Astrologonaytis or, The astrological seaman directing merchants, mariners, &c. adventuring to sea, how (by God's blessing) to escape many dangers which commonly happen in the ocean. Unto which (by way of appendix) is added, A diary of the weather for XXI. years, very exactly observed in London: with sundry observations made thereon. By John Gadbury, student in physick and astrology.

XV. QUESTION, If the intended Voyage shall prove Prosperous.

[illustration] astrological chart

If the intended Voyage shall prove Prosperous?

I have already Printed this Remarkable Experiment in my Almanack Anno 1667. but the Observation being so Eminent, and our Annual Books seldom remembered af∣ter the year is expired, I shall Re-print it here again (toti∣dem verbis) for the advantage of Artists, viz.

Captain Owen Cox, upon, or a little after his being made Commander of the Nathan Frigate, propounded the within written Question unto me, and received the following Answer, viz. That his Voyage would be unfortu∣nate, and that it was better for him to pretermit than pur∣sue it.

In the Figure ♍ ascends, & ☿ Lord thereof is Stationary

in ☍ ♄ ex Angulis: ☽ Lady of his Hopes in the 8th. in Partil ☿ transferring his Beams unto ♄ by a ma∣licious . All which portended much Infelicity to at∣tend the Querent from his intended Design: and ♄. be∣ing in the 4th. there in ☍ ☉ ♀ and ☿ declared a Fa∣tal end unto it. I laboured all I could to disswade him from that undertaking; but he being engaged with many others in that business before, and having obliged several in the same, (as he told me) could not, without con∣tracting a great Dishonour upon himself, make use of that my Advise and Caution.

When I saw there was no preventing his going, but that he was resolvedly bent upon it; I advised him (for mitigation of part of the dammage threatned, if it might be) to forbear going but seven or eight weeks, be∣cause the greatest prejudice was probable to fall out about that time from the time of the Question; the ☽ wanting seven Degrees of ♄'s and ♀ and ♄ much about the same distance in their ☍. This Querent did endeavour that, with many of those he had to do with, but in vain: for the more he delay'd time, the more he subjected him∣self to Censure and Suspition; and at length (to prevent the murmuring of his Owners) viz. On July the 8th. at seven in the morning he fell down to Gravesend. ☿ being at that time in ☍ ♄ again, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 lately separate from the 's of ♄ ♀ ☿.— A time so unluckie! and corre∣spondent to the Figure of the Question in mischief, that nothing could be greater: and it was attended with a suitable effect. For behold! — On August the 14th. following, being seven weeks and two days from the propoun∣ding the Question, this unfortunate Querent had his Ship broke all to pieces in a Storm, near unto Yarmouth, and himself with all his Men (except one or two) fell Sacrifices to the merciless Waves of the Sea.— Thus we see that the Stars sometimes, by a kind of irresistible Influence, direct, nay, hurl Men into dangers [almost] unavoidable, even beyond the Power of humane Counsel or prevention.