The second way of making an Election.

2. The Second way of making or framing an Election, or finding out a Friendly time for the Launching or setting Sail of a Ship, is from an Horary Question, (of the Ma∣ster or Captain thereof, or of any other Person eminent∣ly concerned therein) seriously, and, intento animo pro∣pounded. (i. e.) when his or their minds shall be ear∣nestly solicitous and thoughtful about either the safety or hazzard of a Vessel, or, of their own profit or loss ari∣sing therefrom. — For, the mind in these matters is principally busied or affected, as it first of all is informed either with hope or fear of the matter in question, by the Pulse of the Primum Mobile, or Soul of the World; (Call it whether of the two you please) and thence comes it to pass, that our hopes and fears, are, not only imper∣manent, but very suddenly transient, and slide from one thing to another in moments; even as the Universal Spi∣rit of the World moves either with, or against our parti∣cular Spirits; advancing to our Expectancy's, or contra∣dicting our desires, according to the Nature and Disposi∣tion of the Mundane Figure, at that time when such fears or desires are prevalent.

And this is the true reason and ground of an Horary Question; and plainly demonstrable from the Coelestial Mathematicks, even in all the Actions and Passions of every person in this inferiour world.

Neither can any Man (let him suppose himself a Socra∣tes) by all his policy and subtilty, wholly exempt himself from this Energy; Syth we cannot assure our selves of ever having the same thoughts (I mean in all respects exactly and fully, for I know we often have the like, and very nearly the same) which once we have en∣joyed; Page  24or, which have rather passed through us. It be∣ing as impossible that it should be so, as for the same Po∣sition of Heaven ever to return again. Which cannot be, unless we should suppose (with the Learned * Gregory) that the world should out-last all reasonable supposition: nor indeed then neither.

But since we are not upon the subject of Horary Que∣stions at large, we will pass all further discourse of this Nature here, as Anomalous to our present design; and return to the Matter in hand.

To make an Election then from an Horary Question, for a Ship, Voyage, &c. you must frame the Figure of your Election agreeable to that of the Question, in case the Fi∣gure were Fortunate. Otherwise you must alter the Scheam of the Election from that of the Question, by fortunating the parts thereof, that were Unfortunate therein. For a bad Fate Astrologically, may be embet∣tered, and a good one improved; or else were all Know∣ledge useless. And that is the meaning of Ptolemy in the 8th. Aphorism of his Centiloquium. *

To explain this fully (for I am unwilling to be guilty of Riddles, or to leave any thing in obscurity, whereby to torment my Readers) I will produce you an Eminent. Instance.

A person having a Ship to put to Sea (and having seve∣ral doubts in his mind concerning her) enquires of me, whether he may safely, and with success, adventure up∣on the present intended Voyage. The Heavens were in the following posture at the time of his Interrogation.

IN the Figure of this Horary Question, are many Argu∣ments of discouragement to the Querent about the Interrogated undertaking. As (1.) ♂ in the Ascendant. (2.) the Lord of the Ascendant in the Eighth House, and (tho' in his Exaltation) Combust there. (3.) the Moon in ☌ ☋. in the Ninth House, the Angle that naturally signifies Sea Voyages. (4.) ♄ in ☌ ♁. in the Se∣cond House. (5.) The Lady of the Tenth on the Se∣venth, in ☍. to the Ascendant, and ♂ there. (6.) Mercury, which signified the Vessel, as Lord of the 7th. Angle, is also Lord of the 9th. and in the 8th. Combust and Retrograde. (7.) ♄ Lord of the Hour.

All which were Arguments of great infelicity to the intended Voyage, and of Dammage both to the Owner, and Ship likewise. Sickness, if not Imprisonment, is Page  26threatned to the Querent; Contradictory weather, and a fear of Pyrates, &c. to be brief, the Testimonies of ill were so many, and so little of good in the Figure to ballance them, (nay none at all, but the Position of ♀. on the 7th. Angle in △. of ☽. who happily transferred the Light of ☿. to her.) That I positively advised the Querent to a pretermitting of that intended Undertaking, acquainting him with the several Menaces of the Hea∣vens towards him; bidding him be careful how he temp∣ted Providence, lest it proved worse than I feared, which indeed was bad enough.

But, notwithstanding the unhappy Menaces of the Fi∣gure, and my Advice given, he tells me, he is engag'd with, and to, several Owners, who have agreed with him upon the Voyage; and it is not now in his power to avoid the undertaking thereof, without great disparage∣ment unto him, together with the ill opinion of his Owners and Friends. Yet confesseth he is suspicious of the improsperousness of the Voyage; (as indeed, who is not, that hath Mars in the Ascendant of such an En∣quiry?) and therefore propounds he the Question.

What is now to be done? 'Tis dangerous to go: yet go he must. No hopes, neither of embettering these rugged and severe Menaces by an auspicious Election, as can be gathered from the Question; unless the Moon in Trine of Venus, Lady of the 5th. and 10th. Houses can afford us any. And, to go at all adventures, what is it but to hazzard both Ship, Men, and Goods.

The Nativity of the Ship under Question is unknown; I therefore (syth there is no remedy for the Querent, but going) must endeavour to frame an Election for the Voyage, from the Figure of the Question, by opposing therein, the unhappy threats it intimates.

To assist me herein, I demanded of the Querent, in what time, since he must go, he was (God permitting) to begin his intended Voyage? about three weeks hence he tells me, (i. e.) from the time of the Question) or any Page  27time after that, to Bartholomew-Tide; which was five or six weeks from the time of the Question. To be short, the time I pitched upon, was August the 10th. 9h. 55′. A. M. or ten of the Clock at the farthest, for him to set Sail, or first of all to weigh Anchor for his Voyage. And the Figure of Heaven was as followeth: —

The Figure of the Question being so pernicious in all re∣spects, required the greater care and industry of an Ar∣tist, in framing an Election that might conveniently Me∣liorate it: And a bettet I could not possibly meet with, in that limitation of time, the Tide, and all other matters and circumstances considered.

Herein the Ascendant and Moon are made the Mid-Hea∣ven of the Figura Questionis. The Angles of the Scheam and Moon, all in Movable Cardinal Signs. The Lady of the Ascendant in the Ninth House, in great reception of the Moon. The Lord of the Ninth and Eleventh Angles both, one Planet, and he in Conjunction of Jupiter in the Medium Coeli, in Domo Solis. The Moon Lady of the Tenth in the Horoscope with Noble Fixed Stars. The La∣dy of the Ascendant in △. to ♁. in the Second House. The Moon transfers the Light of the Lady of the Ascen∣dant to the Sun and Mars by a Sextile Aspect, and they, in noble Trine of each other; one of them being partly Lord of the Mid-Heaven, and the other wholly Lord of the Seventh and Second Houses. And lastly, which is not the least to be considered, there are Eminent Fixed Stars on all the Angles of the Figure.

All which Arguments (if nothing were to be minded but this Election) pronounce it to be a most happy and Heaven-favouring Election of Time in earnest, for such a purpose: and declares the Voyage, not only to be happy, and profitable, but Eminently Reputable also. As indeed, with respect had to the Original hereof, which was the Figure of the Question, it was. But, we must always consider, that God and Nature do nothing in vain; for, had not this Querent been irritated to an Interrogation, this auspicious Election could never have been liable to an abatement of its good significations: but, as it hath a de∣pendance upon that for its Radix, we cannot expect it should have the full Effects of so many Illustrious Signifi∣cations. For we must know, and shall ever be sure to find it true, That an Election (be it never so good or bad in it self) can never totally alter the Promises or Menaces of an Original Question, which is its Nativity, but only augment to the Good, or mitigate the Evil of them. For therein are the Seeds of the Happiness or Misfortune of such Voyage or Vessel inclosed; as Fruit is originally in its Root; or as Scent and Colours of Vegitables are ver∣tually in their Seeds.

Nor need any trouble themselves with objecting, that, not a Question, but a Nativity, is the Radix properly of an Election. Sith the Question, if with a serious and so∣licitous mind propounded, is ever the same, (or very like unto it) in signification with the Radix; and may therefore be reasonably presumed equal with the proper Root thereof; especially when the true Nativity is not known, or not by any means to be found. As a Step-Father, in the room of the natural Sire, performing all the Offices of a Father, is, by a Child to be looked upon and owned in the same Capacity, and Relation to him, as was his real Father, when alive. And if experience will serve to vouch this verity further, (if there be at least any need thereof) I can produce sufficient.— But to the Effect.

The Ship did weigh Anchor at the time Elected; and within six days did receive Dammage by a Storm, wherein it had like to have been Wrecked. In twenty days af∣ter, it had neerly been cast away again, by running into the Quick-sands; but, with greater danger than loss, in little time got very well off again.

Afterwards, this Vessel made its Port both prosper∣ously and speedily; so also, it did make a happy return home again, and this without any material or remarkable prejudice or dammage; excepting that they were distressed somewhat in their return, for Provision, and fresh water, some of theirs proving ill; by reason whereof, (as might be reasonably suppos'd) both the Master and Marriners were a little unhealthful.— There happen'd also a small Mutiny in the Ship, (like ♂ in the Horoscope of the Que∣stion) occasion'd by an unlucky impudent fellow, a Car∣penter belonging to the Ship; this was still as they were returning home,

To conclude, the profit of the Voyage was much less than was either expected, or at first propounded by the Owners; or, (as I have heard the Master of the Vessel say) than was ever known before.

Thus have you a brief, but true History of the whole matter. And, in every respect, most suitable to the sig∣nifications of the bad portended in the Scheam of the Question, and likewise of the safety denoted by the Fi∣gure of the Election.

By which we may observe,— That an ill Question may be bettered by a fortunate Election of Time. And, that a good Election is really serviceable and profitable. But then, we may also observe, That tho' the Election be never so good in it self, its auspicious significations can∣not totally avert the unhappy Menaces of that Figure, or Radix, from whence you make or frame the Election. And, so you have the second way of framing an Electi∣on explained.