Apotelesma, or, The nativity of the world, and the revolution thereof with astrologicall judgements thereupon / by George Wharton ...

Of the Diseases this Yeare.

NOw as touching the Diseases of this yeare, although it be true, That a drie year is wholsomer than a moist, yet according to Cardan, 3. Aph. 7. Praedominante siccitate, Febres acutae generan∣tur: when siccity prevailes, acute Feavers are generated: Exci∣tantur etiam morhi tabisici, Opthalmiae, Capitis & Articulorum dolores, difficultates Intestinorum, & Urinae. 3. Aph. 10. Diseases also are excited that lead to Consumptions, Inflammations of the Eyes, griefs of the Head and Joints, Diseases and pains of the En∣tralls, with stoppage of the Urine. More particularly, the Winter shall abound with Head-aches, Coughs, Hoarsness and Rheums, (which according to Gallen) be symptomes of a full head. The Spring with diseases and death of aged men: The Summer with Abortive births and dissenteries, or bloody flixes, amongst such as be of a Flegmatick complexion: Nevertheless, a Summer col∣der than usual is very favourable to them that be melancholike or ch••llerike, though to such this Autumn will be very obnoxious; for it brings with it dry diseases of the Eyes, acute and durable Feavers, Compressions of the Breast, and Exuberances of Black Cholar, yet shall it be beneficial to women, and such as are of a Flegmatike complexion.

Moreover, I greatly fear that England will this yeer suffer by the Plague or Pestilence: Howbeit we cannot (I confess) judge thereof by the face of the heavens, only as Cardan himself affirm∣eth, 2. Aph. 132. and therefore (saith Origanus) Ex Histori••s & experientia petendum erit, quibus periodis Regionem aliquam in∣ficiat: We must gather from Histories and Experience, in what number of yeers it is usually wont to infect any Nation, Coun∣trey or City; it being certain, that in some places there are set times and periods in which the Plague rageth: For, the same O∣riganus tells us; how at Francofurt they have found by experience, that about every ten yeers the seeds of the Pestilence hath shewed it self: As in 1506. being the first yeer of their Academy, when Saturn was in the Lyon, in 1516 when he was in Sagittarie, and in 1526. when in the Ram: the like he proves of other yeers. Peu∣cerus

also informs us, that whensoever Saturn was in the Lion, or in Aquary, the countrey of Wirtenberge hath been infested with Pestilent diseases, and moreover, that the same have been intended of exasperated by the Conjunction or Opposition of Mars unto him. And I remember, it was the observation of our learned Countrey-man Mr. Cam••den, That Saturn never passes through a Sign of the Fiery Triplicity, but be afflicts the City of London with a Plague or Pestilence, or some other Epidemical disease: And I willingly agree therein with him; for (having consulted Historie for the yeers, in which any great Mortality or Plague af∣flicted us) I find▪ That Saturn at or about the beginning thereof in London was ever in Aries, Leo, or Sagittary (Signs of the Fiery Trigon.) I will instance a few for better satisfaction.

He was in Aries when that universal Pestilence first began in London, in the 22. of Edw. 3.

He was in Sagittary, when the sweating sickness began in the first yeer of Henry 7. and in Leo when that other sweating sick∣ness began in the 22. of his Reign.

He was again in Sagittary upon that third sweating sickness in the 9 of Hen. 8. and in Aries at the beginning of the fourth, in the 20. of Hen. 8.

He was also in Sagittary in the 36. of Hen. 8. when that great plague began in London, which adjourn'd the Term to St. Al∣banes.

He was in Leo, when in the 6. of Eliz. the Pestilence began in London after the return of the Army from Newhaven: And again in Leo in the 36. of her Reign, whilest that great Plague raged in London, which caused the Term to be again holden at St. Albanes.

He was in Sagittary in the first yeer of King Iames, when that great Plague began in London, which devoured so many thou∣sands.

And was he not again in Leo in the first of King Charls, when that other great Plague began in London, which removed the Par∣liament to Oxford?

Was he not in Sagittary in the eighth, nineth, and tenth years of King Charls, when the Pestilence again raged in so many parts of England?

What strange and unheard of Pestilential diseases reigned i•• London, Oxford, and other places of the Narion, during Saturn's

progress through Aries, in the nineteenth and twentieth years of the same King? And have we had other or less the most part of the three years he was last in Leo?

Many more I could have instanc'd (for I have them all by me) but I suppose that these few may satisfie the intelligent Reader, if therein he be but half so impartial, as I have been curiously in∣quisitive.

But the chief Coelestial Causes (or Signs) threatning the Pe∣stilence (or other violent diseases) this year, are the Comet in Decemb. 1652. and the great Eclipse of the Sun in August last, whose point Deficient was within 3. scruples of the Revolutio∣nal degree and minute ascending this year 1655. the dire effects whereof began on S. Andrews day (the last of November, 1654) this being the 120^th day from that of the Eclipse (agreeable to 4^h. 57′. the Interval or space of time betwixt the Sun-rise on the second of August, and the middle-time of the then visible conjunction of the Luminaries:) and continue in force two whole years, four moneths, and four days (proportionable to 2. hours, 19′ the time that Eclipse lasted) that is to say, till the Annuntia∣tion of our blessed Lady commencing the yeer 1657. according to the Ecclesiastical Accompt.

Cardanus (Lib. 15. cap. 78. de Rer. var.) enumerates other signs of the Pestilence, which be very considerable, as the Mur∣rain amongst Cattle, who (because their mouths are inclined downward) do quicklier attract or draw unto them the impure vapours of the earth, and are therefore more and sooner offended, especially those of a moist nature, as sheep, Oxen and swine; for, Goats and Horses are not so subject thereunto, and much less Dogs. For, when it continues amongst such creatures, Men are easily infected So likewise an unspeakable multitude of creeping creatures of Frogs or Flies, are a sign of future Pestilence. In the 12. year of Rich. 2. and in the moneth of Iuly, whilest the King was at Sheene (now called Richmond) there swarmed in his Court such a multitude of Flies and Gnats, skirmishing one with another, that in the end they were swept away with brooms by h••aps, and bushels filled with them; after which (saith the Story) there followed a great Mortality.

Moreover, the Plague is signified by Fires wandring in the aire, especially if it be soon after the Spring: so also by a clou∣dy and scorched summer without windes: by much rain that is

followed with great heat (for this putrifies the Water, by which the Plague is generated:) By a multitude of Locusts dying, (for they endanger not a little the corruption of the Aire.) And the Countries or Cities infected do frequently transmit it to their Neighbours, specially those that lie Westward off them 1 Solet enim Pestis quasi motu Coeli diurno, ab Oriente in Occidentem procedere: The Plague or Pestilence follows the diurne Motion of the Heavens from East to West. The like is portended by con∣fused sounds in the Night, by Earthquakes and Inundations, which are both the Causes and Signes thereof, as I could manifest by History, if I feared not the want of Paper.

Now (lastly) as touching the Continuance of the Pestilence, Cardan tells us 7. Aph. 121. Pestis quatuor annis durar•• nun∣quam potest: The Plague or Pestilence can never last fully out 4. yeares; Which Aphorisme must be understood not of divers places, but of one; Experience teaching us, that it never lasts longer. For example: the contagious uiniversall Pestilence (before mentioned) in Edw. 3. time, although it began in the East and South parts A ^o. 1348. and continued till 1357. (above 9. years) yet wee read not that (in all this time it continued wholly out 4. years in any one Province, Countie, or Citie, not∣withstanding it spread it selfe all Christendome over. The Reason whereof I could give you, but that I would avoid tedi∣ousness.