Astrologia restaurata, or, Astrologie restored being an introduction to the general and chief part of the language of the stars : in four books ... / by VVilliam Ramesey, Gent. ...

CHAP. VIII. Teaching how to know the price of any thing in any Year.

A Tabarim amongst other of the Antients hath been herein most large; what is most expedient to be known, I shall here set down, and as neer as I can omit that which may be superfluous

In this manner of judgement, you are to have regard to the ingress of the Sun into Aries, from whence you are to require Judgement, as also of the Position of the Heavens at every Conjunction and Opposition of the Luminaries every moneth, and from the Conjunction preceding every Ingress, as well quarterly and half-yearly as yearly, for all things happening in this World in a natural way, are occasioned by the Stars, and may be known by the Position of the Heavens, Stars and Planets at the time of the Conjunction and Opposition of the Luminaries if rightly under∣stood, so that by the Conjunction, the Generation and beginning of things are judged, by the Opposition, the destruction and decay thereof; for the Moon being neerest of all the Planets to the Globe of the Earth, and the swiftest, doth immedi∣ately convey unto it and men thereon the vertue and signification of all the other Planets, and therefore we see by reason of this her great power and influence, all things, as well Vegetatives and Minerals as Animals, increase and decrease in vigour strength and growth in some sense according to her motion, and that the corruption and generation of all things are appropriate unto her and the Sun, and therefore by their Conjunction and Opposition these things may perfectly be known unto us if we be but searchers and contemplators of Nature and its Causes.

Now if thou wouldst know what shall happen generally touching the price of any thing in any year, have regard unto the Position of the Heavens at the Suns Ingress into Aries if there be but one figure to be erected, but if two look to their Positions at his Ingress into Aries and Libra, if four, or for every quarter, at his Ingress into Aries, Cancer, Librae, and Capricorn; and if you would more parti∣cularly make monethly observations thereon, have regard unto the Conjunction of the Luminaries every moneth; and remember that the Ascendent thereof, or the sign ascending at that instant for which you desire to erect the figure of the Heavens, its Lord and the Planet or Planets therein located are significators of the condi∣tion and state of Man and the Ayr, and you may join also in signification with them the Dispositor of the Lord of the Ascendent, if the Planets or Planet therein located be peregrine and afflicted, judge mischief and detriment in these according to his nature, signification and strength; and so judge the contrary if he be then strong and essentially dignified.

If there be any Planet in an Angle who hath dignity and power in the Ascen∣dent, especially Exaltation, he shall be the Significator of the price of things, or any Planet in an Angle Essentially dignified and strong; and if the Lord of the Ascendent be remote from this House and the Planet in an Angle Peregrine, yet he shall be Significator as long as he is in that Angle; But when the Lord of the Ascendent is in any of the Angles, or in the eleventh or fifth Houses, he shall more manifestly shew his significations then any other, especially if he be Oriental and going from under the Sun-beams: ever take this for a general and true rule, that what ever Planet you finde fortunate in any sign, [Note.] he shall signifie and denote the dearness of such things as are under the signification of that Planet, and the sign wherein he is; so also on the contrary, if he be weak and impedited, judge they will be of little or no esteem or value, and may be purchased at a small rate; wherefore it is very necessary you be throughly versed in the Nature of every Planet and Sign which you are sufficiently taught in the second Book; and this rule without any more

words may suffice for sufficient instruction in these matters, yet may we apply it thus

Look if the Lord of your Ascendent be received or disposed of by any Planet and the receiving or disposing Planet be strong in an Angle, it signifieth that Corn and such things as are most necessary for the use of man shall be at a high rate all that moneth; And the Dispositor of the Lord of the Ascendent in Opposition of the Lu∣minaries or that of the time promiseth the same; as also if the Lord of the Ascen∣dent be received or disposed of, and he together with the receiving and disposing Planet be ascending; But if the Lord of the Ascendent and the Planet in an Angle apply to any Planet Cadent, slow in motion, or afflicted, the price shall fall; so likewise if the Lord of the Ascendent, its Receptor or Dispositor be Cadent, weak and afflicted it signifieth the same, according to their affliction; if much weakned and afflicted, they will be very cheap, if a little afflicted their price will fall but not altogether so much &c. And if the Lord of the Ascendent, its Dispositor and Re∣ceptor do then also apply to any Planets weak, cadent and afflicted, this will be the more certain.

See also what Planet you finde in the Ascendent, for he shall have signification with the Lord of the Ascendent, and shall according to his strength or weakness denote the cheapness or dearness of provisions; But if the Lord of the Ascendent be not re∣ceived by any Planet, he shall not have signification with him, but the Planet therein placed shall be Significator onely: If your Significator, or Lord of the Ascendent, (if he have participation with him) and the Luminaries be in the Ascendent, or in any other Angle at the time of their monthly Conjunction, the price of Corn & other neces∣saries for the life of man shal-continue and remain as it was in the preceding moneth; but if your Significator and the Luminaries be received and strong, and be in the eleventh, or fifth, the price shall be raised, and that according to their fortitudes; for if they be essentially very strong it will be much raised, and so on the contrary: Also if the Planet in the Ascendent apply unto the Lord of the Ascendent, the price shall be raised that day you finde your significators in Partil Conjunction or Aspect; but if the Lord of the Ascendent and the Luminaries be weak and afflicted in the third, or ninth, or twelfth, or eighth Houses, it signifieth their price shall be abated and fal'n; But the Angles signifie the fixation and durability of what is; If any afflicted Planet also apply to the Lord of the Ascendent, judge the abatement of the price, and that especially if the Lord of the Ascendent apply to any Planet weak or afflicted.

Moreover if the Lord of the Ascendent be weak and afflicted, and its Dispositor strong, yet shal not he by his strength signifie any thing; for the Lord of the Ascendent shall stil be Significator of the price of things unless he were in a Cadent House, and some Planet be then in an Angle (as hath been said) for then that Planet shall be Sig∣nificator: Lastly, if the Ascendent be any of the houses of the Luminaries, have re∣gard unto them, and according to their fortitudes or debilities and places in the figure and Configuration with the Ascendent, judge.

Some of the Antients have taught that we are to regard the Planet in the tenth House, if any be there at the time of the Sun this ingress into Aries, or the Planet applying to the Lord of the tenth, and make him significator of the price of things; As if the Planet located in the tenth or beholding the Lord thereof be strong and direct, such things signified by the sign wherein your Significator is shall be deer and of an high price; but if your Significator be weak and retrograde, judge the contrary.

Dorotheus with others say to know the price of things, look what Planets you find at the Sun his ingress into Aries Oriental, and judge such things signified by him, and the sign wherein he is shall be deer; and that those that are under the signification of those that are Occidental and the signs wherein they are, shall be cheap; In like manner have regard to every Planet, and see which of them is strong and free from all impediment, and judge such things as are signified by him and the sign wherein he is, shall be deer, and on the contrary they shall be cheap whose Significators are

weak, combust, cadent, under the Sun-beams and Retrograde, &c. and so also according to their mean betwixt those two extreams judge of the business when they are not altogether so strong, nor altogether so weak; and truly this is very ra∣tional and for the generality may pass current, yet mayest thou follow which most pleaseth thy fancy, but I would recommend this unto thee.

Abrahamus Judaeus saith, If Saturn in any Revolution or other time be not in any of the angles, such things as are edible and most beneficial and useful for man shall be cheap; but if he be therein, judge the contrary, especially if he be strong and have dignity therein, for then he shall denote grievous penury and want, things shall be so deer.

Messehalah saith, have respect unto the Lord of the Ascendent and the Moon, and if the strongest of them apply to any Planet in the Ascendent or Mid-heaven, judge the price of provisions necessary for the use of man to be high; and if it ap∣ply to any Planet in the seventh house the price shall be indifferent; but if to a Planet in the fourth, received or the Lord of the Ascendent, its Dispositor, or the Moon received by him, it shall be high; but if they or either of them apply to a Planet in a cadent house not receiving him, provision shall be so bad it will hardly be sold; but if they do receive him, they shall be deer.

Haly saith, have regard to the Lord of the Year who if he be going to Retro∣gradation or be Descending in his circle, or be in the lower part of his Epicycle, he signifieth things shall be cheap and of a low price that are of the nature of the sign wherein he is; so likewise if the Moon be either in the Revolution of the year, quarter or moneth decreasing in light and motion, or applying to a Retrograde or weak Planet, she signifieth the same.

But as touching the cheapness and dearness of any thing, have regard to the In∣gress of the Sun into Aries, or any other quarter (if it be so that so many figures are to be made) and therein diligently consider the state and condition of the Planet and Sign signifying that concerning which you would require judgement, and accor∣ding to his strength and debility judge; for if strong, the things will be deer and of an high price or value; and if weak, judge the contrary.

Some of the Antients have also taught that for monethly observations in this matter we have regard to the Conjunction of the Luminaries, and Haly saith that we ought in every year to have regard whither Saturn or Jupiter enter the sign of the Kingdom, Nation or Countrey for which you erect your Figure, and from their then places, strengths and debilities we are to judge; for that if the Planets are un∣fortunate in these places, it signifies things shall be cheap; but if they be there for∣tunated and strong, judge the contrary.

Moreover you are to take notice that every Planet in his Exaltation or ele∣vated in his Epicycle whether he have dignity in the Ascendent or no, signi∣fieth things shall be deer that are of the nature of that Planet and the Sign wherein he is; and therefore I say again it is most requisite you be throughly acquainted with the significations of the Planets and Signs taught you in the second Book.