the cause of dreams arise from the business and affairs a man is most imploied in the day time so that the impression of them sticking in the Table of the Fantasie makes a man dream of those things in the Night which he hath done in the Day as for example Men given to drink much often dream that they are in the bottom of some Noblemans Seller drinking Healths And men according to their Employments dream of their business over Night Your Lawyer he dreams of Angels a most blessed dream and if he chance to talk in his sleep it is most commonly of Demurs Habeas Corpusses Scisseraries Writs Latitats and Procidendoes The Physician he dreams of a great Plague and if he talks it is of nothing but Purgations Vomits Glisters and Pills I knew a Player dream'd that his Brains were beaten out with the Cork of a Groat Bottle of Ale and as he was speaking the Prologue it hist at him because he spake it so scurvily The Cutpurse and Catchpole most commonly dream of a Michaelmas Term for that is their best time to pick Pockets and cheat in and so of all the rest according to their Employments therefore this makes me not of Simonides opinion who held that all Dreams are sent from God which all honest men will deny because they know that God is not Authour of any ill Again Dogs and Kine dream especially when they have lost their Whelps and Calves who suddenly will wake out of their sleeps and howling and lowing into divers places to finde them Nor must we believe these Negromancers in their devilish work of working in our Fantasies by Dreams that they can do any thing that is true as when they cause us to dream of Gold or Silver and we chance to finde it instantly to affirm with many old Women that all Dreams are true for this is but a Trick of the Devil to bring us into Superstition which Trick is not much unlike that he hath put upon the Papists making them believe that at the sight of the Cross he cannot be quiet but must flie away from it but there is no true Christian will think that the Devil is afraid of a piece of Wood Gold or Silver but flies from the Cross of purpose to draw them into the Superstition of adoring the Cross and kneeling to it in stead of adoring him that once hung on the Cross for although it be a Cross yet it hath no more virtue and influence in it then when it was a piece of Wood Stone or Silver Thus then you see we must trust to no Dreams except they come by the inspiration of God and the Holy Ghost of which God spake in the 12. of Numbers I will speak to him in a Dream this was now by a good Angel that God warned Joseph to flie into Egypt And oftentimes God suffereth the evil Angel to delude the mindes of men so that many times they have been banquetting with gallant Ladies and by the fantastical illusion of the Devil think that they have been in the company of divers Women that rid on the backs of Cats Dogs Hogs or that they have been sailing on the main Sea in Ships no bigger then Egg-shells and that in the peace of midnight they have travelled through many parts of the World Holy Job prayeth against such illusions saying Thou doest terrifie me by dreams and doest shake me with horrour by visions There are many Monks as the Golden Legend testifies that report this of their holy S. Dominicus that his Mother before he was born dream'd that she bare a huge Dog in her womb holding a burning firebrand in his mouth who entering into the world set it on fire This Dream the holy Monks did thus expound that the Vision was not vain seeing Preachers in the Scriptures are called dogs But I will give them a truer Exposition then this not sparing their holy Order It was certain that this Dominick was the Authour of one of the four Mendicant Orders and the first that found out the burning and firing of the Professours of the Gospel Therefore his imitatours have peculiarly challenged to themselves the Inquisition and many other such places to exercise their Fire and Sword And so by this was signified the burning Fire-brand Dominicus held in his mouth by which an infinite company of godly men were consumed into Ashes Thus by this dream did the devil delude Dominicus Mother and many more that did belive the interpretation of it by the Monks But in general dreams are not to be believed for they are most wicked and odious in the sight of God that think so as may appear in the 19. of Leviticus Deut. 23. ibid. 18. Ecclesiast 24. and many other places of the Scripture Thus much for your divination by dreams Sometimes they do divine by a Spirit and that is called Pythonissa Sometimes they answer to that they are called for by divers Figures Men or Women set in polish'd stone Iron Brass Steel Glass or the Nails of ones hand and this is called by the general Name of Geomancy And most commonly to such as these they chuse out Women and Children And I my self have known many old Women old dog at this kinde of divination who hold that if the Nails of the hand grow yellow it is a great sign of ill luck and that specks are the true signes of future ill luck If these Apparitiors appear in the Water then it is called Hydromancy These I have heard are very incident to Catch-poles Eum-bailies and the like when they are duck'd under Water at a high Tide at one of the Temples If these Apparitions are in the Air then it is called Aeromancy If in the Fire Pyromancy If by the Bowels of Beasts offered up on Altars to the devil it is called Aruspicium But if by Incantations the devil seems to rise and answer to Questions propounded to them then it
they thus distinguish OURANOSCOPIE or URANOLOGIE or OURANOGRAPHIE the genus is either Astronomy or Astrology Alsted Eneycl l. 11. p. 1. c. 1. p. 4. c. 1. the species Astronomy is concerning the motion and measure of the Stars Astrologie handles of the effects of the Stars called also Prognosticall or Judiciall Astrologie Adde to these three untruths the impertinencies or equivocations of W. R. in this his 1. Section who having defined Naturall Astrology he puts quercs of the lawfull study of and Prognosticating by Astrologie By which if means Naturall he is extremely impertinent For the Doctour allows it as I have shewed onely he would have it called by another name as a part of another Science If he means Judiciall then he plainly equivocates defining one kind but prosecutes another Lastly VV. R. is what he was at first an avoucher of untruths so he began and so he concludes the Section saying That Astronomy is meerly vain and of no use without Astrologie Which is most false as his own Ptolomy witnessed afore and renowned Keckerman is his second who wrote a famous System of Astronomy declaring the excellent use thereof without handling of any Astrologie at all which Astronomy for me to commend here by the enumeration of its excellencies in particular were to carry water to the sea or hold a candle to the Sun I therefore leave all pure Astronomers Chronologers Geographers Navigatours c. to decry the false Assertion of VV. R. W. R. his SECT II. In answer to some cavils of M. Homes his wherein he denyeth Astrology to be warranted by Scripture proved to be erroneous and false Having thus painted forth the matter and form of the thing intended to be insisted on I come now to shew you what M. Homes his utmost power and malice against it is and first his blind zeal begins to shew it self in persuading the Reader it is condemned by the Scripture and no wise thereby tolerated his words are It is no where allowed in the Scripture under the notion of Astrology but every where spoken against as we shall see afterward and all that he can shew us and make us see is but six places of Scripture which is far from being worthy of the Title of a generall condemnation when there is none but knows the extent of the Scripture to consist of many half dozen Chapters nay of Books Ergo not every where condemned and those places neither but imagined by him to condemn Astrology when indeed they serve no whit at all for his purpose as in its due place shall be made appear But by the way is it every where condemned doth not the King and Prophet David say The heavens declare the glory of God Psal 19.1 and in another place The language of the stars which is the signification of the word Astrology 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the language of the stars and is it not allowed any where in Scripture under the notion of Astrology Is heard over all the earth or the uttermost parts thereof Psal 19.3 as if he had said there is no part free from the power of their influences for their power hath a generall extent over all Nations Kingdoms Countreys Provinces and Languages I pray who can restrain the sweet influences of the Pleiades Job 38.31 And did not the stars in their courses fight against Sisera Judg. 5.20 One of these places had been enough to have convinced him of great wickednesse in denying the Scripture doth any where allow of Astrology for if he never read these places then he is wicked and no lesse then wilfully wicked to conclude what he understands not if he hath perused them then most malicious to speak against truth I may even as well say diabolically wicked and that he teacheth rather the Doctrine of Devils for the Devils Doctrine is falshood and if he preacheth such gross lyes as these he is the Devils Preacher and not Astrologers neither is Astrology a Doctrine of Devils as shall he made clear to him before the closure of my Discourse as he in his 160. page line 21. is pleased to terme it So then now I hope the Reader doth clearly see these his first words of his Discourse to be meerly envious slanderous and malicious or at the best most ignorant for it will puzzle all his brains and M. Raunces nay and all that dare or will take their parts to make any one of those passages of Scripture he brings to confute or condemn Astrology to serve in the least for his turn as in its due place shall be cleared Then saith M. Homes As other things that are natural which are brought to countenance Astrology are not tolerated by the Encyclopaedia and general order and Seats of all Arts and Sciences within their own Spheres to be accounted Astrology For instance First saith he Some urge that we know the Tides of the Sea by the state of ☽ and Tempests by other Stars which I am confident M. Homes cannot deny but he will render himself more ridiculous then already which he endeavours to do thus These and of the like nature are properly handled in that part of natural Philosophy which we call Meteorology and so likewise are all fiery Meteors Comets c. and so by consequence are made an integrall part of Physicks for if you will say because of their external efficient cause viz. the Starrs they are to be handled as a part of Astrology by the same reason there will be left no such Science as natural Philosophy because all inferiour Bodies below the Moon as saith the great Philosopher Aristotle depend upon the superiour Celestial bodies of the Heavens In all which he doth but shew his great mistake in the ground of Astrology and his envie thereto for how can M. Homes prove this is a meer urging or an opinion of some that the ☽ is the cause of the ebbing and flowing of the Sea or that it is rather to be attributed to that part of natural Philosophy which is called Meteorologie and so consequently to be a part of Physicks when all the World knows that hath any experience or understanding in Astrology that he is as far from hitting the mark as if he had mist the Butt Wherefore for his better instruction for I see he is not so well verst in Astrology as he pretendeth or as one that is to condemn it should be I will make it appear to him that the ☽ is the absolute cause of the ebbing and flowing of the Sea and this is the opinion of all or most knowing and learned Writers both in this Art and other Sciences and not onely so but it is so clear to all the Learned that his great Friend Picus Mirandula which was a stronger Champion or at least more knowing in the Art then he against Astrology doth confess the ☽ to be the positive and sole cause thereof And thus if he have any understanding in the Art as by his writing I
Judicial Astrologie And to that audaciousness of William Ramsey daring to say in the face of all learned men that shall see his Pamphlet That those that say we know Eclipses and Changes of the Moon by Astronomy A most grosse bold untruth of W. R. about the fundamentals of Astronomy as challenging that to belong to it are NOT VERSED THEREIN and are IGNORANT c. I will onely say that it shews such ignorance or worse in W. Ramsey as for civilities sake I will not call it by its true name Doth not famous Keckerman in his System of Astronomy as an integrall part of the body of Astronomy handle the Eclipses of the Sun in his Syst Astron lib. 1. cap. 13. very largely And doth he not likewise of the Eclipses and Changes of the Moon in the same Book 1. cap. 14. more largely And doth not the renowned Astronomer Alsted do the same in his System of Astronomy very largely VRANOSCOP lib. 11. par 2. cap. 5. cap. 12. cap. 13. cap. 14. with Diagrams Figures Pictures to present them to the eye as well as with Theorems to present them to the ear For how possibly can an Astronomer do his work to handle of the measures and motions of the Starrs which is of the definition and so of the essence of Astronomy and not handle of the Eclipses and changed postures and Aspects of the Planets c. For W. Ramsey and others quoting of Sir Christopher Heyden we shall after in a more convenient place in our Survey shew all men that will peruse this Survey how they and Sir Christopher are grossly mistaken I need add no more but the reprinting of the Doctours 1. Section of Astrologie word for word as a full answer to the last part of this Section of W. R. from C to the end and it will clear and confirm any of the things by me spoken afore which is to a syllable if the Printer fail not as it here followeth A Repetition of Doctour Homes his SECTION I. Of the nature of Astrology in some distinctions descriptions and observations IF I should distinguish of Astrology as Alsted doth calling it Astrologia Judiciaria that is Judiciall Astrology as Master Perkins and Master Geree call it or should I distinguish as Doctour VVillet that this Art is partly Theorical partly Practical and the practical is partly allowed and partly rejected as if hereby we would separate and set apart for lawfull use the name and thing of any kind of Astrology 't is of our indulgence and more then we need to do For keeping to our terms either first to the term Astrology it is no where allowed in the Scripture under that notion but every where spoken against as we shall see afterward As other things that are naturall which are brought to countenance Astrology are not tolerated by the Encyclopaediae and generall order and seats of all Arts and Sciences within their own sphears to be accounted Astrology For instance first some urge that we know the Tides of the Sea by the state of the Moon and tempests by other Stars c. But these and of the like nature say we are properly handled in that part of natural Philosophy which we call Meteorology as also are all fiery Meteors Comets c. of all which the essentiall internall causes matter and form and one externall namely the end belong thereunto are there handled and thereby are made an integral part of Physicks For if you will say because of their externall efficient cause viz. the Stars they are to be handled as a part of Astrology by the same reason there will be left no such Science as naturall Philosophy because all inferiour bodies below the Moon as saith the great Philosopher Aristotle depend upon the superiour Celestiall bodies of the Heavens Secondly Others say that by Astrology we know Eclipses and changes of the Moon But say we Astronomy doth challenge this whose proper work is to teach us the Sphears Planets and nominated fixed Stars with their motions measures distances conjunctions and oppositions whence arise Eclipses of the Sun or Stars and changes of the Moon I give but a touch upon some particulars as an hint to understanding men to conceive of the rest Thirdly If any urge that Astrology handles of the qualities and effects of the Stars We reply that so doth Astronomy of their qualities namely of their light and colour and naturall Philosophy of their effects in watery aiery and fiery Meteors Or secondly if we admit of another term or title which Alsted gives to Astrology calling it Astrologiae Planetaria i. e. Planetary Astrology then we demand what becomes of almost all the System of pretended Astrology if its ground work be founded mainly on the Planets the main part of Astronomy What then becomes of the notions about the tenth Orb the twelve houses of the Heavens the twelve Signs with hundreds more of such kind of knacks wherewith they are wont to build up Astrology Or thirdly If we entertain those other terms and titles that Alsted and Doctour Willet c. give to Astrology calling it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Astromancy and Genethliaca that is The calculatrix of Nativities or Magick all these are disgracefull terms and so unusefull to insinuate a lawfull Astrology By all observe that there is no place left for Astrology but it is as meer a phantasie as Palmestry W.R. his SECT III. Proving Astrologie to be an Art ARistotle lib. 2. cap. 2. Phys affirmeth that Astrology is Scientiamedia a Science between the Mathematicks and natural Philosophy for the Principles are meerly Mathematical and in practice are applyed to sensible matter as the Physical subject thereof moreover he ranks it also amongst the Liberal Sciences and annexeth it to Philosophy in such a sort that he seemeth indifferent to use the name of a Philosopher and an Astrologer for the same So likewise Averroës in his Commentary on the 12. of the Metaphysicks text 44. speaking concerning the power of the heavenly bodies in the procreation and conservation of all worldly things and in their mutual consent and assisting one another in their mutual operations he resembleth them to good Governours in a Common-wealth that joyntly concur in one unanimous consent for ordering the same His words are Dispositio in juvamento corporum coelestium ad invicem in creando entia quae sunt hîc conservando ea est sicut dispositio regentium bonorum qui juvant se adinvicem in regendo bonam eivitatem And in his Commentary on the second Book of Physicks his second Chapter sheweth that natural Philosophy and Astrology have one and the same subject and yet are distinguished by a divers consideration And in the third of the Metaph. Comment 7. he affirmeth the knowledge of the Starrs to be a Mathematical Art and so it hath ever in all ages by the most learned Philosophers been esteemed I believe M. Homes nor no man else that knoweth any thing
his third Book of the soul Now no bodily thing can make an impression upon an incorporeal thing Whence it follows that IT IS IMPOSSIBLE THAT THE HEAVENLY BODIES CAN DIRECTLY MAKE AN IMPRESS VPON THE VNDERSTANDING AND THE WILL. For this were to make the understanding not to differ from sense From whence it follows that the heavenly bodies cannot be a cause per se of the actings of free will yet may they disposingly incline to this so farr as they impress upon mans body and by consequence upon the sensitive powers which are acts of the corporal organs which incline to humane acts Yet because THE SENSITIVE POWERS ARE OBEDIENT TO REASON as appears by the Philosopher in his 3. book of the soul and in his 1. book of Manners NO NECESSITY HEREBY IS IMPOSED UPON THE SPONTANEOUS WILL BUT A MAN CAN ACT CONTRARY TO THE INCLINATION OF THE CELESTIAL BODIES BY THE POWER OF HIS REASON Therefore IF ANY MAN shall make use of the CONSIDERATION OF THE STARRS to foreknow CASUAL or CONTINGENT EVENTS or also to know with certainty the FUTURE WORKS OF MEN this proceedeth from a false and vain opinion and so the OPERATION OF THE DEVIL INTERMINGLES IT SELF from whence the divination is SUPERSTITIOUS AND UNLAWFULL Thus farr Aquinas on whom commenting we have learned and profound Cajetan to boot Et ex his patet saith Cajetan quomodo intelligendum est c. that is By these it is apparent how we must understand that celestial bodies are not over-ruling our elections or free chusings and voluntary acts and how the consultation of Astrologers about the Nativities of men c. are condemned For if these things be applied for a certainty of knowledge of contingencies or which is the same thing if we must use such a figure of the Nativity c. as a law they are diabolical and condemned And this Austin intends in his fourth book of his Confessions But if they be onely to attain a conjecture of natural inclinations they are not evil With all know that albeit some truth may be had out of those things yet THE WAY OR MANNER OF THE CONJECTURE IS SO WEAK THAT IT IS SCARCELY A CONJECTURE And this because of humane ignorance of the greatest of Causes both Celestial and next Causes For the whole of that we know in these kinde of the things doth not deserve to be called A Part how small soever of those things we are ignorant of concerning the same as in relation to us and still daily are so ignorant untill the whole compleat course of heavenly bodies be once gone over Because the Starrs are unknown to us how they are one towards another and their motion is not compleated untill six and thirty thousand years be over I say that daily there is a new situation of the starry Heaven which situation yet hath never been considered unto which the Planets and Starrs being referred who can tell what causality they are clothed with or how they cause change or destroy I mention not the Calculation of Motions because perhaps it is impossible to have Instruments exactly to know the rising and setting of Starrs as I hear it from the Astrologers themselves As for W. R. alleadging Moses and Daniel he deserves rather a Ferula then an answer because the Doctour hath fully answered that those Saints were not judiciary Astrologers so that William could not here give us any solid reply William Ramsey's proof in this Section that Judiciary Astrology is not condemned by the Word of God is onely his passing his Word for it which is worth nothing for how unable he is to keep his Word will appear after His alleadging that God shews Blazing Starrs onely to Astrologers is a gross untruth confuted by thousands of the vulgar yet alive in England who saw the Blazing Starr many nights that appeared afore the Swedish Warrs in Germany For what hinders but Shepheards Sailers Watchmen c. illiterates should perceive that which is obvious to the common eyes of mankinde and distinguish a Comet from a Starr by his nearness motion and his feather or long tail And just as William proves here Judicial Astrology not to be condemned by the Word of God just so and no wiselier doth he prove it not impugned by Councils namely by bare facing it down with a bold forehead whiles that Councils to the contrary are in his sight that of necessity the Art must be allowed by Councils yet in the same place professeth his contempt of Councils if they be not of his minde Is this Williams proof of the lawfulness of Astrology by Councils To one of those Councils alleadged by the Doctour for he alleadged two in his Demonology and might have done more Will. can say nothing To the other he hoped he could W. Ram. is shamefully out in his LATIN See before in this Section at * but hath miserably disgraced himself in not construing a plain piece of Latin right For the words of the Council as Will. Ram. reports them Si quis animas corpora humana fatal bus stellis credit adstringi sicut Pagani Priscillianus dixerunt Anathema sit are according to true Grammar thus to be rendered If any one doth beleive the Souls and Bodies of Men to be bound to or necessitated by fatal Starrs as the Pagans and the Priscillâ—anists do let him be accursed So that if you compare Will. Ram. interpretation with this which is close according to the Latin you shall finde that he did not onely leave out something because it might prejudice him but which is the thing I mainly insist upon he doth interpret the Latin most falsely in the main thing which condemns any with Anathema that shall believe that the Starrs have a necessitating power over mens Bodies and Souls which in plain English is to believe the Astrologers to say true who in their practise so teach and by that undertake to predict humane events by their Judicial Astrology For the Philosophers Stone he hath little cause to call it Blessed seeing the attempts about it have undone Will. Ramseys father Testis M. Rowl Minister who lies in Prison by it Though the late King bore with his father defeating him of his expectation and of scores of pounds yet other men will not cannot bear such wrongs Nor hath Will. Ram. so blessed himself with his father skill and the Philosophers Stone as to enrich themselves and deliver him To his large alleadging the honour and antiquity of Astrology a brief answer will serve viz. 1. That till Will. Ramsey or his associates do produce some true Christians whiles such to have been practisers of Judicial Astrology all his instances amount but to the Proverb Ask my Fellows whether I be a Thief or to a self contradiction For the Astrologers W. R. W.L. c. when they see their advantage inveigh against godly and learned Ministers with the name of Priests and H.H. Vox coelorum in the behalf of Astrology saith
of argument or proof His words in the very beginning of his second Section which Will. Ramsey hath all this while so puddered himself to confute shew William the contrary if he had been willing to see Because saith the Doctour the Astrologers give out that there is no body against this Astrology but one Perkins or some one or two more men not acquainted with Art or in the like slighting speeches it will be very convenient to quicken your attentions as to a point considerable by setting before you the judgement of severall learned men touching Astrology Indeed if I do here but reprint that second Section of the Doctour which Will. pretends to confute it will be a sufficient confutation of all these five Sections of William's second Chapter D. H. his SECT II. Of the Opinions of the Learned touching Astrology BEcause the Astrologers give out that there is no body against this Astrologie but one Perkins or some one or two more men not acquainted with Art or in the like slighting speeches it will be very convenient to quicken your attention as to a point considerable by setting before you the judgement of severall Learned men touching Astrology with their reasons Tostatus a great learned School-man hath a great deal against it in his Commentary on Levit. 19. Qu. 28 29. c. Doctour Willet gives us the summ of Tostatus and his own judgement thus Of things which are as to us accidentall as the successe of businesses or their causes internall as mens will and free choife as to undertake a journey or to build or not to build predictions are not onely uncertain but superstitious And the same is to be said of casting Nativities by the conjunction of Planets So Doctour Willet on Levit. 19. in his 41. Qu. the head whereof is The Vanity of Astrologers quoting of and referring us to Tostatus The same Doctour Willet on the same Chapter in his 32. Qu. hath this discourse All manner of CONJECTURING see he cals it but Conjecturing is not unlawful whereof any naturall or divine Cause can be yielded As first there are naturall signes in the Heavens and air as of the alteration of weather of winds of rain c. And in compound bodies as in setting and planting of Trees and in humane bodies as when t is good to let blood to purge c. These are immediate effects in nature of Celestiall bodies There are also mediate effects as Comets which shew siccity and combustions and so many portend Wars which is caused by wrath among men which cometh of siccity and heat So the Crow cryes against rain because the moisture of the air affects his feathers And the Dolphin against a tempest swims aloft because the Sand in the bottome is stirred For these creatures that are led onely by sense have a quicker feeling of such naturall accidents then man hath who is most occupied in the use and exercise of reason For Attentio ad operationes secundùm rationem c that is The attending upon the operations of reason doth take away the attention to the operation of nature And therefore FOOLS and SIMPLE persons that are LEAST GUIDED by reason are more sensible of naturall things then WISE men Again there are divine and extraordinary signs * which God speaks of that shall be for signs at such a time or of such a thing As Matth. 24.29 And the Dove descending on Christ Matth. 3.16 But there is no Judiciary Astrology in all these Doctour Willet adds on the same Chapter Qu. 33. to give it you in a word thus Signs observed by men of humane events cannot be signs first because Ex varietate causae variatur causatum The Stars have not the same influence in Summer and in Winter Spring and Autumn Secondly Ex unitate causae sequeretur similitudo effectûs Of the same cause there should be the same effects But there follows not the same effect after the same signs as appears by experience Thirdly Keckerman a most learned Philosopher and a Christian although he favours some things which men now a dayes call part of Astrology did not in all his two great Volumes of Arts and Sciences in Folio set forth any Astrology but in his Works hath these passages against it to this effect Manent tamen c. The Stars abide as of other sublunary effects so of effects in man the COMMON and REMOTE Causes which many wayes may be hindred not onely by the first cause GOD but also by particular causes partly in the HEAVENS partly in the AIR and other ELEMENTS so that the PREDICTIONS OF ASTROLOGIE are with IFFS and AND 's So that it follows not this man is born under an unhappy Star therefore he hath a dull wit So Keckerman System Phys lib. 2. cap. 3. De Motu Cocli The same Keckerman in another place hath these words Disciplina Astrologica c. The Discipline of Astrologie about the Predictions by Heavenly bodies or Stars is not yet confirmed upon true principles therefore no marvell if that part of Astrology which is conversant about the predictions of Comets doth rest upon most uncertain principles It is granted to Astronomy to use such Hypotheses or arguments or principles which are not in nature but are conceived onely by a kind of similitude But Astrology may not use such Hypotheses The Astrologers assign several Countries and Cities to severall Celestiall Signs But of Cities plainly no reason at all appears So Keckerman Syst Phys lib. 6. cap. 5. De Cometis in genere Fourthly Alsted the great Philosopher of these times and a Christian sets forth a thing he calls Astrology but see his faithfulnesse in this Astrologia saith he vitio c. Astrology by the vice of man hath more vanity in it then Astronomy Astrology because of our imbecility is conjecturall And he adds Astrologers are often deceived and therefore we do rightly saith he pronounce the divinatory part of Astrology to be but Conjecturall Fifthly The great Galen saith of Astrology Sophisticum est c. T is a sophisticall thing Contrary to experience Sixthly So famous a man as was S. Austin famous for learning and godlinesse in his time having been addicted to Astrology afterwards repents of it and renounceth it in his Treatise De doctr Christiana lib 2. cap. 21. in fine initio capitis 22. His words are these It is Magnus error magna dementia superstitio c. that is Astrology is a great errour a great madnesse a superstition easily refelled Saint Austin brings in another on Psal 63. as a penitent renouncing this Art Paganisme and Judaisme For we know that the Scriptures do much forbid it to the Jews as the evill of the Heathens as we shall see plentifully afterwards Seventhly Master Perkins famous for learning and godlinesse as his Works shew hath not only a Treatise against Astrology though once much addicted to it but also gives us his repentance and renouncing of it in his Preface to the Reader
nothing in the Mysteries of hid things but representatively by formal Numbers and Figures as they are governed and informed by Intelligences and divine Numerations which unite the extremes of the matter and spirit to the will of the Elevated Soul receiving through great affection by the celestial power of the Operatour a Power from God applied through the Soul of the Universe and observation of celestial Constellations to a matter fit for a Form the mediums being disposed by the skill and industry of Magicians And in the same Book Chapter 54. the same Agrippa hath these words Now that there is in Man's Soul a sufficient power and virtue to direct such kindes of Lots of Divination it is hence manifest because there is in our Soul a divine virtue and similitude and apprehension and power of all things and all things have a natural obedience to it and of necessity have a motion and efficacy to that which the Soul desires with a strong desire and all the virtues and operations of the natural and artificial things obey it when it is carried forth into the Excess of Desire and then all Lots of what kinde soever are assisting to the appetite of such a minde and acquire to themselves wonderfull virtues of passages as from that so from the Celestial Opportunity in that hour in which the excess of such a like Appetite doth most of all exceed in it And this is that ground and foundation of all Astrological Questions wherefore the minde being elevated into the excess of any desire taketh of it self an hour and opportunity most convenient and efficacious on which the figure of Heaven being made the Astrologer may then judge in it and plainly know concerning that which any one desires and is inquisitive to know Thus you see how the Mathematicians themselves cast great Blots and Blurrs upon Judicial Astrology and that in relation to the particulars afore mentioned viz. of the concurrence of Magick of the desires and confidence of Clients and Actours and of the Devil himself And therefore well may all ingenious men for ever be ashamed to speak in the behalf of Judicial Astrology 4. Hear what Master Perkins saith concerning the unlawfulness of Astrology in his Book intituled his Resolution to the Countryman A Resolution to the Countrey-man proving it unlawfull for him to buy or use our yearly Prognostications by W.P. Not convenient to have Prognostications Reasons 1. Concerning the buyer 1. Immoderate care joyned with distrust in God 2. Contempt of the providence of God in not reverently regarding it 2. Concerning the maker 1. His unability in Prognosticating proved 1. By the true end of the heavens 2. By want of good experience 3. By ignorance of particular causes 2. His manifold untruths 3. His impieties and profane speeches and actions not seeming a Christian 4. His tricks of deceit GOod Reader I have thought it convenient for some speciall causes in this short Treatise to disclose a part of my mind unto thee concerning the making of Prognostications and if it might be to perswade thee not to spend thy money in buying any of them I have long studied this Art and was never quiet untill I had seen all the secrets of the same but at the length it pleased God to lay before me the profanenesse of it nay I dare boldly say Idolatry although it be covered with fair and golden shews Wherefore that which I will speak with grief the same I would desire thee to mark with some attention My reason shall partly concern thee partly the Prognosticatour himself 1. First on thy behalf I reason thus 1. As a man doth see the blessings of God upon him so he must also labour with a carefull diligence to maintain the store of this life But because the affection of man is caryed headlong unto a greedy covetousnesse this defire of overmuch carping and careing must be bridled with two strong bitts First all our care must extend it self no further then the present day Secondly in careing we must not trust unto our selves but six all our confidence in the mercy and providence of God who blesseth all and without whose goodnesse nothing can come to passe do what we will 1. As touching the first we have the direction of our Saviour Christ who teacheth us to pray on this wise Matth. 6.11 Give us this day our daily bread whereby we are given to understand that we are onely to seek for the present time resting with this perswasion that he which hath blessed us this day will also to morrow and the next day shew his like goodnesse unto us Again in the same place our Saviour Christ speaketh on this wise Matth. chap. 6. v. 34. Care not then for the morrow for the morrow shall care for it self the day hath enough with his own grief By this welearn that God will provide for every day all things necessary though we do not encrease the present grief with caring and casting in our heads how we shall live in the time to come Now tell me what is the cause that thou yearly dost buy a Prognostication and one of those which tell the strangest things Is it because thou hast a delight to reade the style of Prognostications Or because thou wouldest learn to Prognosticate Or because the pictures and Characters which they make delight thy mind it were folly to be perswaded of this seeing the very cause it self is manifest Thy whole desire is to fill thy coffers and to heap up wealth thou art afraid lest thou shalt become poor therefore thou greedily buyest thee Prognostications and continually searchest all the corners of them to see the state of the year to come even thus in mind reasoning with thy self I can never be quiet nor take my sleep untill such time as I have known the state of the year ensuing that I may frame my businesse accordingly This next year there will be much rain it will rot corn upon the ground it will be spoiled I will keep my corn untill the next year following I find that corn will be dear about half a year hence I will not sell my corn now but keep it that I may have plenty of money for it and sufficient beside to maintain my house the sea and land is calm and quiet this year the next year many shipwracks and troubles in many countreys will fall now I will fraught my ships that then I may be quiet These imaginations are lively arguments of thy diffidence and despair in the goodnesse and loving kindnesse of God If thou fear God love God put thy whole trust in God thou art content to refer thy whole preservation unto the hands of God now these proling and ranging conceits of the time to come argue that either thou never thinkest on God or at the least perswadest thy self that either he will not or cannot help thee Wherefore seeing the having of Prognostications cometh of so wicked causes as is the greedy desire of
Eclipsed in Aries and presently after shewed all his force There was a great sedition in Prague that year In Paris an uprore between them of the Citty and the University and two thousand Schollars were slain then also Wenzeslaus King of Bohemia being in a great Palsie dyed In the year 1524. There was a conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter in Scorpius and also a great eclipse of the Sunne in June which took their effects the same year Charles King of France driven forth of his Countrey warre between Danes and the men of Sleswick There was a great plague in Germany Civil dissention amongst the Princes of the Empire and them which took the part of John Husse 1452. An eclipse of the Sunne in Sagittarius his effects began presently and lasted a great while Even then Constantinople was taken by the Turke The Hungarians and Bohemians besieged Frederick the Emperour 1473. the 27. of April the Sunne was eclipsed in Taurus Mars being in Aries and Jupiter in Sagittarius The same year in Summer was such heat and driness of weather that woods even withered and one might wade over deep rivers In the years of our Lord. 1476. 1460. 1469. 1486. 1502. 1518. And many years after their were both great conjunctions and strange eclipses which took their effects presently not one or two or three years after as our heaven-gazers bear them in hard All these examples which I bring against them I have not feigned but taken forth of those books which they have in greatest estimation and could if need should serve bring an hundred more all to shew their lies when as they commonly say thus There shall be an Eclipse this year marry I will not here determine his effects but reserve them to be declared in my Prognostication one year or two years hence when it will take place To know where the effects of the starrs shall take place they have appointed unto every signe certain countryes as over Europe they have set the fiery Triplicitie over the Orientall and North parts of the Asia the airy Triplicity the watery Triplicity over Africa over the South parts of the Asia the earthy Triplicity and so every peculiar signe hath his dominion over some parts of those Now therefore when a conjunction or eclipse is in any of these signes the Cities and Countryes subject unto them feel the force of that constellation especially This is a most manifest untruth and may be confuted by many reasons 1. The nature of the signs is not the same now as it was in times past and by the confession of the best learned have other effects now then they had in the days of King Ptolomy yet we see the nature of Countryes and people to remain the same still as may be seen by reading Tacitus Plime Casar Strabo 2. America which is half the world hath no signs appointed over it why it was found out of late True it is but this is an argument that the Rules of Astrology are absurd and were the bare inventions and imaginations of idle brains For there is no doubt but that America his parts and I lands as Bresilea Peru Pari Terra Florida Java Major Java Minor Puloana Pavilonga Subath Massana Mattan Juvacana Cozumella Jamaica c. have felt the force of these Constellations which they attribute to some parts of the old world Because these Countreys be about the middle Zone and have both Planets and signs full over them and therefore if the Starrs threaten any strange thing to come they must especially feel it 3. Experience the cause of all acts is against them as is manifest in these examples 47. years before the Nativity of our Saviour Christ there was a Conjunction of the higher Planets in Scorpius and then was civil warre between Caesar and Pompey And the change of the Empire was in Europe But according to the institution of Astrologers all these troubles should have been in Africk because Scorpius hath his dominion there In the year of our Lord. 34. there was a great Conjunction of Planets in Leo and then faith one very prophanely was the Gospel preached through the world But if he make this Conjunction to be a sign of the preaching of the Gospel then it should more have been preached in the parts of Europe then Asia which is not true In the years of our Lord. 331. and 1127. There were great Conjunctions in Virgo and yet the Countryes subject to this signselt no harm but Italy was troubled with the Popes superstitions and Arrius his heresie broached There was a meeting of Planets in Sagittarius 73. years after Christ when as Otho Galba vitellius and Vespasian troubled the Romane Empire yet there was no where more grievous warres then in Palestine and no greater slaughter then of the Jews who are subject unto Scorpius and not unto Sagittarius In the year 1464. a Conjunction of higher Planers was in Pisces under whose dominion although Europe be not placed yet it most felt the smart by troubles and civil warrs So 1576. and 1577. Two eclipses of the Sun the one in Leo the other in Capricorn took their effects in Germany when as Leo and Capricorn do not rule that Countrey It is vain to shew the absurdity of this rule by more examples these shall be sufficient This shall suffice to have spoken of their generall Predictions now follow their speciall determinations of the state and temperance of the weather wherein I will set forth first of all a most manifest and absurd contradiction which most of them make and that is this They use as I have said to set down their judgements of the whole quarter that it should be either moist hot cold or dry afterward judging particularly they disprove by particular dayes that which they said before In the year of our Lord. 1581. one said that in the Autumn quarter should be a great drought yet I perusing his particular judements upon the dayes of the quarter I find it should have plenty of rain In the year last past another said the summer should be so hot and dry that wells and rivers should be dried up and fishes be scarce and Cattel dy for want of water yea the same party in his particular judgement of the weather maketh 20. dayes of the same quarter at the least rain and misling and 30. other either temperate or very cold In one word the judgements which are set down of the weather they are more tolerable then the rest yet as long as the wold endureth no man shall be able to prognosticate truely what weather shall be in every day of the year The causes of this I have set down before and need not now to repeat Wherefore they might leave of any longer to busie themselves in this kind And it shall be sufficient for thee leading a christian life to know the generall and ordinary estate of the parts and seasons of the year The third Reason Impieties Besides all this the
impious speeches and ungodly practises which these men use might move a christian man to loath ther Predictions First yearly some of them do foretell whether men shall study and imbrace or forget and neglect true Religion What a filthie and divelish thing is this not to be suffered in a Common-wealth where the Gospel of Christ is preached Every man naturally is the child of wrath the unprositable servant dead in all kind of sinne his understanding is enmity against God his affections are tebellious against his will none doeth good no not one not one hath any faculty to receive or keep true Religion we are as saws in the hands of God as the Propher Esay speaketh how then become we religious by the onely work of God No man can come to me saith Christ except the Father draw him And as God draweth us first unto true Rehgion so he also maketh us continue in the professing of the same as S. Paul saith he which hath begun a good work in you will finish the same c. By what means doth God do this by the outward preaching of the law and the Gospel and by the inward working of his holy spirit other means the Scripture never mentioneth On the contrary part if any man refuse the Grace of God and will not imbrace the true Religion it proceedeth from the hardness of his own heart and wilfull rebllion Seing therefore the rebellion of man cometh from his own will and the imbracing of true godliness from God alone 2. Corinth 4.34 Why date they presume without great impietie to adjoyn the Constellations as Adjuvants either unto Man or God in this divine work Again these Predictions are very perillous for if a man be wickedly given they hinder him from the acknowledging of his sin because they make him lay par of his faults upon the stars when as all indeed come from his own soul and if a man be a penitent sinner and feel the Grace of God yet being weak in faith and conscience they make him not to put his whole trust in God and to love him with all his soul with all his strength but allure him in some part to attribute that unto the stars which is the onely work of God and not of any Creature 2 They use to foretell what Vices shall reign as in these Examples As There shall be much unlawfull and secret whoredome Great robbing by High-ways sides Wanton and young women shall sit in their Ladies laps by reason of their Goddesses well placing Many shall use deceit and cousening By these and such like lewd and dissolute people take occasions and are stirred up to live profanely and to follow those vices unto which the lusts of their nature carry them The fourth reason tricks of deceit A Juggler which taketh upon him to do strange things must use many slights least if the stander by shall see his Tricks of legerdemain he be descried and all his former cunning turn to his shame Our Prognosticatours understanding this have thought it convenient to use in their kinde some tricks of deceiving Juglers I can call them by no better name for so they are indeed First publishing their Predictions in thy behalf they use such absurd unknown and insolent words as I think never the like were read or heard amongst us in England as are these which follow 1 A Prognostication Astrologically calculated for the Pole Artick for such a City whose longitude and latitude is thus 2 Quartil Revolution 3 Rectified for the motions and Aspects of the Meridian and Elevation 4 Capricorn in quality cold and dry melancholly in taste bitter nocturnal feminine meridional of the earthly Trigon 5 Mercurialists Jovialists Martialists Hiema Solstice Aestival Verval Autumnal 6 Pars torturae coupled with the Dragons tail 7 Taurus a Sign of the earthly Trigonisme naturally cold in the Sign Horoscope and Virgo of the same stamp the sign of the prevention preceding 8 A sign of the same triangularity Jupiter Lord of this Revolution resident with Venus in domicilio deorsum ab Angulo cadente 9 Planets retrograge 10 Cardivalor a succedent position 11 Lunary defect In his Dodecatimorian 12 Names of strange Authours Proclus Alchindus Messahala Zael Albohazen Haly Albumacer Albubater Guido Bonetus Hispaleusis Firmius Abraham Avenezra Trismegistus with many other wondrous Doctours having a great deal of small learning and being far born as in Caldea Persia Arabia Jury 1 Thou wilt say What means all this Here is great Learning no doubt it passeth my capacity who would not have an Almanack if it were for nothing but for this to see and hear how profound our Prognosticatours are Thou far deceivest thy self for they perceiving well that their Deceits and Lies may be soon espied have invented strange terms to colour them and to cast a myste before thine eyes that thou maist not see their naughty dealing For any man the more true and honest he thinketh his matter the more desirous is he to speak plainly to the understanding of all 2 It was a point of the Knavery of the Devil otherwise called Apollo as the Heathen men asked his counsel to answer doubtfully because when as he was ignorant of the Event yet would not but seem to know as in this Answer I tell thee Pyrrhus the Romans may conquer It is understood two ways either that Aeacides might vanquish the Romans or the Romans Aeacides Our Prognosticatours have chosen a very good Patern to follow their dealing with thee is the like when they doubt and cannot tell what to prognosticate then they use two ways of foretelling either to speak that which is true every way or that which is true every year For the first amongst many Examples I will put one or two that thou maist see their dealing in true not forged Examples 1 The conjunction of Mars and Saturn threaten Wars but Jupiter will mitigate the same as a man should say the Prognosticatour telleth true except he tell a Lie 2 1585 We shall have a very dry Winter if peradventure any flouds and store of Rain do fall they shall proceed of former Causes 3 This Summer quarter is like to be for the greatest part dry and hot yet it is neither to be too hot nor too cold but indifferent 4 Neither fair nor foul both together 5 Fair and calm but little misling 6 Clouds portending Rain and Snow Examples of those Predictions which may agree to every year are common with them as these 1 This year Artificers must take heed of too much straining their Backs 2 Take heed of venturing in slippery places boldly in building 3 Old men shall die 4 Death of Sheep and other Cattel this year shall be 5 Sundry Diseases are like to reign amongst many which will sweep away many 6 False Rumours Imprisonments Tortures 7 Brethren and Sisters shall love one another 8 Sundry men and women shall be trouble with pains in the Eyes 9 Much strife amongst men and women 10
must confess as I now but said I see none let him take the true time of the Seas flowing first and then observe in what part of Heaven the ☽ is accidentally placed by her violent diurn motion and he shall finde it to flow till she come to an absolute □ aspect of the place she was in at the first beginning to flow and then will continue ebbing till she come to the direct ☠or opposite place in the Heavens c. Still let him observe exactly when she comes to the □ or ☠of the place of her first beginning and he shall never err in this point This is sufficiently well known to the learned Practitioners and the sons of Art yet note that ☉ and other Starrs may hasten hinder and alter the ☽ influence as he may see at ☌ and ☠of ☉ or the Change and Full in Spring-tides and Neap-tides at quarters and half-quarters I would he had not been ignorant of this and then perhaps this being the beginning of his discourse he had not undertook to lay Pen to Paper against this most heavenly most admirable and most contemplative delectable Study and Science of the Stars and Celestial Bodies So by this time he clearly sees how inconsiderate and rash this his sophistical and fase argument is Secondly saith M. Homes Others say that by Astrologie we know Eclipses and Changes of the Moon but we say Astronomy doth challenge this as belonging to it c. My answer is that I say what ever he telleth me others may or do say he cannot but know that those that say so are not versed therein and are ignorant And thirdly saith he If any one urge that Astrologie handles of the Qualities and Effects of the Stars we reply that so doth Astronomy of their Qualities namely of their light and colour and natural Philosophy of their Effects in watery aiery and fiery Meteors as much as to say Astrology is no Science at all but will give its property to another Study if this be not slanderous and malicious let the weakest in the world judge he might as well then all this while have called it Natural Philosophy as Astrologie And then he tels us if we admit of the Title Alsted gives to Astrologie viz. Astrologia planetaria or Planetary Astrology and of Doctor VVillets Titles viz. Astromancy Genethliaca then saith he for conclusion by all observe that there is no place left for Astrologie by which he clearly renders himself the most malicious of all wretches to deny that Art which above 298. of the most wise of all Ages have studied and practised their names you shall have hereafter in its place both before and since Christs time whose antiquity may be derived from our first father Adam maintained by Princes and Kings reverenced by that greatest of Worthies Alexander the Great and not condemned by any of the Fathers or the practice thereof prohibited by the Church farther then that they should not hereby be drawn from the study of Divinity as you shall see by and by M. Homes me thinks being a wise man should not write against and that in such a zealous manner a thing which is not in rerum natura or in posse as in his first Section of his tenth Chapter he studies to make Astrologie appear to what purpose then are all his arguments against Astrologie when he will not admit of any such thing in the world what doth he write against then and why doth he so much condemn the students thereof Because he knows not the validity thereof because he knows not the rules and fundamentals thereof because indeed he is altogether ignorant of the same and let him not be angry I plainly tell him so plain dealing is best among friends for if he did he would have been so far from writing or speaking against it that he would have been more furious and hot with any one should have condemned it then I am with him Railers are called Diabolicall yea Devils 1 Tim. 3.11 2 Tim. 3.3 Tim. 2 3. as we shewed afore SURVEY One would wonder to hear VV. Ramsey thus rail and call the Doctour diabolicall c. when as the Doctour in his Treatise gave no mans person the least ill word Therefore whether of the twain appears to be more diabolicall let the Reader judge And 't is as great a wonder to see the Doctours Treatise of Astrology so orderly digested into Sections and VVilliam Ramsey to so leap from the one to the other as if he were confounded in his apprehension or else that he would fain rather coosen the Reader then clear the controversie But to the matter To that marked with A we say It is enough to make it a speech of truth and a true confutation of Astrologie that wheresoever the Scriptures mention Astrologie there the Scriptures also disallow it which they disallow in more then six places of Scripture or seven as the Doctour hath observed if VVilliam reckons right although the Doctour reduced them all to seven heads To that at the letter B it is so weak a proof of a Scripture allowance of Astrology that it is not worthy the answering onely I am willing to make W. Ramsey see it if I can For the Heavens declare the glory of God as 't is presently there expounded as they are Gods Handy-work But the inference of William The Heavens declare Gods glory therefore Astrology is lawfull is so ridiculous as that with the bare naming of it it is confuted For THE LANGVAGE OF THE STARS which William saith is in another place I am sure is IN NO PLACE OF CANONICAL SCRIPTVRE For Williams Exposition on Psal 19.3 it must give place to the Apostles Rom. 10.18 viz. of Preaching the Gospel not of Astrology For the Pleiades in Job they are answered after The fighting of the Stars against Sisera Jud. 5.20 Junius expounds to be the Windes Rains Hails Tempests c. caused by the heavenly Bodies to the discomfiting and routing Sisera's Army compare Josh 10.11 Exod. 9.23 which makes nothing for Judicial Astrologie Thus with a touch it appears that William Ramsey is deceived in his conclusion to the said proofs that one of them were enough to convince c. For nor one nor all nor an hundred such are in any shew sufficient to convince a prudent man of the lawfulness of Judicial Astrologie And therefore his hope as he presently adds that by them the Reader doth clearly see that the Doctours words were meerly envious c. is Williams meer dream To that of W. Ramsey marked with C and from thence to the end of this Section we need onely say thus That William is toyling at the Labour in vain to shew the Doctour that the Moon is the cause of the ebbing and flowing of the Sea who knew it afore ever William did and it is granted by him in his Demonologie if William will see onely he saith other Sciences shew that without the help of