THis coniunction hapneth in the fift minute of the 22. degree of Piſces, the laſt ſigne of the zodiacke, and in the latter part of the twelfe houſe, which is termed of ye Aſtronomers. Domus tristitiae, laboris, aerumnae, maeroris, inimicitiarum, inuidiae, ſuſurrationis, carceris, ſeruorum, deceptorum, animalium magnorum. &c. And whether it ought to ſeeme ſo fearefull and terrible vnto vs, as it is thought by ſome, we are to examine. And for aſmuch as it is a coniunction of the very beſt and worſt of all the Planets: we ought well to conſider, whether Saturne in his mallice and miſchiefe, be able and of ſufficient power to ſubdue the influence of Iupiter, and thoſe good haps by him ſignified. And in as much as they twain, are not all in all, hauing to doe wholly in all cauſes, it is therefore requiſite and needfull, ioyntly io conſider with them, the Dominion and authoritie of the reſt in order, as followeth.

And now to come to the purpoſe, theſe former conſiderations wayd, if we compare the fortituds of Saturne with his debilities, we ſhall then find that he is ſtrong (proportione ſeſquialtera) his ſtrengths being aboue thirtie, his debilities, only 20. wherefore I may ſafely ſay, he is well affected, well ſituat, and very well configurate: no leſſe may he thought of Iupiter, though not hauing the ſame fortitudes and debilities in all pointes, yet the like in number, and ſame proportion, and are both as witneſſeth Cardan. In primo & optimo statu, robustiſſimi, quia orientales, veloces & aparentes. Wherefore it were very groſſe to cōclude yt Saturn ſhold be ſo hatefull ſo hurtful, ſo diſpitefull, or ſo malicious by his force and authority, to ouercome and ſubdue the good nature, the ſweete influence, and proſperous irradiation of the beneuolent and friendly Planet Iupiter. Vpon his trial, who is found in all reſpectes to be as ſtrong, as able, as manlike, and as mighty as himſelfe, and hauing him at home in his owne houſe, hee may either entreate him as a friend, or elſe (de iure) commaunde him as a gueſt to be ruled, and be of good behauiour, yeelding the ſuperiority vnto his Hoſt, without cauſing great abundance of waters, cold weather, vnwonted miſchiefes, ſorrow, enuie, debate, quarrelling, hate, ſtrife, lawing for the goods of the deade, reconinges, accountes, or ſuch like, the rather becauſe hee is neither in the eight, neither hath any dominion therein, nor beholdeth Mars the Lorde of the cuſpe of the ſame: for Leo and Piſces no way beholde the one the other. And whereas he threatneth thorow the influence of Saturne, vprores, tumultes, manyfolde troubles, violence and oppreſſion, he greatly miſtaketh the matter, for that they are rather the effects of the outragious, fell, and furious Planet Mars, who in the coniunction hath little or nothing to doe. But if therevpon hee had threatned hunger, want, penurie, and pouertie vnto the poore and indigent, his prediction had not been vnlike to haue taken effect, for that their eſtate is neuer better, and why he ſhould diſcomfort the Clergie or Eccleſiaſticall eſtate, I ſée no cauſe conſidering that Iupiter their generall ſignificator (as alſo Dominus 9. of the figure) is ſo ſtrong and well affected, both in himſelfe and his eſſentiall dignities, eleuated aboue the reſt, and alſo ſmall reaſon he hath, to mooue him to pronounce the ruine and ouerthrow of Noble men, great perſonages and gentlemen, though ſome and ſundry from time to time fall into like extremities, and bee ouerthrowne with the loſſe of eſtimation, goodes and lyfe, by the ſecret working of their owne pryuate natiuities, without anye generall conſtitution. But were it ſo, that Saturne (as he ſayth hee is) were diſpoſed to woorke ſtraunge feates, or to bring greate matters about: yea, and that his might were ſo much, and his malice ſo great, as to ſhew the ful force of his miſchieuous and malicious nature, ſeeking to bring vpon the world, Plague, peſtilence, famine, and other calamities whatſoeuer, which haue at any tyme ſince the creation thereof, hapned for the puniſhment of ſinne: yet could he not at this preſent play theſe pageāts, beeing otherwiſe brydled and reſtrayned of his will, for that he is neither Lorde of the coniunction, neither hath dominion in the reuolution of the yeare, nor ought to doe in the gouernement of the greate Orbe, or anye commertion with thoſe who haue authoritie therein. Therefore if any alteration extraordinary happen in the yeares following, different from the others paſt, it muſt of neceſſitie riſe and proceed of ſome more farther cauſe, then any alleadged in al the whole Aſtrologicall diſcourſe: for as much as there is not anye one Maxime therein alleadged, that may not ſeeme. Puerile quiddam, not woorth the hazarding of any ſmall credite in Aſtrology, that hath beene already purchaſed (els how can one looſe that he neuer had). And for the better proofe of theſe my ſpéeches, conſider what is by him alleadged. Iupiter on whom ſome part of the charge is layd, ſhall begin to ſhrincke the tenth of Iuly, and goe backward, whereby his influence ſhoulde bee hindred, which is nothing materiall. For why the combat (the coniunction I meane) being fought & paſt long before, it is requiſite that the combattants doe retire and repoſe them ſelues in aray, returning backe from whence they came, which well they may do without any kind of impeachment or diſcredit in this reſpect. Beſides it is a paſſion which hapneth vnto them euery yeare once, which they can not poſſibly auoyde. Then to thinke, or bee perſwaded that Saturne, Iupiter, or any other of the Errones can be or ſhall be, theſe fiue or ſixe yeares next enſuing, eyther oftener retrograde then heretofore they haue beene, or than commonly they vſe to bee, is moſte abſurde & chieldiſh, and argueth that whoſoeuer is of that opinion can be but a ſimple Aſtrologian, not ſeene at all in the Theory of the Planettes, nor well acquainted with Copernicus his Hypotheſes, Rein • olts obſeruations, or Pe • rbachius. Foraſmuch as it is a poſition or rule infallible that a Planet cannot paſſe by his firſt ſtation aboue once, while hee maketh his reuolution in his epicicle, & by it he muſt of neceſſity once paſſe, and the tempus periodicum of his reuolution is certain, conſtant, and without alteration. Wherefore, if hee euer ſee Saturne oftener retrograde, then once in twelue moneths and eighteen daies (menſes ſolares I mean) or Iupiter in 13. moneths and 9. dayes, Mars, in 3. years and 2. moneths, Venus in one yeare 7. monethes and 14. dayes, Mercury in 3. moneths & 26. dayes, or if he can find that they eſcape retrogradation in any of thoſe preſcribed times, then let me looſe the credite of mine Aſtrology, vnleſſe it pleaſe the almighty to work miracles more in theſe 6. yeares following, thē in 1600. yeres heretofore: and were his meaning no leſſe, yet were it doubtfull, whether the authour of the Aſtrological diſcourſe. were a conſilijs illius, and priuie to his intent. But admit it were as he ſaith, that they were oftner retro grade then in times paſt, and that which is more then ſo, that the ſun ſtood ſtil, or went backward, contrary to his naturall motion: yet were it no argument thervpon to inferre the diſſolution of the world, or ende of the ſame: conſidering that in the time of Ioſua, the Sunne ſtoode ſtill: and in the tyme of Ezechias, the Sunne went backe: and the world notwithſtanding continuing after the ſpace of ſixtéene hundred yeres, and not ſo little. And whereas he alſo ſayth, that the 26. day of October they are almoſt in coniunction again. I anſwere that almoſt neuer won the game, nor almoſt did neuer hit ye nail on the head, & althogh they bee in application, yet is the ſame but aplicatio auerſa, and is preuented by refranation, afore they come to the full coniunction and as for their ſituation in the 10. houſe, at the Sunn his entrance into Libra, in the thirde part of the Aſtronomicall yeare: it cannot any way increaſe the hurt, ſith they haue no dominion in the ſaid yeare, for how can he gouerne a part, that is excluded from the whole. And to returne to the conſtitution of the other Planets, which are ſuppoſed to help forward this cauſe, & play their parts in this tragedy. Mars is the man moſt ſuſpected herein: who though he be peregrine, yet by his dignities coequall with his debilities, and therefore become indifferent and of a meane diſpoſition, who although he be in Leo, yet is he not in Cacodemon, neither is he any way ſo gretly diſgraced or euil affected, wherby it ſhoulde be thought to pretend any ſuch wonderfull contention, ſedition, treaſon, rebellion, warres, tumultes, mutines or vprores, with horrible ſlaughter and bloudſhed, but rather warranteth thereby, this his terrible prediction and fearefull prognoſtication to paſſe like a ſhaddowe, or vaniſhe like a ſmoke, not vnlike quickſiluer molten at ye fire, or as ye crack of a Cannon charged without a bullet, only making a fearful noiſe, and cauſing no further harm. He ſaith alſo thervpon, that great multitudes ſhalbe ſpoiled, ſubdued, deſtroied & murthered, by the enemy yt ſhould oppreſſe them with the ſworde & fire, and other tragical miſcheifs & notorious calamities, to be preſaged to ſome mighty ruler or gouernor, appointed in high dignitie or ſupreme authoritie. Mars being neither in the 10. nor hauing dominion therein. Furthermore, he ſuppoſing Mars to be Lord of the 9. houſe, inferreth therevpon euill ſucceſſe to the cleargy, whereas in truth Mars hath nothyng to doe in the ſame, neither is Mercury there vnluckily apointed, or lately of hym diſcomforted or diſcouraged with a hatefull ſquare aſpect," but rather receiued with a trine into his houſe, which can by no meanes" forſhewe any perſecution of the Cleargy, or any diſquiet thereby, what ſoeuer is ſignified otherwiſe. Likewiſe Mars in Leo, not in ye 12. houſe frō the aſcendent (as he would haue hym) can not threaten loſſe or deſtruction in thoſe kindes of beaſts that haue houes, hornes, and fleeces, nor hinder the increaſe of Waſpes, Piſmires, Caterpillers, Cormorantes, and vermin: but that thei ſhould aboūd to much (if it pleaſed not God otherwiſe to hinder the ſame) who becauſe he is not ſeated in the eight houſe from the Moone, Ipſe non ſignificat interfectiones & infirmitates magnai in hominibus. Moreouer, the Sunne beyng not Lorde of the Aſcendent, nor reſident in the 10. houſe but Lord of the ſixt, and ſituate in the aſcendent, ſheweth that he ſhould imploye his influence farre otherwiſe then to buſie hymſelf, with cauſing muche trouble, vexation or ſorrowe, to Noble men, or Honourable perſonages: much leſſe to thruſt any Magiſtrates out of Office, depriue them of their dignities, or place other in their roomes: though ſome may feele theſe inconueniences threatened vnto them, but by ſome particular and priuate cauſe, as is before mētioned. Likewiſe, Venus no Lady of the 10. houſe, though peregrine, not cōbuſt, and in the 2. houſe, meaneth to be no partaker with the Sunne herein, though he bee in her houſe: yet is ſhe from home, minding to viſit her olde frende Mars with a ſextile aſpecte, intending to make ſome banquett or good cheare, whereby to helpe away with the ſubſtaunce that els would ruſt, rather then to forſhewe the bad eſtate not onely to Princes, but of their ſubiectes likewiſe: whiche bad eſtate ſaieth he, ſhall be founde in the Countries that be ſituate betweene the Eaſt and the Weſt, a ſentence worthy the notyng: for it contayneth muche matter, and is moſt like to be trueſt of al his predictions: for if any ſuche thyng happen in any place of the whole worlde, he thereby hits it. For what place is there vnder the Sunne, whiche is not betweene the Eaſt and ye Weſt, and if he had likewiſe ſaied betweene the Northe and the South, or betweene the Earth & the Sky, he ſhould haue left no place of the worlde vnconſidered: for within the twoo extremes, of either theſe three euen diſtances, not onely the vniuerſal earth, but the whole is compriſed, and by including the whole he can not lightly miſſe a parte. And Venus, if ſhe were in the 11. houſe, as ſhe is in the 2. is not there weakened, or vnluckely affected, for that ſhee hath 23. ſtrengthes to helpe her ſelfe withall, onely 9. debilities to bee deducted: and if it may helpe, rather ſhe is in optimo ſtatu, quia apparēs in ortu veſpertino, & velox curſu, farre enough from the Moone Catabibazon: and therefore can not ſignifie that ſubtile diſſemblyng & falſe packyng amongſt men, or want of faithfull and ſounde freendſhip, or muche counterfeite and faigned amitie, vncurteous dealyng, falſhood, breache of frendſhip, hate, diſcord, ſtrife, diuiſion or factions, &c. Nor after Haly, Destructionem futuram in mulieribus, neque preſagit leguminum caritatem: becauſe ſhe not infortunate in the 11. houſe. And as for Mercury, as he is not nere his 2. ſtation by 25. degrees, ſo is he not in the houſe of Religion, or long iourneyes, though peregrine in Aries, his place is in the Aſcendent, and hath not to ſignifie muche iourneying or remouyng: for although he bee Conuertibilis & mobilis, yet he is ſlowe of courſe, and therfore by that Arologicall reaſon, can not ſignifie trauellyng or iourneying. Alſo Mercury hauyng nothyng to doe in the 7. houſe, nor aſpecting the cuſpe of the ſame, cannot inferre ſundrie greeuances, violent Robberies, Spoyles, wilfull Murthers, and cruel man ſlaughters. For Mercury his influence, when he hath to doe therein, is rather to incline the euill diſpoſed to ſecrete filching, priuie picking, purloining, pilferie, and pety laſſeny, then vnto forcible breaches, riots, or violēt Robberies. And that the ſame configuration, ſhould" cauſe irreligious, impious, obſtinate" wicked, ſtubborne, & diſorderly perſons to abounde: the marueile were not greate, conſideryng the worlde lacketh them not at this preſent, nor hath not wanted them in former ages: how beit Mercury (who is Conuertibilis naturae) chaūgyng himſelf into the nature and diſpoſitiō of hym whom he moſt pertily aſpecteth, who is the Moone, in this behalf, can produce no ſuche effect, no more then any other kinde of infortune vnto the eſtate of Embaſſadoures, Secretaries, Notaries, Regiſters, Clarkes, Scriueners, Mercers, and thoſe eſpecially of the learneder ſort, which is no way to bee feared, conſideryng that Mercury their Significator, is both ſtrong in himſelf, and in the poſition of the Figure: and as for buſie "minded fellowes, and factious heads "wedded to their owne conceites, I haue no doubt, but that they are likewiſe wedded to their owne ſorrowes and harmes, for that the buſie man neuer wanteth woe. But to come now to the Moone, who beeyng neither peregrine, for that ſhe is in ſuo Decano, neither in oppoſition with Venus, but ſeperating from the trine of Mars: neither ſhe beeyng Ladie of the tenth houſe, but of the ſeconde: it were againſt reaſon to thinke, that ſhe ſhould in that conſtellation ſhew any heauie calamities, impriſonmentes, diſturbances, tribulations, thought, anguiſhe, and ſorrowe vnto the common people: ſo that in very truthe, there is not one Aphoriſme in the whole tract, that agreeth with ye figure of the true Coniunction: then how is it poſſible to pronounce ex faelſis verum. Neither is it hereby to be thought, that the Commons ſhall carrie either diſloyall, biſobedient, or rebellious hartes towardes their gouernors. And though the world be wickedly giuē, yet it is not like that any ſhould bee ſo vnfaithfull to their Prince, or vnnaturall to their Coū trey, as to diſquiet the cōmon wealth therof, vnleſſe it be ſome ſuche, whoſe ſignificatours of their Natiuities be infortunately ſituate, in ſignis odioſe obedientibus, whiche from the beginnyng, as thei haue vnhappely begunne their Inſurrections and Rebellions, ſo haue thei vnfortunately proceeded, and miſerablie ended the ſame. I praie GOD with my whole harte, that all ſo mynded and diſpoſed, maie come to the like ſucceſſe in the ende, as no doubte they ſhall through GOD his Iuſtice, had this Coniunction neuer been. And for as muche as the Sunne, beyng Anima Mundi, is not become Maleficus, neither the Fiery triplicitie infortunate, neither the Signe of the eleuenth and fift houſe, wherein the Moone can no way bee placed, neither Saturne in the eight, nor Lorde of the ſixth and ſeauenth houſe, his iudgement dependyng therevppon, together with other incidentes of that Figure by hym erected, are willingly (as vnneedefull) for breuitie ſake omitted, and had been here vnto "ſmall purpoſe recited, but as hee is verely perſwaded that there is no Countrey, or Nation, ſhall beholde the ſame Coniunction vnpuniſhed: ſo am I certainely aſſured, that he is greatly deceiued: and were it ſo, that it extended the force and ſignificatiō thereof, vnto the firſt and ſecond Climate (whiche is Per Meroen Aethopiae, & per Syenē Aegipti ſub Tropico Cancri) it is no doubt farre different from the 8. Climate, and 18.19. and 20. Paralell, wherin this our Countrey lyeth, neither are Piſces, Gemini, Virgo, or Sagittary, ſignes that aſcendent, or Horoſcopicall vnto all the Countries and Cities of the whole worlde: neither Saturne or Iupiter, Dij topici omnibus gentibus: and therefore the influence of this Coniunction not to ſtretche ouer all the worlde, nor vpon al ſortes of people in the ſame: For the omnipotent and almightie Iehouah, who ſitteth aboue bothe Planettes and Starrie Firmament, and rules them at his wil and pleaſure, hath ordeined them as well to bee ſignes and tokens of his mercie and loue towardes vs his choſen and elected, as of his wrathe and iuſtice towarde the wicked & reprobate, vpō whom he neuer brought any iuſt ſcourge or puniſhment for their ſinnes and wickedneſſe, but he firſt called them to repentaunce, by ſome ſuche fearefull ſignes and tokens: if the ſame might haue pearced their obſtinate and ſtony hartes. But to come to the Author his perticuler Iudgemētes, as touching weathers, and ſuche like accidentes. Nothyng there is therin contained more praiſe worthy, then the reſte before mentioned. And whereas vpon the conuent and aſſemblie of the Planettes, happenyng in the Moneth of Aprill, in the yeare of our Lorde 1584. in the Signe of Aries, at what tyme Saturne and Iupiter ſhall forſake the Signe Piſces, is promiſed a Comet immediatly to enſue. I plainly ſaie, it is a verie weake argument wherevpon to inferre ſuche a greate matter and accident by, as by the induction of Hiſtories will bee proued. In the yere of our Lorde GOD 1505. in the latter ende of Iuly, there was aſſembled the Sonne, the Moone, Saturne, Iupiter, Venus, and Mercurie, in Leo, a fierie ſigne: after whiche there followed no Comet. Again, in the yere of our Lorde God 1544. in the middeſt of Nouember: there was Saturne, Iupiter, Sol, Venus, Mercurie, Luna, all conuented in Sagittarie, a fierie ſigne as the former, after whiche there followed no Comet at all. Likewiſe in the yere of our Lorde God 1564. in the ende of Iune there was Saturne, Iupiter, Mars, Ʋenus, and Mercurie, aſſembled in Leo a fierie ſigne, and the firſt before mentioned: After the whiche there followed no Comette, Drought, or Heate, but rather greate floodes and inundatiōs, increaſyng the Riuer of Thames in ſuche ſort, that it ouerflowed the marſhes, and drouned muche cattell: and alſo the ſame yere there inſued a verie cold and hard Winter in ſo muche that the riuer of Thames was froſen ouer, the like whereof hath not been ſeen at any tyme ſince nor in many yeares before. As alſo Owſe bridge at Yorke, carried awaie with the force of the Iſe at the ſame tyme: Howbeit, Leouitius promiſed a Comet, and the contrary weather, who was therein deceiued, & ſo maie" other preſumyng no leſſe. And as" for the Comette, whiche appeared "in the yeare of our Lord 1556. in the beginnyng of March, it coulde not any way be ſignified or forſhewed by that aſſembly, that thē was in Aries: for that the ſaied Comett appeared before there was any more entered into Aries then three, who were Saturne, Mars, and Venus: and therefore I may ſafely conclude, that the ſaied blazyng Starr or Comet, was no more cauſed thereby, then that whiche happened after ye meeting in Leo, in ye yere 1434. or ye which happened before ye death of Charlemaine Anno domini, 814. after their concourſe in Sagittary. Wherefore, whē a Comet is to be preſaged, debet aliunde peti, & therfore dare I not giue any conſent, to thinke that wee ſhall haue a Comet 1584. vpō that Aſtrologicall concluſion, and ſlender reaſon before mētioned. For why, I am certainely perſwaded, that they are ingendred vppon ſome other farther cauſe: for that in the yere of our Lord God 1572. when there was no concourſe of Planettes in fierie ſignes, there appeared a ſtraunge Comet in the Aſteriſme of Caſſiopeia, towarde the North parte of the worlde, in the Moneth of October, whiche was of long continuance. And again, in the yere 1580. in the moneth of Nouember, there appeared an other toward the Southweſt, which laſted ye ſpace of a fortnight, & appeared very great whē as there was no meetyng of the Planettes in any of the fiery ſignes, at, or immediatly before the ſame. Furthermore, it is ſaied by hym, that in the Moneth of Aprill, 1584. there ſhould be exceſſiue cold, and extreme heate, cauſed by the Coniunction of Saturne and Mars in Piſces, and Iupiter and Mars in Aries, whiche is a thyng very abſurd: for al mē know, that two extremes do make a meane, and two contrarie cauſes the one cō ſumes the other, and they both bring forth a third: as ſcaldyng hot water, and extreme colde, doe make luke warme. As cōcerning the iudgemēt "of the yeare 1585. it is not to bee thought, that the aſſemblie in Aries, ſhould pul on the effect of a Coniunction that was before in Piſces, a watrie ſigne, and of a contrary Elemēt, and fire & water ſo hardly agreeing, as alſo, for that Tranſitus (as the Aſtronomers tearme it) is the leaſt of all the influences. Againe, where as it is ſaied, that thei whiche haue in their Natiuities the Aſcendent, the Sunne, the two ſuperious Planets, or the Lorde of the Aſcendent or Natiuitie in Aries, Inprimis, ad choreas caelestes inuitabuntur, aliquid que noui molientur: and that Germany & Italy, with other Countries ſubiect to Aries, ſhould beware of greeuous calamities, chaunces and chaunges: it is farre againſt reaſon to thinke that any Conſtellation ſhould foreſhewe generall calamities to whole Countries, and particular prefermentes to priuate perſons, bothe beyng vnder the gouernement of one and the ſame ſigne. As touchyng the continuance of the former effectes, euen as the coniectures of them are very ſlender, ſo is the text of Cardane very weake to this purpoſe: Effectus durant vſ que ad reditū, vt pote coniū ctio Saturni & Iouis, vſ que ad aliā coniunctionē: whereby his meanyng is, that it ſhould laſt the tearme & ſpace of 20. yeres following, whereas it is recorded amōg them of no ſmall credite in this ſcience, that the ſignifications vpon the chaunge of a Trigon, hath been ſometimes deferred vntill the 3. or 4. Coniunction followyng, which is a 60. or 80. yeares from the ſame, or it take effect, and hath not laſted aboue 7. or 8. yeares in effecte. But to come to the compariſon of this Coniunction with others heretofore. The Coniunction which was in Cancer in Nouember, that ſhewed the generall Deluge, called Nohae floud, had other accidents cōcurring with the ſame, which did aggrauate the force thereof, as theſe. The Coniunction was in Cancer, whiche then likewiſe was the ſigne of the greate Orbe, & Saturne was then lorde of ye greate Orbe, and was there far worſe diſpoſed then at at this preſent, foraſmuche as thē he was Tardus motu, prope ſtationē, in detrimēto, aſwell as Peregrine, &c. & being ſo many waies lorde and gouernor of the whole, and ſo diuerſly feebled and weakened, no maruell though ſo greate effecte did then followe, ſuche as the world ſhall neuer ſee again: neither ye like cōſtellation in all reſpectes. As for the Romane Monarchie, & his beginning, which happened after a coniunction in Scorpie, (but fortie yere before the beginnyng of the fierie Trigon at the leaſte) whiche Coniunction of it ſelf could as then haue doen naught, had there not been a little before, a concourſe of Orbes, yt hed of Aries, octaui orbis, beyng in longitude wt Aries noni orbis, and beginnyng as then to make a new reuolutiō, which is Res magnaīcaelo, as witneſſeth Cardane. Furthermore, ye ſigne of ye great Orb at ye ſame time was Aquarie which Orbe was as then newly begunne, and Saturn Lord of the ſayde Orbe, who did by a ſquare aſpect, beholde the ſigne of the great Orbe ex ſiguis ſe odioſe intuentibus. All which conſidered, there is more cauſe to think that then there ſhould follow ſome notable ſubuerſion, rather then now, when as none of the like accidents do any way concur, againe it is no reaſon to thinke that the watry Trygon, which beganne the fourth Monarchy, ſhoulde likewyſe finiſh the ſame: Quia idem non poteſt eſſe cauſa generationis & corruptionis. And as touching the cōiunction, which was ſixe yéeres before the bleſſed and happye byrth of our ſauiour Chriſt, the which Leouitius putteth in Piſces, Cardane affirmeth the ſame to be in the thyrd degree of Aries, and the fiery Trygon already begun, which controuerſye of theyrs (béeing men excellentlye read and learned) I referre to my betters to decide. Laſtly in the time of Carolus magnus, the Trygon changing into Aries, came as then into the ſigne of the great Orbe and Dominion of Mars. And ſith that by proceſſe of time, we are now come againe to the ende of the watry Trigon, and beginning of the fierye, it is requiſite before we ſhal preſume by Aſtrologicall coniecture, to affirme yt the ende and conſumation of the world, ſhoulde be in the yéere of our Lord 1588. We ſhould firſte conſider whether there happen any chaunge of the greate Orbe, or concourſe of the eyght and ninth Orbe, eyther els the chaunge of any Abſit out of one ſigne into an other. All which, as Cardane witneſſeth. Sunt res magnae in Coelo. If ſo bée that ther be any ſuch cauſe concurrent, then is ſomewhat to bee ſpoken thereof, otherwiſe little to bee expected. The propheſies of the ſacred Scriptures firſte moſt reuerenced and beſte conſidered aboute the ſame, and then the Aſtrogliocall coniectures compared therewithall, and carefully foreſeeing that we alleadge not, Non cauſam pro cauſa, ſome reaſonable eſtimate may bee made thereof. But the day and houre is vnknowne to the angels of heauen, And ſo to return to the laſt notable matter by him ſpecified, which is, that there ſhall not appeare vnto vs in our Horizon, anie Eclipſe, of the Sun, or moone this year. But how greate or how notable a thing, yt is to be cōſidred, I leaue to thoſe yt are meanely exerciſed in Aſtronomy. But as touching the influence of the Eclipſe of the Sunne, that was in Cancer, the laſt yeare 1582, whereof there is wonders promiſed, we are to examine. And firſt the cauſe of an Eclipſe well knowne, we are to conſider the quantitie of the Eclipſe, and the continuaunce of the ſame. Leouitius at Augusta, putteth it to be the twenteth of Iune, at foure of ye clock, fiftie thrée minuts in the morning, and thrée poyntes ſeuen minutes darkened, and continued an houre & twentie two minutes. Maestlin for Tubing, affirmeth it to be at foure of ye clock fiftie minutes, and but two poynts foure minuts darkned, and laſted an houre and fourtéen minutes. And Stadius for Antvverp hath it at foure of the clock fourtie two minutes: But not ſo much as one ſixt part of one point darkned, nor of any continuance at all, but onely a touch as it were.

Wherfore if they which dwel in longitude, thirtie degrées, and haue the pole eleuated fortye eight degrées, had it thrée points darkned, & they in longitude thirtie one degrées, vnder the eleuation of fourty nine degrées, had but two points darkned. Likewiſe they that dwel in longitude twentie ſix degrées vnder the eleuation of fiftie one degrees, ſawe nothing at all. How is it poſſible that they which are in longitude nintéene degrées, vnder the eleuation of fiftie two degrées, ſhould ſée any thing. And for becauſe the ſurreption of light is the grounde wherby to iudge of the euents: I thought good to take the paines, to prooue by the principles of the Art, whether there were any ſurreption in our Horizon or no, with the reſt of the circumſtances therunto apertayning. Wherby it may appeare to any that is ſtudious or deſirous to come to the trueth thereof, in manner as followeth.

  die. Ho. mi. • . Viſibilis coniunctio ſolis & Lunae. 19. 16. 30. 11. Diſtantia verae coniunctionis a viſa. 0. 0. 59. 8. Còn iunctio vera. 19. 17. 30. 0. Anomalia ſolis annua. ſex. 5. 58. 39. 39. Anomalia lunae Coaequata. 4. 5. 8. 19. Motus verus latitudinis. 1. 27. 13. 20. Diſtantia ſolis ac lunae a vertice. gra. 86. 26. 0. Paralaxis Lunae ad ſolem. 0. 0. 55. 23 Paralaxis Longitudinis lunae ad ſolem. 0. 0. 33. 54 Paralaxis Latitudinis lunae ad ſolem. 0. 0. 46 47.       mi 6 Latitudo lunae vera. bor. 0. 14. 13. Latitudo lunae viſa. Auſt. 0. 32. 16. Semidia meter ſolis viſualis. 0. 0. 15. 49. Semidia meter lunae viſualis. 0. 0. 16. 53. Congeries ſemidia metrorum. 0. 0. 32. 42. Digiti ecliptici. digit. 0. 9. 32. Tempus inſidentiae. ho. 0. 5. 0.

WHereby it may euidently appeare that there was ſcant the ſixt parte of one pointe of the Sunnes body eclypſed, what ſoeuer was ſeene at Cambridge, before whome ſo euer, vnleſſe they had their Oſſa iugalia nimium extenſa. As Cornelius Gemma had, when he conſidred the Comet that was in Caſſiopeia, which made them ſee the thing which was not, els had they not Neruum opticum bene diſpoſitum, which made that ſmall darkeneſſe to appeare ſixteene tymes bigger then it was, and the obſcuration beeing but the ſixte parte of one poynt, is a thing of none account at all, as the ſequell ſhewed. For that ſmall influence that it had, began the ſixt day of Iuly, laſted two monethes, and ended the ſeuenth of September following in the ſame yeare. Wherefore the effectes thereof can not by any Astrologicall reaſon be deferred till May 1583, and ſo continue a yeare. Thus is there neyther good nor bad can bee aſpected from this Ecclipſe. As for the comparing with other Eclipſes is néedleſſe. But one example muſte not be omitted. If this Eclipſe had beene darkned three pointes as it was not (thogh he ſo ſay therof) In the yeare ſayth he, 1536. the 13. day of Iune, at one of the clocke after noone was an eclipſe of the Sun in the ſeuenth degree of Cancer, the ſun was darkned eight pointes almoſte, with them at Tubing, but much leſſe with vs at London, and from the beginning to the end, laſted two houres and ſixe minutes. The effectes whereof began in Ianuary following, the tenth day, and laſted two yeeres, which declareth that this Eclips could not foreſhew the two great commotions, that were in Lyncolneſhire and Yorkſhire, which were bothe of them begun & ended in October before the influence of this eclipſe tooke place, at leaſt the ſpace of 2. monethes. But for confirmatiō of Art, let vs ſée what happened frō Ianuary 1537 till Ianuary 1539. when as the influence of this Eclipſe raged. In February there was ſtirred a rebellion, wherein Carlile was beſieged. In April after ther was a cōmotion in Sommerſetſhire, about taking vp of Corne, and there was from the beginning to the ende, aboue ſixtye perſons executed and put to death for treaſon, rebellion, and denying the Kinges Supremacy: of which number there was a Marqueſſe, thrée Lordes, ſixe Knightes, thrée Abbotes and a Ladye, that was brent in Smithfield (Quiae Eclipſis fuit in decima domo regis, & prope locum ſolis aphetae ſuae geneſis) If we may giue credit to Cardane, al ſo in ye time there were ſundry abbeys ſuppreſſed, ye black Fryers, the white Fryers & the Monckes of Charterhouſe, ſoone after all the reſt, (Quia in nona domo quae eſt domus religionis) As for any dearth or ſcarſity, ſickneſſe or mortalitye, I reade of none yt followed, neither of inundatiōs or flouds but great hurt by fire was done in London amongſt ye baſketmakers in Roode Lane, where twelue houſes and nine perſons were burnt in the ſpace of thrée howers, beſides frier Foreſt and other that were brent in Smithfield, and a great many of Images (for auoidīg of Idolatry) were burnt at Chelſey (Mars feriebat gradū Eclipticu quadrato breuium) Likewiſe on a ſūday at ye ſermō time, appeared at Pauls Croſse the Rood of grace, and there moued the mouth and lips, very ſtraunglie. But it was brought thither out of Kent, and with ſundry deuiſes made ſo to doe. Afterwarde by the ſame Preacher the Biſhop of Rochester was ſhewed the bloud of Hales, and prooued to be no bloud, but clarified hony mixte with Saffron. And laſtly, to conclude and to ſhew, that ſome good as well as ill, may be foreſhewed by an Eclipſe, as wel priuatly, as publiquely, particularly, as generally. Ther were (during ye influence of that Eclipſe) 18. States created and aduaunced. Alſo the vertuous and Godly Prince Edward, afterwardes king Edward the ſixt was borne, a great ioye to the whole Lande. Alſo the Bible in engliſh was ſet in euery Church of the Realme for all men to read: And thus much for the confutation of the Aſtrologicall diſcourſe and poſitions therin contained. And for as much as it is not thuoght ſufficient for any one to reprehend or reprooue the doinges and procedinges of other writers vnleſſe after confutation of their erroure made, hee ſéemeth further to adde of his owne, ſomewhat either more Subſtantiall in doctrine, reaſonabler in hearing, or with the truth of the matter better agreeing. I haue there vppon thought it not amiſſe, to follow an order and platfourme of iudgement in the declaration hereof vſed by Ptholomy, and other learned wryters of later tyme. Wherein it is firſt requiſite to vnderſtand, who at this preſent is Lorde of the great Orbe, what the ſigne of the ſame is, as alſo the degree profectionall, and the diuiſor thereof. Likewiſe the Aſcendent of the coniunction, and reuolution, and laſtly, who hath the Dominion in the cōiunction, or preuention next and imediately going before the ſame. Al which, for the better vnderſtanding of that which followeth, I wil breifly in order ſet down, therby yt it may appeare, who of theſe twaine thus conioined hath moſt force and dominion in all or moſt, of the former conſiderations, for that the coniunction ſimply of it ſelfe, vnleſſe it hath a further conſent of the premiſſes, can not pretend or forſhew any great matter worthy the penning. Much leſſe the alteration of Kingdomes, the comming of Chriſte in iudgement, or conſumation of the world. For as much as it is a matter vſually hapning once in each twentie yéer, foure times in euery ſigne, and twelue times in euery Trygon before they ſhyft, or chaunge the ſame. So that within the ſpace of two hundred fourty yeares, they are twelue tymes conioyned togither, and not abooue.

And what horrible matters about twentie yeares laſt paſt, in reſpect of the former reſited haue hapned, there are none of ſufficient yeares, who are not able to teſtifie. And therfore moſte ſtraunge it is, that the audacitie of euery ſlender ſtudent in this ſcience, ſhould be ſuch as vpon ſo ſmall cauſes ſo certainly and peremptorily, to pronounce ſuch great and wonderful effects, aſſuring the ſame vpon his credit. But how ſo euer his credit be, certaine I am, that thorowe the like raſhe, and vnlearned attempts the art it ſelf, hath béen greatly diſcredited. In ſo much as it is in a maner contemned of the common people: the which was in times paſt eſtéemed both of Prince and Potentate in ſuch ſort as they became earneſt Studēts therof. Wherfore, it were to be wiſhed, that ſome of the chiefeſt Mathematicians of this Age, and of this our Country wel learned, and long experienced, would vndertake the wryting of theſe, and the like caſes, wherby other yunger Schollers might bee the more benefited, and the common wealth the better profited. And were there any cauſe of feare by this Coniunction portended, it were more reaſonable and conuenient, that Liberati the Italian, ſhoulde rather admoniſh the kingdome of France, and Italy his country, then threaten the realme of England thereby. For that in the yere of our Lord 1524. after the like Coniunction in Piſces, the French king was taken priſoner, at the ſiege of Paui, by the Duke of Bourbon: which in diſpight of the Cardinall Wolſey, went to Rome, beſieged the Citie, his Souldiers fact and ſpoiled it, the Pope driuen to fly to ye caſtle of S. Angelo, wher hee continued long in calamitye. The ſeconde yeare after, was a peace concluded betweene England and France, the fift yeare following was the newe Testament tranſlated into Engliſhe by William Tindall, and printed: the ſixt year following, the Pope was baniſhed, and ſuite to the courte of Rome forbidden, and the ſame year died Cardinal Wolſey, all which I am perſwaded, was no loſſe to England, likewiſe the cleargy was condemned in the premunire. No other great matter happned in this land, by the ſpace of 10. years after that Coniunction, except it were the loſſe of the holy mayde of Kent: who with her complices, Monkes, and Fryers, were worthely executed and put to death, and certaine houſes of obſeruaunt Friers put downe. But to return from whence I firſt digreſſed, the ſigne of the great Orbe at this preſent, is Gemini. The Lady and gouerneſſe of the Orbe, Venus. The degree of the profection the twenty eight of Libra, the diuiſor Mars, the aſcendent of the coniunction, the twentie nine degree, and 51. minutes of Piſces. The Lady of the hour of the ſayd coniunction Venus. The Lord and gouernour of the preuention, precéeding Venus. Al which conſidered, it euidently appeareth that Saturn hath no Dominion in any of the premiſes, much leſſe in al, or the moſt of them. And therefore were he Potentior Joue in loco coniunctionis, as ſome in conſiderately haue ſuppoſed him, yet cold-he not at this preſent, work thoſe effects by him ſignified, by reaſon of his diſſent and diſagréement otherwiſe. But according as Iels where promiſed. I wil firſt begin with ye doctrine of Ptolemy, in the ſixtie three propoſitiō of his Centiloquium, whoſe words are theſe. Cum Saturnus Iupiterque cōiūgunter vtrum eorum ſublimior ſit vide, & iuxta illius naturā pronuntiato. The which propoſitiō containeth much matter, and very difficult in few wordes. For by the word coniunction, as ſome of the learned haue interpreted, he meaneth in ye ſame place, Coniunctionem tam ſecundum latitudinem, quā longitudinē. Both which at this preſēt by great good hap, in a maner concurre, though the ſame by the Aucthor bee neglected and omitted. A farther conſideration thē the whiche notwithſtanding of other ſome there is required herein, the vniting and contactiō of their bodies, the whiche (for that the difference of their Latitudes is more thē the Semidiameters of their bodies) can not be: for as muche as the Semidiameter of the bodie of Saturne is but 4. minutes, and the Semidiameter of the bodie of Iupiter is 6. minutes, bothe whiche added together maketh 10. minutes, and the difference of their Latitudes is 26. minutes: Ergo, it appeareth as is ſaied: and how requiſite this third conſideration is in the iudgement of corporall Coniunctions: ſaie thei, the Eclipſe of the Sunne and the Moone doth euidently declare. For that whē as the Latitude of the Moone exceedeth the Semidiameter of both their bodies, there happeneth no Eclipſe, be the Coniunction otherwiſe neuer ſo partile, the which opiniō although it bee very reaſonable and probatle, yet will I not much ſtande therevppon, for that it ſeldome happeneth to concurre with the two former conſiderations, and yet the Coniunction pretending matter to inſue: how be it it muſt of neceſſitie be graunted whē it ſo happeneth, to be the more ſignificatiue, and of greater effect Ceteris paribus. The ſecond point contained in the former propoſition, is to conſider in this Coniunction Quis eleuatur ſuper alterum, the whiche worde eleuatio, for that it is ſomewhat ambiguous, is therefore diuerſly vnderſtoode of ſondrie Writers, ſome takyng it in one ſence and ſome in other, as Trapezuntius commentyng vpon the ſame propoſition vnderſtā deth Per eleuationem altitudinē planetae in epiciclo, affirming that when ſoeuer two Planets are cōioyned together, he that is neareſt of ye twaine vnto the Apogeon of his Epicicle, dicitur eleuatus ſuper alterum, & when they are of like diſtaunce frō the former Apogeon: Quod nullus eleuatur ſupra alterū: And ſome there are, as Guido, and ſuch like, who referre the ſame vnto the latitudes of ye planets ſo conioyned thus ſaiyng thereof, that if it happen their Latitudes to be both one way and into the North, he whoſe Latitude is greater to be eleuated aboue the other, but if bothe their Latitudes bee into the South, thē he to be eleuated whoſe latitude is leaſt of the twaine: If the latitude of the one bee into the North, and the Latitude of the other into ye South, then he whoſe Latitude is into the North, is eleuated aboue the other in to ye South: but if their Latitudes be bothe one way and like muche, then he who is aſcendent to be eleuated aboue the other deſcendēt in the ſame, and when as neither of them haue any Latitude from the Ecliptike, thē none to be eleuated aboue the other, and a third ſorte there are who conſider Per eleuationem, declinationem ab Equatore: ſaiyng, that in this and the like Coniunctions, it is to be cō ſidered, Quis planetarum habet maiorem declinationem, whiche if they happen to bee bothe into the North, then he who hath the greateſt declination of the twaine is thought to be eleuated aboue the other: but if their declination bee into the Southe, he whoſe declinatiō is leſſe of ye twain: but if ſo be that the declination of the one be into the North, and the declination of the other into the Southe, then he who hath his declination in to the North: but if their declinatiōs bee bothe one waie, and equidiſtaunt from the Equator, then none to be eleuated aboue other, and they ſeeme to yeeld this reaſon of their opinion, that he who hath the greater declination of the twaine bothe beeyng into the North, hath likewiſe the greater altitude Meridian, and therefore commeth of the twaine neareſt vnto our Zenith or Verticall, the higheſt and neareſt poynt of our Countrey, but when as their declinations are bothe into the South, the reaſon is contrarie, for that he whoſe declination is then moſte, hath the leaſt altitude Meridian of the twaine, and when their declinations are bothe one waie and like muche, then is the altitude Meridian one and the ſame, and none commeth nearer to our Verticall then the other. A fourth ſorte likewiſe there are, and they no ſmall number, who vnderſtande Per eleuationem, the diſtaunce of a Planett from the Apogeon of his Eccentriciti, ſo that hee who commeth neareſt vnto the ſame, is by them eleuated aboue the other, and if they bee both equidiſtaunt from the ſame, then he who is aſcendent in his Eccentriciti aboue the other deſcendyng: but if bothe aſcendyng or bothe deſcendyng and equidiſtaunt from the ſame, then none eleuated aboue other, who thinke themſelues to haue great reaſon of their opiniō, becauſe it is daily ſeene by ye Sonne and other Planettes, the nearer they come vnto the ſame, the more they are eleuated aboue the earth, and higher and further from vs. A fift ſorte there are, who vnderſtande eleuationē after a farre other maner, referryng the ſame vnto the eſſentiall dignities of the Planettes, pronounſing that Planet in any Coniunctiō to be eleuated aboue the other, who hath Plures dignitates in loco coniunctionis: ſaiyng, that he in reaſō ought to haue the ſuperioritie in any ſuche caſe, who hath moſte to doe therein: alledgyng Pthol. in his thirde booke in the tracte de animae facultatibus for their warrant in this behalfe, whoſe words are theſe: Magna autem eſt vis planetarum potentiorum, & eleuatorum ſuper mercurium & lunam, where it is euident by that whiche goeth before the ſame, as thus: Quum autem ſunt in proprijs, & familiaribus locis, & dignitatibus planetae gubernantes animi inclinationes &c. And Cardane commenting vpon the ſaid tracte, affirmeth no leſſe. A ſixt and laſt ſorte vnderſtande Per eleuationem altitudinem planetae ſuper Horizontem, accompting that Planett to bee eleuated aboue the other, who is neareſt to the Meridian of the twaine: As the Planet in the 12. houſe aboue an other in the aſcendent, and one in the 11. aboue the ſame in the 12. and one in the 10. aboue the ſame in the 11. For as much ſay thei as it is daiely ſeen, that as the Sūne paſſeth theſe poſitions and houſes, he aſcēdeth higher and higher vntill he come vnto the higheſt poynt thereof, and his heate and force in eache of the ſaied pointes more and more encreaſing, vntill he come at the full Meridian and higheſt poynt from the Horizon. And of this opinion is the learned Leonitius in his iudgement de natiuitatibus in the chapter de coniugio, his wordes beeyng theſe: Saturnus proxime ſupra vtrum que ſignificatricem coniugij, ſtellam (lunam ac venerem) eleuatus, ita vt nullus, prorſus, planeta interueniat, & ex loco maxime ſublimiſz. medij coeli apice vtrunque velu • deprimens, cōiugium huic nato denegat: & other late Writers for the better maintainyng of this opinion, alledge the aucthoritie of Pthol. in the thirde Booke in the tracte de leſionibus, & morbis corporis. Whoſe wordes are theſe: Rurſus quando venus eſt in cardinibus dictis maxime in occid. iuncta Saturno, aut eum aſpiciens, aut domicilia mutarunt, Mars ſuper cum eleuatur &c. And in the fourth Booke in the Chapter de facultatibus, alledgyng theſe wordes following: Conſiderentur alij fausti planetarum aſpectus ad hos & illi qui eleuantur ſuper hos ex eadem vel contraria qualitate. And again in the ſame Booke in the tracte de magiſterio as followeth: & cum beneficae ſtella ſūt eleuati ſuper dominantes, faciunt magnos glorioſos &c. Econtra cum malefici eleuantur ſuper dominatores, faciunt ſubmiſſos ignobiles, nihil lucrantes &c. In all whiche places alledged it is euident ſay thei that the authors vnderſtand, Per eleuationem, altitudinem planetae quoad mundum vel Horizontem, by reaſon of whiche diuerſitie and cōtrarietie of opinions, it is not a little difficult to determine the eleuation or ſuperiority of theſe twaine thus conioyned: but for as muche as the propoſition before reſited is takē out of Pthol I thincke it moſt reaſonable to confirme his meaning herein by hymſelf, and the like wordes vſed of hym els where, takyng eleuationem in this place in bothe the ſences by hym alledged, accordyng vnto bothe whiche it will appeare that Iupiter is Sublimior of the twaine. Firſt, for that he is in domo propria & dominus coniunctionis, & Saturne hauyng no one dignitie therein, nor ought to doe in the ſame. Secondly, becauſe hee is Saturno eleuatior quo ad mundum vel Horizontem, whereof there maie bee ſome doubt, conſideryng that thei are both in one degree and minute very partilly conioyned, which not withſtandyng becauſe Iupiter his latitude is leaſt of the twaine, his diſtaunce therefore a Meridie muſt be leaſt of them bothe, and therfore his altitude aboue the Horizon moſt, Et ergo ſublimior Saturno: What then followeth in the former propoſition, Iuxta illius naturam pronunciaeto, wher by it is manifeſt that this ſaid Coniunction of the two ſuperiour followeth the influence, operation, and propertie of the moſte happy, proſperous and beneuolent Planette Iupiter, whoſe influence and irradiation is not at any tyme to work hurt to any, muche leſſe when as he is ſtrong in hymſelf, well affected, and diſpoſed, and hauyng the prorogatiue and preheminence aboue the reſt, for whē at any tyme he hath the Dominion and gouernement of an Eclipſe, a matter farre more ſignificatiue then this ſeely and ſimple Coniunction, conſideryng that the ſaid Iupiter the gouernor and diſpoſer thereof is neither dominus aſcendētis cōiunctionis, becauſe the aſcendent is the laſt degree & almoſt laſt minute of ye ſigne Piſces: neither dominus aſcendentis reuolutionis: neither dominus orbis magni, nor preuentionis prox. precedentis. For Pthol. writing and declaryng the naturall cauſes of generall calamities, aſcribeth more vnto the Eclipſes then vnto any other: thus ſaying of thē, Prima & efficaciſſima taliū euentuū cauſa, eſt copulatio ſolis & lunae in defectibus: And next after Eclipſes, he affirmeth Cometts and blaſing Starres to haue a greate affect and ſignification, whereof he thus teſtifieth in the 28. propoſition of his Centiloquium. Tratectiones atque crinitae ſecunda partes in Iudicijs ferunt, and yet whenſoeuer this Planette Iupiter or Ʋenus haue the whole dominion in either of the ſaid places, as they haue in this Cōiunction, they turne the ſignifications thereof, vnto much good proſperous happe and effect, as appeareth by the ſaied Pthol. Thus writyng of ye ſaid Iupiter in the ſeconde Booke in his tracte de eclipſibus there inquiryng, Quales futuri ſunt euentus boni vel mali. Thus muche affirmyng of the ſaied Planette Iupiter cum ſolus dominatur, incremēta efficit, cumque euentus ad homines pertinēt, gloriam, fertilitatem, tranquillitatem, & pacem ſignificat &c. And no leſſe ſignification hath the ſaied Iupiter and Ʋenus, and either of them in the dominion of Comettes and Meteors, as witneſſeth Mizaldus and others, who haue written de Cometographiae and were this not ſo, Commets and Eclipſes could not at any tyme ſignifie and pretende good happ and effect to followe and enſue: the contrarie whereof experience doeth teſtifie: for as muche as after the appearance of the Comette in Libra the Diurnall houſe of Ʋenus, and vnder the beames and irradiation of the moſte proſperous and beneuolent Planett Iupiter, in the Natiuitie of our Sauiour, there followed greate ioye, peace and comforte vnto the whole worlde, and what good effectes haue inſued of Eclipſes in particular Countries, eache meane Chronographer is able to teſtifie. If then in ſuche greate matters as Eclipſes and Comettes, the force of theſe Planettes bee ſuche, vppon their dominion there, I ſee no cauſe but to hope and expect the like hereafter, the power and authoritie of Iupiter and Venus being no leſſe in this Coniunction, the one quia dominus, the other quia Almutē, and the ſame ſo muche the rather for that the ſaied Iupiter hath none eleuated aboue hym thereby to lett and inhibite his influence, but is both the higheſt and the ſtrongeſt in the figure, and therefore the good effectes promiſed therby ſo muche the more, as witneſſeth Pthol. in his ſeconde Booke de predictionibus Astronomicis: His wordes being theſe: Etenim beneficae ſtell • & locis euentui obnoxijs cognatione aliqua iunctae, ſi non ſuperentur ab alijs contrariae ſectae ſtellis, efficatius quod policentur naturae ſuae bonitate abſoluunt: Wherefore it is requiſite to ſhewe and declare to whom and what Countries this ſaied good by this Coniunction promiſed is eſpecially portended: for as muche as it were abſurde in reaſon to thincke this ſame to bee prefigured vnto the whole, or vnto theſe to whō the ſame in the Exacte tyme of the Coniunction doth not appeare: For as a Comett ſignifieth not but vnto thoſe to whom the ſame doeth firſt ſhewe and appeare: or an Eclipſe, but vnto ſuch as ſe and behold the ſame, their reuolutions notwithſtandyng about the whole within the ſpace of foure and twentie houres: the like conſideration therefore of this Coniunction not without cauſe at this preſent in this behalfe, accordyng to the whiche tyme and poſition it ſeemeth moſte reaſonable to thincke the good effectes by this Coniunction promiſed and preſaged, eſpecially to touche ſuche Regions and Countreis, as lye vnder the influence thereof, and as haue the ſaid Iupiter their patron and ſignificator, as alſo vnto thoſe Countries that are ſubiect vnto the ſigne of the Cō iunction, or ſigne aſcendent of the ſame, or ſigne wherein the Almuten of the Coniunction is as then ſeated and placed: And for as muche as the ſigne wherein the Coniunction wil happen is knowne to be of the fourth and laſt triplicitie, it hath his ſignification in the Countries, liyng in reſpect of the whole Southweſt, and thoſe eſpecially of the ſame ſituate on the Sea coſte, and certaine Ilandes liyng in the ſaied point, as alſo other Countries in the like poſition inuironed with many Riuers or greate waters, and to diſcende more particularly, vnto Normandy, Portingall, and Compestella in Spaigne, and no leſſe good hap promiſed likewiſe vnto the Countries lying and ſituate in reſpect of vs Southeaſt, adioyning and bounding vppon the North Seas, Quia Iupiter huius boni author & ſignificator orientalis a ſole, & in latitudine australi, ac in piſcibus, ſigno aqueo ac ſeptentrionali. And the ſigne Gemini wherein the Almuten of the ſaied Coniunction moueth, ſomewhat confirmeth the ſame: Habet enim ſignum geminorū, ex regionibus Flandriam, Brabantiaē &c. Et quia Iupiter huius rei dominator fortis eſt per ſe, & erga ſolem, & in domo pauoris, tristiciae, meroris, captiuorum, ac incarceratorum ſit us, ac ſupra ſaturnum eiuſdem domus dominum exaltatus, eumque de primens, exilij, inopiae, angustiarum, luctus, pauoris, interitus, vastitatis, caritatis ac penuriae dominū, ac ſignificatorem maxime neceſſariorū ad victum. What is hereby to be thought? but that the impriſoned in the ſaied places to bee releaſed, & the captiues ſet at libertie, their dearth & penurie turned into more abundance & plentie, their feare to ioy, their thraldome to libertie, their ſorrow to comfort, & their long warre to ſodaine and ſhort peace, & the ſame ſo much the rather, if other more forcible & effectual cauſes cōcur with ye ſame as ye two eclipſes héereafter following, the one lighting néere vnto the degrée of the ſayd coniunction, & the other not far from the degrée opoſite to the ſame, but the good before promiſed is not like preſently to take effect, but after certain ſmal treſons, trecheries, ſecret conſpiraſies, & a few like troubles before going: for although Iupiter haue héerin ye victorie & ſuperioritie, diſpoſing for the moſt part the coniūction after his own inclination & diſpoſition: yet can it not be denied, but ye Saturne worketh therin ſome little and ſmal effect, though nothing in reſpect of ye former good, & far leſſe then otherwiſe he would, had he had the ſuperioritie and ſupremacie therein. And it may ſéeme ſomwhat ſtrāge thus to think, conſidering that ye ſaid Saturne is in this coniunction peregrine, weake, & wtout dignitie, as alſo in domo cadente, a weak place of ye figure, wher vnto I anſwere, wc Haly, Abenragell, & other, that although he be without dignitie, yet is he not voide of influēce, as alſo yt the malefici being peregrine, are then readier & apter to miſchiefe then otherwiſe: howbeit their force & abilitie, as then not anſwerable to their will, as appeareth in the direction of an Aphaeta, vnto a weake & peregrine Anaraeta, and although Saturne be in Cadente, yet muſt it be conſidered with al, yt he is in domo in qua gaudet. And therefore it is not anie way to be intended, yt the dominion and ſuperioritie of the one, can quite & wholly extinguiſh the influence & operation of the other, but rather cauſeth it to appere mild, weak, féeble, and verie remiſſe, Vt rerū vmbrae potius, quam res ipſae videantur, yt otherwiſe would appeare, In intenciori ac ſummo gradu. And for as much as Cardane in his firſt cōment vpon the ſecond booke of Pthol. his quadrupartite, there ſpeaking ſomewhat of the coniunction of the ſecond ſuperiour planets, Saturne & Iupiter, thus ſaith of them. Hi tamen effectus vt dictum eſt, ab eclipſibus augentur vel minuantur, vel etiā ad effectum ducuntur. And therfore I will héer after (whē as I haue occaſiō to write of thoſe two eclipſes before mentioned) diligently conſider what conſent, or diſcent they haue with the ſame, & accordingly to yéeld my cenſure & opiniō thereof, knowing not what ſhuld moue the author of the late Aſtrologicall diſcourſe, without the conſent of anie of the former conſiderations, ſo much to aſcribe vnto the ſaid coniunction, vnleſſe the remembrance of the fiftie propoſitiō Centiloquij Ptho. ye words being theſe. Ne prete • mittas centum & decem nouē coniunctiones, in his enim poſita eſt vis eorum quae fiunt in mūdo, & generationis & corruptionis. The which words, if hée ſimply vnderſtand, without any further reſpect (as I am certainly perſwaded of no leſſe), thē ſée I no cauſe but that he may vpon ye ſame ground take no leſſe occaſion to pronounce ye like meruailes & miracles, vpon the coniūction of the two luminaries, the Sunne & the Moone, a matter happening once euery month, ye ſame being one of the Centum & decem nouem coniunctiones there ſpecified. But for yt I purpoſed not to be ouer tedious and troubleſome vnto your worſhip in this behalfe, I wil at this preſent ceaſe the further examination & declaration héereof, hoping that your worſhip will accept in good part, my ſimple and true meaning héerin, vntill ſuch time as it may pleaſe ye Almightie, to indue me with a farther knowledge in this ſcience, worthie the better liking and contentation of your worſhip.