with the four Elements ♈ Fiery Hot and dry Cholerick ♉ Earthly Cold and dry Melancholy ♊ Aierial Hot and moist Sanguine ♋ Watery Cold and moist Phlegmatick ♌ Fiery Hot and dry Cholerick ♠Earthly Cold and dry Melancholy ♎ Aeriall Hot and moist Sanguine ♠Watry Cold and moist Phlegmatick ♠Fiery Hot and dry Cholerick ♑ Earthly Cold and dry Melancholy ♒ Aeriall Hot and moist Sanguine ♓ Watry Cold and moist Phlegmatick The nature and qualities of the seven Planets in union with the four Elements ♄ Earthly Cold and dry Melancholy ♃ Airy Hot and moist Sanguine ♂ ☉ Fiery Hot and dry Cholerick ♀ ☽ Watry Cold and moist Phlegmatick As for the temperature of the Planet ☿ he is of himself inclinable to the condition of the Sign he is in or the nature of any other Planet that is in ☌ ⚹ □ △ or ☠with him yet in conjunction he is generally observed as ♂ is to cause tempests and a turbulent air but more or less according to the disposition of the others and the Signs he moveth under suitable to their temperatures and not moderating the evil aspects of the bad as men do in this World according to the old saying or Adagie Who lives with good are good we see And with the bad perverted be Definitions of some few terms that are used by Astronomers A Parallel Sphere is also called vertical having the World's Poles in the Zenith and Nadir the Aequator in the Horizon the Meridians and Azimoths are all one and likewise the Parallel circles and Almicanters in a verticle Sphere there is half a year day and half a year night one half of the Heavens never riseth and so consequently the other half must never set A right Sphere hath the World's Poles in the Horizon the Aequinoctial circle passeth by the Zenith and Nadir and by that means it divides the Horizon at right angles in this Sphere every degree and part of the Aequator that ascendeth or descendeth the Horizon with the Sun or any fixed Star will come to the Meridian with the ☉ or the same ⚹ for these causes it is called a right Sphere and here the days will be always equal to the nights either of them being 12. hours in any time of the year and all the Stars likewise will be 12. hours above the Horizon and as long depressed in every natural day An Oblique Sphere hath one Pole elevated above the Horizon and the other as much depressed in any oblique Sphere the Aequator will pass by the Horizon obliquely making an acute and consequently an obtuse angle with it and that degree or part of the Aequator which shall ascend the Horizon with the Sun or any Star will not come unto the Meridian of the place with the ☉ or the same ✴ for these reasons this Sphere is thus nominated In all oblique Spheres some part of the Heavens will never rise some will never set and some Stars will both rise and set as by the Sphere is evident in any latitude The Altitude or Poles elevation is an arch of the Meridian circle intercepted between the Horizon and the end of the World's Axis and the complements are the degrees and parts that it wants of 90 that is an arch of the Meridian contained between the Pole elevated and the places Zenith which in all oblique Spheres is ever equal to an arch of the Meridian intercepted betwixt the Horizon and the Aequator The Declination of the Sun or any Star or part of the Heavens is an arch of the Meridian passing through the centre of the ☉ or ✴ and intercepted between the Aequator and the centre of the ☉ ✴ or point of the Heavens given either North or South The Oblique Ascension is the degree or part of the Aequator that ascendeth the Horizon with the Sun or any Star in an oblique Sphere and those degrees reckoned from ♈ and continued to the end of ♓ that is to 360. degrees The right Ascension of the Sun or any Star or part of the Ecliptick are the degrees of the Aequinoctial circle that ascends the Horizon with them in a right Sphere or the degrees of the Aequator that do come unto the Meridian of any place with the ☉ ✴ or any other part of the Heavens and those reckoned from Aries to 360. degrees in the Aequinectial circle as were the former oblique Ascensions and this is general in all oblique Spheres whatsoever and the true degree in the Aequator that ascended the Horizon the ☉ or ✴ in a right Sphere The Magnitude of a Star is to be understood only of the fixed which for distinction and the readier finding them in the Sphere they are divided into six sorts the first being the greatest and so in order but as for those of the sixt Magnitude or cloudy ones they are but little observed in the predictions of the weather yet are here inserted with a Table of the Sun 's right Ascension in hours and minutes for every 15. degrees of the Aequator is equal to an hour and so each degree is equall to four minutes in time as was said before I have here inscribed a Table for the Sun 's right Ascension every fift day of the year and two other of the Stars which are observed in prognostication of the weather with the right Ascensions Declinations and Magnitudes of them whereby they may be readily found on the Globe or without it when they will be visible and when obscured with the Sun and what time of day or night they will come upon the Meridian from whence the hour of the night and many other useful propositions and necessary conclusions will be deduced by well observing these in pronostication of the weather A Table of the Suns right Ascention in hours and minutes for every fifth day in any moneth in the yeer Daies Janu. Febru March Aril May June ho.mi. ho.mi. ho.mi. ho.m. ho.m. ho.m. 5 19 50 21 57 23 42 1 34 3 28 5 34 10 20 11 22 16 00 00 1 53 3 48 5 55 15 20 32 22 35 00 18 2 11 4 8 6 16 20 20 53 22 54 00 36 2 30 4 28 6 37 25 21 13 23 12 00 54 2 49 4 49 6 57 30 21 33  1 12 3 9 5 10 7 18 Daies July August Septem October Nove. Decem. ho.m. ho.mi. ho.mi. ho.mi. ho.mi. ho.mi. 5 7 38 9 39 11 32 13 21 15 23 17 32 10 7 58 9 58 11 50 13 40 15 43 17 54 15 8 18 10 16 12 8 13 59 16 5 18 16 20 8 38 10 34 12 26 14 18 16 26 18 39 25 8 57 10 33 12 44 14 38 16 48 19 00 30 9 16 11 11 13 3 14 58 17 10 19 23 The right Ascentions DEclinations Natures and Magnitudes of some one noted Starre in each Constellation of the Firmament from the North Pole to the Ecliptick The first Table of ✴ in North Latitude Right Ascentions ho.mi.
stands the right ascension in hours and minutes the third will show the Declination in degrees and minutes and whether it be Northward or Southward from the Equator the fourth the temperature according to the Planets and the last will shew the magnitude of that Star Example the Ram's head is desired having north Latitude whose right Ascension is 1 hour 46 minutes the Declination 21 degrees 42 minutes Northward from the Equinoctial The nature participates of both these Planets ♄ ♂ and is a Star of the third magnitude and so of the rest thus are the fixed Constellations of a mixt and doubtful nature according to Durer whom I follow much in this To know at any time of the year in what hour either of day or night any of these Stars will be South Substract the Sun 's right Ascension from the Stars right ascension the remainder will shew the hour and minute of the Stars comming to the Meridian and whether it be day or night by being reckoned from noon But if it be required to know when a Star will be South whose right ascension is less then that of the Sun 's in all such cases add 24 h. unto the Stars right ascension and from that sum substract the ☉ right ascension and then the remainder will be the hour and minute that day from 12 at noon that the Star will come unto the Meridian this done for to know whether it will happen in the day time or visible at night or whether it will be neer about the time of Sun rising or setting or how long before or after I will now show and explain it God willing with two Examples following Vpon the 10. day of June it is required at what hour the Star called the little Dog will be upon the Meridian the Sun 's right ascension for that day I do find to be 5 H. 55 minutes and the little Dog a Star of the 2 magnitude to have for his right ascension 7 h. 20. m from whence substract the ☉ right Ascension for the day given and the remainder will be 1 H. 25. so the little Dog will be upon the Miridian the 10 day of June 35 minutes before 2 in the afternoon The 25 day of December celebrated for the Nativity of our Blessed Saviour it is required to know when the middle Star in Orions girdle will come unto the Meridian this is a Star of South Latioude and of the second magnitude whose Declination you may see is 1 g. 28. min. and the right ascension of this ✴ is 5 H. 18 minu and the ☉ right ascension the 25 day of December is 19 hours o minutes which being greater then the given Star adde 24 hours to it the sum will be 29 H. 18 minu from whence substract the Suns right ascension 19 H. o minutes and the remainder will be 10 H. 18 minu at night By Trigonometry you may find the true time of ☉ rising or setting in any Latitude and for any day in the year which hour known and substracted from the hour of the Stars being South giveth the time after Sun setting as in the Latitude of 52. g. o.m. where the Artick pole is elevated above the Horizon the ☉ upon the 25. day of December will descend the Horizon at 3. h. 50 m. which substracted from 10. h. 18. m. the remainder will be 6. h. 28. the true time after Sun setting before Orions Girdle comes unto the Meridian Bootes who is also called Arcturus will be full South on the same day at 18. h. 58. m. from whence substract 12 hours for you must reckon from noon-day and there will remain 6. h. 58. m. in the morning and before ☉ rising 1. h. 12. m. if it were required when these or any other fixed Star will be upon the Axis of the Aequator substract 6. h. from their right ascentions and the remainder is the thing required as Orions Girdle was upon the Worlds Axis at 4. h. 18. m. after mid-day and Arcturus 58. minutes after midnight by the right ascentions of the Stars and the ☉ you may find their apparitions and occultations to any time of the year with the hour of the night c. The Pleiades and these two last constellations are mentioned in the sacred Scriptures As Job 38.31 â—2 cap. 9.9 The severall Aseentions and Descentions of the fixed Stars and Planets THis is to be understood in respect of the hemisphere and the Horizon of your place and that in several senses too as a Star is said sometimes to be ascending not being come unto the Meridian of any place required and when any Star is upon the Meridian it is said to be culminant and here you are to note that the influence of any Star is then of most force to that place and observe also in the aspects of any Planet in âš¹ â–¡ or â–³ whether both these Planets thus aspected are visible in that hemisphere at the same time or which of them and in what sign and whether ascending towards the Meridian or having past it descending towards the Western Horizon but the ascention and descention of the Stars is usually understood for the rising and setting of any Star according to the violent motion of the Primum Mobile and in respect of the Horizontal circle to that hemisphere which they must passe both ascending and descending But know that in all oblique Spheres where either pole is elevated above the Horizon that those Stars can never set to that hemisphere whose declinations towards the pole elevated are greater then the complement of the poles elevation and those Stars whose declinations are as many degrees towards the pole depressed can never rise But if the declination of any Star towards either pole be lesse then the Aequators height above that Horizon then all those Stars in every natural day will both rise and set of which ascentions and descentions of the Stars there are three several kinds observed both by the Poets and Prognosticators of the weather in the alteration of the Air And are these 1. Cosmicall 2. Acronycall And 3. Heliacall Those Stars are properly said to rise Cosmical which do ascend the Horizon with the ☉ as the Dog star doth in Summer from whence they are called the Dog-dayes beginning about the 20. day of July and ending in the latter end of August But in the largest sense any Star is said to rise Cosmical that ascends the Horizon in the day time The Cosmical setting of any Star is when they do descend the Horizon at the same time when the ☉ rises or at any time of day but not taken in the strictest sense The Acronycal ascention is the rising of any Star when the ☉ sets as when the ☉ doth enter into the sign â™’ and descending the Horison the sign ♌ will rise at the same time which is properly called Acronycal although it be often taken for a Star that ascends the Horizon at any time of night the Acronycal
be a truth in them it is hard for to discover which it is and being found difficult to follow but whether this admired and stupendious machine of the World be greater or lesser 't is not for me to argue And thus I will conclude Psal 135. ver 6. Omnia quaecunque voluit Dominus fecit in Coelo in Terra in mari in omnibus abyssis The 7 Planets or wandring Stars with their Characters colour motion period and courses FIrst under the Firmament or Starry Heaven is plac'd the planet Saturn ♄ who is the highest of them his colour is pale his course is finished through the 12 Signes in 29 years 5 moneths 2 weeks 1 day and 8 hours The next Orbe to this is Jupiter ♃ a fair and bright planet he passeth through the 12 Signs of the Zodiack in a 11 years 11 moneths 5 days and 17 hours or very neer Mars ♂ appeareth in his proper Sphere of a red or fiery colour marching through the 12 Signs in 1 year 11 moneths 1 week 6 days and 22 hours or thereabouts The Sun ☉ is next being placed in the middle of the planets the better to distribute his light unto the rest they being illuminated by him their bright and glorious Prince and is called Sol quasi solus for this Planet is as Monarch of the Skies all the Stars receiving their lustre from Him his progress through the Zodiack is finished in a year consisting of 365 days 5 hours 49 minuits and 16 seconds almost for the odd hours and minuits is allowed a day every fourth year Venus ♀ is a very bright and clear shining Planet she finisheth her course in a year sometimes rising before the ☉ she is called the morning Star and at other times will follow the ☉ and then is called th◠〈◊〉 Stars she seldome goeth 4 degrees from the ☉ and can never exceed two whole Signs or 60 degrees Mercuny ☿ posting to and fro in the sixth Sphere but cannot exceed 30 degrees or one whole Sign in distance at any time from the ☉ and so is seldome visible being obscured by the Sun beams and when seen he is not bright and finisheth his course in something lesse then the space of a year The Moon ☽ is the lowest of all the Planets and consequently swiftest in her motion She passeth through the 12 Signs of the Zodiack in 27 days 7 hours 43 minuits and 5 seconds but from one new Moon unto another it is 29 days and odd hours by reason of the ☉ proper motion from the West Eastward in those 27 days The mutual Aspects or positions of the 7 Planets THe Planets are called wandring Stars both for their various courses and not keeping any certain distance one from another each of them moving in a proper peculiar Sphere the Sun only keeping under the Ecliptick line but all the other 6 according to their motions changing continually their latitudes being sometimes Southward of the Ecliptick as was said before which mutability of their courses you may plainly behold by the Moon who passes by all other Planets in less then 30 days and so do all the other 5 Planets according to their proper motions mutually aspect one another and are conceived by Astronomers to have the more force in their influences upon all sublunary things according to their positions and the powerful effects of their natures are supposed to be hindred or further'd by the interposition of another which in things of this nature ought to be judiciously and circumspectly considered weighing with reason the position of the Planets their natures the Seasons of the year with the temperature of the Signs they are in and the intervening Aspects of the other Stars of which Aspects there be many observed by Astronomers but those which may concern this Treatise are these following Conjunction of any two Planets is when they have one Longitude both of them being under one Sign and degree of the Zodiack Sextile aspect is when any two Planets are in distance one from another in respect of their Longitudes ⅙ part of the 12 Signs that is two whole Signs or 60 degrees Quartile aspect is when the difference of two Planets Longitudes shall be ¼ part of the Zodiack that is 3 Signes being a quadrant or 90 degrees Trine is the aspect of any two Planets that differ in Longitude one from another ⅓ part of the Zodiack that is 4 whole Signs or 120 degrees Opposition is the aspect of two Planets directly opposite differing in Longitude 6 of the 12 Signs that is 180 degrees and for brevity are charactered thus according to their Aspects A Table of the 7 Planets aspects The Characters ☌ Conjunction Degrees of the Zodiack 00  ⚹ Sextile  60  □ Quartile  90  △ Trine  120  ☠Opposition  180 The natures and qualities of the four Elements AN Element is a beginning out of which all bodies are compos'd mixed with some part of all the four which are these viz. 1 Fire 2 Air 3 Water and 4 Earth these four do fill up the whole Orbe from the center of the Heavens to the Moons Sphere whereby a vacuum or an emptiness is avoided which Nature doth abhor and so hath curiously made them as to be the bounds of the connex superficies of one another and consequently to the concaves of their Spheres and are described in order thus Fire Under the Moon 's Sphere is plac'd the Element of Fire void of all weight and most remote from the center of gravity this Element is of nature extremely hot and dry Air. Next unto the Fire is placed the Element of Air which is also light and is by nature hot and moist Earth and Water The other two that is the Water and the Earth as joyned and commixt together do make one Globe for the Water is heavy and by nature cold and moist the Earth extremely cold and dry but heavier then the Water yet both these Elements pressing to the center of the Spheres To prove the Earth's roundnesse NAture in all her admirable works does aim at that which is most convenient and attains unto the greatest perfection which is a spherical figure being most capacious and uniform of all others one part counterposing the other thus Nature hath made the center of the Heavens the seat of Gravity to which all heavy things must naturally tend unto and so consequently if it were of any form but round the fluxible waters would be divorced from the Earth dissenting it to run unto the center But some will object that it is not round by reason of some high exalted hills spacious plains and deep depressed vallies and do conceive these a sufficient demonstration but this Argument will be of no force if you consider the greatness of the terrestrial Globe For Mount Pelion was observed by Dicaearchus whose perpendicular height was sound to be but 12 Stadiums that is but an Italian mile and a half and
The Decliations de mi. The Stars mixt natures Magnitude The Starres names The Polar Sear 00 30 87 N 19 ♄ ♀ 3 Andromedas girdle 00 49 33 N 42  ♀  2 The Northern Fish 01 00 17 N 21  ☽  5 Cassiopeias knees 01 12 58 N 17 ♄ ♀ 3 Delta the north Triangle 01 32 27 N 51  ☿  4 The Ramms head 01 46 21 N 42 ♄ ♂ 3 Algol Medusas head 02 44 39 N 29 ♄ ♀ ♃ 3 Perseus right side 02 58 48 N 28  ♂  2 Pleiades or 7 Stars 03 24 22 N 57 ♂ ☽ 3 The Goat and Kids 04 50 45 N 33 ♂ ☿ 1 Erichthonius his heel 05 00 30 N 00 ♂ ☿ 2 Castor or the head of ♊ 07 11 32 N 38  ♂  2 The head of Pollux 07 23 28 N 52  ♂  2 The Manger in ♋ breast 08 15 20 N 56 ♂ ☽ don The northern Asse 08 22 22 N 44 ♂ ☉ 4 The Lions head 09 11 24 N 38 ♄ ♂ 3 Regulus the ♌ heart 09 49 13 N 45 ♃ ♂ 1 Calisto the great Bear 10 40 63 N 43 ♂ ♄ ☿ 2 Berenices hair 12 00 31 N 31 ♀ ☽ 3 Vindemiatrix in ♠12 44 13 N 9 ♄ ☿ 3 Arcturus in Bootes 13 58 20 N 30 ♄ ♂ 1 The bright ✴ in ♎ 14 57 7 N 57 ♃ ☿ 2 The northern Crown 15 18 28 N 7 ♄ ♀ ☿ 2 The Snakes neck 15 26 7 N 45 ♄ ♂ 2 Hercules his forehead 16 58 14 N 56 ♂ ☿ 3 Serpentarius his head 17 18 12 N 56 ♃ ♀ 3 The Dragons head 17 49 52 N 00 ♄ ♂ 3 The Vulture and Harp 18 25 38 N 29 ♀ ☿ 1 Antinious his right knee 19 17 7 S 44 ♃ ♂ 3 The Eagles heart 19 33 7 N 58 ♃ ♂ 2 Capricornus his head 19 58 14 S 34 ♂ ♀ 3 The Swans breast 20 19 39 N 9 ♀ ☿ 3 The Dolphins head 20 22 13 N 15 ♄ ♂ 3 The Waterman ♒ 21 12 7 S 4 ♄ ☿ 3 Cepheus lest knee 22 55 75 N 0  ♄  3 Pegasus right wing 23 50 11 N 10 ♂ ☿ 2 The right Ascentions Declinations Natures and Magnitudes of some noted Starres in every Constellation of the Firmament from the Ecliptick to the South pole The second Table of * in North Latitude Right Ascentions ho.mi. The Declinations de mi. The Stars mixt natures Magnitude The Stares names The Phaenix neck 00 10 45 S 50 ♃ ♀ 3 The Whales belly 01 30 12 S 7 ♂ ☽ 3 Alcarnar in Eridanus 1 35 40 S 43 ♃ ☽ 1 The water Snake 2 00 64 S 30  ♀  3 The Hyades or 5 ✴ 3 50 14 N 30 ♀ ☽ 3 Aldebaran the ♉ eye 4 15 15 N 42  ♂  1 The Hares belly 5 13 21 S 30  ♄  3 Orions girdle 5 18 1 S 28 ♄ ♂ ☿ 2 The Dove 5 40 37 S 00  ♃  2 Argonavis 6 10 52 S 30 ♄ ☿ 1 Dorado 6 15 66 S 10  ☽  4 Syrius the great Dog 6 29 16 S 12 ♃ ♂ 1 Procyon the little Dog 7 20 6 N 9 ♂ ☿ 2 The Southern Asse 8 24 19 N 26 ♂ ☉ 4 The flying Fish 8 30 68 S 30 ☿ ☽ 5 The Hydras heart 9 9 7 S 4 ♄ ♀ 1 The Chamelion 10 30 77 S 10  5 The Goblet 10 40 16 S 9  4 The Centaures flank 11 50 49 S 30  2 The Christians Armes 12 00 61 S 10  3 The Crows wing 12 15 12 S 23  3 The Indian fly 12 20 67 S 30  5 Arista ♠ear of corn 13 6 9 S 10 ♂ ♀ 1 The Indian Bee 14 10 82 S 15  5 The Wolfes flank 14 30 46 S 30  3 Antares the ♠heart 16 7 25 S 30  1 The South Triangle 16 15 69 S 15  2 The Altar 16 30 56 S 30 ♄ ♂ 3 The Southern Crown 18 30 43 S 20  3 The foot of Sagittarius 18 40 40 S 30  2 The Peacooks eye 19 50 60 S 00  1 The Indian with darts 20 30 59 S 00  5 The Cranes wing 21 45 50 S 50   Fomahaud in Pisces 22 36 34 S 10 ♀ ☿ 2 Toucan an Indian bird 23 50 68 S 30  1 The use of these Tables THe first of these contains the Sun's right Ascension in hours and minutes the fifth day in every moneth excepting February which is defective having but 20 days undess it be Bisseatile or leap year and some moneths have 31 days which excess or defect is not to be regarded nor such exactnesse required as to a minute and yet you may allow in proportion some minutes for any day between these if so it be desired the head of this table contains the 12 Solar monethe of the year each in a peculiar column the first hath the days for the fifth day in every moneth against which in each column stands the hours and minutes for the Sun 's right Ascension those days The next Table hath 5 columns the first contains the names of those Stars which are used in prognosticating the weather the second column shews the right Ascension of those fixed Stars that is the hours and minutes or degrees of the Equinoctial circle reckoned from ♈ that comes unto the Meridian with those Stars the third column doth contain the declinations of those Stars in degrees and minutes and those distinguished with an S or an N to signifie whether their Declinations be Northward or Southward from the Equinoctial circle the fourth their natures according to the Planets the fifth and last column sheweth the bignesse or magnitudes of those Stars as whether they be of 1 2 3 4 5 or 6. magnitude as their titles in the head of the Table do appear the use of them is as followeth To find the Sun 's right Ascension ADmit it were required to know the Sun 's right Ascension on the 5. day of March against 5 in the Title of days and in the column under March I do find 23 hours 42 minutes for the day required that is 42 minutes after 11 at Noon was ♈ the 6 day upon the Meridian for from that time 355 degrees 30 minutes of the Equator had past the Meridian and Astronomers do account from one mid-day unto another and if the ☉ right Ascension were required upon the 5 day of July it will be found in the Table 7 hours and 38 minutes and in the same manner may the others be known To find the right Ascensions Declinations and Magnitudes of these Stars LOok for the Star desired in the first Column of either Table on the head of the Table you will find whether the Star sought for hath North or South Latitude in the second column
and in time it will lose its saltnesse being but accidental As for the ebbing and flowing of the Seas the cause is assigned unto the Moon her influence having power over all waterish bodies and besides the Tides are observed to alter as she does in her course if not hindered or furthered by accidental causes as winds land flouds or the like She coming later every day unto the Meridian by 48. minutes or very neer and those Seas which flows when she is above the Horizon of that place will cause greater Tides then when she is depressed in the opposite Hemisphere and when she hath latitude and declination towards the pole elevated the force of her influence is the greater and the waters will flow the higher and rage the more violently in all indraughts especially at the new Moon or ful which are usually called Spring-Tides but the full Moon and three Tides after are much the greater her power then predominating most over all waterish and phlegmatick bodies and requires time to bring in greater supplies of water into the Land Of Earth-quakes and their causes from whence they do proceed THe causes of these are exhalations hot and dry generated by the vertue of the Sun and Stars inclosed within the concaves and hollow places of the Earth yet they cannot break forth by reason of the vapours grosnesse and the close compactednesse of the Earth which involves them and there increasing till it cannot be contained and not finding a passage out it strives to force one and so violently shakes the Earth that it causes a trembling which often hath swell'd up mountains and overturned others and ruinated many Cities making mens houses their sepulchres and whole Towns involved in a grave overwhelmed with their ruines the continuance of Earth-quakes is uncertain from a minute to a day and a longer time according to the greatnesse of the vapour inclosed and the firmnesse and solidity of the Earth which contained it Here I have shewed you the weak and supposed reasons of men in the wonderful and stupendious frame of Heaven and Earth all which are subjected and do obey the commands of the Immense Creator Eternal God and Author of Nature to whom be all Honour Praise and Glory world without end Amen AN INTRODUCTION TO The Third Part. Predictions of the Weather TO Prognosticate or foretel the alteration of the Weather there hath been in all Ages diligent observers of Nature who have prescribed rules and prenotations of the Airs mutability grounded on judicial signs collected from the Stars and the four Elements the principles of all sublunary bodies Of these Predictions there be several kinds both general and particular established by humane reason some derived meerly from old experience yet many of them true divers observations are ascribed to some particular Place Country Province or lesse proportion of this our habitable world being oftentimes confined within the precincts of a parish as by fogs or mists ascending from some meer or morish grounds or descending from the tops of hills high exalted places and low depressed dales some men do observe domestick and particular beasts as the story of the Herds-man c. But as for all such presages as are not general or warranted by some seeming reason I will quiâ—e reject and leave them at home for to observe the smoak of their own chimneys for it is my real intention at least my desire to direct my serene instructions to the benefit of the tender vigilant or distressed travellers whereby they may avoid the danger or inconvenience of foul and tempestious weather by presaging the Airs alteration and the inundation of the lower Regions menacing the Earth with their over-charged exhalations and vapours in tumults ready to descend to avoid these ensuing storms is the scope of my intentions in this Treatise and the better to enable you to do it I have prostrated to your view The Worlds Eprtomy and the several risings settings apparitions and occultations of the Stars with the natures of those celestrial Orbs the four Elements and all Meteors in general the secondary causes under God of heat cold wet and dry weather from whose excesse proceeds want disâ—â—â—d all corporal distempers and from their â—â—â—cord plenty crowned by the blessing of Hâ—â—ven with health and happinesse That the Stars have their influences upon sublunary bodies it is not denied by any learned men and affirmed undoublably by many of the most famous Philosophers Astronomers and Divines as witnesse Aristotle Ptolomaeus and St. Augustine lib. 13. Cap. 4. de Trin. and multitudes more which I have omitted fearing to incumber this volume with testimonies and approbations of that which seems demonstrated unto reason and confirmed by experience and according to Hippocrates with the consent of many others Thunder Lightning Hail Snow Rain Storms and all alterations of the weather may be predicted by the rising and setting of the fixed Stars with the aspects of Planets their natures and qualities considered with the climate region and season of the year The Stars being supposed of several natures and each constellation mixt their influencies may cause diversity of effects as heat cold moisture or drought which are the four qualities of the Element and as for the Planets they do alter according to their aspects which many learned Phisitians do diligently observe in administring Physick and in the time of their Patients falling sick calling the 7. day critical the 14. c. Their reasons are the Moon having dominion over all humors and waterish bodies and in her motion swift doth passe in 7. days and a little more from one sign into another of a contrary nature and quality as from ♎ hot and moist into ♑ cold and dry and the like of others from whence the Doctors do judge of the malignity of the disease with the hopes of life or danger of death and of this you may read in Gallen lib. 3. de diebus Criticis rather then in me And in prognostication of the Weather these judicial days would be observed in the beginning of drought Rain Snow Frost or the like and there would be considered the latitude and aspects of the Planets the nature of the signs they are in passing under the fixed Stars especially where they are mixt with the nature of those Planets Consider the season of the year as Hale or Rain in the Spring or Autumn Thunder and Lightning in Sommer Frost and Snow in Winter Ponder also the rising and setting of the fixed Stars with the Planets the Eclipses Comets and all fiery Meteors and such as these accompanied by nature are justifiable for God hath given man knowledge and understanding in the course of natural things and signs in the Heavens whereby to avoid inconveniencies not with a certain but a conjectural science by the Asterisms or celestial configurations and the four Elements from whence may be presaged distempers of the Air causing contagious diseases sterility and the like as Aristotle writeth of Thaletes
is inlightned in manner of a misty circle which equally will appear about the Sun Moon or Stars but these are rarely under any of the fixed Stars but common under any of the Planets yet not so usual under the Sun for by reason of his fervour and heat the exhalation cannot so easily get directly under it and being got together it cannot long subsist but the matter will be disperst by vigour of his beams which the Moon cannot effect for want of heat and so the oftner she hath those circles about her they continue longer the same reason it is with the other Stars yet the circles made about them are conceived to be weak and sterile exhalations neither so apt to beget wind or rain as the former are for in thick and waterish exhalations the rays of the Stars are unable to illuminate them but will be observed by those and such like spissous and dark clouds Impressions in the Clouds representing the Sun or Moon THe cause of these apparitions doth proceed from thick clouds regular and uniform as were the former from whence are caused circles about the Sun or Moon yet these exhalations are more condensed then be the others and not situated under the Sun or Moon as be the last but placed obliquely on either side which clouds are apt to be converted into rain and by refraction of the Sun beams it does expresse the form or image of it as you may see in a mirrour of glasse or polished steel these clouds must be condensed for the beams of the Sun to reflection and not under the Sun for then his refracted rays will not be visible unto us and if it be not regular and uniform in all the parts the cloud cannot portrait and expresse the whole and perfect image of it and in this manner there may be represented in clouds the figure of the Moon but those are much more rare to be seen because her rays are weaker and there may be many Suns or Moons appear at once upon these former alledged reasons Of the Rain-Bow and the causes thereof RAin-Bows are generated in waterish clouds ready to be dissolved into rain these are observed to be always directly opposite to the Sun or Moon as if the ☉ be in the South the Rain-bow will be in the North and when the ☉ is in the East the Rain-bow will appear in the West and the contrary so in any part of the Hemisphere and the lower or neerer the Horizon that the Sun is the Rain-bow will appear the greater but never can exceed a semicircle but lesse according to the height of the Sun above in any Sphere which is the reason at noon day we rarely see any especially the ☉ being in the Sommer Solstice or nigh the Tropick of ♋ excepting all places far Northward or toward the pole Antartick where for some weeks there is continual day but the ☉ in Winter neer ♑ may cause a Rain-bow at noon day in these our climates for they are formed by the light rays of the Sun falling upon vapours and waterish exhalations opposite unto him and but little elevated above the earth and by reason of the great distance or remotenesse of the Sun the illuminated beams describe his form after an obscure and imperfect manner portraiting only an arch of a circle adorned usually with three colours viz. Red Green and Purple or inclining unto a Blewish colour the distinction of these proceeds from the Radius of the Sun reflecting upon these vapours for those colours are lightest in it which are neerest to the Sun and those which are remotest do tend more to obscurity As for a demonstration you may behold in the commixture of such like colours and the form of the Rain-bow you may experimentally try by casting water in a circular manner against the Sun when he shines But some doe think the red colour to be only made by his rays the second by reflection and the third by the second all contained within some condensed hollow cloud commixed with Aiery and waterish exhalations for if more Rain-bows do appear then one at any time it is conceived that they are made by reflection of one another but the colours in the second will be weaker then those in the first and the third Rainbow more pallid then the second If there happens to be three which is very seldome seen then the colours in the first will be counterchanged in the second and the third again like the first These arches in the clouds or Rain-bows do continue longer then do the circles about the Sun because the distance in these is so great that his beams cannot so soon dissipate the exhalation which caused them Rain-bows in the night time are exceeding rare because they are made by the Moon whose beams are usually too weak to cause such a reflection upon any cloud at so great a distance and are so rarely seen that I will cease to describe them any further The causes and diversities of Winds WInds by the vertue of the Sun are generated of hot and dry exhalations evaporated from the Earth and striving to ascend are repulsed by the obvious coldnesse of the Air and forced collaterally about and upon the superficies of this terrestrial Globe moving as they are compelled by the cold and do receive names as from whence they blow and are divided into 32. distinct winds according to the divisions or points of the Mariners Compass The four chief are these East and West opposite and so the North and South point which four do divide the Horizon into four equal parts and are compared by some to the nature and temperature of the four seasons But as for these exhalations they are naturally dry resolved into Air by vertue of the Sun as the moist vapours are into rain sometimes these exhalations are mixed with moist vapours which the Sun convers at one time both into rain and wind the more these windy exhalations are restrained by so much they will rage and the more violent they are by how much they are repulsed and stricken down with the coldnesse of the Air which makes them often times rebound upon the Earth which commonly are called whirl-winds from revolving and throwing up all light things that are in the way where they move these are also caused by the meeting of two contraries Winds are the greatest in open weather in Frosts exhalations are inclosed within the pores of the Earth and so likewise by excessive heat The generation of Waters THere is undoubtedly a continual flux and reflux of waters both upon the superficies of the Earth and in the channels within it as you may see by the veins in the bodies of men a Microcosmus in it self for the Earth being by nature extream dry without water would be sterile and quite unapt to produce any vegetables or Minerals within her now pregnant womb and so the waters to supply this defect do continually move as from their Springs to little
mist the Southern winds will rage and if the Southern Ass be hidden from your sight then look for storms and tempests from the North or East 4. The Dolphin setting Acronycally produceth cold winds 5. Vindemiatrix rising Acronically causeth cold Northerly winds 6. The Cosmical Rising of the Pleiades is a sign of Westerly winds the Acronycal setting bringeth Southerly winds 7. Sirius setting Acronycally causeth South west winds and sometimes tempests 8. The Caniculare days bring the Easterly winds and the Cosmical setting Southerly weather and tempests the Heliacal rising or apparition of Sirius did begin the Graecian year 9. The Cosmical setting of the Eagle produceth Eastern winds 10. Regulus setting Acronycally doth cause Westerly winds lasting oftentimes for 9. days but seldome very violent 11. Vindemiatrix rising Cosmically produceth North-west winds and white frosts if the first day of September be fair it betokens a dry Autumn 12. The Cosmical rising of the Northern Crown produceth cold winds 13. Virgiliae setting Cosmically bringeth Northern-winds if at this time the Sky be dark or cloudy it foreshews a wet Winter and very cold if dry and clear 14. Arcturus setting Acronycally produceth Southerly winds and much rain to follow if it rains at his Heliacal setting or occultation Saturn ♃ ♂ ☉ ♀ or any one of these rising or setting with the Triangle with ♒ with the belly of the Southern Fish with the right shoulder of Auriga with the foremost head of ♊ with Praesepe and the two Asses with Orions Girdle or ♠the Crown Arcturus with Hereules or with the Ballance all these produceth winds and many times violent tempests especially the aforesaid Planets being stationary or retrograde 16. Mercurius doth produce winds if he riseth or setteth with the thigh of Pegasus with Auriga with the Triangle with the Rams head sharp and cold winds with the Pleiades wind and rain with ♊ with Orion tempests and often thunder and lightning and so likewise with Praesepe either Dog or Regulus the Hydras heart Arcturus and Spica ♠winds and cloudy weather and likewise rising or setting with the Vulture the Ballance the Eagle or the Dolphin ascending or descending the Horizon with ☿ causeth often winds and cloudy weather with the cloudy Stars of ♠lowring weather but with Acarner clear days and warm winds and usually so with most Stars of the nature of ♃ and so much for this Generall Aphorisms in Prognosticating storms and tempests selected out of Cardanus Maginus and Durret THe twelve Signes of the Zodiack doe contain the nature of the four Elements and these twelve Signes by transmutation of their places are divided into four Trigones each of them containing the temperature and qualities of one Element as was declared already in the Worlds Epitomy and being they are conceived to have their severall effects in producing of particular winds I will once again insert them v.z. ♈ ♌ ♠produceth Northwest winds ♊ ♎ ♒ produceth Northeast winds ♋ ♠♓ causeth Southwest winds ♉ ♠♑ raiseth Southeast winds and thus are the twelve Signs appropriated to the four points of the horizon equally between the four cardinall winds yet you must consider the nature of the fixed and wandring Stars ascending with them in every particular Horizon The presaging of the winds depends upon many causes and are as various as they be inconstant and besides all this you must know the winds are appropriated unto each proper Planet as the East to ♄ the North to ♃ the West to ♂ the South to ♀ and ☉ also to the East and ☽ to the West as for ☿ he is indifferent to the other six according to the conjunction of his rays with them For if he applies himself to ♄ he produceth great winds cloudy or rainy weather if to ♃ warm gales with some rain to ♂ or ☉ hot and corrupt winds and with ☿ or ☽ moist winds If ☿ changes his latitude it argues winds if stationary or retrograde or going from one sign and entring the other betokeneth great winds ♄ also doth alter the weather for many days together in his removing from any one sign into another especially being retrograde and having latitude towards the pole elevated and the Apogaeon or Perigaeon of the Planets is to be considered There is never any great mutation of the Air without the ☌ or aspect either of ♄ ♃ or ♂ by reason their motions are so slow great ☌ of Planets that are of contrary naures do cause contrary winds much rain hail or snow according to the season of the year hail is multiplied by the ☌ of hot Planets in fiery Signs the wandring Stars in their swift motions do beget drought and likewise if they be direct and Oriental but if slow retrograde or occidental they do produce rain excepting ♂ and stationary they do generally cause winds and ☿ instability of the Air and likewise many ☌ or Aspects of the Planets concurring at one time do pronounce great mutability of the weather and do usually very much distemper the Element in this Cardanus is oppugnant to Leupold Here we are arrived having past many ambiguous Meanders and obscure Laborinths of humane Hypothesis concerning the nature and effects of the fixed and wandring Stars through which I cannot guide you in a direct line with a thread but am forced to follow the observations of others and the rules by them prescribed and delivered to Astronomers by succession from one ensuing Age unto another yet with several opinions according to the diversity of men and the Countrys they lived in as Aegypt Italy Germany and the like These several temperatures of Climates have caused errors in our later observations whereas their rules were true perhaps in those Regions where they did inhabite I have therefore delivered some things twice to shew how several mens opinions do concur others again I have given you almost oppugnant yet may be in some things reconciled which to do I refer to your candid Judgement to choose correct or reject as you please I have shewn you rules and prognostications of the weather both for days years and the several seasons thereof as by the fixed Stars and Planets with the effects of their influences commixt according to humane conjectures And now I will place before your eyes predictions of the weather by mutual Aspects of the Planets only with themselves which way is generally held and approved for to be the best and most assured tract to follow as in things that depends upon so many and uncertain causes yet it is convenient to ponder in your judgement the former rules prescribed and those well weighed and considered I will leave it to your application and so proceed to the observations of Maginus with some diligent collections of my own annexed thereunto But first there ought to be considered whether either Planet were retrograde at the time of conjuction or in any other Aspect of which these are the chiefest and held of
at his setting be mixed with sky-colour or purple expect then immoderate tempests and storms of wind and rain 34. If the Sun at his rising seem to be as it were affronted with clouds in tumults moving towards him observe from what quarter of the Heavens they come from thence will the storm arise and if they come from the South expect then both wind and rain especially if the clouds were fiery red or mixt 35. If the Sun doth cast his beams a far of amongst the clouds at his rising and some of them seem refracted or the middle void it presages rain 36. If he spread his beams before he rises above the Horizon expect both wind and water 37. If at his setting there appear a white circle about him there will be some troublesome weather the ensuing night but withal if there be a thick mist invirons him the tempest may be outragious both wind and rain 38. If there be red clouds about the Sun at his rising which do become black or dark soon after he is up it presages rain 39. If the Sun all day or before his setting an hour or two appeareth with a purple colour and coming to the Horizon descending seems greater then at other times it foreshews both wind and rain A Paraphrase HEre with the setting Sun I will end his presages and now behold the Luminary of the night for what hath been said of his rising is or may be applied for the most part as rules in presaging the weather at the time of his descending the Horizon of any place but not so certain and effectual as his first apparition in the morning because there be more grosse and undigestâ—d vapours raised in the night or fall for want of heaâ— to concoct and dispose of them according to their qualities the reason of all these presages is grounded upon the colour of the vapour or exhalation on which the Sun reflecting doth cause these fiery and diversity of apparitions elevated above the superficies of the Earth but neer us interposed between the Sun and our sight which by the vertue of his rayes he converts according to their qualities and quantities into several Mereors for if they seem pale they are watery if red windy if black and mixt both if his rays seem refracted broken or crooked it is by reflection of one cloud upon another which argues their number to be many and if unpenetrable it shews them to be great and grosse And so much for the Sun By the Moon 40. THe Aegyptians whom Virgil and Pliny follow did observe the fourth day of the Moon after the Conjunction to be the surest sign for if she does appear after Sun-setting pure and bright it argues fair weather and if red wind if dim or cloudy storms and wet weather also if the tips of her horns be blunt it foreshews foul weather and if very sharp pointed it presages winds fair or frosty weather 41. If her Northern horn be only sharp-pointed it presages wind from that coast but if her lower or Southern horn be only so the wind will be Southward and if she hath a red circle about her it is a sign of wind and rain But Varra who maketh these observations also of the weather says That if the Moon hath a circle or garland about her and the same clear and bright it promises fair weather until the Full. 42. If the Moon after the change appear not until her fourth day and the wind blowing West expect then cold and winter-like weather the reason that the fourth day is observed in these is this her fourth time ascending the Horizon reckoned from the New Moon inclusive is but three days compleat in which time she does recover light and hath then entered another sign of a different nature from that at her change But some would have these rules observed when her age is â— 8 part of her whole course that is three days and sixteen hours very neer but this cannot be strictly observed the Moon not being then always visible above any one Horizon 43. The Moon increasing and rising with her upper or Northern horn blackish presageth much rainy weather after the Full but if the tip of her lowermost horn be so aspected then it will rain before the Full but if it appears blackish between her horns that is in the middle of her body according to Varre it will be wet weather about the time of her being Full. 44. When the Moon is at the Full if her body seem very fair and bright it is a sign of good weather but if red it argues wind if inclining to black rain and if a mist about her it is a sign of snow rain or wind and if two or more of these circles it is the worse and presages storms and where the circle is brightest or most transparent from that part of the Heavens expect the winds 45. Lastly the eight points or angles which the Moon maketh with the Sun are observed by many and are these days viz. 3 7 11 15 19 23 27. and the day in which the two great Luminaries do happen in Conjunction 46. Observe what weather it is when the Moon comes to be South any day if the weather changes not then it is like to continue that day whether it be sair or foul This would also be observed in the other Planets at what time they do come unto the Meridian of any place so well as their rising and setting But to find the ☽ coming to the Meridian multiply her age by 4 and divide the product by 5 the quotient will be the time required Example admit the Moons age were 5 which multiplied by 4 the product will be 20 and that divided by 5 the quotient will be 4 the hour of her being South that day and so for any time By Rain-bows 46. THere have been Rain-bows in the night-time seen made by the Moon and as for their effects being seldome known they shall be omitted only as signs conceived prodigious but those of the Sun made by his rays are usual and are these a Rain-bow appearing presently after rain is held a sign of fair weather and that the storm is past but if two or more be seen at once it is a presage of future rain for it argues the clouds to be very waterish when the reflection of the one can form the impression and figure of another in several clouds as it were in mirrours a Rain-bow broken presages tempests Of the Ignis fatuus 48. THese pallid fires appear but at some times of the year and that in certain places and in those parts where they are most usual they are not commonly seen but as fore-runners of fultry heat in Sommer and wet in the Winter they are usually observed to appear in open weather yet I have seen one in a very cold feason both for frost and snow moving but a little before me and within a few days after the frost did break they are
receive the water which you may thus provide if you would have a red water take Vermilion a green colour is more pleasant and visible which is thus made take Verdigrease and ½ so much Roman vitrial beaten small and put them into the best white Wine vinegar the quantity as you shall see convenient the colour and bignesse of the cestern consider'd these being infus'd and sturr'd together let them stand 2 or 3 days until the water be coloured to your mind if it proves too deep a green pour in a little more Vinegar or strong Water to it This being provided take the circumference of the globe at A with ¼ part more or 4 diameters if you can and place it on the shank with a string equidistant from the head as at the cestern there make two marks and divide that space into what parts you please 15 degrees or equal parts I conceive the best 8 being the Arithmetical medium if the shank be not taper'd write the figures on paper and past them upon the glasse in a continued Arithmetical Progression ascending from 1 to 15 make a Frame that the glasse may stand fast and about the cestern a rock or what you fancy best This done put the water into the Bolts head and holding that in your hand put it into the Frame and Cestern then turn it suddenly the right way and upon the bottome let it rest awhile Observe at what figure the water stands let it at the first be too high then raise up gently the long glasse so that the water may fall down into the cestern and try it for two or three days and when it is at a place that fits the temperature of the Air and Season of the year viz. 1 2 or 3. if it be in the heat of Sommer but at 13 14 or 15. in the cold of Winter if a little frost such as we have in September place it at 9 or 10 but if very temperate weather as between hot and cold the water must stand at 8 a medium having tri'd and fitted it well according to the temperature of the outward Air for it must be kept from fire and accidental heat close it or lute it up at the neck of the cestern leaving onely some cane for a vent as you see at C whereby the Air may passe in or out of the cestern accordingly as the water doth rise or fall for the long glasse must always stand in the water and almost touch the bottome of the receiver or lower vessel as at B if the Air gets into the long glasse anywhere after it is placed according to the weather the work is frustrated A PERPETUAL KALENDER OR Diurnal for the weather with general and particular observations diligently selected and compendiously inserted demonstrating perspicuously in a Glasse the Airs mutability and the weathers vicissitude with the present temper and Season of the year observing the water on serene days at these degrees Viz. 1 2 3 Shews the extreme heat of Sommer 4 5 Is excessive hot and sultry weather 6 7 Is more hot than cold a pleasant season 8 The medium betwixt Sommer Winter 9 10 More cold than hot with gentle frosts 11 12 Is excessive cold and frosty weather 13 14 15 Shews the extreme cold of Winter 1. THe efficient cause why this water riseth and falls is from the condensing or dilating of the outward Air made visible by a sympathetical imitation of the parts here inclos'd upon any alteration of the weather presag'd from hence by experience observing that Cold and Drought do contract Heat and Moisture rarifies 2 The sudden salling of the water foreshews an immediate approaching Storm of Thunder Lightning Rain Hail or Snow 3 If the water falls a degree in 6 hours it will Rain within 12 hours after if not misty close or sultry weather for the Season 4 If the water fals much in the day and riseth but little in the night yet the weather continuing fair expect then excessive heat if not Thunder and Lightning 5 If the water falls never so little between Sun-setting and his rising next day it will Rain or Snow before 12 the following night if the Meteor converts not to what is worse a Calydonian Mist 6 If the water falls not in the time of artificial day it prognosticates northerly winds a cold night to ensue or storms of Hail at hand 7 If the water keeps neer any degree a natural day the weather will continue whether it be fair or foul but if it rises or falls a degree and stands the weather will quickly change to some excess 8 If the water falls no more in the day then it did rise in the night it is a sign that the Air is temperate the heat of the day equally qualifying the coldnesse of the night or else it argues the weather to be at a doubtful stay 9 The often rising and falling of the water shews the outward Air very mutable the temper various and the weather unconstant 10 When the water riseth not in the night-time expect then Mists dark foul and foggy weather the next day if not Thunder and Lightning in Sommer 11 The water rising any day in fair weather presages a frost the following night or cold windy weather for the Season if no immediate storm of Hail invades the earth 12 If the water riseth in foul weather whether it be day or night it prognosticates the storm is nigh past and fair weather will consequently ensue 13 The more that the water riseth or falls at any time the more violent will be the change of weather and of longer continuance whether fair or foul hot or cold as if it ascends 2 degrees in the day or 3 in the night or falls 2 in the night or 3 degrees in the day 14 Observe at what figure or degree the water did rise or fall when the weather chang'd for the Airs temper will continue in the same state until the water returns to that place again excepting the extreams of Winter and Sommer 15 So long as the water shall continue above 10 ascending 't will be frost if it falls below 9 't will break unlesse it rises within 12 hours after if from above 12 it descends a degree or two and stands expect then Snow Sleet cold or slabby weather If the Bolts-head be not prepar'd neer the dimensions given the water will rise and fall as the inclosed air contracts or rarifies but not in proportion to satisfie curious expectation nor exactly ratifie all the 15 prescribed observations Besides Countries particular places houses and rooms according to their situations or accidental causes will change the Airs temper all which with other circumstances I refer to the ingenious and my following Paraphrase to their exposition A Paraphrase upon the Weather GLASSE NAture in all her works abhors a Vacuum so that no sublunary place can be empty or void but is supplyed by one of the four Elements from hence it