The works of that late most excellent philosopher and astronomer, Sir George Wharton, bar. collected into one volume / by John Gadbvry ...

Sundry Excellent Rules, shewing by what Laws the Weather is Governed, and how to discover the various Al∣teration of the same.

TO Satisfie the Learned and Ingenious part of the World on what grounds we proceed in judging of the Alteration of the Air, and to convince another sort of People, who reflecting on Marsianus his Rule, [Si vis divinare, totum contrarium ad unguem dicito ejus quod Astrologi pollicentur.] Suppose we do but guess at the Weather, and believe that if they should say Rain, when the Astrologer writes fair and dry Weather; or Calm, when he fore-tells Winds, they should hit the Mark as often as the Astrologer: I will (once for all) hint a few of the many Causes, which either are, or should be considered by all such as aim at Credit or Truth in their Predictions of this kind.

First, (then) you must know, that when the Sun (according to appearance) wheels to a Star of a hot Nature, (as to Mars or Jupiter) it argues a hot or warm disposition of the Air: If to a Star of a cold Na∣ture, (as Saturn or Mercury) a distemper'd Air through the extremity of Cold. And the mutual Conjunction of the Stars that be of one Complexion, augments the same Quality: As the Conjunction of Jupiter and Mars, by a two-fold vertue of their Heat, make the lower Region of the Air more fervent.

Many Planets (especially the Superiour) in Nor∣thern Signs, a hot Summer, or a temperate Winter:

The contrary, when many Planets (the three Supe∣riours chiefly) are in Southern Signs: For so they signifie a Cold and Moist Peristasis of the Air, and a colder Winter.

Saturn in Southern Signs, and especially in Capri∣corn and Aquarius, Terrible Winters of Frost and Cold, Summers remiss in Heat, a Famine, an evil increase of Wine, and of all such Fruits as delight in the Sun.

Moreover, when the Cold Nature of Saturn is du∣plicated by the presence of Mercury, it makes the) Quality of the Season Colder: But if such a Con∣junction or Aspect of the Planets falls out at the New or Full Moon, or at any other Aspect of the Lumi∣naries, the vertue thereof shall appear much more Ef∣fectually, nay, if within three days preceding a New Moon, it addeth Vigour to the Vertue of such a Pla∣netary Conjunction or Aspect.

But when Signs of a contrary Nature be united by commixture of Mutual Aspects, then shall a temperate affection of the Air attend the same. The like you may Judge, if there happen at the same time Con∣stellations of different Natures, whereof one pro∣duceth Frost and Cold, the other Heat; or if one of them bode a Dry Air, the other a Moist, for so of necessity a mean is produced: The Influences of con∣trary Constellations mutually impeding and mitiga∣ting one another: As the Conjunction of the Sun and Jupiter, or Mars, (when both in Fiery Signs) brings with it greater Heat, than if one were in a Cold Sign, and the other in a Hot.

Furthermore, the Full and New Moons that be Celebrated in Angles (the Horoscope especially, or Angle of the Earth) are usually accompanied with Rain the same Day they happen. But here you must

Note, That the Effects of the Stars do often-times shew themselves before they come into Partile Con∣figuration; that is to say, during the time of their Access or Application one to another; and sometimes in their defluxion or separation, which the Ancient Grecian Astrologers named Epichemasin, and Proche∣masin.

There are some, who (not altogether without Rea∣son) Erect Schemes to the Apparent times of the Conjunctions of the Luminaries: And (having found the Almuten of the Figure, and observed what Pla∣nets be Angular) direct the Horoscope of the Con∣junction (allowing one Day for every thirteen De∣grees, eleven Minutes, the mean Motion of the Moon in one Day:) For, that when the Horoscope comes by such Direction to any Planet that was then Angular, or to the Lord of the Lunation, some Change of Air, to Rain or Snow, or Wind, at least a dark Cloudy Air succeedeth.

Consider likewise the Position of the Lord of the Lunation in the Figure, and the Latitude of the Moon, for, from thence come the Winds that occasion Tem∣pests.

Take notice also, when the Moon comes w••••hin the Beams of the Lord of the Figure, or the Angular Planets, for then principally does she manifest her self according to the Nature of the Planet.

The Conjunction of the Planets with Fixed Stars not far distant from the Ecliptique, produce a Notable Alteration of the Air: And when the Stars leave one Sign, and enter into another, they betoken Showers. Yet still a regard must be had to the Qualities of the Signs and Seasons. As if the Mutation be in a Wa∣try Sign, and in the Winter or Spring, then may Rain or Snow be safely denounced, [Snow in Winter, if

so be a Cold Peristasis is impending.] The General Rule is, Grandines in Aprili & Octobri, Nives in Hyeme, in Aestate Tonitrua.

A special regard must be had to the Nature of the Earth and Air peculiar to the Horizon you live in, or Write for; because that in all places they are not of a like Nature: And no less to the Winds that agree to the particular Season of the Year; for as much as they blow not alike in all places, some being Topi∣cal and peculiar to one place; others Chronical, which come at a certain time of the Year: Wherefore Car∣dan, Seg. 7. Aph. 29. Oport••t Coelum cognoscere Re∣gionis, & quo tempore Anni sit tempestuosum, tum etiam cui signo Regio magis conveniat, si veritatem in judicando assequi velimus.

In the next place, let the Interval of the Sun, Moon, and Planets be Observed, which consists of the Ag∣gregate of the Sun and Planets Orbs upon the Access or deflux thereof, and especially in the Corporal Con∣junction of the Planets: As in the Sun's Application to a Conjunction with Saturn, because the Sun's Orb consists of twelve Degrees, and Saturn's of Nine: Therefore so soon as the Sun shall be distant from him, not more than Twenty one Degrees (which Number is produced by the addition of Twelve and Nine Degrees) the Cold commenceth, and lasts for the most part, until the Sun have separated himself Twenty one Degrees from his Conjunction with him.

In like manner, the Planets which have their Houses opposite, when they behold one another by a forcible Aspect, as the Opposition, or Quartile, or Trine, do introduce a Memorable Change to Rain, or Cold, or Heat. As, if the Sun be in Aspect with Saturn, a Cold Peristasis of the Air, especially if either of them

be in Watry Signs: In the Summer time frequent showers, but in Winter, Cold and Snow. So also the Configuration of Mars and Venus, do bring, for the most part, Heat and warm Showers; Jupiter and Mer∣cury vehement blasts of Wind. And these Configu∣rations of the Sun with Saturn, Venus and Mars, Ju∣piter and Mercury, are (by the Ancient Mathema∣ticians) called Portarum seu valvarum Apertiones.

Nor must you neglect the rising and setting of the fifteen Fixed Stars of the First, and the fifteen of the Second Magnitude, Recorded by Ptolomy, in his Ka∣lendar. For, if upon the Days that those Stars rise or set with the Sun, there be a New or Full Moon Ce∣lebrated, or that some Planet of a Conformable Na∣ture with those Fixed Glories shall rise or set with him, or some other memorable Constellation that Day hap∣pen, then may you safely Predict a notable Change of Air. And this is confirmed of Cardan, Segm. 7. Aphor. 71. Oportet & exortus & occasus Heliacos cla∣riorum Syderum observare, vix enim fiet, nè sub Ortu Caniculae siccitatis, morbi non vigeant; & sub Arcturi occasu imbres.

And indeed, unless the rising and setting of the Fixed Stars did Operate something, we should hardly have Rain at one time more than another: For (as saith the same Author, Seg. 7. Aph. 72.) Incertus est Planetarum concursus.

Observe also, when the Moon, or any of the Pla∣nets transits the Angles of the Worlds Revolution, and of the Angles of the New ••nd Full Moons; for then, be sure, some Change of Air ensueth, according to the Nature of those Planets.

Moreover, if upon a Conjunction or Opposition of the three Superiour Planets, either amongst themselves, or with the three Inferiours, the Moon soon after apply

unto them by an Opposite or Quartile Configuration, be assured of Rain or Winds, according to the Na∣ture of the Planets so Conjoyn'd or Opposed.

Consider too, the Eclipses, Comets, and other ge∣neral. Constitutions, for often-times they augment or mitigate the Special. I presume it is not forgotten, what vehement and mighty Winds we had in January and February following the first appearance of the Comet in December, 1652. and what Incredible Tem∣pests were the two following Years, on the Coasts of England, France, Spain, Holland, and Germany; in the Atlantick Ocean, and the Baltick Seas; the Owners of the Navies thereby scattered, and of the many Ships, Goods, and Men that were lost, and therein miserably Perished, have cause to remember.

Neither do ye wholly neglect the Rule of Eudoxus, which Pliny tells of (Lib. 2. Cap. 47.) viz. That in the space of four Years, not only the Winds, but all other Tempests (for the most part) return to what they were before. For, although that Rule of his depends only upon this Foundation, [That at the end of four Years next following the Leap-year, the Po∣litical-year agrees almost with the Astronomical, in respect of Time, the rising, setting, and Mediation of the Fixed Stars with the Sun; howbeit, the Motion of the Moon, and the other Planets be far different:] Yet because the Power of the Sun and Fixed Stars is so great in stirring up of Tempests, and the Moon not far dis••ant from the place opposite unto that where∣in she was four Years before, it is probable, that al∣most the same Tempests may return: I confess I ne∣ver observ'd it. But touching the Mansions of the Moon, I do not regard them; as remembring what Cardan admonisheth, Seg. 7. Aph. 57. Mansiones

Lunae nè inspicias, est Luna vis à loco suo, à loco in signif••ro, à Lumine, Planetis & Fixis.

And these are the Rules I thought fit to communi∣cate concerning the Change of the Weather.