Briefe introductions, both naturall, pleasaunte, and also delectable vnto the art of chiromancy, or manuel diuination, and physiognomy with circumstances vpon the faces of the signes. Also certain canons or rules vpon diseases and sickenesse. Whereunto is also annexed aswel the artificiall, as naturall astrologye, with the nature of the planets. Written in the Latin tonge, by Ihon Indagine prieste. And now latelye translated into Englishe, by Fabian Withers.

The nature of the houses.

NOwe there dothe remaine to speake of the natures of the houses & signes howe and in what thinges they fauoure or helpe our doinges, and what is to be

done in euerie signe: whereby we may•• so ordre all our accions and doinges, that all thinges maie come prosperouslie and happelie to passe. For this is the onelye scope of Naturall Astrology, to the whi∣che if we do not attaine, I know not (as Alchabitius saith) to what ende it can o∣therwise be profitable vnto vs.

THe first house is geuen vnto Aries, who also is the first signe in order, and is called of the Astronomers the house of life, and signifieth the begin∣ninge of all workes: and that whiche in the beginning of the life shall either de∣lite the childe, or els vexe him and trou∣ble him, also his strength and weaknes: and finally, al things that pertain to the natural life.

The second house is of Taurus, and is the house of substaunce, liuinge, mi∣nistration, and seruauntes, and betoke∣neth the ende of youthe. In the which•• house if Iupiter and Venus happen to bee: they will chiefelye encrease those goodes which amongest the lawers are

called mouables, and also vnmouables, as gardens, fieldes, vineyardes and yere∣ly rentes, and what so euer dothe endure longe. Also if any man do hier any bond seruaunte vnder this signe, he shall be faithfull in all thinges he shalbe put in truste withal.

The thirde house whiche signifieth successe by brethren, sisters, kinred, and smal iourneis, is attribute vnto Gemini. Wherefore if anye manne haue Aries in the Horoscope, you may pronoūce vnto him good fortune by his brethren & kin∣dred, by greate men, and his neighbours.

It is good vnder this signe, to write and sende letters, to take in hande short iourneys, to begin frendship or brother∣hode, and sende letters, to take in hande short or such like.

The fourthe house is called the man∣sion of parentes, inheritance, treasures, and secreates. In this house it is good to contract, bie and sell, & to chaunge vine∣yardes, fieldes, and possessions, to builde houses and engines, to lay foundations, to big the earth, & to chuse thy sepulchre, for al these things Cācer doth prosperate.

The fifte house, is the house of chil∣dren, and loue, legacies, and giftes, and of al those thinges whiche after deathe do pertaine either to praise or reproche. It is expedient therfore vnder this signe to take in hande all thinges that com∣meth in minde, to chearishe thy selfe, to banket and make good cheare, to straye abroade, to entre in couenauntes and frendship, because of Venus ministringe gladnesse. It is good also to put on newe garmentes, to write Epistles, to be me∣rye and playe, and to gette him faithful frendes, whiche maye defend him in his necessity and nede.

The sixte is the house of infirmitie and sickenesse, sadnesse, and seruaunts, the delite of Mars, and is imputed vnto Virgo. It is not good herein neither to bie nor sel, because of vnfaithfulnesse, la∣bour, and sorow: and specially by Mercu∣rials and virgines, whome a man ought to eschue. For it heapeth against vs false witnesse, theues, and those whiche shal lie in wait for our life, menslears, & bloud sheders. Also tumultes, seditions, and

factions, and al these shall happen by the Virginistes, & Mercurials, because y^e Mars as is aforsaid doth reioise ī these things.

The .vii. is in Libra, which folowing by and by after the sicknesse, is the house of mariage, and of those thinges whiche are handled aboute the middle age, as it were in equal balance. In this it is good to amend and recouer things lost and in desperation: and because it is the house of perfit enmity, it is good to haue to do with thine enemies, to begin warres & debates, and speciallye for them whiche haue Aries in thascendent.

The .viii. mansion is attribute vnto Scorpio, & is the house or portiō of death, feare, and inheritance of deade men, and of such thinges as are done after death. Wherfore take heede that in this signe thou take in hand nothing, nether entre vpon any iourney or cōmit thy self vnto waters, because that herein he shal easi∣ly take hurt. Wherfore al battailes, cō∣tentions, vniust causes, enmities, & euill wemen are to be eschued, and specially if they rise by meanes of inheritance.

The .ix. is in Sagittarius, the house of faithe, religion, long iourneys, wisdome, philosophy, Mathematical sciēces, bokes, epistles, narrations, messages, dreames, and rumoures, whiche euerye one haue their proper starre in the firmamente or heauen. Wherefore the Sunne or Mone beinge in that house, it is good to take in hande the thinges aforesaid, for because they shal soner take effecte at that time then at anye other, for it is the mansion of perfect frendship.

The .x. house is in Capricorne, and is called the house of kingdome, rule, and office, and what so euer pertaineth to power. Wherfore, if thou wilt geue forth any precept or commaundemēt, or bryng any prouince or city in subiection, or at∣tain and get any rich kingdome, or haue to do with any iudge, or take in hand the defence of the poore, or haue conferens with great or noble men: al these things may haply & fortunately be done the Sun or Mone being in this house, cōmonlye called the house of Capricorne by the re∣guler order, Aries being in y^e first house.

The .xi. is referred to Aquarius, and is the house of praise, of good Fortune, the delite of Iupiter, of seruauntes, and helpers in this māsion. It is good to set vpon thine ennemies, to get frendes, to praise them by whom thou lokest for re∣warde and gaine: and finally, to take in hande al thinges that wee woulde haue come wel to passe.

The moste euill and pestilente house in a manner of all is the .xii. house, for it is the mansion of enemies, prisons, la∣bours, miseries, enuye, murmurations, and beastes, and is the ende of life. In this house let no goodnesse be loked for, but let him take hede of imprisonmente or fetters, the whiche (if he chaunce to come into in this signe) he shal be hardly deliuered oute. And if that Saturne the Lorde of the house, or Mars bee there: if woorketh deathe, and all kinde of mis∣chiefe. And thus successiuelye of al the other signes.

Hitherto we haue spoken of the na∣ture and effectes of the signes, in what thinges thei beinge ascendente, do helpe

and furder vs. Nowe wee will call to minde againe somewhat whiche was spoken before concerninge the Planets, aboute the whiche, (as the matter dothe require) wee will not tarie with longe circumstaunce accordinge to the Pro∣uerbe, not mindynge to make an Ele∣phant of a flie: a great matter of a small.