Prae-nuncius sydereus an astrological treatise of the effects of the great conjunction of the two superiour planets, Saturn & Jupiter, October the Xth, 1663, and other configurations concomitant : wherein the fate of Europe for these next twenty years is (from the most rational grounds of art) more than probably conjectured, and the success of the present design of the Turk against Christendome occasionally hinted at / by Richard Edlin.

CHAP. III.

Of the several Conjunctions of the Supe∣riour Planets.

BUt there are other principal causes more certain (if we take them in a general sense, as to time) and those are the several Conjunctions of the superiour Planets, Saturn and Jupiter, who are the most ponderous Planets, and slow of motion, and therefore called the Superiours, as well as by reason of their remote di∣stance from the Sun, who is their center. And of these is the pre∣sent subject of our discourse in particular, together with a consi∣deration of other causes in general.

But of these Conjunctions there are three kinds, as by the Learned they have been distinguished; and they are Great, Mean, and Lesser Conjunctions; and these (I say) are to be understood of the two superiours themselves, not of those Lesser Conjuncti∣ons of Saturn and Jupiter with Mars; of which more by and by.

The Greatest or Great Conjunctions are those after a full period and revolution of the whole Circle, viz. when Saturn and Jupiter have made their several conjunctions in the several triplicities, and do again begin to conjoyn in the first triplicity (which is also called the Fiery and Regal Triangularity) and this is a period of 794 years and some odd dayes.

Mean Conjunctions are those which are made, or do happen after the leaving of one, and conjoyning in another subsequent Triplicity, as from Aries, Leo, Sagittary, which is the first; into Taurus, Virgo, or Capricorn, which is the second; and so succes∣sively into Gemini, Libra, Aquarius, which is the third; and lastly into Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces, which is the fourth and last Triplicity or Triangularity. And this is a period of neer 200 yeares, or more particularly in 199 yeares and some odde dayes.

Lesser, or the least Conjunctions of Saturn and Jupiter, are those which happen (after the entring of any one Triplicity) in signs

of the same Triplicity, and these do happen once in or about 20 years; so that by making ten Conjunctions in one and the same Triangularity, it doth appear they are neer 200 years ere they remove out of one, and enter by conjunction into another Tri∣plicity; and consequently neer 800 years ere they perform these conjunctional Revolutions of the four Triplicities of the whole Circle.

And here note, that the true distance of any of these (whether Great, Mean, or Lesser) Conjunctions, cannot be obtained with∣out careful calculation, and that from the best Theories (by rea∣son of the great discrepancy among themselves, as hereafter will appear.) For if we take the distances of time between one Con∣junction and another, since their last return into the Fiery Trigon, the variety will appear too great to be confided in, whereby any certain rule can be made without calculation: For, from the 7. of December Anno 1603. the time of the first, to the 7. of July Anno 1623. the time of the second, are 19 years 212 dayes, and from thence to the 16. of Feb. 1642/3. the time of the third Conjunction, are 19 years 224 dayes; thence to the year 1663. October the 10. the time of a fourth Conjunction (and that which is now the principal subject here intended) is 20 years 236 dayes; and from thence to the next Conjunction in October Anno 1682. but 19 years just; yet there are two more Conjuncti∣ons not long after in the same sign, the one in January following; (which is a retrograde Conjunction) the other in May, Anno 1683. (a most wonderful congression) of which I have nothing to say here.

If you would have the Authority of the Learned, for the seve∣ral distinctions before mentioned; I must refer you to Mr. Lil∣ly's Prophetical Merlin, where this particular is principally handled, from the Precepts of Cardanus, Naibod, Origanus, and divers others; I shall onely from him quote you the authority of one, and that is Avendris, pag. 56. Merl. Proph. Conjunctio autem magna Jovis ost cum Saturno, in signo Arietis, quod est, quia sunt stellae graves, & tardae, & non significant super particularia, imo super communia: & quia signum Arietis est signum primum inter sig∣na, ergo haec conjunctio vocatur magna, sed quando vadunt à Triplicita∣te ad triplicitatem, tunc vocatur media, conjunctio verò ipsorum de 20

in 20 Annos in signis triplicitatis quaecunque sit, illa vocata conjunctio minor. That is, the conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter is called great, when it happens in Aries, because they are ponderous Stars, and of slow motion, and signifie not common or particu∣lar things: And because Aries is the first among the signs, there∣fore this Conjunction is called great; but when they go from one Triplicity to another, it is called mean; but those Conjunctions that are made in signs of the same Trigon every 20 years, in what Triplicity or Sign soever, that Conjunction is called lesser, or the least.

This is the same in effect with what was before premised, one∣ly the Author calls that onely a Great Conjunction, which happens in the Sign Aries, which is the First Sign of the Zodiack, and of the Fiery and Regal Triplicity. And indeed, all the Masters of this Science do agree in this (as you may see in the foremen∣tioned discourse of Mr. Lilly's) viz. That those Conjunctions onely are called Great, which are first made in the Fiery Triplicity, and especially in Aries; which Conjunction, if at any time it should happen to be (as Mr. Lilly there terms it) might properly be cal∣led Maxima, or the Greatest Conjunction; for, not onely is that Sign the first of the Zodiack, as was said but now, but also the vertues signified, or operating from such a Conjunction, must needs be more universal, by reason it happens so neer the Equa∣tor, whilest those that happen in Leo have more respect to the North; those in Sagittary to the Southern parts of the World; because their declination is such from the said Equator.

But all the Conjunctions of these Planets, at their entrance in∣to the Fiery Trigon, since the Creation of the World, have been in Sagittary, as by calculation will appear, and as I shall afterwards manifest, and never any in Aries. What the will of the Almighty herein is, we may not inquire; but certainly there is some Ar∣canum therein. From Jupiter (whose prerogative this Sign is) we naturally judge of Religion & holy Worship (which is our Al∣legiance towards God) and of Justice, Tranquillity, Peace, and Charity, which should be among men: What shall we say? but that God, and Nature (which is his Instrument) have condescen∣ded to teach us our Duty here, and intend no less than our Eter∣nal Happiness hereafter, if we were not perverse and obstinate;

Per visibilia invisibilia cernuntur, &c. Rom. 1. 16. But I di∣gresse.

That most eminent transactions have succeeded these Conjun∣ctions in general, but more especially these Revolutional periods, the Observations of the Judicious in all Ages, and the various Experiments of former times are sufficient testimonies.

Conjunctiones Saturni & Jovis res mutant & convertunt; The Conjunctions of Saturn and Jupiter do convert and change things, Almans. propos. 127.

Divisae sunt generationes hominum per conjunctiones superiorum majores, medias, & minores; The generations of men are divided by the Great, Mean, and Lesser Conjunctions of the Superiours. Ludov. de Reg. Aph. 31.

Many Authors more might be quoted for the verification hereof, but let these suffice, and let us examine preceding times, and see what accidents have succeeded those grand Revolutions of the Superiours.

The first Conjunction of these Planets in the Fiery Triplicity was Anno Ante Christum, or before Christ 3958. but of the Juli∣an period 755. in the beginning of February (Stilo Jul.) in the 8th. deg. of this very Sign Sagittary. This was not many years after the Creation of the World, as it is most generally recei∣ved.

The second was in the year of the Julian Period 1549. and 3164 years before Christ, in the beginning of November, that is 794 years 8 moneths distance. And this restitution was in the 5. degree of the same Sign Sagittary, and happened, without doubt, in the dayes of Enoch and Methuselah.

The third Entrance, (but second Restitution of this Trigon) was Anno J. P. 2343. 2370 years before Christ, about the latter end of Decemb. in the 8. degree of Sagittary: The distance be∣tween these two returns is 794 years, and almost two moneths. The Universal Deluge, or Noah's Flood, happened not many years after this Restitution; for certain it was during the Con∣junction of the Superiours in the Fiery (or First) Triplicity.

Anno 1575 before Christ, but of the Julian Period 3138. there happened three Conjunctions in this Trigon. The first was about the 12 of March, in 9 degr. of Sagittary; the se∣cond

was a retrograde Conjunction, and happened about the 20. of May, in the 8 degree of Sagittary; and the third and last was about the 26 of September, in 4 degr. of the same Sign.

The fourth Return, but the fifth time they entred this Trigon was 781 years before Christ, of the Julian Period 3932. about the beginning of December, in the 13 degree of Sagittary.

The fifth Restitution was Anno Christi 15. about the begin∣ning of December also, in the 12 degree of the same Sign.

The sixth was in 809 year of Christ, about the 20 of Octob. in the 6 deg. of Sagittary.

The seventh and the last Return was in the year 1603. De∣cember the 7. in the 8 degree of Sagittary. And this is that un∣der whose influence we now are; which being considered by Leotitius some years before, caused him to say, Cum ergo nunc no∣vus Trigonus, impendeat qui igneus est, &c. Seeing now therefore there is a new Trigon at hand, which is the Fiery, without doubt new Ages will follow, which will produce rash and violent Mu∣tations in the World.

There were many eminent Mutations (saith Mr. Lilly) over all Europe in this change of the Planets into the beginning of the Fiery Triplicity; We are now in this Age (and so must some Ages succeeding be) under the dominion hereof, and therefore it is no wonder to see and hear every moment of so great alterati∣ons in the Kingdomes and Common-wealths of Europe; Ever and anon we must expect such sudden change, in these our times, as no Age can parallel; and these sharp and bitter contentions are assuredly to have their beginning from Religious pretences, or breach of Customes. Thus he; which how true and judi∣ciously spoken, out present experience, and certainly future times will abundantly manifest.

What the various accidents have been that have succeeded these Revolutions of the Superiours, let such as are furnished with History inquire. Yet it must not be expected that such great al∣terations should immediately succeed, but sometimes sooner, and sometimes later, according to the will of the Creator, and the intentions and remissions of other Natural Causes. For, Corpora coelestia non agunt in instanti, sed cum tempore, the Coelestial

bodies do not act in an instant, or not alwayes on a sudden, but many times at length, and with some delay; there must be Coi∣tion and Conception, before there can be a birth or bringing forth of things.

If we add to either of the forementioned Revolutions 200 (or more truly, 199) years, it brings us to the entrance of the supe∣riour Planets into the next Triplicity, which are called Conjunctiones Mediae, their Mean Conjunctions, for notable transactions have succeded these also (Anonim. 85.) Mutationes Trigonum ab uno signo ad alterum, vehementes & durabiles mutationes efficient in pro∣vinciis & gentibus; The Mutations of the Triplicities from one Sign to another, do effect vehement and durable mutations in Provinces and Countreys.

For example. The last Restitution of the Fiery Triplicity (ex∣cept this we are now under) was Anno Christi 809. (as was mentioned before) about the 20 of October: to which if we add 199 years, it brings us to the year 1008. in which year, about the middle of June, Saturn and Jupiter made their first con∣junction in the next (which is called the Earthly) Triplicity, and that about the 10. or 11. of Virgo (ex Tab. Carol.) the Invasion of William the Conquerour was during the effects of this Trigon, and succeeded about 60 years after.

And thus the same proportion of years being added, we are directed to the third and fourth Triplicities; and so to the Lesser Conjunctions, which do happen in signs of the same Triplicity, and are once in 20 years; the particular times of which, for the reasons already mentioned, are not to be obtained without cal∣culation, Vid. Proph. Merl. p. 52. & Seq.

As to the quality of the Events, according to the precepts of Astrologers, besides what hath been already mentioned, shall be more fully handled in the following discourse, and perhaps may hereafter be inlarged.

I have been the more large upon these things, because they have principal relation to the present subject; nor is this doctrine of Conjunctions hitherto sufficiently handled; the best Trea∣tise I have hitherto met withall (in general) is that foremention∣ed of Mr. Lilly, viz. Prophetical Merl. from which I have received great light, to the discovery of the effects depending on this Conjunction I am now to treat of.

Notes

• Nota.
• ☜