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AS in Architecture we do take inspection if the ground upon which we are to build be firm enough to bear up the weight of the house, before we do provide materials, and go to work with the build∣ing: even so in this Discourse, we will first take a view of the Fundamentals, and therein dis∣cover the sandy Foundations upon which the vulgar frame of an Almanack is totteringly e∣rected. Secondly, we will make
choice of better Principles for a surer ground-work of weather-knowledg. And Thirdly, pro∣ceed to the rearing up a more trusty fabrick of Starry learn∣ing, to foreknow the Seasons and their Meteors, by the signs which God hath set in the fir∣mament for that purpose.
For the first of these, viz. the mistakes of our common Astro∣loger, whereof the principal reasons be,
First, Because of many things which our paper-Astrologers are ignorant of, which must of ne∣cessity be known, before the knowledg of Influences can be attained. A great sort of usurp∣ers of this profession; ignorant of Philosophy and Nature, and void of well-grounded experi∣ence, and if they have made ob∣servations upon the influences, they are not able to try their ex∣perience by the touch-stone of
true natural knowledg, in which they are meer strangers, and so no wonder they go wrong. This defect I shall endeavour in the second Chapter of this Treatise to supply.
Secondly, There be other things which they do meet with in the books of the Ancients, which be pure Riddles, as dark as night, which our Astrologasters look upon as literal truths of clear light, and set them down for fundamentals of their skill; as for Example, The erecting of a Figure of the twelve Houses to the obtaining of the fore-know∣ledg of the Weather.
And here, Reader, I will re∣veal one secret unto thee, which in the books of Astrologers thou shalt rarely find, That the erect∣ing of a Figure, is a mistie cloud overcasting the light of starry Literature, and a black masque over Ʋrania's bright face, debar∣ring
thy eyes from seing her true beauties, and from reading the proper meaning of the Stars not only in this, but also in all o∣ther parts of genuine Astrology. It is true, that learned Astrolo∣gers can play the hocus in blind∣ing your eyes with their judg∣ment upon the Figure, whereas they do secretly ponder the es∣sential dignities of the Planets, but to others they speak by a figure, as Rhetoricians do, wrest∣ing the meaning of the Houses, which are only accidental, ac∣cording to their secret knowledg of the essential figure, which is known but to a few. And when at any time an accidental figure speaks truth, it is because some∣times the rules of it are coinci∣dent (as a blindman sometimes, though seldom, hits the mark) with the rules of pure Astrolo∣gy. But in particular for judg∣ment upon the weather, the ab∣surdity
of a figure may clearly be evinced by these arguments. 1. A figure is either for the birth of a body at a certain time en∣tring this worlds theatre, as in∣fants newly coming from the womb, whom the constellations which at that time do arise, make an impression upon, and in some manner do stamp with their essential figure and seal; but the birth of a year, or a quarter of a year, for which they do set up a Figure in Mar••h, or June, &c. is the birth of neither body, spirit, nor substance.
Or a Figure respecteth some actions of mortal and transitory bodies here below, which do sympathize with the motions of their proper and significant Pla∣nets above: and do admit of a direction to the time when these things shall come to pass, it may be, many years after the figure is calculated, as the Doctrine of
Nativities can tell. But there is no such thing in prognosticating the season: for suppose in the Spring quarter, at the ingress of the Sun into the sign of Aries the Lord of the figure be an hot fiery Planet (as Mars or the Sun) and so do portend a warm Spring; yet if the Quadrats, or Oppositions of the two cold Pla∣nets Saturn and Venus do after∣terwards occur in that Spring, it will prove quite contrary to the Figure, that is, it will be a most cold and sharp season.
2. The Houses of a Figure, are for Parents, Brethren, Marriages, Children, Friends, Enemies, Servants, Trades, Pro∣fessions, Wealth, Journeys, &c. I hope you will grant me, that the knowledg of the weather calleth for no such matters.
3. Let there be a Figure cal∣culated for Paris of France, which may fore-token great
rains and storms: at the same time let another Figure be fitted for the north part of Scotland, which sometimes doth appear, which may signifie great droughts; yet aged experience, and clear reason will contradict those Figures: for the Scotch season will prove rainy; but the French aire will be much more dry: and if the year be dry in Scotland, it will not be wet in France.
The third ground of mistakes is, that the yearly Prognostica∣tors do misapprehend the very first Principles of the Art: as instance, they hold that Jupiter raiseth North-winds; when ob∣servation guarded with reason doth tell us, he is altogether for South-winds. And they do charg Saturn and Mars in their Con∣junctions or Opposition with tempestuous storms; whereas I have seen a most clear and calm
air occasioned by their aspect: and they do give out Mercury for a stirrer up of mighty winds. It is not my purpose to fill the paper with their erroneous te∣nets; I am for truths, which, God willing, shall adorn these sheets.