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. II.

♈. A Comet or Blazing-star appearing in this Sign, is the prodromus of Wars, clashing of Armies, Blood-shed, e∣vil to Grandees, death of some mighty Prince, Drought, cruel Diseases among men, rot or murrain amongst small Cattle.

♉. Here it signifies pernicious Diseases, long lingring Infirmities, Captivities, Po∣verty, death of some great Lady, evil to the greater sort of Cattle, paucity of Fruit and Corn, Earth-quakes, violent cold Winter.

♊. When in this Sign men lay aside goodness, it denotes War, Quarrels, Sick∣ness, death of Young men and Children, Abortions, lofty Winds blowing down Trees and Houses, Thunder and Light∣ning, Famine and dammage to Birds of the Ayr.

♋. Here it denotes Wars, Duels, Rob∣beries, Pestilence and Famine, abundance of Locusts or Caterpillars, paucity of Fruit and plenty of Worms or other Ver∣mine, many men drowned, Ships over∣whelm'd in the Sea.

♌. In this Sign a Comet doth signifie Wars, effusion of Blood, detriment to

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Kings, Princes, Nobles and Gentry; Worms and other Vermine destroy the Corn in the Fields, Lyons, Wolves and mad Dogs rage, People molested with do∣lorous griefs in their Eyes, Thunder and Lightning in the Ayr, drought or scarcity of Water.

♍. Here it prenotes much mischief un∣to many that are placed in the Courts or Houses of Princes, loss of Offices without hope of regaining, some suffer Exile or Banishment, dammage to Merchants, ma∣ny Insolencies, Rebellions, Animosities and Tribulations, Sorrow among People, Abortions to Women, &c.

♎. In this Sign it imports plenty of Thieves, Robbers, or Padders on the High-ways, poverty and want, the death of some great Person, Slaughters, Plots or occult Conspiracies, high Winds, Earth∣quakes, a drying up of Rivers and Foun∣tains, scarcity of the Fruits of the Earth.

♏. Here a Comet doth signifie Wars, Quarrels, Rebellions, Perils and Dangers surround the People, scarcity of Corn and Fruits, little water, and that is corrupted or unwholesome, causing Sickness to those that use it, Teeming-women are very sen∣sible of many Troubles.

♐. When a Blazing-Star appears in

this Sign, Wise and Noble-men are depres∣sed or detrimented in Person or Estate, if not both, likewise Wars and much Mis∣chief to most People.

♑. Here it denotes Wars, Quarrels, Calamities, poysoning of Princes, cutting by the High-ways, contempt of Religion, Persecution to many Professors thereof, pestilent Diseases, sharp Frosts and cold Weather, great Snows, Famine or scarci∣ty of Provisions, much Mischief on foot among People:

♒. In this Sign it menaces terrible and durable Wars, a sweeping Pestilence, dark obscure Ayr, high Winds, Thunder and Lightning, some great Prince or Lady yields to the Grave.

♓. Lastly, a Comet or Blazing-Star in this Sign presages Wars, Slaughters, high Differences among Relations and Friends, Contentions about Religion, prodigious Apparitions, tumultuous Bickerings, over-swelling of Rivers, dammage to Fish.

Thus have you a brief and true account of the natural significations of those Bea∣cons, which by the will of the Almighty are hanged over peoples heads, to allarum them against approaching evils.

Note, that the Effects of these new Stars are chiefly manifested in those Kingdoms,

Countries or Places subject to the Sign in which they appear, and to those Places where they are seen, likewise we must ob∣serve which way they emit their Rays or Tayl, and to what Planet they point.

Some say that their Effects will be chief∣ly apparent, when the Sun cuts the place of the Heavens in which they were seen, or when he comes to the Planet whose na∣ture the Comet is of: this seems to me ve∣ry probable, and will be performed in much less than 100 years.

—Comets or Blazing-Stars Threaten the World with Famine, Plague and Wars: To Princes, Death: to Kingdoms many Crosses: To all Estates, inevitable Losses: To Heards-men, rot: to Plow-men, hapless Seasons: To Saylors, Storms: to Cities, civil Treasons.

Some necessary Rules to be well observed in Predictions relating to the Subject of this Book, or indeed to any part of Astrology.

First, know that generally, ♄ and ♂ are evil Planets, or Infortunes: ♃ and ♀ are good Planets, or Fortunes: ☿ and ☽ indifferent: the ☉ is Rex Planetarum vel Stellarum, the King or Prince of Planets or Stars: ♌ is his Mansion House, ♈ his

Throne wherein he is exalted: or as Mr. Gadbury terms it, his Seat in Parliament: hence it will result, that he rules the Heart, and hath also much to do with the Brain of Kingdoms and Nations, so well as Persons: Therefore I say, his ☌ □ or ☍ is the very worst of all Afflictions, especi∣ally in matter of Life or Honour: and his ✶ or △ in such respects more to be priz∣ed than the same Rays or ☌ of either ♃ or ♀.

Humane Signs, signifie men: bestial Signs, Beasts: aiery Signs, Birds of the Ayr: watery Signs, water-Fowl and Fish: earthy Signs, the Fruits of the Earth: the fiery Triplicity rule over the East part of the World, the aiery West, the watery North, and the earthy South.

Remember the particular Beasts under the five bestial Signs, as under the rule of ♈ are Sheep, Coneys, or Rabbets: ♉ Bulls, Oxen, Cows: ♌ Deer, Lyons and other furious Beasts: ♐ Horses, Mules: ♑ Goats, Hogs, Hares.

♄ ♃ ♂ ☉ ☿ are masculine Planets, ♀ ☽ Feminine.

♄ ♃ ☉ are Diurnal Planets, ♂ ♀ ☽ Nocturnal: ☿ Convertable: ☊ is Mascu∣line, ☋ Feminine.

♂ signifies bold audacious Pyrates at

Sea, or Robbers at Land, such as fear no∣thing, or are of good force.

☿ small slie pilfering Pickaroons, or Privateers at Sea, and close ambush Rob∣bers at Land.

This is meant when either of those two Planets be Lord of an Eclipse, Ruler of a Comet, or posited in the ninth or third House of a Revolution, and chiefly if then in evil Aspect to the Lord of the Horo∣scope or ☽.

Some Aphorisms of Hermes, pertinent to the Subject of this Book.

1. An Artist cannot make a commixtion of the significations of the Stars, before he know their Friendships and Enmities, which is threefold: First, according to their Nature; Secondly, according to their Houses; And Thirdly, according to their Aspects.

2. ♀ is opposite to ☿, he embraceth Languages and Discipline, she, Delights and Pleasures; ♃ the like to ♂, he loves Mercy and Justice, the other Impiety and Cruelty.

3. Make the ☉ or one of the Superi∣ours to signifie Princes and Great men, Scribes and Rusticks the inferiour Planets, and chiefly the ☽.

4. The signification of a ☌ is not lesse∣ned by an Aspect, but an Aspect is by a ☌; as having lesser force.

5. Make ♄ and ☉ Significators of Kings and Princes, with the Planet or Planets in the tenth; but their helpers take from the eleventh, and the Assisters of the Vulgar People from the second House.

♃ dissolves the malice of ♄, and ♀ dis∣solves the malice of ♂.

7. The ☽ increasing in Light and Moti∣on, and in ☌ with ♄ and ♃, is generally good in all things; but if she be diminish∣ing in light, 'tis ill; understand the con∣trary wholly when she is in ☌ with ♂ and ♀.

8. ♄ passing out of one Sign into ano∣ther, causeth strange Apparitions in the Heavens.

9. In Summer, when the ☉ enters the terms of ♂, heat is caused or increased; in Winter Drought, and scarcity of Rain and Waters.

10. When Significators of either good or evil shall be Stationary and Angular, it shall be the more durable; but if cadent or retrograde, more mutable.

11. Planets under the Sun-beams, or within 12 Degrees thereof, are unfortu∣nate, unless in the same degree with him;

but when they are passed 13 degrees from him, they are fortunate.

12. All Rebellions breaking out at the beginning of the year, are not easily sup∣pressed.

13. Oriental Planets signifying good or evil, perform their work speedily: Occi∣dental, more slowly.

14. There will happen great Wars, and many difficulties, when in a Revoluti∣on of the World, ♄ and ♃ shall be in their Exaltations.

15. Planets in fixed Signs shew the mat∣ter durable, in common Signs doubtful, in moveable Signs convertible to good or evil.

♄ performs evil slowly, ♂ swiftly; therefore ♂ is reputed to hurt more than ♄.

Some Aphorisms of Ptolomy.

1. Ate & à Scientia, from thy self and Science; for it is impossible that the Ar∣tist should foresee the particular Idea of things; neither can sence receive a parti∣cular, but a general notion of the sensible matter; wherefore he ought in these things to use conjecture, for none but such Persons as are inspired from above can predict particulars.

2. That Person who is naturally pro∣pended or inclined to any Science, shall verily attain to greater perfection therein, than one that by hard pains and learning shall strive to attain it.

3. A wise man doth co-operate with the celestial operations, and doth assist na∣ture, as the Husbandman in the ploughing and preparing his Ground.

4. When the Significator of a King∣dom shall be directed to the Anaretical Points, the King, or some great Prince in that Kingdom shall die.

5. When ♄ and ♃ are in ☌, see which of them is most elevated, and judge ac∣cording to his nature; do the like in the ☌ of other Planets.

6. The ☉ is the Fountain of the Vital Vigor, the ☽ of the natural: this I judge in Kingdoms or Nations so well as parti∣cular Persons.

7. The significations of an Eclipse, shall be most visible, when the Eclipse is near an Angle; consider also the Stars in Aspect one with another, and not the Pla∣nets only, but the fixed Stars also, the con∣stellations arising together with the Signs, and from thence frame your Judgment.

8. Shooting Stars, and other such like Apparitions, shew great Scissity in the Ayr,

and if they be produced from one part only, it shews there shall be great Winds produced from that Quarter also; but if they are driven into several Parts, it shews scarcity of Waters, a troubled Ayr, and incursions of Souldiers.

9. Comets whose distance from the Sun is eleven Signs, if they appear in an Angle, the King or a Great man in some Kingdom shall die; but if they appear in a succe∣dent House, the Princes Attendants shall do well, yet shall some Kingdom change their Governour; but if they appear in a cadent House, Diseases and suddain Deaths ensue; if they move from the West to the East, a Forreign Enemy shall invade several Kingdoms; but if the Comet move not, the Enemies shall be of the same Countrey, born and bred.

Here followeth six remarkable Aphorisms more, to make up the Game.

1. The five grand Afflictions or Unfor∣tunacies of the Planets are these, viz. when they are Combust, Retrograde, Peregrine, in their detriment or fall.

2. When two Planets are in ☌ or in a∣ny other Aspect to each other, if they be in reception, it increaseth the goodness of

a good Aspect, and abateth the malice of an evil Aspect.

3. Observe still the Antiscions and Conter-Antiscions of the Planets, for they have their effect so well as the Aspects.

4. The vertue of a Planet is in that House, whose beginning or Cusp he pre∣cedes by no greater space than five de∣grees.

5. If ♃ or ♀ be Significators of any good and strong, then it shall take place to the full.

6. When ♄ or ♂ are Significators of any evil and strong, they will bring it on with a vengeance.

Those that would be furnished with va∣riety of Aphorisms, I recommend them to that ingenious little Treatise, entituled, Vade Mecum, written by Mr. John Patridge.

The Days on which the immovable Feasts are celebrated with us.

• The Circumcision of Christ, January 1
• Epiphany, or Twelfth-day, January 6
• Conversion of St. Paul, January 25
• Purification of the Virgin Mary, February 2
• Valentine, February 14
• St. Matthias Apostle, February 24
• Annunciation of the Virgin Mary, or Lady-day,

• ... March 25
• St. George his Day, April 23
• St. Mark Evangelist, April 25
• Philip and Jacob Apostles, May 1
• St. Barnabas or Barnaby, June 11
• St. John Baptist, June 24
• St, Peter and St. Paul, June 29
• St. James Apostle, July 25
• Lammas Day, August 1
• St. Bartholomew Apostle, August 24
• St. Matthew Apostle, September 21
• St. Michael Arch-Angel, September 29
• St. Luke Evangelist, October 18
• St. Simon and Jude Apostles, October 28
• All-Saints, November 1
• St. Andrew Apostle, November 30
• St. Thomas Apostle, December 21
• Nativity of Christ, December 25
• St. Steven Martyr, December 26
• St. John Evangelist, December 27
• Innocents, December 28

Of the four Terms.

Hillary Term begins January the 23d. and ends February the 12th.

Easter Term begins 17 Days after Easter-Day, and ends the Monday before Whitsunday.

Trinity Term begins the next Friday

after Trinity-Sunday (which is always the next after Whit-Sunday) and ends on Wed∣nesday, 19 Days after.

Michaelmas Term begins the 23d. of October, and ends November the 28th. fol∣lowing.

Names of Stars	Longitude	Latitude	Mag.	Natur.
°		°	′
Caput Andromedae	10	♈	25	42 n	2	♃ ♀
Caput Medusae	22	♉	22	22 n	2	♄ ♃
Pleiades	26	♉	4	0 n	3	♂ ☽
Aldebaran	6	♊	5	31 s	1	♂
Stars of Orion	13 to 25	♊	several	l. & m	♂ ♃
Propus	27	♊	0	13 s	4	♂
Great Dog	9	♋	40	n	1	♂
Pollux Hercules	19	♋	6	38 s	2	♂
Little Dog	22	♋	15	57 s	2	☿ ♂
North Assellus	3	♌	3	8 n	4	♂ ☉
South Assellus	5	♌	0	4 s	4	♂ ☉
Cor Leonis	25	♌	0	26 n	1	♂ ♃
Cauda Leonis	17	♍	12	18 n	1	♄ ♀
Spica Virginis	20	♎	1	59 n	1	♀ ♂
Lucida Corona	11	♏	0	25 s	2	♄ ♀
Lucida Lances	15	♏	8	35 n	2	♃ ☿
Cor Scorpionis	6	♐	4	27 s	1	♂
Aquila	28	♑	8	10 n	2	♀ ☿
Mouth of Pegasus	7	♒	22	7 n	3	♀ ☿
Swans Tail	1	♓

Observe in all Judgments Astrological whether your Significator be near any of those fixed Stars.