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CHAP. XXII.
The subtilty of Astrologers to maintain the credit of their Art; why they remain in cre∣dit, certain impieties contained in Astrologers assertions.
IF you mark the cunning ones,* 1.1 you shall see them speak darkly of things to come, devising by artificial subtilty, doubtful Prognostications, easily to be applyed to every thing, Time, Prince, and Nation; and if any thing come to pass according to their Divinations, they fortifie their old Prognostications with new reasons. Nevertheless, in the multitude and variety of Stars, yea even in the very midst of them, they finde out some places in a good aspect, and some in an ill; and take occasion hereupon to say what they list, promising unto some men Honour, long Life, Wealth, Victory, Children, Marriage, Friends, Offices, and finally, everlasting Felicity: But if with any they be discontented, they say the Stars be not favourable to them, and threaten them with Hanging, Drowning, Beggery, Sickness, Misfortune, &c. And if one of these Prognosti∣cations fall out right, then they triumph above measure. If the Prognosticators be found to forge and lye alwayes (without such fortune as the blind man had in killing the Crow) they will excuse the matter, saying, that Sapiens dominatur astris, whereas (according to Agrippas words) neither the wiseman ruleth the Stars, nor the Stars the Wiseman, but God ruleth them both. Corn. Tacitus saith, That they are a people disloyal to Princes, deceiving them that believe them. And Varro saith, That the vanity of all superstitions floweth out of the bosome of Astrology. And if our life and fortune depend not on the Stars, then it is to be granted, that the Astrologers seek where nothing is to be found. But we are so fond, mistrustful and credulous, that we fear more the fables of Robin Good∣fellow, Astrologers, and Witches, and believe more the things that are not, than the things that are. And the more unpossible a thing is, the more we stand in fear thereof; and the less likely to be true, the more we believe it. And if we were not such, I think with Cornelius Agrippa, that these Diviners, Astrologers, Con∣jurers, and Coseners would dye for hunger.
And our foolish light belief, forgetting things past, neglecting things present, aad very hasty to know things to come, doth so comfort and maintain these co∣seners; that whereas in other men, for making one lye, the faith of him that speaketh is so much mistrusted, that all the residue being true is not regarded: Contrariwise, in these cosenages among our Divinors, one truth spoken by hap, giveth such credit to all their lyes, that ever after we believe whatsoever they say, how incredible, impossible or false soever it be. Sir Thomas Moore saith,* 1.2 they know not who are in their own chambers, neither who maketh themselves cockolds, that take upon them all this cunning, knowledge and great foresight. But to enlarge their credit, or rather to manifest their impudency, they say the gift of Prophesie, the force of Religion, the secrets of Conscience, the power of Devils, the virtue of Miracles, the efficacy of Prayers, the state of the life to come, &c. doth only depend upon the Stars, and is given and known by them alone: For they say, that when the sign of Gemini is ascended,* 1.3 and Saturn and Mercury be joyned in Aquary, in the ninth house of the heavens, there is a Pro∣phet born; and therefore that Christ had so many virtues, because he had in that place Saturn and Gemini. Yea, these Astrologers do not stick to say, that the Stars distribute all sorts of Religions, wherein Jupiter is the especial patron, who be∣ing joyned with Saturn, maketh the religion of the Jews; with Mercury of the Christians; with the Moon of Antichristianity. Yea, they affirm, that the faith of every man may be known to them as well as to God. And that Christ himself did use the election of hours in his Miracles; so as the Jews could not hurt him whilest he went to Jerusalem, and therefore that he said to his Disciples that for∣bad him to go, Are there not twelve hours in the day?* 1.4