dyed altogether in one and the same day of the small pox Thirdly if the Nativity cannot be gotten view the urine and erect a caelestiall Scheme upon the sight of it and if you have a decumbiture compasse the decumbitures with the caelestiall Scheme at the view of the urine and you may judge clearly of the Crisis To proceed to the matter if the Moon be strong when she comes to the Quartile or opposition of the place she was in at the decumbiture viz. in her house or exaltation the sick recovers if she be aspected to no Planet Judge the like of the Sun in Chronical diseases but judge the contrary if either of them be in detriments or fals for there is as much difference between them as there is between the Zenith the Narder if the Moone be void of course at the beginning of a disease the signe is neither good nor bad Look then to the Signe ascending at the beginning of a disease and let the Moon alone for a time If the Moon be anguler at the decumbiture and in the Ascendent judge of her alone and make use of no other signification if she be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Lord of the Ascendent with 'T is very dangerous when the Moon is Eclipsed when she comes to the quartile or opposition of the place she was in at the decumbiture so usually at such a time death turnes Physician If in the beginning of a sicknesse the Moon be in a moveable signe the sicknesse soone moves to an end one way or other fixed signes prolong sicknesse and common signes set a stop to the wisest braine in the world Also this is a certaine rule as sure as the Sun is up at noon day that diseases of plenitude are very dangerous when a man is taken sick upon a full Moon Diseases of fasting or emptinesse are most dangerous when a man is taken sick upon a new Moon Let me intreat you to give Physick for a disease of emptines when she is neer the full And for diseases of fulnesse when the Moon hath lost her light Diminish a Humor when the Moon diminisheth in light Increase when she increaseth in light Flegme opposeth Choler Meiancholy opposeth Blood 't is none of the worst ways to diminish choler by increasing flegme a word is enough to the wise 'T is very bad when in the beginning of a sicknesse the Moone is in a signe of the nature if the quartile offending Naturally wen she is in a fiery signe amend a disease of flegme but if choles abound 't is very good if she be in a watery signe you may know by a penny how a shilling is coined If the moone be in conjunction or aspect with any Planet and neither of them Latitude the Crisis will be firme if they differ much in Latitude the Crisis will be weake The Moon in conjunction with Saturne at the decumbiture shewes long sicknesse and if Saturne be slow in motion so much the worse and bad is the best at all times in such a case If Saturne be retrograde when he comes to the opposition of the Sun beware of a Relaps If Saturn have North Latitude be sure the sick is bound much in body If the Moon be joyned to a retrograde Planet the sick vomits up his Physick Venus helps more in the sicknesses of young men and women then she doth in old If the desease come of heat Venus helps more then Jupiter if the disease comes more of cold Jupiter helps more then Venus If the disease comes of Love there is not a more pestilent Planet in the heavens then Venus then call help of Jupiter in persecutions of Religion Jupiter is little better then the Devil call helpe of Venus in such a case Mercury accidentall and strong signifies good in diseases If Mars cause the disease Venus helps more then Jupiter if Saturne then Jupiter more then Venus If in the beginning of a sicknesse the Moon be in conjunction with any fixed stars of the first magnitude whose Latitude from the Ecliptick is but small you may safely judge of diseases by the nature of that Star she is joyned to suppose he be of the nature of a Planet good or bad take him according to his nature When the Moon is joyned to any planet by body or aspect in the beginning of any sicknesse if she aspect that Planet when she comes to the quartile or opposition of the place the Crisis will be firme and stable and t will move no faster then a house and t wil not be altered be it good or bad But if when she comes to quartile or opposition she meets with another Planet be sure the disease changes either to better or worse according to the nature of that star she meets withall And this will appeare in the sick party or else in the Physician or in the course of Physicke See what house the Planets she meets withall at the Crisis is Iord of the decumbiture and judge accordingly and so a sick person may happen to have more witt then an old doting Physician If it be a fixed starre of an other nature to that fixed star she was withall at the decumbiture it will not alter so much or at least there will not be a universall alteration of the disease and my reason is because the fixed stars are so far from the earth And the last the thing is Whatsoever is said of the Moon in acute diseases will hold as true of the Sun in Chronick Diseases LIB. II. Astrologicall Judgement upon DISEASES OR A Methodical way to find out the Cause Nature Symptoms and change of a Disease together with the parts of the afflicted the exact time of recovery or dissolutions by the Decumbiture Amplified by Examples THe Basis of the Story was borrowed from Noel Duryet Cosmographer to the King of France and the most excellent Cardinall the Duke of Richelieu 'T is confest in some place I have abreviated him in others corrected him let another doe the like by me What I have done I have done and am not ashamed the world should see it Through the never failing mercies of God I had an oppertunity put into my hands to finish this so much desired so long wished-for work if there be any weaknesse in it it is my owne if their be any excellency in it give God the glory He that writes ignominie upon the backside of an other mans book never setting forth any of his own let the name of ignominy be branded and not ingraven upon his Sepulcher I would fain see the piss Prophets of this age deliver such a judgement of diseases by the Urine he that can doe so Erit mibi magnus Apollo Why doe I trouble my head with the Physicians whose Covetousnesse or Lazinesse or both or something worse will not suffer them to study those Arts which are Essentiall to their Monopolized calling but I will be silent for their fall is approaching by reason of their pride if
much difference as is between eight pence and two groats Under Libra besides they say are the Hams Buttocks Bladder and Navel thus Authors And I quoted it onely to this end that young Students may see what a monster tradition is and may avoid being led by the Nose by it as Beares are led to the Stake You know well enough if the blind lead the blind what will become of them both Let every one that desires to be called by the name of Artist have his wits in his head for that 's the place ordained for them and not in his books The Hams are under Capricorn the Bladder under Scorpio the Navel under Virgo aske Doctor Reason and see if he tell you not the same tale 8. Under Scorpio are the Secrets of both Sexes it is not very fitting for me to name them as also the feminall Vessels all the vessels dedicated to the Generation of man the bladder and fundament and therefore though artists cry out so much against the Scorpion for a false deceitfull treacherous mischievous violent poysonsome sign Let them look back to the rock from whence they are hewen It may be they shall see the reasons of some of their violent speeches against my self A word is enough to wise men Let them not speake evill of what they know not This is is most certaine from those parts of the body under the dominion of Scorpio have all men and women in generall the influence of their propagation And in them take they their greatestpleasure And thus have I spoken something for a Signe which every one speaks against 9. Time will not stay therefore I must be briefe under Sagittarius are the thighs the bone called Os sacrum which whether justly so called or unjustly I know not It is either Jewish superstition or worse The rump-bone the thigh-bone together with all the appurtenance belonging to the thigh Some Authors say the hams are under Sagittarius but then they are beside the Cushion 10 Under Capricorne are the knees hams and what belongs unto them 11 Under Aquarius are the leggs and whatsoever belongs unto them even from the outward skin called Cuticula to the midst of the marrow in both bones for these are two of them which Chirurgions because they would keep you in ignorance called Focile majus Focile minus or if you will tibia fibula They all know what the bones are but a quarter of them are not able to give you a reason why the bones are so called Pray take notice of this in going about to make slaves of you they have made fools of themselves 12 Lastly Pisces claimes the feet and ancles toes and all the bones To write like a scholler 't is tarsus metatarsus and the bones of the toes It rules also the skinne of the foot the flesh and vessels betwixt the skin and the bones For though the sign be the weakest in the Zodiack it is unwilling altogether to leave you nought but skin and bones Also some Authors hold an opinion that the signes carry the same signification in order that the houses of heaven do and that Aries should signifie life Taurus estate Gemini Brethren and short journeys you know the rest Truly My owne opinion is many Authors invented whimsies and when they had done set them downe to posterity for truth who taking them up without tryall cloathed Tradition in Plush and left poor reason to goe in Rags An Author said so ergo tis true right or wrong I take this to be one of that generation and I prove it thus By this account Cancer should rule the Fathers but experience tels us that an ill Planet in Cancer in the genesis threatens evill to the Mother but in Leo to the Father A word is enough to a wise man Also there is another signification of the Planets according to the respective signes therein Every Planet making his Aries in his owne house I forbeare it here First of all because it conduceth not much to my present scope for example a Urine came to me about a yeare agoe Mercury was the afflicting Planet and in Aries according to this rate Mercury rules the leggs and privities but the man was diseased in his head for he was madd I gave you a table of it in my Guide for women and I am as loath to write one thing twice as you are to pay for one thing twice If this will not content you you are so hard to be pleased that I shall not undertake to please you but to please my selfe and in so doing I am confident to please some body else CHAP. X. How the nature and kind of the Disease may be found out by the Figure of the decumbiture 1. THe nature of the disease is found out three wayes First by the houses of heaven of which the 6th 7th and 12th signifie diseases 2 By the nature of the signes of which fiery signe signifie choler and diseases thence proceeding earthly signes signifies the diseases of melancholy aery Signes diseases of blood and wind watery signes diseases of water and salt flegme 3 By the Planets themselves and their aspects All this I shall make cleer by this subsequent discourse before which I shall premise these following Aphorismes 1 If Saturne signifie the disease t is like to continue long enough if not too long yet if he be with benevolents it mitigates if with malevolents it increaseth the evil 2 Saturne in Leo or Capricorn with the Dragons head or taile or with Venus cumbust or with violent fixed stars he stirs up pestilences or other pernicious feavers that are little better 3 Saturne alone in fiery signes shewes Hectick Feavers 4 In watry signs sicknesses or watry humours The disease comes of grosse and vicious humours which will continue long with continuall fluxes and cold tremblings 5 Saturne in moveable signes shewes flux of humors in all parts of the body Imagine the Dropsie or other diseases like to it and yet it is some question to me whether Saturne cause Dropsies yea or no unlesse assisted by the Moon in signification 6 Saturne in common signes gives compound diseases and such as run out of one disease into another and yet they passe leasurely out of one disease into another to you may almost whip a snaile as fast you may easily see it before it come if your eyes be in your head 7 Saturne in fixed signes if in Leo gives hectique feavers in other fixed signes quartane agues gouts leprosies and other diseases that stay longer then they are welcome 8. If Jupiter cause the disease look to the Liver for that 's afflicted the digestion is bad bloud abounds either in quantity or quality a thousand to one if it be not too hot 9 Jupiter in fiery signes bestowes upon men such feavers as come of bloud without putrefaction such as the Greeks cal Synochus non putrida they last but a very little while 10 Mars gives violent feavers with
Semeiotica Vranica OR AN ASTROLOGICAL JUDGMENT OF DISEASES From the Decumbiture of the Sick 1. From Aven Ezra by way of Introduction 2. From Noel Duret by way of Direction Wherein is layd down The way and manner of finding out the Cause Change and End of a Disease Also whether the Sick be likely to live or dye and the Time when Recovery or Death is to be expected To which is added The Signs of Life or Death by the body of the Sick Party according to the judgment of Hippocrates By NICHOLAS CULPEPER Gent. Student in Physick and Astrology PERSIUS Disce sed ira cadat naso rugosaque sanna London Printed for Nathaniell Brookes at the golden Angel on Cornhill near the Exchange 1651. TO THE ASTROLOGERS OF ENGLAND Nicholas Culpeper wisheth peace and Prosperity in this world and eternall beatitude in that which is to come Dear Souls TO you all and to you especially that heard these Lectures do I dedicate them and present them to you not to look upon onely for then I had as good have sent you a picture and as much it would have pleased your eye Man was made not only for Speculation but also for Practice Speculation brings onely pleasure to a mans selfe its Practice which benefits others And I hope I need not tell you that Man was not born for himself alone These Rules will serve if heedfully observed by the eye of Reason to ballance your judgment in sayling through the Prognosticall part of Physick that so you may steer your course by the Card of Truth and not float unsetledly upon the waves of Errour Ignorance or Opinion To you rather then to any that I know belongs the practice of Physick and that Practice may be perfect Judgement ought to be sound and to make judgement sound is required an exquisite knowledge Judgement is perfected by knowledge knowledge by experience whence it appeares that the more communicative knowledge is so much the more excellent it is Of all the men in the world I hate a drone most that sucks the sweetnesse of other mens labours but doth no good himselfe and will as soon teach Physick or Astrology to an Oake as to a creature the center of whose actions is terminated in himselfe Surely surely If God had not made the nature of man communicative he would not have made one man to stand in continuall need of another but we see the contrary and the sons of wisedome know how to pick out the meaning of God from it I have given you here all my Prognostications from the Decumbiture of the sick party And although I ingenuously confesse the greatest part of them will hold true in a Horarie Question erected upon the sight of the Urine yet this is my judgement at present That next the Nativity the Decumbiture is the safest surest ground for you to build your judgement upon and you shall always find it by experience Together with this I have given you the presages of Hippocrates all which never decline from the Zodiack of the sick person And thus much I can say of them by experience I never found one of them false Make use of them both together God hath given you two eyes why may you not look upon the Macrocosme with the one and upon the Microcosme with the other In both I desired to be as plaine as I could because all Artists are not Schollers Thus have you what I have done and you know for whose sakes I did it What now remains but that you labour with might and main for your owne goods and the increase of your owne knowledge to make experience of them For as the diligent hand maketh rich so the diligent mind increaseth knowledg and for my owne particular never feare but during the time I am amongst the living I shall never cease to do you good in what I may or can Spittle-fields next door to the Red-Lion Nich. Culpeper TO THE READER EXcellent and true was that Motto of Hermes Tresmegistus Quod est superius est sicut inferius and this will appeare to the eye of every one that deserves the name of a reasonable man if he do but consider That his body is made of the same materials that the whole Universe is made of though not in the same forme namely of a composition of contrary Elements There is scarce a man breathing that knows his right hand from his left but knows that if you sett bottles of hott water to a mans feet it will make his head to sweat and the reason is the mutual harmony of one part of the body with another why then as well should not the actions of one part of the Creation produce as well effects in another that being also one entire body composed of the same Elements and in as great Harmonie What 's the reason that a man will do more for his brother then hee will for a stranger Is is not because he is formed by the blood of the same Mother and begotten by the seed of the same Father Why then should not the Celestiall bodies act upon the Terrestriall they being made of the same matter and by the finger of the same God He that will not beleeve Reason let him beleeve Experience he that will believe neither is little better then an Infidel I confesse this was of Judicature hath been desired by many promised by some but hitherto performed by none which was the motive cause I now took the taske in hand my selfe In performing which in many places I corrected the faylings of my Author What was srivolous I left out as being unwilling to blot paper and trouble your braines with impertinencies where he was too large I abbreviated him and where he was deficient I supplied him both with Precept and Example If there be any failings consider 1 Nemo sine crimine vivit That man nev'r breathed yet nor never shall That did all well and had no fault at all 2 My failings if any be were not intentionall but accidentall together with this Astrological Judgement I have also given you the Judgment of Hippocrates The rules whereof are drawne from the person of the sick which although they have been often printed before yet I have compared them with the originall Copy and brought them into a plainer method so that you may have your desire at one single ingresse If you make use of both these wayes together in judging of the disease without a miracle you can hardly faile If any find fault with the shortnesse of my rules let them learne to walk worthie of those they have first their own Experience will bring them more he 's but an apish Physician that builds all his practice upon other mens foundations Man was borne to look after knowledge and in this particular you are set in the way how to find it by one that desires to remaine a friend to all honest and ingenuous Arts Nich. Culpeper Courteous Reader These Books following
he wrote true that writes that pride goes before a fall and a haughty mind before destruction my Genius is too dull to commend my Author or to give him the thousanth part of his due praise I desire to be censured by Dr. Experience who will give judgement without partiality and I hope 't is no disparagement to Monsieur Duryat that I deliver him in my own Language CHAP. I. The Definition of the word Crisis as Vse Cause Kinds Division and Difference CRisis according to Galen is a swift and suddain change of any disease whereby the sick is either brought to recovery or death and a sick man can be brought to nothing else unless you will make him a beast of a man For every swift and suddain change where-ever it happens whether in the Moon or the Aire or sick body Galen playes the man and calls a Crisis and from this Crisis is Judgement given whether the sicke be like to live or dye The word Crisis is a Greek word derived {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} which signifieth to judge or discern or pass sentence upon a thing therefore Criticall dayes are nothing else but dayes wherein a man may discern a disease or give Judgement upon it be it good or bad it matters not much 't is taken by a Metaphor from the Judiciall Court to the Art of Physick because 't is something like to plead mans cause for his life and to labour acutely under a disease to be drawn by Inimicall accusers before the Judgement Seat and to run the hazzard of life with a cruell and hoftil Disease Moreover there are three things requisite to a judicial Court the Accuser the Person indicted and the Judge So likewise are there three things by which the Art of Physick consisteth and by which every cure is perfected 1. The Disease 2. Nature and the Physitian which is natures servant or at least should be so and 3. the accidents which manifest what the disease is and stand as witnesses The cause of the Crisis is twofold inward outward the internal cause is taken from i'ts one proper principle if you will believe Hippocrates and that is double or two-fold for either nature labours to expell the humour that causeth the disease or else the humour it selfbeing drawn to a place and not fit for Excretion by i'ts own weight or quality burdens nature and soares break out Hippocrates was but a man and I am no more a man saith he is troubled when he is in a Fever and the sign is horror trembling running hither and thither throughout the Microcosm this is one internal cause The second internall cause Others there be 't is no matter who that ascribe the efficient cause of the Crisis to nature it self Nature if she be strong as 't is pitty but she should not is a good Physitian for all diseases and concocts the humour which causes the disease and separates that which is good from that which is bad and having done so prepares that which breeds annoyances for Excretion and at last makes a shift to cast it out The externall cause of the Crisis is caused by an alteration of the Aire whence ariseth an alteration of the breath a man draws in from cold to heat from dry to moist or the contraries to them both For Hippocrates himself in his six Aphorisme three Comment and in his Treatise De {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} speaks in down dunstable language that heat and moisture in the body moves forward the Crisis for diseases some saith he come by ill Dyet other by the Aire we draw in So then the Dyet as it breeds such and such humours in the body is internal but the Aire we draw in is the externall cause of the Crisis And now give me leave to leave my Author and yet I will not forget him quite neither The Lord eternall in the beginning when he made the Creation made it of a composition of contraries discord makes a harmony as in Musicke if the World be composed of a composition of contraries various must needs be the disposition of mans life Hence comes sometimes health sometimes sicknesse sometimes melancholy sometimes choler to the body of man and happy is that man that knows himself These qualities in man being altered by the various influences of the Stars the Sphere of the one carrying a swifter motion then the Sphere of the other then various must needs be the disposition of mans body The Luminaries carry the greatest strength in the heavens and so do the time-servers in the State and this needs not be doubtful to any body if you consider that the sound of a Drum or Trumpet incites a man to valour and the sound of a Fiddle to dancing Besides other manifest effects of the Luminaries appeare to our eyes Who makes hours and dayes and seasons in the year is it not the Sun who makes alterations in the Aire in Plants and in living Creatures What is the reason that Oysters are suller at the ful moon then at the new To the number of Oysters joyne Crabs and Lobsters nay the marrow in the body of Man is it not the Moon A man if he pleaseth may say his right hand is his left and a prating Priest may preach his pleasure let Doctor experience be judge Now then we have brought the matter to this purpose that the Universall cause of the Crisis is the influence of the heavens for the Celestiall bodyes either by heat light motion or aspect configuration or all of them or some of them act not onely in the four Elements but Elementary bodyes for if they act in the one they must needs in the other and then by consequence in man which is but compounded of Elements The earth is a great lump of dirt rolled up together and by an onely wise God hangs in the Aire the Stars are no more neither is the Moon onely what mettle the Sun is made of I know not If the bodies of men are Elementary composed of Fire Aire Earth and Water he must needs participate in one measure or other of all these Elements The Elements being contraries cannot alwayes agree hence comes the cause of health sometimes of sicknesse sometimes death it self and Aristotle was halfe of my opinion when he wrote these words From the Rain and Dew of Heaven both good and bad things are caused to bud The kinds of Crisis are two one in acute diseases and they are to be judged by the Moon the other in long and lasting or chronick diseases which are to be judged of by the Sun For those Crises which come from their own proper principle are from the internall cause depending onely upon the motions of the Moon and her Configurations and aspects to the place she was in at the Decumbiture But you must note in acute diseases the aspects or radiations of the Moon to wit her Quartile or Opposition are not taken from the Coniunction of
the Moon to the Sun as they are in Almanacks or Ephemerides which is but the Father of an Almanacke but from the place in which the Moon was found at the Decumbiture as shall appear by a few examples hereafter There are acute and Chronick diseases Of Acute diseases some are simply acute others are peracute others are very acute per-per-acute or exceeding acute Those which are simply acute are finished in 8. 10. 11. 14. 20. 21. dayes and they are called Monthly diseases by some and Lunary by others and they none of the greatest fools neither they are terminated in the time the Moon traceth the 12. Celestiall signes of the Zodiack which is in 27 dayes some odd houres and some odd minutes Thoseacute diseases which suffer changes or degenerate are to be judged of by an imperfect way as for them sometimes they increase sometimes they are remitted they are as fickle as a weather Cock according as the Moon meets with the beames either of good or evill Planets and that is not all the trick they have neither For sometimes they change out of acute diseases into Chronick diseases and so a continued Fever may change into a Hecktick Fever or an intermitting Fever into a continued Fever and these diseases terminate in forty dayes very acute diseases such as are concluded in 5. 6. 7. 8. dayes among which are the Fevers the Greeks call {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} an inflamation of the Lungs In exceeding acute diseases they are such which end in three or four dayes at furthest as Pestilencies Apoplexies c. Chronick diseases follow the motion of the Sun and 't is about nine dayes before the first Crisis appears for in that time the Sun comes to the proper Quartile of the place he was in at the Decumbiture as appeares in Hecktick Fevers Dropsies but when he comes to his Sextile or Trine aspect of the place he was in at the Decumbiture some motion appeares whereby a man if he have any guts in his braines may judge of the Crisis to come It falls out well if the Sun be well aspected by good Planets and worse if to evill Planets and this holds true if you consider it from the Nativity throughout all the whole course of a mans life for diseases are particularly attendants on a mans life if Dr. Experience tell truth Moreover of the Crises some are perfect some are imperfect A perfect Crisis is when the disease appeares intirely and perfectly to be judged of and this is sometimes hopefull sometimes desperate hopefull when there is great probability of health and recovery desperate when there is palpable signes of death An imperfect Crisis is when the disease is changed upon every light occasion and if Mars be Author of the disease and in a sign of a double body upon my life you shall not faile for the Critis happens as true as the Weather-cock Your safest way then to judge of the disease is by the Aspects of the Moon to the Planets when the Moon meets with the Inimicall or hostil beames of Saturne or Mars have a care of your Patient And if you know what hinders by the same reason you may know what helps Physitians in former when they were wise and minded the common good and not their own gain they distinguished the Crisis of diseases thus Some were safe some doubtfull some fit to be judged and some not fit to be judged That Crisis is safe which comes without great and pernitious aspects It is doubtful suspitious I had almost said dangerous which comes with great pernitious aspects The disease is fit to be judged when signes of Concoction come the fourth day and then certainly the Crisis will appear the 9th The Moon moves not upon a equal motion therefore you had best trust to her motion rather then the dayes The Sun hath domination in Chronick diseases the Moon in acute if you be a wise man your judgement shall be as sure as the Sun and that never failes without a miracle In times of yore when knowledge was scant men went a begging for it and they that had gotten knowledge monopolized it A few glimpses of Adams happinesse in Paradise which happinesse all the World have been reaching after ever since They knew well enough the Moon moved so many degrees in so many dayes an evill Angell I had almost said the Devill perceiving there was want of knowledge in the World goes and transformes himself into an Angel of light and taught men to count the time by dayes 'T is no great marvail the Egyptians should worship Garlick and Onyons for Gods when we defie Christmas-day though perhaps it may be cloudy What I have spoken I have onely spoken to shew that it is the motion of Sun and Moon that produceth the Crisis in diseases and not the number of dayes I must return to the place I intended Of dayes some are called by their own name Criticall dayes other are called Judiciall dayes and they are so called because upon them dame Nature and her Son Doctor Reason would make manifest what the disease is and Doctor Experience tels me 't is true Another time is called Intercidental which is a time falls out between the judicial dayes and Criticall Upon these Intercidental dayes the disease is usually remitted if so then a good Crisis may be expected if not an evill I shall explain these terms before I go further a man fals sick there is the first Crisis let the cause of the disease be what you will when the Moon comes to the same degree of the next figue she was in at the Decumbiture there is the judiciall dayes for in that time the disease shews it self in its colours with bag and baggage When the Moon comes to her Sextile it brings the Intercidental Day and should mitigate the disease if she do not she is aspected to evill Planets and if she be aspected to ill Planets an ill Crisis is to be expected and so the contrary and you shall never find this faile CHAP. II. The way to finde out the Critical dayes as also the Decumbiture both by Ancient and Modern Writers ANcient Physitians because they were ignorant of the motion of the Moon though not of her operation as many of our modern are made their account by number of dayes and in so doing erred egregiously And although Durate my Author counts their opinions I hold it not worth time to recite mens failings But of the certain term or time when the Criticall dayes begin I shall quote these few words When any notable disease comes if you would discern whether it tends to Health Death Mutation or Continuance it is necessary that you begin at the first punct of time of the invasion of the disease This Galen saith is very hard if not impossible to find 't is taken proconfesso that it may be easily known when a man takes his bed in his sicknesse but when the beginning of the sicknesse is
Palsies Cholick Belly-ach diseases in the Stones Bladder and instruments of Generation stopping and overflowing of the Terms in Women Dropsies Fluxes all cold and Rhumatick diseases Gout Sciatica Wormes in the Belly Rhumes and hurts in the Eyes Surfets rotten Coughs Convulsions Falling-sicknesse Kings-Evil Aposthumes small Pox and Measles all coagulated and crude humours in any part of the body Lethargies and all diseases of Flegme thus my Author Amongst these I except against 1. Apoplexies and you shall find my reason within a quarter of an hour unlesse you fall asleep with reading 2. Diseases in the Instruments of Generation for they are caused by Venus and Mars by the one by Sympathy by the other by Antipathy 3. The Gout is caused by Saturn Who knows but that 's the reason why he moves so slowly Now must I leave the Moon and mount up to Saturn for I am like the World never in a Station Under Saturn say Authors are Apoplexies Tooth-ach Quartain Agues all diseases which come of Melancholy cold and drinesse Leprosie Rhumes Consumptions Black-Jaundise Palsies Trembling vain-feares formidable fancies of a Hob-gobling Dropsies Gouts of all sorts a Dog-like-hunger Hemorrhoides broken Bones and Dislocations Deafness pain in the bones Ruptures if he be in Leo or Scorpion or in an ill aspect to Venus Iliack passion Chin-cough Catharr's pains in the Bladder all long diseases all madnesse that comes of Melancholy fear or griefe If you will give me leave after I have been first a little Critical I will be secondly a little instructive 1. I except against Apoplexies and if you would learn why you shall so soon as you have learned a little Patience 2. I except against Dropsies for they are under the Moon 3. I except against Catharr's for they are under Jupiter or Mercury or both 4. I except against Dog-like hunger for it 's under Mars A few instructions would I very willingly give you if I thought you would be so wise to heed them I had as good give them you under Saturn as under another Planet I will not give them you under each Planet because hee 's a foolish Musician that harps alwayes on on one string A planet causeth diseases 1 By Sympathy 2 By Antipathy And as the cause is so must the cure be unlesse you wic do as Scogging did strike him that stands next you because another another abuses you These diseases Saturne causeth by Sympathy Tooth-ach broken bones the reason is because he rules the bones Deafnesse he cavseth because he rules the eares Melancholy and all diseases of the spleen by the same argument 2 Also he afflicts all the parts of the body that are under the Moon by antipathy and likewise he playes the same tricks with those that are under the Sun you shall know what they are by and by The great wisedome of a Physician is to know whether Saturne cause the disease by Symapthy or Antepathy and then take nothing that as the cause is so is the cure Sympatheticall or antipatheticall and withall do not forget that sympatheticall cures strenthennature antipatheticall cures in one degree or another weaken it And now your owne mother-wit if you have any wil teach you that antipathetical Medicins are not to be used unlesse to such patients whom Doctor Ignorance or Doctor Carelesnesse hath had so long in hand that sympatheticall will not serve the turne To bring all this to the point in hand that so it may be usefull If Saturne cause the disease by sympathy cure it by the sympatheticall hearbs of Saturne If he cause the disease by antipathy note whether it be antipathy to Sun or Moone or if it happen in the instruments of generation be sure it is by antipathy to Venus Make use of the sympatheticall hearbs of those Planets respectively for cure you shall not live the age of a little fish before I give you rationall instructions for them all I now leave Saturne and come a little lower to Jupiter Jupiter they say causeth Apoplexies all infirmities of the Liver and Veins inflammations of the Lungs Plurifies and other Aposthumes about the Breast and Ribs all diseases proceeding of putrefaction of blood and wind quinsies feavers and other diseases which Authors either for want of witt or super-abundance of ignorance are pleased to attribute to him Against these I except 1 Against Apoplexies for it cannot come about that all the Planets should cause Apoplexies if so they would be more frequent then they are 2 Against corruption of blood For Saturne corrupts the blood by melancholy and Mars by choler Mars Diseases under Mars are pestilences burning feavers tertian and quotidian agues megrim carbuncles and plague sores burning scalding ring-wormes blisters phrensie furie hare-braines sudden distempers in the head coming of heat yellow-jaundise bloody-flux fistula's All wounds whatsoever Diseases in the instruments of generation the stone in the reins and bladder scars and pock-holes in the face all hurts by iron and fire the shingles falling siknesse calentures St. Anthonies fire all diseases coming of choler anger or passion Amongst all these I can justly except but against one and that is the falling sicknesse which is under the Moon And your selfe will be of my opinion if you please but to take notice that those hideous fits usually come at conjunction opposition and quartile of the Moon to the Sun Venus Diseases under Venus are all diseases of the wombe whatsoever as suffocation precipitation dislocation c. All diseases incident to the members of generation the reins and navel as the running of the reins the French pox c. All diseases coming by inordinate love or lust priapismus impoteney in the act of generation ruptures of all sorts All diseases belonging to the urine as disuria iscuria and stranguria iliack passion diabetes c. Against these I except 1 Impotencie in the act of generation for that 's under Saturne 2 Ruptures for he hath a share in them also 3 Diseases of the urine for they are under Mars 4 The Iliack passion which is under Mercury Mercury Under Mercury are almost all the diseases of the braine as vertigo's madnesse c. all diseases of the lungs as Asthma Phthisicks c. All imperfections of the Tongue as stammering lisping c. Hoarsnesse coughs snuffling in the nose all defects of the memory gout stopping of the head dumbnesse folly and simplicity the Epidemicall diseases of the time and whatsoever hurts the intellectuall faculty Against these I except 1 Against the defects of the memory for Saturne hath a great share in that 2 Against the Gout for Saturne wholly wholly rules that I have now done with this part and if any youngsters aske Why I have not given a Reason for all I have spoken Tell them the Reason is cleare in the matter and he that is not able to see it is as unfit to give Physick A blind man cannot see the Sun in a clear day when he is upon the Meridian PART II. What
putrefactions and the Sun gives no other 11 If you find Mars in a fiery sign judge the disease either a burning Feaver called {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} or else the pestilence if Saturne beare a share in signification with him melancholy beares a share or else a duske choler which is more usuall 12 Mars in common signes varies the disease take heed of relapse the Crisis is as certaine as a weather-cock so exceeding swift and sudden will they come even as swift as the wind not waiting the Moons leasure In such a case you may more safely iudge by the aspects of the Moon to the Planets then by the Crisis 13 Mars in Leo afflicts the heart the disease is a Feaver and the cause of it Choler 14. Alwayes when Mars signifies the disease it is very short but extream acute 15 If the Sun at the decumbiture be afflicted by the body or Quartile Opposition Antiscion of Saturne the disease is Saturning Melancholy and will in all probability last longer then you would willingly have it 16 If the Sun be afflicted in the same manner by Mars the cause is choler the motion of the disease is as swift as the wind and as violent as the whirlwind 17 If Venus be ill affected to the sicke the disease comes of Intemperance either one way or another perhaps with drinking perhaps by venereall sports what ere the cause be those parts of the body signified by Venus suffer for it 18 Venus in fiery signes causeth one day Feavers but if Mars joyne with her in signification the Feaver is rotten and proceeds from flegme 19 If Mercury be infortunate and cause the disease he proclaimes that the infirmity lies in the braine perhaps madnesse or falling sicknesse or it may be the man dreams waking 20 If Mercury joyne in signification with Mars you may be confident the disease is a frenzie 21 The Lord of the ninth in the sixth witchcraft is to be feared or else the disease lies very occult I doubt my Author is mistaken surely it should be the Lord of the 12th in the 6th for the Lord of the 9th should rather occasion the disease about some whimsies in Religion 22 The Moon in Aries in the 8th afflicts the head with a disease to hot for it to bear whether the disease lie in the mind or in the body CHAP. XI How to know whether the disease be in the mind or in the body ALL the Aphorismes of my Author upon this question are got so deeply together by the ears and in such a hubbub that I know not in the world which way to goe about to reconcile them every following Aphorisme thwarts him that goes before in one he affirmes that the Sunne Moone and ascendent rule the body and the Lord the mind The very next Aphorisme affirmes the contrary most of them contradict one another in such a hideous manner that I was forced to leave their companies and search other Authors for a resolution of this point and they conclude that the Sun Moon and Ascendent signifies the body and their Lord the mind and if this may be taken for truth the directive Aphorismes are these 1 The Sun Moon and Lord of the Ascendent impedited and their Lord safe shewes the disease lyes in the body and not in the mind 2 If their Lord be impedited and they safe the disease lyes in the mind and not in the body 3 If both Sun Moon and the Ascendent and their Lord also be impedited or the greatest part of them both body and mind are diseased and this I confesse is something rationall 4 Saturne generally signifies melancholy and by consequence alienation of mind madnesse c. and therefore alwayes you find him to be significator of the disease or in the ascendent or in the 6th house afflicting the Lord of the Ascendent or either of the Luminaries the sick is afflicted with care or griefe or something else that 's as bad be sure the mind suffers for it 5 If Jupiter be significator of the disease it lies in the body if it lye anywhere for Jupiter never troubles unlesse it be that Monster which men call Religion 6 It were a good thing when a man is troubled in minde if an Artist could tell the cause of this his trouble that you may do so make use of these two or three rules there is enough of them though there be but few if you have but witt enough to know by a penny how a shilling is coyned they are these 1 If the Sun be Author of the distemper as he may be if he be Lord of the House Ascendent 6th or 12th houses the distemper comes through pride ambition or vain-glory 2 If it be Jupiter it comes through religion some idle Preist hath scar'd the poor creature out of his wits 3 If it be Venus Love luxurious expence or something else of like nature is the cause 4 If Mercury be the afflicting Planet the sick is pestered with a parcell of strange imaginations and as many vaine feares attend him great vexation or study or both is the cause By these you may find out all the rest for this is the sum of the businesse CHAP. XII How it may be knowne what part of the body is afflicted THat this may be knowne for t is not onely possible but also probable be pleased to consider 1 If the signe the Lord of the 6th possesseth especially if he be an infortune or a fortune infortunated And then 2 Consider what part of the body the signe he is in governs as Aries governes the head Taurus the neck and throat c. and be sure that part 's afflicted 3 Consider what parts of the body the afflicting Planet rules which are under that signe and you need not question but that 's afflicted for example Venus though she rule many parts of the body yet in Scorpio she rules under the privities 4 Saturne Lord of the 6th and in the 10th in Taurus afflicts the body universally but especially the left side 5 Saturne Lord of the sixth in the last degrees of Gemini or in the first degree of Cancer causeth paine in the left side as though an Awle were running to it 6 Saturne Lord of the 6th in Leo in the second house causeth pains in the back and heart the originall of which saith my Author is bloud but I should rather thinke it Melancholy 7 If he bein Virgo the 12th house signifies paine in ths head If he be in Mars orientall and slow in motion signifies diseases in the Reines as the gravell stone and pissing bloud I confesse I can give no reason for all this 8 If Saturne be Lord of the disease and in Aquarius the disease comes by travaile 9 Mars Lord of the 6th and in the 5th and in Scorpio gives an internall pain in all parts of the body if it be a woman she is not well in her wombe the illnesse of which afflicts all her body
especially her head by reason of that admirable congruity betwixt that part and her wombe kind women take notice of it for it is as true as that the Sun is up when he is upon the meridian All Cephalick medicines helpe the wombe and remedy its griefe I am confident you desire a reason of it you shall not fail of your desires It is because Aries and Scorpio are both the Houses of Mars 10 If Mars be retrograde in Scorp io and in the Ascendent the whole body is universally afflicted but externally viz. the man breaks out in boils and ulcers or iteh perhaps it is the small pox or measles if Venus set forward the mischiefe the French pox is shrewdly to be suspected 11 If Mars be Lord of the 6th in Leo the sick is extreamely pained in his back in this you need never fear failing 12 If Mars be Lord of the 6th in Virgo my Author saith it will lye in the left side or left legge But after I had had halfe an houres talke with Dr. Experience he proved to me it was alwayes the Colick and heat in the bowels take heed it comes not to the gravell in the kidneys when Mars comes into Libra and to the stone in the bladder when Mars comes to Scorpio He that is a Physician knowes as well how to prevent a disease before it comes as how to remedy it when it is come 13 The Moon in the Ascendent afflicted by Saturne or Mars bestowes difficulty of breathing and infirmities in the lungs upon a man I confesse I can give no reason for it 14 Venus Lady of the 6th and infortunated by Mars gives suspitions enough in the French pox Here is enough to teach you more lot not all your wits lye in your books be diligent and studious or else you may happen to dye fools let not all you wits lye in your books but some in your heads it is within you and not that without you must do you good As for the side of the body afflicted my Author hath left a few rules to know it which I will declare to you and leave them to the approbation or exprobration of Dr. Experience they are these 1 If the Lord of the sixth house be afflicted above the earth and in a diurnall signe the sicknesse is in the right side of the body and in the upper part of it 2 If the Lord of the 6th be under the earth and in a nocturnall signe the sicknesse lyes in the inferiour parts of the body and on the left side 3 Whether he be under or above the earth in a diurnall the sicknesse is in the forepart of the body imagine the forehead face breast belly or some other visible part 4 If it be in a nocturnal sign the disease lies in the backe parts of the body or else in some part but lies invisible as the bowels c or perhaps the disease lies occult for take this for a generall rule the diseases are more hid from the eyes of your understanding when the significators of them are in nocturnall signes then they are when they are in Diurnall 5 If the significators be corrupted by other Planets and a difference in these rules between the significator and the planet that corrupts them the patient is afflicted both wayes namely according as he signifies and according as the Planet corrupting signifies 6 In such a case view diligently which of them is most afflicted and your reason if you have any will tell you that the most part of the malady lies in that part of the body signified by the Planet which is most afflicted 7 To wind up all in a word Masculine Planets denote the right side of the body Feminine the left all of them afflict that part of the body which they governe CHAP. XIII Whether the disease shall be long or short or whether it shall end in Life or Death FOr judging of this take a few cautions by the way 1 Consider if the Sun Moon Ascendent and their Lords be much or little afflicted 2 Consider the age of the sick party for old age brings longer sicknesses then youth 3 Consider the time of the year for Autumne and Winter bring longer sicknesses then Spring or Summer 4 Consider the complexion of the Patient for a melancholy man is more subject to retaine a sicknesse then a cholerick 5 Consider the Planet afflicting for Saturne produceth longer sicknesses then Mars 6 The Planets generally and briefly order the sicknesses they give in this manner Saturne gives long sicknesses the Sun in Jupiter short Mars shorter then either of them but acute Venus meane Mercury various and unconstant according to the Planet he is joyned with or aspected The Moon gives such sicknesses as often returne as Agues falling sicknesse c. And therefore tht direction of the Moon to the body or in aspect to Saturne will sooner cause a falling sicknesse then the direction of any other significator These are the cautions and according to these cautions so understand these following Aphorismes which you shall find marshalled into these three divisions First Signs of long or short sicknesse Secondly Signes of recovery Thirdly Signes of death PART I. Signes of long or short sicknesse 1 FIrst the 6th house being possessed by a fixed sign argues length in the disease if the signe that possesseth the Cuspe by the 6th be moveable the disease will be short if the signe be common the disease will either be meane in respect of length or else a change of the disease or a relapse is to be feared 2 If the latter degrees of a signe be upon the Cuspe of the 6th the disease will quickly end either one way or another 3 A fixed signe under Cuspe of the 6th shews tough and hard humours to be the causes of the disease and such as are hard to be expelled they stick to the body like birdlime 4 Saturne Lord of the 6th shewes long diseases Jupiter Mars and the Sun short Mercury such as are as constant as the weathercock 5 If the Lord of the 6th be stronger then the Lord of the Ascendent the sicknesse gets strength against nature if you find it so upon a figure in urine judge the disease increaseth 6 If the Lord of the 6th be weaker then the Lord of the ascendent nature gets strength over the disease and will at last put him to a totall rout 7. Common signes shew the disease will stay in one state as long as a Cat is tyed to a Pudding 8. The Lord of the 6th if he be a Malevolent it is an ill omen if he be a benevolent you need not so much as feare a long sicknesse for the disease will be cured both speedily and easily unlesse the said benevolent be Lord also of the 8th 9. If the Moon apply to the Lord of the 6th the disease will be increased till it has put life to it's trumps If the moon be Lady of the ascendent ill dyet
was the cause of it perhaps a surfeit by drinking If Venus be Lady of the 6th 't is women or it may be sports and pastimes or such gewgaies as Venus delights in you know how to judge of the rest of the Planets according to their severall natures 10. If the Lord of the sixth apply to the Quartile or Opposition of the Lord of the ascendent the disease increaseth and is not yet come to his height I confesse this and many other Aphorismes hereabouts belong not at all to the Decumbitures but to questions upon Urine and most of them if not all of them will hold true in them also 11. The Lord of the 6th and 8th is but a scurvy unlucky signe and shews the sicknesse will end in death if it be in the 4th it shews the sicknesse will end in the Grave 12. The Lord of the 6th and the 12th cryes aloud that the Patient opposeth his own health 13. The Lord of the 8th in the 6th and the Lord of the 6th in the 8th if they be in friendly aspect the sick soon recovers 14. I confesse the former Aphorisme seems a paradox to me I should rather think sicknesse and death had made a match together to take away the life of the Patient and shall do so still till I have spoken with Doctor Experience about it 15. If there be an Opposition Sextile or Trine between the Lord of the sixth and Jupiter the sick soon recovers for Jupiter will handle him without mittons and 't is very probable Venus will not come much behind them in the businesse 16. Even in such a case Jupiter be in the ninth House the sicknesse comes by reason of some Physick formerly taken which will at last much conduce to the Patients health I doubt my Author mistooke the ninth House for the tenth did I say I doubted it nay I know it It is the tenth house that it is the house of Physick and not the ninth 17. A malevolent in the 6th is an ill signe but a benevolent there is as good a one for all that 18. The Lord of the 12th and the 6th shews Witch-craft or possession by the Devil that 's as bad and if he be a malevolent you may take it for granted 't is as sure as a club 19. The Lord of the ascendent in the 6th and the Lord of the 6th in the ascendent shews long diseases and such as will continue till one of them if not till both of them make his exit out of the signe he is in 20. If in such a case the malevolent cast ill aspect to her bid her Physitian use his wits as far as he can though the fear of death is not small 21. The Lord of the Ascendent and 6th house in Quartile Opposition or Conjunction in such degrees as Artists call Azemini and in Angles threatens such perpetuall pain which none but Doctor Death is likely to cure 22. The Lord of the 6th in the ascendent shewes the disease will continue long enough nay longer then 't is welcome but it doth not signifie the sick must needs dye for that belongs to the 8th house and his Lord 23. 'T is no good signe of quick recovery when the Lord of the 6th house is a malevolent 24. If the Sun Moon and Lord of the ascendent be free from ill beams of ill Planents and apply to fortunes that are any thing strong and like to do good the cure will come as soon as you can in reason hope for it 25. T is alwaies bad when the Sun moon or Lord of the ascendent apply to the Lord of 6th 8th or 12th houses and t is not a whit better if they be Lord of those houses 26. It is an exceeding good signe at the beginning of a sicknesse if neither the Lord of the ascendent Sun nor Moon behold the Lord of the 6th or 8th houses 27. It s very ill when the Lord of the ascendent is afflicted namely if he be retrograde or in an ill house in his detriment or fall or besieged the malevolents All houses which behold not the ascendents are ill houses namely the 6th 8th and 12th I will take no notice at all of the second in this case because it is succeeding to the first but the 7th shall not scape so because it opposeth the ascendents it is very bad when the Lord of the ascendent is there 28. In such cases t is true the disease may happily be cured if good courses be taken but either a relapse into that disease is to be feared or else the disease is subject to a change out of that disease into another as bad whereby the sick is in danger of death unlesse in the mean season the Lord of the ascendent grows stronger for the stronger he is the better able he is to preserve life 29. The Lord of the ascendent infortunated by the Lord of the 6th though he be but in his terme prolongs the sicknesse 30. If the Lord of the ascendent be infortunated by the lord of the 8th gives feare enough that none but death can end the quarrel between the sick and the sicknesse 31. If the lord of the ascendent be slow in motion the sicknesse will be as slow in the parting and slower if Saturn be lord of the ascendent but if the lord of the ascendent be swift in motion according to the haste he maks such speed you may expect of the disease 32. The lord of the ascendent angular and strong and no way impedited let the disease be never so violent the feare of death is more then the harme 33. The lord of the ascendent entring into another signe though it be out of his own house into another provided it be not into the house of the lord of the 6th 8th or 12th the disease soon ends in health if it be into the house of the lord of the 8th the sick dyes at the time if it be into the house of the lord of the 6th the sicknesse is increased if into the house of the lord of the twelfth the sicke either keeps ill dyet or is unruly or is mad to takes supper in another word in such a case he that will not be ruled by reason must be ruled by force 34. If the lord of the ascendent be weak of himself yet if he joyned to a fortune the recovery will be very speedily for if the fortune be any thing strong he will helpe it forward with tooth and naile 35. The lord of the ascendent the Sun or the moon joyned to an infortune prolongs the disease and the weaker they are the longer is the disease like to last 36. If the significator of the disease be in a signe of the nature of the disease for example suppose the disease proceeds of melancholy if the significator be in an earthly signe it exceedingly prolongs the disease judge the like by the rest of the humours in such cases the cure is exceeding difficult vis unita fortior 37.