An astrological discourse vpon the great and notable coniunction of the tvvo superiour planets, Saturne & Iupiter, which shall happen the 28 day of April, 1583. With a briefe declaration of the effectes, which the late eclipse of the sunne 1582. is yet heerafter to woorke. / Written newly by Richard Harvey: partely, to supplie that is wanting in cõmon prognostications: and partely by prædiction of mischiefes ensuing, either to breed some endeuour of preuention by foresight, so farre as lyeth in vs: or at leastwise, to arme vs with pacience beforehande.

To my verie good, and most louing Brother, Master Ga∣briel Haruey, at his chamber in Trinitie Hall.

GOod Brother, I haue in some part done my endeuour to satisfie your late requeste, wherein you aduertise mée either not so much to addict my selfe to the studie, and contemplation of Iudiciall Astrologie, or else by some euident and sensible demonstrati∣on, to make certaine and infallible proofe what general good I can do my countrie thereby, or what speciall fruite I can reape thereof vnto my selfe. I confesse greater wittes can work greater matters: and mine owne principall studie as yet, is but Philosophie and Phisick, wherein I pray God I may spéedily growe to any reasonable mediocritie, that I maye the

sooner procéed to my final Profession: But se∣ing it is your desire to practise me, & as it were to oppose mée in this kinde: you shall heare, what I can briefly say touching the great Cō∣iunction of Saturne and Iupiter, the next yéere immediately following. I am to submit my opinion to the censure and correction of those, that are longer studied, and more profoundly seen in this facultie: but that you may not con∣ceiue, I haue altogither mispent my time this way, I wil endeuour my selfe to make proofe in some sorte, how I haue profited in the stu∣die. Your selfe haue often willed mée to goe roundly to the matter, withoute eyther glori∣ous insinuations by way of Preface, or plea∣surable and conceited floorishes by waye of di∣gression: and therefore I presume you wil not blame mée, though I take a direct and plaine course in the discourse following. First, that Iudiciall Astrologie is neither any vaine and idle studie, nor forbydden and vnlawful Arte, your self hauing long since, taken some reaso∣nable paines therein, and béeing able to say so much in the defence thereof, out of many olde and new histories of approued authoritie and credit, can sufficiently (I know) and wil rea∣dilie (I think) testifie. The slight arguments of Picus Mirandula, Cornelius Agrippa, and

diuers other to y^e cōtrary, haue béen throughly answered, by Balantius, Schonerus, Melanctō, Cardane, & sundry other, but specially of late by Iunctinus, who in his confutatiō procéedeth compendiously, and directly from argument to argument, leauing in a manner nothing vn∣touched, that hath béene, or can bée obiected in disgrace of this knowledge. And if the autori∣ties of men, that haue giuen them selues that way, make any thing for the purpose, what goodlyer wits in y^e worlde, than some in euery cuntrie, that haue made special accoūt, & besto∣wed much trauel in this diuine studie? To let strangers go, these of fresh memorie haue bene none of the basest scholers in England: M.D. Buttes, principal Phisition to king Henry the eight. Sir Thomas Eliot, Sir Thomas Smyth, who as you best knowe, and haue both truely and honourably testified in your Musarum la∣chrymae, excelled therin. M.D. Recorde, both the Digges, M. Dee, who hir maiestie vouchsa∣feth the name of hyr Philosopher: M. Securis, M. Buckmaster, M. Mounslowe, M.D. Twyne, besides most of our chiefe Doctors in Phisike, as namely our M.D. Baro, in Cambridge, and M.D. Forster in London, and some of our very chiefest Philosophers in either Vniuersitie, y^t shalbe nameles, being not so certainly profes∣sed

and renowmed that way. But to omit for breuities sake, al other arguments and autho∣rities that might plentifully be alledged in the mayntenaunce of Iudiciall Astrologie, I wil content my selfe, and I thinke, I shall content you with that only famous testimony of Me∣lancton, amongst many of his to the same pur∣pose, set downe in an excellent epistle directed to the two noble & honorable Lords, George and Huldrich Fuggeri, in commendation of A∣strologie. Norunt omnes sani prorsus necessariam esse doctrinam, quae anni metas & ordinem ostendit. Quam ob causam & sapiens antiquitas hanc curā publicè doctissimis hominibus, qui custodes erant re∣ligionis, commendauit, vt Solis circuitus & inter∣ualla, & aequinoctia, & solstitia obseruarentur, & mensium spatia, ad Solis iter accommodarent. But what followeth? Alteram partē quae Diuinatrix nominatur, multi acerbè vituperant, de qua alibi co∣piosiùs dixi. Quanquam autem nequaquam omnium euentuum humanorum causae sunt, stellarum positus, & sapienter causae discernendae sunt, & vitandae praestigiae falsarum Diuinationum▪ tamen certum est, multas in Elementis mutationes, ab Astris oriri: & in crasi humanorum corporum, et ingeniorum in∣clinationibus lumen coeleste magnā vim habere. Pro∣dest autem ad valetudinem tutandam nosse crasim corporum, & moribus prodest, cernere inclinationes

coelestes, & eas arte regere, aut fraenare, sicut Pega∣sum Bellerophontes, ita demùm rectè gubernauit, cū Pallas aureum ei fraenum iniecit. Wherein for his opinion de crasi corporū humanorum, he iumpeth with the auncient and most renowmed Phisi∣tion Hippocrates, who in his booke de aere, aqua & regionibus, béeing translated into english sai∣eth thus much in effect: If we shall consider du∣ly of the highest causes and béeings, we shall finde that Astrologie is not the least portion of Phisicke, for it behooueth y^e Phisition to know the moone, and the signe of heauen wherin the moone is, when anye patient beginneth to fall sick, & so foorth. But hereof more at some other time, remitting you in the meane while to y^e learned Apologie of Iunctinus, who is copious in these pointes, touching the defence of Iudi∣ciall Astrologie. Now to come spéedily and di∣rectly vnto that, whereunto at this present y^e particuler occasion draweth me. In this yeare ensuing, 1583. which from the creation of the worlde is 5545. (to ouerpasse other néedlesse computations and Chronologies: as how long from Noahs floud? how far from the destructiō of Troy? how many yeares from the Assirian, Persian, & Macedonian monarchie, & so forth) The 28. of April being Sunday, about high noone, there shal happen a very greate and no∣table

Coniunction of the two superiour and weightie Planets Saturne and Iupiter, which Coniunction shall be manifested to the igno∣rant sort, by many fierce & boysterous windes then sodēly breaking out & continuing certain daies before and certaine dayes after the same Coniunction. These two high planets shal be conioyned in the last minute of the 21. degre of Pisces, a signe (as is commonly knowne) of the watery Triplicity, feminine, nocturnall, sep∣tentrional, commune, cold, moyst, flegmatick, that is wholy of the nature & quallitie of wa∣ter: the essential house of Iupiter, the eraltatiō of Venus, the gouernour of the féete, which Cō∣iunction may, and ought to séeme so much the more fearful & terrible vnto vs, by how much the more it is very straunge, maruelous, rare, and most specially noted of the learned. This is called of Astronomers, Coniunctio planetarū maxima, quippe qua reguntur leges, imperia, regio∣nes: as Ptolomey the Prince of Astrologers writeth, and Cardane more at large in hys Philosophical, and Astrological Commenta∣ries vpon Ptolomey, This is that Coniunctiō quae significat prophetam, & destructionem quorun∣dam Climatum, & sectas, & regnum: damna plu∣uiarum & pestilētiae, as Messahalah witnesseth, whose bookes haue bene much estemed of kin∣ges

and Princes. This is that Coniunction which Alboazen Haly saith doth praesagire mor∣tem regis magni & potentis, multam tristitiam ho∣minibus, damnum in diuitibus et nobilibus, etiam in illis qui sūt sicut Prophétae, et multas locustas. This is that Coniunction which Guido Bonotus af∣firmeth, to praemonstrare res magnaes & mirandas venturas in mundo. This is that Coniunction, which Iohannes Molitor surnamed of his con∣try Regiomōtanus, a man in my opinion, little inferior in worthinesse, or fame to the former more auncient Astrologers, doth report to por∣tendere continuas aquarū inundationes, & particu∣laria diluuia. Finally, this is that Coniunction quae minatur multum mali, as Iunctinus Florenti∣nus testifieth, a great writer at this day, a Cō∣iunction and méeting, or ioyning togiter of y^e very worst & very best planet, Saturne & Iu∣piter, whereof the one is tearmed Infortunium maius, barbarously Infortuna maior, the other, Fortuna maior, both singular in their kinds, the one being (as it were) the Lorde of horrible misrule, and tragicall mischiefes, the other a president of souereigne bounty & felicitie, both Heauenly instruments, ordayned by God to those high purposes and intendementes, wher∣in they are employed, more auncient indéede than in name, euerlasting workers of contra∣rie

inclinations, and effectes in the worlde, to he short both mighty Princes and potentates in their seuerall actions, so farre as it pleaseth God to auctorize their procéedings, & vse their ministery to his owne glory. Touching whose great coniunction, it is doubtles the more hard and difficult, to set downe any certaine effects & Accidents, therof to ensue, because the For∣tune and Infortune are equally matched, and as it were, indifferently encountered wyth power and strength: For if the Infortune had bene greater and stronger than the Fortune, as if Saturne hadde bene ioyned with Venus, which is called Fortuna maior, Saturn no doubt would haue chalenged the prerogatiue or pre∣eminence vnto himselfe, as being mightier & of more force: or if Iupiter had béene ioyned with Mars himselfe being Fortuna maior, and the other Infortunium minus, he would so haue repressed the sturdines and furie of Mars, that the operations and effectes of that Coniuncti∣on should haue bene indifferent, that is rather good than euill. Wherevpon in this case Gui∣do Bonatus a famous and renowmed Astrolo∣gian of Italy, (as you knowe) in his fift Trea∣tise de 146. Considerationibus, setting downe 4. especiall wayes and principall points, where∣in an Astrologer may soonest be deceiued, and

moste easily ouershoote himselfe, maketh this the fourth, Difficile erit aliquid certi iudicare, si ae∣quales fuerint Fortunae cum Infortunijs. Moreouer these two planets doe not beholde one ano∣ther by any aspectuall radiation, as either by Trine or Sextile, which are aspectes of amity & frendship, or by Quartile and opposition, which are aspectes of enmity and hatred, for then it had bene somwhat y^e easier to determine there∣of in respect of the general Iudgemēt, but they are ioyned togither in one degrée, and one mi∣nute of the selfe same degrée and signe, whiche is termed of the Astrologers, Corporalis congres∣sus, Coitus, or Coniunctio, being alwayes of more power, strength, force, and efficacie, than anye other aspect, because as Stoeflerinus writeth in his 12. Proposition: In ea radij maximè propter v∣nionem condensantur, which also Hermes Tris∣megistus himselfe affirmeth in verbo septimo, where he sayth: Aspectus non potest diminuere sig∣nificationem Coniunctionis, Coniunctio verò minuit significationem aspectus, why? nam fortior est aspe∣ctu, as there followeth. And yet by nature it is simplye and essentially neither good nor euill, but sometimes good and somtimes euil, accor∣ding to the nature and disposition of the pla∣nets, which are conioyned, so that consequent∣ly, quia Coniunctio honorum bona est, malorum au∣tem

mala, difficilè admodum erit iudicium in Con∣iunctione illa, quae & bona respectu Iouis & perni∣tiosa respectu Saturni iudicatur. Diuers of y^e lear∣ned in this facultie & namely Alboazen Ha∣ly, Capite 4. partis octauae saith, quòd Iupiter iun∣ctus cum Saturno prohibet omne malum, whereas Franciscus Iunctinus auoucheth the contrarie, to wit, that Coniunctio boni cum malo, mala est, al∣leaging this very Coniunction of Saturne and Iupiter for example, but on both sides they cō∣clude with this clause or definitiue sentence, hoc tamen pro natura & dispositione planetae vin∣centis in figura iudicandū est. This therfore now only remaineth, to consider which of them shal be strongest, and of moste vertue, power and might in the heauen at that instant. For Me∣sahalah in his excellent Treatise de Coniūctio∣nibus planetarū, deliuereth this iudgemēt, Scito quòd cum Iupiter fortior fuerit Saturno, significabit bonum in eadem Coniunctione, si verò Saturnus prae∣erit significabit detrimentum atque tribulationem, which is also generally agréed vpō with y^e rest. Wherfore we are to vnderstand, that Iupiter is ioyned with Saturne in Pisces, which is hys owne proper and naturall house, but by night, and not by day, which is a little the woorse, be∣cause him selfe being a masculine, diurnal, and fortunate planet, he doth not so much reioyce

in a feminine, nocturnal, and infortunat signe, as he doth in a signe of his owne disposition & qualitie. For so Alcabitius one of y^e most nota∣ble Arabians, very well concludeth in Isagogae astrologicae prima differentia: Fortitudo Planetae re∣boratur quando est in suo Alhaiz, id est in sua si∣militudine masculinus scilicet & diurnus in signo, & gradu masculino & diurno: nocturnus verò & faemininus contra, which is likewise auouched by his Commentator Ioannes de Saxonia. whereof by a contrary sequele it foloweth, that a mas∣culine and diurne planet is somewhat depres∣sed and weakened in a feminine and a noctur∣nall signe, and yet because it is the house of Iu∣piter, and himselfe resident therein, as in hys owne mansion place, and court (albeit Sagit∣tarie be the house of his speciallest delight and ioy) he receiueth fiue dignities thereby, béeing by so much the more strong, and vertuous, ac∣cording to that sensible axiome of Guido Bo∣natus, capite 19. primae partis. Dum planeta est in domo sua, est sicut vir existens in propria domo: est autem quilibet fortior in domo sua de Iure, quàm in aliena, & vt plurimùm de facto quàm alius, qui ali∣às esset fortior eo▪ vnde Trutanus, Ante suam gal∣lus stat portam quisque vasallus. But yet Iupiter is not so highly promoted & exalted by hys owne house, but is well nigh as much humbled and

weakened by his vnlucky placing in the eight house of Death wherby he looseth foure prero∣gatiues, then is he there also afflicted and op∣pressed by the presence & company of frow∣ning Saturne, and in the termes of Mars hys deadely enemy, in quarta coeli faeminina, & Me∣ridional discendēt, which do also much decrease and abate his courage. So that it euidently ap∣peareth, that the good planet Iupiter is but in∣different: & that as he will not do much harme so he can not doe much good. Now concerning Saturne, as Iupiter was neuer the better, be∣cause he was in signo faeminino & nocturno, so Sa∣turne béeing in the same signe, and also a diur∣nall and masculine planet is much the worse. For Messahalah in his golden booke, de reuolu∣tione annorum mundi, the chapter intituled de an∣no timendo, saith plainely Saturnus in signo diurno et masculino minus impedit, so that by an argumēt drawen frō y^e cōtrary I may logically cōclude y^e In loco nocturno et faeminino magis impedit, but this impedimēt is nothing to speak of or verie smal in cōparison of y^e rest: for besides that he is in a feminine and nocturnall signe, & place of hea∣uen contrary to his proper nature, he is with∣all peregrine too, and out of al his essential dig∣nities in the same signe, wherby he hath fiue debilities or impedimentes. Furthermore he

is placed in domo octaua, whereby he hath foure more hinderances, & slow in motion, where∣by he hath two detrimentes. In so much that if we set and oppose his 11. debilities, and the debilities of Iupiter against his fiue vertues, which is two to one, there is no doubt, but we wil soone & may truly conclude, Si illius Fortuna cum huius Infortunijs comparetur, nihil est: Iupi∣ter is Orientall, so is Saturne: Iupiter is direct in motion, so is Saturne: Iupiter is frée from combustion, so is Saturne: Iupiter is little the better for his vertues, because his hinderances are full as many, but Saturne is much y^e worse for his debilities, because hys vertues bée not so many. For as Guido Bonatus notably de∣termineth, Mali Planetae quantò magis sunt im∣pediti, tantò efficiuntur deteriores, & augmentatur eorum malitia, & eorum impedimentum. Sée the infortunate disposition of infortunate planets the more they be troubled, disturbed or intan∣gled, the worse and more malicious they are and consequently do hurt and annoy the more spitefully. The conclusion & summe of al muste nedes be this, that the vehemēt hatred, despite & malice of the vnlucky planet Saturne, hathe by his mischieuous importunitie ouercome & vanquished the good, wholsome, & swete nature of the beneuolous and fauourable planet Iu∣piter,

which victory (I feare me) and I thinke I am too sure thereof, will cause great aboun∣dance of waters, and much colde wether, much vnwonted mischiefes & sorow, much enuie, de∣bate, quarelling, hatred and strife, many grie∣uous and bitter contentions, muche going to lawe one with another for deade mens goodes and olde reckonings, manifold troubles, and sodain vproares, much violent oppression, ex∣treame pouertie, hunger and misery to the ne∣dy and impotent sort of people, great persecu∣tiōs of ecclesiastical persons, much despitefull, iniurious, and wrongful dealing, as also the tragical ruine & destructiō of sundry greatmen and noble personages, bothe olde and young, wherof some shall trecherously be entangled & entrapped, some violently ouerthrowne wyth shameful disgrace and dishonour, losing bothe estimation, goods and life too. Greate feare and dreade shal come sodainely vpon the people, a great sterilitie and barrēnesse of the earth shal ensue, manifold submersions, shipwracks, ex∣ustions, burnings, and such other, waterie and fierie calamities wil followe: finally, a verie greate and sore mortalitie, with many gene∣rall contagions, and pestilent diseases, both a∣mong men and beasts, and specially an extra∣ordinarie death and destruction of fishes, and

al other creatures liuing, by, in, or vpon y^e wa∣ters. Al which euils and miseries, (howbeit I knowe euery man shall not personally féele them, yet if there appeare not a sensible diffe∣rence betwene certaine yeares immediately following, and other ordinary yeares, let me lose the credit of my Astrologie) shall bée the more dreadful and terrible, because the good & amiable planet Iupiter is so much abased and humbled in the eight house, being simply the very worst place of the heauēs that can be, cal∣led commonly of the Astronomers, domus incā∣tationum, veneficiorum, timoris, magni infortunij, et etiam mortis: who will also begin to shrink and go backward the 10. day of Iuly, vntil y^e 4. day of Nouēber, which shrinking too wil not a litle hinder his good and prosperous influence. All which time, frowning Saturne shal be retroce∣dent also, beginning his retrogradatiō the 25. day of Iune, and so continuing til the 10. day of Nouēber, yea and that which is more notable for the space & continuance of these whole fiue or sixe years togither, they shal both be very of∣ten retrograde, and more than commonly they vse to be: and this withall is to be obserued y^e these two superior planets Saturne and Iupiter shall the second time also be very nigh the one y^e other, y^e 26. day of October, this present yeare 1583. being then almost conioyned againe togi∣ther

in Pisces, but both retrograde, & not long before, at the beginning of the second Reuolu∣tion, and third part of the Astronomical yeare: to wit, at the Sunnes entrance into the E∣quinoctial signe Libra, most vnluckily and ilfa∣ringly placed in the 10. house, which must néeds greatly increase their malice, and make their operations the more vnhapy & vnfortunate. The vnlucky constellation and constitution of the other planets, doth also séeme to helpe for∣ward & augment the lamentable euēts threat∣ned by this Coniunction'. For fiery and furi∣ous Mars peregrine & occidental in the fourth degrée, and sixt minut of Leo, and placed in Ga∣codaemone, In domo vbi tristes, tragici, & exitiales euentus notantur, hauing there no lesse than 12. impediments, whereby he is much afflicted, & gretly disgraced, but y^e more perniciously hurt∣ful and malicious, portendeth wonderful con∣tention, sedition, treason, rebellion and warre: many tumults, mutinies & vprores, with hor∣rible shedding of bloud, and warranteth this terrible Prognosticatiō, that huge multitudes shall be spoyled, subdued, destroyed and mur∣dered of their enemies, who shal furiously as∣saulte, & cruelly, vnmercifully and barbarou∣sly oppresse them perforce, with sword & fire, And because Mars, who is a fierce, violent, and outragious planet, is placed in Leo, a hot, cho∣lerick

& fiery signe, which notwithstanding of all the signed of y^e Zodiaque is most excellent and most noble, for that it is so goodlily & gal∣lantly adorned and decked with so many beu∣tiful and notable fixed starres, bearing signifi∣cation onely of high and great matters, concer∣ning states, kingdomes and empires, béeing y^e naturall, essentiall, and onely proper house of the mighty & roial planet Sol, who is the signi∣fier of Princes, Potentates, and high Magi∣strates: but a mortall and deadly enimie vn∣to Mars, who is now most infortunately seated in his house: many tragicall mischiefes and notorious calamities and presaged to some great rulers and mighty gouernours, placed in soueraigne and supreme authoritie, or else it is vehemently to be feared, that in the East, and Southeast cuntries, a desperate company of vile and villanous rascals shall flocke togi∣ther, and seditiously, rebelliously, and traite∣rously arise in armes against their Princes and Magistrates: who, (as a dogge hath a day, and a spider prouision of ill fauoured géere to serue hir turne) shall for a time violently set vpon, and vehemently afflict many: which maugre their heads, must suffer grieuous and spitefull indignities. And yet because he is Lord and Ruler of the 9. House, wherein Mer∣cury is most vnluckily appointed, being not

longe since muche discouraged and discomfi∣ted of him by a hatefull Quartyle Aspect: it séemeth that diuerse persecutions are threatned vnto sundrye Ecclesiasticall per∣sons, which shall be muche disquieted and vexed by their rage. All which maladies shall be the more hurtfull and vehement, because he is entred into a fixed signe: ac∣cording to that maxime of Haly, Capite quar∣to partis octauae. Siquando Mars fuerit in sig∣no fixo, significat fortes lites inter Reges, & eie∣ctos, and in another place his iudgement is: Si Mars fuerit in signo fixo, significat lites sine rati∣one & causa. Beside, he wil do the more harme also, because he is in a masculine and diurnall signe: Nam in signo foeminino & loco noctis, mi∣noris impedimenti est: as Messahalah sayth in his booke, De Reuolutione Annorum mundi, the 2••. chapter. Item, Mars in Leone, and in the 12. place from the Horoscope, threatneth great losse and destruction in all kindes of beastes, that haue hoofes, or fléeces, and with all pro∣gnosticateth that pismires, waspes, and o∣ther flyes, and vermyne shall not greatly abound. Furthermore, because he is seated in the eyght house from the Moone, ipse signi∣ficat interfectiones & infirmitates magnas in h••∣minibus. To all which euills they shall be moste subiect, which inhabite such regions,

prouinces, territories, and cities, as are vnder the partition of the hotte signe Leo. I∣tem, Sol Lorde of the Ascendent, but pe∣regrine, and out of all his essential digni∣ties in the sixtéenth degrée, and eyght and for∣tieth minute of Taurus, the night House of Venus, and resident in the tenth house, (the house of dominion, and power, wherein he would greatly haue reioyced, had he not bene so infortunately disgraced by his weake∣nesse) will also helpe to increase the furie and outrage of Mars, causing much trouble, vexation, and sorrowe, to some noble men, and honourable personages: yea this his pla∣cing doth furthermore signifie, that manye Magistrates shall be thrust out of office, and depriued of all dignitie, and other aduaun∣ced to their roomes, who peraduenture shal scarcely be so good, but moste likely to ve∣rifie the Prouerbe, Seldome commeth the better. Item, Venus Ladye of the tenth house, being both peregrine, and com∣bust, doth increase the signification of the Sunne, who because he is Lorde of the As∣cendent, and infortunately seated in her house, signifieth a badde state, not onely of Princes, but of their subiects too: which badde state shall specially be founde in the coun∣tries situat betwene the East and the Weast:

Moreouer Venus, who naturally is very for∣tunate, and a planet of a good and amiable nature, being withall setled in the 11. house, the house of amitie, friendship, & good fortune, would haue pronounced much good, if she had not bene so vnluckily peregrine in the second degrée, and third minut of Gemini, being there also combust, and accompanied with the mis∣chieuous Catabibazon: which is with all as vn∣happy, and pernicious, as may be, by reason of hir fall in Geminis, in domo casus sui. For which cause she is therefore to signifie much suttle dissembling, and false packing amongest men: litle faithfull and sound friendship, but much counterfait and fained amitie: naye, manye through vncurteous dealing, and falshood, shal breake of friendship, so that one shal hardly re∣pose any trust in another: besides, she fore∣sheweth that much hatred, discord, and strife, much matter of diuisions & factions, much de∣bate & cōtention shal ensue: & yet some naugh∣ty & vngodly persons, (wherof the world shall neuer be to seeke, but what remedie?) are like to accord & agrée togither wel enough, or rather ill enough. For much shameful & filthy whore∣dom shal be secretly committed, diuerse shall giue ouer them selues to pleasure, voluptuous∣nesse, ryot, vnlawful concupiscence, lecherie, forbidden lustes, and other vncleane misde∣meanours.

But let those that are so corruptly, & vilanously affected, beware in time, beast for euery dram of momentanie pleasure, they be rewarded with a pound of durable sorow. For besides that many therby shal be shrewdly en∣dammaged, & presently punished, according to the qualitie of their deserts: the rest of that vn∣gracious crew, vnlesse they repent, and amend the sooner, shal altogither most wofully perish, & be vtterly destroied, both goods, body, & soule too. Haly his iudgement is, y^e Venus iuncta cum cauda Draconis, significat destructionem futuram in mulieribus: and this he also as resolutely affir∣meth, that Venus infortunata in vndecima domo, praesagit leguminum caritatē. Finally, I am per∣swaded, that she will cause very many winds, bringing very much raine, by reason of her oc∣cidentall combustion in Geminis, in the house & termes of Mercury. And, as for Mercury, he in statione secunda, placed in domo peregrinatio∣num, itinerum, rerum sacrarum, & religionis: but peregrine, and much afflicted in the 21. degrée, and 20. minut of Aries, in the house & termes of Mars his mortall enimie, doth signifie many iorneys, and voyages, much trauailing, great remouing from place to place, (for Aries as e∣uery one knoweth, is a moueable signe, and Mercury a conuertible, and wauering pla∣net) but not without many losses, dammages,

and troubles: so generally true it is, that is commonly alledged in a manner to this very purpose. The rowling stone, seldom gathereth any mosse. For sundry grieuances, much theft, many violent robberies, and spoylings, with wilfull murder, and cruell interfections shall be committed, in such wise, that plaine, inno∣cent, and true meaning men, (whereof our world now a dayes is not greatly lauish) and the honest and faithfull dealing marchaunt, shall eftsoones goe in daunger of losing both goods and life. Furthermore, this his vnlucky constitution doth portend the irreligious, and impious behauiour of diuers wicked, obsti∣nate, stubborne, and disorderly persons, who will not care most desperately to conspyre, e∣uen against heauen it selfe, and most horribly to abuse, euen Iesus himselfe, in not esteeming his sacred & blessed word, in reuiling his zea∣lous preachers, in making no account of reli∣gion, pietie, and godlines, in abandoning God him selfe out of their companie, and betaking them selues to all villanie. Likewise this his infortunate state, threatneth like troubles, de∣triments, and daungers vnto those, that are Mercurists, as namely, vnto Embassadors, se∣cretaries, Notaries, Registers, Clarks, Scri∣ueners, Messengers, Factours, Mercers, & such other: as also vnto diuers of the learneder

sorte, amongst whom some hote controuersies, and contentions are like to arise, touching some new contrary opinions, and heresies, which shal be inuented, published, and maintained by cer∣taine busie fellowes, and factious heads, too affe∣ctionately wedded to their owne conceits. Item, Luna peregrine in the fourth degrée, and 58. mi∣nut of Sagittarius, decreasing in light, and accom∣panied with hir Dragons head, in the fourth house, and nigh the fift, being but sixe houres be∣fore, most infortunately in opposition, and at de∣stance with the gentle and mercifull planet Ve∣nus, of whom I spake before, betokeneth many heauie calamities, imprisōments, disturbances, and tribulations, with much thought, anguish, and sorrow amongst the common people, who not withstanding shall not be punished or afflic∣ted, but according to their owne rebellious de∣serts, and misdemeanors: for hir opposition with Venus, ladie of the 10. house, signifieth the dis∣loyall and vnfaithfull hartes of many frowarde and disobedient persons, rebelliously set against their Magistrates, helping forwarde the mis∣chiefes and horrors presaged by the infortunate constitution of Mars. And through hir companie with the Dragōs head, ipsa significat consumptio∣nes, multas aquas, & damnū in frugibus, as a cre∣dible author testifieth. And hir application vnto frowning Saturne, by an aspectuall radiation, I

meane, a malitious quartile aspect: denotat, quòd accident hominibus infirmitates mortiferae, somnia horrenda, & opiniones expauescibiles, prouenientes ex abundantia melancholiae. And, what saith Haly, Cap. 4. Part. 8? Sol est anima mundi, qui si quando maleficus fuerit, intemperie afficietur Aër, vt cùm Luna malefica est, afficitur terra. An other iudge∣ment of his is thus deliuered in the thirde chap∣ter of the same eight part: Si quando tota Tripli∣citas ignea fuerit infortunata, (as now it is in the figure erected for the time I speake of) accident damna, & occasiones magnae Dominis, Regibus, & claris hominibus. Idem significat signi vndecimae Domus, & eius oppositi, scilicet, signi quintae Do∣mus, (in which signe Luna is now placed) mala, & infortunata constitutio. Item, Saturne pla∣ced in the eight house, and lord of the sixte house, which is domus aegritudinum, morborum, & serui∣tutis corporis, foresheweth many dangerous, and mortall diseases, which are like to raigne and rage in their kind: as also the stubberne, disobe∣dient, and ill disposed affections of diuerse ser∣uaunts towardes their Lordes and maisters. Moreouer Saturne lord of the 7. house, which is domus Coniugij, Inimicitiae, Contentionum forensiū, furti, & aliorum scelerum, threatneth many trou∣blesome, and terrible euents, which are like to be as mischieuously accōplished. But, as touch∣ing this his lordly gouernment of the 6. and 7.

houses, togither with certaine other Incidents, which by the figure erected might Astrological∣ly be gathered, for breuities sake, and for some other good considerations, I adde nothing, ac∣knowledging that the heauenly and almightie Iupiter, (that I may so speake) sitting aboue Sol and Luna in his euerlasting maiestie, ruleth both Saturne and Iupiter, at his gratious will and pleasure, as also furious Mars him self, with Venus, and Mercury too: quae inclinant modò, non necessitant, as is truely answeared in an olde di∣stinction. Neuerthelesse, I am verily perswa∣ded, that no Nation, or Countrie shall beholde this great Coniunction vnpunished: but amōgst the rest, they I graunt, shall especially feele the vehement force, and violence thereof, that inha∣bite such regions, as are subiect to the first, and second Climat.

Thus, as compendiously, as on the suddaine I could, I haue here, Brother, written downe, in what signe, and parte of heauen euery planet shall be placed: how affected and disposed in the celestiall scheme, at that very instant and mo∣ment, in which this great, and wonderfull Con∣iunction shall happen, with the seuerall, and spe∣ciall significations of eche of them particularly, according to the place of their residence at that time: agréeing wholy w^t the Astrological iudge∣ments, and predictions of the most auncient and

best approued writers in this profession. Which I haue done to this ende, to shewe as it were in a glasse, what concordaunce and agréement, there shall then appeare betwéene one planet and another: and what good or euill euery one of them shall for his part procure: good, by dimi∣nishing, slaking, and repressing the misfor∣tunes which are presaged by the Coniunction: euill, by helping forwarde, and encreasing the perilous malice, and as it were, venemous spite thereof.

Nowe, to treate somewhat more specially touching the weather, & constitution of the aier, I haue good coniecturall Arguments to persuade me, that great store of rayne and colde is lyke to ensue, that wée shall haue much haile, thun∣der, and lightning, much vnseasonable, immo∣derate, tempestuous, and boysterous weather, that huge waters shall arise, that floudes extra∣ordinarily shall increase, many ouerflowings happen, diuerse irruptions of waters suddain∣ly breake out, causing some losse by lande, but muche greater decaye of substaunce by ship∣wrackes on the seas, whereby very many shall be shrewdely endammaged, and not a fewe vt∣terly vndane. Whiche operations and effectes the late Eclipse of the Sunne, which happened the laste yeare 1582. the twentie daye of Iune in the watrie signe Cancer, shall meruai∣lously

helpe forwarde and augment, especial∣ly in winter this yeare, 1583. for these fore∣saide Accidentes shall continewe vntill the be∣ginnyng of the nexte sprynge after, Anno 1584. At which time about the ende of March, and the beginning of Aprill, there shall hap∣pen a wonderfull, straunge, and rare Coniun∣ction, conuent, or assemblie in a maner of all the planets in Aries, a fierie signe. So that then both Saturne and Iupiter shall forsake Pis∣ces the last signe of the watrie Triplicitie, and inhabite Aries the firste signe of the fierie Tri∣angularitie: which alteration from one contra∣rie triplicitie to his contrary, cannot be without diuerse newe effects opposite to the former. For so Haly concludeth, Duo planetae ponderosi, (as Saturne and Iupiter are) semper faciunt diuersi∣tates sua mutatione de vna triplicitate in aliam, & de vna natura in aliam, & de vna haiz in a∣liam. Wherefore now the watrie Trigone shal perish, and be turned into fire. Iupiter shall be ioyned with Sol, with Mercury, and with Luna: Saturne shall be ioyned with Venus, and with Mercury: Mercury shall be in Coniunction with Iupiter, and with Mars: Luna shall be one while ioyned with Saturne, another while with Venus, another with Mars, with Iupi∣ter the second time, and then with Mercury, and lastly of all, there shall be a great Coniunction

of Iupiter, and Mars, which is the third waightie planet, and in malice litle inferiour vnto deuou∣ring Saturne him self. After which kind of Con∣iunctions, some terrible, and fearfull Comet, or blazing starre is like presently to ensue: for the congresse of planets in a fierie signe, doth com∣monly foreshew, and in déede naturally cause a blazing star. As by induction of examples might at large be discoursed, but one for euery signe shall suffice. In the yeare 1556. in the same mo∣neth of March, when there was the like coacer∣uation of both superiour and inferiour planets in this very signe Aries, there followed imme∣diatly a great Comet. Anno 1434. after the like méeting of the planets in the second fierie signe Leo, their appeared likewise a fierie Comet. As also after their Coniunction in the third fierie signe Sagittary, Anno 814. before the death of the inuincible and moste renowned Emperour Carolus Magnus, there ensued in like manner a terrible, and tragicall Comet. And if a Comet, as I haue now problably inferred, shall arise, these effects must be looked for, much scorching and vehement heate, the drying vp of ponds and déepe waters: barren, and vnfrutefull fieldes: and consequently, a dearth of all victuals, beside a sore death of cattel, and many pestilent disea∣ses amongst men. But if no Comet appears, there shall doubtlesse be séene other horrible and

rufull visions in the Heauens, and many very straunge & terrible sights in the middle region of the aier, as fierie Meteors, flashings, and fla∣mings of fire, wonderfull traiections, and im∣pressions, much lightning, and thunder mixte with haile. Whereby many shall be perillously terrified, and some miserably vndone. For euen at the very selfe same time the operations and effectes of the sunnes Eclipse, which hapned the last yeare, 1582. as also of this great & straunge Coniunction shall still continue: which shall af∣terward be accompanied with another fearefull and pernicious Eclipse, 1585. in Tauro, nigh the head of Medusa, called of y^e Arabians, Caput Al∣gol, a most hurtful, violent, cruell, and mortall fixed starre, of the nature of Saturne and Venus. Whose significations for so muche as they are not alike, the one threatning vehement heat, the other extreame cold, and with all the great Con∣iunction of Saturne and Mars in Pisces, a watrie signe: and the great Coniunction of Iupiter and Mars in Aries a fierie signe, both in Aprill next, 1584. being thereunto ioyned, whereof also the one threatneth excessiue cold, the other excéeding heate, there must necessarily follow very great inequalitie of the aier, & very much inconstancie and alteration of the weather, which mutual in∣fraction of qualities, non nisi coruscationes nubium sequentur, as Leouitius speaketh, yet the force

and power of this Coniunction shall heare most effectuall swaye, especially in March, Aprill, May, and Iune, Anno 1584. bycause then most of the planets shall runne there course in hote and drie signes, as also 1585. in March, A∣prill, and May, when Mars a hote and fierie fel∣lowe shall possesse a hote and drie signe: with whome Saturne shall fellowship himselfe, be∣ing then too seated in a fierie signe, & one while in Cōiunction with Venus, another while with Sol, with Mercury, and with the Moone, with whom also Mars and the other planets shall be mingled: which Coniunctions shall al happen in firie signes. And this yéere say I, is like to proue an vnhappie yeare for diuines, & religious per∣sons. Item, in April, Anno 1586. the effects of these méetings shall euidently appeare at which time, there shall fall out a Coniunction of Sol & Saturne, Mars and Venus, Mars & Mercury, Ve∣nus and Mercury, Saturne & Mercury, Saturne & Venus, Sol and Luna, Saturne & Luna, Mars & Luna, Venus & Luna, Mercury & Luna, and last∣ly of Saturne & Mars, which is a great Coniun∣ction, and therefore the worse, and more terrible. Which Coniunctions for asmuch as they shall all happen in the same signe Aries, a fierie signe, there must néedes ensue diuerse straung effects, much feruēt & excéeding heat, many rare & dread∣ful impressions in the highest region of the aier,

and consequently a sore and perillous drought. To make shorte, in this yeare sundrie wofull, and cruell euils, togither with many straunge and horrible euents shal sensibly appeare, which shall principally molest and afflict the weast∣warde countries. But of these terrours, one of vs, eyther I, or if my leysure, by meanes of my finall profession, happen to fayle me, my brother Iohn will treate more particularly hereafter, (if God spare vs lyfe), in there seue∣rall and sundrie yeares, according as the effects, and operations of the aforesaide Coniunctions shall specially worke, and take place: as also of the Comet with the Eclipses of the Sunne and Moone, which I haue onely touched here, reser∣uing euery such notable particular Accident, to his proper time and place, then seuerally to be discussed eyther by me, or by him. This alone I will adde, as a néedefull Caution and admo∣nition for those, which in there natiuities had Aries placed in their Horoscope, accompanied with other planets, or which had the superiour planets placed then in the same signe of the Zo∣diaque, as also for those, which had y^e great light of heauen, the Sunne I meane, or the lord of the ascendent, or the lord of the natiuitie pla∣ced in Aries, illi enim in primis ad choraeas coe∣lestes inuitabuntur, aliquídque noui molientur, the iudgement carrieth sufficient authoritie.

And especially let Germanie and Italy beware, for many grieuous calamities, with suddaine chaunces and chaunges are threatned to the countries there aboutes, by this forcible con∣curse of planets in Aries: these nations béeing chiefely and principally vnder the regiment of that signe, wherevnto our Astrologers adde namely the Regions, and Seigniories follow∣ing: Britaine, Fraunce, Bastarnia, Syria, Phili∣stim, Polonia minor, highe Burgonie, Sueuia of Germanie, Sylesia superior, Pars Westriae, Naples, Florence, Capua, Ferraria, Verona, Vicentia, Ber∣gamum, Imola, Padua, Brusuicum, Vtricha, Lin∣dauia, Cracouia, Marsilia, Saragossa, with cer∣taine other Territories, and Prouinces neare adioyning. Praetereà, the same signe beyng the house and mansion place of Mars, there are portended many lamentable, and wofull ca∣sualties in battayle, vnto the Germaine and Italian souldiers: whiche shall fall out, ey∣ther by treacherie, and prodition, or through the carelesse securitie and sluggishnesse of their Captaines, two perillous and deadly enimies to Martiall procéedings, as by all histories is moste manifest, specially to you, that are so perfectly acquainted with them. Now, touch∣ing the whole continuaunce of the aforesayde straunge effectes, and operations of this pre∣sent

great Coniunction, I suppose it will suf∣fise to quote the iudgement of the famous Phi∣losopher, and Phisitian Cardane, deliuered in his Commentaries, vpon Ptolomeis Quadri∣partita Constructio, concernyng that poynt. Whose wordes are thus set downe verbatim in the seconde booke, ninth chapter, and LIV, Text of those excellent Commentaries. Effectus du∣rant ad reditum, vtpote Coniunctio Saturni & Iouis, vsque ad aliam coniunctionem: & Saturni ingressus in initium Arietis, vsque ad alium ingressum in initium Arietis, quia nihil datur inane in natura, & ideo si effectus non duraret vsque ad reditum, esset circuitus Mathematicus, non Naturalis, & causa sine effectu, & impoten∣tia quaedam. Quamobrem, proportio circuitus ad circuitum, vt temporis ad tempus quod erat probandum. Vnusquisque tamen horum circui∣tuum redigitur ad dimidium, nam ab oppositio∣ne finitur coniunctionis vis, attenditurque ipsa op∣positio. Whiche place of Cardane may summa∣rily suffise for warrant of the continuaunce, so farre as Art, and mans foresight extendeth. For otherwise, vt caetera omnia, sic planetae in Manu Domini, who is truely termed of the olde Philosophers, Ens Entium, and Causa Causarum, wherin I am to subscribe to the opiniō of the no∣ble Mathematiciā & Astrologer, Petrus Pitatus,

who in the Proeme to his Diaria, giueth out this learned iudgement: Ex futurorum euen∣tuum generibus; sunt, quae habent causam deter∣minatam, & infallibilem, vt motus coeli, ortus, & occasus signorum, Coniunctiones planetarum, & luminarium Eclipses, & similia: in quibus est de∣terminatio, & infallibilitas ex parte motoris, atque etiam omnis impedimenti remotio, ex parte quali∣bet, nisi in quantum subiacent diuinae voluntati, & Prouidentiae, quae tamen semper Ordinatè a∣git: with much more importing the same con∣clusion, his onely exception is, ni secus à prima causa, secundae miraculose impediantur. And thus much touchyng the notable effectes, and operations of this great Coniunction, in the last face of Pisces, and the firste of Aries. Now, by a sensible conference of the same with other Coniunctions, whiche haue heretofore happe∣ned in the watrie Trigone not without cer∣taine famous, and moste notable euents conse∣quently ensuyng: I will presume, to set downe certaine Conclusions, collected out of auncient iudgementes and predictions of Astrologie, whereby it shoulde in greate likehood appeare not onely that sundrie, rare, and wonderfull e∣uents must néedes follow, but also that the ve∣ry frame of the worlde, cannot endure long af∣ter. Wherefore, to speake onely of the watrie Trigone, which shall now beare rule for a time,

which Trigone consisteth of these thrée signes of the Zodiaque, Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces: it sée∣meth a resolute case, (vnlesse my induction mar∣ueylously faileth me) that their neuer hapned a∣ny great Coniunction of the superiour planets in any of those thrée signes, but some extraordi∣nary chaunge, and notorius alteration ensued. First, after the mightie Coniunction of the two highest planets, Saturne and Iupiter in Cancer, which is reckened the first signe of the foresaide watrie Triplicitie, (which Coniunction hapned in angulo quartae domus, the ninth moneth from March first called of the Romanes, and now of vs Nouember) the world was ouerflowed with that wonderfull exceeding deluge, which to this day doth, and shal euer beare the name of Noahs floude: such a floude as the world shall neuer sée againe. Secondly, this fourth Monarchie, called the Romane Monarchie, to follow the common distinction, (howsoeuer Monsier Bodine proba∣bly reasoneth to the contrary) wherein we now liue, and are still to preferre before the Turkish Monarchie, séeme it neuer so ample and huge, be∣gan vnder the dominiō of the watrie Trigone: for the 47. yeare before the glorious natiuitie of our sauiour Iesus Christ, and fiue yeares before the destructiō of the most valerous and puissant captaine, Iulius Caesar there hapned a great Cō∣iunction of the superiour planets in Scorpio, the

seconde signe of the same Triplicitie, at whiche time that most Memorable and notorious ciuill war betwéene Caesar and Pompey, was verie hote and violent, the end whereof ensued a litle after the same Coniunction, whereupon Iulius Caesar hauing oppressed the contrarie force, and valiantly subdued his enimies, whiche defen∣ded their auncient state, and common libertie, did first establish this fourth most noble Monar∣chie. Thirdly, not long after this, namely, sixe yéeres before the happie birth of our Redéemer, there hapned a Coniunction of these mighty su∣periour planets, Saturne and Iupiter, in the last face of Pisces, which is the laste signe of the watry Trigone, & the beginning of Aries, which is the first signe of the fierie Trigone, which Coniunction hapned neuer since, but only in the daies of the worthy christian Emperour, Caro∣lus Magnus, Anno. 789. whiche is almost 800. yeares ago, but is now to happen once againe in this present yeare 1583. Touching which, foras∣much as it is the last Coniunction that euer shal happen in the end of the watrie Trigone, I am Astrologically induced to this cōiecture, that we are most like to haue a new world, by some sud∣daine, violent, & wonderful straunge alteration, which euen héeretofore hath alwaies hapned, at the ending of one Trigone, & beginning of an o∣ther, but now most especially is like to happen,

bicause y^e cōtrarie Trigone succéedeth his cōtra∣rie, the fierie followeth y^e watrie, vnder which, or the like succession, a notable mutation hath al∣ready hapned two seuerall times: to wit, in the time of Iulius & Augustus Caesar, when as this fourth Monarchie (as I said before) was establi∣shed with much effusion of bloud: & againe in the time of Carolus Magnus, and his father Pypin, (as I also said before) at which time, as histories report, Monarchia haec eneruata aliquantum respi∣rauit: yea, your Paulus Iouius, as you beste re∣member, after two or thrée other moste honou∣rable gréetings, saluteth this noble Emperour with these gallant Titles, Salue Christiani Im∣perij propagator augustissime, Pontificiae dignitatis assertor & vindex, aureaeque demum aetatis condi∣tor: which last addition of Iouius, maketh most for our purpose, togither with that superlatiue Iustification of his surname not much before, non magni modò, sed Ter Maximi cognomento di∣gnissime so that withall we forget not what the same Iouius shortly after writeth, continuing the foresaide braue Apostrophe, directed vnto Charlmaine him selfe: Te Auspice, Italia in primis, quae iampridem à Gothis, & Vandalis de∣formata, prostrataque, ferrei saeculi iniurias per∣tulerat, se vsqueadeo faelici rerum omnium prouentu erexit, vt pristinae amplitudinis ornamenta recipe∣ret. hauing a litle before giuē out certaine other

commendations of his martiall prowes, tempe∣red with deuotion and wisedome, in these ho∣nourable Terms: his longè optimis belli & pacis artibus, non indomitos modò Saxones, & peruicaces Cantabros, perpetuis victorijs deuictos, verùm, quod ad perenniorem laudem nobilius fuit, Longobardos arroganter & impiè sacrosancto Pontifici infaestos, Deo vltore, funditus excisos videmus. But, to leaue the second foundation, and as it were, the reedifying of the imperiall Monarchie vnder Charlmaine, which is farre better knowne vn∣to you, than vnto me, (how be it by the way it would not be forgotten, that Romanum Imperium apud Graecos perstitit à Constantini Magni Tem∣poribus, vsque ad Tempora Caroli Magni, in quem nomen duntaxat Imperij translatum est ad Germa∣nos, as Agrippa writeth in his inuectiue dis∣course, De Nobilitate:) and to returne now to the present Coniunction, cōsidering that this fourth Monarchie began first about the ende of the wa∣trie Trigone, and was afterwarde weakened and decayed vnder the same, as appeareth by the premisses: maye it nowe séeme likely and probable inough, that it shall also finally be en∣ded and destroyed vnder the same Trigone? And, for somuch, as our Lord and Sauiour tooke our humane nature vpon him, beyng borne of the virgin Marie in Bethlem, at the ende of the watrie Trigone, and the beginning of the fierie

Trigon: the same now happening againe, may it not also signifie and portend, some wonder∣full and maruelous alteration shortly after to ensue? yea, why not euen that great, & dread∣full time, wherin the same Ihesus Christ, shal come againe in vnspeakeable maiestie, to iudge both the quicke and the dead, consuming the whole world by fire? for now shall the fie∣rie Trigone raigne, and all the Coniunctions of the superiour planets which hereafter shall happen, shall continually be in fierie signes, till the accomplishment almost of 200. yeares. In the raigne of Carolus Magnus, albeit the like Coniunction happened, yet the world could not then be at an ende: howbeit euen at that very time, there were excéeding great Cō∣tentions amongest Princes, debated with ma∣ny fierce battailes, horrible murders, & much shedding of bloud: to which effect I can not but remember those goodly verses of the excellent Italian Poet, Honoratus Fasitellus:

—tum primùm Gallica signa Boetis, & infractus victricia sensit Iberus. Intremuere Asiae Reges, ia cuítque subacta Punica terribili tellus concussa duello.

Which are to be vnderstoode of that selfe same time▪ yet then I say, could not the consumma∣tion of the world be, because 5000. yeares from the Creation of the world, were not yet expi∣red,

but now the influence and effects of this present great Coniunctiō enduring and conti∣nuing, as I haue sayd, how litle to speake of, shall remaine wanting, to make vp the com∣plete number of 6000. yeares, which account is originally grounded vpon the auncient fa∣mous prophecy of Elias, concerning the worlds continuance, foretelling that the same should stand 6000. yeares: 2000. vaine: 2000. y^e lawe: 2000. Christ: which togither make in all the fi∣nal number of numbers 6000. yeares. Wher∣of it hath already continued 5544. so that not so much as 500. yeares doe now remaine, of which also, some euen of those that are yet be∣hind, shall be abridged in respect of our infinite sinnes, & excéeding wickednes, as it followeth in the same prophecy. Yea our Sauiour Christ him selfe hath promised in his Gospel written by S. Mathew, the 24. chapt. that he wil detract somewhat of y^e appointed time, saying: Except those daies should be shortned, there should no flesh be saued, but for the elects sake, they shall be shortned. So that all circumstances being weyed, and all Astrological likehoods togither with prophetical predictions considered, what doubt is there, but we may, and ought to per∣swade our selues, that the foundation of the world is in a manner worne out, and also this goodly frame ready to fall vpon our shoulders?

for if so be there yet remained another great Coniunction of Saturne and Iupiter like to the first, then shoulde there be required a Re∣manet of almost eight hundred yeares moe, which being added to the yeare of this great Coniunction, would amount to the number of sixe thousand and almoste foure hundred yeares: which manifestly oppugneth the pro∣phecie of Elias aboue rehearsed, and Plato, before 25. of those yeares were exspired, would bid vs whoe. Almighty God, through his infi∣nite power, and vnspeakeable wisedom, in sixe dayes created heauen and earth, the sea, and al thinges therein contained, but the seuenth day he rested, and hallowed the same: wherein some haue reposed a high misterie, imagining, and perswading them selues, that by the sa∣cred ministerie of his holie worde in this pre∣sent life, within the compasse of 6000. yeares, he will also gather togither his Church, wher∣with in the seuenth he wil celebrate and kéepe holy his eternall and euerlasting Sabaoth. To which purpose they affirme, that the pro∣phecie of Elias, was as it were allegorically borrowed from this number of the sixe dayes Creation, applying to euery daye, 1003. yeares, alledging to that effect, out of the nynetie Psalme, for a thousand yeares in thy sight, are but as yesterday, & citing withal that

place of Saint Peter, in the third chapter of his second epistle, Dearely beloued, be not ig∣norant of this one thing, howe that one day is with the Lorde as a thousand yeares, and a thousand yeares as one day. But how soundly these testimonies be applied to the enforce∣ment of my conclusion, it is for learneder men to determine, my selfe dare not be ouer bold with Textes of scripture, which are so reue∣rently, and religiously to be handled, and ther∣fore take it best, to stand rather vpon the pro∣babilitie of Astrologicall predictions, and namely, vpon that olde, and common prophe∣cie, touching the yeare 1588. which is now so rife in euery mans mouth, and was so reso∣lutely defended in a publique disputation in the last Commencement, by one, sufficient to maintaine his assertion. That yeare hath ma∣ny hundred yeares agone bene specially fore∣told, and much spoken of amongest Astrolo∣gers, who haue, as it were, vnanimi consensu, prognosticated, that either a maruelous feare∣ful and horrible alteration of Empyres, King∣doms, Seigniories, and States, togither with other wonderfull, and very extraordinary Ac∣cidents, as, extreme hunger, and pestilence, de∣sperate treasons, and commotions, shall then fall out, to the miserable affliction, and oppres∣sion of huge multitudes: or else, that an vtter,

and finall ouerthrowe, and destruction of the whole world shall ensue. Which prophecie for so much as it is reputed of so great consequēce, and withall so nearely toucheth the scope of the present Treatise, I will here set downe, as it is deliuered by Leouitius, in Latine verses, made, as most suppose, by Regiomontanus, but translated out of a former style, farre more aū∣cient, as were also the Dutch verses of Stoe∣flerinus importing the same Contents.

Post mille expletos à partu Virginis annos, Et post quingentos rursus ab orbe datos: Octogesimus octauus mirabilis Annus Ingruet, is secum tristia fata feret. Si non hoc anno totus malus occidet orbis, Si non in nihilum terra, fretúmque ruet: Cuncta tamen mundi sursum ibunt atque retrorsum Imperia, & luctus vndique grandis erit.

Which Latine verses, after the maner of our rude méeter, I not long since at aduenture en∣glished, for a friend of myne, but I make more account of so solemne a prophecie, than to dis∣grace it here with my poore translation. You see what therein serueth to my purpose, that ei∣ther a finall dissolution, or a wonderfull horri∣ble alteration of the world, is then to be expe∣cted. I might alledge many other arguments, and authorities, implying the same conclusi∣on, but I auoide to be ouer tedious. And yet

am I violently brought to a further considera∣tion of the premisses, by such extraordinary, and as a man would say, presignificatiue Ac∣cidents, as these following: When were there euer séene so many dreadfull Eclipses of the Sunne and Moone? When so many straung, and wonderfull copulations of planets? when so prodigious Comets, not without their tra∣gicall operations? When such terrible Ex∣amples of fierie Meteors, coruscations, tra∣iections, impressions, and inflammations in the Aier, as haue bene already obserued in our Age, and will more fearefully appeare within fewe yeares? When was the Earth so violently & terribly shaken with an Earth∣quake, as it was the sixt of Aprill, 1580. not onely in Ingland, and Scotland, but also in other Countries, and Nations further off? which Earthquake, (notwithstanding your pleasant Entrance into that Philosophicall Discourse, deliuered thereof by you ex tempore in company of honest gentlemen, & gentlewo∣men assēbled togither to make merry) séemeth yet vnto me a matter of no smal consequence, wherevnto your selfe also séeme to incline in the earnester part of that Discourse. Were not such signes and tokens foretold by our Saui∣our Christ? hath he not forewarned vs, that they should appeare & shew them selues, as it

were in their terrible likenes? a litle before, or in his very comming? doth not withall the contempt of good learning, the cōtempt of good maners, y^e contempt of good lawes, the contēpt of good Magistrats, the contempt of all good go∣uernment, nay, doth not the contempt of good religion, good pietie, good charitie, & al goodnes, which since these latter daies neuer so vniuer∣sally raigned, as now it doth? doe not these ge∣neral abuses séeme to argue & import as much? whē was y^e world so quite deuoid of care? whē so secure, so recklesse, so bent against all disci∣pline, and order? when so vainly wicked or so wickedly vaine? when was innocencie more ridiculous, faithfulnesse more contemptible, vertue more abiected, holines more propha∣ned, loue more hated, duty more neglected, ho∣nour more dishonoured, honestye more despi∣sed, good life more wounded to death, than now a daies? Finally, when such vnnatural partes, such monstrous corruptions of bodye & mind, such vile & absurd indignities, such inordinate, & barbarous procéedings, without any respect to law, or conscience, so vniuersally put in pra∣ctise? when euer y^t like general lustinesse, & iol∣litie, with such desperate wilfulnesse, and self-loue, not in one or two more highly minded, or hawtily set than their fellowes, but euen commonly in the whole world to speake of?

when euer so iust occasion of complaint with the Poet? Omne in praecipiti vitium stetit. What is now the Conclusion? Truely, that the se∣cond comming of the sonne of man draweth nigh, which shall be as were the dayes of No∣ah, for as in the dayes which were before the floud, they were eating, and drinking, marry∣ing, and giuing in marriage, euen till the day that Noah entred into the Arke, and perceiued nothing, till the floud came, and ouerwhelmed them all, so shal also the comming of the sonne of man be. Mathew 2••. May we not nowe sen∣sibly perceiue, that these dayes of ours, and the dayes immediatly following, are y^e very daies here expressed: yea, euen those dayes which Christ him selfe did so certainely, and more than prophetically foreshewe vnto his Disci∣ples, preaching vnto them of the destruction of the Temple, the ende of the world, and the lat∣ter dayes? Why then doe we still dwell in se∣curitie, and deceiue our selues with vaine con∣ceits, building vp a mountaine of miseries, in¦steade of the right felicitie? If we knowe our Lordes will, and doe it not we shall worthily be beaten with many stripes. Wherefore let vs now at the last, spéedily and carefully call vpon our mercifull God, lest he consume vs in the heate of his heauy wrath, and indignation: let vs humbly sue for grace, and hartily craue

pardon and fauour at his hands, lest suddaine destruction ouerwhelme vs: let vs with peni∣tent, and obedient harts fall downe before the throne of his celestiall maiestie, asking remis∣sion of our manifold sinnes, and villanies, and with a contrite affection, earnestly and vnfai∣nedly embrace the gladsum tidings of his holy Gospel, that through his infinite goodnes, and excéeding mercy, we may be safely protected, and wholy deliuered from all these horrible e∣uils both of body and soule. For sée what com∣fortable and swéete words the Lord of Hostes hath vttered with his owne mouth: If ye walke in my Ordinances, and kéepe my com∣maundements, and doe them, I wil send you raine in due season, and the land shall yéeld hir encrease, and the trées of the fielde shall giue their fruite and your threshing shal reach vnto the vintage, and the vintage shall reach vnto the sowing time, & ye shal eate your bread in plenteousnes, and dwel in your land safely, and I wil send peace in the land, and ye shall sléepe, and none shal make you afraid, and I wil rid euil beastes out of the land, and there shal no sword goe throughout your land, and ye shal chase your enimies, and they shall fall before you vpon the sword and fiue of you shal chase an hundred, and an hundred shal put ten thousand to flight, and your enimies shall fall

before you vpon the sword: for I will haue re∣spect vnto you, and make you increase, & mul∣tiply you, and set vp my couenant with you, and ye shall eate olde store, and carry out the olde, because of the new, and I wil make my dwelling place among you, and my soule shall not loath you: I wil walke amongst you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people, and so foorth. These are the goodly and blessed promises, which the Lord of Heauen & Earth wil assuredly and plentifully performe vnto those; that doe faithfully feare, and truly wor∣ship him, in that integritie of holines & righte∣ousnes, that him selfe requireth. For no doubt, he is a most merciful God, & a most louing fa∣ther, ful of compassion, full of pacience, & long suffering, ful of goodnes & pitie. And yet as he is excedingly merciful to the repentant sinner, so is he also iust & terrible to the wilful & obsti∣nate reprobate. For thus on the other side hath the Lord of Lords from the throne of his om∣nipotent Maiestie thundered: but if ye walke contrary vnto me, and wil not harken vnto me, I wil also walke contrary vnto you: I wil bring vpon you fearfulnes, consumption, and the burning ague, to consume your eyes, and gender sorrow of hart, and ye shal sowe your seede in vaine, for your enimies shal eate it, and I wil set my face against you, and ye shal

fall before your enimies: they that hate you, shall raigne ouer you, and ye shal flye when no man followeth you, and I will breake the pride of your power, and I will make your heauen as yron, and your earth as brasse, and your labour shall be spent in vaine, for your land shall not giue her encrease, neither shall the trées of the landes giue their fruites: I will also sende in wild beastes amongest you, which shall robbe you of your children, and destroy your cattell, and make you fewe in number, and make your high wayes to be de∣solate. And if ye may not be reformed by these thinges, I will punish you yet seuen times for your sinnes, and I will send a sworde a∣mongest you, that shall auenge my couenant, and when ye are gathered togither within your cities, I will send the pestilence among you, and ye shall be deliuered into the handes of the enimie. And when I haue broken the staffe of your bread, ten wiues shall bake your bread in one ouen, and they shall deliuer you your breade againe by waight, ye shall eate, and not be satisfied. And if you will not yet for all this harken vnto, but walke against me, I will walke contrarye vnto you also, and will chastise you seuen times more for your sinnes: and ye shall eate the flesh of your Sonnes, and the fleshe of your Daughters

shall ye deuoure: I wil destroy your high pla∣ces, and cut away your images, and cast your carkasses vpon the bodies of your idols, and my soule shall abhorre you: and I will make your cities desolate, and bring your sanctua∣rie vnto naught, and will not smell the sa∣uour of your swéete odours: I wil bring your land vnto a wildernesse, and your enimies which dwell therein, shall wonder at it. Le∣uitic. Cap. 26. Nowe, Lord, can any be so vn∣graciously stiffe necked, and hard harted, as not to be terrified and astonished with the horrour of such maledictions? then, alas, let him that hath an eare, heare what the Crea∣tor speaketh vnto the Creature, the Lorde of Lordes, to his rebellious subiect, Almighty God to man, to clay, to dust, and ashes: let euery one remember, what he hath receiued and heard, and hold fast, and repent: he that ouercommeth shall inherite all thinges, and I will be his God, and he shall be my sonne, sayth he that sitteth on the Throne. But the fearefull, and the vnbeleuing, and the abho∣minable, and murtherers, and whoremon∣gers, and idolaters, and sorcerers, and all li∣ars, shall haue their part in the lake that bur∣neth with fire and brimstone, which is the se∣cond Death. Let vs therefore repent with Ni∣niuie, least we be consumed with Sodome,

and Gomorrha: let vs doe his commaunde∣ments, that we may be blessed, that our pow∣er may be in the trée of life, and that we may enter in, through the gates into the citie, and take the water of life fréely. Babylon is made a dwelling place of diuels, a cage of vncleane birdes, spirits and goblins shall walke in hir pallaces, fearefull wilde beastes shall lurke there: scritchowles, and ostriges shall walke in hir houses, Apes and Satyres shall daunce in hir beautifull buildings, wilde Cats shall cry therein, and Dragons shall there abide, no voice of men shall be heard in hir, no soūd of a bell, or a mill shall be heard, no light of a candle shall be séene, but perpetuall solitude, desolation, and sorrow shal remaine and dwel there for euermore. But, we will faithfully praise the name of our Lord Iesus, and in pa∣cience possesse our soules, that when suddaine destruction shal come vpon the careles world, we may lift vp our heades, and behold our redemption at hand. We will no more looke for life, but where it dwelleth, in the flesh of Christ alone there it resteth, all promise and hope of life is in him, he hath alone the words of life, he is alone the bread of life, the water of life, the autor of life, the word of life, the trée of life, the onely life, he that beléeueth in him, hath euerlasting life. We will cry no

more vpon Angels: we will looke no more vnto our owne workes: we will trust no more in our owne prayers: we will no more call for the helpe of creatures, they are all subiect vnto vanitie: there is no life, but in Christ aboue: the Elders, the Angels, the Beastes, all Creatures they giue this ho∣nour vnto Christ: saluation is of him, that sitteth vpon the Throne, and of the Lambe, and altogither they cry, Amen.

You will maruell, Brother, to sée me thus vehemently, & zealously affected in a priuate Discourse, but truly the incomparable great∣nesse, and importance of the Argument, to him that hath entered into any reasonable consideration of so vniuersall future calami∣ties, as dayly threaten vs, must néedes séeme to require much more, than I haue here sayd, or can possibly say.

The last notable thing, that I haue to obserue this yeare, 1583. is, that there shall not appeare vnto vs in our Horizon, any E∣clipse, either of the Sunne, or of the Moone. Marry, forasmuch as the influence, and wor∣king of that Eclipse of the Sunne, which happened the last yeare, 1582. beginneth to take place and effect but in this present yeare, 1583. in Maye, perduring till that tyme Twelue moneth, 1584. I haue thought it

not inconuenient, to prosecute these mat∣ters somewhat further, and to deliuer my simple Iudgement touching that E∣clipse, presuming herein of your pacience, as in the premisses.

Of the Eclipse of the Sunne, which happened the last yeare, 1582.

IN this last yeare 1582. vpon the 20. day of Iune, immediatly af∣ter fiue of the clocke in the mor∣ning, the bodie of the Moone at hir chaung, being directly put be∣tweene the Sunne and the Earth, or betwéene our sight, and the Sunne, and thereby depri∣uing vs of the full light of his beames, there appeared within our Horizon at Cambridge, (as you remember) A small Eclipse of the Sunne, the Sunne and Moone being at that very instant conioyned in the seuenth Degrée, and 24. minut of the signe Cancer, within two degrées, & 39. minutes of Catabibazon, which Eclipse albeit it were of smal continuance, the Sunne being bodily eclipsed or darkened by the Moone, but vnto thrée fingers, or points, and seuen minutes, hath notwithstanding the proper influence and peculiar effectes: for as Messahalah a cunning and perfect Astrologer witnesseth, whose bookes (as I sayde) haue bene muche estéemed of mightye Princes, and as Experience hir selfe teacheth, There neuer happeneth anye Eclipse of the Sunne, which doth not presignifie and foreshew some

great Accident to come to passe, and Ptolomey him selfe the Prince of Astrologers affirmeth, that the fatall conuersions, ouerthrowes, and de∣structions of kingdomes, may Astrologically be foreséene, and prognosticated by the Defects and Eclipses of the Sunne and Moone. Whereby Thales Milesius, as Plinie credibly reporteth, did certainly foretell, sundry chaunges, and alte∣rations of states, and kingdomes, to happen in Asia, which afterward came effectually to passe, euen according to his Astrologicall prediction: & the like is auouched by diuerse other, of some other well séene the same way. Whereupon E∣clipses haue bene the more specially regarded, and obserued of the best Astrologers, as is very well exemplified by Stadius: but I will returne to the present Eclipse, from whence I haue a litle digressed. It is firste to be noted, that the Sunne was eclipsed in Cancer, which is the na∣turall and essentiall house of the Moone, wherein she reioyceth most, and wherein also the moste beneuolent and fauourable planet Iupiter, cal∣led commonly, Fortuna maior, doth ascend, bée∣ing therein chiefly eleuated, and exalted: a signe of the partition of the watrie Trigone, femi∣nine, nocturnall, northerly, moueable, of direct ascension, whom Capricorne doth obey by rea∣son of his superioritie, vnsauery of taste and ef∣fect, beyng naturally colde and moist, and of the

flegmaticke complexion, gouernour and ru∣ler of the breast, the mouth of the stomacke, the lunges, euen almoste to Diaphragma, or the Midriffe. Nowe the nature and properties of the signe being knowne, considering that it is a colde and watrie signe, it betokeneth, accor∣ding to the Iudicials of Astrologie, that greate aboundaunce of rayne is like to ensue, with many perillous ouerflowinges by rage of wa∣ters: whereby a great number shall be shrewd∣ly hindered, and endammaged, it will also cause much rawe, inconstant, and distemperate wea∣ther, euill for all kinde of cattle, but especially for shéepe: it portendeth the destruction of much fishe, and water foules: great enuie, strife, de∣bate, contention, and sedition with many pri∣uie conspiracies, vnlawfull fraies, violent op∣pressions, robberies, and murders, yea and much martiall prouision, and preparation for warre, beside sundrie losses, and grieuous perils vnto those, that get their liuing by toyle and labour on the seas, or other waters, which shall come to passe, by meanes of tempestuous, and immode∣rate weather, wherewith many shippes shalbe ouerthrowne, many mariners, and watermen drowned, many townes and cities desolate, nigh vnto the sea. Moreouer there shall followe a great death, and ouerthrow amongst the baser, and poorer sort of people, according to that iudge∣ment

of Proclus. Cum acciderit Eclipsis Solis in Cancro, obscurae turbae, ignobilisque plebeculae inte∣ritus sequitur, diuturnae bellorum seditiones, & a∣quatilium, marinorumque, & aliorum in aequore degentium magna pernicies. Which saing of Pro∣clus, the infortunate constellation and constitu∣tion of the other planets do séeme to verifie: for Saturne was retrocedent in a feminine and no∣cturnal signe, to wit, in Pisces, which is a signe of the same complexion and qualitie that Cancer is of, being also flegmaticke, cold, moiste, and of the nature of water: Mars, Venus, Mercury, and Luna, two of them in a drie and colde signe: the other two in a colde and moist signe, and al∣so in a moyst mansion, will likewise increase the colde watrie operations of this Eclipse, and for their part, helpe forwarde the effects there∣of. And as for Iupiter, he too was much abased and weakened by his Retrogradation in Aqua∣rio, a moist signe. Item Mars being in Tauro, and in opposition to his owne house, is become more sturdie, and infortunate: and being lord of the 10. house, he noteth that Lordes and Nobles wil much afflict and oppresse their poore tenants by enhauncing their rents, & putting them to huge fines, without regard of cōmon reason, equitie, or pietie: so that the poore farmers shalbe scarce∣ly able to liue, and maintaine their necessarie charge. He signifieth futhermore the vtter de∣struction,

and ouerthrowing of those, which shal rebelliously set themselues against their rulers and magistrates: for he is in opposition to the same his owne house, himselfe remaining in an∣gulo Quartae Domus, vnde emittit sursum, & as∣cendunt eius calores & malae naturae ad omnes alios planetas, as Haly saith) and there seated in Tauro the night house of Venus▪ which importeth much close whoredome, and secrete vngodlinesse a∣mongst many vncleane & wicked persons, that haue shaken of the awe, which the feare of God should bréede in them, and onely haue respect to the impious pollicie, vttered in a common pro∣uerbe, Si non castè, tamen cautè. Which pollicie too will fayle them in the end, and lay their corrup∣tion open to the generall vew of the worlde, and shamefull reproch of themselues, so vniuersally true it is, that the Poet writeth:

Quicquid sub terra est, in apricum proferet aetas.

I might here rehearse sundrie examples of diuerse Eclipses of the Sunne in Cancer, & there∣by declare, both what destructions, and deaths, & also, what other straunge and rufull accidentes haue ensued, but amongst the rest for shortnesse sake I will only report two, or thrée of the most notable, with the seuerall operations and effects thereof: that euery man of any reasonable con∣ceite, and capacitie, may thereby gather a sensi∣ble reason & cause of fatall conuersions, changes,

and alterations by conference of the antecedent causes, and skilfully with discretion and iudge∣ment apply the same to a farther consequence of times and matters to come: for as Stadius in the preface to his Ephemerides excellently noteth: Dum causas praeteritorum interpretamur, eadem quoque Methodo & futurorum docemus, nam futu∣ra à praeteritis non specie, non genere differunt, sed tempore tantum, quod eadem vt accidens comitatur. A very wise rule, not onely seruing for these A∣strologicall obseruations, but much more to be extended to the right vse of ancient histories, and politique practises, deliuered to posteritie for their imitation, in like necessities, and affaires. But, to containe vs now within our bounds, in the yeare 1424. the 26. daye of Iune, in the eue∣ning, as is credibly recorded, there appeared an Eclipse of the Sunne in Cancer, the 14. degrée: at which time, Charles the king of Fraunce being valiantly set vpō in battaile by the Inglish men & Burgundians, was expelled his owne realme: warre was hotely maintayned betwéene the Danes, & the Slesuicians: the Bishop of Breame prouoking the Hollanders to battaile, was grie∣uously wounded of them, and taken prisoner: a terrible plague, and most vehement pestilence and mortalitie of men ensued, continuing fierce, and hote a long time: afterwardes, certaine Princes of Germanie, entring Bohemia with a

great armie diuided into thrée partes, were for∣cibly repelled and driuen backe of the Hussites, whereby the bounds of Bohemia were enlarged, and spread abroade, towardes Misnia, and No∣ricum: finally, all the fruites of the earth, as corne, graine, vinetrées, and such like, perished through vnseasonable pinching colde, and extre∣mitie of weather.

In the yeare 1569. the ninth day of Iulie in the morning, there likewise appeared an Eclipse of the Sunne in the 26. degrée of Cancer, the in∣fluence, & effects wherof continued two yeares: when the Turkes martially assayling and in∣uading Pannonia, called otherwise Hungaria, and Syria, a countrie lying in the east partes of Ger∣manie, a portion whereof bordereth on Hunga∣rie, (sauing which part y^e whole country besides is altogither moūtainish) forcibly carried away many prisoners, & captiues, with ouer sensible proofe of their might & furie. Mathias Hunnia∣des, surnamed Coruinus, a moste fortunate prince, and as happie a warrier, who fiue yéeres before was crowned king of Hungarie, by Fre∣derick than Emperour, denoūced & proclaimed warre against the Bohemians, being requested, and perswaded thereunto by the Pope, & at that time by force of armes, tooke frō them Morauia, Silesia, and Lusatia. The same Mathias cōtinued as fierce warre with Casimire the king of Po∣lonia,

couragiously inuaded the Turkes, often discomfiting and vanquishing them: gatte away Vienna from the Emperour, subdued, and con∣quered diuerse other nations, and territories ad∣ioyning, in so much y^t at his death, he deserued this noble Epitaph of Antony Thaebaldeus:

Coruini breuis haec Vrna est: quem magna fatentur Facta fuisse Deum, fata fuissè hominem.

The Prince of the Tartarians at the same time, assaulted and spoyled Russia, vpon whiche countrie Tartaria boundeth on the weast. The King of Denmarke was suttelly entrapped and taken by the craftie wiles, and cunning fetches of Sweden, There ensued a sharpe battaile be∣twéene the French, and Burgundian, Anno 1571. the force and influence of the Eclipse still continuing, many princes, and mightie poten∣tates died: and amongst the reste, George the king of Bohemia, whom Ladislaus, sonne to the king of Pollonia succéeded. To conclude, Hen∣ry the sixte King of Ingland, was within the reach of this Eclipse, taken by king Edward the fourth, in the Bishops palace at London, and by him committed to the tower, where afterwards he was murdered: as more fully appeareth by our owne Inglish Chronicles.

Last of all, Anno 1536. there hapned an Eclipse of the Sunne in the seuenth degrée of Cancer, that is iuste in the very selfe same

degrée, wherein the Sunne was darkened this last yeare 1582. After which Eclipse there arose hote warre in Picardie, wherby both the French & Burgundians receiued mutuall harmes and dammages diuers wayes, which are reported to haue bene very great and grieuous. At the same time, the souldiers of king Ferdinand, brother to the Emperour Charles, being conducted by their Captaines to resist the force of their enimies in Hungarie, were, as you know, trecherously be∣trayed into the handes of the Turkes by one Catzianerus: of whome they were almost all most cruelly slaine, their chief Captaines taken captiue, and carried away to Constantinople the Turkes chiefest citie, where they liued in mise∣rable seruitude and bondage. At the same time the Geldrenses seditiously rebelled against their Soueraigne. At the same time, the most fruite∣full, bewtifull, and noble Ilands Sicilia and Ca∣labria, were wofully destroyed with fire, which did straungly breake out of the sealand béeing dried vp. At the same time their was heard at Rome, a most fearefull, and horrible thundering in the aire, béeing also the more extraordinarie for the very time of the yeare. At the same time, an auncient tower of Helderberg, being suddain∣ly blasted with lightning, did cause a sore ruine, much mischiefe and great miserie to that citie. At the same time, in high Germanie, their hap∣ned

an excéeding great inundation, the force and rage whereof, was passing wonderful, and mar∣uelous straunge. And after the same Eclipse (which we in Ingland, ought chiefly to remem∣ber) twoo notable seditions and insurrections did shrewdly trouble, and disturbe vs héere in Ingland: which fell out in the 18. yeare of the raigne of the most mightie and puissant Prince king Henry the eight. Whereof the firste was raysed principally for religion amongst the com∣mons of Lincolneshire, who had gathered togi∣ther nigh 20000. persons, to serue their turnes in the atchieuing of that rebellious enterprize. The seconde beganne farther of, in Yorkeshire, which northeren commotion was also attemp∣ted for matter of religion, the people there floc∣ked togither, amounting to the number of fortie thousand. Against those of the first insurrection, the King sent out the Duke of Suffolke, with a strong and princely power, which when the re∣belles did vnderstand, they straight waies brake vp there armie, and suddainly departed. A∣gainst those of the seconde insurrection, whiche was so farre the greater, his Maiestie sent the Dukes of Northfolke, and Southfolke both, with a farre stronger power, and mightier host of sol∣diers: vpon whose comming the battaile was appointed to be fought betwéene them on Simon and Iudes day, but the same night it rayned so

extréemely, that the twoo armies coulde by no meanes méete according to that appointment. Wherupon the rebels (as lightly they are woont first, or last) were glad to craue pardon the se∣cond time, shewing themselues very desirous to depart, with due submission to their most noble Prince: so that both these seditions were finally pacified, and dispatched with the death of a fewe Archerebelles, and Captaine commotioners, whiche were shortly after executed for example sake, according to the haynousnesse of their dis∣loyall, and desperate attemptes. The same E∣clipse might peraduenture be accompanied with some other semblable Euents: but these are the chiefest, that I can presently call to minde, and are sufficient, I suppose, to inferre my Conclu∣sion, what héede is to be taken of like Eclipses, and namely this of late. Whereunto if we shall nowe considerately apply the examples before alledged may we not generally conceiue, what sequele of troubles and euils, is like to be prog∣nosticated by the same? And yet to speake indif∣ferently according to the rules of Arte, I per∣suade my selfe, that the misfortunes threatned thereby, shall neither be fully so hainous, nor of so long continuance, as were those of the former Eclipses. My reason is, bicause the quantitie of the Eclipse hauing bene but very little & small, (not one quarter of the Sunne béeing darkned)

the quantitie of the influence and effects is like to be proportionable. For so Messahalah iudgeth in his booke de Rebus Eclipsium, the 7. chapter. In Eclipsi Solis semper significatur magnum ali∣quod Accidens, sed tamen secundùm quantitatem ipsius Eclipsis. Wherefore the quantitie of this late Eclipse béeing so small, I presume, the o∣perations, and sequeles thereof shall be both the lesse in quantitie, and the shorter in continu∣ance. Nowe, as concerning the Regions, Pro∣uinces, territories, and cities which shall chief∣ly be afflicted and oppressed with the euils ensu∣ing, (whiche euery man will be readie to de∣maund) it is sufficiētly knowne, which are prin∣cipally vnder the dominion, and regiment of the signe Cancer: as Numidia, Africe, Bithinia, Phry∣gia, Colchis, Carthago, Regnum Franciae, Regnum Scotiae, Regnum Granatae, Comitatus Burgundiae, Prussia, Hollandia, Selandia, Constantinopolis, Thumissa, Venetiae, Mediolanum, Genua, Luca, Pisa, Lubecum, Treueris, Magdeburgum, Gor∣licium, Berna, Ciuitas S. Andreae, Yorchia, siue Eboracum, as they are confusedly heaped to∣gither by our chiefest Astrologers, respecting rather matter, than forme. Of whiche very countries, and cities, those persons too shall especially féele the violence of this Eclipse, whiche had Cancer placed in their Horoscope. And this in effect is all, that I haue presently

to say, touching the influence, and sequele of the foresayde late Eclipse▪ For, as for those two in∣staunces, which you in your chamber, not many moneths since, obiter, and as it were, disputan∣di causa obiected agaynst me, reasoning then fa∣miliarly of the obseruation, and héede that was to be taken of Eclipses: the one of Agathocles, the famous captaine, and tiranne of Syracusae, the other of L. Sulpitius Gallus a noble Ro∣mane: whereof Agathocles, as I remember, in his wars against the Penians, when so euer anie Eclipse was to happen the day before their battaile least his souldiers should take any pre∣iudiciall or superstitious conceite thereat, vsed, as you then alledged, to discourse vnto his ar∣mie the whole reason thereof: shewing them, that what soeuer shoulde chaunce there, was to followe by course of nature, & appertained no∣thing to their Militarie affaires: Sulpitius Gal∣lus vnderstanding likewise on a time, that an Eclipse was at hande, assembled his souldiers togither, and warned them thereof afore hand, expounding vnto them all the reason, and na∣turall causes of Eclipses, least they should igno∣rantly mistake them, for heauie, and vnluckie tokens: As for these two instances, I saie, I muste néedes graunt, they were good martiall pollicies, and wise Stratagemes for the present, to abandon such feare, as their souldiers might

haply otherwise haue conceyued, by such shews of some infortunate chaunce, to befall them, but as according to Aristotels saying in his Poli∣tiques, Non est tuta Regula hominum voluntas: so I thinke, these, and such lyke Militate deui∣ses, are not of force, to proue, or disproue any other Conclusion, but this, that in the time of necessitie, or extremitie, especially in warre, it is wisedome, to make the beste of euery such Accident, and to interprete it in such wise, as may séeme moste behouefull for the incourage∣ment of those, whom it concerneth, to be kept in harte, and to be deliuered of all by feare, that might any way daunt, or astonish their minds. Which no doubte was Aeneas his politique cō∣sideration, where Virgil writeth of him:

Spem vultu simulat, premit altum corde dolorem.

In which cases, not so much the very truth and consequence of the matter is commonly re∣garded, as what is most expedient, and auaile∣able, to serue present turnes. At an other time I remember, you vrged vpon me the like hi∣storie out of the fourth booke of Q. Curtius, de Rebus gestis Alexandri. Where it appeareth, how Alexanders souldiers were at the firste terrified, and astonished, with a terrible E∣clipse of the Moone, and how againe afterward recomforted, and satisfied, by a cunning and sut∣tle interpretation of certaine learned Egyp∣tian

Astrologers, there present in the campe. The place is very notable, and therefore I haue thought it worth the recyting. Firste, their maruelous feare, and agonie is thus described. Prima ferè vigilia luna deficiens, primùm nitorem sideris sui condidit, deinde sanguinis colore suffuso, lumen omne foedauit: sollicitisque sub ipsum tanti discriminis casum, ingens relligio, & ex ea formido quaedam incussa est: Dijs inuitis, in vltimas terras trahi se querebantur: iam nec flumina posse adiri, nec sidera pristinum praestare fulgorem, vastas ter∣ras, deserta omnia occurrere: in vnius hominis ia∣ctationem, tot millium sanguinem impendi: fasti∣dio esse patriam: abdicari Philippum patrem: coe∣lum vanis cogitationibus petere. Then follow∣eth Alexanders remedie, and meanes of pacifi∣cation, more politique for the effect, than true for the cause. I am pro seditione Rex erat, cum ad omina interitus, Duces, Principesque militum frequen∣tes adesse praetorio iubet, Aegyptiosque vates, quos coeli ac siderum peritissimos esse credebat, quid sen∣tirent, expromere iubet. At illi, qui fatis sci∣rent temporum orbes implere destinatas vices, Lu∣namque deficere, cum aut terram subiret, aut so∣le priuaretur, Rationem quidem ipsis perceptam non edocent vulgus, but what Reason then? Cae∣terùm affirmant Solem Graecorum, Lunam esse Per∣sarum, quotiesque illa deficiat, ruinam, stragemque illis gentibus portendi: veteraque exempla percen∣sent

Persidis Regum, quos aduersis Dijs pugnasse, Lunae ostendisset Defectio. Whereupon Q. Cur∣tius interlaceth this politique iudgement: Nul∣la res efficaciùs multitudinem regit quàm Super∣stitio, alioquin impotens, saeua, mutabilis, vbi va∣na religione capta est, meliùs vatibus quám Du∣cibus suis paret. For the effect of that forged interpretation, or rather, of that counterfaite Stratageme, was this: Igitur edita in vulgus Aegyptiorum Responsa, rursus ad spem, & fidu∣ciam erexere torpentes. So easie a matter it is, by any colourable deuise, or pretence of reason, to content the vnquiet mindes, and asswage the reging furie of the multitude. In whiche case, many both Martial and Mercurial experiments haue bene practized, that are not to enforce any rule of Art, other than this, what way a poli∣tique man is to take in time of like extremitie. As for that efficacie, and sequele of Eclipses, that I here speake of, found out by induction of Examples, and obseruation of cunning Astro∣logers, it is not to be iudged vpon by any such Stratagematicall cōceit either vttered in word, or practized in déede, at the point of necessitie: but to be credited so farre, as the iudgement of the learned in this facultie, and the foresayde Ex∣emplifications may giue it credite. Artifici in sua arte credendum: especially if that Artifex be so expertus, as he ought to be, & as here I make

Account he is, considering what alreadie hath bene alledged, and may father be iustified. But, for this present, sufficiat, quod satis est. For mine owne part, as I hope the beste, so I feare the worst, enclyning in some sorte to the olde rule, addiscentem oportet credere. What soeuer befalleth other places, I trust Ingland is still to continue in Gods fauour, who from day to day, and from yeare to yeare, mightily preserue our gracious Queene, as hitherto ha hath done: who graunt hir moste excellent Maiestie, a long and prosperous raigne ouer vs, that wée may still enioye this happie continuaunce of peace, wealth, health, and other our speciall fe∣licities, whereas the sworde, penurie, and so many plagues, haue ioyned their forces, in a manner against all other nations. Who for his excéeding mercie sake, vouchsafe vs his singular accustomed fauour more and more, and conti∣nually blesse hir soueraigne Highnesse more and more. I doubt not, but euery true Inglish harte will say, Amen.

I haue now deliuered what I thought con∣uenient in this kind: vnlesse haply you will fur∣thermore enioyne me, to set downe my Astrolo∣gicall iudgement particularly & seuerally of the foure quarters of this yeare 1583. after the ordi∣nary manner of our common Almanack ma∣kers: which although it be lesse néedefull, be∣ing

already performed by them, yet to take a∣way all matter of suspicion, which other wise you might perhaps in some part conceiue of my insufficiencie this way, and withall to dis∣charge a péece of my promise in the former dis∣course, I haue briefly noted so much, as I would thinke necessary for common instructi∣ons, to serue either publique, or priuat turnes, and namely Oeconomical prouision, if this Treatise were to come into more hands.

A short Iudgement of the foure partes of this yeare, 1583.

1 THe Spring time ensuing, is, in my opinion, like to be very moyst, very windie, and somewhat cold.

2 Summer, I suppose, will be rather moist than dry, with some haile, thunder, and light∣ning, especially in Iuly, and September.

3 Haruest will be diuers, and inconstant, moyst, windy, cloudy, temperate, and dry.

4 The Winter season is moste like to be vnseasonable, tedious, & very long, not with∣out great store of haile, raine, snow, many boi∣sterous windes, and very much colde, harde, sharpe, and tempestuous weather.

The whole yeare, to speake more vniuer∣sally,

is like to proue but a bad yeare for al ma∣ner of cattel, but especially and principally for shéepe. Pease & Beanes, I suppose, wil be plen∣tifull, & good cheape: but wheat, by my conie∣ctures, wil be scarce, & very deare. Barlie shall be indifferent, but yet of the two, rather deare than cheape. We are like to haue good store of Honie, & sufficient plenty of Oyle. Butter & Chéese, shal be somewhat deare: we are not to looke for any store, or aboundance of fruite: a dearth of victuals is much to be feared: grie∣uous losses by shipwracke: sundry dammages by fire: many shamefull whoredoms, thefts, robberies, spoiles, oppressions, treacheries, and mutinies greatly to be dreaded: perillous fa∣ctions, seditions, tumults, insurrections, & vp∣rores, togither with hot preparance for warre to be loked for, especially in y^e Northeast cun∣tries. Many infirmities, & diseases, shall gene∣rally raigne both amongest men, womē, & chil∣dren, procéeding of vnnaturall moistnes, & di∣stemperate heat, as by y^e Euent wil more sen∣sibly appeare. The death of some mighty, & re∣nowmed Magistrate by all Astrological Con∣iectures is to ensue: & finally a sore mortalitie is very like to inuade many places, as well somewhat neare hand, as farther off: which God of his euerlasting goodnes, & mercy, turne from his Elect, continuing our happy state and quietnes in Ingland, to his gracious pleasure.

Hauing thus much presumed of your paciēce, cōtrary to my maner in such priuat writings, I wil yet aduenture, to trouble you a litle far∣ther, with y^e view of a certain Phisical & Astro∣logical table of Phlebotomie: which, (vpon oc∣casion) I haue lately drawne, & already cōmu∣nicated w^t a friend or two, studious this way & desirous thereof. I will not say, but some error may peraduēture scape me therin, as in y^e rest: & if you happen to light vpon any such I am to craue pardon, as in y^e rest. The only preamble, I here thinke néedeful, is y^e notable Astrologi∣cal, & Phisical iudgement giuē out by Hermes Trismegistus him self, in y^e very ende of his Iä∣tromathematica, ad Amonem Aegyptium, thus translated into Latine by Stadius, in the Prole∣gomena to his Ephemerides. Multū refert in quae hora primus morbi insultus deprehēdetur, obseruare, an eo tēpore benefici in ortu sint, aut mediū coeli occu∣pent, plus námque sic cōstituti, collapsis alióqui viri∣bus: opis subministrabunt, {quam} praestantissimus possit Medicus: scrutari igitur & diē, & horā decubitus exactè oportebit, & mundi positū examinare: nihil enim homini superuenit, quod ex coelesti consensu, & sympathia non oriatur, & originem ducat. Which famous & authenticall Maxime of Hermes, to∣gither with the long approued verse, borrowed from Hesiode: Ipsa Dies, hodie Mater, cras ipsa Nouerca, may generally suffice for the iustify∣ing

of that difference, & distinction of houres, dayes, and times, which either here is, or els where may Astrologically and Phisically be maintained. And so with my dutifull Com∣mendacions, I hartily commit you to the pro∣tection of God: being loth to be ouertedi∣ous in officious wordes, or sentences of curtesie, howsoeuer other whiles I may chaunce to ouershoote my selfe in matter of Dis∣course.

A COMPENDIOVS Table of Phlebotomie, or bloud∣letting, setting downe by diuision the ge∣nerall and speciall considerations thereunto belonging.

AS in other things, so in Phle∣botomy, or letting of bloud, the Cause is first skillfully & circumspectly to be conside∣red, as that it be to purge the bodye of some vnnaturall, naughty, and superfluous humor, whose sub∣stance is either simple, or mixt: simple, when it doth of it selfe, without the admixtion of any other, degenerate, as bloud doth, when it pu∣trifieth in the veines, the pores being stopped: mixt, when it is mingled with some that is already corrupted, as in the Dropsie, where the bloud is mixt with water, then the Cause being thus allowed vpon, & certainly knowen for néedefull and good to the pacient, (for other∣wise letting of bloud is very daungerous, and openeth a way to many grieuous infirmities, and withall here would generally be noted, that it is not cōuenient either for a very leane & weake man, or for a very fat, & grosse man to be let bloud) there remaine to be considered:

• How it stā∣deth with y^e Pacient.
  • inwardly
    • 1. for his complexion.
    • 2. age.
  • outwardly
    • 3. for the time of the yeare, and moneth generally.
    • 4. for the time of the day, and diet particularly.

1. Complexion.

• 1. In the com∣plexion is to be considered, whether he be
  • 1. Sanguine, that is, hot and moist.
  • 2. Collerick, that is, hot and dry.
  • 3. Melancholy, that is, cold and dry.
  • 4. Phlegmatick, that is, cold and moist.

2. Age.

• 2. In his age, whether he be
  • in his youth.
  • in his manly, or middle age.
  • in his elderly age.
  • in his crooked old age.

3. The time of the yeare.

• Concerning the time of the yeare, he is to be aduised, what partes thereof are
  • good, as the Spring: from the middest whereof to the beginning of summer is simply the best time for this purpose: howbeit some thinke Autumne reasona∣ble good, as no doubt it is, in compari∣son either of summer or winter: being o∣therwise in it selfe, to be reckned rather for bad, than good.
  • bad
    • very bad, as Summer and Win∣ter, for their extremitie of heate & cold.
    • more tolerable, as Autumne, be∣ing somewhat more temperate.

4. The time of the moneth.

• Concerning the time of the moneth, these generall Cau∣tions are to be obserued, that he be not let bloud in any member, with any chirurgical instrument, ei∣ther▪
  • The Moone being in Tauro, Geminis, Leone, Virgine or Capricorno: or the last halfe of Libra, & first of Scorpio.
  • The Sinne, the Moone, or the Lord of the Horoscope, being in the signe, that ruleth that member.
  • The Moone being in any part of via la∣ctea, or in via combusta, or in domo casus sui, or being vacua, or tarda cur∣su▪ or in terminis infortuniorum, or in the duodenarial diuision of the twelue houses, placed either in 1.6.8. or 12. place thereof, or applying to the Lorde of the 8. house.
  • The day before, the day it selfe, the daye after the change of the Moone.
  • Halfe a naturall day, that is 12. howres before, and as many howres after the quarters of the Moone.
  • A day before, and a day after the full of the Moone.
  • A daye before, and a day after the Con∣iunction, Quartile, or opposition of the Moone with Saturne, or Mars.
  • A daye before the Coniunction of the Moone with Mercury, or Venus, or the head of the Dragon, or taile of the Dragon infortunate: beside other in∣fortunate dayes in euery moneth, se∣uerally noted in euery Almanack: and expressely set downe in certaine olde Latine verses to be seene in many aun∣cient Calenders: which kind of ver∣ses for the matter commonly are cur∣rant enough.

• and then the conuenien∣test time of the moneth, for the
  • 1. Sanguine.
  • 2. Chollerick.
  • 3. Melancholy.
  • 4. Phelgmatick
  the Moone being in
  • 1. Any of the signes fol∣lowing.
  • 2. Cancer, or Pisces.
  • 3. Aquarius, & firste halfe of Libra.
  • 4. Aries or Sagittarius.

Ratio. Contraria contrarijs curantur.

Howbeit, some specially commend Cancer, Aequarius, and Pisces, for letting of bloud: but Pisces can not be so good, being a common or bi∣corporall signe.

• also the best, and most laudable Aspects for this pur∣pose, or these, accor∣ding to our soundest writers in this kind.
  • the coniunction of the Moone with Iupi∣ter, or Venus, are simply and principally best: so that Venus be not combust.
  • the trine or sextile of the Moone with Iupi∣ter, Sol, Venus, and Mercury, are good, but especially with Iupiter, or Mercury.
  • the quartile or opposition of the Moone with Iupiter or Venus, doth well.
  • the trine or sextile of the Moone with Mars, are reasonable good, or indifferent.

• the time of the moneth for
  • Youth: from the chaunge to the first quarter.
  • Middle age: from the first quarter to the full.
  • Elderly age: from the full to the last quarter.
  • Olde age: from the last quarter to the chaunge.

Ratio. Simile gaudet suo simili.

Howbeit, no child would be let bloud before fourtéene yeares of age: nor old man after se∣uentie, vnlesse his strength be the greater, and somewhat more than ordinarie at those yeares.

5. Time of the day, and diet.

• The time of the day must be either
  • Morning: after the rising of the Sunne: when a man is yet fasting: which is sim∣ply the best, excepting the houres of Sa∣turne and Mars: and choosing specially the houres of Iupiter, and Venus, whose nature is most temperate.
  • After none: after reasonable good, or ra∣ther perfect digestion, and expulsion of superfluities.

And withall, regard must be had of the aier y^t it be not either too hot, or too cold, or clowdie, but calme, cleare, and temperate: the winde being then either Northerly, or else, Wester∣ly: for the South wind is no friend to Phlebo∣tomie.

Ratio. Callidum nimium dissoluit: Frigidum nimium refrigerat.

Exception.

Notwithstanding the premises, if this bloud letting be for the Phrenesie, the Pesti∣lence, the Squynancie, the Pleurisie, the A∣poplexie, for a continuing headach, procéeding

of choler or bloud, or for any hotte burning fe∣uer, or other extreame paine, a man in such a case may not tarie a chosen time, regularly set downe by the Astronomer, or Phisitian, be∣cause haply, the pacient might miscarrie in the meane season, but incontinently with all con∣uenient spéede, he is to séeke his remedie, this way: vnlesse either him selfe be very weake, or like to sounde, or the Moone be in the same signe that ruleth that verie parte of his bodie. Marrie, in the foresayed case of extreamitie, bloud is not to be let in so great a quantitie, as otherwise it would, if a chose time might conueniently be exspected.

As before bloud letting these circumstan∣ces of complexion, age, and times, are to be considered, so after bloud letting, like conside∣ration is to be had of our meates, and exercise. For meates we must take none, but sutch as are of an easie, and light digestion.

• For exercise, we are to abstaine from all, vntill the fourth day, exclusiue, not only those, that be vehement, as,
  • riding.
  • running.
  • leaping.
  • vawting.
  • wrastling.
  • fensing.
  • tennise, &c.

• But also, such as are more mild: as
  • walking.
  • bowling.
  • bathing.
  • and specially venerie.

Which both antecedent, and consequent limitations, being duely & orderly obserued, I doubt not, but I may effectually conclude with that auncient commendation of Phle∣botomie, giuen out in two common verses.

Exhilarat tristes: iratos placat: amantes Ne sint amentes, Phlebotomia facit.

And thus much, or rather thus litle of Phle∣botomie: hoping you will fauourably accept of this Astrological and Phisicke table, togea∣ther with the other rude papers: vntill better oportunitie, and greater leasure, accompanied with more reading, shall afforde some péece of worke otherwise laboured, and more scholler∣ly handled, than on such a sodaine this coulde be. Rome, they say, was not builded in a day, nor any worke of price huddled vp in hast: e∣uerie thing must haue a reasonable time, and it is impossible for a beginner, or nouice in a∣ny facultie, to attaine vnto that perfection, which long experience, and much meditation, haue hardly bred in men of farre riper yeres, & greater studie. The best is, I know vnto whō I write: and I truste at my retourne, I shall finde you (as I haue alwaies) rather a gentle reformer, than a sharpe controller. You know I vse not to dote vpon mine owne errours, but as in all things else, so in this pamflet, am ready, to correct, or amend any thing that shall

be found amisse, being glad to holde the aun∣cient rule, Errare possum, haereticus esse nolo, which I pray God, I may alwaies follow, as well in the conclusions of this science, as of any other. But truly, brother, I feare me, I haue now bene too vnreasonable tedious vnto you, and therefore wil here once againe take my leaue, and bid you hartily farewell: wishing you as my selfe. From my fathers in Walden the 6. of December. 1582.

Your louing brother, euer at commaundement, RICHARD HARVEY.