they remain as yet by them unshaken and that they have no other refuge but barely to face it down with a bold and impudent forehead especially being in the former so shamefully bafled Wherefore now it resteth I snew you the full power and subject of Astrology and how far I maintain or allow of the Art and here desist referring you for further satisfaction to that discourse of mine which is able to justifie these my words since for all that the Replyers thereunto can say the Art remains still unshaken and it unanswered wherefore they had but small reason to title that weak piece Judicial Astrology Judicially condemned when alas there is hardly a judicious sentence to be found between the beginning and end thereof unless borrowed of some other Author neither are they or it able to shew their faces before the judicious and impartial Judges of the matter without suffering condign condemnation themselves CHAP. XX. Containing the power and subject of Astrology and how far the Author vindicateth it YOu are now to receive The power and subject of Astrology which by all what you have heard How the Author sets down the power and subject of Astrology dealeth with such things as are performed by Art and Nature with the will of man indirectly and accidentally and his inclinations temperature and dispositions as also with his affections and body and with natural and secondary causes and general accidents and contingencies But not with rare contingencies or such as have an indifferent respect to the opposites as depending upon unknown and indeterminate causes which may happen one way or other neither with mans will doth Astrology meddle but accidentally so far as the Soul with the faculties thereof follows the temperature of the body neither with the Providence of God or shew a cause of miracles or with the secrets of God for they are saith the Scripture past finding out Ergo Astrologers that are men that contemplate but natural causes are falsly and most scandalously abused when thus impeached neither hath the influence of the stars any fatality as inevitable except some contigency be mixed therewith for this were to deny the Providence of God How far the Author maintaineth or justifieth Astrology Now as touching the parts of Astrology I shall here according to Ptolomy in the beginning of his second Book of his Quadripartite chap. 1. divide into two the first and chief part being general as having relation to Countries Kingdoms Provinces and Cities alterations of Kingdoms Laws Customs death plenty wars peace health sickness and mutations in the Air c. The second particular viz. To mens Nativities as to know the particular constitution temperature and natural inclination of any man or woman but not other accidents as whether a man shall live long the time when he shall die and what manner of death whether he shall be rich and how attain it c. which are as also Horary questions depending thereon not certain The first is judged by the position of the Heavens and the Planets and their Natures and significations at the time of any Revolution of the yeers of the world the appearance of Eclipses Comets Blazing-stars or great Conjunctions The latter at the time of the parties birth and so far and no farther do I any wise allow of the Art for what is called Astrology more then this is not ASTROLOGY but the meer abuse of the Art I meand Charactery-Astrology and other superstitions of the Arabians and Chaldeans also horary questions and elections if not depending or grounded on the Radix of the parties Nativitie or rather on that part which teacheth of the general accidents of the world are neither countenanced or vidicated by me in the least for I have studied and know sufficiently the experience thereof neither do I wholly relie on the setting of any mans Nativity though it hath been approved of by some of the learned The Authors opinion touchiug Nativities fer since the stars have no power on such as are ruled either by Reason or Grace as you have heard where I say Astra agunt not cogunt are sapiens dominabitur astris to what end then is it for a man to busie his head about such uncertainties when except the native be a man meerly natural no Prediction shall fall out true as to accidents and disposition sure is worse then madness then to spend time on this part of the Art Touching Horary questions and Elections Wherefore it must needs follow then that the resolutions of questions and elections thereon depending are more uncertain yet I must confess the Astrologer may undertake in some sense to answer the demands of the Querent by his Art without regard to the Radix or ought else since he may be confidently assured that such inquirers are nowise either rational or religious and so consequently are easily carried on to the temptations and delusions of the devil or according to the natural inclination and influence of the Heavens Yet know that Elections touching the administration of Physicke Phlebotomy using of Husbandry and Navigation I do allow of as also all other elections if they depend on this matter but what is more then this doth in my opinion subject mans will to the power of the stars and all his voluntary actions which to affirm were most ridiculous Needs must he be most impious and ignorant that traduceth Astrology And thus far is the glory of God made cleerly manifest in his creatures and to deny this which is indeed the pure Art of Astrology is to deny the most heavenly and chiefest study next to Divinity under the Sun and also that which of all studies else most conduceth to the praise and glory of the omnipotent and omniscient creator for which they and all things else were first created and then consequently must the treducers thereof be most impious and ignorant Reader I shall here for conclusion say no more then this that thou first seek thy Creator and serve him before thou apply thy minde unto this subsequent or any other study for that so thou shalt be made the more excellent and perfect therein yet particularly as for this heavenly contemplation let me tell thee wert thou an Heathen before thou wert seen therein yet wilt thou cleerly be made thereby when thou art acquainted therewith to see thy Creator and his unspeakable wisdom therein * Ergo far from making men Athiests as some have affirmed except they believe a fatality which in this study is to be wholly denyed and by me ever was wherefore in all thy study give him the whole praise and glory who hath disposed and ordered all things according to his divine will and inevitable decree and that thou mayest be the better inabled thereunto thou shalt never want my prayers nor service Die ♄ 31. Januarii 1651. FINIS AN INTRODVCTION TO THE Iudgement of the Stars WHEREIN The whole ART of ASTROLOGY Is plainly Taught and
Astrologia Restaurata OR Astrologie Restored BEING AN INTRODVCTION TO THE General and Chief part of the Language of the STARS In Four BOOKS THE FIRST Proving the Legality of ASTROLOGIE both by Scripture Reason and the testimony of the Ancients and learned in former Ages wherein is cleared to every Rational and Impartial man the Authors Lux Veritatis in Answer to Doctor Homes to remain unshaken notwithstanding the Doctors unowned Reply THE SECOND By a plain Method teaching the Names and Characters of the Planets and Signs as also the Reasons thereof and of their Dignities Terms Faces Houses Exaltations and Triplicities with the Reasons why the Signs are reckoned from Aries and in number just twelve and â—â—â—ither more nor less with the number of the Sphears their Order and Motions being a most necessary Introduction to the whole ART and very usefull to all wel willers thereunto for inabling them to give Reasons for any part thereof c. THE THIRD Fully comprehending Instructions and Rules for electing any manner of Work never before made publique in our Mother Tongue the which both for the Administration of Physick Letting of Blood Husbandry and other necessary Works is both usefull and profitable THE FOURTH By a most easie Introduction teacheth by Revolutions of the Years of the World Eclipses great Conjunctions Comets and Blazing-stars how to Judge by the ordinary course and order of Nature of the general Accidents of Countreys Kingdoms Provinces and Cities Alterations of Kingdoms and Empires Laws and Customs Cause of Plenty Dearth Wars Peace Health Sickness Alteration of the Ayr and to be short of all things appertaining to the life of man in a Natural Way wherein is the infinite Wisdom of GOD seen manifestly in the Government of the World by the Influence and constant Harmony of the Celestial Planets and Stars the Innocency Legality and Purity of the Art demonstrated and proved by demonstration of the inevitable events of the Heavens so long as GOD upholdeth the Order and Course of Nature unperverted and the Students thereof consequently proved rather Divines then Conjurers or Practisers of what is unlawfull By VVILLIAM RAMESEY Gent. Student in Astrologie Physick and the most Heavenly and Sublime Sciences Astra regunt homines sed regit astra Deus Published by Authority LONDON Printed for Robert White 1653. SERENISSIMO ILLVSTRISSIMOQVE PRINCIPI AC DOMINO DOMINO HONORATISSIMO IACOBO STVARTO DVCI DE RICHMOND ET LENOX COMITI DE MARCH DOMINO IN AVBVGNY DARNLY TARBOLTON ET METHVEN BARONI DE LEIGHTON BROMSWOLD ET S. ANDREWS c. ET PERISCELIDIS INSIGNIS MILITI DOMINO SUO CLEMENTISSIMO Salutem Felicitatem Perpetuam HANC SUAM ASTROLOGIAM RESTAVRATAM SUBMISSE CONSECRAT Wilhelmus Rameseus TO THE Illustrious and High-born PRINCE IAMES STVART Duke of Richmond and Lenox Earl of March Lord Aubugny Darnly Tarbolton and Methven Baron of Leighton Bromswold and St. Andrews and Knight of the most Noble Order of the GARTER May it please your Highness IF Nobility of Birth Antiquity of House Magnanimity of Spirit Multiplicity of Vertues and the most excellent Endowments that a Mortal Man can attain unto may justly as their due challenge the patronage of these my Labours there will be none found to anticipate your Highness and though my misfortune is such that I never had the Honour in the least to kiss your Highness hand or to appear in your presence but remain as yet a Stranger to your Highness yet by reason the Work is of that sublime Worth and Excellency I mean the Science of Astrology as appeareth by the first Book of this Volumn it being the chief of the Liberal Sciences together with Astronomy Physicks and Natural Philosophy which are all but part of one intire Science and that wherewith none is able to compare have I humbly presumed to cast it at the feet of your illustrious Self whose incomparable worth and indowments are unparalleld so that if your Highnesse's Munificence doth favourably accept of this small Token of my wel-wishes to true Nobility â—â—d in a particular manner to your Highness I must necessarily be constrained to acknowledge my self arrived to the highest pitch of Honour that for the present I am capable to expect The subject of this my unworthy Work for so I may call it in reference to your Highnesses unparalleld excellency to whom it is presented is that part of Natural Philosophy vulgarly termed ASTROLOGY which teacheth by the Natural Motions Configurations Aspects and Inclinations of the Coelestial Stars and Planets to Iudge of the Natural Accidents Mutations and Alterations of Laws Customs Kingdoms States and Empires and the general casualties of the whole World in the Natural way of its Government by the Coelestial and Superiour Bodies which next under GOD are the efficient Causes of all corruption generation production and nutrition in this Elementary World the knowledge whereof is to know NATURE the great Hand-maid of the Almighty and the temper and quality of all things and although through the mercenary practises of some by setting of Nativities and answering of Horary Questions thus abusing the Art the validity of this Science hath been brought into question reproach and contempt yet I question not but your Highnesses innate magnanimity is such that it will not condescend to give any censure on what hath not first been summoned to the Bar or Tribunal of your Highnesses piercing Judgement for because a thing is calumniated and questioned is no proof of its illegality neither doth the abuse take away the use thereof for were this admitted even the best of Sciences and chief of Studies Divinity it self could not be exempt from prohibition and condemnation wherefore since the first BOOK of this Volumn tendeth wholly to the Vindication thereof from the aspersions of the Antagonists and the abuses of the seeming Friends thereunto I shall not further inlarge on this point since it is well known unto the Learned that among the Ancients and graver sort of people in all Ages this Science being unpolluted and unsophisticated hath been still had in most high esteem nay it is of that profundity and excellency that it was first taught to our first Father ADAM by GOD himself as testifyeth Iosephus Lib. 1. Cap. 2. of hâ—â— Antiquities of the Iews who taught it to his Posterity for he further recordeth that Seth was so excellent therein that foreseeing the Flood and the destruction of the World thereby ingraved this Art for the benefit of after-Ages in two Pillars the one of stone and the other of brick and that he saw himself that of stone to remain in Syria in his own time and in the 3. chap. of his aforesaid book he further witnesseth and affirmeth that man lived so long before the Flood to learn Arts and Sciences especially naming Astrology and Geometry and in his 8. chap. of that same 1. Book of the Antiquities he doth yet further testifie that Abraham having learned Astrology in Chaldea being the place of
all my days in and about this City of London save only the time I was in Scotland I am not familiarly acquainted with three people in all England for such is my disposition that I had rather be a stranger in the Land of my Nativity in this perverse and rebellious Age and to the generality of men living therein then to my self and my own conscience the which so long as I may freely enjoy I shall never repine but be ever content with what condition loss or change soever God hath farther in his Wisdom and Providence decreed for me to whom for eternal protection I shall here commend thee and remain Die ☿ 19. Januarii 1652. Thy Loving Friend William Ramesey On his Ever Honoured and most Ingenious Friend the unparalleld AUTHOR WHy wert not thou produced in those Days In which Philosophers did wear the Bays Learning and Art in this Age are beat down Learning of old was had in great renown In Syria Greece and Babylonia A rabia Persia Lacedemonia ' Mongst the Caldeans also and Assyrians REnown'd Egyptians and Sydonians And Indians with our Neighbours of France Much honoured it and still did it advance Each then in vertue striving to exceed So vertuous were they Now in our need Even when it was almost forgotten quite You were brought forth to bring it unto light W. D. Iatromathematicus On this incomparable Work and my worthy Friend the Ingenious AUTHOR VVHat shall I of these learned Labours write Or of the Author what shall I indite Come all ye Gods assist this pen of mine Come all ye Sisters come ye Muses Nine Lend here your help and let now all men know If they in Mysteries desire to grow Here they the Treasure of the East may finde And Natural hidden causes to their minde How by the vertue of the glorious Stars Health Sickness Plenty Scarcity Peace Wars Are brought to pass in their due time and all Things that are done in this World great and small And that God worketh not prepostrously As some men strangely have maintaind but by Order and Nature he brings all to pass Which we may clearly see as in a glass Could we but read the volumes of the Skie As here the Author clears it to the eye Of every notion whose elaborate pains Be recompensed with immortal gains And when he shall be taken from this place Let him be fixt amongst the Stars to grace Those Heavenly bodies and those Lamps of Light For he hath made them glorious in our sight I. W. Vpon the Authors Elaborate Pains in these his Labours VVHO in his Writings seeks all men to please Is not unlike the Merchant on the Seas Meeting with rocks winds pyrates shelves and sands Yet boldly ventures ere at home he lands His Ship full fraught returned safe and sound Discharg'd of Wealth wherewith she did abound He sits him still and lives at quiet ease Thinks the Land better then the boystrous Seas Even so our Friend in these ungratefull times Hath brought home learning bred in Forraign Clymes Is sure to meet with Find-Faults for his pains When he seeks nought but profit to their brains And pleasure all men Dolts do ever pine When they see Learning live and Vertue shine All Ages Sorts of men and Learned Schools Have honour'd this rare Science save some Fools Who neither know nay will not understand Unto what purpose God hath given command To the great Lights of Heaven Planets and Stars To shew their power on these Inferiours I envy none yet hee 's no Friend of mine Who having Pearl's will cast them unto Swine The Commonwealth of Learning cannot flourish If she instead of True-born Bastards nourish Some say those things are best which are in common But in these speculations there is no man Will so adjudge For an illiterate head But only taught to spell perhaps to read His mother Tongue high Secrets to expound Mis-leading others runs himself on ground But as our Merchant in some Forraign soyl Hath got a precious Jewel by his toyl And industry hoping thereby to raise His Fortunes brings it home which he doth praise Unto his Friends It they much magnifie And some choice person doth his Jewel Buy And much esteem it So this Far-fetcht piece Of Heavenly Science will the Golden Fleece Even much resemble Th' Author honoured be As Jason was to all Posterity I. B. The Contents of the First BOOK CHAP. I. PRoving Astrology to be one of the Liberal Sciences Fol. 1. CHAP. II. That Astrology and Astronomie are one and the same Science and that they were ever so received by the Ancients Fol. 3. CHAP. III. Shewing the excellency and nobility of the Science of Astrology as also its antiquity and the admirable power and vertues of the Heavens Fol. 4. CHAP. IV. That the Stars and Heavens have influence on inferiour and elementary bodies proved by Scripture or the Word of God and acknowledged by the Philosophers and the learned in former Ages Fol. 5. CHAP. V. Shewing that observation may be made of the motions of the Stars in answer to those that hold it impossible for any man in his days to observe the particular configurations of every Planet with the fixed stars and with one another as also that thereby we may discern their Influences if we have any capacity Fol. 7. CHAP. VI. That the variation of the Heavens from their places wherein they were in Ptolomies time or at the first Creation causeth no Errour in Astrological judgements Fol. 8. CHAP. VII Shewing the powerfull influence of the Stars and Planets and how far we are to have regard to the fixed stars Fol. 10. CHAP. VIII Shewing further the influence of the Heavens on inferiour and elementary bodies Fol. 14. CHAP. IX Shewing that the influences of the Heavens and predominancy of the stars in every climate is the cause of the several Laws and Customs of the people therein Fol. 16. CHAP. X. Containing the resolution of the main objections against this Divine Science Fol. 18. CHAP. XI Containing an Introduction to the vindication of my Lux Veritatis from the aspersions of Dr. Homes and his second with the first reason why I accounted him not worthy of my notice Fol. 23. CHAP. XII Comprehending three reasons more why that rabble of theirs was not worthy answering as to every quirk Fol. 24. CHAP. XIII Containing the Authors fourth reason and a vindication of both him and his Lux Veritatis from some of their abuses and untruths and their juglings and evasions manifested Fol. 26. CHAP. XIV Containing the Authors fifth Reason and the Scripture proofs alledged for Astrology in his Lux Veritatis proved to remain unshaken Fol. 30. CHAP. XV. Shewing that the Text in the 19. Psal ver 3. alledged by the Author to prove the Stars have influence is no wise refelled Fol. 32. CHAP. XVI Proving their Reply to Job 38.31 shewing the Stars to have influence to be frivilous and of no effect Fol. 33. CHAP. XVII Proving
it apparent where the whole influence of the Heavens and the increase of all Vegetatives are attributed to the Sun and Moon viz. For the precious fruits brought forth by the Sun Nota. and for the precious things put or thrust forth by the Moon Again we see cleerly in many places of Scripture the stars are called the Hoasts of Heaven Further that the stars have influence which certainly would never have been thus named were they of no force and efficacy the word hosts intimating their power and strength see 2 King chap. 17. ver 16. and chap. 21. ver 3.5 and chap. 23. ver 4 5 c. So likewise God himselfe expressing his omnipotent and irresistible power and force he is called the Lord of Hosts Isa 24. v. 23. Is 23.9 and chap. 22. v. 5.12.14 15 25 and many several other places which are worth the while to peruse But further to put this matter quite out of doubt viz. That the stars have their influence on Elementary bodies see Deut 4.19 where you see cleerly they are for the use of man divided or imparted unto all Nations under the Sun by which if any man shall conclude and affirm is meant their light Object or that distinction which they cause between day and night Answ and of seasons I must needs tell him his conclusion is very weak since we have so small use of their light either in the day or night that it may very well be counted none at all and as touching that distinction of days and seasons the Sun and Moon would be sufficient for that matter without those innumerable Hoasts of Heaven the starres Nota. therefore the use of the stars must in this place have a further constrution The influence of the stars extends to the temperature of men as we see in Lunatick To the success of mens affairs also though denyed by some The influence of the stars acknowledged by Philosophers Moreover that their influences have power and extend to the temperature of men appeareth Matth. 17.14 where the lunatick is offered unto Christ to be healed whose distemper as experience and common example sheweth followeth the course of the Moon and to the success of mens affairs doth yet further appeare by Judg. 5.20 where it is recorded that the stars in their courses fought against Sisera of the which more anon as also that passage in the 38 of Job and the 19 Psal as touching the Pleiades and Orion and that the Heavens declare the glory of God their voice or language of the stars being gone through the whole earth c. Thus have we cleerly seen the influence of the stars proved by the Word of God how they were esteemed in former ages by all Philosophers Emperours Kings and the nobler spirited people you may see if you will have regard to the 4 Sec. chap. 1. of my Lux Veritatis where you may see not onely the great esteem the Art was in amongst all wise and learned men in former ages but also the names of the chiefest Patriarchs Fathers Philosophers Emperours and Kings that were students herein which notwithstanding the pretended arguments of the envious against it stands unshaken as will appeare to any that shall peruse it comparing it with the pretended Replyers discourse therefore here I shall refer thee thereunto being desirous to be as short as possibly I can CHAP. V. Shewing that observation may be made of the Stars motions in answer to those that hold it impossible for any man in his days to observe the particular configurations of every Planet with the fixed Stars and with one another as also that thereby we may discern their influence if we have any capacity Observation teacheth us the stars influence I Shall here therefore now shew that observation will clearly evince us that the Stars have admirable influence on these inferiour and elementary things for though it be most certain that the Heavens make not their Revolution under 36000. years yet is its variation so slow as that it dependeth upon the motion of the fixed Stars so that before there can be any great difference worth speaking of the same constellations may be often observed in particular though not in the whole for the fixed Stars according to the neerest account of our late Writers or the sphear in which they are move not above one degree which is 60. minutes in 72. years in which time there is none but who are altogether ignorant that cannot make sufficient observation of every constellation worth noting for the confirmation of their influence for though they move from East to West once in 24. hours so making this Diurne Revolution 366. times in a year yet since in respect of the motion of this Sphear from West to East these 366. Revolutions causeth not a minutes difference it must needs follow that the very same fixed stars do rise culminate set That the true nature of the Stars may be known and how and lie in the same Circle of position and also may be in configuration of the Sun and any of the other Planets and that so exactly in one and the same place or part of Heaven that it is impossible with any instrument to discern any variation either in the longitude latitude declination right or oblique ascention thereof so that hereby it is clear the nature of any star may be found out and be exactly known The power of the Planets But now as touching the Planets first we attribute as is clear to every vulgar notion most power and efficacy to the Sun next to the Moon then to Venus and so to Mercury and next to Jupiter and Saturn and lastly to Mars this I mean in relation to their motion with the Sun for by how much the light of the Planets to us is greater and their motion swifter by so much are their operations necessarily the more apparent and manifest to us or our sense we prefer Venus before Mercury for that though he be swifter yet is she the greater and so consequently of more efficacy and the reason why Mars is of least note or most obscure unto us is for that he is lesse then Saturn and Jupiter who are preferred before him and moveth in so large and great an Epicycle that he seldomest rancounters with the Sun The significations of the influence of the Stars are soon found out in relation to their configurations with the Moon with the Sun Venus and Mercury In relation to the configurations of Saturn Jupiter and Mars with them And we know that the Moon as I have said in chap 4. of my Lux Veritatis sect 2. finisheth her course through the Zodiack every 28. days and some odd hours viz. twelve times in a year by which we may and do plainly perceive her configurations viz. Conjunction Sextile Trine Square and Opposition with every Star in the whole Heavens both fixed and errant and thereby their nature and mixture often to be known
known by observation wherefore to descend to particulars That the Sun hath influence If we have regard first to the Sun we shall finde that the power of the Sun and the quality of the Heavens cause the inhabitants of the Torrid Zone to be black such are they which we call vulgarly Blackmoors or Negroes and causeth them also to be of constitution Cholerick their hair curled of mean stature by reason of the temperature of their bodies which is hot and dry Look Ptol. lib. 2. cap. 2. de quadripar We further know the Sun doth also tan even us in this our climate and is the cause also of Spring Summer Autumn and Winter day and night and the chief cause of the generation of all living creatures but more especially those which proceed from putrefaction c. every one knows bringeth also to maturity all the fruits of the earth and extimulateth all creatures to the act of generation for the procreation of their several kinds But to be short that 33. of Deut. ver 14. before mentioned and the testimony of Moses Gen. 1.14 of which anon that the Sun and the Moon were constituted for signs and seasons as well as other stars is cleer We know also he is of a drying and attractive Nature That Chronick diseases follow his course as acute and sharp the course of the Moon cum multis aliis but here I shall pass them by since there is no Peasant but can acquaint us with some one effect or other of this clearly by experience known unto him And who is so ignorant but knoweth that the Moon hath a great influence on the ebbing and flowing of the Sea which every waterman on the Thames can justifie The Moon Object Answ Why there is no Tides or such as can hardly be discerned in the Atlantick seas Why there is no Tides in fresh waters and why in some places there are no Tides but if some urge that in the Atlantick sea there is no Tides and so think by this their ignorance to make ought against this most heavenly Art they are mistaken for as touching this their idle and vain conceit I shall not need for the answering thereof use many words but let them know that by reason of the profundity and vast wideness of those seas I must confess little or no Tide can be discerned yet is it most probable there is an increase and decrease of that current as I shall appeal to all the learned in Navigation for by reason of the indisposition of the subject the influence I must confess of the Moon is not so much discerned as in other things as all moist and watery bodies that she wholly rules as in fresh waters by reason of the rarity and subtilty thereof she not having that fit subject to work on which is requisite causeth no Tide there also expert Navigators can testifie that in some places of the Ocean Tides are letted by the strength of a contrary Current c. But there is no female of twenty one yeers of age though some at sixteen nay sooner but can testifie its effects on their bodies by causing their menstrues once a moneth this they finde by experience though perhaps all know not the cause or reason thereof you have already heard her influence on lunaticks causing their fits sometimes to be more grievous then again at other times wherefore then if we further look to shell-fish we shall see cleerly that they are made by her divers illuminations of or with the Sun both to increase and decrease this there is no Oyster-wench but knows the same effect she hath in the humours of all bodies sublunary And there is none so ignorant but knoweth also that those who sleep in the open fields in Moon-light-nights she filleth them with dulness and heavy drowsiness and their heads with moisture moreover flesh newly slain being hung forth in moon-light-nights doth soon putrifie and Pease sown in the increase of the Moon never leave blooming and blossoming and that she is the cause of critical days and also judicial you have had shewn you in my Lux Veritatis wherefore here I shall not insist thereon but refer you thereunto and to Galen de diebus decretoriis and you shall there finde what admirable vertue and power he assigns her over all alterations of ayr and other inferiour Elementary things as well as over diseases especially acute c. And not only shell-fish and the humours in men and women do increase and decrease according to her increase and wane but also the Brain of man and other living creatures Again there is no Sow-gelder but can justifie he observes the age and configurations of the Moon with the Sun for gelding of Cattle and every husband-man or Peasant knoweth that it is very useful for him to observe a time of the Moon to put his cattle to ingender and as it is reported by Gesner in his 300 page of beasts Democritus affirmeth that if a Horse cover a Mare the third day before the full Moon the Mare shall conceive a male foal if the third day after the Full a female If a Horse cover a Mare the third day before the Full Moon a male Foal will be conceived and also in his 207 page testifieth that Pliny knowing the strange secret operation of the Moon in Elephants doth as it were ascribe a kinde of Religion in this creature for from the Change of the Moon till the prime and appearance thereof they take boughs from off the Trees and first look or lift them up to Heaven and then look upon or towards the Moon which they many times together do as it were in a supplication or adoration thereof He further relateth of the Baboon who by the influence of the Sun and Moon on him in the equinoctial times of the yeer barks every hour once viz. twelve times a day The third day after the Full Moon a female and as often pisseth and at the Change of the Moon the male Baboon will neither look up or eat but in a forlorn condition through the sence of that conjunction of the Luminaries goes up and down and the female purging her self of abundance of blood But this is further handled in the fourth chapter of the second Book of this Volumn viz. That which we call the Introduction wherefore here I shall hasten to proceed Those born at the time of an Eclipse or Change of the Moon live not long and why Again we see that those that are born at the time of an Eclipse of either of the Luminaries or at the Change of the Moon cannot live long for the Sun or Moon being eclipsed he being fons vitae and she the mother as it were of moisture the native then by this defect must be deprived in the eclipse of the Sun of natural heat and nourishment he being deprived of his light and in the defect of the Moon of convenient moisture to mitigate and to
to be of a better and quicker wit and more ingenious and apter to learning especially the study of the Stars Propter circuli signorum stellarum erraticarum loco Zenith eorum capitum propinquitatem because their vertigal point is neer the Zodiack in which the signs are and under which the Planets move He also farther teacheth Of the Inhabitants of the North. that those that live further North are of stronger body but of ruder manners and conditions because their vertigal point being far removed from the Suns course they more abound in cold and moisture which for that it yieldeth plenty of nourishment is not by the heat of those places at all exhausted or but very little from whence it followeth that they are of complexion fair long and smooth hair their stature tall and manners fierce and rude Object Answ But it may be some cavillers and envious carpers at the truth will object and say That custom and good discipline we see doth alter this general inclination But I answer That though oftentimes through the force of good discipline and custom which is according to the opinion of Philosophers secunda Natura a second Nature I must confess this is or may be much altered yet we see it hardly so removed but that some and those most evident marks thereof will still remain in force and this is evident in most or all Nations under the Sun which might but for brevities sake be at large proved and cleared but we shall here content our selves with the testimony of Bodin who in his 5. Book of his Method of Histories chap. 5. though I might shew you what Galen Hippocrates Tacitus Aristâ—tle and others hereon say saith and reporteth of the Germans An example in the Germaâ—s that in Religion they might equal or compare with the Hebrews in Astrologie to match the Chaldeans in Philosophy to strive with the Grecians in Geometry to equal the Egyptians and in Arithmetick to exceed the very Phoenitians themselves and yet there is no Historiographer worth a pins-head but knows they formerly were a most savage and rude people without either civility or humanity as a man may say so that they did far in savage and rude behaviour pass our wilde Irish and if we farther look to their ingenuity and sharpness of wit what Nation is there under the Sun to be found able to match them in Handicraft and Mechanick Arts Yet I say notwithstanding all this we shall finde that neither time custom nor education hath been able to extinguish their old and ancient fashions which is by the genius and nature of their Country hereditary unto them if we but look into their form and stature of body their immoderate inclination to tipling and homely diet their continency simplicity severity exercises and aptness to War for notwithstanding all their other excellent indowments we shall still finde in them a smack of these which is unto them Natural There is no man that ever dived into the cause of mens inclinations and dispositions especially of the several customs and manners of Nations which is the main scope of Philosophers labours who are never contented to know this thing is of such and such an inclination temper and nature but the reason thereof but knows the truth of this point wherefore I shall render my self most weak longer hereon to insist since not only the Learned but also every ordinary Reader of Histories if with diligence he hath observed what he hath read can testifie the same I might also here shew you what the same Ptolomie saith of the Inhabitants of the East and West but then I fear I should too much transgress my bounds as also how the whole earth is divided into parts and how governed by the fiëry earthy aiëry and watry triplicities and the reasons of the several inclinations customs laws manners and tempers of all Nations Kingdoms Countreys and Provinces but I shall here for brevities sake refer thee to the aforesaid second and third chapter of his second Book of his Quadripartite Of the Inhabitants of Europe or those under the fiery Trigon For there he doth not only shew thee under what sign of the Zodiack every Nation and Countrey is but also that those who are under the fiery triplicity viz. Europe are by reason of the triplicity they are under being in the North-west part of the earth and by reason of the Planets ruling the triplicity of magnanimous spirits given to exploits and feats of War and truly no disparagement to other Nations this our Iland of Britany may compare with the greatest Conquerors if not far transcend them Anglia Ariete Marte assimulantur ideoque bellicosi England is under Aries and Mars and therefore are the Inhabitants and Natives thereof addicted to be expert in War or feats of Arms. I omit here to insist on every particular Region in this part of the world as he there declareth it particularly naming every Region under each sign of the Zodiack but refer you thereunto only in this place we desire but to satisfie our Reader with some particulars that he may be assured of the verity of the strong influences and manifest operations of the Celestial Signs Stars and Planets over all Kingdoms Nations c. Of the inhabitants of Asia the greater and the reason of their several inclinations Again in the second part of the World viz. Southern which he nominates to be Asia the greater being under the earthy triplicity he sheweth that among the rest of the Regions and places subject to that triplicity those who are governed by Taurus being the house of Venus are generally effeminate and delicate given to their pleasure especially to the games and sports of Venus wherefore they go still open breasted likewise those under the sign Virgo being the house exaltation and joy of Mercury are exquisite in all kinds of good learning and observers of the motions of the Stars and those ruled by Capricorn being the proper house of Saturn are of form and shape commonly deformed of condition sordid and of inclination fierce but this I conceive by reason it is the exaltation of Mars And if we have regard to the third part of the World viz. Northern or betwixt the North and East assigned to the Aiery Triplicity as also to that part under the watry we shall abundantly be satisfied of the undeniable truth of the influence of the Coelestial Planets and Constellations in the signs wherefore in this place because as I have often said I desire not to be too tedious I shall refer thee to that learned Ptolomie himself and now proceed CHAP. IX Shewing that the Influences of the Heavens and predominancy of the stars in every Climate is the cause of the several Laws and Customs of the People therein Object VAin and weak then are they who object and imagine since it is clear that the stars have influence and that as well general as particular that Countreys
enough to have convinced him of great wickedness in denying the Scripture doth anywhere allow of Astrologie c. To all which they reply thus To that of Psal 19.1 they say those words shew only that the Heavens were framed by the Word and power of God the Creator which if no other meaning were in these words to be understood the Prophet might as well have said a Dog Cat or any other Creature declares the wonderfull works and glory of the Almighty but the meaning thereof is that he effecteth thereby and worketh and herein are his wonderfull works the more manifest and to be admired I thought the Doctor and the other now of late pretending to be a * But some of his other old Trades do better become him for neither his humour nor natural inclination do anywise suit with it Minister of the word had been better versed in the sense and meaning of that Scripture but this by the way And as touching Psal 19.3 in their 22. page where they should have proved it no ways available to my Argument or purpose disputants like alas they tell their Reader my interpretation must give place to the Apostles Rom. 10.18 viz. preaching of the Gospel not of Astrologie and for the Pleiades in Job say they they are answered after and for the fighting of the stars against Sisera compare Josh 10.11 Exod 9.23 but name the words of none of these places for that would discover their wickedness in wresting the Scripture by affirming what is not as also their ignorance and weakness in not knowing how otherwise to answer the business but by quoting the like number of Texts and pretending to their Reader therein he shall receive clear satisfaction never regarding whether they were any thing or not to the purpose But since ye are so cunning I will be as cunning as you and since the point is so considerable as that the legality of the Art and the warrant thereof from Divine Scripture dependeth thereon I shall shew you because you have thus played the Sophisters with your Reader in this as in all other what those passages you quote speak and then let any that hath but half an eye to discern between light and darkness good and bad truth and falshood judge of the business But first let me shew you what they have unawares confessed touching that of Judges thinking it will confirm that ridiculous assertion of theirs That the meaning of that Text is the storms Tempests winde and rain fought against Sisera Ha ha he I never knew in my life nor I am confident the antientest and wisest Philosopher that ever was any star that had the name of storm tempest wind rain or hail the Divine Writ expresly telleth us that the stars in their courses fought c. and yet these what shall I call them render it storms tempests wind c. and therein themselves both envious and ridiculous having no better a come off if all their learning cannot distinguish betwixt stars and storms they are not so fit to hold or maintain an Argument as to go to school to learn to spell better for although they are so antient nunquam sera est c. for no disparagement to them I have known wiser nay and far more solid and discreet at 18. yeers of age but perhaps this their errour proceeded not from any defect of Judgement but of old Age and wanting their spectacles mistook read storms for stars as their quondam brother read green-bay-horse for bay-tree wherefore since they are in their dotage or at least since these and such like mistakes are usual with them I shall not farther take notice of such animals but return to shew you what a rod they have given me to whip themselves which they had very well deserved had they been thus tardy at School That the stars have influence is clear from their own Arguments and words In the same 22. page of their Pamphlet they confess but certainly unawares as I said before that those storms tempests winds c. were accounted by Junius to be caused by the Influence of the stars and heavenly bodies whereby you may clearly see how much they know what they write against when the influence of the stars is confessed by them to be the cause of those storms tempests c. that discomfited Siseras Army this is as much as I desire and yet in their very next words they deny that that passage of Scripture maketh any thing for Astrologie wherefore since you have at large already heard and now here again by their own Arguments and words I have fully proved and warranted that the stars have influence on elementary things I need not here spend time to shew you farther what might be understood and is indeed to be collected affirmatively out of that text for this our purpose but hasten to shew that notwithstanding what they have said the stars are by the same testimony viz. the word of God proved to be both signs and causes yet first let me shew you their impudence wresting of Scriptures and concealedness touching whom the wisest of men Solomon Prov. 26 12. testifyeth CHAP. XV. Shewing that the Text in Psal 19. v. 3. alledged by the Author to prove the stars have influence is no wise refelled Their reply to Psal 19.3 proved insufficient and weak for their purpose AS touching the first viz. Rom. 10.18 which they say is rather to be taken then my interpretation meerly hereby to deceive their Reader not being indeed able otherwise to give any solid answer thereunto as hath been said The words are the Apostle having before spoken of the difference of that righteousness which cometh of the Law and that of Faith in the foregoing verse Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God and then he saith but have they not heard meaning the People or Nations yes verily their sound went into all the earth and their words unto the end of the world being about to shew that both Iews and Gentiles shall hear the word preached unto them but hereby they prove not to any rational man that because these Texts agree and come neer to one another in words therefore they are one and the same in sense for that were to render themselves both void of sense and reason for we see clearly the Apostle here promiseth in a Prophetick way the Universal preaching of the word or at least that it should shine in the dark corners of the Gentiles who were then unbelievers but not one word or mention either in this Text or to be gathered out of all the Chapter of the stars or their influence but in that 19. Psalm and the third verse we see clearly there is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard meaning the voice of the stars viz. their influence having as you have heard in the preceding words said The Heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament sheweth his handy work and
Ascendent how to take part of substance or any other part you shall have hereafter as I have leisure CHAP. III. Of buying to profit again by the sale thereof DOst not thou know there are many men make a Trade of buying Commodities and selling them again to their best advantage yet there are many again confess they have often sold their Wares at disadvantage the reason was they bought them at hap-hazard without respect to any peculiar or particular time as our ignorant Physitians prescribe Vomits Purges and Phlebotomie at any time A great error in the generality of our Physitians procuring thereby much mischief to their Patients as I have by several known so that they had need again the remedy being or proving by the ignorance of the prescriber worse then the disease to take Physick to expel that Physick they have already taken and this sometimes cannot but indanger the Patients life for that nature being far spent before must needs by this rash act of the unskilfull Physitian who is rather as Galen and Hippocrates say to be termed a Fool then to be honoured with that noble term of Physitian in prescribing their remedies at such improper times that they work contrary effects as Purges vomet Ignorance the author of mischief and Vomets purge be more weakened and prejudiced nay and it doth often fall out so that nature together with the life is wholly extinguished wherefore anon in its due place more shall be said hereon and the true real times for administring of physick be cordially delivered unto you but to the busines in hand wherefore let them observe what followeth Of buying to profit again by the sale thereof In buying therefore any thing to make advantage or gain of the sail thereof fortifie the Moon especially for that she hath most power of any of the Planets in the ordinary course of the life of man Fortifie also Mercury who hath also much influence in such matters also the Lord of the second and if possible the Lord of the Ascendent let the Moon also be joyned to Mercury by body or a benevolent aspect free from impediment either accidental or essential as also from the affliction of Mars as much as you can But if you cannot fortifie Mercury fortifie the Moon the eleventh house and the Lord thereof but yet let Mercury be free from the body or Aspect of Mars and if you can by any means let him be in Conjunction or good aspect of Venus or the Lord of the eleventh or both Now be sure you observe these rules well for by how much the more you fortifie Mercury next to the Moon being to be regarded by so much the more may you be confident and assured of benefit and profit for Mercury the Moon the second and the eleventh are chief significators herein and they still cause gain if well dignified or disposed but then be sure they be free from the body or aspect good or bad of Mars CHAP. IV. Of selling to advantage Of selling to advantage EVen thus must you do if you would Elect a time to sell thy commodity at any high rate Let the Moon be in Taurus Cancer Virgo or Pisces free from misfortune and separating from the Conjunction or aspect of the fortunes and applying to the aspect not Conjunction of the infortunes for this is good for the Seller but the clean contrary for the Buyer CHAP. V. Father concerning Buying and Selling in the ordinary course of the World Advantage to the buyer THus in the daily and ordinary way of trade must you do fortifie ⊗ and place it in one of the houses of Iupiter and let Iupiter or some other of the fortunes behold it with a good aspect for this will be advantagious to the Buyer but not to the Seller Also if the Moon be in signs of short or oblique ascentions decreasing in light it is good for the Buyer But if she be in signs of right or long ascentions increasing in light number or motion and joyned with the fortunes it shall be more advantagious for the Seller and it shall seldom be but at such a time the Buyer shall lose by the bargain But note that in all this the Moon and Mercury be free from the body or aspect of Mars for that he ever hinders buying and selling and causes discord and wrangling also see they be free from the presence of ☋ for he is little worse then it To know the significators of buyer and seller the thing to be bought and the price Some of the Ancients have delivered these Rules for buying and selling but others have taught that the Ascendent and its Lord are for the Seller the seventh and the Lord thereof for the Buyer and the Moon for the thing to be bought and sold Althabarus from whom I cannot descent herein saith that when the Buyer is the first propounder or mover of the business or doth first speak to the Seller concerning the thing he would buy the Ascendent and its Lord is for the Seller the seventh and the Lord thereof for the Buyer And if the Seller be the first mover of the business to the Buyer the contrary is to be understood The mid-heaven and its Lord is to signifie the price of the thing the fourth and its Lord the thing to be sold and also the Planet from whom the Moon last separated is given to signifie the Seller the Planet to whom she next applies the Buyer and the ג the thing to be bought and sold Some hold that the Moon in the Ascendent either in buying or selling is good yet in a * Note journey is very bad But note that in selling it will not be amiss for thee to place the Moon in her exaltation or triplicity separated from the Fortunes and beholding the Infortunes but not joyned to them by body CHAP. VI. Of buying clothing or putting on of Apparel HEar now what is observable in putting on or buying of Apparel fortifie the Ascendent and its Lord and the Moon and let the Ascendent and the sign wherein the Lord of the ascendent is be movable and if possible let the Moon be in Aries except the seventh degree or in Cancer excepting the first six degrees or in Libra or the first eighteen degrees of Virgo or in the first nineteen degrees of Sagittary or the twenty first degrees of Pisces and by all means avoid fixed signs except the first twenty degrees of Taurus for that there it being the house of Venus and exaltation of the Moon it signifyeth great joy and delight but by all means let her not be in Leo or Scorpio Leo especially c. And if possible let the Moon be in Sextile or Trine of the Sun for it will be then so much the better but if in thy Election thou canst not observe all this place the Moon out of Leo Scorpio and Capricorn and Via Combusta and look that she be no wise
the middle Region of the Ayr where being thickened through cold it falleth again to the Earth What hail and snow Hail and Snow are the same only are drawn up higher Snow into the middle Region and Hail into the upper and there condensed and congealed into the body of a cloud and being disposed by the Configurations of fit Significators descendeth What frost and dew In like manner hoar frost and dew is also the same vapour and of the same nature as is rain and the rest only not drawn so high by the Sun as to keep up but when he with draws himself from our Hemisphere falleth down again and is by the coldness of the Earth congealed or resolved into water which we call dew in Summer but in Winter by the sharpness of the ayr it is congealed into frost and by reason of the hoaryness of it is called Hoare frost What winde and the occasion of Earth-quakes Winde also is but a dry exhalation drawn up from the Earth by the heat of the Sun also and dispersed here and there and this is the reason of Earth-quakes for through the gathering together of abundance of these vapours in the Concaves of the Earth and from thence violently breaking out and the Earth closing again is the Earth caused to shake or as it were tremble and this is the fore-runner of wars for the most part in those parts of the Earth What a Comet Moreover a Comet is a flame caused of a dry hot slimy exhalation drawn up by the Sun to the uppermost part of the ayr the which being dispersed and broken causeth high windes but more of this in the last Section What thunder and lightning Again Thunder is a quenching of fire in a cloud or an exhalation hot and dry mixt with moisture carryed up to the middle Region and there thickened and wraped into a cloud where meeting with moisture being of a contrary quality it breaketh out the sides of the cloud and by this its eruption causeth a thundering noyse in the ayr and this flying out of the fire the vulgar call Lightning the which Aristotle saith comes after Thunder but I am of opinion they come both together though the sense of seeing is more suddenly apprehensive of the light then the hearing is of the sound because what is conveyed to the Eye is by a direct line but to the Ear by an oblique for at a distance we may discern a blow before we hear it yet being hard by we shall hear it as soon as it is given or can be seen c. Lightning as say some Authours is of marvailous efficacy and they have made mention of three sorts Dry Moist and Clear the Dry doth not burn but cleaveth trees through and also houses and the like the Moist doth not burn neither but altereth colour the Clear both burneth and destroyeth and is indeed the most dangerous of all for it breaketh the bones and sword and bruiseth not theskin nor breaketh the scabbard and melteth moneyin the purse and yet melteth not wax c. Signs of Earth-quakes to come We are now to give the reason of the Eclipsing of both the Luminaries but first I think it very requisite to set down some tokens of Earth-quakes to come which are briefly six the first is when the Sun is obscured and darkened without the presence of clouds or the body of the Moon the second token that an Earth-quake is at hand is when the Sun is as it were bloudy and coloured in such a strange manner the third is when a fiery Pillar or cloud like a pillar of fire appears in the Heavens the fourth is when the ayr is very quiet both at Land and Sea for a long continuance and winde absent the fifth when waters are salt and troubled and of another taste then usually and naturally they are the sixth and last is when strange unaccustomed and unusual noises of exclamations of men howlings lamentations and clatterings of armour are heard and such sights seen in the Ayr. The cause of the Sun his Eclipse And now as touching the Eclipse of either of the Luminaries you are to know it is only a privation of their light that of the Sun is occasioned at the conjunction of the Luminaries or more plainly at the change of the Moon by the interposition of the body of the Moon betwixt the Sun and the Earth averting or turning his beams from us and so the Sun becomes obscured or darkened for that time The cause of the Moons Eclipse That of the Moon by the Diametrical interposition of the body of the Earth between the Sun and the Moon thereby depriving her of the borrowed light she receiveth of the Sun and this is ever upon the Opposition of the Luminaries or vulgarly at the Full Moon and truly this desect of the Luminaries would happen every change and full Why there are not 2 Eclipses every moneth did not the Moon sometime deviate from the Ecliptick line five degrees Northward as also sometimes again as far South-ward and therefore cannot so directly meet with the Conjunction and Opposition of the Sun who ever moveth in the Ecliptick line or just under it CHAP. XVII Of the Signification of the most notable fixed Stars both fortunate and unfortunate in any of the twelve Houses in Revolutions of the Years of the World LOok into the second Book of this Volume and there you shall have the Names Nature Magnitude Latitude and Longitude of the most notable fixed Stars what are less and more obscure are not so needful and requisite to be recorded since they are of the same nature as are the rest in their constellation wherefore what are there expressed may sufficiently serve as touching thy judgment in the Stars I shall not therefore here at all rehearse either the names or natures of any Star there expressed onely I shall desire thee to be very expert in the several Natures thereof and so according to their several Positions Conjunctions and Configurations with the Planets judge either good or bad according to the nature of those Stars Planets and Houses of Heaven they are in The signification of the Malevolent fixed Stars in the first House As if malevolent mischievous and unfortunate Stars viz. such as are of the nature of Saturn or Mars or both be upon the Cuspe of the Ascendent or within five degrees thereof or with the Lord of the Ascendent in Conjunction Partil or within five degrees thereof judge mischief and damage to the people of that Nation for which your Revolution is set in one kinde or other compare and weigh exactly the nature of your Significators viz. the Stars afflicting your Ascendent or its Lord and you will soon discover the nature of the evill threatned and this your own Genius must teach you for all the writings in the World without it will be of little or no effect it signifies also diseases in the