London's deliverance predicted in a short discourse shewing the cause of plagues in general, and the probable time (God not contradicting the course of second causes) when the present pest may abate, &c. / by John Gadbury.

CHAP. I. (Book 1)

The Causes of the Plague in general. (Book 1)

IT is an Axiome agreed unto by all Philosophers, That a Cause is that, whereupon dependeth, or whence issueth an effect, or that by which any thing happeneth. Some hold that there are four causes of every thing, viz. Causa Essentialis, Materialis, Formalis, and Finalis. Plato mentioneth three kinds of Causes, and distin∣guisheth them by these three Terms, By which, Of which, and For which; but taketh the most principal to be that, By which, it being the Efficient Cause. And that the Heavens are the Efficient and Essential Causes of Plagues, or other Contagious diseases, we need not doubt, it being so congruent to Reason to be∣lieve.

Physicians tell us, that the Plague is a disease most Malignant and Pestilential; a Fever in the highest de∣gree, which doth suddenly putrifie and corrupt, both the Solid and Fluid parts of the body; which having done, by an (almost) uncontrolable and unrepell∣able siecity, dries up and destroys the Natural Powers, then seizeth or preyeth upon the vitals, and so lets in the everlasting Enemy, DEATH. And sith by Divine Logick we are able to prove, that all effects have suit∣able and corresponding Causes [Men do not gather Grapes of Thornes, or Figgs of Thistles!] It is most Ra∣tional to believe, that this so terrible disease, must proceed from some Cause or Causes, most Illustrious,

eminent and Celestial; it being so remarkably terrify∣ing wheresoever it settles, or makes its abode. And for men to hope to find out a Cause [I mean of Energy and honor sufficient] here below, is to befool them∣selves with a vain, empty, and idle enquiry. For we know there is nothing sublunary but is its fellow effect; and (though in a different manner) hath a dependan∣cy on Celestial influences with it: and for an effect to produce an effect, is all out as improbable and unlike∣ly, as for a Child to beget a Child. Therefore the true and certain Causes of this astonishing adversary [the Plague] are no where to be found but in the Heavens. Qualis effectus, talis Causa; If the effect be eminent, so must the Cause.

All Astrologers with good reason affirm, That all popular diseases are irritated by Mars and Saturn their Influences; and indeed the skilful in the Sydereal Sci∣ence, may readily read those dismal effects in their Natures. Mars is a Planet fiery, hot and dry, Cholerick; and therefore Author of all Pestilential diseases: Sa∣turn is a Planet Earthy, cold and dry, and Author of all tedious and durable infirmities. And it is observable that Mars (though his effects are violent, like his Na∣ture) never hurteth so cruelly, or causeth so raging a Pestilence, as when in Configuration of Saturn. Nor do their Conjunctions and Aspects in every part or place of Heaven produce such Malignant and cruel effects, but on∣ly when they are conjoyned or configurated in earthy, fiery or Humane signs or Asterisms, and receive some as∣sistance from the Conjunctional, Opposite, or Quadrantal Rays of Jupiter, who (according to Astrologers) is sig∣nificator sanguinis. Then, I say, and at such times, Mars by his Cholerick intemperate Nature, causeth

not onely the Plague, but the raging sury of it; and Saturn, by reason of his destructive temper, and ini∣mical qualities to all natural existencies, portends the Diuturnity and continuance thereof, and the sweep∣ing away of Multitudes thereby.

And both these Planets Natures being so pernicious to Mankind, and indeed all other Generable and Cor∣ruptible things, they possessing the two extremes of a mischievous temperature, is (perhaps) one main rea∣son why we have seldom any Plagues or Pestilences, that are not accompanied, of at least attended in the se∣quel with Wars and Famine. Hear the Learned Anton how ingeniously he expresseth their Natures and Qualities, in his Philosophical Satyrs. Thus of Saturn,

—Saturns sullen face, Pale and of Ashy colour, male-content, A Catiline to Mortal Temperament, That would blow up the Capitol of Man With Envious influence!— And if there hate be in a Heav'nly brest, This Planet with that Fury is possest.

And of Mars he saith,

Blood, Death, and Tragick stories, Mars doth yeild, A Golgotha of Graves, whose purple-field Dy'd Crimson with his fatal Massacres, Craves bloody Inke and Scarlet Characters; A Pen that like a Bullets force would reel A Marble Conscience—

Other co-operating Causes there are of the Pestilence,

as Comets, Eclipses of the Luminaries, and Grand Sa∣tellitiums of the Planets, &c. which as they happen to be more or less in number, so the Plague is either in∣tended or remitted. And hence it is, that all Plagues are not alike mischievous in their devourings; their Causes being sometimes more or less forcible then at others.

Aristotle (that great Master of Reason) acknow∣ledgeth, that there is neither generation nor corruption, but is effected by the Heavenly Motions. And any man though but meanly conversant in History, may find, that there never happened any eminent Plague, or other prodigious Accidents, as War, Famine, &c. but there were either Great Conjunctions, or Aspects of the superior Celestial bodies, terrible Comets, Eclipses of the Luminaries, and other 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or Appeatances, as the certain Causes and Precursors of them. Take a few instances.

Anno 1348. There happened a Plague so great in England (and indeed in other parts also) that the Chronicles tell us, there were buried thereof in the Charter-house-yard London, 50000 People. Nay, Mr. Cambden saith, that in that little Town of Yar∣mouth, there (then) dyed about 7000 Persons. It is observable, a little before this great Pestilence, there happened a very great Comet in Taurus an Earthly sign, as is witnessed by Leovitius; and also a great Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter, and Mars, in Aqua∣rius. So terrible were the Effects of these Celestial Appearances then, that it is dismal to mention: God of his Mercy grant, that onely the Plague be our Por∣tion at this time, we laboring (now) under the like cruel influences, if not greater.

Anno 1527. That great Plague, called the Sweating Sickness began to rage: a great and terrible Comet, of a bloody colour, appeared but a little before in the Heavens. They then laboured also under the weighty effects of a Conjunction of Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars in Risces, a watery sign, perhaps a main reason why that Pestilence was attended with a Sweat.

Anno 1593. Anno Regni Elizab. 35. There was ano∣ther very great Plague, the Celestial Causes of which were the two Conjunctions and Oppositions of Saturn and Mars from and in Capricorn and Cancer, Tropical signs; and an Opposition of Saturn and Ju∣piter from the same signs; besides three great Eclipses of the Luminaries of Heaven.

Anno 1603. When the great Plague happened then, we may remember that there was a Conjuncti∣on of Saturn and Jupiter in Sagittarius. And a little be∣fore that, a great Eclipse of the Sun; and a Comet also of great Magnitude appeared.

Anno 1625. That Contagion was the consequence of a great Conjunction of Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars, in the Celestial sign Leo, a sign of the fiery triplicity, and representing the heart in the Microcosme, Ergo, the more dangerous.

Anno 1636. There happened another Plague in London, but not so great as any the former: there were then two Conjunctions, &c. of Saturn and Mars; and two invisible Eclipses (I mean as to us) of the Sun; the first on January 27. the other on July 22. one hap∣pening in Aquarius, the other in Leo, the greatest dig∣nities of the Sun.

I purposely omit an infinite of instances more of this kind, as the Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter

in Pisces, Anno 1643. and other concomitant configu∣rations; under the effects whereof, we then laboring, ••••ri••ok of the rage of a cruel Civil War; and not onely so, but a Plague brake forth very violently, in all the South and Southwest parts in this Kingdom of Eng∣land▪ and in the Northwest likewise. Thus then we see, that immediately upon Eclipses, great Conjunctions, the Apparitions of Comets, &c. the Pestilence, &c. hath constantly followed; and these Celestial Causes have been more or fewer in number, or greater or l••sser in Nature (for great Conjunctions have the preh••minence from meaner Conjunctions, Aspects, Eclipses, &c. and they from Comets or other Apparitions) so hath the Pestilence been more or less durable and raging: Ergo, we may with good ground assert, That the Configurations of the Planets, Eclipses of the Luminaries, and other Ce∣lestial Apparitions, as Comets▪ &c. are the most certain efficient Causes of such Effects.

To conclude, If the Pestilence be not an effect of the before mentioned Causes, it must be an effect of some other Causes, more powerful then they; but there is nothing in Nature of equal Energy with the Heavens: Ergo. If it could rationally be presumed to depend on other Causes, we might (for our conviction) happily have a Plague when no such Causes are apparent; but there is never any Pestilence, but when either Comets, Eclipses, or great Conjunctions, &c. happen: It therefore roundly (and without obstruction) follows, That Plagues are caused by Celestial influences. For further con∣firmation of this truth (if what I have concisely spo∣ken be not enough) read Origanus de Effecti••us Stellarum, p. 517. Peucer de Astrolog. Haly pars 8. p. 398. Cardan in P••ol. Guido Bonatus, cummultis alii••.

Foelix qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas.