Ouranoskopia, or, The contemplation of the heavens, in a perpetual speculum, or general prognostication for ever wherein is succinctly demonstrated the names and natures of the signs, planets and aspects, terms of art, order of the spheres, the colours, magnitudes, motions, solid proportions and distances of the seven planets from the earth ... / by Iames Corss ...

CHAP. XIII. Shewing how to rectifie a Nativity by the trutine of herms.

THe first and easiest way of rectifying an Nativity, and reducing it to that moment of time when the Infant made its exit from the dark prison of the Mothers womb,

and began to be a visible member of the Creation, is by the trutine or scrutiny of herms (one of the wisest of all mortall men, and as ancient as Moses) who was of this opinion, that the very degree of the same sign wherein the Moon was at the Conception of the Childe, should be the true sign and degree of the ascendant at the Birth; this way of Rectification is far more ancient then the ani∣mador of Ptolomy, and allowed by Ptolomy himself, in his 51 Centiloquium, his words are, What sign the Moon is in at the time of the Birth, make that very sign the ascendant at Conception, and what signs the Moon is in at Conception, make that same sign, or the opposite unto it, the sign ascen∣ding at the Birth, &c. He therefore that would know the exact time aforesaid (its no matter whither it relate to himself or another,) must first erect a Coelestial Scheme for the estimate time of the Birth, and rectifie the place of the Moon thereto, and place her in the Figure.

Then take the distance of the Moon from the ascen∣dant, if she be Subteranean, (or under the earth) and from the seventh house if she be above the earth, substra∣cting the signs and degrees of the Angles, from the signs and degrees of the Moon (by adding 12 signs if Substra∣ction cannot otherwise be made) and with the distance of the Moon from the Angle, enter the Table, Intituled, A Table of the mansion of the Childe in his Mothers womb. Under the titles of signs and degrees, seeking the nearest Number thereunto, and over against that, under the Co∣lumns of the Moon, under, or above the earth, and in the respective Columns, you will find the certain num∣ber of dayes, that the Childe remained in the dark prison of its Mothers womb.

This done, consider whither the year of Birth be Com∣mon or Bisextile, and what day of the year the Birth is, then Substract the number of dayes that the Childe re∣mained in the womb, from the day of the birth, (by adding 365 or 366 (according as the year of birth is common or Bisextile) if Substraction cannot otherwise be made) and with the residue enter the Table of Mo∣neths, under the year of Birth, and you will find the Mo∣neth

and day of the Month, when the Childe was Conceived.

A Table of the Mansion of the Childe in its Mothers Womb.

Signs. Degr.	Luna sub terra.	Luna supra terrā.	A Table of the Moneths.
Moneths	Common years.	Bisext. years.
0 0	273	258	January	31	31
0 12	274	259	February	59	60
0 24	275	260	March	90	91
1 6	276	261	April	120	121
1 18	277	262	May	151	152
2 0	278	263	June	181	182
2 12	279	264	July	212	213
2 24	280	265	August	243	244
3 6	281	266	Septemb.	273	274
3 18	282	267	October	304	305
4 0	283	268	Novemb.	334	335
4 12	284	269	Decemb.	365	366
4 24	285	270
5 6	286	271		dayes	dayes
5 18	287	272
6 0	288	273

Then observe the place of the Moon, the day of Con∣ception at noon, which if she be not distant from the esti∣mate angle (or ascendant of the Nativity) above 13 de∣grees, then the day found is the day of Conception, but if she is more remote, you may imagine either the good aspects of the Fortuns put the Birth forwards, or the untoward aspects of the infortuns retarded it.

These things being premised, I come next to practice, and for illustration thereof, I shall adde one Example with as much brevity as I can.

A Childe was born in the famous City of Glasgow, Anno Christi, 1632. upon Sunday the 15 of July, about half an hour past 8 in the morning, as was observed and is reported.

At which estimate time aforesaid, the Cusp of the ascendant is Virgo, 18. deg. 19 min. (in the Latitude of 56. degrees) The Moon is sub terra under the Earth) viz. within the limits of the third House in Scorpio, 10 degrees 25. min. Now to know the Month and day when the Childe was conceived, I marshal the matter ac∣cording to the following method.

	Sig.	deg.	m.
True place of the Moon	7.	10.	25
Cuspe of the ascendant _____ _____ Substract.	5.	18.	19
Rests the distance Moon from the ascendant.	1.	22.	06

With which distance, I enter the Table of the Childes Mansion, and the nearest number thereto in signs and degrees, is 1 sign, 18 degrees. Against which (in the Column, Intituled, Sub terra, or the Moon under the Earth) I find 277. intimating that the native was 277 dayes in the obscure prison of his mothers womb.

The native was born in 1632. which divided by four, and nothing remaining, shewes 'tis a Bisextile year.

	dayes,
Number of the dayes from January 1 to the 15 of July in a Bisextile year, is,	197
For facility of operation I add the number of dayes in a Bisextile year,	366
The Aggregate	563
From which I substract the number of dayes that the Childe was in his Mothers womb,	277
Rests	286

Which in the Table of Moneths (for the Bisextile year) points out the 12 of October 1631. on which day

the Childe was conceived. The Moon that day at noon (according to precise Calculation from Keplers Tables) was in Virgo, 20 deg. 56 min. 31 seconds, which is not above 3 degrees distant from the ascendant at birth: And therefore I conclude that the Childe was conceived the 12 of October 1631. as aforesaid. And thus much shall serve, for the Correction of a Nativity by the Trutina Hermetis. There be other wayes of Rectifying the esti∣mate time aforesaid, as the Animodar of Ptolomy, and accidents of the Native, which Latter is most exact, and that which I make practice of next, the Trutine of Herms.

If you desire to know, whither the Childe be likely to live any space after it's born; for many times we see Children live but a few Months; yea, some but a few dayes, hours, or minuts: Sometimes the Mothers womb becomes the Infants Tomb. O how thankful to God should we be, who are preserved to the age of 30. 40. 50, &c. 'Tis a great blessing from God to have a long lease of our life, whose kindnesse and infinit love we should endeavour to requite, by spending it in Divine Contemplations and Adorations, &c. I say, if you would know (from the Hierogliphical Characters of hea∣ven,) whither the Infant will live past his Infancy, then observe these few Aphorisms following.

1. Erect a Coelestial Schem upon the estimative time given, and correct the same by the Trutine of Herms as aforesaid, and then observe.

2. If there be an unfortunate Planet in the Ascendant vitiating the degree thereof, or in Quartile or Opposition unto it.

3. If Saturn or Mars be conjoyned in the Ascendant, or if the light of the time be afflicted.

4. The Lord of the Ascendant Combust, Cadent, or Retrograde.

5. If all the Planets be Subteranean, or if the Birth be upon a new or full Moon.

6. The Moon in Conjunction, Quartile, or Opposition of Saturn or Mars, in the 4th, 6th, 8th or 12th Houses.

7. The Moon besieged between the bodies of Sol and Mars, void of all helps from the Fortunes.

8. The light of the time eclipsed at the moment of birth, is a sure argument of a short life.

9. If the birth be by day (viz. between the Suns rising and his seting) then have special regard to the Sun; if by night, to the Moon, because he is, Fons vitalis Poten∣tiae, Luna naturalis, according to Ptolomy, Cent. Aphoris. 86. and according to the first Aphorism of Herms Tris∣megistus, (Sol & Luna post Deum, omnium viventium vita sunt) they are the life of all living creatures. And therefore if the Luminaries be strong or well dignified, or in a good House of Heaven, or in a favourable Aspect of Jupiter or Venus, whither the native be born by day, or by night, 'tis a sure argument that the childe then born may live long, but if otherwise, they deny long life.

10. They who are born upon a full Moon, dye by ac∣cesse, or too great abundance of moisture; and upon a new Moon, for want of humidity, or by reason of too much drynesse; usually the most sickly, small and weak∣est bodies, are brought forth upon the change of the Moon.

11. The Conjunction of many Planets in the Ascendant void of all Essential Dignities, argueth a short life pro∣batum est.

12. The Lord of the Ascendant going to the Conjun∣ction of the Lord of the 8. or if the Lord of the Ascen∣dant be in the 8. or Lord of the 8. in the Ascendant, the same.

13. If the Luminaries separate from a fortune, and ap∣ply to a Malevolent, the Childe shall then be in great danger of death, at what time that Luminary (by a just measure of time) comes either to the body, or hath a course to that unhappy Aspect.

14. If you should happen to perceive such an applica∣tion as aforesaid, and would know the time when the eminent danger will happen, take and resolve the Ark of Direction into Time, by allowing to every degree one

year, five dayes, eight hours, and so you will be easily enformed of the time, &c.

These are the general testimonies of a short life, if none of them happen in a nativity, the childe may live until some eminent direction of the Sun, Moon or Ascen∣dant, unto some Malevolent Promittor, prove the cruel Atropos to cut in two the threed of life.

Fac ut experiar, JEHOVA, finem meum, mensura dierum, quid sit; experiar quam durabilis sum.