Astro-meteorologica, or, Aphorisms and discourses of the bodies cœlestial, their natures and influences discovered from the variety of the alterations of the air ... and other secrets of nature / collected from the observation at leisure times, of above thirty years, by J. Goad.

CHAP. XVII. ✶ ☉ ☽

§ 1. The ✶ the first Lunar Phasis of the Creation. 2. The secondary Light discernible in the dark side of the Lunar Discus, whence? 3. The Aspect operates. 5, 6. Keeps touch at the Hour. 7. The Moons part seems to lye in the Complement of an Effect. 8. & 9. This Aspect need not be ashamed to appear among her Kindred, 'tis as stormy as one of the Squares, and as dashing. 10. A Table declara∣tive of their Influence. 12. Second ✶ seems to out-do them all. 13. In stormy Weather of more frequency, but less danger. 15. The Full ☽ brings less moisture than any of its fellow Aspects. 17. Aspects com∣pared as to dashing Rains. 18. This Aspect takes place in fits of Rain, returning after frequent intermission. 19, 20, 21. This demonstrated. 22. Of infallible success as to Rain, how far the Table produced. 24. Inclination for Wind. 26. Search into the reason of its Influence, whether there be any thing of a right Angle. Some equality in all Aspects. The ✶ is critical with the Physitians not without reason. 29. Gassendus his why-not's answered. 13. Suf∣frage of the Seaman from our great Verulam.

§ 1. THe Sextile, two Signs distant from the ☌, though the last for Dignity, is the first Aspect in order; and makes some shew 3 or 4 days after the Prime, enlightning about 3 digits of the ☽ 's disk, the rest being Opaque and dark: The First Phasis of the ☽, wherein she appeared to the World in the day of her Creation; not in ☌ and ☍, but about the Sextile Aspect. The First ☌ of ☽ being imaginary, 2 days before 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 as the Jews most probably reckon. An Aspect call'd by the Greeks 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, upon a vulgar account, unless they should have some respect to the Tradition. The Latines call it, Cava Luna, because it tends to Orbicular, the Inner Area being dark and shady, save that in the Craepus∣culum we may discern a weaker diffusion of Light in the whole disk, not unpleasant to behold.

§ 2. Especially since we may wonder how it gets thither; The Coperni∣caus perswade, that it owes the Original to her Sister Earth, whose illumi∣nate part makes it Reflexion thither. Yea, Galileo most ingeniously solves the Phoenomenon, why in the Mornings Later Sextile, this Lustre appears somewhat brighter than in the Evening: wherefore? but because supposing that the Earth and Solid Bodies reflect stronger, than Water or Fluids: There is more Land then Water (the vast compass of Asia,) Eastward of Europe, and more Sea than Land, Westward. The truth is, if Wit will do it, the Copernican Hypothesis must be accepted: but whether it comes from the Earths reflexion, or from the Other Celestial lucid Bodies, to which (whatsoever Galileo hath observed to the contrary, I should as rea∣dily incline) the Astrologer is not obliged to determine.

§ 3. Our engagement lies rather to assert, what Galileo doubts of, that the Celestial Bodies operate upon the Inferiour (if I have leave to call the Earth inferiour) by Light and Motion. At present, that the ☽ operates in her Sextile Radiation.

§ 4. Now whereas we have observed in the Trine Aspect, one day of the Triduum often Lights in common with the Neighbour Quartile, and that toward the exit or Introit, we confess so doth the Sextile also. But in answer, as before, that this is no visible prejudice to either Aspect; their Characters being raised from their visible Efficacy, those common days, (if need be) not being considered.

§ 5. Add that the Sextile also, the poor Lagging Sextile, in imitation of the great ones, gives warning at the Hour, and bears Testimony to its self within its proper Duration.

§ 6. Further we say, which we have not yet mentioned, these ••••urly Testimonies are more to be remarked, because of the exactness of the Cal∣culation presumed in the ☽, which in some other Planets will not be pre∣tended. Greater is the evidence created to our pretenses by correspondence between Cause and Effect, so near, so punctual, so precise.

§ 7. Hence, the Luminary is not only demonstrated to make One, but also to the Curious, their very Place and Order is made known, while she ap∣pears to be candidate for one, yea, for the Ultimate Cause, such as gives the final Complement to the growing Effect: The last Stroke fells the Tree.

§ 8. Verily this Aspect upon a Minute consideration hath suffered by pre∣judice and presumption. For the VI. part of a Circle sounding not so big, as the Trine or Square, hath beeen so scornfully look'd upon, even by my self, as well as others, but of a foolish presumption that so little an Arch of a Cir∣cle could not lodge so remarkable an Efficacy; As if the Antients bad brought it in only for Complement sake, least they should have bin thought to have failed rather in the accuracy of their Method, than in any Substan∣tial.

§ 9. Now whether our Table be produced or not, the Sextile is no Chip in Broth, no empty Name of a Configuration, but a very considerable En∣gine, little though it be, to produce Physical Effects. Now we do not, dare not say, 'tis equal to the Trine; but this we say, it may keep company with the Best of the Aspects, though it may be it hath not half so fair an Estate. Therefore let us see, and compare, First, if in the former △ you had 25 Soultry Days (the most probable Method of proving an Aspect) even under our Sextile I find 20. As often Rain, as often stormy Winds, as under the first Square. Strange! that two Signs should be as potent as 3. nay 4. so rare a Contemplation is that of Nature, that it will strike us with wonder, to set an edge upon our Enquiry. And well may we muse and contemplate the ✶ for its fertility of Moisture: we find it a little short indeed of the △ for the moderate Moisture, but for the immoderate Effusi∣ons, or violent dashes our Sextile out-does; what not? When the First △ brings but 48 dashes, &c. The first Sextile brings 60. For Snow in like manner; For Hail more, so that it will be time to look to the Foundation of this Aspect, and never leave till we have discover'd it.

§ 10. But we must premise the Compendium of our Table; that we may see further what both Sextiles can do, as before we have exhibited the Trines.

§ 10.	I.	✶	II.
Frosty Days.	28.		19.
Warm Days.	46.		29.
Hot and Soultry.	20.		36.
Hot Nights.	5.		5.
Trajections.	7.		20.
Lightnings.	8.		4.
Thunder.	5.		7.
Mist.	43.		43.
Fog.	21.		38.
Halo.	0.		0.
Winds.	51.		59.
Stormy and High.	35.		35.
Change of Winds.	33.		41.
East.	50.		46.
West.	31.		45.
North.	41.		44.
South.	21.		31.
North-East.	38.		42.
North-West.	20.		18.
South-East.	13.		14.
South-West.	91.		51.
Rain.	149.		145.
Violent, &c.	60.		27.
Snow.	12.		11.
Hail.	8.		5.

§ 11. This is our Sextile, concerning whose power 'tis enough to say it equals, or out-does the former Aspects hitherto treated of, in Heat, in Rain, in Thunder, in Trajections, in Fog, Wind, Snow, Hail. Muster all the Aspects together, that you may see them at Exercise; and by that you will easily estimate their Significancy; where, if you be surprized with any appearance contrary to expectation, you will not be the First that have bin amused. Ask the New ☽ how many Hot days she brings? She un∣derwrites 28. the Full. 11. the first □ 13. the second 24. the former △ 25. the later 16. The Sextile, Former 20. the Later Sextile 36. the Former Sextile out does the Full ☽, the first □, the Later △, the Second out∣does them all.

12. This makes toward the Character then, a Sextile, at least one inclined to Warmth as much as the New ☽. Why the New ☽ seems evident; but there is as certain reason for this as that, if not so evident. Accordingly under this former Sextile we meet with, if I remember, as Hot Weather for April as ever was known, An. 71. die 23, 24, 25. which is not a pure Chance, even our Sextile helps, as the Wren said when she piss'd in the Ocean. For Thunder, or the Muter Lightnings, it equals the New, I had almost said the Full ☽ Trajections, I know not by what hap, are found to be equal to the New, or, 2d. Quadrate. These yield 18 and 19. and our Aspect makes it 20. For High Winds, &c. no man thinks that 'tis our turn now to cry up the Sextiles above the △, which we have adventur'd to say, is the most remarkable tempestuous. But that we may not be mis-conceiv'd, we understand this not by the frequency of Tempests, for so the Full ☽ is the most Tempestuous by far, before Quadrates or Trines either; but in regard, of the Fury and Rage; A forer Tempest is often found under a Lunar △, than under any other Aspect Lunar: This is all we say, till the contrary is proved. Now our Sextiles in this point for frequency seem to be equal to the New ☽, Quadrate, and Trine in either kind, and for Fury it brings one or two Instances.

§ 13. For better memory the Reader may please to view the matter again and see what they underwrite for themselves.

☌.	☍.	□ I.	□ II.	△ I.	△ II.	✶ I.	✶ II.
37.	68.	34.	43.	44.	31.	35.	35.

Where you see the Full, one Square, one Trine goes beyond us. All the rest, even the New ☽ not much out-vying our Sextiles, which by some good hap are equal one with the other to an unit.

§ 14. For Moisture in general, more or less, our Sextiles exceed all but the Two Trines, for 149. and 144. exceeds 109. and 193. the Sums of Moisture under the New, and the Full: and the two Trines here are Para∣mount and one of the Quadrates, as may be seen by this presentment.

☌.	☍.	□ I.	□ II.	△ I.	△ II.	✶ I.	✶ II.
109.	103.	143.	132.	155.	162.	149.	144.

You see your Sextiles are inclined to moisture, yea, you see what sur∣prizes me, that the full ☽ brings less moisture than any of his fellow As∣pects:

§ 15. Notwithstanding this, observe again that the Former Sextile, (however the later comes to flag and lose its credit as to durable, or more violent Rains, and it comes not off so disgracefully neither, when I see the New ☽ but a Piep beyond it) the Former Sextile I say, Full, Qua∣drate, and Trine, for smart and frequent dashing, cannot do better. Now if they be asked what they will subcribe for Dashing Rains, they will an∣swer in this order.

§ 17.	☌.	☍.	□ I.	□ II.	△ I.	△ II.	✶ I.	✶ II.
	28.	47.	47.	42.	48.	52.	60.	27.

Where 60. you see under the first Sextile, the Tale of her Dashes, out∣goes the Full and Quartiles, and is scarce approached unto, but by one of the Trines.

§ 16. And here Let us a little view the Wonders of the Creator. Great and various are the Shapes of the Changes of the Air. And be they never so many, God hath adapted Causes as numerous and various to answer those Effects. All the strange and free postures of our Bodies, such as you see in Sprightly Youth, whether at Sport or Exercise, we poor Ignaro's think they proceed from the Pliantness of our Frames, it may be, or the freedom of our Will, but the Learned Anatomist, who hath dissected Na∣ture, knows, that there is a proper distinct Muscle fixed in our Fabrick, to discharge every such Motion. So is it in the Heavens. We meet with strange Weather sometimes, when the Heaven is, as I may call it, fitted for Rain, when it shall clear up to a pure and bright Sky, and of a sudden, showrs smartly and in earnest, and so continue showring and clear interchan∣gable for a considerable part of the day: Of which sort they occur in our Table, not here produced, several Examples. The Celestial Philosopher assigns this Aspect, That's the Muscle, as it were, which the Creator hath made to exert this Motion: For 'tis a short Aspect; and if there be in the Heavens any advantagious Post above another, it arrives sooner thither. Now the smartness of the Showre shews an Aspect, and the suddenness shews a Sextile.

§ 17. Nay, if there be any thing in the Posts of the Horizon and the Me∣ridian, a Lunar Sextile by its applictions thereto can give account, without any other assistants, of Rain VI. times a day; so with other help it may come to twenty times in one day. And of this we had one most notable Instance.

§ 18. The days when it thus rain'd by such intermitting Fits were these. Jan. X. An. 1676. May I. An. 1674. April VIII. An. 1676. May VIII. and IX. An. 1676. &c.

§ 19. Now, if on any of these days the Fit came on Noon, or Sun-rise, or Sun set, or about two Hours distant, then 'tis a clear case we assign the Cause of this admirable Product of Nature. But so it is. For on Jan. X.

An. 1676. the first day noted, we meet with wet Morning, which may comprehend either ☉, or ☽ rise, or the space between; and again, Rain 6 P. wherein the ☽ in ✶ of the ☉ is exactly on the Meridian; this is to begin. The next is May I. An. 1674. which being the last of the Triduum, is to be found under April. Here we find showres 10 m. and about the time when the ☽ in Sextile rises, as is expressly also noted. The 3d. is April VIII. An. 1676. Rain 4 P. the ☽ then in ♋. 2. was exactly South. We will give you a 4th. May VIII. An. 1676. it rains hor 4. because the ☽ in Sextile 4 m. ♌ O. exactly upon the Meridian at that Hour. Thus is God, Nature and Art justified by these plain demonstrations, not to be avoided. And this I proclaim holds, not only in the First but Second Sextile, though more rarely, and that not according to the Southing of the Sun and Moon, but also to the rise and setting; witness June 20. 77. where at the ☽ s sitting hor 3. exact, you meet with a Thunderclap.

§ 22. Nor must we say that a Quadrate and a Trine are apt, as often, to stir up Nature, the Negative being plain from the very constitution of the Aspect, which is founded upon the Distance of two Signs, and no more; the Influence then of the Stars so Aspected, if they have any, must in a shorter space shew themselves, then those who have a larger Tedder. Soo∣ner shall the Stars at the distance of two Signs arrive to their Critical places, than those who are distant 3 or 4.

§ 23. Now, our Muster, according to the difference of Signs, as we did before in the Quartiles, stand thus.—

✶ I.
Signs,	Quotient,	Success.
♒	♈	VI.	4.
♓	♉	VII.	5.
♈	♊	VIII.	6.
♉	♋	VII.	6.
♊	♌	VIII.	8.
♋	♍	VII.	7.
♌	♎	VII.	7.
♍	♏	VII.	5.
♎	♐	VII.	6.
♏	♑	VIII.	5.
♐	♒	VII.	6.
♑	♓	VII.	6.

✶ II.
Signs,	Quotient,	Success.
♒	♐	VII.	5.
♓	♑	VII.	7.
♈	♒	VIII.	6.
♉	♓	VII.	5.
♊	♈	VII.	4.
♋	♉	VIII.	8.
♌	♊	VIII.	6.
♍	♋	VII.	6.
♎	♌	VII.	5.
♏	♍	VII.	7.
♐	♎	VII.	5.
♑	♏	VI.	5.

§ 23. If the Quota's are not so full as in the Quadrates, &c. we may probably infer that the Sextile is the weaker Aspect. Howbeit, there are here again some near infallible Bespeakers of a showre. That in ♊ and ♌ brings 8. for 8, under which I would Martial ♐ and ♒ in the First, and ♌ and ♊ with ♒ and ♐ under the Second: but they seem not to fadge. Take then ♋ and ♉ which bring 8 for 8. and those which find 7 for 7. and let the Reader make his use of them. ♓, and ♑, and ♏, and ♍ are such. Howbeit I must not enquire the reason or foundation of the difference which appears, in this place.

§ 24. Speak we to the inclination for Winds.

• ✶ I. ✶ II.
• East. 50. 46.
• N. E. 38. 42.
• S. E. 13. 14.
• 101. 102.
• ✶ I. ✶ II.
• West. 31. 45.
• N. W. 20. 18.
• S. W. 91. 51.
• 142. 104.
• ✶ I. ✶ II.
• North. 41. 44.
• N. E. 38. 42.
• N. W. 20. 18.
• 99. 134.
• ✶ I. ✶ II.
• South. 21. 31.
• S. W. 13. 14.
• S. W. 91. 51.
• 125. 106.

§ 25. 'Tis pretty to observe, that the second ✶ brings 134 Northerly Winds, of due West little. The First, 142. Westerly Winds, of North but a little; that the S. W. Wind abates from the Quota's found under the □ or △, and yet 'tis almost double (91) to any other Quota assignable. In a word, I do not remember that the △ or □ brought so much of Easterly Winds, though West, and North, and South, do somewhat outbid the Ea∣stern.

Thus is the Character of the Sextile.

§ 26. Neither is there wanting foundation in Nature for so much Effect. Ofhusius himself allowing it reasonable that Planets at any such distance, whether they happen, One, on the Midheaven, while the other is on the Horizon, may alter the Air, which happens under the Three Posterior As∣pects, □ △ ✶. Even in this Later, in some parts of the Ecliptique, at or about Two Signs distant. The Sextile is equal notwithstanding, or equiva∣lent to a right Angle, viz. to the Equinoctial Angle, which is always the same. And this, as I remember, is happily observ'd by Ofhusius. But if this will not be admitted as sufficient and responsible for some violent Effects shewing themselves, what if I should observe, that in a manner, all Aspects seem to be equal, whether Diametral or Angular: Wherefore as in the ☌ there is an imaginary, or rather a Virtual Opposition, since the Heaven is Circular, and shews an opposite point affected; so that you have no single Aspect: then, contra, an ☍ is a virtual Conjunction. So is it in the Rest. Bring in a Square of ☉ and ♀, One of them to the Meridian, and the Square is doubled: For there is a Quadrate Oriental and Occidental. ♀ posited on the Meridian, makes a right Angle with the Sun in the Horizon, and another with the point in oppositio Solis. Doth not then our Sextile (Orien∣tal suppose) by the same Reason, make a △ occidental? and back again, a △ in the East, constitute a Sextile in the West.

§ 27. For what pains and indispositions we had noted with their Obelisk here also as in the Quadrate, how duly I had noted them I cannot speak, but how truly they are noted, I can. So the Sextile is a Critical Aspect, I see, as well, though not perhaps as much, as the Quartile. And what should hinder us to assert an Antient Truth, and so witnessed by the Lear∣ned Physitians, who tell us, that in Critical Days, Quartus est Index Septimi. Now, as the Seventh day is the One, so the Fourth Day is the other, even our very Sextile. I know there are other Irritations of Aches and Pains in our querulous Bodies, besides these Lunar Aspects, viz. the Rises and Obits, &c. of the Planets so posited, co-incident with these Aspects, which I am not certain the Physitian will allow, though they exert their smart Influence at a minute; howbeit, if they like not to admit of that, I am bound, ne∣vertheless, to witness to the Truth which they deliver.

§ 28. We close up this Chapter with an Answer to Gassendus, who, though he dar'd not deny an Efficacy to the Sun and Moon, consider'd as Luminaries, yea, though he acknowledged it rational to believe that their

Efficacy is advanced or abated, according to the increase or decrease of their Light; yet he hath no kindness for these Luminaries so united and con∣federated by Aspect; for saith he, why should not the same be said of ♀? who we know, now by the Telescope, runs through the Series of the same Phasis as the ☽ doth, ✶ □ △? For answer, I could tell him 'tis enough for a Mortal Astrologer, if he make use of all that is visible; I say all that is presented by the Natural, though non-arm'd Eye. The Spectators of the Heavens are rightly entertain'd by what appears on the Theatre, without prying into the attiring Room. No man speaks against a curious inquisitor into Nature by Telescope or Microscope; I applaud the invention, but there may be ill use made of it; when we search after hidden, in the neglect of Obvious Truths. Secondly, though I could ask, whether Gassendus hath calculated these As∣pects, and found them void or unactive; or decipher'd them only for us, that we might spend our Verdict. (Besides, that, the Quadrates of ♀ are consider'd under another Name, viz. when she is enlongated from the Sun; by the same token that she contributes to Warmth.) Yet where is the Angle we speak of? Alass! Her furthest Elongation never sets her upon the Meridian, while the Sun is on the Horizon. A Semisextile is her utmost Aspect as to us. When ♀ descends as low as the ☽ in Orb as vast as the ☽ or ♀ Orb; then Gassendus shall see what we will say: till then, the Influence of her Phasis is not so considerable, but what a just Science may overlook, as Anatomy doth a Capillary Vein or Glandule, which is not ne∣cessary in the subsistence of the Body, and therefore may be spared its con∣sideration.

§ 29. He tells us more, that if the ☽ hath Influence upon the Earth, so may the Earth on the ☽. Will it not then be time to consider that, when we remove into that Colony? No man pretends to prognosticate the State of the Air for the Man in the ☽; be the ☽ never so habitable, 'tis less than the Earth, and so 'tis fitting the Earth should be considered before it. The plain enquiry with us, is, whether the Fire warms the Hands? Now, to perplex this Question by a more curious Problem, whether Fire works on Fire, is a new way of Philosophy. Nor can I justly infer that Fire was not made for that use, because perhaps it was made for some other Service in Nature. If the Earth hath Influence on the ☽, how much more the ☽ on the Earth? If it hath no Influence on the ☽, it makes not against us. For the Rain which makes the Meadows green, and the Corn-Fields fruitful, makes not the Wilderness fruitful, nor doth it sweeten the Waters of the Sea.

§ 30. This rub being out of the way, it may not be amiss to remind us, that great Enquirers bear Testimony, in other terms, to this Aspect. For where is it that I read, that the Fifth Day of the ☽, after long observation, is feared by Mariners, for stormy. Verulam hist. of Wind, art. 32. par. 17. So saith He. The Fourth rising of the ☽ ibid. Now one, if not both these are the Sextile Aspect. And if what I pretend of the Later Sextile, holds its own, then the Seamen may observe together with the Fourth and the Fifth, the twenty fifth day of the ☽ 's age, especially those who are re∣solved to learn no further. Better is it to observe the ☽ alone, than to abandon all Astrology. Who knows, but the small ☽, touch'd at before by Linscoten and Drake, may belong to this Aspect more properly rather than to the Change?