A learned astronomical discourse, of the iudgement of natiuities Deuided into three bookes, and dedicated first to Katherin the French Queene, by Oger Ferrier her physition. Translated by Thomas Kelway Gentleman.

CHAP. II. Of the verification of the bower of the natiuity.

LEauing the Animodar of Ptolome and the meetings of Schoner, and all other vncertaine waies (although they haue theyr Authors) to verifie the howers of

natiuities, I will presently follow the method of Hermes, approoued by long experience, and confirmed by Ptolo∣me in his Centiloque, and by Abraham Auenesrus, by Alphonce Leopolde, Haly, and other most expert Astro∣logians. Hermes saith, that the ascendant of a natiuitie, hath beene the place of the Moone at the tyme of the cō∣ception; and that the ascendant of the conception, is the place of the Moone at the hower of the natiuitie. Who would be moore neere certified of the hower & mynute of a natiuitie, and of the true ascendant, it is conuenient that you follow the doctrine of Hermes by the method fo∣lowing. First of all that you looke into the figure estima∣tiue, whether the Moone be aboue the Horrizon or be∣neath. If she be aboue the Horrizon, count the distance that is betweene the poynt of the seauenth house and the Moone: if she be beneath the Horrizon, count the di∣stance which is from the first house vnto the Moone, which distance of signes and degrees, you must search in the table that followeth, vnder the title of the Moone, a∣boue the Horrizon or beneath, as truely you haue found in the said figure. In a right lyne of the said distance, you shall find the time that the infant hath remained within the wombe of his Mother, in a certaine number of dayes, the which you must reckon from the day of your natiui∣tie backward; and there where the number endeth, you must marke the day of the conception, if the Moone be found in the signe of the ascendant estimatiue. If you find her not in the same place, goe backwarde or forward cer∣taine dayes of your account, vntill you haue founde the Moone within the said signe, not farre from the degree a∣scendant in the said figure. The day considered, and in what hower, goe forwarde to the East poynt, the place where you haue sounde the Moone in the figure estima∣tiue, and at that hower you must calculate the moouing of the Moone. For this degree and mynute in the which you found her, you must place it in the ascendant of your natiuitie.

And to know the hower in the which the place of the Moone of the natiuity, rose to the East poynt at the time of the conception, take first the ouerthwart ascention of the said place of the Moone, within the table of the direc∣tions of your country, in the booke of Iohn de Regiomonte, of the same ascention take away 90. degrees, (& ad to the whole circle which is of 360. degrees, when the substrac∣tion cannot be otherwise made) the residue shall be the right ascention of the height of the poynt of the Mery∣dian circle: take afterward the right ascention of the Sun, and take out by the substraction of the right ascention of the sayd poynt of the Merydian, and adde 360. degrees if it be necessary, & turne that which is left into howers and minutes, in gyuing to 30. degrees two howers, to fifteene degrees one hower, to one degree 4. minutes of an houre, to fifteene minutes one minute of an hower; by thys meanes you shall exactly come to the hower of the con∣ception, to the which you must calculate the place of the Moone, and the same well calculated, put it to the poynt of the first house, in the figure of the natiuitie.

Diuers for this verefication doe dresse and garnish the motions of the Planets foure figures. One of that hower estimatiue of the natiuitie, the other, of the precedent con∣iunction or opposition of the brightnes: the third, of the verification by the Animodar: the fourth, of the concep∣tion. The which besides the vnprofitable and superflu∣ous labour, erre greatly, thinking to find out the tyme of the conception by the Animodar of Ptolome, the which experience from day to day sheweth to be false, and that it hath no auncient Author to maintaine it, or hath made mention of thys newe doctrine, being full of contention and disproued veritie.

¶ The Table of the time that the Childe dooth remaine within the wombe of his Mother.

The Moone beeing vnder the Horrizon, rec∣kon from the Ascen∣daunt.	The Moone being aboue the Horrizon, reckon from the seauenth.
sig	degr	dayes
0	0	273	Indifferent abiding.	258	Little abiding.
0	12	274		259
0	24	275		260
1	6	276		261
1	18	277		262
2	0	278		263
2	12	279		264
2	24	280		265
3	6	281		266
3	18	282		267
4	0	283		268
4	12	284		269
4	24	285		270
5	6	286		271
5	18	287		272
5	29	288	Long abiding.	273