Demonstration of astrology, or, A brief discourse, proving the influence of the sun, moon, stars, over this terraqueous globe grounded on the fundamental rules of the Copernican system and philosophy, and verified by practical examples and experience : illustrated by diagrams : whereby the art is rendered almost mathematically demonstrable : to which is added, an astrological and philosophical appendix, or second part, treating of this summer's effects, both in the macrocosm as well as microcosm : wherein we have great cause to fear, that the sword, pestilence, and famine will annoy our European territories this ensuing summer / by William Hunt, a lover of the mathematics and natural philosophy.

CHAP. II.

Treateth of the Solar Influence; how by his apparent Motion, or the real Motion of the Earth, our Seasons are constituted, viz. Day, Night, Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter: Which is delineated to the Eye by the second Diagram; which shews the Circles of the Sphere as they are projected upon the Plane of our Horizon.

THESE Variations or Seasons are caused by the Motion of the Earth: which is twofold, viz. Diurnal and An∣nual, (of which I shall treat more particularly in the next Chap∣ter): for as the Earth turns round upon her own Axis, she maketh our Days and Nights; and as she moves in the Obli∣quity of the Zodiack, she constitutes our Seasons, Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter.

And note, that in our following Discourse, where I write of the Sun's Motion in the Zodiack, &c. understand that I mean his apparent Motion, and do express my self according to the common way of speaking.

About the 10th day of March every Year, the Sun is in the beginning of ♈, and upon the Equinoctial Line, and then he riseth at ♈ full East, and is South upon the Meridian at AE, and sets full West at ♎, at which time the Days and Nights are of equal length throughout the World; and from thence he ad∣vanceth through ♈, ♉, ♊, in the Months March, April, May, to the 11th of June, whereby our Days lengthen, and Nights decrease, as the Sun advances nearer and nearer towards us; for when in ♉, then he riseth at C, culminates at the Meridian, and sets at D; whereby he riseth more towards the North, and sets also more North, making a greater Circle above our Hori∣zon.

[illustration]

The Projection of the Sphere up∣on the Plane of our Horizon. II. Diagram.

The outmost Circle is our Horizon. The Center Z is our Zenith, or place where we be. ☉ is the North Pole. The Line N ☉ Z ♋ AE ♑ S is our Meridian. The Line ♈ AE ♎ is our Equinoctial-Line. The Lines upon which you see the 12 Signs, viz. ♈ ♉ ♊ ♋ ♌ ♍ ♎ ♏ ♐ ♑ ♒ ♓, is the Ecliptick Line. The Line R ♋ Q, is the North Tropick ♋; and the Line T ♑ W, is the South Tropick ♑. S is the South part of the Horizon or Meridian; and N is the North. And the Parallel dotted Lines is the Way of the Sun, when in each respective Sign thereunto belonging.

And when that the Sun is advanced to his Northern Tropick s, then he is at his nearest approach to us under the North

Pole who live at Z: Now our Days are longest, and Nights shortest, the Sun riseth North-East at R, and is South at ♋, and sets North-West at Q; whereby he goeth almost round us, and is but little depressed under the North side of the Horizon, as you may see by the Diagram by the Circle R ♋ Q: And while, the Sun transits these Signs, ♈, ♉, ♊, he constitutes our Spring by his near approach, who (under our great Creator) is the Life and Cherisher of all Sublunary Bodies.

The Birds of the Air chant out their melodious Harmony as a Welcome to his Approach, the Flowers of the Field open for his Entertainment; every thing rejoices and is active in its Sphere; all things vegetate and are pregnant, endeavouring towards a continuation of their Species, while the Sun ad∣vances to our Northern Tropick, who enters ♋ June the 11th: And being then at his nearest Approach, as I said before, he returns back through ♋, ♌ and ♍, in the Months June, July, August, to the 12th of September, at which time he comes to the Equinoctial again, (which aforesaid time is our Summer Quarter.) Now are our Days and Nights of equal length, and the Sun riseth and sets in the same place as he did on the 10th of March. And from this Line he takes his Journey South∣ward through ♎, ♏ and ♐, in the Months September, October, November, to the 11th of December, thereby constituting our Autumnal Quarter, and the Southern Spring. Now do their Vegetables spring and flourish, and ours tend to Corruption; the Sun by his cherishing and enlivening Rays, revives their drooping Spirits, who in his absence lay locked up in Frost and Snow; now do their Days lengthen, and ours shorten, their Spring increasing while the Sun cometh to their Southern Tropick, making their longest and our shortest Day. Now are we generally locked up with Frosts and Snow, and they con∣trarily are scorch'd with the Sun's perpendicular Rays; and having arrived to his Southern Tropick ♑, which he always doth about the 11th of December, he then recedes back

through ♑, ♒ and ♓, in the Months December, January, Fe∣bruary, to the 10th of March; and cometh to the Sign ♈ a∣gain where he began.

By which we see that the Sun is (apparently) always in Mo∣tion, nor can he be perswaded to stop or stay at all in his Jour∣ney, except by the Almighty Hand, he being of himself an impartial Dispenser of his Heat or Influence.

For without him (the great Minister of Light, Motion, Heat and Life, under God, especially of our Vortex) Dark∣ness would usurp her old Dominions again, we should have neither Day nor Night, Winter nor Summer; all things would be in Confusion, the Sea would be Ice, and the Land Flint; Motion would cease, and our Vortex would turn to a Chaos or confused Lump again, as they were before the World was made.

This Solar Influence is so obvious, that none can deny it.

But methinks I hear some Criticks make this Objection, viz. If (saith he) the Sun be the Ruler of the Seasons, and he coming to the Equinoctial Line always at the same time of the Year, What makes our Spring to be sometimes late, and some∣times early, coming or putting forward sooner by five or six Weeks some Years, than at other some? What makes our Da∣ry, Primrose, Violet, &c. to put forth at Candlemass some Years, and at other some they are not to be found at Lady-Day?

What's the Cause of Winter's Heat and Summer's Frosts? Can a Winter's Night be warmer than a Summer's Day? Can the Sun in his lowest Degree and Absence be more potent, than in his Presence and almost Verticity?

Sure if the Sun were the only Cause of the Seasons, they would be (like him) more constant, our Heat and Cold would increase and decrease gradually, according to his Ac∣cesses and Recesses to and from us.

I believe, saith our Antagonist, that the Sun rules and con∣stitutes the Seasons, viz. Day and Night, Winter and Summer: But what makes our Winters and Summers to be sometimes colder, and sometimes warmer? Why some Winters pass away without Frosts almost, and some again are very severe and frosty? How shall we believe in Astrology, when none of our Astrologers can foretel, or truly demonstrate, or shew a Rea∣son for these Variations? Which of them foretold the last cold Summer, or this warm Winter? Or which of them can shew me why they were so? Are they not all of them mistaken in the Weather of this present Winter, which makes us think and say, (with Marcianus) Si vis divinare, totum contrarium ad unguem dicito ejus quod Astrologi pollicentur; that is, if we should say Rain, when the Astrologer writes fair and dry Wea∣ther, or Warm, when he writes of Cold, we should guess right as soon as the Astrologer, who doth only banter his Rea∣der, and pretended Art. Who can be such Fools as to believe them? Or who can pretend to vindicate Astrology, which ought to be credited no farther than it can be demonstrated? To which I agree, and believe that to be no Art, or at least vain and frivolous, and not to be trusted, which doth not car∣ry Reason and Demonstration along with it.

Therefore in our following Essays, I shall endeavour thereat, and desire to be credited or believed, no further than I can give a rational Demonstration thereof.