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. VI. Of the Sextile of Sol and Mars.

§ 1. Some notable Occurrences. 2. Sextile compared. 3. More Rains in the Former, more excesses in the Later. 4. First Sextile rains of∣ten in the Even, the Second not so often. Aspects therefore are effe∣ctual even under the Horizon. 5. In both Sextiles the moisture happens post Merid. why: 7. The Second Sextile Hails more than the First, the Reason. 7. A Note on the Rainbow. 8. Clouds furrow'd. 9. Blite. 10. Hony Dews. 11. Some malignity even under the Sextile.

§ 1. OUr Sextile of Sol and Mars cannot well be passed over, without wrong done to Nature, and its Contemplation, (though the Diary we dare not shew) such notable Occurrences being found here also, as in the for∣mer Leading Aspects. Did I say such occurrences? Or, are they some peculiar, and more rare Effects that hang on this Combination.

§ 2. I compar'd them both in the following Synopsis, and they yielded both of them thus.

✶ ☉ ♂ I. quo ♂ ante Solem oritur.

• Rain 75.
• Excesses 19.
• Winds 43. Of these,
• High Winds 24.
• Mists 23.
• Meteors 8.
• Thunder 4.
• Hail 3.
• Icides 3.
• Dark Air 5
• Summa diem 110.

✶ ☉ ♂ II. in quo ♂ solem. ♂ longinque sequitur.

• Rain 51.
• Excesses 23.
• Winds 39.
• High Winds 23.
• Mist 14.
• Meteors 4.
• Hail 7.
• Thunder, Lightn. 5.
• Icides 2.
• Dark Air 2.
• Sum. Dier. 105.

§ 3. Where if the First out-goes the Second in the Prior Instance for Number, yet in. Weight they seem to be equal; There are more Rains in the Former, more Excesses in the Later. In Mists, in Meteors perhaps, in Dark Air the First exceeds, in Winds, in Thunders, in Irides, the Second is equal.

§ 4. But what shall we say to the disproportion of the Rains 75. to 51. It cannot scarce be casual, and therefore the First will claim, especially if we observe a Circumstance which stares in the Face of the Reader, where the Rains in the First Sextile are observed to show themselves about Even or Sun set, or after when our Planet ♂ aspected with the Sun, hath taken leave of the Hemisphere, yea when sometimes the Sun also hath left it: In the Second Sextile more seldom so, and yet there we find it 27. times: This be sure is gained from it; that an Aspect hath a due force or Influence even while one of the Bodies concerned, (if not Both) are hidden under the Earth, which hitherto hath been with me a Question in the Square, and Trine, and Sextile, but now begins to be held in the affirmative.

§ 5. In both Sextiles seeing now the Moisture happens most part post me∣ridiem, the account seems to be easier. Sure the Western side of the Me∣ridian,

as we have already said is most inclined to Rain, and that is the Scene of all Sextiles, and of all other Aspects of Northern Declinationr except the ☍ and Quincunx.

§ 6. The Difference of Hail seems so considerable that I must hunt after some reason: Is it not because that in the later ✶ the Planet rises after the Sun, and in the very Hour of Hail happens to be in the rear alone, and Desolate. For though the Planet be but 2 Signs distant, yet, if we ob∣serve it, Hail seldom happens in the Evening, or near ☉ set, and therefore ♂ may be well upon, or on the other side of the Meridian, which if it be, the Absence of the Sun makes it the cooler Quarter.

§ 7. Now what I find in common to these Sextiles are first the appea∣rance of Rainbows, and in the Second Sextile a Reflexion of a Rainbow, an Iris revers'd, with the Purple-Facing outward, as by Laws of Reflexion must appear, I am not engaged to speak to the appearance, if it depends on this Aspect, I reckon it rarity enough.

§ 8. The Next is another passion of Clouds in Furrows unusual, to be noted the rather, because of that strange observation of the appearance of Clouds mentioned under the △, whole new Creation seemed as suddain, as the Generation of Smoke from the successive accension of matter com∣bustible.

§ 9. The next is a common Blite in the First Sextile, Jul. 7. Anno 1661 In the Last, April 30. An. 60. there is one Effect hard to be discovered, unless by very watchful Countrymen and Gardners, at what time we find in the following Month many Caterpillers noted? Had we not some such instance before? And doth not all help? As the Wren said,—

§ 10. Now let not our. Holy-drops sink, noted I remember May 4. An. 60. in the Second Sextile, a casual Instance, I confess, but such as may be accounted for, no doubt, where there is opportunity for a curious Observer. Stench of Mists and Hony-drops we know belong to the same Cause.

§ 11. Our last Instance is the worst, for it seems to be beyond question, it brings oft-times a sick Interval, in March 74. June 76. August 78. for the First: March, An. 73. April, Anno 75. May, Anno 77. for the Later. Six continued years with one and the other Aspect, you see, are unlucky; I use the Word, with an ut ita dicam, call it Offensive to Health, or, what you please. Posterity will believe this, when they have confirmed it with their own Observation. And so I make an end of the Martio Solar Aspect, the Habitude of those two Great Planets.