the quantity or quality thereof breaks out violently The which Hippocrates seemeth also to grant Lib. 4. de Morbo saying Conturbatur homo dumfebricitat cujus reisignum est quod horror alià s atque ailà s per corpus transcurrit The Extâ—â—nal cause is from some Alteration of the Spirit or Air namely when the Humours are changed from what they were by Nature as from a Cold to a Hot or from a Dry to a Moist condition contra For Hippocrates Aphoris 6. and elsewhere in his Book De Nat. Hum. tells us that Heat and Moisture in the Body move forward the Crises For saith He some Diseases proceed from naughty Dyet others from the Air we attract by means whereof we Live Wherefore Dyet as it breeds such and such Humors is the Internal and Air attracted the External cause of the Crisis That the Qualities are alter'd by the Influence of the Stars and especially the Luminaries is a thing not now to be doubted it being sufficiently apparent in the four seasons of the year how the Air with all Plants and Animals c. do diversly admit of Alteration and therefore the Watry Humors and the Spirit being Aerial are observed to operate more when they are excited than otherwise As when the Harp is touched it moves men to Dancing when the Trumpet Sounds to War like Employments Hence it appears that the universal Cause of all Crises is the Influence of the Heavens For the Coelestial Bodies by their Heat Light Motion and Configuration or Aspects to which St. Augustine adds Afflatum that is Inspiration or Instinction and St. Thomas Aptitudinis Efficaciam a virtual Aptitude or fitness do rule and govern not only the Four Elements but all Elementary Bodies and especially Man from the very first Moment of his Birth until the Ultimate Minute of his Death inciting him sometimes to Mirth another while to Sorrow now to be Sick anon Well again For as Aristotle saith Ex irroratione Coelorum felicia infaelicia germinantur in Terris c. But as touching the Efficient Radical cause thereof the Philosophers making a deeper Scrutiny thereinto do attribute it to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Unity as that which primarily and radically governs the whole Universe as the Agent and first Act from which by which and into which all things are at length Resolved Wherefore the Pythagoreans named the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Unity Apollo because that as from Unity all Numbers take their Original and Encrease So are all things not otherwise than from One alone Surely the same Act which is the Word works centrally and alone from the Center to the Circumference for God is contained in the Heavens as a Center is within its Circle but by a different manner according to the variety of the Subject whereon it appears The Form or Essence of the Agent not being changed which is always Permanent and the same Wherefore it is evident that there is but only One Agent in every Region of this World and but only One Act of his yet divers and sundry Effects according to the manifold condition of the Organical Subject the thing Receiving or Suffering Whereof more in Dr. Flud in Cris. Mysterio There are two Principal sorts of Crises the One as in Acute Diseases and Lunar The Other in Chronical Diseases and Solar Such Crises as take their Original from their proper Principle or from an Internal cause as do the Crises Synochorum depend upon the Motion of the Moon But such as Proceed from the Air or from an External Cause as do the Crises of all Pestilential Feavers are govern'd both of the Sun and Moon Of the Sun if respect be had of the year if of the Month only then of the Moon Wherefore Acute diseases follow the Motion of the Moon and her configurations or Aspects to the place she was in at the first beginning of the disease But here we must Note that in Acute Diseases the Aspects or Radiations of the Moon viz. her Quartiles and Oppositions are not to be counted as if they should begin from her Conjunction with the Sun but from the degree and minute she is in at the Beginning of the Disease until her return to the same Radical Point which is performed in 27 days 8 hours or thereabouts Of Acute Diseases some are Acuti simpliciter simply Acute some Acuti 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 seu Decidentia or from Mutation and Degeneration some Peracuti very Sharp others Perperacuti Exceedingly Sharp Acuti simpliciter are they which from the 8. to the 10 11 14 20 and 21 day Run to the very height some whereof are called Menstrui because absolved within the space of a Lunar Month. Acuti ex decidentiâ from Diminishing or Degeneration are such as are judged imperfectly For sometimes they wax worse in respect of the Symptoms and are sometimes Remitted according as the Moon meets with the Good and Evil Aspects of the Good or Bad Planets And oftentimes they Degenerate from being Acute and become Chronical As when a Pleurisie turns into an Empiema or an Ulcer in the Breast So when a Quotidian Feaver becomes a Hectick or from an Intermittent degenerates into a Quotidian Contrà And these Diseases are judged within 40 Days Peracuti are such as are judged the 5 6 7 and 8 days in which number are the Febres causones Synochae Cholera Angina Peripneumonia Lethargus and the like Perperacuti be such as are absolved within the Space of 3 days or 4 at the utmost and in that time terminated either with Recovery or Death of which sorts are all Pestilential Feavers the Apoplexy Pleurisie Phrensie c. Chronical Diseases follow the Motion of the Sun Acquiring a Crisis after the 40 th day and Judgment when the Sun attains to the Quadrates as is Evident in Hectiques Dropsies and Quaternaries When he comes to the Sextiles and Trines there are only some Indicative Motions made of such Effects as follow in the Opposition Nevertheless they are oftentimes Anticipated or Protracted according as the Planets he meets with help or hinder and for the better if by Nature those Planets be Benevolent if Malevolent for the worse And the like we are subject to in the whole course of our Lives Nam Morbus est Modus vitae Partialis as Campanella Lib. 4. Medicinal most ingeniously observes Moreover the Crises are thus generally distinguished viz. Salvae Dubiae seu suspiciosae Judicatae seu periditatae non Judicatae Crisis Salva or safe is that which happens without any great and Pernicious Accidents Crisis Dubia doubtful or Suspicious which appears with great and Pernicious Accidents and is the most dangerous Crisis Judicata or Hazarded is when on the 4 th day the Signs of Concoction do appear and therefore pâ—aesage the Disease to be judged on the Seventh day Crisis non judicata or not Judged is when the Crisis is absolved the Seventh day yet was not to be Judged the Fourth
Primary Foundations of the whole body of Astronomy are Confirm'd Evinc'd and Demonstrated For seeing that the Sun is Eclipsed only in his Conjunction with the Moon and the Moon in her Opposition to the Sun we conclude the cause of the Sun's Eclipse to be the Interposition of the Moon betwixt him and the Earth and the cause of the Moons Eclipse the Interposition of the Earth betwixt her Body and the Sun 's Thus the Solar Eclipses do manifest the Moon to be Lower and less than the Sun The Lunar Evince the Earth not founded infinitly below us as Xenophon Colophonius trifled But that the Heavens under us are distant from the Earth as far upwards in respect of those that be our Antipodes as here they are and consequently that the Earth is not Cubical nor Pyramidal Scaphoidal or otherwise Hollow Nor Tympanoidal nor Cylindroidal but on every side perfectly Round or terminated by a Globosous Figure Because that not only the Shadow of the Earth in the Moon 's Body is always and on every part observed to be round but also for that such as live Eastward do number more hours from their Meridian for the beginning or ending of an Eclepse than such as live Westward proportionally to their distance By Eclipses also of the Moon we know that the Earth is moved or Placed in the middle of the Zodiaque because that she is Eclipsed only in the Opposite Places thereof The Oriental or Occidental Eclipses of the Moon tell us one half of the World is always visible and that daily one half of the Zodiaque Rises above the Horison The Lunar Eclipses best discover to us the Longitudes of Places upon the Earth and assure us the Earth and Water make but one Globe That the Mountains of the Earth are not to be compared to the bigness thereof the equal roundness of the Shadow tells us Wherein we observe no Hiulcity or Cleft by reason of the Vallies nor yet any part thereof extended more than the rest because of the Mountains And although the true and certain place of the Moon cannot be takâ—n by any Instrument whatsoever because of her Parallaxes Nature or rather the God of Nature hath supplyed this defect by her Eclipses For the Moon posited in Mediis Tenebris is then understood to be in Opposition to the Sun By these defects therefore the Motions and Mutations of the Moon are found out and rationally Demonstrated Lunar Eclipses Demonstrate the Shadow of the Earth to be Conical Terminating in a Sharp Point And in the same places of the Moons Transits to be sometimes thicker otherwhiles more slender notwithstanding a certain Rule and Respect had to the Sun's Motion And consequently that the Sun is moved or so seems to be in an Eccentrical Orb. Hence likewise we gather That the Sun is far greater than the Earth and the Moon lesser so the Solar Eclipses demonstrate the Distances of the Luminaries from the Earth to be different and therefore to be moved in Eccentriques or Epicycles Hereby also is found out a Rule for measuring the Distances of the Sun and Moon from the Earth and the Magnitudes of their several Bodies And lastly by Eclipses of the Luminaries The God of Nature forewarns this sinful world of the Revolutions of Kingdoms and States the Death and Detriment of Princes Governours and Great men of Heresies Sects and Seditions in the Church Alterations of Laws and Customs of Drought and Inundations of Rivers Wars Famine Plague and Pestilence In a word the vicissitude of all sublunary things Levate in Excelsum Oculos Vestros videte quis creaverit ista Something farther touching the Doctrine of Eclipses Chiefly from Morinus NOw as touching the Effects of Eclipses it hath been an Antiently receiv'd Opinion That whatsoever the Sun and Moon and the rest of the Planets and Stars bring to pass upon these Inferior Bodiâ—s is done by vertue of their Light which if granted it must necessarily follow that the action of the Luminary deficient being diminished in Partil or wholly intermitted in Total Eclipses these Sublunaries should meet with and suffer great Alterations because the Sun and Moon are the Primary Coelestial Causes of all Sublunary Effects But Johannes Baptista Morinus Astrolog Gallic Lib. 11. tells us That Light doth only Illuminate and nothing else And Lib. 12. That besides Light there is an actual Heat in the Sun and in all the Stars proper and peculiar Influences which penetrate the body of the Earth and do not less affect and dispose it from the places beneath than such as are above it And therefore Eclipses of the Luminaries are not to be considered only as to a privation of their Light in these Sublunaries but as those Eclipses are never but in their Conjunctions or Oppositions whereby they emit their Influence more powerfully than in any other Aspect whatsoever Wherefore both Astronomers and Astrologers observe the same moment of time in which the middle of an Eclipse happens The first whereby to rectifie the Tables of their Motions the Later to the end that by a Coelestial Figure erected to that moment of time they may see what Effects an Eclipse may produce in these Inferiours not in respect of the Light deficient which saith he the Learned Astrologers regard not but of their Influence Which being permitted he further saith That in superterranean Eclipses of the Sun we are depriv'd of his Light and Heat Totally if the Eclipse be Total and in part if but Partil and that so long as the Eclipse lasts But we are not depriv'd of the Sun's Influence or at least no longer than while the Sun is under the Earth which every night causeth a Total Solar Eclipse for many hours together For as the Influence of the Sun whilst under the Earth penetrates the same as is evident from the Figures of those are born by night so the Influence of the Sun above the Earth penetrates the Dense and Opacous Body of the Moon Eclipsing him which neither the Sun's Light or Heat could penetrate she being as black as Ink it self whilst under the Sun 's Discus as by an Optique Tube may easily be observed But Subterranean Solar Eclipses at leastwise such as be Total do more affect the upper Hemisphere of the Earth then the Superterranean and the Reason is because the Influence of the Sun is not of infinite vertue and therefore if it should penetrate the Earth's Gâ—obe it could be but faintly through both the Globes of the Earth and Moon In those Eclipses therefore at least such as are Total we suffer by reason of the Imminute Influence of the Sun toward us which he thought might be the cause why for 30 years together so much War and all manner of mischiefs raged in this Hemisphere of the Earth which Europe divideth For as much as all that while very many Total and nigh Total Eclipses of the Sun happen'd in the Lower Hemisphere as may be seen in Origanus who very carefully
hath noted and supputated both Superterranean and Subterranean whilst scarce two notable Ones fell out in our Hemisphere Morâ—over he saith that in Lunar Eclipses we are dâ—prived of the Light and Heat of the Sun which at other times is reflected by the Moon wholly if the Eclipse be Total but in part if Partil and only so long as the Eclipse lasteth But we are not more deprived of the Influence and Elemental Efficacies of the Moon than if there had been no Eclipse at all because that between Her and Us there is nothing interposed which might dull or diminish her Elemental or Influential vertues And this is true at least in respect of Influence as well of Subterranean as Superterranean Lunar Eclipses Whence it is that the Sublunary Nature is more affected by Solar Eclipses than Lunar by reason of the thereon imminute Influence of the Sun towards us and in all Eclipses the Influx of the Moon exceeds the Influx of the Sun but most in Lunar Eclipses He condemns the Ancients who thought that in Eclipses the Action of the Deficient Luminary ceased upon these Inferiours because they supposed the Luminaries to Act by Light only and were therefore unhappily Opinionated that some one of the Lesser Planets might execute the Office of the Deficient Luminary Again he saith that the Earth and its Inhabitants are more strongly disposed by the Eclipses of the Luminaries than by the other Conjunctions or Oppositions of the Sun and Moon because virtus unita fortior est But in Eclipses the Rays of the Sun and Moon are united upon the same time or very near it which is drawn from them to the Earth And the Earth is found in a Solar Eclipse within a Cone which drawn from both the Luminaries as from its Base binds the Earth by its Ambite But in a Lunar Eclipse 't is found within a Column the extreams whereof are the Disci of the Sun and Moon Besides in every Eclipse both the Luminaries are under the Ecliptick where the Zodiacal vertue most flourisheth Whence it followeth That an Eclipse by how much greater and of longer continuance it is by so much greater are the effects it produceth Because that in great Eclipses the Central Raies of the Sun and Moon are more united in the same Line which passeth over the Earth and remain longer united Then he condemns Ptolemy and all other Astrologers even till these present days as much mistaken about Eclipses in these two following things First in limiting the places of the Earth to which the Effects of every Eclipse belong For that they would have them appropriated to those Regions and Provinces which are under the Sign wherein the Eclipse falls or others of the same Trigon according to that distribution of the Earth which Ptolemy hath allotted to the twelve Signs of the Zodiaque But forasmuch as that Distribution is but a meer Fiction as he hath endeavoured to prove Lib. 20. Sect. 1. Cap. 2. it is evident they have erred in limiting certain places of the Earth wherein the Effects of an Eclipse shall happen and the rather for that an Eclipse as every other Lunation is an Universal Cause universally active throughout the whole Circuit of the Earth but in every place thereof particularly Active according to the particular posture of the Eclipse and of the whole Heavens in respect of that place of the Earth wherein yet an Eclipse is frequently not allowed to have any Effect according to the Ancients because the place is not under the Sign wherein the defect happens or any of that Trigon which saith he is Hallucinatio intolerabilis ab Astrologicis principiis alienissima And to such as by way of Objection do offer Ptolemy's Doctrine viz. Pro locis particularibus urbibus advertere ad loca Luminarium Cardines figurae Coelestis sub qua urbes ipsae conditae sunt aut ad Medium Coeli in Genituris Principum qui ipsis urbibus dominantur Ac si haec familiaritatem seu convenientiam habeant cum locis Luminarium Cardinum in figura Deliquii Effectus ad ipsas urbes pertinere He thus Answers That the Coelestial Bodies have no Influence on things made by Art at least per se as he seems to have proved Lib. 20. Sect. 4. Cap. 8. and therefore overthrows the foundation of that Doctrine of Cities although it should be deduced from their Radical Figure whereof notwithstanding scarce any One remaineth Now as to what belongs to the Medium Coeli of Princes admitting the Familiarity aforesaid viz. That an Eclipse happens in the Medium Coeli of the Radical Figure of a Prince Or that in both Figures to wit that of the Geniture and the Eclipse the Medium Coeli should be one and the same that Eclipse indeed shall have signification upon the Actions and particular Fate of the Prince But as for what concerns the Citizens Earth Water and Air as Plagues Barrenness c. they shall not be thence foreseen unless peradventure by Accident so far forth as the Prince being actively or passively disposed to War by the similitude of the Figures Plagues and Barrenness c. may thence ensue But these things contribute nothing to the Constitution of the Air at least of Heat Cold Moisture and Drought 2. The second thing wherein he charges the Ancients to have Erred is in determining and limiting the Subject upon which an Eclipse shall especially operate by the Form and Nature of the Constellation wherein the Eclipse falls saying that if the Constellation be Human as Gemini Virgo Aquarius Men shall be affected and if Beastial as Aries Taurus Cancer Leo c. Beasts so and so called For that these names do not truly agree to the twelve Signs of the Zodiaque which ought properly to be called by the names of the Planets there predominating whose Natures they resemble Thus much Morinus whose new and uncouth Doctrine till either it be Refelled or Received by the Learned suspends my Judgments in this matter Of the Crises in Diseases to find out the same and how to judge thereof according to Durret CRisis is thus defined by Galen Est velox repentina morbi mutatio quâ Infirmus vel ad salutem vel ad mortem deducitur and indeed every swift and sudden Mutation whether it be in the Moon the Air or in a diseased Body is by him so called for that it seems to execute the Judicial Sentence be it for the Life or Death of the Patient It is so called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which in Latin is judico decerno or sententiam fero whence these Days are Metaphorically termed Critici Judiciales or Judiciarii Decernentes or Decretorii The cause thereof is two-fold Internal External The Internal is taken from its own proper Principle the which is also twofold For 1. Either Nature would expel some Noxious Humor 2. Or else the Humour it self not yet digested nor prepared to Excretion offending Nature either by
rendring his Death no less Prodigious than was the course of his Life Or that of the Year 1572. in Cassiopâ—ia surpassing of the quantity of the Earth 500 times Or those of the Years 1604. and 1618. which were no less Miraculous than that the Sun should stand still as we read it did in the Days of Joshua or return ten Degrees backward as once upon the Dial of Abaz or be Eclipsed so near a Full Moon as at our Saviour's Passion being all of them alike â—strang'd from the accustomed Order of Nature In like manner the Eclipses of thâ— Luminaries are the Causes of many Changes that ensue in the World because their Effects are general pouring forth theâ—r Influence not only upon Cities but even whole Regions subject to the Quadrangle the Sign more especially wherein the Defect happens and no less on particular Persons who have any affinity in their Genitures with the Schemes of such Eclipses So likewise are the strong Genitures of Kings c. Geniturae validae Regna mutant Mighty Genitures change or translate Kingdoms Causes adjuvant are Revolutions of the World the Progression of the Great Orb of Great Conjunctions before the Flood the Birth of Christ Mahomet and the like I could much enlarge my self upon the Progressions of the Great Orb Great Conjunctions c. but shall forbear in regard the most of them concern Foreign Parts excepting that of the Great Conjunction before the Flood which in the Year 1653. was come to the Sign Cancer and did therefore afflict according to Albumazar Tract 4. Differ 4. the Countries of Scotland and Holland with many Changes and Conversions of things from one condition to another a Famine and Poverty proceeding from Siccity and Drought and a general Fear to possess the People of those places because of their Enemies Great Mortality and Slaughters amongst them with abundance of such Creatures as are destructive to the Earth Thus far have you seen the Superiour Natural Causes of the Mutations or Changes of Empires Kingdoms and Common-Wealths how far wherein and when they concern us and other Nations The Inferiour Natural Cause is either within or without Man That within is the Disposition of the Temperament of the Bodies both of Princes and Subjects aâ—d â—o both different Births and Deaths as well of them that Govern as those that be Governed in the Common-Wealth That without is a Mutation either of Fire or Water and of the Earth and place where the Common-wealth is constituted Unto which do belong House-burnings Earthquakes Change of Ports Barrenness Famine Pestilence and all other Natural damages by the which Common-wealths are changed The Moral Cause of Mutation is either Internal or External The Internal is either on the Prince's or Subject's part The Internal on the Prince's part admits this general Canon The beginnings of Princes are for the most part good but their Progress worse From which Change arise great Mutations in Publick Affairs and things The Internal Cause also of Changes in respect of the Prince is either Ethical or Political Touching Ethical Causes there are these Canons 1. Intemperance and Lust of Princes occasion change of the Common-wealth 2. The like when Princes are Effeminate and Cowardly For like as Empires are obtained maintained and kept by Warlike Fortitude so on the contrary are they lost or dangerously changed by softness and Pusillanimity Political Causes of Changes are either in respect of the Foundation of the Principality or of the Office and Care of the Prince As touching the Causes respecting the Foundation of the Principality there be these Canons 1. It is impossible any Common-wealth should long be safe where the Prince comes to Rule either by a violent Invasion or a crafty Subreption without any access to the Principality 2. The Perjuries of Princes that is when they keep not their Oaths made to their Subjects at the time they were called to Govern bring upon Kingdoms dangerous Changes and Conversions 3. The Authority of a Prince decreasing produceth Change and when the Periods of Empires are divolved the Authority of those that Govern faileth The Causes that respect the Care or Office of the Prince have these Canons 1. When the Prince listens not to Wise and Faithful Councellors Changes are imminent 2. When Publick Judgments are corrupted and hainous Impieties remain unpunished Changes are at hand 3. When the Prince affords not the Subject a Lawful and necessary Defence but suffers him to be vexed and trampled over by Incursions of Enemies Changes ensue 4. When the Revenues of a Kingdom decrease of necessity a Change must follow For Moneys are the Nerves of Empires 5. When the Prince doth too much Poll his Subjects with heavy Tributes and Exactions a Change succeedeth 6. When the Potency and Amplitude of Kingdoms arrive at an exceeding greatness a Change follows for the most part and the Empire falleth by its own weight 7. Foreigners rashly irritated or called into a Kingdom do introduce a Change thereof These are the Causes of the Prince his part there now remain the Causes on the Subjects part which are also either Ethical or Political Touching the Ethical Causes these be the Canons 1. When grievous Wickedness is committed amongst the Subjects and all Reverence of the Laws shaken off and that they Live Licentiously in Lust and Luxury Mutations follow 2. When Subjects degenerate from their Pristine Fortitude and become Unwarlike and Effeminate Kingdoms are Changed Political Causes have these Canons 1 When Subjects begin to have their Princes in hatred and grow weary of them Changes will assuredly follow 2. Pâ—nishments and Changes do ever succeed Infidelity of Subjects 3. Changes of things do always accompany the Disobedience and Contumacy of Subjects 4. Where neiâ—her the Laws nor Magistrates are had in Honour there the Common-wealth cannot be safe or durable An Excellent Discourse of the Names Genus Species Efficient and Final Causes of all Comets c. THE Order which Nature observeth in all things Created doth plainly enough teach us That whatsoever is Born passeth and hasteth towards Death And that all things which have a beginning necessarily and interchangably roul towards their End And as in Humane Bodies some are more strong vigorous and of better Constitution than others and therefore of longer continuance Even so in Empires Kingdoms and Common-wealths some preserve themselves longer for that either they are by Nature more strenuous and stable as having propitious Stars and they well Fortified at the time of their first Foundation Or because the Situation of them is Naturally stronger than others as we see at this day in the Signory of Venice The like holdeth in Cities and Towns in particular Families Laws Conclaves and Councils in Religions Heresies and Schisms The consideration whereof prevents my Wonder at the Vicissitudes and Changes here on Earth I account it no Miracle to see a Monarchy Eclipsed in its greatest Glory and the ruine of one the raising of another I stand not
the Office of the First Moveable That the same part of the Earth by the motion of the whole body thereof continually cometh into the Aspect of New parts of the Stellified Heaven whereby that part of the Earth shall be forthwith changed de novo unless we deny it all power of Operating thereupon Whether therefore there be no other Heavens above that of the Fixed Stars unknown I confess to the Aegyptians Chaldaeans Plato Aristotle Hyparchus and even to Ptolomy himself Or whether More according to the Alphonsins yet this is most certain and not contradicted by any That in Mundane Bodies as the Earth Water Air Fire and Heavens there is some First and Supream than which there cannot be any higher otherwise should they be infinite in Operation And also that these very Bodies are the universal Causes of Physical Mutations and subordinate one to another in Operation Therefore in that Subordination there must likewise be one first and supream Physical cause which acteth by it self and borroweth not of any former the power of Operation And from that the Middle and from these the Lowest do receive their vertue of Action Otherwise this Subordination of Causes should it self be quite overthrown For why should the Middle be said to be Subordinate to the Supream and the Lowest to the Middle in their Operation if that which is lower received no influx or vertue from that which is Superiour unto it And can the Lowest without the Influence of the Middle or these without the Influence of the Highest of themselves produce any Effect The First Cause therefore of all things can be no other than the Supream Heaven which if according to the Doctrine of the Ancients it move it moveth also the Bodies that be thereunto inferiour yet is not it self moved by any other Body superiour unto it And if according to Kepler it be immoveable and indued with Stars it hath influence at least upon the Bodies that be subordinate to it but receiveth not influence from any other Therefore either way the First Heaven shall be the First Cause or the first Physical beginning of Physical Effects and Changes For 't is but expedient that the First beginning in every kind should be the most perfect Therefore shall the First Heaven be in the Lineage of Efficient Causes which are of the most universal and powerful Active vertue which is the greatest perfection of an Efficient Cause so that there is no Inferiour Corporeal Cause which it moveth not or into which it instilleth not a vertue or power of Operation and nothing anew generated in the whole World which this vertue of it self toucheth not Which being granted how can any Man doubt but that every thing which is generated and born de novo should be referred to that First Cause thereof For it must be referred either to some part of that Heaven or to that whole Heaven But it ought to be referred to the whole Heaven For the First heaven is not the First and most Universal Cause secundum aliquam sui partem according to some part of it but secundum se totum according to the entire Body thereof Therefore every Sublunary Effect so far as it may be considered secundum se totum to wit in its Beginning Vigour Declination and Destruction must be referred to the whole heaven yet not confusedly but distinctly and orderly as the most orderly motion of Heaven it self requireth For as the whole Effect and whatsoever doth happen from Heaven during the same correspond to the whole Heaven and yet the Beginning is not the End thereof so what was in Heaven of it self the Cause of its Beginning this same thing shall not of it self be the Cause of the End thereof for so no Effect should continue nor indeed any be produced But as the Beginning Vigour Declination and End of things do differ and succeed one another So the Coelestial Causes of these likewise differ amongst themselves and must succeed one another But in Heaven Difference and Succession are not unless in respect of the parts thereof Therefore in Heaven are certain parts that be the Causes of the beginning of things or which do govern the same Others succedent to those which rule the Vigour others that rule their Declination and lastly such as govern the End or Destruction of things What part of Heaven then Nature her self guiding and teaching us shall we call the First Cause of the Natural Beginning of every thing Surely that which in the very Beginning of the thing ariseth above the Horizon thereof and arising causeth the thing it self also to arise For certain it is that of all the places of Heaven the East is more powerful than the rest as is testified by all Astrologers concerning the Rising Culminating and Setting of the Stars and as Experience it self convinceth in the Change of Air. But a Cause is said to be onely more Powerful in respect of a stronger and more difficult Effect Therefore the stronger and more difficult Effect of things must be attributed to the Ascendant Part of Heaven which none will deny to be the Rise or Production of those things But successively that Part of Heaven which is more elevated above the Horizon and possesseth the Mid-heauen in the Rise or Beginning of the thing shall have the Government of the vigour and Operative vertue thereof That which setteth at the same time the Declination of it from its perfect estate And lastly That which obtains the Bottom of Heaven shall be taken for the Cause of its Corruption And this is the simple and of all others the first Division of Heaven whereby it is truly and rationally fitted for the Begetting Increase and Alteration of all Physical things from their own Nature and at length corrupting them And which onely the Ancient Astrologers frequently used in their General and Particular constitutions of Heaven as appears by Holy in the Figure of the Comet which happened in his time For that either a more scrupulous Division of Heaven was harder in those days for want of Astronomical Tables Or because this Division might generically contain whatsoever another could more specially But when once some Astrologer had observed that Heaven was both made and moved rather for the sake of Man than any other Animate or Inanimate Creatures and how many things agreed to Man himself in respect of his more Divine Nature which did not in any wise to more ignoble Creatures He supposed that for Man's own sake also the whole Circle of Heaven was rationally Divided into Twelve parts by great Circles drawn through the intersections of the Horizon and Meridian and cutting the Aequator in so many equal parts which he called Houses the first whereof he placed in the East and delivered to Posterity That it governed the Life of Man and from thence might be had and drawn a conjectural knowledge and judgement concerning Life That the 2. which followâ—th the first according to the Motion of the Planets
there are many Thousands of Men Living that have no Work-men at all who earn their Bread with the Labours of their own Hands Besides To know their Work-men is not a Great and Inscrutable Work but altogether such a one as every common Rustick daily is capable of And therefore that version wholly dissents from the Proposition Object But now ye may Object That if the Disposition and Draught of the Lines of the Hands be an Inscrutable Work then nothing of Certainty can be pronounc'd as touching their Decrees and Significations And therefore the Science of Chiromancy will be Imperfect and Lame or if you please no Science Solu I Answer All Sciences in this Life are Imperfect and Lame if ye look upon the Force of Humane Wit as the Apostle himself Testifies And surely they were so made lest we should wax Proud and Boast of our Wit and of those Sciences but rather seek for the Absolute Perfection of all things in GOD who hath reserved that Perfection for the World to come Yet therefore are not those Sciences to be Despised and utterly Rejected But that the Mind of an Ingenious Man might delight it self in them because Sciences are the only Food of the Mind We maintain also that Chiromancy containeth things that be Inscrutable by a Three-fold Reason 1. Because that in this Science we cannot attain the Knowledge of all the Particular and scrupulous Lineaments so as that we can explicate the Decrees of every Incisure And although many Particulars may be pronounced yet are they such Particulars as may not recede from the Number of Universals Yet when ye can or would pick out the Decrees of all the most scrupulous Incisures there may be oft-times above an hundred Portents to be considered which is Impossible to be done Therefore our knowledge hardly reaches to the one half of this Science In which respect the Significations of all Particular Signs are not Injuriously deemed Inscrutable 2. Another Reason is for that the Position of these Lines very much differs in all Mens Hâ—nds For although you should observe a thousand yet could you not find any Two exactly agree in every Particular Positure of their Lines And this Divâ—rsity proceeds from no other thing than The Soul of the World She it is that by her Spirit from hour to hour variously Disposeth Moveth Animateth Producâ—th Signâ—th Sustaineth all things of this Inferiour World This is it that Communicaâ—es to every Man a certain Sydâ—real Spirit from the seven Planâ—ts and Twelve Signs by whose Rule and Instinct every thing that is it self exceedingly Profits the Liberty of Will remaining The Ancient Philosophers called it The Good Spirit or Proper Genius of every one Wherefore if the finding out of these Signatures were not to all Men almost Inscrutable every one might easily find and know his own Genius and what were needful for him to do But touâ—hing the Soul of the World and the Spirit thereof I shall annex some things at the end of this Work 3. Lastly the Structure of the Hand it self is admirable in râ—gard of the Proportion it beareth to the Face and ceâ—tain Parts thereof Which is this 1. The whole Hand is of Equal length with the Face 2. The Greater Joynt of the Fore-finger which adjoyns upon the Tuberculum of Jupiter Equals the Height of the Fore-head 3. The other Two to the Extremity of the Nail are the just Length of the Nose viz. from the Intercilia or place betwixt the Eye-brows to the Tip of the Nostrils 4. The First and Greater Joynt of the Middle-finger is so long as it is betwixt the bottom of the Chin and the top of the Under Lip 5. But the Third Joynt of the same Finger is of equal length with the distance that is betwixt the Mouth and the lower parts of the Nostrils 6. The Greater Joynt of the Thumb gives the Wideness of the Mouth 7. The Distance betwixt the bottom of the Chin and the top of the Lower-lip the same 8. The Lesser Joynt of the Thumb is equal to the Distance betwixt the top of the under-lip and the lower part of the Nostrils The Nails obtain the just half of their respective uppermost Joynts which they call Onychios Now I suppose it well enough understood what consideration is requisite to the knowledge of the Hand the Parts and Signatures thereof which yet is supposed but a small Particle of the Humane Body But the cause of the afore-said Proportion who can tell Verily therefore Man is the work of GOD as tâ—e Hebrew Translation hath it Ad verbum in the afore-said Place of Job The third Example proposed by Job is concerning Beasts that seek their Dâ—ns and leave them at their pleasure not otherwise than as if some-body had taught them it Whence it is manifest Beastâ— do live indeed by sense yet not wholly destitute 〈◊〉 some Reason Which very thing is proved also by other Documents But we may more Rightly attribute unto them an Image or Proportion of Humane Reason Now the rest I leave Nor yet have I here said thus much as if without it this our Chiromancy could not stand Let those to whom it is acceptable approve thereof otherwise let him it pleases not abound in his own sense Example IV. One Born upon the River Rhene A.C. 1546. January 6 Hor. 1. Min. 20 in the Afternoon the Pole Elevated almost 52 Degrees The things considerable in this Example are 1. A Token of the Gout under the Finger of Saturn whereof he was sick by Turns for some Years Notwithstanding that Disease could not be fore-told in specie from any Characters Mars Posited at the Geniture in Sagittary and in the sixth House brings Infallibly the Gout Of which Positure we have also known other Examples The Girdle of Venus whole yet twice Intersected is a palpable sign of Intemperance and of Beastly Behaviour in Venereal Actions not without some stain both in Name and Repute which he found by the Event Consider I beseech you Saturn in the 7 th House joyned to Venus in a Quartile of the Moon 2. For such a Conjunction produces Minds that be Impure unless Jupiter interposeth He likewise denies Issue and oft-times takes away the Children given or maketh such as are to be Born Infortunate 3. The Triangle perfect the Cephalica extended by a continued Tract to the Place of Mercury and the Saturnia rightly touching the Natural Mean the Place of Jupiter Mercury and Venus And lastly the Via Lactea not foolishly formed Argue A Fortunate Man In the Geniture you may behold Saturn and Jupiter disposing of the 7 th 8 th 9 th 10 th 11 th and 12 th not without Reception of Houses In which places you find all the Planets Mars only excâ—pted This Native therâ—fore was most Fortunate in such things as are subject to Vâ—nus Mercury and Jupiter 4. The two Parallel Lines conveniently drawn in the form of a Ladder from the Region of Saturn and the Sun to