an Earthy Exhalation The Air considered All Meteors reducible to Heat and Cold as their Efficient the Nicety of their Degrees An account of the Natural Prognosticks of Weather they all prove that Heat is the cause of Rain and the Heavens Dominion over Moisture Concerning Hail Snow Mist Lightning Comet Blasting No phaenomena casual Wind its cause is not rarefaction or condensation but celestial Impulse The Body of the Heaven as distinguished from the Stars signifies nothing § 1. MEteors Real whether Aerial or Subterrranean as to their Cause Material consist of Water Earth Simple or Compound Fire and their Expirations these in the depth of the Earth those in the heights of the Air as far as the reach of the Atmosphere § 2. For that the Earth also is resolved into Exhalation is evinced from the Thunderbolt yea from the Nitrous and Sulphureous Ingredients into the wild-fires Celestial Lightnings Add the forementioned Rains of Stones Ashes Corn c. nay every Fog is so fuliginous as to bear witness a Fog which sometimes casts it self into Threds or Ropes and by the warmth of the Sun furls up into Gossamere § 3. The Body of the Air seems not to be the Resolution of Terrestrial or Watry Exhalations but is rather distinguished from Both as their Subject or medium even as the Water is distinguishable from its Impurities or from the saline Spirit that inhabits the Ocean § 4. For the whole Expansion Aerial and Aethereal is one homogeneous Body differing only in Warmth or Cold Purity or Impurity according as it is nearer or remoter from the Earth and Water § 5. Of it self as it seems neither hot nor moist nor cold c. but capable of all § 6. So distinguished is the Air from the Water that Neither can be converted into the Other the four Elements vulgarly called being as I deem Incorruptible in as much as although God the Creator was pleased as Moses seems to say to make the Air out of Water yet it may be true notwithstanding that no Natural Agent can turn it back into the same § 7. Meteors Real as to their Efficient Cause are naturally reducible to Heat or Cold and their Activities Frost Snow Hail to the later Lightning Rain Clouds to the former § 8. Winds also have no other Aeolus § 9. Here it is to be remembred that degrees of Heat and Cold are of a minute and nice disquisition our grosser Sensories being not always competent Judges for we see Rivers in depth of hardest Winters reserve some Heat where Fish subsist and scalding Liquors admit some degree of Cold as when their Aestuation is calmed by a little cold Infusion and yet remain scalding still § 10. As nice also may be the consideration of Dryth and Moisture for as the Coals of dry Fewel taken from the Furnace burn quick and bright so from moist Fewel they glow obscurely as if they were not as yet rid of their pristine though adventitious Moisture § 11. Warmth is the instrumental Productive of Cloud and Rain This is witnessed by the Southern Winds which bring Both by Thaws in Winter which are always cloudy seldom dry by the ingrateful Savors most hot against moist Seasons beside the convincing testimony of the Thermoscope § 12. The Survey of the usual Prognosticks of Rain from Fire Water Animates Inanimates do all argue the same Original of Rain viz. Heat Celestial and its Consequent Moisture with the secret Impressions of Both on the Creature § 13. In Animals the usual Noises observed against weather as in the Raven the Crow Cock Goose Owl Peacock the Pimlico in the Hist of Virginia a Bird so called from her note too sure a Prophet saith Captain Smith of Wind and Weather Swine Frog c. their crowing screaming croaking c. argue not any miraculous Divination in the Creature but only protest the sensible disquiet and alterations that are felt by them at such times Haud equidem credo quia sit Divinitùs illis Ingenium aut rerum fato Prudentia major Verùm ubi Tempestas c. Vertuntur speciès animorum the Poet himself was so cunning Georgic 1. § 14. Further arguments of such Alterations are the Water-fowls leaving the Element flocking together or betaking themselves farther into the Country the poor Earth-worm creeping from his bed the flying or springing of the Loligo the Cuttle-fish they speak of the playing of the Dolphins in the waters all not brooking their own Element That and their Bodies being alike disturbed § 15. To say little of their Stomachs or Appetites extraordinary Birds coming late from Feed yea the contemptible Fleas or Flies more notably stinging i. e. biting or sucking are hence reckon'd for Presages § 16. The forced motions and postures of Creatures argue the same as when Cattel are seen skipping odly up and down indecorâ lasciviâ as Pliny calls it as if twitch'd or pricked by some shooting or ach in their Limbs as vexed by some pain tearing their Litter § 17. Which pains some Creatures endeavour to help the Beast licking the Hoof or against the Hair the Bird picking and pruning its Feathers some perfusing themselves with water or flying so neer the Swallow and Sea-mew 'till they dew their Wings point the House-cat washing her Head with her moistned Foot the Oxe snuffing aloft into the Air all as it were for refrigeration-sake of their Bloud or Spirits cooling the little Feavers perceived therein § 18. The poor Ant hiding himself or removing his Eggs the Shelfish sticking close to the Rocks or ballasting it self with Sand shew a kind of natural Prudence but no Prophetick Divination in as much as first they find the Alteration of their bodies before their Instinct teacheth them to provide for the consequent § 19. And as to Presages from the Water whatsoever the Ancients speak of the murmuring of the Sea at hand or the noise on the Shore side the bubbling or swelling of the Sea without noise witnessed by all Sea-faring men the appearance of the Froth broken or divided these all betray the Dominion of the Heavens on the Water and a disturbance rais'd by the Celestial Warmth § 20. Verily the Dominion on the Water is as large as that seen in the Air the Prognosticks from Animals being grounded principally on the Alterations of their Natural Moisture And if any Presages are drawn from Plants as the Bristling of the Trefoil c. hither it may be reduced § 21. I do not mention the Sweating of Wals or Glass which may arise from the continual Appulse of the moist Atome floating neer the chill superficies but Plinie's Instance from the Larder when a Dish which hath been used at Table leaves a Sweat on the place whereon it was reposited argues some consent of the Ambient's moisture with the moisture of the Esculent on which account also Wood swels Wainscot cracks Viol-strings snap asunder and we also as other Animals no better nor worse are disquieted with the Excrescencies of our
Clients of the Skie flock after him and retreat dishonourably at his retirement The life of Animals subsists by his Energy of our very Immortal Spirits he is the Union § 3. Notwithstanding This and a less Hymn I could not make on Him whose Lustre dazles us I say that the Sun alone this Glorious Creature cannot be the Cause the entire Cause of the Changes of the Air and its Vicissitudes § 4. Because the Sun consider'd alone All things rightly weighed requires those of his Fellow-Celestials to constitute even the Seasons of the Year The Seasons differ one from the other in length of Day or proportion of Light and the proportion of the Warmth the Sun alone is the Author of the First not of the Latter He is confess'd a Light All-sufficient but that it must therefore be a Heat All-sufficient is no warrant A Taper lights the Room which will not warm it for that the Sun carris the Name of Warmth That argues that he is indeed the Principal most Eminent not the sole Dispenser So the General carries the Glory of the Battel who is far from being the Sole though he be the Principal Souldier According to the tenor of which words must our piece of a Hymn on His or rather his Creator's praise be expounded § 5. The truth of this will be clear when we have considered that the Sun's approach and Exaltation encourageth the warmth of the Spring and keeps up the height of Heat in Summer being the Eminent Cause of Both. But yet neither Dayes nor Months do always increase in or stand or remit their warmth in proportion to the Solar access or recess from the Solstice This hath been urged by others and may be instanced fourty wayes It is notorious that the Aestival heat even increaseth as the Sun declines for the Month of July and part of August are usually more soultry than the Solstitial month of June § 6. Here it is answer'd with one accord that the Heats of July receives their intenser degree from the measure of the prae-existent warmth but this we have precluded before and add that the Heats of July have been found as intense when the precedent June hath been contrary affected every man's memory being able to prompt an Instance of an April May or June beyond expectation cold upon which the common comfort hath been from hopes that July and August would make amends Besides that this holds not in July alone the end of March may have more warmth than April and April than May November warmer than October as again January colder than December March than February we may here after name some Times when it proves generally so therefore the Sun is not the sole Administrator of Celestial warmth § 7. It may be said again as it is by some great men in things of this Nature that they are Casual But the word Chance in Causes Natural and determinate speaks our Ignorance and it may be something of Injury to the Creator But 2. a hot July is never casual being intended so by God's ordinary Providence for Harvest sake That great Providence which workes by the Great Machine of Second Causes 3. Nothing that is Prognosticable can be Casual § 8. Again if the Sun alone were the cause every fourth year would bring about the same Revolution of Winds and Weather the Sun being then exactly restored to the same place by the Intercalary day interposed but no such Revolution appears I find Eudoxus of old gave out indeed to this purpose Plin. II. 47. but no Experience confirm'd it from his time to Pliny's age he was only fond of his own Surmise If it had been so we had been weather-wise by this time without out consulting Star or Kalendar § 9. Considering what is behind it will not be very needful to say more here only to take away all Scruple I would answer a possible Objection The Returns of the Weather being fixed and determined 't is reasonable as you say that the Fixed cause be assigned the Author of That determination but the Sun and nothing else is the Determinate Cause for what else consines the Return to the same Day therefore it must be the Entire and Adaequate Cause The Answer is ready if all the Stars in the Firmament should conspire with the Sun into one Tempest they could choose no time but what the Sun the Lord of Time should determine It followeth not therefore that if the Sun be the Determinative Cause he is the Adaequate the Sun bearing two places Physical and Chronological in the first he helps to produce in the second he circumstantiates the Production But if the Identity of the Day 's constitution be press'd we answer that the Sun determineth That not absolutely and entirely for then the Return would be infallible but on supposition of the other Causes meeting these Concauses met do determine the Effect as it were Materially the Sun closing with them specisies the time Thus Disputers say the last Vnity is the form of Number a principal Cause but not an Adaequate CHAP. VI. The Lunar Influence and its History Hippocrates doctrine of the Tides Dissent from the Learned Vossius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Aristotle agrees with Hippocrates § 1. PRoceed we then and let us say that the Changes of the Air cannot be referr'd to the Sun taking in the Moon along with it though to give the Moon her due also she is of great Efficacy as Ptolemy tells us in that excellent II d Chapter of his first Book All things saith he animate and inanimate receive her impression the Rivers swell or abate according to Her light the Tides and Ebbes of the Ocean 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sway'd by his Rising and Setting Plants and Animals are in poor or better case as she waxes and wanes Upon which words I would we could comment we endeavour thus What the proper quality of the Moon is we find disputed Ptolemy and the Ancients define her to be Moist they mean or ought to mean that she is of a remiss warmth to such a degree as is no Enemy but rather friend to Moisture by Resolving it Calling it forth or otherwise Actuating it by her spirituous Ray according as that fluid and withall salt Element is capable of impregnation § 2. And to this one principle of Warmth will all the various Effects usually ascribed to the Moon be justly reducible For on this account the Sea it self ebbs and flows in all Rivers Creeks and Shores making a Full Sea precisely at what time the Moon comes to such a Point of the Compass falling back every day as many minutes about 48 as the Moon comes later to the same Point luxuriating in her Spring-tides about the Full and Change when she is direct with the Sun and flagging all the Quarters when she is at an oblique distance On this account it is that Flesh exposed to the Lunar Rayes sooner putrifies those which walk along by Moon-shine feel a Dose in their
the world yea and extant in the Gospel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 S. Matth. IV. whether it signifie Epileptick persons as is certain say Physicians from the Symptoms Matth. XV. or the Raving Melancholy distracted Persons as the Syriac expounds it see the Learned Martinius in Lexic such as we meet S. Matth. VIII and S. Marc. V. they are both sad Instances of the Lunar Dominion on Humour in general and the Humours of our Temperature Of the Epilepsie 't is confess'd of the Other also 't is as true by the testimony of the Syriack And though some of the Antients S. Hier. and Origen are jealous of this Notion ascribing all to Diabolical Ferity and Cunning lest we should raise an Evil Report and bring Infamy on God's good Creature if we should grant the Moon contributed any thing of disposition to the Distemper yet we answer in a conciliatory way with the Generality of the Learned avoiding Both Extremes thus To refer all to the Natural Cause is one Extreme to impute All to the Infernal Fiend is the Other There is more danger of Injury done to Religion in the denial of these Natural Evidences than of Infamy to God's Creature in admitting them It would be wrong to the Creature to say the contrary seeing This also Lunar Warmth is God's Creation Therefore the Arabick Translator owns the Philosophy and construes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be Those who are tormented and vexed in principiis Pleniluniorum whether he means Either or Both of the Distempers abovesaid is to be learned from the Arabian Physicians See Gul. Ader the pious Critick on the Diseases mentioned in the Gospels § 16. The Experience concerning the Shelfish and their fatness at the Interlunium is evaded by saying that the Tide recruits them the Fresh water that comes along with it But doth not the Moon conduce to the freshning i. e. rarifying and quickning of that Stream Doth it not immit a new or call up the native spirit from its recesses to the very surface of the Element The Lunar warmth hat a double Office not only quickning the Aliment but as the Philosopher saith comforting the Cold bloodless Feeder his words are these The Shel-fish thrive most at the Full Moon not because they feed more 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quite contrary to the Answer given but because the Nights are warmer by reason of the Moon de part Animal IV. 5. For bloodless Creatures saith he are easily chill'd and rejoice therefore in warmth Now warmth we know nourisheth as well as Victuals as we see in Sleep not excluding the Food but distributing it Certainly the Lunar History gives Instances of its Power over those Bodies whose Nutrition is not so facile as Theirs seems to be who have a whole Sea to guzle in § 17. But at Cambaja it seems at Bengala Java Islands and elsewhere neither do the Tides appear at the New or Full but at the Quarters when the Shel-fish also make their Markets Answ Some Difficulties there are and who can expect otherwise that studies the Universe rais'd against the Moon 's Soveraignty which yet are found to vanish the nature of the place be it Sea or Shore once consider'd For whatsoever difference here is found no doubt is on the part of the Recipient according to that good Maxim Quicquid recipitur c. and that solves all doubts in this case even the various Fluxes of Euripus it self For let the Ocean flow in some places four hours and ebb eight as with us in others seven and ebb five as long as it flows once in 12 hours and twice a day we are secure Do these Spring-Tides observe the Quarters of the Moon invariably do they keep their times for the whole Periods twice a day with other Ports does the Succession keep to its Measure I mean happen 48 Minutes later every day The Moon is the cause even of those Quarterly Floods yea the Change and Full may be the Cause with Us while the Quadrate may be assigned for the Cause there the Quadrate being less powerful than the Conjunction but not utterly infirm or of no force as will be seen hereafter Who knows then but that the Quadrate the less in an Intemperate Zone may be equivalent to the greater in a Temperate we having defin'd that 't is not Heat in every degree but only a Kind and a Temper'd Warmth that is effectual The Conjunction and Opposition may be excessive in the Torrid Zone and so unfit to raise the Humid Spirits on which account we are taught that the smallest Tides are perceived under the Equator Be the Mystery what it will many Definitions are absolutely True confin'd to their Clime which universally cannot hold The Sun riseth and setteth in 24 hours in Greenland not so the South-wind blows from the Pole not in these Countreys the Absence of the Sun causeth Winter with us but Those under the Line have no Winter but when the Sun is nearest them § 18. I must not conceal that I have seen an Ingenious Manuscript concerning this Subject determin'd by the Hypothesis of a third motion of the Earth with great happiness solving many New Phaenomena but yet I who have not proceeded so far in Mathematicks as to espouse Any Thing of that Principle content my self with these vulgar Presumptions and think I have some reason so to do when I shall have ask'd these few Questions not determinable I fear by such Hypothesis 1. Why even in calm and dry weather the Tides from the Change to the Quartile from the Quartile to the Full yea the Two Tides of the same day keep not their proportional Increase or Abatement 2. Why the Spring-Tide about the Full of the Moon most commonly is less than That about the Change 3. Why the Moon 's Perigee swels the Tide more than the Apogee in as much as what Dr. Childrey my late worthy Friend hath observed All prodigious Floods have happen'd remarkable at that time 4. Why the Moon commonly loses nothing at her appulse to the Equinox at what time of the Month soever it happens 5. Why it gains in her Applications to either Tropick if in her utmost Latitudes Northern or Southern 6. Why the Moon on the day of the Last Quadrate decreasing makes as high a Water sometimes higher than at the First in the Increase 7. Why the Lunar Aspects even with the Rest of the Planets do advance the Tides yea and her Applications also to some of the Notable Stars amongst the Fixed § 19. It may not be amiss here to glance upon Sacred Authority where there is manifest Testimony of the Lunar Energy Per Diem Sol non percutiet te neque Luna per Noctem Psalm XXI That 's the First The other is in Deut. XXXIII where Joseph's Blessing is not compleat without the pretious things of Heaven the Dew c. yea not without the pretious Fruits brought forth by the Sun and the pretious Things put forth by the Moon Whatsoever
Rain The less Aspects exceed New and Full the prior Sextile almost doubles the number 17. The Change brings the least Snow the Full ☽ most Hail First Square and last Trine bring more Snow than the Change 18. Rainbows made by the Sun not without Assistants 19. Former Square and Trine conduce to a limpid Horizon 20. Fogs rarer at the Full than Change The Trines have the Fewest Instances ☽ more inclining to Fog than the Sun 21. Gloomy days oftsn misty 22. Fila Gossamere defined 23 24. New ☽ favours South-West Winds the Full much more 25. All the Aspects incline to the Western or Southern Winds 26. A Rule for a Mariner who expects an East-Wind § 1. WE could not have been so diligent in declaring the Power of the Lunar Aspects but that we saw some necessity of a new closing Chapter to discover some other considerables belonging to the premises which we presumed would arise from the further comparison of the Aspects subjoyned in an Universal Table or where all the Aspects march in a Rank even and just with their Influence that they may mutually justifie one the other § 2. Influxuum Lunarium quoad Aspectus singulos quotquot integro haud ita pridem Septennio observati fuere Tabella Synoptica  ☌ ☠□ 1. â–¡ 2. â–³ 1. â–³ 2. âš¹ 1. âš¹ 2. Frosty D. 16 26 34 27 26 16 28 19 Frosty M. Ev. 37 27 31 26 29 27 30 26 Hot D. 28 11 13 24 25 16 20 36 Hot N. 8 5 8 5 5 3 5 5 Trajections 19 4 12 20 5 6 17 21 Lightnings 0 0 1 2 1 0 5 5 Thunder and L. 2 4 4 4 5 7 3 6 Stormy Winds 37 69 34 43 44 31 33 35 Winds varying often 3 5 3 3 2 5 1 1 Winds chang 29 55 71 53 43 43 32 41 Rain 109 103 143 132 111 162 149 144 Rain violent 28 47 47 42 48 52 60 27 Snow 5 14 16 12 12 15 13 10 Hail 5 14 16 12 12 15 13 10 Inis 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 Halo 0 3 4 0 5 6 3 6 Grosser Fog 38 23 31 29 17 26 21 38 Winds East 45 53 56 35 42 44 50 41 West 44 44 56 42 31 49 31 45 North. 40 33 36 41 28 27 41 44 South 18 38 22 20 35 21 21 31 N. E. 30 29 42 37 34 34 38 42 N. W. 31 26 24 40 21 27 20 18 S. E. 16 15 7 17 20 26 18 14 S. W. 58 80 73 103 90 69 91 51 § 3. To begin with Frosty days a Title which we cannot well miscount The New ☽ you see gives 16 Votes the Full ☽ 26. And there is an excess The Full ☽ then as we have said is colder than the New by Day viz. and we have ventur'd at the Reason But now in the Later â–¡ â–³ âš¹ there is no such matter no excess of Frosty days but the contrary as the Tale sheweth Then the Later â–¡ â–³ âš¹ I say are warmer then their Mates Wherefore But because the ☽ rises before the Sun in the Later â–¡ â–³ c. Therefore there is apparent Warmth in the ☽ which diminishes the Matutine Frosts while it shines and hath not so much Power before it is risen Which if we have said it before in part deserves now in full to be asserted again because it convinceth those Learned who pass for the more Learned by denying such an evident Truth § 4 But why the Full ☽ is colder than the New we have answered already adding withall that the same Reason holds in part here for â–¡ â–¡ âš¹ the ☽ is late before she rises always remembring we speak of the day time only when the ☽ more or less as at the Full absolutely hides her Head § 5. Here if it be objected that the ☽ at Full shews her self by Night though not by day the Objection is Seasonable for it puts us in mind of what we have determined in the case viz. that shee is warmer to us in Plenilunar Nights than Days And this Decision of ours appears to be no quick or subtile Evasion but a Lightsome manifest Truth In witness hereof the Frosty mornings appear Fewer even although the entire Frosty days have appeared more Consequently on the same ground it holds here also in the other Aspects though the Frosty Mornings be not always of so certain a Cognizance as the entire days that the Later â–¡ â–³ âš¹ bring not more yea Fewer Mornings so qualified than their Chiefs choose to bring I mean the First â–¡ â–³ âš¹ § 6. Thus we go on with the same certainty almost in Natural Demonstration as is found in Lines and Numbers and therefore Astrology is Some Body so far at least as she hath acquaintance with the Sun and ☽ and their Mutual Aspects § 7. Pass we now to consider the Hot Days where as we have said before we are less liable to falter in our Animadversions View I pray the Number The New ☽ brings more such Days than the Plenilunium the Reason is plain the ☽ is up invisible though she be she is in consult with the Sun on the Day of her Change and makes a shift to own and maintain the Heat notwithstanding her dark side as hath bin shewn before § 8. For the Rest then the Second Square brings more hot days than the First the Second Sextile also 36. to 20. We are ashamed so often to repeat the Cause viz. the ☽ preventing the Sun and rising before which in the former â–¡ and âš¹ holds not where the ☽ follows But then here we meet with an unlucky objection for that our Second â–³ brings Fewer hot Days than the First we must look for some Râ—bs in pursuit of Natural Knowledge but by good hap this is none For if we recollect that the Denomination of many a hot day arises chiefly from the time about Noon to the Hour between 3 and 4 and withall consider that the ☽ in her Later â–³ appears not but is descended and gone in large speaking almost two Hours before Noon we will easily grant that the Qualification of the day for Heat must needs be at a loss where the Cause of the Qualification hath been so long withdrawn In the Square 't is otherwise the ☽ is but upon the Horizon and so she gradually sinks lower and lower yet for a considerable space doth she maintain Warmth in the same proportion as we see them maintain some Light after their descent while the Sun is posited about the Meridian so the Critical places agree punctually to that time whence the Denomination begins But in the Later â–³ the Sun hath lost his Mistress the ☽ even at 9 in the Morning so she is disappearing before he himself hath mounted his Meridian wherefore this not obscurely make for us who impute the difference of Heat in the Later Aspects to the difference of the Apparition of the ☽ under one more than the other wherein that we feign nothing let the Later Sextile
many a fair Experiment making up Her History to which I know the more Curious can add more that I may not say 't is apparent if watch'd at some opportunity even to sense A Perspective of IV 1 2. Foot taking the Rise of the Moon after the Full in August a warm day preceding that the Air may not be Counter-disposed shall sensibly present the Planet's warmth to the Eye The like have I found in a Summer-Even sitting in a Southern Chamber that the Moon being eight or nine dayes old when approaching the Meridian hath infused a sensible warmth into the Chamber though the Sun were set § 37. ♂ is found to be endued with a Heat if the Effect may judge equal nay to all seeming superiour to the Sun yet seeing he acts by dependance on Him as all the Rest do we must compare None of them to their Maintainer § 38. ☿ hath a warmth more remiss than ♂ or ☉ more intense than ♀ § 39. ♀ her Warmth is so remiss and slack that she seemeth to befriend a Cold Influence § 40. There is only left ♄ and ♃ and it is very convenient that the cold Planet assigned should be One of these Two It may be somewhat for Ptolemies reason as also because None of the Planetary Bodies which pretend to Cold except these Two can raign I mean shine all Night the most fit opportunity for Cold ♀ shines but part of the Night and the ☽ is too warm for the purpose § 41. This supposeth I confess that the Nocturnal Cold is ordered and managed by the Celestial Bodies which is most certain and will be evidenc'd hereafter § 42. ♄ indeed who can outface so Ancient and Loud Tradition goes for the Coldest Planet He is indeed of a Tepor so low and indiscernible that he may and must be reckon'd as a Favourer of Cold and so far Experience justifies the Tradition § 42. But ♃ 't is well he hath obtained the Character of Temperate as well as ♀ is oh let the Paradox be pardoned the Principal Cold and crude Planet All the Rest are warm and moist though in different measure only ♃ cold and dry or a Resister of Moisture I know 't is a great Paradox and therefore to some will be offensive but it is such as wanteth neither Apology nor Proof § 44. Not Apology for what must we in earnest submit to every Tradition in Natural Science There 's nought I hope in Philosophy but what appeals to Posterity as to Sense and Reason and will abide the Test of Natural Scrutiny Philosophy is too ingenuous to impose upon us to offer to deceive us by Authority I grant the Authority of our Ancestors is Greater than is allowed by the Junior Inceptors of these dayes Many are despised by Us whose Wisdom we shall never attain to But yet our Ancestors themselves have fixed Bounds to their Authority They swear us indeed not to corrupt their Books they do not swear us to believe All they deliver We must tast before we swallow especially in that part of Philosophy which lies beyond the Moon abstruse Theorems at a vast prospect and distance In these I ought not to follow them hood-winkt to take All for granted as if They were First Principles or from Infallible Dictates They teach us concerning Heaven but they came not from thence I cannot give them their Due Praise unless I examine their Theses I shall be a lazy unwise person if I do not I shall be loath to betray the Generations of the World to Security and Error What Liberty the Antients have taken in a modest dissent from their Predecessors is left to us for a Legacy Ptolemy himself differs from His Seniors the Egyptians § 45. Not Proof no not from the Antients themselves For first though They declare him to be Moist yet they teach us also that He is a Raiser of Winds Ptol. I. 20. which by nature are a Dry Exhalation and Cold too 2. ♃ is the only Aeolus that blows up the North-wind say both Antients and Moderns and they say truly a second Argument that ♃ is the Coldest 3. With one mouth also They truly and consequently affirm that He is the Parent of Serenity but if the Cause of Clouds and Vapor be Heat the Cause of Serenity is Cold the Cleansing Spirit of Cold. Add that we shall see hereafter how No Aspect Planetary causes Dryth but every one of them more or less incline to Moisture except ♃ be one therefore if Cold be the Author of Dryth Dryth I mean in the Constitution of the Air ♃ is that Colder Planet Yea so manifestly is He the favorer of Dryth that he shews this Influence not only in Serene and open Air but in Cloudy and dark Air where many times he suspends the Moisture and as the Vulgar speak when in Cloudy Air a Dry Wind blows It keeps up the Rain Nor is it to be conceal'd that in All Fogs and Mists ♃ hath Influence which argues a dry fuliginous Exhalation mixt with Moisture That Moisture which is found and maintained at the Cost of the Rest of the Planets § 46. Colder and Dryer is ♃ than ♄ it self as much as the North-wind is colder than the East for though the East be cold and dry compared to the West it obtaineth no such character compared with the North. But ♃ is confessed Parens Aquilonis Raiser of the North-wind while ♄ contents himself with the East § 47. And for Dryth Aspects of ♄ are not found to resist Moisture to cause Serenity to raise dry Winds to cast a Fog a Cool Constitution it may profess but with inclination to Moisture for admit it causeth Snow I desire it be consider'd that 't is one thing to cause Snow and another to cause it to fall and the Distinction will be admitted by them that consider that how bitter soever the Weather is when Snow hangs in the Air as they call it yet the Weather relents in a sensible degree at the fall of Snow ♄ then may concur to the Solution of that Cold Mass which ♃ or some other hath created but none contests so much for Cold as ♄ ♃ therefore is the Coldest And let thus much at present serve for the 〈◊〉 § 48. Toward the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 how ♃ or any other Celestial Body can be the Parent of Cold we are willing to declare First what is the Nature of Cold whether positive or meet Privation 2. If Positive what is the Primum Frigidum Earth or any other Body 3. What relation a Body Celestial can have to Cold if Cold prove to be a terrestrial Emanation § 49. Though some Philosophers have said that Cold is a Privation and it seems to agree to what Ptolemy would say concerning the Quality attributed to ♄ the remotest of all from the Sun yea though I think it manifest that some things called Positive Qualities are no better than Privations as Siccity Diaphaneity Softness c. yet I
Semisextile as we have hinted being therefore to be discarded yea the Quincunce it may be hath no Activity but what is founded on a Fallacy of the Cause § 9. Multiplying of Aspects is to be taken heed of proceeding from a false perswasin viz that all Effects Sublunar are to be imputed to the meer Planetary Habitudes even Kepler himself was offended at some better Principles when he first brought in this Abortive of which hereafter § 10. The Old Aspects according to Ptolemy are five 1. Conjunction whose Character is ☌ 2. Sextile marked thus Sextile 3. Quadrate □ 4. Trine △ 5. Opposition ☠§ 11. Conjunction when two Celestial Bodies are situate at or toward one end of the same Line perpendicular in the same Sign and degree which Line being protended reacheth the Centre of the Earth § 12. Opposition when they are found at the Extremes of the same Diameter viz. at VI Signs distance § 13. 'T is hard to say whether of These have the greatest Efficacy for the Conjunction may be more potent in one Respect and the Opposition in another the ☌ is more for Warmth and Moisture the ☠for cool Air and Winds seeing the further the Ray is protended the more it befriends the Cold Spirit Note this must be understood per se and of its own nature howbeit by accident it may prove otherwise § 14. Trine and Quadrate where the Celestials are distant a 3 d or 4 th part of the Sphere i. e. four or three Signs of XII have a notable proportion of Activity in the one the Rays make a right Angle in the other an obtuse not much wide from a Right Angle at the Centre of the Earth yea a Trine makes just a Right Angle sometimes according to the difference of the Obliquity of the Zodiac § 15. The Sexile whereby the Celestials at two Signs distance and no more make a very acute Angle on the Surface of the Earth whose Lines being protended cut one the other much on this side of the Centre the most imbecil therefore of All the Aspects § 16. So the Aspects it may be have not their Foundation so much on Harmonical Proportion as on Physical and Optical Principles § 17. Aspects of Planets are in Number XCIII being distributed among the several Complications of the Planets § 18. Complications are XX thus exhibited ♄ ☽ ♃ ☽ ♂ ☽ ☉ ☽ ♀ ☽ ☿ ☽ ♄ ☿ ♃ ☿ ♂ ☿ ☉ ☿ ♀ ☿ ♄ ♀ ♃ ♀ ♂ ♀ ☉ ♀ ♄ ☉ ♃ ☉ ♀ ☉ ♄ ♂ ♃ ♂ ♄ ♃ § 19. These Complications let out by their several Aspects ☌ ☠△ c. if every Planet were alike free would amount to CV but when ☉ with ♀ and ☿ and These among themselves admit no Aspect but ☌ the Summe is abated to XCIII § 20. Unless the utmost Distances of ♀ and ☿ from the Sun may be reckon'd in being tantamount to ☠with him § 21. Some one or more of these Aspects are extant every Month to qualifie or vary the Season according as the Decree Eternal hath laid out their Motions For if there be no ☌ there may be ☠if neither a □ or △ c. § 22. Yet the Periods of Conjunctions are rarer ♄ and ♃ meet ☉ but once in the Twelvemonth ♂ once in two years ♀ about a Year and half only ☿ in two Months and the ☽ runs through every Aspect with every Planet once in the Month so that if an Aspect be any thing or Celestial Influence any thing the Moon is a Great Dispenser of it § 23. ♀ and ☿ meet in 8 or 9 Months ♄ with ♂ about 2 years ♃ with ♂ somewhat more ♄ ♃ ♂ with ♀ and ☿ according to their different meeting with ☉ ♄ and ♃ in no less than 20 years called therefore the Great Conjunction § 24. The shifting of these Aspects every Revolution is observable how they fall in the subsequent year later than in the precedent as ☌ ☉ ♄ later by a Fort-night ☌ ☉ ♃ about a Month ☌ ☉ ♂ above a Month ☌ ☉ ♀ about half a year ☌ ♄ ♃ though at 20 years distance shoulders out half a year also § 25. Sometime ♀ and ☿ falling Retrograde are willing to salute and be saluted by one another and as it happens by the Superiors also so that an Aspect may be reiterated within less than its ordinary or direct Period And wherefore All this but for the various dispensation of Nature and the most of it within the memory of Man though it be not necessary the Divine Providence should confine its Transcendent Actions to the short Observation of the Small Epoche of one Man's Life Howbeit the Moon 's Revolutions are of a short Term whose constant Visits as we have heard of every Planet cannot be idle unless we make All a dumb Shew nay it were well we did for then there would be oft-times Mystery couch'd Sure if there be so much of Art or Wisdom there must be somewhat of Natural concern in her various Phases § 26. One thing we have not consider'd yet of no small concern in this Theory and That is their Duration for though exact Calculation pretends to scruples First Second yet Natural Causes are not so straight-lac'd a Convex-Glass will burn at several distances § 27. Confining therefore the ☌ and with That the rest of the Configurations to the same Sign and Degree and allowing the Acme of the Aspect to take place at the precise Astronomical Time with proportional allowance of Vigor or Abatement according to the Scruples of Access and Recess yet true it is that the Physical Influence of an Aspect exerts it self before and after i. e. as long as the Heavenly Moveables keep within the Terms of the Definition Such may be the Motion of the Planets that they may keep even to the same Degree though not Minute for a considerable Space On this account we see an Eclipse Solar or Lunar lasts several Hours whose exact Central Calculation is tied to a Minute § 28. Lo then another Suspicion of no Idle Conceit since Nature hath made nothing in vain that ☌ ☉ ☽ should last about 4 or 5 hours ☌ ☉ ☿ ☌ ☉ ♄ ☌ ☉ ♃ 3 dayes ☌ ☉ ♂ 8 dayes ☌ ☉ ♀ 9. Again ☌ ♀ ☿ lasts 9 dayes ☌ ♄ ♂ ☌ ♃ ♂ the like But ☌ ♄ ♃ continues 24 dayes These are the chief and for Brevities sake we content our selves with them § 29. Now as concerning their Influence and the Specification thereof be pleas'd to take notice that there is a Table goes about pretending to acquaint us with their significations with some little Modifications indeed according to the four Seasons of Spring Summer c. but as to the main agreeing with it Self and Truth Let the quainter Reader be pleased not to nauseate it lest the Knowledge of Celestials suffer thereby I do not say 't is exact and beyond Amendment I shall offer toward some Amends my Self but for the General I say
noted Dec. 17. An. 1641. but elsewhere upon less occasion for on every one of those days shall you find what we call a ☌ ☉ ☿ within 7 6 5 degrees besure under 10. Blame not the Germans therefore if they fancy Astrology and let us hope that we shall have no such Cogent Fiery Evidences for the Dint of the Heavenly Influences to etch in the Belief of a Scientifique Conclusion A great Conclusion and Cause Natural for Nature is a Prodigy a Miracle so that I do not wonder at the Instance not yet mentioned in the Diary aforesaid of what happened at Zicken in Brandenburg Jan 7. An. 1640. under a ☌ ☉ ☿ which bears a Contradiction in its mention Tearing Hail Fiery Hail-stones The Diary 't is true comes in with his Exception sed haec saith he sunt miraculosa And far be it from me to Extenuate any Stupendious Work of the Creation but I am apt to believe that even this is such I mean Natural and all Circumstances considered hath its Natural Cause yet I grant it heartily in some sense Miraculous At Stetin the ingenious Eichstad tells us of Sulphurous matter rained there But I won't enquire now for fear I should find some conjuring Aspect and that Sulphur containing Fire might be called Hail We that have ventured to ascribe to the ☌ ☉ ☿ a Power of blowing up or shaking the Earth must not boggle at any thing less or equal Nor have we done yet scarce § 66. For Ptolemy as far as I can see made no mention of Comets as if the ☌ of Planets contributed not to the Opening of such Aetherial Monsters although now the Opinion begins to take as we may see by Lubienec his Account that the Planetary Congresses do give them being And surely if they contribute to Earthquakes Lightnings Fiery Meteors c. They may reasonably be thought not to stand out for the Generation of Comets also which are found always hankering under Earthquakes and other Commotions For what reason can be given why a Comet should bode an Inundation at one time an Earthquake at another and a 3d. time a Plague unless they are united in the same Cause which in common at his Seasons and Opportunities produces all Three Beside the Comets Aetherial and Sublunar are all of a Species Mortal and Transitory differing in their Duration according to the difference of their own Dimension as in reason the Aetherial must needs surpass the Sublunar Add that certain it is that the very Trajections and other Fiery Meteors Trabes and Dracones are of the same Species besure with Comets Sublunar at least Ergo. § 67. Now that so it is under Favour of those Great Men who deem otherwise will appear not improbable from some Instances ready to be produced The First is An. 1577. a proper literal Comet first observed by the Seamen saith Tycho Nov. 10. where ☿ is according to Stadius but 10. gr from the Sun hasting to a nearer ☌ This I say helps to Midwife the Comet into the World Its appearance was breeding before An. 1582. The next Comet in the beginning of March. Ricciolus Alm. Tom. 1. p. 13. at what time there is commencing ☌ ☉ ☿ towards the end of ♓ An. 1607. The Third Comet appeared on Sept. 16 Stylo veteri On that day there are visible Three Aspects and one is ☌ ☉ ☿ an accident so remarkable that Longomontanus treating of that Comet as Riccilous informs thinks it reasonable to date that Comet from the Conjunction So then The Fourth is that famous Comet of 1618. where we will stretch nothing because there is not that Consent about its first appearance Besides that they say there were three or four that year two shining at the same time All which I say is if that be true which Lotichicus hath declared who wrote with all Religious Diligence at that time that the Comet appeared first about the VII Calends November Stylo Vet. which is our October XXV it lights punctually upon a ☌ ☉ ☿ The Fifth and there is none intervenes haps An. 1652. Dec. IX seen near Orion's Girdle ☿ was in ♑ 3. So on the matter there was a ☌ ☉ ☿ on the very Solstice Again An. 1661. a Comet seen at Amsterdam Jan. 28. a ☌ ☉ ☿ makes one there An. 1664. Jan. 11. a Comet seen in Stiria ☿ is but 8 degrees distant An. 1664. Dec 17. There are Stories of Fires falling from above Dec. XVIII in Germany and I my self saw with Horror an Angry blazing Meteor as big and round as the ☽ but with no such meek favourable Countenance A ☌ ☉ ☿ within 3 degrees § 68. And what folly is in this Principle When as it is certain that even the ☽ aspected with the Sun and the Rest gives her Symbol toward the kindling of a Comet especially the Conjunction with the Sun And Tycho I remember thinks it a reasonable Conjecture in that of 1603. To conclude this Chapter 't is good to know what we hope to make as plain as Day when some great Men there are beside Fromond who favour us who refer the Original of a Comet to the Planets Postellus Cabaeus Telesius Bullialdus Kircher Schuler Heveltus and Galileo c. And I doubt whatsoever Lubieniec is pleased to say Ricciolus can have no Demonstration to the contray which may be seen in due place Thus far Ptolemy § 69. 'T is time now we advertise of Heat whose account seems so Low being but 12. because we reckon those days without Wind or Rain otherwise the Sum gets up to 56. with days more for Thunder and Lightning And this may be no small Medium for conviction of Dissenters for if a Planet will not be allowed to bring Rain or Winds it may be allowed to bring Heat at least in Conjunction with the Sun for a very Mountain of Ice joyned with the Sun will reflect Heat till it is mastered Let the Industrious Calculator assure me that the Luminous Planets do but meet and he may assure himself without Violence to his Intellect or self-imposture that the Warmth he finds at the Critical time streams upon his Head from the Configuration Doth not our Verulam acknowledge so much in his Inquisition into the Form of Heat Henceforward let no man therefore take up that vulgar and scarce reasonable Expression saying On such an Aestival day the Sun is very Hot and ready to make one faint c. when the difference lyes Elevation considered very often in our Planets side who sculking under the wings of the Sun betrays his undiscerned Presence by his Natural glowing together with the greater Luminary Wherefore let me bespeak the Dissenter Sir you are a Philosopher Some of these days you may please to see are more than ordinary Hot as May the 13. An. 1621. June 7. and 9. An. 1623. May the 24. An. 1624. or three days together in August An. 1625. or in June An. 1626. I would know the Cause as abroad so with us at home
if I find our ☌ of ☉ and ♀ in any reasonable Capacity acting at the same time To our Beauteous Conjunction will I ascribe the Continuance as perhaps we may find the like in some after Aspects who are of as slow a Motion § 12. On this account it is that we often times see Clouds as in several Stories Lofts or Scenes one over another I do not fix them on this Aspect only but specially I do such Contignations of the Clouds do shew that store of Rain is falling or ready to fall In all dire Tempests we may find such Bay of Buildings in the Regions above which when they fall on our Heads make a Ruina Caeli the First Heaven doth often tumble upon our Heads And in Loud Thunder these several Stories no doubt heighten the violence of the Eruption and helps to strike the Lightning downward which otherwise would fly as innocently as a soft silent Night-Flame sudden or shooting in the Hush't Night § 13. For High Winds whereof Ptolemy makes mention we have a competent Number which occur both in the Direct Conjunction and Retrograde I observe he doth not stick to attribute Winds to ♀ though he hath ascribed the same to ☿ before All that we shall say is and no body will perhaps gainsay us that there is reason why ☿ should be reputed of a more windy Influence than his Neighbour Planet because of his Vicinity yea and those more often Congresses with the Sun but notwithstanding this we shall see to be Truth that many times ♀ hath her Influence and no small Influence on many Tempests of which ☿ carries away the Name § 14. What more remains will come under the more Platique Consideration of this Aspect whose Grandure will not be conspicuous except we enter into a larger Field being not unwilling herein to spare our pains Here I find the Arabs Summ. Anglican speak of 12. degrees others of 15. which I must needs say is founded on Experience as hath bin shewn in part already in ☿ Nay some speak of the same Sign but of That we say little till we come to the Superiours At present we shall produce no Evidences but what comes within Compass of the first Moiety of the Sign the 15. degree and all on this side of it § 15. But we have not done our best for our Moisture yet Thus then notwithstanding we have said that 13. or 14 days produced for every Aspect in the Direct Table is a Prejudice to our accounts yet even so our Moist Days in the Table out-vie the Moiety of the Total This in the Direct but in the Retrograde which consists but of 3 days what is the Issue What But this that there is scarce one Aspect under that Stile but what finds us with Rain or Moisture Once if not Twice within the Triduum And if so pray remember us to Gassendus the reason we will tell you that in this Case i. e. when Venus is Retrograde Venus is nearer us than Mercury it self So doth Astrology demonstrate § 16. Let the Reader favour me so as to glance on these days following and then recur to the Table First Direct January 1679. die 22. February 1655. die 5. 8. April 1658. die 17 18 24. 1666. die 9 11 13 14 17. 1682. die 16. June 1653. die 21 26 29 30 1677. die 17. July 1653. die August 1664. die 29. 1672. die 20 28 31. Sept. 1. 16. 1656. die Septembr November 8. 1659. die 9 10. 1683. die 1 4 8. January 1671. die 28. Feb. 17. ib. 1655. die 26. Feb. 3. 1679. die 16. 23 24. February 1655. die 2. April 1658. die 21. 23. 1666. die 8. 13. 16. 1674. die 15. 21 22. 1682. die 14. July 1653. die 2. August 1664. die 31. Sept. 1 2. 1672. die 17 27 29. 31. November 1650. die 16. 1667. die 4. 18. 1682. die 8. § 17. I have read somewhat of the Treasures of Rain Hail Snow and so have you Good Reader if you please I will shew you one of them the ☌ ☉ ♀ is one of those Store-Houses for the First Columne of the Table presents you with Store of Rain according as was noted by Ptolemy The 2d with Rain for a considerable part of the day yea All the Day long an Effect I wis of some Consequence to be regarded by all those who believe a Providence and Convincing all those who believe it not For lo on such an Aspect precisely those Gluts of Rain do fall See the same from Keplers Table also ready to be produced least any should say 't is meerly Casual no 't is not so but it would perhaps never have bin discover'd but by our Method of enlarging our Aspect to a Fortnight or thereabout But how That 's the Question if it were an Apple we spoke of the Fairest yields most Moisture But is it so amongst the Stars I thought once to dispatch it thus that the Planets not Warmth only but its Motion also is to be consider'd Upon the Account of Warmth she is a Friend to Rain Upon the account of her Motion she keeps even pace with her Sun as it were to justifie and maintain the Constitution put up For all Constitutions are interrupted by the Separations of the Causes which help to produce them unless when equivalent Causes succeed These Causes are not separated so soon where the Motion is equal as in our Aspect is found Continued Rains are not found therefore so frequent in ☌ ☉ ☿ because ☿ by his swifter Motion bids adieu to the ☉ as ☽ also doth with a Motion much swifter That this is the Reason appears because these Rains whose duration last an entire day are found mostly in the Direct motion of our Planet under this Aspect where this equality holds In the Retrograde where the Sun and She moving to contrary Terms are suddenly parted we see no such Constitution happens With what justice now shall a genuine Astrology be counted a vain Pretence when 't is even demonstrative when it renders a reason of an Effect not contemptible à priori Making as good Demonstrations why Rains when they once Catch are apt to last by the equal motion of the Planets as there is Demonstration of a Lunar Eclipse by the Earths interposition § 18. There are some little Curiosities that if they deserve not our regard yet perhaps may be above our Contempt § 19. First Concerning the Clouds of which there appears these differences Flaxen Clouds Fleec'd Clouds some which I call Fritter Clouds all from their likeness other Striped or Streaked Clouds lying in strange Furrows as it were I have reason to think these belong to the Aspect because they are found all of them within the interval of three degrees and yet according to the general Nature of Clouds so diversified Compare this with Clouds in their Lofts or Contignations These are abatements of that Fulness Now all abatements do spring from the substraction of the Cause as in the
some other Cause which we shall evidence in ♃ suppose or by indisposition of the Clime Thus All that Tract of Land or Sea under the Torrid Zone where 't is known Rain cometh but at one or two Months of the year I reckon is generally Indisposed whose reasons are not here to be displayed And thus ♂ comes to be so fam'd abroad for Drought c. as Syrius of old which in our remoter Clime is not so terrible § 17. For ♂ his Heat in Summer Seasons and elsewhere we have beside his Tokens of blue Smoky Mist Lightning Trajections c. an express of above an 100 days and what more might have bin justly noted Yet I must not nor doth our own Diary seem to give leave that I should crow after the Antients and say that ♂ is hotter than ☉ least I should pull the World about my Ears but I say 't is in vulgar way of speaking a more violent Star than the Sun it it self This will be proved not only in this but also in the ensuing Chapters § 18. This raises expectation which we will endeavour to satisfie when we have answered one Objection First that 't is absurd to make a Reflexion a Minor Planet more Potent than the Major 2ly That 't is uncertain whether our Planet hath any such heat or no for if so we should not sure find Hard Sharp Frosty Cold Seasons whensoever our violent Planet is conjoyned to the Sun § 19. To the First 'T is absurd if we consider the Reflexion by its self singly and disjunct from the Direct But if we suppose the Direct Radiation as in Nature it doth then Two is more than one the Direct and the Reflex is greater than the Direct alone So in vulgar speaking as we say sometimes the Son is Finer than the Father whereas all the Finery he wears comes out of the Fathers Purse ♂ is a more violent Star because his Aspects with the ♀ ☿ are more violent than those of the ☉ with the same How comes that to pass unless ♂ may be violent Thus a Conjunction of ♂ and ♀ latently includes ☉ A ☌ ☉ ♀ doth not include ♂ wherefore if Three be more than two a ☌ ♂ ♀ is greater than a ☌ ☉ ♀ This in strict Philosophy may not be said seeing the Minor hath its Energy from the Major but for Doctrines sake we suppose ♂ to be as it were sui juris independent of the Sun § 20. To the 2d we say Let 's see them let 's see the Frosts they are not more than what are found under ☌ ☉ ☿ or ☌ ☉ ♀ and yet they were Spit-Fires Thunderers and Flashers had their Heats and Droughts and Violences too § 21. We see One or Two in our own Diary let 's see the Rest First To run back no further than King Henry the Eighths time Anno 1536. We are told that Ice on the Thames hindred the Kings passage at Greenwich Dec. 24 while ♂ is within gr 2. or 3. of his Syzygie Anno 1598. Dec. 1. ad diem 11. Thames nigh froze at London Bridge the Frost began for all as I see with a ☌ ☉ ♂ in ♠Dec. 1. Anno 1630. From Dec. 21. Three Weeks Frost presently after the Partile ☌ of ♂ and ☉ Kyr Anno 1662. The Thames caked with Ice in 4 Nights die 31. and was scarce passable and this within two days of the Partile ☌ as is seen in the Tables Anno 1665. The end of February and part of March Frosty Weather commensurate to the ☌ ☉ ♂ in ♓ 24. This Frost is memorable from the Dire Pestilence ensuing so that we need not marvail at some stricture of Frost occurring in our Sept. Anno 1658. In Novemb. 1660. In May 1667. In Oct. 1675. in our Tables for the Case is plain ♂ burns sometimes with a Cold Iron § 22. 'T is so but doth this take from the Martial Influence any more than you see it doth prejudice the Solar to admit Frosts sharp and tedious Astrologers do usually speak of Debilities All Planets in Winter Signs are but in a low condition as to Northern site so remote from the Winter Tropick the Setting Sun is weak and cool as a Glow-Worm and Planets in the Winter Tropic are setting even at Noon as it were by their near approach to the Horizon Apply this to ♂ and the rest as in the Winter at Muscovy Anno 1681 when the Polish Souldiers suffered by the Cold Calvis All the Planets were in deep Winter Quarters Howbeit even thus in his Weak Estate our Planet bears some Testimony to himself by Snows amongst the Frost or by Remission of the Cold which may be worth an Observers notice when the Pladding Countryman overlooks such Vicissitudes of Nature if short and temporary For so I hope none can object to us the cruel Winter noted by Gemma Anno 1568. Secuta est saith he Hyems asperrima but he speaks of no great Frost until the middle of March which concerns not a ☌ celebrated ten Weeks before And what was the Asperity Winds and Rains Churches strook with Lightning and Floods Jan. 3. before our ☌ was expired No nor that of September 1590. which was saith Stow a very cold Month with Snow and Sleet but the same Month brought Wind Rain Lightning and Thunder to speak for the ☌ § 23. Add that these cold Examples are very rare and that the ☌ ☉ ♂ commonly brings milder Winter Air so as whensoever Frost appears you may observe that ♂ is at a distance from the Sun about a Sign or two or three c. wherein if Communication be interrupted which keeps it out the Cold breaks in not but that the distant Aspects have their Force the Sextile Quadrate c. but they are not so Potent nay nor so durable as ☌ or ☠§ 24. In this case then the Opposition more than the Conjunction proclaims the Planetary Heat in as much as an opposal of ♂ and the ☉ very seldom fails of its warm thawing Breath Put the ☉ in the Winter Tropique and let ♂ face him in the Summer though the Planet so posited shall be hid under the Earth you shall see what Fire he will save you on a Winters day whereas if ♂ be about the Quincunx of Sol a Sign distant from the Oppositional Line he is in a chill posture and so found in those Frosty days or Seasons which happen at that determinate time some abatement being reckoned for the Northern side of our Clime § 25. The Planet may be violent in his hour for all this and is it not upon that account that the Divine Goodness hath retarded his Motion that ♂ his Configurations with the Sun and other Planets the ☽ excepted being less frequent the World should be less distracted Suppose therefore we should allow which indeed we cannot that Great Britain our dear Country c. felt not the Smart of this Aspect if other Countries do the Divine Superintendency hath its end
our Thames Nov. 23. Anno 1673. and an Higher than that October Anno 1679. in our tedious Observations Nay what indeed to that of Oct. 22. when the Tide ran all upon the Ebb and yet the Water rose What there may be of Flouds in the One or of Currents of the other Let the Reader consider § 50. The Antient Astrologers have talked to this purpose long before Alkindus Alhamazar c. The First if a Third Planet saith he comes into ♂ ♀ Fit quasi diluviam apud Escuid 2 7. The other tells us that in the Mamareth of ♀ above ♂ there happen Excessive Rains be it in what sign soever Which I look upon no sham from the Arab though I cannot sufficiently wonder why he acknowledges so little Wet except in One Sign ♠when vice versa ♂ is elevated above ♀ there is some mystery in it that I reach not for it is contrary to our Northern Experience But the Astrologer goes further and demonstrates this Influence from the Contrariety of their Domicils according to the Doctrine of Ptolemy Tetrab 1. 20. Hence ♂ ♀ and ♃ with ☿ and ♄ with ☉ are peculiar Masters of Apertio Portarum Because ♀ possesses the Signs ♎ and ♉ which are the Signs confronting the Martial Houses of ♈ and ♠In like manner ♃ in his Houses ♠and ♓ oppose ♊ and ♠which are ☿ 's Propriety Lastly ♄ in ♑ and ♒ oppose ☉ whose House 't is plain is ♋ or ♌ § 51. Not out of any Humour of contradicting Antiquity whose defence I endeavour where I may I must needs own some dissatisfaction For I ask any man who is not passionate and why Truth shall not be the Interest of us all I know not Whether a ☌ of ♂ ☉ is not as Efficacious as a ☌ ☉ ♄ I speak of Rain especially if the ☽ applys to them Andwhether a ☌ ☉ ☿ is not as prone to Wind almost as a ☌ ♄ ☿ for they understand the Port-opening to Winds as well as Rain to say nothing of Heat yea of Cold also which last though methinks it sounds not so well hath obtained Yea but I ask again whether a ☌ or ☠♄ ♂ shall be discarded from an Apertio Portarum to Rain or Hail c. or our Neighbour ♂ ☿ which we shall find to be a Tearing Aspect Nay we see always ready to open the Cataracts of Heaven and the Great Deep Lastly what we think of ♀ and ☿ which is oft-time a drenching ☌ and helps to make Flouds if that be Opening as old Japhar I see hath taught quoted by our Country-man Tract ' 2. dist ' 4. Cap. 4. to say no more § 52. I may have leave therefore to offer to consideration whether or no this Singular Promptness and Property of these Configurations to Rain and Wind in ♂ and ♀ c. The proclivity to Clouds and Moisture in ♄ and ☉ Winds and Storms in the Aspects of ♃ ☿ may not be founded on other Bases in Nature rather than the Opposite distances of their Houses Such are the differences of their Globe or their Ponderosity as they call it and the difference of their Qualities and Motions the Disparity of their Height Elevation Distances from the Earth with their several distances from the Sun from the Fixed Stars Whether some or all of these do not contribute Naturally and without subornation to a diverse Effect Seeing 't is certain that First the great disposal of these in such diversity of Site and Order was an Act of the Divine Wisdom which it may be is not yet di scovered throughly and possibly never will be except by such kind of Contemplation I remember the attentive Kepler observed in May An. 1622. That among the VII in that Month there was Ordo idem sub Zodiaco qui altitudinum in Sphaeris and he adds Nec sine auctario effectu Ascribing the notable Effects of a Thundring Month to that rare accident And no question our present Aspect of ♂ ♀ is more potent than ♄ ♀ wherefore But because of their different Natures yea and Situations ♂ is warmer and also nearer than ♄ Nearer to us is ♂ ♀ and nearer to one another So in ♃ ☿ the vicinity of ☿ conduceth to Winds as the Vicinity of the ☽ to Warmth Moisture c. and the Nature of ♃ contributeth to the same Effect Vicinity to us Yea and Vicinity to the Sun On which account the ☌ Lunar or ☠with ☿ is so considerable as hath bin noted before § 53. Yea and ♄ ♂ ♃ ♂ ♄ ♃ the Superiour Aspect what Effects they have may be from the difference of their Globes and Fabricks for so our Tables make us believe the Vicinity to one another and their Vicinity to the Fixed too for all I know to speak doubtingly in a point of which I am sure For what is it else that the Antients above quoted do sollicitously bid us mark the Eccentricity of the Epicycle of ♃ ♄ the ☽ being in Perigaeo c. Except Experience taught them this Truth which I now assert § 54. What then Would I have Apertio Portarum to be routed By no means The Terms are significant and smell of Art worthy to be retained They savour of the Eastern Learning Or if you will the Mosaick Astrology But I desire their Enlargement to other Configurations I would not have the Word denyed where the thing appears 'T is Special in ♂ ♀ It holds in ♃ ☿ and it shall not be denyed to ☉ ♄ which being all of contrary Houses I must needs say is a happy congruity or co-incidence but brings no Demonstration no more than the Congruities which the Copernican System boasts of can unhinge the Earth and set it a running § 55. We close up all with the Contemplation of the Afflictive Influence of this Aspect on the State of our Bodies I am sorry for it we find Feaverish and other Distempers Epidemical heartned on by this Aspect Anno 1667. Aug. 7. A Sickly time noted Anno 1679. August 2. Pestilent time abroad in Germany Anno 1680. August 1679. August 27. Pestilential in Germany as Prague c. And though we acknowledge other more malefique Aspects yet we cannot but observe that even this ☌ hath its malignanty I cannot take delight to empale each Page of this Discourse with a Black mourning Lig Mortal that I am much less delight I to seem to exclude a destroying Angel from the wasting Malady of Pestilence Only I think God hath given us leave saving to himself the Awe that is due to a Revenging God to consider what Second Causes he is pleased to use in the powring out of his Fury on us And this I shall endeavour to do by Linking the Year yea the Month of the Year to the time of the Aspect Influence though in some more in others less acknowledging withal that in some extream Pestilences these Aspects are not found as in those of 1593. 1625. but not those of
please to use my Spectacles what makes the Autumn so Sickly What blows up the Coal for New diseases to sparkle among us It hath bin hitherto said 'T is eating too much Fruit But 't is one thing to say too much Fruit eaten may cause a Quartan Ague c. in this or that Person and another to say when an Epidemic Distemper reigus Too much Fruit is the Cause 'T is the Season not the Fruit of the Season is the cause For how much Fruit doth the Antient Person eat Or the Labourer at Harvest I appeal to the very Practice of the Skilful Physitian whether he find one in Ten of his Masculine aged Patients In a Sickly time that can ascribe his Malady to Fruit immoderately eaten For how haps it that Men eat more Fruit One year than another The more Fruit there is the more is eaten True but are all Fruitful years Sickly We do not find it so nor yet all Sickly Seasons Fruitful Hippoirates teaches no such thing He talks of the Equinoxes and the State of the Air. Learned Men are loath to impute it to the Season because they Ken not the Mystery why the Season it self is Malignant When Hippocrates tells us All unseasonable Weather is such Our Table will shew in some part considerably what are all they which happen August September and October Do not three parts of them fall out in those Months And are not those Months themselves famous for Dangers upon a Celestial account The Physitian is not to Learn what the Aequinoctial means and do not every one of these Harvest Aspects happen in Harvest Signs ♌ â™ or ♎ or beginning of â™ Consult and consider they do and must do so The same Causes make a Sickly Autumn which make a Sickly Spring also as the very Table will inform 'T is not with us as in Jamaica and other places where Fruit hangs on the Tree all the year long Fruit is a Rarity at sometimes of the Year when a Quartan Ague or the Small Poches raigning or a Pestilent Feaver is not CHAP. VIII ☌ ♂ ☿ Conjunction of Mars and Mercury § 1. Parity of Reason 2. Different Aspects may partake of the same Character 4. The Aspect cannot be considerd apart from ☉ ♀ which makes our Diary prolix but is hoped not nauseous 5. The Humour of the Aspect not found but by an enlarged Diary 6. Astrologer without a laxe Contemplation of an Aspect will be put to his shifts as Kepler No such thing as Anticipation the Art betrayed by it 7. Natural Effects are not Orphans 8. Further justification of our prolix Diaries 9 10. Communication of Planets at gr 10. distance to say no more 11. ♂ ☿ Character 12 13. ☿ a sign of Dryth in the Antients Opinion some tokens of that Dryth Locusts a Sign of Dryth 14 15. The Aspect admits of Cold and Frost also 16. Which made the Antients perhaps define ☿ to be of a doubtful Tempur 17 18. In a state of Destitution Light or Heat which conquers not Cold actuates it 19. So our North wind â—s actuated by the Rayes of our Northern Asterisms 10. The Rains and fits of Rain 21. The Winds 22. Harmful and pernicious 23. Thunders reckoned 24. Not all Comets as Cardan will have it belong to ♂ ☿ All the Planets contribute Hevelius as shy as he is his consont thereto 26 27. Account of our Aspect's interest in some Comets 28. Sorer Hail in Germany then in England 26 29. Account of some Earthquakes where our Aspect is concerned 30. Great Fishes stranded note some disturbance of Nature 31. Sholes of Fish argue the like 32. Duration of Earthquakes may be accounted for 33. Currents here also under this Aspect 34. Some shifting of Tydes 35. The late Dr. Childreys opinion curious 36. Some Reasons for our own and our Aspects concern 37 38. Conclusion with our Maculae and Malignancy of our Aspect 39. The Diary 40. The reason of sudden and surprising Showrs by fits 41. The Gentle Dissenter posed § 1. WE have raised the Readers expectations of this Aspect by shewing beforehand what it can do in no mean instance The Truth is the Powr of this Aspect follows the Premises For if ☉ with ☿ have acted and suâ—â—ably ♂ ♀ have imitated them in case 〈◊〉 ☿ have acted ♂ and ☿ may imitate § 2. From different Aspects a different Character must not always be expeced Nature hath several Causes which produced the same Effect and Nature hath divers Causes which produce the same Effects The Fields were green the Flowers blow the Lark and the Trush sung their Voluntaries saith Keplers A o 1621 When even in January So that as Nature can make a Spring when the Sun is an ♉ 〈…〉 make a Spring when the Sun is in ♑ I mean Celestial Nature not Occur Causes where our Mathematicician above thinks fit to shelters 〈…〉 c. § 3. Now though ♂ ☿ may have somewhat peculiar as well as Common yet it would be improper for us to search that out when as yet the Common Influence is not granted us We must shew this first and then if ought appears of Curiosity it will be perhaps welcom § 4. I had a devise once of considering our Aspect of ♂ ☿ separate forsooth from ☌ ♂ ☉ ♂ ♀ but I was forced to abandon it because they rarely happen so as also because a Potent Aspect's Influence may for certain be distinguished even when mixed with Aspects of no small Energy Here the equal Reader will not be offended if he meet with the same Instance a new repeated no more then where a Miner shall take up a piece of the same Ore to search out several Veins of Metal So that if our Diaries be Prolix upon a repeated Aspect they may I hope not easily be censured where even upon a Second Scrutiny which we profess to have made nothing can be spared Add that it is neither ignoble nor unpleasant to be able to ascribe a durable Constitution or State of Air to an Equi-durable mover § 5. Aspects of ♂ ♀ as we have seen in the precedent of ♂ ♀ are either Single or redoubled Single may be in vogue according as I am taught to reckon about 14 days or sometimes more as they are loath to depart But when by the Retrograde Course of ☿ it happens to be re-inforced it redoubles the Term of Time and reaches to a Month or more So I find in Keplers Ephemeris 〈◊〉 1624. where our Planets being met June 2. separate to the distance of 10 gr and then meet a Second time so the Sum comprised arise to days 39. Yea reckoning 10 degrees before and after to 50 Days A time wherein we may view the complexion of the Planets Whereas therefore I had once a Fancy for brevities sake alass to enlarge our Observation but to gr 5 distance supposing to speak Truth the Humour of the Aspect I was taught to double my Files as I did in ♂ ♀ that I might
will bespeak us the Table will furnish you with the years 79. 97. 1644. for ☿ 's Influence in his Solitary Capacity § 49. Hitherto may I add the Ice of the Northern Seas in Aestival Months from the years 1527. 87. and the like And let no man wonder that I sail to the Frozen Zone upon the account that these I have almost said Eternal Ice-Banks take place only from the absence of the warm Sun there being no room there for the small Game of This or that Planet though I Worship the Sun as well as another man yet after careful Observation I for certain found the contrary to this most certain Principle For it is known that the Northern Seas are not always of a Temper Some Winters the Ice makes inrodes upon the more Southern Climes sometimes again it retreats till it is Coop'd up almost to the Polar Circle Concerning which see the Islanders Latine discourse in Hakl Edit 2ly That Author makes us believe sometimes that there is a quite clear Sea when sometimes again we shall find Ice 100 Fathom deep as Purch 3. p. 38. and that in Lat. 60. which difference of years cannot proceed meerly from the Suns absence which in all Winters is one and the same but from these petty Skip-Jack Aspects which have to do and have Patent to shew for it where ever the Sun hath to do I have made it my business to observe it scrupulously the rather because in times of Yore as of late the English with other Nations have had an ardent desire if that would carry them through to find a North-West Passage to the East-Indies wherein our Frobishers Hudsons Davises have taken immortal Pains but as unless encouraged by an Aspect Columbus had never found the West-Indies neither shall the North-West passage succeed without the same Clew Martin Frobisher by good hap through its Influence as then assisted A o 1587. found it Hot Extreme Hot in Lat. 61. our ☌ ♃ ☿ being the same at both times What do we in his First Voyage A o 1676. when he met with Ice at a nearer distance Lat. 61. our ☌ ♃ ☿ being the same at both times What do we speak of 61 When under the same Aspect we find Mountains of Ice in our own Latitude in New-found-Land I mean where it appears A o 1527. We cannot encourage the ordinary Undertaker to any of these Voyages no not in those years where ♃ and ☿ meet in Summer Signs because we find the Assistance so rare that our Aspect seems to favour Ice in two years of three and the third only to give the Mariner some flushing hopes of the dissolution of the ice which was yet notwithstanding the warm Reflexions in vain expected However the difference of the Extent of the Frozen Sea doth depend on the Heavens I appeal to any one who shall please to compare the well-set Full-bodyed Ray of Heaven in the Warmer year from the Shatter'd Order and Positions of the Planets in the Colder Years Small hopes therefore of a N W. passage and yet there is Difference of years some less desperate than others of which later kind if my Augury fail not the present year 1686. will be remarkable But this will occur again it may be LIB III. CHAP. I. Of the Three Superiours mutual Configurations And first of SATURN and MARS § 1. The Three Superiours call for Wonder 2. Whether ♄ and ♂ have any Tragical Conse quences 3. 30 or 40 days by right are to be allowed for the view of this Aspect 4. 7. Eichstad c. to secure the Art are cautelous in rendring the Character of the Aspect 5. Maginus also puts in his Limitations 6. All Concurrents allowed the Influence of the Configuration is plainly discernible 8. The Vehemency of the Aspect seen in Tempests Lightning Hail 9. Not so many Inundations here as elsewhere to repress those who say We know nothing of the Stars 10. Astrologers therefore do not put up this Aspect for a constant Rainer 11. Oft-times dry and sometimes Frosty 12. As in Southern Signs 13. Yet its inclination to Rain reaches near the Moyety of 30 days 14. Yea they have their excessive harmful Fits a Wonder in ♄ so remote a Planet The Sun's Exaltation alone produces not Lightning 15. Fiery Meteors brief under this Aspect 16. How for Snow 17. Other effects of this Aspect Irides Halo's interchangeable clearing and clouding 18. Mists of a deep blew 19. Mists progressive creeping in the Vallies 20. Blushing Tincture of the Clouds even from this Aspect 21. Dark Air. 22. The Diary 23. Some Additionals to the Diary 24. The Character of the Aspect 25. Diary Forein of Storms Hurricanes Rains Thunders Flouds 26. Necessary to the greatness of the Argument 27. It s Theory Irresistible 28. The utmost Platick distance with the Quincunx and Semisextile have their Effect 29. ♄ and ♂ are engaged in all violent Effects if posited within 30 degrees 30. Evidence from the Table the Famous Stormy year of 88. considered 31. Further Evidence 32. A discovery of the Causes unknown to the Learned Kepler 33. Our Aspect engaged in the account of 40 days Turbulency 34. ♄ and ♂ has no Name for Inundations 35. A List of Comets proper to ♄ and ♂ 36. Their Planetary Original proved from the Comets A o 1528. 1538. 1558. c. 39. Not ♄ and ♂ only but ♄ with ♀ c. 40. Yea ♄ and ☉ but rarely 41. More frequent in ♄ and ♂ 42. Keckerman's Observation Comets appear near their Autumnal Aequinox the Reason 43. Comets us'd to appear also about ♌ Why they so often shew themselves near the Feet of Ursa Major 44. ♊ and ♠carry the greatest sway 45. Comets of 1528. and 38. though at the same time of the year and the same place of the Zodiack are not the same Most Comets appear about January 46. Comets which were said to oppose ♄ did oppose ♂ too 47. Astrolegers often predict Comets 48. T. M. and Comets under ♄ and ♂ of equal Number 49. A List of Earthquakes proper to this Aspect 50. Some Affinity between Comets and Earthquakes 51. Why Comets universally appearing are sometimes visible to Asia sooner than to Europe 52. Sickness and Pestilence fear'd to have relation to this Aspect 53. No danger to Religion 54. There are some Aspects Malignant the Vulgar confessing the thing though not in Terms 55. A List of Sickness Epidemical and Remarks thereon 56. Some Ghostly Counsel Whether all years are Sickly 57. Sickly years are too frequent 58. Physitians accord with us 59. Eclipses no natural Signs of Pestilences 60. Why Sickness in one place more than another A noble Enquiry 61 Some emollient Observations to lay our Fears Tropical and Equinoctial Signs most Critical Scorbute Epidemical not indifferent at Sea every year 62. Pestilence arises not from meerly supernatural Causes Dimerbrock answered 63. New Diseases therefore preter-natural is no Consequence Yet God sometimes punishes Miraculously 64. Observations of
the Aspect in ♉ ♠at the end of Sept. the highest Week Aug. 28. Let any Man consult the Ephemeris 1648. Valencia in Spain at Constantinople in July In Africk also Kirch Sect. 1. Cap. 9. June 28. ☌ ♊ 11. The ☌ is tim'd for a Summer Month and in a Tropical Sign It lasts all July and not quite ceased in Aug. 1652. At Cracow Grant Sickly in England Id. The ☌ in August in principio ♌ Yea other Aspects have their shares opposed in Tropical Signs See ♄ ♃ Table Aug. ☌ in ♌ 1654. At Copenhagen Grant Sickly in London Id. Sept. 3. ☌ ♠2. ♄ ♂ draw toward ☌ in July celebrated in the Sign ♌ in Sept. princip vide ☠♄ ♃ as above 1656. At Naples a great Plague at at Rome at Genoa Kyrcher Sickin England Grant Sept. 24. ♠28. ♄ ♂ appear where but in Sept. The precise ☌ within 2 degrees of the Equator 1657. At Genoua the Height at August in principio Grant June 22. ♈ ♎ o. ♄ ♂ precise ☠in the Equinoctial Point ad Jun. fin calls for our remembrance 1661. Sickly London Id. June 26. ♠♉ Our Planets are oppos'd about Midsummer which we see by sundry Examples premised bodes ill Yea the very Aspect held till August the midst 1665. That I hope never to be parallel'd Pestilence of 100000 Funerals ♄ ♂ in Tropical Signs in July there is one String of the Scourge But our killing ☠of ♃ ♂ holds on § 56. Have I not said too much is it not too plain 'T is not too much for a sober Melancholly Consideration It were Wisdom in us if we could secure our selves against those Fears which Annually fall upon us almost every Summer or Harvest by seeking a more healthful Air and a better Countrey above this Elementary World I did not know but some may make this use of it and then I have not said too much The new Atlantis no question as some have happily mistaken concerning the Situation of Paradise is above the Moon be above ♄ and ♂ and all malefique Influences real or seeming But this by the way I am aware of a just exception against such Discourses as these which seem to make every year almost Pestilential for so the curious Reader will quickly find that what with one Aspect and what with another we make very few years to pass free since not a year goes over our Heads but we shall meet with a ☌ ♄ ♂ or at least an ☠and if so by chance it haps that these Aspects prove inoffensive their Malignity being quenched by the the Season of the time or by their State of Desertion then another Malignant Combination of ♃ with ♂ suppose exercises the same Malignity as before To this the Physitians will answer for us that there is difference between Pestilences as in Motions of Water all are not raging or furious wherefore although at the inauspicious found of the Word we fear yet God be thanked we do not often feel its Fury There is a difference I say when the yearly Bill shall scarce arise to 10000. from that higher year which raises it to 5 times yea ten times as much When a year brings 5000. or 6000. in the whole and the other brings as many in the Week And the Physicians tell us again that there is difference between absolute Pests and Diseases that may have some Spice of Malignity and therefore call'd Pestilential because of their Cognation and too near Vicinity Nay further we take it in a more large Signification where if you please Forgoe the Name and consider the years that are Sickly and found to be such when as yet the Citizen notwithstanding finds it not his Interest to remove from his employ whereby he subsists Here I say Not only the Croking Astrologer but the Phystian and the Eminent Virtuoso himself takes notice frequently of the year and arrests them upon suspition of Malignity § 57. Now if every sickly year which yet I do not believe had some manifest Criterium of Malignity in it you need not be afraid to look into a List even of such years at least if they were only of Forein concern We can easily believe that Coonstantinople or Grand Cairo is never free yet we are not troubled at the report But if we are concerned as I think we ought for those that are abroad also and if we keep Correspondence in most parts of the World whether we like it or no we shall find that somewhere or other some Sickness not unworthy the Note of the Curious is brisk upon our Mortal Bodies That these Configurations are disposing or if you will indisposing Causes of our Humours and Spirits will be plain if it is not already and the very frequency of their return either by ☌ or ☠does confirm the Thesis which imputes those Maladies to those Configurations For what can we say when we find those Configurations in being when the Distemper reigns What will you say when you find the Distemper to start out within a Fortnight or Week of the precise Aspect What will you say if when the Aspect seems to expire it shall not absolutely cease Supposing the Sickness to continue till it hath introduced another in its Room to maintain the Indisposition begun by the First What will you say when the Malady shall hold though with some abatement the Season consider'd in the Winter Months in October November December This not always as Dying Reliques of the Summer distemper but as continued Impressions of a durable Cause which may be will not expire no not in the year following and so unite two Pestilential Summers together by a never dying because always cherished Relique So that Jan. and Febr. of the succeding year shall write as Pestilential as the closing Months of the former They were but moderate years 't is true but yet within this Century from A o 1606. to 1610. 5 continued years are reckoned Pestilential And in the Former Century Fallopius you find hath noted as much So that I quote no Astrologer and yet you see what I offer is too true It is not Vanity nor Noise but the weighty Truth that Pestilential or Unhealthy years are as frequent as the Superstitious Planetary Contendeth For that they are the Causes is as certain in Nature as that they alter the Air in in those very times Nay the former is demonstratively proved by the later Since Pestilential Disposition of Air depends upon unkind Excesses and Exorbitances of Weather to Heat and Drought sometimes to Cold and Wet which can be ascribed to nothing but the Heavens over us § 58. What therefore should I quote Authors of our side when the Physicians themselves appear for it Who yet are not commonly Well-willers to the Mathematiques Erroniously thinking that there is no other Science conducing to their Practice but what they are Masters of Time may come if God shall give leave that we shall point out not only Aspects but
2. then besure ♃ ♂ are within Terms also note his ☌ with ♀ would be scarce Innocent But this is not all To see that our Aspect will be owned as we have more then once observed the Aspect which entred about the middle of Aug. runs through ♋ ♌ and falls not till almost August enters again conecting the Pestilences of those years and twisting them into one Thrid though the Winter perhaps be a little more Slender and the Aestival more Cable-like in my mind who Plead for co-existence of Causes with Effects This is considerable others may enjoy their Principles where I poor Grosse-Test can find no Footing Alass Who can walk upon the Water 1649. Sickly London Graunt ☌ ♃ ♂ in July c. That is too pat I list not to speak of the Pest at Amsterdam and Harlem because they fall not under any Aspect of the Superiors For as considerable as they are they do not exhaust all the Doctrine of the Causes of Pestilence over-head They are to be produc'd in a Planetary Tract rather Only this agrees and suits with what is before deliver'd that on September the 27th which proved the Highest Week we can point out one that is guilty and scarce flies for the same A □ though not ☌ ♃ ♂ 1658. Sickly City in London Grant I want the Weekly account here and perhaps there is no need of it ♃ ♂ together in ♋ at the beginning of Summer which least they should cool in June and July are renewed by a deputy Congress of ☿ instead of ♂ ☿ Stationary or Retr we have said is as Malefique as any ♂ of them all 1661. In ♄ 's Table it may be objected that the Bill did not start up in to 500. c. till ♄ and ♂ were expired be it so But have we not said even now that ♀ Stationary is equivalent to ♂ and that is entred upon a ☌ with ♃ before the Start and lasts till ☌ ♄ ♂ comes in at October who are met in ♠But that ☌ is innocent in comparison of what we advance ☌ ♃ ☿ Stationary in ♠the highest Week whose Total was 600. Aug. 27. under the said ☌ ♃ ☿ Stationary 1665. There remains A o 1665. A 100000. Persons more it may be than are born in a years time throughout England I am not pleased with Aug. 1690. nor perhaps July 91. nor May c. 92. but I hope London will never tast the like There were Councils of War and Parties and Ambushes and Retreats 't is a wonder to see the Military Discipline There were ♄ ♀ in Tropic ☠in May. There was ♄ and ☿ in the same ☠There we had ♄ opposing ♀ ☿ both Stationary in June Do you hear or understand our Terms There was ♄ ♀ opposing ♀ ☿ still Stationary in July where ♄ got into Opposition with ♂ and now the Thousands are blown up into a Swelling Total ♃ ♂ inflames the Mortality Bill to 7000. when ☠♃ ♂ mingles which begins according to us in the midst of Aug. In September ♃ ♂ with ♀ holds up the Malignity And Oh unhappy but too true observation at the time of the ☠think you the Bill was at highest after it pleas'd God it decreased And How many think you Even 1800. in the next Week because the Aspect after the Congress is Weaker in the Recess than in the Access as in other cases hath bin said but the succeding Week proved not so the measure of abatement was not half the former Sum to shew it is not the Declension of the Sun only or the Time of the year in general for then it would have abated in Proportion but 't is some other more particular disposition of that Woful year 1665. Howbeit in the midst of October it remitted by 1800 again in ☠though still yet upon leaving the Aestival Sign ♌ which Signs Aestival are the Life of the Death the Vigour and Sting next to Sin is the cause of all Here I observed that if it had abated a 1000 per week by Novembers midst there should have been but two hundred or say 3. or 460. Funerals but in the midst of Nov. we find 1300. and the following 900. because in my opinion the Aspect was not disengaged till that time Then it was and lo the Week was content with a pretty reasonable and ordinary Sum of 500 and odd To them be it who make ill use of these Discourses who can believe a Prime Cause and yet admit no second or will not Worship him unless he acts by Miracle No man seems to magnifie the Deity more than an Enthusiast but the Sober Principle resisting no Light Loves and fears God as He is and as he shews himself not ridiculous either to Christians or Heathens Thus doth the Pestilence walk in Darkness the Sickness destroys at the noon day 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Not two Evil Angels as the Talmudists yea the Chaldee Paraphrase Septuagint consenting but the Striking Influence Diurnal Nocturnal Those Arrows from Heaven that fly by Day and Those Mortal surprizes that ensnare us by Night whence the Psalm is called a Song of Evil Occurrents for as the Prime Cause makes his Sun to Shine on the Just and the Unjust so he makes his Planets and Fixed Stars to burn us where he pleaseth For no body tells us that in Contagious Diseases Nights are more easily passed than the days the Celestial Influence being equal as in the Chasme Motion of the Seas Tempests and Earthquakes is apparent Where upon I was apt to think that Those Hebrew Doctors for their imperfect Notices of things increased by a glimpse perhaps of the Wasting Spirit in the Word there used might construe it of Spirits which was to be interpreted of Influences So I say that whatsoever Truth there may be in the Jewish Glosses of That and other Places in Holy Writ seeing it owns a Destroying Angel and Evil Angels are more busie not only in Temptations but also Ministerial Executions of Wrath I must whatsoever becomes of Tempests not be engaged to discharge our Influences The year 1665. was generally noted for a Dry Misty year if the Influences caused that Constitution they had a hand in the Malady Currents under ♃ and ♂ § 69. For Currents c. I am aware that I may seem like a Horse used to the Road and cannot get out but when I consider that I do hereby advance a Stock toward the Discovery of the Cause whether Celestial or no I shall find some Mitigation of Censure Here we have but a few to trouble the Reader as 1609. Febr. 19. High Water at London-Bridge when it should have been Dead Low Childrey p. 95. ♉ 10. ♂ 11. ♃ 1616. Aug. 7. Calm and strong Current ♠18. ♃ ♋ 4. ♂ ☌ ♀ ☿ 1618. Dec. 19. Great Current fell the Admiral in danger of Shipwrack ♠4. ♃ ♎ 2. ♂ ☌ ☉ ☿ □ ♄ ♃ 1620. March 5. A Current ♈ 13. ♂ 19. ♃ May the 8. A
even beyond a Quincunx profess their inclinations but the distance is too wide nor is it our interest to prove our Planets to have a Natural tendency to such Excesses yet because the Reports are so large p. 613 614. we refer them to the ☠♄ ♂ in ♌ and ♒ and to the Planets in ♋ in ♋ I say of which ♃ is the chief § 52. I need not force in any Instances the Rhine will bear Witness A o 1553 June 19. to such Excesses endamaging all the Cities I think for they say They were infinite that are situate near its noble Stream Take Notice if you please of ♃ and ☿ 's Congress but withal note that ♃ and ♄ are in Oppositional Quincunx ♌ 4. ♓ 4. Lycosth 616. Yea in Aug. A o 1552. Die 13. Budissina Peucer's Native Country felt the smart of a Cataract they call it a piece of a Cloud a Spout they would say that drown'd all for the space of 2 miles with 30 men lost Peucer p. 340. A strong ☠of ♄ and ♃ with other Planets to back him or seeing we have heard of the Phrase before now to make a Conspiracy Sooner or later doth not vary the Species a Spout there is a Floud which the Seamen describe to be a Cloud with a Tail like a Serpent drawing the Waters in a Smoak or Mist and wherever it falls Wo to the Sea-farer Hakl Vol. 2. p. 106. One of these in Aug. XXVII Another Octob. XX. p. 110. In the First a Partil ☠of ♄ and ♃ in the second X. degrees distance § 53. A o 1564. Sept. 20. Our Thames overflowed and drowned much Cattle Let any man look into the Ephemeris and take notice how many of the VII are in ♎ IV. of VII yea or the 20. day V. reckoning ♈ to its opposite Sign A notable Instance of what we have asserted about Equinoctial Tides and the Raising of Water by Rarefaction which our late ingenuous Theorist of the Earth considered not when concerning the Floud he affirmed there was no Water in Nature sufficient for it § 54. A o 1565. in January and February at Lovain the River Dilia overflowed in that Prodigious Winter which scarce ended before April The later of these Febr. 11. did much harm Gem. 2. 42 43. ♂ and ♀ are in ☌ we have said before but so is ♃ and ♄ which hath Influence not only on that over-long Winter but also in the excess of Snow or Rain according as they were provok'd § 55. The next ☠lands us on 1573. in ♉ and ♠upon which account the years concerned are famous upon Record Comets Flouds Pests Why I tell you the New Star in Cassiopeia as sure as you are there is the Offspring of ♄ and ♃ Let me dispatch the Flouds and I will prove it But Oh the Flouds If it be but that at Lovain Jan. 8. 1573. where the Waters rose upon the Thaw above 17. Cubits high so described by Gemma by ruining of Houses Trees Bridges Mills Pillars Floating of Beds Trunks and all manner of House-hold Goods Consternation and Shrieking of all Sorts and Sexes that it brings a cold Steam upon the Heart of the Reader so prodigious that an Astrologer though he be allowing the Snows and the Thaw and all that still wonders at the Cause and offers at some Fermentation which he imagines to arise from the mixture of Snow-Water c. A Point which ought to be consider'd but neither so was he yet satisfied He might have been satisfied had he consider'd the pure fermenting Power of our Aspect opened by the Appulse of ♂ and ☽ for there was neither Change nor Quarter in respect of the Sun if he had consider'd the Reach of our Aspect which is confess'd in in its Partile Estate to cause Flouds and Inundations which it concerns us to know for the Relator himself was almost drowned in common danger though the Floud coming by day God be thanked not above 8 or 9 were lost § 56. But there is more Wo yet In the same year and in Summer time in the beginning of July it self a Deluge happened not in one City or so but the Country it self Holland with Frieseland were plagued Inaudita Clade Gem. 2. 167. where the Learned Man tells us that the New Star in Cassiopeia was at that time abated of its Greatness and Splendour yea but ♄ and ♃ were under no abatement They were in a ☌ Partile not above a Month before we must not dare to mention the Pleiades engaged between them But so it was whether our Planets signifie any thing or no that we in England heard of a harmful Floud at Tocester by a Storm of Hail and Rain June 7. which gives us a little tast what was the Constitution of the most part of June which raised such Flouds there and elsewhere Let the Reader be pleased to consider and he will allow something to our Alms-Basket especially when there comes a 3d. or 4th Inundation in West-Frieseland as rueful and as masterless In the mean time let me tell him my Opinion that these and other such like Attentendants of the New Star are manifest Indications of its Nature Homogeneal to that of the Bearded Comet which will we nil we are too oft attended only with such Retinue § 57. We hear of no Flouds till about the next ☠which makes me remember that the ☠is better at such Tragical Sport than the ☌ and first with our selves A o 1594. we meet with Rain very sore for 14 hours April 11. which is an unlucky Prologue to what we hear of May 2. great Water-Flouds in Sussex and Surrey June also being as much a Trespasser as May Nor does it cease in July though it please God to send a fine August Both one and the other were the effect of our Aspect even the Rain from ♒ and ♌ as well as the fine Weather to see what Providence can do though it return to its wet again the Month following where we reckon a double Influx of ♄ and ♃ yea and of the rest too in their proportion a generative Faculty of Wet when all Requisites are supposed and a Spirit communicated to that Wet whereby the Moisture is Proud and Swelling apt to clime and outrun its bounds As the Bubble in a smart and warm Showr is a Sign of a Spirit which starts up and carries with it a Film of Water Fatter than ordinary Least any should say that seeing we like Gemma's Philosophy of some Ferment in the Waters we should therefore deny that our Planets were not contributers to the Moisture as well as the Tumor which we must assert they do But our Tres-Grand-Aspects are not so easily got off for A o 1595 the Scene lies in Germany the Rhine the Maes the Maene the Neccar the Danow all with one consent obey their Superiours and make such Work about Colen Mentz Francfort worse than they did A o 1573. of which before at Lovain c.