Opus astrologicum, &c. or, An astrological work left to posterity, by Nich. Culpeper, gent. Briefly containing, 1. A century of aphorisms, appropriated to the resolving of horary questions. 2. Elections astrological, for such as are going to war. 3. Elections and observations concerning journeys. 4. Elections for buildings, hidden treasures, and marriages. 5. Prognostications, and astrological secrets, proved by example.

Prognosticks.

1.

WHen you hear any News, or else in Questions about News, behold the Ascen∣dent and his Lord, and the Lord of the hour.

2.

If the Dragons tail, Saturn, or Mars be there, or the Lord of the Ascendent with them, there is not a word of it true.

3.

If Jupiter, Venus, or the Sun be there, not impedited, 'tis true enough.

4.

If no Planet be in the Ascendent, view the fifth house: if any Planet be there, judge by the former Rules.

5.

If there no Planet there neither, view the Lord of the hour; see whether he be Direct or Retrograde, in what house he is, and to what Planet he is aspected. Your own Reason, and the former Rules, will help you to judge of the matter.

6.

The part of reports is taken from the distance from Mercury to the Moon, counting so much by the Ascendent: you may judge by that: for if that be in a fixed Signe, or a Signe of right ascen∣sions, it is likely to be true; otherwise false.

7.

If the Ascendent be a moveable Signe, especially Aries, be sure there is never a word of it true.

8.

If the Fortunes be in angles, 'tis pro∣bable to be true: if the Infortunes be there, 'tis false, unless it belong to the Infortunes.

9.

As for example: if it belong to Wars, or strife, and Mars be in an angle, they are true.

10.

If Jupiter be there, 'tis false, because Jupiter loves Peace; War is contrary to his nature.

11.

Likewise if Saturn be angular, and the report be concerning death, captivity, or sickness, 'tis true, because they are of his nature.

12.

If a Letter come to thee, and thou wouldst know his intent that sent it; the man that sent it is signified by the Planet the Moon separated from; the messen∣ger, by the Lord of the fifth house; thy self, by the Lord of the Ascendent: and Mercury is the general significator of writing Le••ters.

13.

At the time when you search for hid treasures, let the Lord of the Ascendent be in the tenth or eleventh houses, or else give his strength to the Lord of them: let the Moon apply to a Planet above the earth: let Jupiter be Lord of the hour;

let him not be retrograde nor combust, nor impedited; nor let Saturn nor Mars be in angles.

14.

If a Question be demanded, when any any shall get out of prison, or captivity, behold the Ascendent and his Lord.

15.

If the Lord of the Ascendent be an∣gular, especially in the fourth house, it will be long ere he be delivered.

16.

The like if the Moon be angular; worse in the twelfth, or joyned or aspected to the Lord of the twelfth.

17.

The like if the Lord of the Ascendent be joyned to the Lord of the twelfth: for then if Saturn or Mars be Lord of

the twelfth, he will die in prison.

18.

If you would know his intents that laid him in prison, behold the Lord of the seventh house, and judge accordingly.

19.

Moveable Signes hasten delivery; so doth the Lord of the third house, in a∣spect to the Lord of the Ascendent, or the Moon or Lord of the Ascendent in the third house.

20.

When a man comes to demand a Que∣stion, it is possible to know what his thoughts are, before he reveals them.

21.

Behold where the Lord of the Ascen∣dent is; provided he be not combust, nor retrograde, nor in his detriment or fall:

for then you must heed the Moon, and the Lord of the hour.

22.

Consider them: if they, or which is strongest of them, be in the first house, the Querent comes about himself; if in the second, about his estate or goods.

23.

If in the first part of the third, about little journeys; in the second, about his brethren.

24.

In the first part of the fourth, his father, mother, or ancestors; the second part, his house, farm, or ship: if it be a watry Signe, the third part, of the end of some business.

25.

In the first part of the fifth, children or scholars; the second, joy or play; the third, clothes or ornaments; the fourth, reports, letters, books, or messengers.

26.

In the first part of the sixth, of sick∣ness; the second, of servants; the third, of small cattel.

27.

In the first part of the seventh, of his wife or sweet-heart; the second, of his society; the third, of theft, or goods lost.

28.

In the first part of the eighth, of death or fear; in the second part, dividing in∣heritance; in the third, of debts.

29.

In the first part of the ninth, of Reli∣gion, or Laws; the second, of journeys; the third, of dreams.

30.

In the tenth, of Kings, Princes or Po∣tentates; of honour, office, or dignity.

31.

In the first part of the eleventh, of Merchants, or Merchandizing; the se∣cond, riches; the third, of friends.

32.

The first part of the twelfth, enemies; the second, captivity; the third, beasts.

33.

If the Lord of the Ascendent be im∣pedited, or not in a Signe of his own sex,

take the Moon: if the Moon be in no better case, take the Lord of the hour.

34.

There are two Significators special, of Questions: First, the Planet which the Lord of the Ascendent is separated from. Secondly, the Planet the Moon is separated from.

35.

The general Significator is the Planet which hath most dignities in the Ascen∣dent, or in the Conjunction or Oppo∣sition of the Sun and Moon, if it were neer at hand, or in the Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter, if that were also newly past.

I shall insert one Example for this, and so conclude.

A certain man came to an Artist about a Question, without revealing one par∣ticular, but onely the general, what he came about.

[illustration]

First, he viewed the Lady of the Ascendent, from whom she was separa∣ted; and that was from the Sun, who is Lord of the eleventh house, and is in the fourth: by that, he knew the Que∣stion was about something which he lo∣ved; which was signified by the fourth house; viz. either his father, or his mo∣ther. But because the Moon is separated from the Lord of the seventh, which is the house of women, he knew it was his mother he came to enquire about. And because the Moon is in the house of Journeys, he knew it was about some Journey his mother was about to take; which is aggravated by her being dispo∣sed by Mercury in the third house.

And because Venus is opposite to Jupi∣ter in the tenth house, he said she was going to the King.

But because both of them are Retro∣grade, and in Opposition, and Venus in the fall of Jupiter, he said the King would frown upon her at the first; as al∣so because the Moon is received by Mer∣cury Lord of the twelfth house.

Yet because Jupiter is a Fortune, in his exaltation, in an Angle, free from the beams of Saturn and Mars, he said he would hear her, at last; also, because the Moon disposeth Jupiter, and is in an hu∣mane Signe.

This was all true.

Revised, ☉ 12 m. 1648.

NICH. CULPEPER.