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

Of the Mutations, Inclinations and E∣versions of Empires, Kingdoms, &c.

IT will not be (I hope) ungrateful to the Ingeni∣ous, if I recollect and commend unto their, and my own contemplation, the Causes of the Mutations, Inclinations and Eversions of Empires, Kingdoms and Commonwealths; and the rather, because (as I suppose) Time never produced an Age so full of Prodigies, nor a Generation of Men so inclin'd to Novelty, as now the present; wherein every day pre∣sents a New Inquiry, every Month a fresh Vicissitude.

The Politiques distinguish the Causes of all Muta∣tions into Two sorts; First, and Second.

The First cause is God, the Creator and Gover∣nour of all things: For, notwithstanding the Actions of all Individual Human Creatures be in a Human Power; yet the Constitutions, Governments and Con∣servations of Human Communions and Societies, or Republiques, are not so in the Power of Men, but depend wholly upon the First and Supreme Cause, and the disposition thereof: And for as much as God per∣forms his greatest works in the world by Angels; it

is not impossible, or strange, if I say and aver, that every Empire, Kingdom and Republique, hath some certain Angel and Genius peculiarly appropriated thereunto) as a Governour ordained by God. For this is the constant opinion of the Jews, who believe that every Person and Place, hath a certain Guar∣dian Angel set over it; nor do a few Doctors of the Catholick Church believe otherwise, whilst in Dan. 10, 11. there is mention made of an Angel Gover∣nour of Persia, and Grece; and that the Apostle (Ephes. 3.) expresly constitutes a certain Order of Angels, which he calls Potestates, [Rulers, or Potentates; or as our English Translation hath it, Principalities and Powers.]

God hath set certain Intervals, and Periods of times, to all Empires, &c. amongst which Periods, the 500. and 700. years are accounted most Fatal, as you may see in Bodin, Lib. 4. Cap. 2. but especially in Rich∣terus, Ax. 1.2. & seq. And the natural reason here∣of, is, for that in this space of time, there clapseth the sixth Generation of Men; which abateth of, and more and more declineth from, the simplicity, strength and fortitude of those Men, who at first obtained and preserved Empires, by such vertues: For like as the Bodies of Men became weak and feeble in the fourth and fifth Generation, even so also decreaseth the strength and fortitude, whereby Kingdoms are acqui∣red, preserved and propagated.

Besides, it hath been observed, that at the end of every 30th. year, there usually falls out some one or other Mutation in Empires, &c. because that af∣ter so many years, such men as formerly had the Go∣vernment of Affairs and things therein, do (for the most part) leave their Station: and that from thence∣forth New Ones succeed them, who in the space of

Thirty years more grow up, and introduce new Customs and Opinions in the Commonwealth: as you may read in Richterus, Axiom, 9.

Moreover, it is certain, that as God hath appointed fatal Bounds, and Limits of time to all Empires, &c. so hath he the like Bounds and Limits to all other particular places; and when any change of Em∣pires, &c. is imminent, he commonly raiseth up some great Heroes, whom he useth as Organs, to pu∣nish or amend them: yet first revealeth such future changes by certain Signs and Prodigies. Vid. Bodin. Lib. 4. Cap. 2. Richt. Axiom. 19. And thus much of the first cause of the Changes of Empires, King∣doms, and Republiques, &c.

The Second Cause, is either Natural, or Moral.

The Natural cause, is either Superior, or Inferior.

The Superior Natural Cause, is the Motion and Influence of the Planets and Stars upon these Inferi∣ours; touching which, the Ingenious Keckerman, Lib. 1. Cap. 26. delivers this Canon.

Coelum, Efficacissimè agit in Corpus humanum, sibi maximè cognatum, atque adeo etiam in corpus tum ip∣sius Principis, tum Subditorum; ita nempe, ut in corpo∣ribus mutat temperamenta: mutatis autem tempera∣mentis mutantur mores; mutatis moribus Principum & Subditorum, Sequitur mutatio Reip.—Heaven (saith he) most effectually Operates upon a Human Body, best agreeable to it self, and so also on the Body both of the Prince himself and his Subjects: to wit, so, as that it changeth the Temperaments of Mens Bodies, and with those Temperaments their manners or conditions: and the manners or conditions of Princes and Subjects being changed a mutation of the Commonwealth followeth.

And with him agrees that excellent Mathematician

and Astrologer, Origanus part, 3. Membr. 2. Cap. 1. Non modo in Regnis varias mutationes & translati∣ones animadvertimus, dum modo hos, modo illos Reg∣nare atque aliis Dominari comperimus: verum etiam in ipsa superficie terrae nihil esse perpetuum, & ex col∣latione temporum & locorum, Siccum humido, humi∣dum sicco permutari, terrasque alias aquis aboleri, alias assurgere deprehendimus: We Observe not only sundry Changes and Translations of Kingdoms, whilst these and these Planets reign, and bear Rule with others: but also that upon the whole surface of the Earth, there is nothings perpetual, and by comparing of Times and Places, perceive Siccity chang'd into Moisture, Moist∣ure to Siccity; some Countries destroy'd, others in∣creas'd by Waters. Thus He; and that very truly: For although God the Author of Nature, and the First Cause of every Good thing, changes Countries and Transfers Kingdoms at his pleasure: yet seeing he hath engraven in the Book of Nature (and chiefly, in Heaven, which measureth Times) the Motions and Mutations of all things, things that be Invisible even his own eternal Power, for the greatest part; yea and exposed Heaven unto our view, that it might be for signs of Present and Future things: I shall not think it contrary to true Religion, or Good Manners, if (with Fear and Reverence) I enquire the Superior Natural Causes of those Mutations, so long as I ascribe no necessity thereunto; Maugre the Croaking and Coaxation of some few Epileptique Prophets and other Religious Lunatiques, who prate and perswade the Contrary.

The First Cause, is, the Change of the Absides of the Planets, whereby the Five Planets together with the Sun, transfer the Places in which they are highest and most remote from the Center of the Earth,

so also the Places wherein they are lowest and nearest thereunto; and together with those Places, their swiftness and slowness of Motion, into several parts of the Zodiaque, according to the succession of the Signs: whereof Cardan, Seg. 1. Aph. 37. in these words, Per∣mutationes Absidum, Regna, & Regiones, & Religiones mutant. Changes of the Absides alter Kingdoms, Regions and Religions.

Thus from the Change of Saturn's Absis into Can∣cer, Mahomet had his growth; and by the Change thereof into Capricorn (the Sign Opposite thereunto) receives he Detriment, and at length a final Destruction.

Spinaeus (an Excellent Astrologian, and Physician to the Duke of Mantua) in his Catastrophe Mundi, (Genuinely English'd by the Polite Quill of my Oak∣en Friend Elias Ashmole Esq) tells us, that Maho∣mets Destruction initiated Anno 1630, &c. and this he chiefly deduces from the Change of Saturn's Absi•• out of Sagittary into Capricorn, which indeed I confess fell out (according to the Prutenick Tables) in the end of the year 1630. But by the more accurate observations of lat••r Authors, the Absis of Saturn continues in Sagittary for many years yet to come; For by the Philolaique Tables (the best extant) it enters not Capricorn until the beginning of the year 1728. and therefore it could not in the least be (un∣less we will have the Effect precede its Cause) that Mahomets Destruction commenc'd (in this respect) in, or near the year 1630. Nevertheless, I believe (with Spinaeus) that the many Revolutions of the Heavens, in, and about that year, have already pro∣duced a sensible Commencement of Detriment unto him; yet conclude not his final Destruction, until after the year 1728. Wherein Saturns Absis will be Changed into Capricorn, and that several other

Causes concur to extirpate him, and his Law.

There is no other change of the Absis of any Planet falling out in our time, save only the Absis of Mars, and this happen'd (according to Bullialdus) in the latter end of the year 1647. which was from Leo to Virgo: and what a strange mutation ensued the year following, viz. A Dissolution of the English Monarchy, &c. the whole World can witness: which very thing signally confirms that of Ludovic. de Reg. Aph. 9. Mutantur Regna & Dominia, Fides, Sectae{que} ac opiniones hominum, dum mutantur Auges Planetarum de signo in signum: dico illarum gentium quarum significator erit Planeta Augis permutatae:— Kingdoms and Governments, Faith, Religions and Opinions of Men are changed when the Auges, (or Absides) of the Planets are changed from one Sign to another; I mean the Kingdoms, Governments, Faith, Religions and Opinions of such Nations as have for their significator the Planet whose Auge is changed. Now all men know, who know any thing of this Nature, that Aries is the Ascendant and Mars (Lord thereof) the significator of England: and so he is of France, Germany, Denmark, and several other places, who are herein no less concern'd than the English, as a few years will assuredly manifest.

Mutatioque erit ad bonum vel malum secundum Naturam significatorum superiorum illorum temporum, & secundum Naturam signi mutationis: And this change (saith that same Author and Aphorisme) shall be to Good or Evil, according to the Nature of the chief significators of those times, and Sign of Muta∣tion. We know Saturn, Mars, and Mercury have born the greatest sway in almost every Eclipse, Revo∣••ution and other notable Configurations of the Planets, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and since that year, especially in Two of the Three

Eclipses of 1652. and in the great and Total Eclipse Anno 1653. in March. And as for the Sign into which this change was made, it is Virgo, the principal house of Mercury, a Cold and Dry, Melancholy, Barren Sign: whereby we may easily judge of what Nature the Change is: I spare to Expatiate.

Another Cause, is the Change of the Sun's Eccen∣tricity, described of Copernicus (cap. 20 lib. 3. Revol.) by the Motion of a little Circle having the Center of the Eccentrick in its Circumference, and finishing its Period in 3434 years.

The year 1653. Offers it the least that can be (ac∣cording to Rheinoldus and Copernicus) being 32190. such parts as the Eccentrick hath 1000000, or Part 1. 55′. 53″. 24‴. where the Semidiameter of the Suns Eccentricity hath 60. The greatest, viz. 2°. 3••. 7″. happen'd 36 years before Christ; about the be∣ginning of the Roman Monarchy; Georgius Joachim•••• Rheticus callled this Circle the Wheel of Fortune, by whose Revolutions (saith he) the Monarchies of the world assume their Commencements and Changes: For like as the Roman Empire obtain'd its Highest Dignity when the Eccentricity was greatest, so the same decreasing, it is very much Impaired, and al∣most at the Brink of Destruction. But the Turkish Empire began in the First Quadrant, with the Law of Mahomet; and hath been most swiftly aug∣mented proportionably to the Motion thereof, being at this Day, wherein the Eccentricity is at the least, in a Flourishing Estate: But shall henceforward be di∣minished until the other Quadrant, and alike swiftly (God so pleasing) hasten to Destruction.

Indeed, according to Tycho and others of the bes•• Astronomers, the Eccentricity is already notably in∣creased, viz. unto Part 2. 9′. or thereabouts

Lausbergius makes it Part 2. 6′. 21″. Insomuch that if the Christians of Europe could but henceforth lay aside their Ambition and Avarice, and Live at Peace among themselves, the God of Nature presents them with an Age, wherein they may totally subvert and lay waste the Empire of ••he Turks, and put a speedy Period to the Law of their Prophet Mahomet.

A Third Cause is, the change of the Obliquity of the Zodiack, which (when at the greatest) accord∣ing to Bullialdus, is, 23°. 52′. 53″. And this was Anno Nabonassari, 381. (367 years before the Na∣tivity of Christ.) When at the least, 23°. 31′. 7″. and that fell out Anno Christi 1434. so that the mean betwixt these is, 23°. 42′. 00″.

In the year 1653. the greatest Obliquity of the Zodiack was 23°. 31′. 55″. For the Motion of the Anomaly of the Zodiack's Obliquity, was 6^s. 21°. 49′. The Prosthaphaeresis, 0′. 48″. which added to the least Obliquity, 23°. 31′. 7″. gives us 23°. 31′. 55″. as before. So that the Obliquity of the Zodiack is now likewise increasing; for it still increaseth and diminish∣eth with the Suns Eccentricity: Whereby it appears, that the Axis of the Earth's Poles. by little and little changes its Inclination to the Plane of the Zodiack, through some Motion of the Libration. But to find out the Physical Cause thereof, my Reason concludes it almost impossible: For, as Bullialdus truly saith, Scimus rem esse, sed causam motus illius ignoramus, n••c potest humani Ingenii acumen pervidere causas illas: We know (saith he) there is such a Motion, but are ignorant of the Cause thereof; nor can the subtilty of Humane Wit throughly perceive those Causes.

A Fourth Cause is, ••he Conjunction of the ••wo Su∣periour Planets, Saturn and Jupiter, which (accord∣ing to Cardanus) is three-fold; [Great, Mean, and Lesser.]

The Lesser are they which happen in Signs of the same Nature or Trigon, with others preceding them, and so cannot occasion any great Change; yet are not without their peculiar Effects, as you may see in Card••n, Seg. 5. Aphor. 48. Of these there be ten in Number, which do orderly succeed one another in the space of less than 200 Years.

The Mean are they which fall out in a differen•• Trigon, yet not in such as are altogether contrary is qualities; that is, when the Conjunctions pass from a Fiery into an Earthy Sign, out of an Earthy into an Airy, or from an Airy into a Watry Sign; as from Ari••s into Capricorn, out of Capricorn into Libra, from Libra to Cancer.

As touching these it is certain they produce sundry Operations: For they alter, in one respect or other, the Estate of Empires, Kingdoms, Common-wealths, and Countries, causing some new Empires and King∣doms to emerge: Like as that of Al••xander the Great, in an Airy; the Persians in an Earthy, and that of Mahomet in a Wat••y; as you may read in Cardan, S••g. 1. Aphor. 73. And of these Conjunctions (if so be you account fr••m the change of the Fiery Tri∣gon into the Earthy) th••re falleth out always three within the space of 596 Year••: The First in the Earthy, the Second in the Airy, and the Third in the Watry Trigon.

But they are called Great Conjunctions, which be∣gin to be Celebrat••d in the Fi••ry Trigon, chiefly in Aries, (the first Sign of th•• Zodiack.) For when there shall be a Transit made from a Watry into a Fiery Sign, which are as contrary ••ach to other in th••ir prime qu••lities, as Fire is to Water; then also do great Mutations succeed all the World over: And this is clear'd to all Men, who have been ••ut never so lit∣tle conversant in History.

For, if we Calculate backward, and allow for each of these Great Conjunctions 794 Years, and about a half, we shall be reduced from the Year 1603. (in which there happened a Great Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter in Sagittary) to the Year of Christ 809. in which the Roman Empire (Destroyed by continual Wars) is at length reformed and augmented under Charles the Great: Thence to the Year of Christ 15. soon after which succeeded a great Mutation both of the State Ecclesiastical and Political. From thence to the Year preceding Christ, 779; soon after which followed the Institution of the Olympick Games and Times, the Birth of Romulus and R••mus, the Build∣ing of Rome, and a grievous Affliction of the King∣dom of Israel, by Tiglath Pileser King of the Assyrians, and at length a Destruction thereof by Salmanassar his Successor.

Hence we recede to the 1574. Year before Christ, near unto which Moses was Born, who afterwards led the People of Israel out of Egypt by a Divine Power. Thence to the Year 2368. within one Age after which followed the Universal Deluge; afterwards to the Year 3163. and at length to the Year 3957. about which God Created the World of Nothing.

And 'tis good Reason, that like as Rome was Built a little after the beginning of the fifth Fi••ry Trigon, (the first being that under which the World was Created) and afterwards by little and little increased, and amongst other Cities the great Assembly of the Inhabitants, People, and Kingdoms she has subdued, bore up her Head, until at length, (about the six••h Fiery Trigon) she had reduced very many King∣doms of Europe, Asia, and Africa, to the Form of a Monarchy and Sovereign Empire, and flourished in great Glory; and that from thence the Empire, b••ing

divided into two, [East and West,] was observed to be fallen to decay, been troubled with Intestine Wars, and exhausted by the Alienations of Kingdoms and Provinces, until about the seventh Trigon it was re∣stored by Charles the Great, and (in some sort) re∣ceived its Pristine Beauty: So also shall this Empire, at this time, under the eighth Fiery Trigon, sustain great Mutations; which I rather leave to Experience, than Prostitute my own Judgment at so easie a rate.

Nor do only the Great, Mean, and Lesser Con∣junctions of the two Superiours, but also their Op∣posite and Quartile Configurations design great Mu∣tations in the World, as you may read in Cardan, Seg. 5. Aphor. 49. and Seg. 7. Aphor. 6.

Other Causes are Comets, or counterfeit Stars, &c. such as that whereof Josephus (Bell. Jud. Lib. 7. Cap. 12.) makes mention, which appeared for a years space in the form of a Fiery Sword, over the City Jerusalem, fore-warning her Destruction; or as that at the Death of Mahomet, seen at High-Noon, in the sh••pe (also) of a Sword, which continued the space of a Month, rendring his Death no less Prodigious than was the course of his Life. Or that of the Year 1572. in Cassiop••ia, surpassing of the quantity of the Earth 500 times: Or those of the Years 1604. and 1618. which were no less Miraculous than that the Sun should stand still, as we read it did in the Days of Joshua. or return ten Degrees backward, as once up∣on the Dial of Abaz; or be Eclipsed so near a Full Moon, as at our Saviour's Passion, being all of them alike ••strang'd from the accustomed Order of Na∣ture.

In like manner the Eclipses of th•• Luminaries are the Causes of many Changes that ensue in the World, because their Effects are general, pouring forth the••r

Influence, not only upon Cities, but even whole Re∣gions subject to the Quadrangle (the Sign more espe∣cially) wherein the Defect happens; and no less on particular Persons who have any affinity in their Ge∣nitures with the Schemes of such Eclipses: So like∣wise are the strong Genitures of Kings, &c. Geniturae validae Regna mutant. Mighty Genitures change or translate Kingdoms.

Causes adjuvant, are Revolutions of the World, the Progression of the Great Orb, of Great Con∣junctions before the Flood, the Birth of Christ, Ma∣homet, and the like.

I could much enlarge my self upon the Progressions of the Great Orb, Great Conjunctions, &c. but shall forbear, in regard the most of them concern Foreign Parts, excepting that of the Great Conjunction be∣fore the Flood, which in the Year 1653. was come to the Sign Cancer, and did therefore afflict (according to Albumazar, Tract. 4. Differ. 4.) the Countries of Scotland and Holland with many Changes and Con∣versions of things, from one condition to another, a Famine and Poverty proceeding from Siccity and Drought; and a general Fear to possess the People of those places, because of their Enemies: Great Morta∣lity and Slaughters amongst them, with abundance of such Creatures as are destructive to the Earth.

Thus far have you seen the Superiour Natural Causes of the Mutations or Changes of Empires, Kingdoms, and Common-Wealths, how far, wherein, and when they concern us, and other Nations.

The Inferiour Natural Cause, is either within or without Man.

That within is the Disposition of the Temperament of the Bodies both of Princes and Subjects, a••d ••o both different Births and Deaths, (as well) of them that

Govern (as those that be Governed in) the Com∣mon-Wealth.

That without, is a Mutation either of Fire or Wa∣ter, and of the Earth, and place where the Common-wealth is constituted: Unto which do belong House-burnings, Earthquakes, Change of Ports, Barrenness, Famine, Pestilence, and all other Natural damages, by the which Common-wealths are changed.

The Moral Cause of Mutation, is either Internal, or External.

The Internal, is either on the Prince's or Subject's part.

The Internal on the Prince's part admits this gene∣ral Canon.

The beginnings of Princes are for the most part good, but their Progress worse: From which Change arise great Mutations in Publick Affairs and things.

The Internal Cause (also) of Changes in respect of the Prince, is either Ethical, or Political.

Touching Ethical Causes, there are these Canons:

1. Intemperance and Lust of Princes occasion change of the Common-wealth.

2. The like when Princes are Effeminate and Cow∣ardly. For, like as Empires are obtained, maintain∣ed and kept by Warlike Fortitude; so on the con∣trary are they lost, or dangerously changed by soft∣ness and Pusillanimity.

Political Causes of Changes, are either in respect of the Foundation of the Principality, or of the Office and Care of the Prince.

As touching the Causes respecting the Foundation of the Principality, there be these Canons:

1. It is impossible any Common-wealth should long be safe, where the Prince comes to Rule, either by a

violent Invasion, or a crafty Subreption, without any access to the Principality.

2. The Perjuries of Princes; that is, when they keep not their Oaths made to their Subjects, at the time they were called to Govern, bring upon King∣doms dangerous Changes and Conversions.

3. The Authority of a Prince decreasing produceth Change; and when the Periods of Empires are di∣volved, the Authority of those that Govern, faileth.

The Causes that respect the Care or Office of the Prince, have these Canons.

1. When the Prince listens not to Wise and Faith∣ful Councellors, Changes are imminent.

2. When Publick Judgments are corrupted, and hainous Impieties remain unpunished, Changes are at hand.

3. When the Prince affords not the Subject a Law∣ful and necessary Defence, but suffers him to be vexed and trampled over by Incursions of Enemies, Changes ensue.

4. When the Revenues of a Kingdom decrease, of necessity a Change must follow: For Moneys are the Nerves of Empires.

5. When the Prince doth too much Poll his Sub∣jects with heavy Tributes and Exactions, a Change succeedeth.

6. When the Potency and Amplitude of Kingdoms arrive at an exceeding greatness, a Change follows for the most part, and the Empire falleth by its own weight.

7. Foreigners rashly irritated, or called into a Kingdom, do introduce a Change thereof.

These are the Causes of the Prince his part; there now remain the Causes on the Subjects part; which are (also) either Ethical or Political.

Touching the Ethical Causes, these be the Canons.

1. When grievous Wickedness is committed amongst the Subjects, and all Reverence of the Laws shaken off, and that they Live Licentiously, in Lust and Luxu∣ry, Mutations follow.

2. When Subjects degenerate from their Pristine Fortitude, and become Unwarlike and Effeminate, Kingdoms are Changed.

Political Causes have these Canons.

1 When Subjects begin to have their Princes in hatred, and grow weary of them, Changes will as∣suredly follow.

2. P••nishments and Changes do ever succeed In∣fidelity of Subjects.

3. Changes of things do always accompany the Disobedience and Contumacy of Subjects.

4. Where nei••her the Laws nor Magistrates are had in Honour, there the Common-wealth cannot be safe or durable.