Vox stellarum: or, the voyce of the stars being a brief and easie introduction to the knowledge of the number, names and characters of the planets and signs, aspects and anticions: the division of heaven, and how to erect a figure thereof, either by a table of houses or by a table of right and oblique ascentions: an exact and true description of the planets and signs, with the countries, cities or towns under them. Likewise, how to judge of the affairs of the world, by revolutions, eclipses, great conjunctions and blazing stars. Also, something touching the Popish Plot, and other remarkable affairs of the year, 1678. By William Knight, student in astrology and physick.

CHAP. I. What an Eclipse is, the cause thereof, what time a Figure should be erected for judging the effect of it? what things or places it concerns either good or evil, the time when its effects shall begin? how long continue? Of all these in order we shall treat.

IN omni revolutione Annorum Mundi, E∣clipsin Solis & Lunae non postpones, In e∣very Revolution of the World, we must be sure to remember the Eclipses of the Luminaries.

SECTION I.

An Eclipse of either of the Luminaries, is only a privation or obscurity of their light for a season.

SECTION II.

That of the Sun is occasioned at the ☌ or Change of the Moon, by the interposi∣tion of the Moon between the Body of the Sun and the Earth, averting or turning his Beams from us, whereby he becomes dark∣ned for that time.

That of the Moon is by the Diametri∣cal Interposition of the Earth betwixt the Sun and the Moon, so depriving her of the light that she receiveth from the Sun, and this is always at the ☍ or Full-Moon: the Sun ever moveth in the Ecliptick-Line, and therefore were it not so that the Moon at her Conjunction and Opposition with him, had Latitude, whereby she deviates from the Ecliptick, sometimes North-ward, and at other times South-ward, that she cannot exactly meet with him there, this defect would be every Change and Full.

SECTION III.

The time for which we should erect a Figure concerning this business Guido Bo∣natus that Learned Italian Astrologer tells us in these Words, Si autem in anno fuerit Eclipsis, vide in quo signo sit adventa, &

aequabis tunc Planetas & Domos ad horam me∣diae Eclipsis: if in any year there be an E∣clipse, see in what Sign it is and reduce the Planets and Houses to the Time of the middle of the Eclipse.

SECTION IV.

The Places concerned in the effects of an Eclipse, Ptolomy informs us, Muxime e∣venient in ea quae eidem Signo Eclipsis assimi∣latur, & in qua super terram videtur Eclipsis: the effects will chiefly happen to those Parts subject to the Sign wherein the E∣clipse is, and in those Places where the Eclipse is visible: Now on what the effects will be manifested, Ptolomy also tells us, ex Qualitatibus & Figuris, quae proprie sunt Signorum, in quibus est Eclipsis locus indica∣tur, & Signorum etiam, in quibus erraticae & non erraticae consistent Stellae, quae Signo Eclip∣sis, & Signo Anguli praecedentis Eclipsi donan∣do disponunt: the meaning of these words run to this purpose, That we may know from the Qualities and Forms of those Signs wherein the Light is Eclipsed, and from those Places in which the Planets or other Stars having chief dominion in the place of the Eclipse, and the Angle prece∣ding the Eclipse shall be located: the Angle

preceding is the Ascendent if the Eclipse be in the Forenoon, but if it be Afternoon then 'tis the Mid-heaven or tenth house: from hence we learn that if an Eclipse be in humane Signs it will manifest its effects on men, if in a Bestial Sign on Cattle, in the Ascendent on the Common People, in the second on their Substance, &c. if it be on the ninth house on Church-men, in the tenth on Kings, Princes, &c. an Eclipse on the fiery Triplicity, denotes the moti∣on of Armies, Wars, effusion of Blood, de∣triment to Kings, Princes, or Noble-men, Murthers, Thefts, Robbers on the high∣ways, Depopulations, Abortions to Wo∣men with Child, malignant Fevers, destru∣ction to Sheep, Coneys and Horses: strange Apparitions in the Ayr: in the earthy Triplicity, scarcity of Corn, and other Fruits, death of Bulls, Oxen, Cows, Goats and Hogs, Earth-quakes, &c. in the airy Triplicity, Hurricanes, stormy Winds, pestilential Diseases, a scarcity of Food, death of Birds or the Fowls of the Ayr: in the watery Triplicity, Wars, rumors of Wars, eruptions or over-flowing of the Sea-banks, Floods of water, death of Vul∣gar People, damage to Fish, &c.

SECTION V.

The effects of an Eclipse doth without doubt begin to operate from the first ap∣pearance thereof though not much to be descerned, and when the ☉ or ♂ cuts or oppose the place thereof they rouse it up to action, but Authors teach us other Les∣sons, which I shall not trouble my self with here, nor shall I say any thing against it.

SECTION VI.

For to know how long the effects of an Eclipse will continue let enquiry be made of Ptolomy, whom you shall hear speak thus, sciemus quod futura Solaris Eclipsis tot annis durabit, quot ejus horae aequales fue∣rint; Lunaris vero totidem mensibus: the sence of these words is, we must know that in an Eclipse of the Sun the effects shall continue so many years as he is eclip∣sed equal hours, and of the Moon so ma∣ny months.