CHAP. VII. Of Fertility and Sterility.
* 1.1REason and Experience teacheth us, that commonly after war comes a scarcity; and after peace, plenty; and therefore these being their successors (as I may say) or events, I have thought good in this Chapter to speak thereof.
Wherefore in this matter have regard to the Ascendents of the Conjunction and prevention of the Luminaries to the Revolution and their places; and if the place of the Conjun∣ction or prevention apply to the place of Jupiter, and Jupi∣ter have dominion in that place, or if he assist the Lord of the Ascendent, and the Lord of the fourth house at that time free from misfortune, and the application of the Ascendent of that law or the change of Triplicities, applying to the place of Jupiter or Venus by Conjunction or Aspect, there shall be plenty at that year of such things as the earth doth produce; especially if the Lord of the second house assist or apply unto the Lord of the Ascendent by a good and friendly Aspect; and this shall be the more assuredly confirmed; if Part of Fortune have power and dignity there in that place, because those signifie plenty upon plenty.
* 1.2But if thou wouldst know when the year is likely to be scarce and unfruitful, see if Saturn be ruler or disposer of the place of the Conjunction or Opposition by Essen∣tial dignity or Aspect, or whether he be Lord of the Ascendent or Almuten thereof, or afflict it by any malevolent Aspect, or be in any Angle, and the Lord of the fourth afflicted of the Infortunes, especially of Saturn; for if so, scarcity is threat∣ned and may assuredly be expected, especially if he be in Opposition of Mercury, or in any of the Angles of the figures at the time of the Conjunction or prevention; or be in Square or Opposition of the Lord of the second, Lord of the Ascendent, Part of Fortune, or its Dispositor; scarciry may also be expected when Saturn afflicteth the Moon, or the Moon apply unto him by either Conjunction or Aspect, having last separated from the Conjunction or Opposition of the Sun; In like manner, judge penury and want, if either of the Malevolents afflict the year thus, especially if they be in Square or Opposition of Mercury, but you must note that the evil threatned by Saturn is worse then that promised by Mars, as the good promised by Jupiter is much better then that signified by Venus; and judge the quality of the good or evil promised or threatned by any of these, from their proper nature and the nature of the sign wherein they are; as if Saturn be in an aiëry or watery sign, he denotes floods, inundations and many storms, tempests and destruction by high windes; if in a fiëry sign, drought, &c. Also note, that if Mars in that Revo∣lution in which the Lord of that Nation, Kingdom, Law, or Common-wealth is exalted, be then in any of his own Houses, he shall signifie much rain; and if he be in any of the Houses of Saturn, little or no rain is to be expected, and in other Houses a mean is promised.