Truth is but one tho' the Pilates of the world may always be enquiring what it is § 12. Theologers do also vary in their Commentaries and Expositions on several places of Scripture Raise several Doctrines of different Natures from the same Text as was evident in the Learned Stillingsteet's Sermon called the Mischief of Seperation and the Opposition he receiv'd to it from five several angry Antagonists Nay Curse ye Meroz suffer'd the Rack in the late Rebellion and was forc'd to speak in the behalf of Treason and Sedition when we know it bears another Interpretation and may be pleaded for the Honour and Safety of Government The truth whereof Mr. Hickringill hath prov'd both from the Pulpit and in Print tho' since indeed he hath been Anomalous in some things though the comfort is he doth not persist § 13. If then it be so clear plain and Sun-like a Truth that the Noblest and most useful Sciences or Mysteries are liable to Fraud and Deceipt I will keep to this Learned Objectors words and yet in themselves are not the worse or less serviceable to Mankind Why should Astrology and therein the Doctrine of Genitures be rendred the less worthy or useful or yet thought more cheaply of for being liable to the same Let the chaff be winnow'd from the Wheat the Dross be seperated from the Oar the good Wine from the Dregs i. e. Purge and Refine Astrology as much as you will or can but have a care of destroying it Promote no Bills of Exclusion against Legitimate and long Experienced Truths least the Honour of him who guides Arcturus and his Sons be thereby Eclipsed and the native Glory and Influences of the Stars by such Artifices come to be darkened Men may erre the Stars can not let not the Art suffer for the errour or insufficiency of the Artist 'T is unreasonable 't is unjust § 14. But to be ingenious I will confess that among the many things which I have published to the World I may not possibly have performed all of them with an equal wariness Shew me that Author that ever did so and am very glad if at any time I meet with so much Civility from any Gentleman Schollar or Artist as to give me a kind and friendly notice thereof that I might thereby be taught to avoid the like misfortune for the future I am not Obstinate in Opinion yet can and dare struggle hard for a Truth But am most certain whatever it be in my Nature by reason of Adams transgression it is not in my Will to promote Error and no Man can chuse his Temper or Complexion § 15. I had Iupiter in Sagitary at my Birth and the Moon in his Domal Dignities in a benigne Sextile of Mercury and Trine to the Lord of my Horoscope And to the Honour of God and Credit of Astrology I can very justly say that I abominate Fraud and Falshood both in my self and others as those positions naturally incline I Honour the Truths of God and Nature wherever I find them and methinks when I meet therewith either in Man or Book I can scarce forbear paying a respect even to Adoration the Image of God in my Opinion being there and Magna est veritas And if at any time I have been so unhappy as unwarily to promote any thing that looks like Fraud or Deceipt my Will not consenting thereunto I own it a Fault to be repented of It is certainly a Crime to commit Fraud or be guilty of Deceipt but to teach others so to do duplicates the Errour § 16. But here by the way I must premise That if in the Art I Study there should happen to be any False Principles shuffled in and inhabit among the many True Ones and that I have unwittingly imbibed any of them not discovering them to be such for Truth hath its Counterfeits as well as Coin I hope I shall not therefore by Men of Learning and Reason be esteemed a wilful abettor to Errour and Falshood For to suffer such Censure upon so poor and weak a ground would conclude Costs and Damages against all Writers in any Faculty whatever What Science is there free from Errour Or what Man dares to call himself a Master of Truth or Perfection in any one Faculty We are only Men and must own St. Paul's Motto Scimus ex parte The forenamed excellent Prelate in his admirable Sermon on the Mysteries of the Gospel most truly tells us The Notions of Truth and Falshood lie more abstruse than those of Good and Evil and Men are more apt to be deceived in their wit than in their honesty p. 14. And in p. 26. of the same Sermon He most justly exclaims Even in Geometry and Arithmetick how many things are forcibly concluded to be true which are inexplicable un-immaginable incomprehensible And again No Truths are so liable to mistakes and prejudice as the professedly Mysterious p. 14. ut aute In curious Speculations it is very easy to Erre and to be imposed upon And of all Liberal Sciences Astrology is the most Mysterious It is called a Secret Art although it be now so publickly Disputed Professed § 17. I was Condemn'd by my Stars God so permitting it to be an enquirer into Astrology The Moon and Mercury were both Subterranean and in Friendly Aspect at my Genesis and as I have been convinc'd of any Errors in that Knotty and Difficult Science I have abandon'd them as may be seen in several Tract's which I have published to the World viz. Britains Royal Star Nuncius Astrologicus Obsequium Rationabile The Iust and Pious Scorpionist c. Nor shall I fail to follow the same course for the future and as I discover any thing therein really Rotten and Vnsound will not be affraid or asham'd to own them and make them known But I must assume the Liberty to tell the World that what my Learned Opponent hath laid at my Door for an Error I am so far from seeing or knowing it to be such that I doubt not by God's assistance to evince it the contrary by plain and well grounded Experience for that is the Foundation whereon I chiefly build and that to His and the Worlds Satisfaction § 18. To come more closely to the matter the Learned Objector is pleased in the first place to Question our Principles and thereby He thinks to disable Me for the Contest If We poor silly Astrologers were such inconsiderable Brutes as He seems to make Vs and altogether unable to answer for Our selves yet it is not fair for him to take away even a Poor Cripples feeble Crutches and then to beat him with them Contra Negantem Principia c. Against him who denies Principles who shall maintain a Disputation Let Me assume the liberty of Questioning the nine Digits in Arithmetick and I will soon be able to set all the Masters of that curious Art upon an almost un conquerable difficulty how to make any reasonable Harmony with their Numbers
have done Me Justice He should have told the World the Truth as I had done which He could not but see and know viz. That that Character was none of Mine but a Quotation made use of by Me and not in such words neither as He mentioned but in words far different as you shall see anon The Author whereof was Mr. now Dr. F. B. a Learned Physician and Astrologer and very well able to defend his own work Whose particular words I will relate together with the Provocation given by Gassendus which occasion'd that Smart but true Animadversion upon his Geniture which himself gave to the Learned Morinus of France § 61. The words which I made use of and annexed to the Nativity of Gassendus are to be found in my Col Geni p. 126. and Printed Anno 1660 viz. I shall not need to observe any more on this Figure then I find already done in an Appendix to an Apology for Astrology published lately by my Loving Friend Mr. Vincent Wing the Author of which Appendix is Mr. F. B. and my very good Friend also who hath responded both like an Artist and Schollar to Gassendus ' s Objections against Astrology For a sight of which I refer the Ingenious Reader to the Appendix it self and shall only present him with what relates to the Scheme viz. Here you may see the Malignant Planets ♄ and ♂ have the chief Dominion in the Scheme ♄ is Lord of his Horoscope peregrine Retrograde and in his Detriment and unfortunate in ♋ which made his Lungs much oppressed with Flegm rotten and corrupt of an ill habit of body very sickly subject to Catarrhs c. That for Manners ♄ in □ of ♂ and both in ill aspect of the Ascendant made him of an evil Disposition Envious Suspitious Revengeful Angry Peevish Contentious Injurious Fraudulent a Lyar a Calumniator an Impostor Covetous a Robber of other Mens Honours a false Friend a perfidious Traytor a notorious Hypocrite an Athiest and to say no worse of him than he does of Mr. Des Cartes though unjustly a Toad swell'd with Pride and malicious Venom as you may see in that Book against Des Cartes and other of his Works As he had ☿ in ⚹ ♂ and in the House of ♄ so he had a wit apt enough for Mischiefs Quarrels and contentions Sharp in Disputation as in □ to the ☽ so it was turbulent enough and had not ☿ applyed to a ⚹ of ♃ also he had been so ill nature'd he had scarce been sociable But that good Aspect gave him so much wit as to dissemble it under Zeal to Religion and make that seem the severity of his Devotion which was the Morosness of his Nature § 62. These are the words contended against by my Antagonist And I will not refuse to confess they seem to sound somewhat harsh and severe what then The ☌ □ or ☠of ♄ and ♂ is a harsh and severe Aspect and that all Astrologers know and so little of the Character could be spared that I might have gone further in this Discription without injury to Astrology and possibly too without the breach of good Manners But yet supposing which I do not grant that the words were too harsh and that the same things might have been express'd in softer terms Yet I must let my Learned Opponent know That it is not customary for any man to speak of his Enemy in the same Key and Character as of his Friend In such a case the Satyr should ever be debar'd the use of his Whip Gassendus had proclaimed War against Astrology injured the innocent Truths and Professors thereof not confuted either It or Them as my Antagonist thinks That 's a task not so easily perform'd as talk'd of But besides what if it be made appear that Gassendus's Rough and Moross dealing by the Truth as well as by Des Cartes hath pull'd this upon him He hath indeed given too broad and too foul a provocation for an Astrologer thus truly to depaint him And that is the second thing I promised to give an account of § 63. 2. The Truth of the matter stands thus Dr. F. B. in reading Gassendus Contra Astrologiam met with many unworthy Provocations Falsifications Scoffs c. against Astrologers which he could not possibly without a mark of Indignation pass by and among the rest of his scornful and contemptuous Expressions These Vnsavory Obscene and Ridiculous words Nor are we to say such an Infant was born infected with a foul and contagious Disease because the sixth House was his Horoscope but because his Mothers lower House was Impure and Infectious Apol. for Astrol. p. 122. In which words here is 1. a great Truth of Art impugned which the Author of the Character hath very well answer'd And 2. a Wity Falshood is made use of in the room of Reason to defend it And can any Artist be patient under such affronts as these Must the poor Astrologer be laughed to scorn by the Waspish Spleenatick Gassendus and not be suffer'd so much as to speak for himself or to reply upon his Adversary without being term'd a Bespatterer of him If Truth offend either Gassendus or my Antagonist I cannot help that nor shall I Trouble my self so far as to make an excuse for the offence The Scandalum Datum is of Gassendus's side He began the Quarrel and was the real Aggressor § 64. But I would fain know to what purpose Gassendus gave his Nativity to Morinus if not to be inspected and Judged by Astrology And if Dr. F. B. meeting with it happen'd to observe the □ of ♄ and ♂ therein and that Artist must be blind that could not was it a crime for him to declare the Effects which naturally Issue from such a position according to the Judgments of Astrologers Or for Me to Quote it from him with approbation when I know he hath written like an Artist What shall Gassendus be suffer'd to Spit against Heaven Scoff at Starry Influences Bespatter the honest Students in that noble Art Make sport at Gods Glorious Host And shall no Man be permitted having his Geniture too as given by himself to acquaint him with Astral Cause of such Drivels May Gassendus as his own Spleen swells be allowed to call the Renowned Cartesius a Toad swell'd with Pride and malicious Venom and for his so fulsome and Anti-Philosophick a Character be esteemed otherwise than Ill-natur'd Had I not seen Gassendus's Nativity I could easily have Judg'd he had had ♄ ill posited upon reading such words in him Ill Water never flows from wholesom Springs § 65. Howbeit I do really love my self to keep within the bounds of Modesty and good Language and good Manners And do heartily wish Gassendus had not given the occasiou for so rough though true a Treatment I can look upon an Ill position in any Man's Geniture with Pity and Compassion rather than Scorn or Derision And bless the God of Heaven that my own
first Aphorism § 44. I affirm it for a Truth that more than 20 years before my late unfortunate troubles which befel me Anno 1679. I Printed the cause of them in my Doctrine of Nativities from my own Geniture and that was Astrologically my Medium Caeli ad □ ☉ by direction falling on the twelfth Angle of my Nativity Nay I knew by my Skill that it denoted the Frowns of Great Persons Disfavour of Men in great place and Authority Imprisonment c. But now I must confess I could not foresee the particular prejudice I suffer'd I might as well have pretended to praesage the particular Prison I was to be confin'd to I ever was and I esteem it all mens Duty to be Obedient to the Lawful Establish'd Government both in Church and State and was certain I neither would nor indeed could for it is not in my nature to Act speak or commit any thing detrimental or distasteful to either I ow'd no Money nor did I ever care to be in Debt I am of a peaceable cheerful Temper and Disposition not given to Quarrel and yet ♂ Mars was Lord of my Ascendent was resolved not to do any thing that I knew might bring me into the Disfavour of my Prince or His Councellors c. And yet behold how wonderfully God is to be Magnified in his works He would not alter the Caelestial clock work for my sake But when my Direction touch'd a malicious Varlet scarce known to me one that I had never convers'd withal in my life and another whom I never before saw to my knowledge These came and swore High Treason against me much to my amazement more to my wrong but to the certain verification of the Truth of God by the Stars so long by me foreseen and expected though not in the same method it happened § 45. Sure this must be imputed to Astrological Skill And yet we renounce the Opinion that maintains The first cause is tied to the Stars God is not bound to his Creation but his Creation to Him Neither hath the Lord of all Mercy and Goodness bound us his Creatures inevitably to the Destinies Gods Grace is of greater influence than all the Planets united For had I forborn being concern'd at that time in some very innocent secular affairs that I might have let alone I had then not only prevented my own troubles by Ruling my Stars but possibly saved the Souls of those Wretches that falsly swore against me which without Repentance must needs be in a dangerous condition But yet we must not say that because the influences of the Stars may be suspended or diverted that therefore their natural order and influence as God hath pre-appointed to them cannot be understood by Astrology § 46. But these are Truths the Learned Antagonist had not the knowledge of For had he been privy to or acquainted with them I fully perswade my self that He would have Lessen'd or it may be totally waved his Sarcasm against me concerning the Geniture of Richard Cromwell For I cannot believe he would have had me published the same while the Owner thereof was in the Saddle of Government or yet in his Fathers time That had been a pretty way indeed to have gratified an Enemy with a proof of the Truth of Astrology and have run the hazzard of Hanging for my civility No! I bless God I have no such Foolish or Dismal Stars in my Horoscope Besides I had read ingenious Cardan his Book de Astrol. Interog where he teaches his Disciples more wit than that comes to viz. Principi ne magnum Malum firmiter unquam praedixeris c. And that Gentleman was then though never by me esteemed a Prince and own'd so by Addressers from most parts of the Nation § 47. Having answer'd this concerning Mr. R. Cromwells Geniture and I hope fully to my Adversaries satisfaction I find another Knot for me to untie another Load to disburthen my self of and that is somewhat that I have Printed concerning Major General Lambert which he is pleased to re-mind me of Thus. Major General Lambert began his March 1659. November 3. 10 th 15 A. M. toward the North against General Monk The position of the Heavens most sad the ☽ was in a watry sign therefore he had like to have been drown'd in Yorkshire riding through a River towards his Army The words I own but not as they are recited for the Learned Opponent hath left the Marrow and Substance of my Words behind him Therefore to satisfie him and acquit my self of being culpable of any crime in this pretended Charge also I will insert the reason of that my Labour with the Story cavil'd against together § 48. The Experiment of Major General Lambert's March being a great Ornament to the Doctrine of Elections which is very nearly ally'd to Nativities as the Penny is of the same Coin with the Shilling both have the Impress of Starry Truth upon them and therefore it was I thought fit to subjoyn it to that Gentlemans Geniture Yet not to wrong Him or to advance the Truth of Art by a Fraud but to gratifie the ingenious Student in Art with a Nativity and Election together which my Learned Oponent if he be one ought to have thanked me for and not requited my Pains and Civility with a Witty Droling Catachrestick My own Words un-guelt are These § 49. This was the true positure of Heaven at what time Major General Lambert put his Foot in the Stirrup to March towards the North to meet the Valiant Lord General Monk then advancing out of Scotland towards London and a sad position it is and exactly agrees with that Major General 's success he had by that unfortunate undertaking As the Moon was in a watry Sign in exact Conjunction of Saturn the cruellest and unfortunatest of Planets All which words are omitted He had like to have been drown'd in Yorkshire riding through a River toward his Army where his Horse left him to the mercy of the most merciless of Enemys the Water from whence he with much ado escaped § 50. So that you see it was none of my Judgement nor did I say that simply because the ☽ was in a watry Sign as my Antagonist is pleas'd to make me speak but because She was in such a Sign in Conjunction of Saturn c. that render'd the Expedition Infaelicitous and Dangerous § 51. What strange Shifts and Slights will some Men use to put an affront upon Starry Influences and to puzzle and confound the poor Astrologer If we publish a Geniture or an Election before-hand and praedict any thing that the Event shall fairly answer then the Devil is our Assistant say our Antagonists and stands at our Elbow to help us If we do it when the Person is Dead or the thing design'd is over then say they we put Frauds and Deceipts upon the World being soon able to make some Star House Aspect or other answer to the Action and make
Adversary for I know not why the Dr. should Smart for writing against Dear Vrania any more then another should for his defending of that Innocent Beautiful Lady Denique non omnes eadem mirantur amantque Horace The Doctors Reason is one way inform'd Mine another and both of us may enjoy our Sentiments Lawfully enough provided we do not injure the Truth Vrania that is a Chast and Virtuous Nymph in my Eyes may yet appear deform'd and possibly have proved a Iilt to the Doctor and having long held him in hand giving him now and then some glimmering hopes at length render'd all his Courtships vain Possibly I might be Born her Friend and Favourite the Doctor not Mental Marriages are made in Heaven as well as Corporal And in such a case a man had need to have Good Friends there 'T is not only Poeta but also Astrologus Nascitur non fit And we certainly know that ex quolibet Ligno non fit Mercurius § 94. As for Dear Vrania it is not every one that would that can be fully acquainted with her or press upon her Privacies when he pleases Yet Gracious that She is She denies access to none but confers her Favours on all according to their Capacities She admits one Man to Gaze upon her at a distance viz. The honest Countrey man and Shepheard who is pleased thus to behold her Glittering Glories 't would dazle if not strike him blind to come nearer A Second works about her Gardens and Orchards The young Inamorato or Smatterer in Science A Third repairs her Pallace viz. the Laborious Calculator of the Planets motions Eclipses great Conjunctions A Fourth adorns her Presence Chamber Dining-Room c. a Predictor of general accidents with all the variety that attends Kingdoms Countreys aud Cities A Fifth she Smiles most obligingly upon viz. the happy Metereologist who consults all the various motions of the Air Winds and Seas for they also are within Vrania's Province and thence acquaints us with Tempests Lightnings Thunders Earth-quakes Inundations Plagues c. A Sixth she vouchsafes to Salute her Ivory Hand viz. The Learned Genethliaque and Oh! that I could lay a Claim to such and so great a blessing Who Studies the Nativities of all persons thence discovering their Tempers Humours Complexions Inclinations c. with variety of what Prosperity and Adversity doth attend them and nearly the Times thereof And this is a Benediction in earnest and greatly to be coveted O terque quaterque Beati More than thrice blessed must that man be that arrives to such an acquaintance with the Glorious Vrania § 95. Thus far but no farther can any man hope to come Urania is a Virgin and Spotless and never did any never can any Mortal wholly enjoy Her To be but Her Retainers or Domesticks is to be the most happy of all Men what Commendations what Praises what Eulogiums would that great Queen of Sheba have thought this Caelestial Princess worthy of that could give such Noble and Pompous ones to King Solomon who was but a Mortal Let this poor Panegyrick upon Urania's Excellent Perfection Modesty and Iuctice be excused I could do no less She hath been Kind and Gracious to Me beyond what She hath to many Millions of my Betters I cannot speak too much I cannot speak enough in her Praises § 96. To proceed well but the Doctor must Smart saith my Antagonist not only for writing against the Dear Urania but for inserting his confutation of Iudiciary Astrology in his Mystery of Godliness No reason for this at all neither The Doctor is Lord of and over his own Labours and surely may do with them as he pleases Possibly he may think that Confutation as he is pleased to Christen it better to become that Book than it may be I and some others Opinion But that shall break no Squares nor breed any difference If the Doctor and this my Learned Antagonist be contented with its inhabiting there I am not displeased Only by the way since my Antagonist hath given me this occasion I must with my wonted Freedom tell him that however he thinks the Doctor hath confuted Astrology in a few Sheets of Paper I am of belief that before he have compleated his Victory over it he must be constrained to write a great many more and possibly then too be content to miss of his end For alas The several large Tomes of Ptolemy Gauricus Cardan Iunctine Garcaeus Goclenius Naybode Origanus Argol Morinus Leovitius Bonatus Haly c. are not to be blown away with so light a breath as this my Antagonist imagines The weighty and excellent Reasons of these Learned Men will not be overcome or fall into a Swoun at the Scent of his Perfum'd Socks § 97. And for the Doctors Printing the same thing afterwards by it self That is none of my business or concern Let the Learned Mr. Iohn Butler his Antagonist whose Province it is take notice of that Which I am told he will and also very shortly give the Doctor that just satisfaction as it requires In the interim I shall take leave to tell the Doctor and my Opponent also That I have often heard of Homers Illiads being comprized in a Nut-shell yet could I never see them crowded into so small a Room All reports are not to be believed § 98. But now my Antagonist to make himself and Friends merry goes merrily on with me saying But look you now because Uincent Wing published a Piece against Gassendus wherein this excellent Mans Objections against Astrology are pretended to be answered and was himself a well willer and Brother Philomathemat his Nativity hath all things good and laudable in it Pray Sir who told you this not I I am sure For where will you find in my Writings that I say that Uincent Wing's Nativity hath all things good and laudable in it I beseech you what or whose Nativity can that be that can claim a Title to so much happiness such a Native must be no company for Mortals All Genitures have the Malefiques as well as Fortunate Stars in them although not alike posited § 69. What strange kinds of Fetches hath this Gentleman And what Wiles doth he make use of to fasten something upon me though he scarce know what to my disparagement and to render me contradictory to my self I have spoken nothing but the Truth of Uincent Wing And had the Learned Gassendus been blessed with the like Stars for Health and Manners as was the Laborious and Ingenious Mr. Wing I should not have refused to have mentined them § 100. Yet A little further my watchful Antagonist is at me again in these words He tells us that William Lilly his Enemy though Fellow Astrologer had the Moon in Pisces a Wet and Drinking Sign which made him a piece of a Good Fellow Behold How this Gentleman seeks a quarrel against me I am so far from charging Mr. Lilly with this as a Crime as my Antagonist inculcates or
Study and Contemplate else the meerest Animal and most contemptible Creature in the World had equal advantage of them with the greatest Philosopher And the severest endeavours of the most Industrious and Painful Student would bear no price or be of any valuable esteem among Men But the Hog would be prefer'd to Venus For Men to believe the Stars in the Heavens are of no more use than the Signs at Shop-keepers Doors or that they are less Vertual and Attractive than a little piece of the Magnes Stone is to suppose them most unworthy the curious Design of their Maker and so to call his excellent Wisdom into Question for placing such Vast and Glorious Bodies at such Distance from us and in such exact and proportionate Order over Us to so Ignoble and Inglorious a Purpose And for a Man to know that there are Stars and not be acquainted with their Influences is to as little purpose as for a Physician to know the names of Drugs and yet be utterly Ignorant of their Virtues and Uses Of so mean nay so vain use is Astronomy without Astrology though the One be Vniversally beloved by Men the Other generally disesteemed So Erroneous so Partial are Men in their choise of things that they Elect the Shell before the Kernil believe the Body to be more Rich and worthy than the Soul that animates and invigorates it They are self tormentors saith the Learned Thomas Albius who fret that those things are unknown which are publickly known to others but are unknown to them because upon some extrinsecal prejudice they neglect enquiring into what others have said Which Race of Men is at this day most frequent with the Courtiers of Science but withall most insufferable For what can be viler than to shut the Eyes against things most manifest to the understanding upon the Calumnies of such as profess they know not these Things which others constantly affirm are most evidently comprehended Being sometime since in discourse with a Learned and Reverend Divine about this Vain and prejudicate humour of Men. That meerly because others had condemn'd Astrology They would do so too He very mildely and Iudiciously Replies That such Persons were Fetter'd in Chains of Darkness For saith he to be Ignorant only is to be in a State of Darkness but to be in an Ignorant Prejudice is to be in Chains The late Right Reverend Father in God the most Learned Doctor Saunderson Bishop of Lincoln happening upon the Doctrine of Nativities was pleased to expend not less than Five hours one afternoon in the perusal thereof Which when He had done His Lordship 's then Secretary and my very good Friend prayed his Opinion thereof and also of the Art it self Whose answer was That He thereby perceived there was some Learning in the World of which He was Ignorant That the Art might be Lawful if not Unlawfully used That He knew the Stars had Powerful Influences but that Gods Grace was more Powerful A most excellent and Divine Truth Worthy the Tongue of so great and so good a Prelate Worthy to be Written in Letters of Gold to be a Memorial for future Generations to follow Here you may see Mars was truly in Aspect to the Lord of the Second House and in opposition to the Governess of the Horoscope also posited in the Angle representing Fears c. Which proves that this thrice Learned and most Reverend Prelate understood Ptolemy in the sence he ought to be understood And it is for that end I produce the Scheme of Heaven which He in that His most Excellent Sermon referred to There is no question but this Good Bishop saw other remarkable things in the Figure but because His Grace was pleased to omit mentioning of them and remember only the violent Influence of Mars it will become me also to conceal Them None ever yet condemn'd Astrology that thorougly understood it Picus Earl of Mirandula who wrote largely against Astrology tho' a great Schollar in the General yet I dare not allow him such in this Learning For he died before the thirty third year of his Age And what Experience in so Abstruse an Art could he attain unto in so short a time had all his years since his Iudgement began to take place been imployed in this Study surely very little Many can talke of Robin Hood that cannot shoot in his Bow Dwarfs cannot tak off Giants Caps Falshood may be drest up in as fine words as Truth and a Painted Courtezan may sometimes look more Glaring than an excellent Native Beauty at least to common Eyes Let our pretended Refuters shew us their Experiences they would convince us by and if upon examination we cannot clear our selves we will submit But we expect then that They will do the like That is but Reason Picus was a Learned Man and a great Rhetorician and had read and wrote much for his time but that is not enough to make an Astrologer This Noble Man had an afflicted Mercury which made his Study in such Arts his Disease not his Delight And such a Native can never be a true Servant or Votary to Divine Urania Sextus ab Heminga was a very severe and sower Enemy to the Stars and Truths of Astrology yet the Learned Morinus Physician to the King of France is not affraid to pronounce Him therein a very Ignorant Fellow and one that understood Nothing of the Science he went about to Refute Mr. John Chambers wrote a bitter and Sarcastical Discourse against this Art He was Learnedly and Mildly answer'd by Sir Christopher Heydon which Book when he saw and therein found his Sapless Sophistry refuted he replyed not but soon after died If my Antagonist will only pretend to oppose the Errours practiced under pretence of this Art and keep to That He and I are at Unity and can never differ at all I am naturally a lover of Truth and so much do I abhominate and abhor Falshood that I can and frequently do fall at odds with my self when at any time I happen to discover an Errour in my Judgement although my Aim and Design be nothing but the Truth I am better pleased when people tell me of my Mistakes so they do it not upbraidingly than if they gave me Money and do really lament my misfortune in not knowing better and blame my over hastiness or negligence in not minding better the Rules which I ought to follow And no man can be guilty of Errours in Astrology but upon One of these two Grounds The Caelestial Clock-work always goes True though by reason of Humane Frailty we do not always truly observe it This excellent Art of Astrology though my Antagonist thinks it be now near its Vertex and therein allows some Truths to be discover'd by it though in other cases allows it no Kin to Truth at all Let him answer for that is God knows but very darkly and obscurely understood The greatest of our Knowledge in these Caelestial Speculations is the least
Life § 3. I well knew that I never publish'd any thing to the World but with an upright Mind and Intention to befriend it and if My misfortune have been such as not to be plainly and charitably understood yet I hoped never to have incur'd the Sensure of obtruding Frauds upon it as now by this my unknown Antagonist I am charged § 4. Every Man has as good a Title to his Reputation as to his Life or Fortune and ought as carefully and zealously to secure it And although my Antagonist be a Person of such Intellectuals and Acquisitions as may make a Mean Man more affraid than asham'd to take up his Gage yet finding my Credit and Veracity wounded I resolved to give him the best Satisfaction I was able in my own defence with an assured hope thereby of Healing up the Gash that He had unkindly given Me. § 5. This Task I also found incumbent upon Me for another Reason For when I remembred that I had now been a Student in Astrology more than Thirty years and had nearly as Many as well as I was able defended it and knowing that Great is the Truth and it must prevail even against the most Towering Antagonist I could not be easily brought to believe those things to be False which by Experience I had so often proved otherwise Especially when I had taken nothing upon Trust nor credited any thing because Ptolomy and Cardan said so but because by a constant Experimental proof of their Doctrine I found they had spoken True Therefore it is that I esteem my self engag'd to give this Opponent and the World together to which also He hath render'd Me accountable as clear Satisfaction to these things I stand chargable with as I am able In the doing whereof I hope to acquit my self of having broached or maintained either Paradoxes or plain Falshoods under the specious pretence and Guarranty of Astrological Truths § 6. As for this Learned Gentleman's impugning sundry of the main Principles of the Art I hold not my self concern'd at all unless Obiter to make any reply He directing himself therein not to Me in particular but to Astrologers in General of whom I am Minimus and do therefore hope if at least there be any need a thing I question very much the Art having been often and Learnedly defended already that some Person more worthy than my self like another Sir Christopher Heyden will step in and ease Me of that Task which I do not esteem to be my particular Province § 7. In pag. 257. of Cometomantia this Author is pleased to fall Foul upon the Doctrine of Genitures my DIANA indeed taxing it as liable to Fraud and Deceipt In this He hath neither injur'd Me nor the Truth for there is no Science in the World that can boast of its being free from either No not Divinity But not thus content He is pleased to fall roughly upon Me by Name citing some passages out of my Collection of Genitures which He thinks gratifies his humour and design in dealing with Me but how justly and with what fair shew of Reason will I hope by God's Blessing soon appear § 8. This Doctrine of Genitures by the way is the most Noble Worthy and Delightful of all the parts of Astrology and hath in all Ages had many Great Wise and Learned Favourers and Defenders And good Reason there is for it since it is daily demonstrated by fresh Experiences to be True and certain in the various Accidents and Fortunes good Reader be not offended at the word attending on Humane Kind I wish all the other Parts thereof were as well and as truly understood § 9. The Great Oracle of this present Age though lately Deceased I wish I could not tell the News The excellent Author of Religio Medici hath given his suffrage for it and on its behalf thus Learnedly and Modestly Argues We need not labour with so many Arguments to confute Judicial Astrology for if there be a Truth therein it doth not injure Divinity If to be born under Mercury disposeth us to be Wity under Jupiter to be Wealthy I do not owe a Knee unto those but unto the Merciful hand that hath order'd my indifferent and uncertain Nativity unto such benevolent Aspects Rel. Med. Sect. 18. And as if God had inspir'd this Excellent Man with one of his greatest Truths the very particular verity here impugned and contended against by my Antagonist Sect. 23 He most truly and happily predicts and that according to the Rules of Art thus If there be any Truth in Astrology I may out-live a Jubilee as yet I have not seen one Revolution of Saturn nor has my Pulse beat thirty years This ever to be admired Author was but twenty eight years Old when he wrote that curious piece of Learning Yet for an Infallible proof of Astrology and his excellent Skill therein He lived unto almost Seventy years of Age to the Honour of God the Father of all good Arts thereby affirming that Divine Axiome That the Sun Moon and Stars do constantly praise their Maker and that even by the Science of Astrology Even that Art I say which only teaches and instructs us how to understand their Influences § 10. Nor is it hard for an able Astrologer to give an account of some never or at least rarely failing Instances of the Truth of this Art which the Aphorisms thereof allowed by this my Learned Opponent and I thank him for that for so far He is a Friend to what He opposes do most plainly and liberally affirm and prove I say the Aphorisms allowed by my Antagonist For He will not sure own some part of the Centiloquium and disallow the rest Which if He keep to then hath He Warranted the Doctrine of Genitures which He labours to confute And as for its being liable to Fraud and Deceit I will not refuse to grant him that that being no Plea against its Verity when He is pleased in p. 282. to concede that both Law and Physick yea and Divinity too are subject to the same Misfortunes § 11. What if divers Astrologers happen to have different Opinions upon the same Horoscope This doth no more annul or Destroy the Truth of the Doctrine of Genitures then the several Judgements of sundry Lawyers upon the same Case or Statute does impugne or invalidate the Law Bradshaw Dorislaus Cook Harrison c. those sad wretches understood Bracton Fleta c. all in a Republican sence whereby our late Glorious Sovereign with many of His Nobility and other of His Faithful Subjects was barbarously Murdered But the Learned Forster Mallet Bridgeman Palmer Finch c. Interpreted them in favour of the King and Monarchy by which means Rebellion hath been punished and the Church and State supported Veritas est Vna says the Excellent and Reverend Bishop of Salisbury in his Sermon at the Lord General Monk's Funeral p. 3. And I will be bold with that Reverend Prelate to affirm That
VVhereas by allowing them of what excellent use are they found in Astronomy Physick Musick Trigonometry Trade c. But as I have said before I will leave the general cause of Astrology to be defended by some more Learned and Able Pen and only concern my self to prove that the very Principle upon which I am Impeached is Firm and Good and so far from being shaken or weakened though briskly impleaded by the Antagonist that it carries the Face of Truth in it and ever will be found to do so The PRINCIPLE is this ☞ § 19. Cardinal Signs possessing all the Angles of a Nativity renders the Native Famous and Notable in his Generation This is a Truth so Conspicuous Great and Undeniable not only in the Genitures of Men but of Kingdoms Cities Castles c. and in all the other parts of Astrology the Cardinal Signs on Angles are ever of so Famous and Remarkable signification and import that it stands in need of no other Proof than the attestation of Antiquity and the consent of Modern Astrologers And thus it hath been proved before this Learned Opponent or my self were born and will remain a Truth when We shall be no more § 20. The year it self is govern'd by the Cardinal Signs or Points of Heaven The Moveable Feasts of the Church depend upon the Equinoctium Vernum the grand Cardinal Point of all The Church begins its Year at or about the Vernal Equinox Nay God hath honoured the Cardinal Points of Heaven by dispensing his greatest blessings and benefits unto the world under them and thus in the time of the Law as well as Gospel The Iews Pascha and their Feasts of Azymes and Tabernacles were appointed to be Celebrated under Cardinal Signs God sent his own dear Son our Blessed Saviour into the world and permitted him to suffer on the Cross for our Sins both under Cardinal Signs The greatest Actions of the world depend upon Equinoctial and Solstitial Points viz. Aries Cancer Libra Capricorn and if instances of Mens Births may pass for proof and I know no reason why they should not I could produce a Multitude to confirm it § 21. Now knowing it to be purely rational for us from a constant experience of an Effect to conclude the cause thereof Aphoristically true and that Ptolomy and all other Astrologers have made their Aphorisms from a continued Observation of the Truths they contain and so wrote Probatum's on them From the same ground of Observation I adventured in my Eighteenth Aphorism Printed at the end of my Collectio Geniturarum to assert That Cardinal Signs possessing the Angles of a Nativity makes the Native of any condition or capacity most Eminent and Famous in his Generation and to do such Acts that after Ages shall admire Which said Aphorism together with my illustration thereof upon the Geniture of that Immortal Arch bishop of Canterbury as the Reverend Dr. Pierce justly stiles him Printed in my foresaid Book of Genitures is the presumed ground of my Adversary's dissatisfaction I shall therefore endeavour to support the Truth thereof 1. By sundry Authorities and Reasons 2. By Experience from 10 Notable Genitures which Astrologically do little less than Demonstrate the Truth of it § 22. First by Authority Cardinal Signs as Cardan teaches Sig. 5. Aphor. 129. are the grand Distinguishers and Dividers of the several great parts of the World Nay we know the several prime Seasons of the Year are observ'd to receive their beginnings under the Cardinal Signs And thus the Learned Childrey my late worthy Friend Prebend of Salisbury hath truly termed ♑ Capricorne the conception of Vegitables and ♈ Aries the birth of them Iudag Astrol. p 13. Sect. 26. And suitably we see ♋ Cancer to be the Perfection and Glory of them and to ♎ Libra we most reasonably and justly attribute their decay And this is of so constant certain and undoubted verity that every Year gives us a fresh Demonstration thereof and no man that hath his Sences serviceable unto him will offer once to deny it The Learned Vossius who is willing to exclude Starry Influences yet affirms That the greatest motion of the Winds and Tides are observed about the Equinoxes viz. the two principal Cardinal Signs If then it be found reasonable to allow it the true office and business of Cardnal Signs to Distinguish Divide and Declare not only the Grand parts of the World but likewise the most Eminent and Observable Seasons of the Year viz. such as all the Creation are affected with Then by an Argument à Minori They may most reasonably be pre-sumed to Distinguish and Denote the most Active and Prodigious Persons of any degree when they shall be found posited on the Angles of their Genitures But Experience is a most constant and never failing Evidence of this Truth as shall be more fully shewn anon We might further confirm unto you the Truth of this Aphorrism or Argument by an Observation taken from the most common and ordinary acting belonging even to Domestick Imployments or House-keeping 'T is even become a Proverb that of all Drink your March-Beer bears away the Bell. And why so why should March have the Reputation but because the Sun is then in the Equinox i. e. the chiefest of the Cardinal Signs And let it be observed I pray you whether the rest of the Cardinal Points be not also peculiarly influential in this matter although not fully so much as Aries yet much more then any of the other Eight Signs termed By-corporeal and Fixed § 23. Nor is it thus in the grand Seasons of the Year only which are marked out by the Suns progress through the Cardinal Signs but in the peculiar Quarternions of the Moon also as she passes the Equinoxes and Solstices ever remembring that as the Sun hath the greatest virtue in Aries the Moon hath most power in Cancer And of this Truth every good House-wife may frequently make tryal if she pleases in Baking Brewing c. For the Lunar Year though it be a lesser is as compleat as the Solar and the Moon transiting the Cardinal Points in her Circuit is as surely though not so largely serviceable to the use and necessities of Humane kind as is the Sun Let any one for Experiment sake it is not much trouble make use of the same requisites as at other times either in Baking Brewing c. when the ☽ Moon shall be in ♈ Aries ♋ Cancer ♎ Libra or Capricorn ♑ and put those Signs on the Angles also at the beginning of the Work and having used your ordinary honest endeavours as when no such care is taken then observe the Issue and if you find a better effect of your Labour than at any other time when the Moon and Angles are not so related I hope you will not refuse with me to attribute somewhat to the Virtue and Dominion of Cardinal Signs beyond any of the other Eight Let Me also remember that it is happily observed by a
Learned Reverend Author of whom the World will receive e're long a Plenary Account of the Influences of the Stars in the alteration of the Air c. that the vigour of the Moon is most seen in the Tides upon her Appulse to the Equinoxes and Tropicks Which Observations the Philosophical transactions happen to confirm And the Learned Virtuosi know that it is no great Secret § 24. But to make this more Conspicuous by Authority let us call to mind what the Learned Ludovicus de Regiis affirms Aphor. 24. that Equinoctia Signa Tropica c. Equinoctial and Tropick Signs are the Horoscopes of the Kingdoms of the World and those are principally subject to them who at their beginning or first possessing of them by Conquest or otherwise had either of them Horoscopical And why so but because Kingdoms are the most Glorious Bodies or Constitutions of the World as the Cardinal Signs are the chiefest and most noted among the Twelve How Those Kingdoms who at their beginning had either of them Horoscopicals Why this over-reaches the matter in question and more than proves what I have asserted My Aphorism only affirms Those Persons to be Eminent that had all the Angles of their Genitures possessed with Cardinal Signs But this Author tells us and that truly too That those Kingdoms are most subject to Cardinal Signs that had either of them Horoscopical And Astrologers teach that the Heavens Operate upon Men Cities and Kingdoms equally with respect to their Natures and Differences § 25. Now if Kingdoms c. the most Eminent and noted Bodies of the World are subject to Cardinal Signs and naturally owned by them 'T is a natural Consequence and follows without drawing or straining that Men born under them according to the Limits of my Aphorism must be most Famous and Notable and not less than the wonder of the Age they live in with respect to the Sphere of their Activity and Admiration of Posterity Good Sir remember I do not say that they must be most Famous for Actions of Honour and Virtue only There may be such that are and have been as Famous for bad Deeds as for good Ones For Treachery Murder Perjury c. as for Prowess Piety Charity for Burning of Cities as well as for Building of them And many Persons that have been or are the grand Feavers of their Countreys Companies or Families are or have been as Famous as any that are or have been the most Fortunate and Successful in and for their Support Honour and Preservation Catiline will be as long liv'd in the Treasury of Fame as Cicero And Oliver Cromwell will be remembred as often as the Glorious Albemarl shall be mentioned § 26. But we proceed with our Authorties Cardan Aphor. 6. Seg. 7. affirms Quando Saturnus in Libra fuerit Jupiter in Cancro tunc magna in mundo mutationes contingent When Saturn shall be in Libra anst Iupiter in Cancer mighty changes and alterarions will happen in the World And what is the reason both Saturn and Iupiter are the Superiour Caelestial movers and therefore bear or carry with them greater power and force than any of the other Planetary Bodies as having the largest Orbs to move in consequently are endued with ability to Act and Perform the greatest and most stupendious Changes and Alterations They are the greatest Wheels in the Caelestial Clock-work and all the lesser motions wait and attend upon them Moreover ♋ Cancer and ♎ Libra being Cardinal Signs when those stately Superiour Planets are gotten therein they inherit the greatest Authority and Energie which they can possibly reach unto whereby to Operate upon Sublunaries because in those very Signs they receive the Dominion of Exaltation The more Potent any Man is he is the better enabled to perform his Intentions and that to the most Eminent and Worthy or unworthy purposes § 27. The prudent Dassipodius assures us Aphor. 79. That Signa Equinoctialia sentiuntur Dominium habere super statum Legum c. The Equinoctial Signs have Power and Dominion upon the Constitutions of Laws Religious Rights and Ceremonies Heresies Schisms c. What! can Cardinal Signs influence the Actions and Affairs of Kingdoms Societies and Conventions of Men either in Church or State and shall we think them unable to Influence or wing the Actions Passions and Inclinations of single Persons What Man of Reason can be guilty of such a method of Reasoning with hopes of credit or belief § 28. Nay the never to be enough commended Cardan affirms for a Truth Seg. 3. Aphor. 117. Cometae In Cardinibus Regum Mortes c. That Comets those Heavenly Flames and Torches when ever they appear in Cardinal Signs they betoken the Death of Emperours Princes Potentates c. Cardinal Signs you see still do carry a Signal of Wonder and Amazement in them as if indeed they were not designed by God to take cognizance of Mean or Ordinary persons or matters Yet further doth not the same Author teach us that Animae per cancrum descendunt per Capricornum ascendunt c. Seg. 4. Aphor. 155. That the Spirits of Vegitables and the most vigorous Actions of the World Descend or lose their Energie by Cancer and that they Rise and recover fresh strength by Capricorn And surely it is not for nothing that the Sun the most Glorious Body of the World the visible Deity and Fountain of all vital Power doth perambulate annually 23 Degrees and a half towards the North and as much again towards the South while this his stately and constant progress is bounded by the two Tropicks Cancer and Capricorn when as we see that according as is his Accession and Recession to and from those Famous Points so we have the larger or lesser Portion of his Presence our Days are longer or shorter we have more or less Sunshine or Shaddow and all Creatures are more or less Active Brisk and Vigorous § 29. Yet again hear the same Author for we have not done with Cardan yet he tells us that He who is born at Noon when the Sun enters the Vernal Equinox will be Great and Famous without other Testimonies Nor need we fear to believe him since at such a time all the Angles of the Caelestial Figure will be adorn'd with Cardinal Signs This is the most convincing Proof that can be of the Truth of the matter in Question Cardan asserts herethe very same thing with me in the Aphorism impugned by my Adversary although it be in different words § 30. The Noble Firmicus as an admirable and close proof of the Argument in dispute gives us the Natalitical Schemes of sundry Famous Men as Pindar Archilocus and Archimedes all which have Cardinal Signs on the Angles of their Genitures And let me modestly ask my Learned Opponent whether all those Men have not been Famous in their Lives and Actions And if they have not been admired since their Deaths and so shall remain to all Posterity Here is some Authority
Valetudinary and must therefore be useful and effective to Mankind in the One sence as well as the Other we being subject to both equally § 136. No! says my Antagonist that must not be admitted For then we allow of and introduce Horary Questions A thing Ptolemy is against if at least my Opponent do not mis-represent him But Sir are you sure that Ptolemy is against Horary Questions Yes saith he not only in the First Aphorism as you have heard but in the Fifth too Which runs in these words Potest qui seieus est multos stellarum effectus avertere quando naturam earum noverit ac seipsum ante illorum eventum praeparare A wise Man may avert many not all the effects of the Stars when he knowing their Natures doth happily Arm and prepare himself before the happening of the Event § 140. I am glad my Antagonist alloweth the Centiloquium to be Ptolemy's for by that Concession I am arm'd powerfully to demand of him how he knows Ptolemy to be against Horary Questions For if the Centiloquium be his the Question is at an End Let him be pleased to peruse these several Aphorisms of Ptolemy seriously at his leasure viz. the 14.17.28.32.45.57.64.83.90.91.93.94.97 And then tell me whether Ptolemy doth Reprobate the Doctrine of Horary Questions And let him also consider what will become of all his Florid Nothings written against them § 141. But I beseech you Sir what Astrologer is he who pretends in opposition to Ptolemy to foretell particular Events As for the several seeming Musical Objections here brought if they are rightly consider'd and examin'd there is nothing of Harmony in them If by his Individual couple in Marriage he means a couple already Contracted It is then no Question in Astrology if they are not contracted they are no Individual couple So that the Objection is as Dr. H. More says of Astrology a mere Sonorous Nothing § 142. Then for the Seamans Voyage objected no man sure was ever so Mad as to pretend to Praedict the particular Events thereof The Astrologer can only consult in the General whether Successful or unkind He cannot tell how far Successful or disadvantageous He may as well pretend particularly to know when he shall arrive at Cales Lisbon Iamaica c. which I acknowledge with Ptolemy is not Science but Witchcraft to do But I hope to satisfie the World in this Point more fully in my Astrological Seaman In the mean time I shall adventure to affirm that § 143. He that contends against Horary Questions are vouches Ptolemy for his Authority doth nothing but Fish in the Air And we may easily guess what a Fry he is like to catch or be Master of § 144. I wonder that any man of Learning should offer to use Ptolemy thus But this is of an equal Stamp and Currency for Truth with his being brought in to oppose the Doctrine of Genitures as well of Men as of Buildings Poor Ptolemy you see is dealt ill by in both And much worse than my Antagonist charges Me to have dealt with the Learned Gassendus I would advise all Persons for the future that shall pretend to write against Horary Questions First to consult Haly and Bonatus those Learned and Volluminous Authors who of all Others have most liberally Ascerted and most largely Taught them And when they have fairly refuted these Two I will then say They may be called the Cozen-Germans of Hercules In the mean time we will keep unto the Truth of what Ptolemy warrants concerning Horary Questions and to what our Assiduous practice confirms and that sometimes even to Amazement § 145. Having found how unfit Ptolemy is for the ungrateful service which my Author hath put him upon we will hear what he says from Iunctine And here he acquaints us for the support of the present Objection That p. 164. Iunctine says Those Astrologers who will needs know and praedict all kinds of particulars are Fools Marry and so say I. And what Astrologer is there doth my Adversary suppose that will offer to gainsay Honest Junctinus in this For my own part I shall be so far from denying it that I will even adventure to add to it and enlarge Iunctinus's Censure of such kind of Men viz. They are not only the greatest of Fools but of Mad-men too For what is a poor simple Man whose Breath is in his Nostrils and cannot absolutely promise himself to meet the Sun the next day vile Dust and Ashes that he is What is he I say That he should dare presume to Predict all Things To do so is the Priviledge of a Deity only And although some advantage may be derived to Men from Horary Questions yet no Man was ever yet so Bold and Daring yet some have been too much guilty of the Bold extremity as to pretend to know and praedict All Particulars § 146. Some there are we know even in this Age as well as in Iunctines time that may possibly have screw'd their Pegs too high and may have strained their Art to Pretences unjust and unlawful Let Them answer for Themselves I will be none of Their Advocate I am sure the Honest Astrologer that makes Truth his Aim and not Worldly advantages will never become one of Iunctines Fools For he as all the Honest Arabians were wont will begin and pursue his practice not with an impudent positiveness but with a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and an humble wary hopes and probability of meeting an effect of the matter in Question § 147. But my Antagonist being in good humour says the same unhappiness attends the Noble professions of Law and Physick as doth Astrology and also that Divinity it self is not free from such Misfortunes And why then should One be recriminated upon and made chargeable with the injury more than another since all are equally liable Let the Sober Honest men of all professions be encouraged and the Knaves and Abusers of Science only condemn'd and exploded For so it becomes Men to Act. § 148. It is a great Favour afforded us by the God of Stars that we know any thing at all of the Caelestial Movers and of their Influences And we ought to be modest in our Dealing with those Dazling Glorious Creatures the Stars We have Nimble Sharp Quick-sighted Adversaries who are coustantly upon the Watch and lye in Ambush to Ensnare us § 149. We know the Influences of the Stars are not as Iunctine wisely and worthily observes like the commands of the Praetors but may in some measure at least be resisted by Ptolemy 's wise Man For they are in subjection to the command and will of God their Creator even as we our selves But yet for all this we know there is verity in Horary Questions provided the Scheme be Radical and by the Artist honestly considered and Judged And also that they are defended and taught by Ptolemy and as he hath made appear no where denyed by Iunctine Both which Anthors my Antagonist is pleased to take for his Seconds in this Quarrel although they stand him in no stead but have both failed to own him and his Cause § 150. If my Antagonist will still continue to impugne the Doctrine of Genitures and Horary Questions and yet allow of Astrology as you see he doth what a strange kind of Astrology will he leave us or what a Monster will he make this Noble Art appear might he be allowed thus to Lacerate it He would afford us an Astrology but what sort of one we know nor He will be content to indulge us the Name of Astrology for the matter or substance thereof we must like Diego's Legatees find that where we please § 151. Let my Learned Antagonist before he Destroy our Principles shew us his own write his Introduction and give us such Rules as he would have us to follow And if they appear to be better truer and more Solid than Those we have already I do hereby promise him to become his Disciple I am sure he is a Gamaliel in other things at whose Feet I should not be ashamed to sit and Learn For I profess my self now after a more than XXX years Study to be but an Enquirer still and I fear me must be content so to die Non obstante any new Discoveries my Antagonist shall please to make therein § 152. My Antagonist hath but one Lash more at me as I can find and that is in p. 270. In these words Those Astrologers who are subject to a bad Fate though their Skill may be good are apt to Err in their Iudgements it is one of the Aphorisms in Gadbury a ticklish business indeed We had need first consult Mr. Astrologers Nativity before we desire him to search into our own In answer whereto I demand doth He think it impossible for an Astrologer to be liable to a bad Fate If He do my before-mention'd late unhappy Troubles at my Cost resolves his Doubt Nor is there any need for Him to consult Mr. Astrologers Nativity before he go to him Common Fame will inform him whether he be Labouring under good or bad Influences as it doth of a Lawyer Physician Merchant c. But to retort his witty Quibble if himself be ignorant of Astrology to what purpose would he consult the Astrologers Nativity If he understand it Then may he be his Own Astrologer and save the labour of going any where else Oh! the wondrous Wit of an Enemy to Astrology What a ticklish business hath he got by the end to make himself Sport withal or rather to render himself a Sport to Others If neither Divine Physician or Lawyer be at all times equally capable of giving Sound and Vnerring Advise or Council Then neither is the Astrologer Sed verum prius Ergo c. And thus we have freed our other Innocent Aphorism again and do affirm it as before for a splendid Verity § 153. I have now done and that something more than at First I intended and it may be more than my Antagonist expected And shall leave his more numerous Objections against Astrology in General to be answered by some more able Pen and Brain Resting satisfied to have said thus much or little rather in defence of my self and Labours which I found most unjustly and unreasonably assaulted FINIS