CHAP. I.
The Definition of the word Crisis, as Vse, Cause, Kinds, Division and Difference.

CRisis according to Galen, is a swift and suddain change of any disease, whereby the sick is either brought to recovery, or death; and a sick man can be brought to nothing else, unless you will make him a beast of a man.

For every swift and suddain change where­ever it happens, whether in the Moon or the Aire, or sick body, Galen playes the man and calls a Crisis; and from this Crisis is Judge­ment given, whether the sicke be like to live or dye.

The word Crisis is a Greek word derived [...], which signifieth to judge or dis­cern, or pass sentence upon a thing: therefore Criticall dayes are nothing else but dayes wherein a man may discern a disease, or give Judgement upon it, be it good or bad, it mat­ters not much; 'tis taken by a Metaphor from the Judiciall Court to the Art of Physick, because 'tis something like to plead; mans cause for his lise, and to labour acutely un­der a disease to be drawn by Inimicall ac­cusers [Page 18] before the Judgement Seat, and to run the hazzard of life, with a cruell and hoftil Disease. Moreover there are three things re­quisite to a judicial Court; the Accuser, the Person indicted, and the Judge. So likewise are there three things by which the Art of Physick consisteth, and by which every cure is perfected: 1. The Disease, 2. Nature, and the Physitian, which is natures servant, or at least should be so; and 3. the accidents which manifest what the disease is, and stand as wit­nesses.

The cause of the Crisis is twofold; inward, outward; the internal cause is taken from i'ts one proper principle, if you will believe Hip­pocrates; and that is double or two-fold; for either nature labours to expell the humour that causeth the disease, or else the humour it selfbeing drawn to a place, and not fit for Excretion, by i'ts own weight or quality, burdens nature, and soares break out. Hippocra­tes was but a man, and I am no more; a man saith he, is troubled when he is in a Fever, and the sign is horror, trembling, running hither, and thither throughout the Microcosm; this is one internal cause.

The second internall cause.

Others there be, 'tis no matter who, that ascribe the efficient cause of the Crisis to na­ture [Page 19] it self: Nature if she be strong, as 'tis pit­ty but she should not, is a good Physitian for all diseases; and concocts the humour which causes the disease, and separates that which is good from that which is bad; and having done so, prepares that which breeds annoy­ances for Excretion, and at last makes a shift to cast it out.

The externall cause of the Crisis, is cau­sed by an alteration of the Aire, whence ari­seth an alteration of the breath a man draws in, from cold to heat, from dry to moist, or the contraries to them both.

For Hippocrates himself in his six Aphorisme, three Comment, and in his Treatise De [...], speaks in down dunstable language, that heat and moisture in the body, moves for­ward the Crisis: for diseases, some saith he, come by ill Dyet, other by the Aire we draw in.

So then the Dyet as it breeds such and such humours in the body, is internal; but the Aire we draw in, is the externall cause of the Crisis.

And now give me leave to leave my Author, and yet I will not forget him quite neither. The Lord eternall in the beginning when he made the Creation, made it of a composition of contraries; discord makes a harmony as [Page 20] in Musicke; if the World be composed of a composition of contraries, various must needs be the disposition of mans life: Hence comes sometimes health, sometimes sicknesse, some­times melancholy, sometimes choler to the body of man, and happy is that man that knows himself.

These qualities in man being altered by the various influences of the Stars, the Sphere of the one carrying a swifter motion then the Sphere of the other, then various must needs be the disposition of mans body.

The Luminaries carry the greatest strength in the heavens, and so do the time-servers in the State; and this needs not be doubtful to any body, if you consider that the sound of a Drum or Trumpet incites a man to valour; and the sound of a Fiddle to dancing. Besides other manifest effects of the Luminaries ap­peare to our eyes. Who makes hours and dayes, and seasons in the year? is it not the Sun? who makes alterations in the Aire, in Plants, and in living Creatures? What is the reason that Oysters are suller at the ful moon, then at the new? To the number of Oysters, joyne Crabs and Lobsters; nay the marrow in the body of Man; is it not the Moon? A man if he pleaseth, may say his right hand is his left, and a prating Priest may preach his plea­sure, [Page 21] let Doctor experience be judge. Now then we have brought the matter to this pur­pose, that the Universall cause of the Crisis is the influence of the heavens: for the Celesti­all bodyes either by heat, light, motion, or aspect, configuration, or all of them, or some of them, act not onely in the four Ele­ments, but Elementary bodyes; for if they act in the one, they must needs in the other; and then by consequence in man, which is but compounded of Elements.

The earth is a great lump of dirt rolled up together, and by an onely wise God hangs in the Aire; the Stars are no more, neither is the Moon; onely what mettle the Sun is made of I know not.

If the bodies of men are Elementary, compo­sed of Fire, Aire, Earth and Water; he must needs participate in one measure or other of all these Elements. The Elements being con­traries, cannot alwayes agree; hence comes the cause of health, sometimes of sicknesse, sometimes death it self; and Aristotle was halfe of my opinion when he wrote these words; From the Rain and Dew of Heaven both good and bad things are caused to bud.

Kinds of Cri­sis. The kinds of Crisis are two; one in acute diseases, and they [Page 22] are to be judged by the Moon; the other in long and lasting, or chronick diseases, which are to be judged of by the Sun: For those Crises which come from their own proper principle, are from the internall cause depen­ding onely upon the motions of the Moon and her Configurations and aspects to the place she was in at the Decumbiture.

But you must note in acute diseases, the a­spects or radiations of the Moon, to wit her Quartile or Opposition, are not taken from the Coniunction of the Moon to the Sun, as they are in Almanacks or Ephemerides, which is but the Father of an Almanacke, but from the place in which the Moon was found at the Decumbiture, as shall appear by a few exam­ples hereafter.

There are acute and Chronick diseases.

Of Acute diseases, some are simply acute, others are peracute, others are very acute, per-per-acute, or exceeding acute.

Those which are simply acute, are finished in 8. 10. 11. 14. 20. 21. dayes, and they are called Monthly diseases by some, and Lunary by others, and they none of the greatest fools neither; they are terminated in the time the Moon traceth the 12. Celestiall signes of the Zodiack, which is in 27 dayes, some odd houres, and some odd minutes.

[Page 23] Thoseacute diseases which suffer changes or degenerate, are to be judged of by an imper­fect way; as for them sometimes they increase, sometimes they are remitted; they are as fickle as a weather Cock, according as the Moon meets with the beames either of good or evill Planets: and that is not all the trick they have neither. For sometimes they change out of acute diseases into Chronick di­seases; and so a continued Fever may change into a Hecktick Fever; or an intermitting Fever into a continued Fever; and these di­seases terminate in forty dayes, very acute diseases, such as are concluded in 5. 6. 7. 8. dayes, among which are the Fevers the Greeks call [...], an inflamation of the Lungs.

In exceeding acute diseases, they are such which end in three or four dayes at furthest, as Pestilencies, Apoplexies &c.

Chronick diseases follow the motion of the Sun, and 'tis about nine dayes before the first Crisis appears; for in that time the Sun comes to the proper Quartile of the place he was in at the Decumbiture, as appeares in Hecktick Fevers, Dropsies: but when he comes to his Sextile, or Trine aspect of the place he was in at the Decumbiture, some motion appeares whereby a man if he have any guts [Page 24] in his braines, may judge of the Crisis to come.

It falls out well, if the Sun be well aspected by good Planets, and worle if to evill Pla­nets; and this holds true, if you consider it from the Nativity, throughout all the whole course of a mans life: for diseases are parti­cularly attendants on a mans life, if Dr. Ex­perience tell truth.

Moreover of the Crises, some are perfect, some are imperfect.

A perfect Crisis, is, when the disease ap­peares intirely, and perfectly to be judged of; and this is sometimes hopefull, some­times desperate; hopefull when there is great probability of health and recovery; desperate when there is palpable signes of death.

An imperfect Crisis, is, when the disease is changed upon every light occasion; and if Mars be Author of the disease, and in a sign of a double body, upon my life you shall not faile; for the Critis happens as true as the Weather-cock.

Your safest way then to judge of the di­sease, is by the Aspects of the Moon to the Planets; when the Moon meets with the Ini­micall, or hostil beames of Saturne, or Mars, have a care of your Patient: And if you know what hinders, by the same reason, [Page 25] you may know what helps. Physitians in former, when they were wise, and minded the common good, and not their own gain, they distinguished the Crisis of diseases thus;

Some were safe, some doubtfull; some fit to be judged, and some not fit to be judged.

That Crisis is safe, which comes without great and pernitious aspects.

It is doubtful, suspitious, I had almost said dangerous, which comes with great perni­tious aspects.

The disease is fit to be judged, when signes of Concoction come the fourth day; and then certainly the Crisis will appear the 9th. The Moon moves not upon a equal motion; there­fore you had best trust to her motion, rather then the dayes.

The Sun hath domination in Chronick diseases, the Moon in acute; if you be a wise man, your judgement shall be as sure as the Sun, and that never failes without a mi­racle.

In times of yore, when knowledge was scant, men went a begging for it; and they that had gotten knowledge, monopolized it. A few glimpses of Adams happinesse in Para­dise, which happinesse all the World have been reaching after ever since.

They knew well enough the Moon moved [Page 26] so many degrees, in so many dayes: an evill Angell, I had almost said the Devill, percei­ving there was want of knowledge in the World, goes and transformes himself into an Angel of light, and taught men to count the time by dayes: 'Tis no great marvail the Egyptians should worship Garlick and Ony­ons for Gods, when we defie Christmas-day, though perhaps it may be cloudy.

What I have spoken, I have onely spoken to shew that it is the motion of Sun and Moon that produceth the Crisis in diseases, and not the number of dayes.

I must return to the place I intended; Of dayes, some are called by their own name, Criticall dayes; other are called Judiciall dayes, and they are so called, because upon them, dame Nature and her Son Doctor Rea­son would make manifest what the disease is: and Doctor Experience tels me 'tis true.

Another time is called Intercidental, which is a time falls out between the judicial dayes and Criticall. Upon these Intercidental dayes, the disease is usually remitted; if so, then a good Crisis may be expected; if not, an evill. I shall explain these terms before I go further; a man fals sick, there is the first Cri­sis, let the cause of the disease be what you will; when the Moon comes to the same de­gree [Page 27] of the next figue she was in at the De­cumbiture, there is the judiciall dayes; for in that time the disease shews it self in its colours, with bag and baggage. When the Moon comes to her Sextile, it brings the In­tercidental Day, and should mitigate the di­sease; if she do not, she is aspected to evill Planets: and if she be aspected to ill Planets, an ill Crisis is to be expected, and so the con­trary; and you shall never find this faile.

CHAP. II.
The way to finde out the Critical dayes, as also the Decumbiture, both by Ancient and Mo­dern Writers.

ANcient Physitians, because they were ig­norant of the motion of the Moon, though not of her operation, as many of our modern are, made their account by number of dayes; and in so doing, erred egregiously: And although Durate my Author counts their opinions, I hold it not worth time to recite mens failings: But of the certain term or time when the Criticall dayes begin, I shall quote these few words.

[Page 28] When any notable disease comes, if you would discern whether it tends to Health, Death, Mutation, or Continuance, it is ne­cessary that you begin at the first punct of time of the invasion of the disease. This Galen saith is very hard, if not impossible to find; 'tis taken proconfesso, that it may be easily known, when a man takes his bed in his sicknesse; but when the beginning of the sicknesse is, that's the question: For a lusty stout man beares the disease longer, and is longer before he takes his bed, then a puny weakly sickly man is: a meer suspition of a sicknesse, will send a faint-hearted man to bed; you may per­swade him he is sicke, whether he be or no.

Notwithstanding this is most certain that in most acute diseases, as also in many other diseases, as the Falling sicknesse, Palsies, Apo­plexies, Pluresies, &c. 'tis an easie thing to find out the beginning, or the preci e time of the invasion of the disease.

The common opinion of such as are learn­ed in Astrology is, and according to their o­pinion I affirm, that that moment of time is to be taken for the beginning of the disease, in which a man finds a manifest pain or hurt in his body: for instance, when a man hath got a Fever, usually the head akes certain dayes before; this is not the Fever, but a Mes­senger [Page 29] or forerunner of the Fever; the true beginning of the Fever, is when the disease appears sensibly, or when a horror or trem­bling invades the sicke, as does usually in the beginning of a Fever; that is the beginning of the disease, when the disease appeares ma­nifest to sence; And this was the judgement of Hippocrates, one of the honestest of Physiti­ans: And you shall find this alwaies, that the more acute the disease is, the more manifest the beginning of it is to sense: yea so mani­fest, that it is almost impossible that the be­ginning should lie hid from any one that wants reason, if he have but sense.

CHAP. III.
Of the Sympathy, and Antipathy of the Signes and Planets.

BEfore we come to prognostick, we must know that there is a Sympathy between Celestiall and Terrestiall bodyes, which will easily appear, if we consider that the whole creation is one entire and united body, com­posed by the power of an All-wise God, of a composition of discords.

Also there is friendship and hatred between [Page 30] one sign of the Zodiack and another; for fiery signes are contrary to watry, and nocturnal to diurnall, &c.

The Planets are also friendly and inimical one to another; but in their friendship and enmity, what ever the matter is, I cannot a­gree neither with ancient nor modern wri­ters: And when I cannot do so, I le fly to Dr. Reason for advice; they hold Mars and Ve­nus to be friends.

And what your opinion is of all the rest, you may find by Mr. Lillies Introduction. My own opinion grounded upon reason, is this; that there are two causes of friendship and en­mity, between Planets Essential and Acciden­tal; Planets are essentially inimically three wayes.

First, When their Houses or Exaltations are opposite one to the other; and so Saturn is an enemy to both Luminaries; Jupiter to Mercury, and e contra Mars to Ve­nus.

2. Planets are Inimicall one to the other, when their temperatures or qualities are op­posite; and so jupiter is an enemy to Saturn, he being hot and moist, Saturn cold and dry: So Mars is enemy to Venus, he be­ing hot and dry, she cold and moist.

3. Planets are Inimical when their con­ditions [Page 31] differ; so there is enmity to Sol and Jupiter, for he loves the Court, and he the Country. Jupiter is enemy to Mars, for he loves Peace and Justice, Mars violence and oppressions; Mars is enemy to Venus, for he rejoyceth in the field, she in the bed; he loves to be publique, she playes least in sight. And thus you see in every respect, what a dif­ficult thing it is to make Mars and Venus ra­tionally friends.

Accidentall inimicalnesse to Planets, is when they are in square or opposition &c. the one to the other. Also Inimicalnesse must needs be in the Signes; for if cold and heat, moisture and drynesse, be inconsistent toge­ther in one and the same place, as your eyes will tell you, if you will but please to take a pale of water and throw it into the fire; then can they not be in one and the same place in the heavens. And if so, as is most true, then must some signes be cold, some dry, and some moist; one sign must needs cherish one quality more then another; and seeing the first qualities are adverse the one to the other, there is a necessity, that sometimes one must yeild, and sometimes overcome: and this is the reason of the corruption, generation, and vicissitude of things.

Moreover the Moon constituted in a signe, [Page 32] commonly strikes upon the nature of the signe she is in: as if she be in a fiery sign, she stirs up Choler, &c.

Also as every Climate hath two qualities, so hath every celestiall sign; the Aereal signes are hot and moist, the Farthly signes cold and dry, the Fiery signes hot and dry, the Watry signes cold and moist: And thus you see how the concords are made of discords; for Aery signes are joyned to fiery by heat, and to watry by moisture: Watry are joyned to aery by moisture, and to earthly by cold­nesse: the Earthly are joyned to the watry by coldnesse, and to fiery by drynesse; this is an old true maxime of Philosophers; which I shal not at this time be captious against.

Besides, the congresse and configurature of the Planets and fixed Stars is diligently to be heeded; of these, some are obnoxious and hatefull; a Quartile and Opposition, as also the Conjunction of bad Planets; others are healthful, as Sextile and Trine, and Con­junction of good Planets; and indeed the chiefest part of Astrology consisteth in the due observation of configurations; for by these come alterations in things below, either to better or worse, according to the nature of the Planets or Stars that signifie them: for when two Stars are joyned with [...] aspect­ed [Page 33] to one another, they seminate something in Sub-Lunary bodies according to their owne nature; It dissention be between the starres, the sperme proves malicious and destructive, and tumultuous, even as the opposition of winds, especially the North and South winds, produceth thunder, lightning and pestilenti­all vapours, and this we find never failes, if the South-wind prevails, and the Moon and Mercu ry behold one another.

Thus you see a reason, if you know but what a reason is, or ever heard of such a thing, why diseases in the body of man are either exasperated, or remitted, according to the good or evill meeting of the Planets.

Of the Aspects opposition is the worst of all, not by any contrariety, or diver­sity of nature of the Signs in which the op­positions fall out, but in respect of the Pla­nets themselves opposing, which being at greatest distance are most inimicall; they be­ing in a posture to outface one another, and this is the most principall cause of enmi­ty.

A Quartile is inimicall, because the Stars so aspected be in signes of contrary nature; as Sol in Aries; Luna in Cancer, the aspect is hatefull, because Aries is hot and dry, Cancer cold and moist; Aries masculine, [Page 34] Cancer feminine; Aries diurnall, Cancer nocturnall.

Andnow by the leave of my Author, and also of of great Ptolomy himselfe, and of all the sons of Art this day living, who build their judgement upon Doctor Tradition, and not upon the sound principles of Doctor Rea­son; if this be the originall of the enmity of of a square aspect, as is agreed upon on all sides:

Then, Why do they hold that a Quartile in Signs of long ascentions is aequivalent to a Trine; and a Trine in Signs of short Ascenti­ons as pernicious as a Square? put the rest of the non-sence into the bundle: and when you have done, look upon it a little while, and when you have viewed it a little, tell me I pray, Doth the longnesse or shortnesse of the ascentions adde or take away any thing from the quality of the Signes?

Is not this the way, the onely way to bring the Art into a Labyrinth, if not into a confusion? in truth in my opinion it is; This I will confesse, and give you my reason for it when I have done; one square is not so bad as another; as from Aries to Cancer is worse then from Cancer to Libra, because the Signs Cancer and Libra are in better harmo­ny, as agreeing in passive qualities; namely, [Page 35] moisture, whereas Aries and Cancer disa­gree totally. By this rule you may find out the rest.

Also this I affirme, and will prove it when I have done; that some Semisextiles are worse then some Quartiles; for Pisces is more inimical to Aries then Capricorne; first because it is the twelfth Signe from him, 2. besides disagrees more in qualities.

A Sextile Aspect is good, because the Signs which are in Sextile the one to the other are both of the same active quality, both of a sexe both of a time, for example, Aries and Gemini are both masculine, both Diurnall; Taurus and Cancer are both cold, both Fe­minine, both Nocturnall; but because they differ all in passive qualities, it is not altoge­ther so friendly as trine aspect is; for that con­sists altogether of Signes of the same nature, sexe, quality and time, and are correspondent the one to the other every way.

A Conjunction or Synod is the strongest of all, and cannot properly be called an aspect. A Conjunction of good Planets with good, is exceeding good: It is good in the highest de­gree. A conjunction of bad Planets with bad Planets is as bad, as the former was good. A conjunction of good Planets with bad is no ways commendable. I have now done, if you [Page 36] will be pleased but to take notice, that the conjunction of all Planets with their Sun is bad, because the Sun who gives them their ef­ficacy, takes it aw [...]y at such times. I could be Criticall at this, but I shall sorbear it at this time.

CHAP. IV.
The way of finding, out the Critical and Judiciall dayes by a Figure of eight houses.

THis is the method of Hyppeerates, and from him Galen used, and it is to be done in this manner.

• 1 Make your scheme of eight equal parts.
• 2 Search out the Signe, Degree and Mi­nute the Moon was in at the beginning of the sicknesse.
• 3 Place the sign degree & minute the Moon was in at the beginning of the sicknesse upon the cuspe of the first house, as though that were ascending at the time.
• 4 Add forty five degrees to this, you need not regard the latitude of the Region, for it is of no use in Criticall Figures, but take the de­grees barely from the Ecliptick, when you have added forty five degrees to the place of the Moon at the decumbiture, the point of the Zodiack answerable to that shall [Page 37] make the cuspe of the second house.
• 5 Forty five degrees more added to that will bring you to the Cuspe of the third House, to which when the Moon comes, she comes to the quartile of the place she was in at the decumbiture, and this makes the first Crisis.
• 6 Forty five degrees more added to this, makes the 4th. house; 45 degrees more added to that points out the place of the true opposi­tion of the Moon to the place she was in at the decumbiture, and this makes the second Cri­sis. The second quartile of the Moon to her owne place at the decumbiture, makes the third Crisis: And the fourth is when she comes to the same sign, degree and minute that she was in at the decumbiture.

The time or houres noted betwixt the Crisis, are called the Judiciall times; or such times wherein a man may judge what the di­sease is, or what it will be; remember this all along in such kinds of judgement; And do not forget not to number the time by dayes as the ancients did; for they were either igno­rant, or regardlesse of the course of the Moon; for the Moon comes to the Judiciall or Criti­call days, sometimes sooner, sometimes lat­ter, as she is either swifter or slower in mo­tion.

[Page 38] Now the time called Criticall is alwayes evill, because of the contrariety of the signe the Moon is in then to the sign she was in be­fore, or the contrariety of her nature to the opposite place: At such a time there ariseth a controversie or battaile as it were, between the disease and nature; the Moon maintains nature in acute diseases: And now you have the reason why, that if she be afflicted upon a Critiall day by the bodies or ill beames of Saturne or Mars, or the Lord of death, which is alwayes Lord of the eighth House, and sometimes the Lord of the Fourth House, will serve the turne if he be a malevolent, because the fignisies the grave, the disease in­creaseth, and sometimes the sick dies: But if the Moon at the time of the Crisis beholds the Lord of Ascendent or the fortunes for­tunately, health ensues; for the malady is van­quished and routed in the conflict

If the disease terminate not upon the first Crisis see how the Moon is configurated on the second Crisis, and judge then by the same Rules.

If it terminate not then neither, as some­times such a thing happens, view the third Crisis, and judge by that the same way; if your judgement ballanced by reason, and the former rules, certifie you the disease will [Page 39] not end one way nor other, neither in health nor death; see what you can say to the Moon when she returnes to the place she was in at the decumbiture, which is about twen­ty seven days eight hours, and some few mi­nutes; and see how the Moon is then seated, and to what Planets she is configurated then: And this of necessity must be the end of all acute diseases.

Thus you see an acute disease can last but a moneth at longest; not one in a hundred last­eth so long, not one in twenty lasteth above halfe so long.

If the disease end not then, the acute disease is turned into a Chronick disease: And all Chronick diseases must be judged of by the Sun. The rules of judging of Chronicall di­seases by the Sun are the same by which we judge of acute diseases by the Moon,

As for Judiciall days which fall out just in the midest betwixt the Critiall days, I shall passe them by at this time, because I fancy not this way of judgement by a Figure of eight houses; yet I shall not so passe them by, but that I shall remember them in the Treatise.

CHAP. V.
The former rules illustrated by an example.

A certaine man fell sick of an acute disease at Paris in France, Anno 1641. Jan. 12. about eight of the clock in the afternoon, at which time the Moon was posited in Aquari­us, 10. 19. This I place in the Ascendent.

To this Aquarius 10. 19. I adde forty five degrees; the product is Pisces 25. 19. which makes the first judiciall time;

To which adding forty five degrees more, it will bring you to Taurus 10. 19. to which place when the Moon arrives she comes to the exact quartile of the place she was in at the decumbiture, and makes the first Crisis.

Adde forty five degrees to that, and it pro­duceth Gemini 25. 19. which is the second judiciall time.

Is you would know when the second Cri­sis comes about, it is but onely Adding 45 de­grees to that, and you will find the result to be Leo 10. 19. just the place opposite to the Moon at the decumbiture. The remainder are found out in the same manner.

[Page 41] When you have done so, it is no more but this,

First, Seek the time when the Moon comes to Taurus 10. 19, and you shall find it comes upon the 19 of Jan. about eight of the Clock at night.

Secondly, View first the face of heaven, se­condly the position and configuration of the Planets one with another at the same time.

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[Page 44] The History of this observation is of a certaine person who by reason of great wearinesse in a journy, was surprised with a Feaver, at the time before mentioned; toge­ther with his Feaver he had a Cough and a Plurisie; The Feaver came to a [...] I never read of this name in Galen that I re­member; I take it both by Mounsieur Durats discription, and also by his Figure of Heaven, to be the very same which Galen cals [...].

The originall of this disease is Choler putrified with the bloud in the veines, and is the most violent of all Feavers. The night af­ter the decumbiture this Feaver appeard; although on the third day all snaking left him, yet felt not the Patient the least inter­mission, the Moon being in Aquarius 10. 19. Aquarius being also a signe of infirmity, the Moons being in Sextile to Mars apply­ing to Venus and Saturne, Mars afflicting the Sun with a Quartile, as also Jupiter and Mercury who were in combustion.

The 16. day of the same moneth of Janu­ary the disease increased, at which time the Moone came to a Semi-Quadrat making the first judiciall time. And meeting then with never an aspect, the Crisis could be expected no other then doubtfull and unfortunate.

The 19. day of the same Month at eight of [Page 45] the clock in the afternoon, the first Crisis came about some little sweat the diseased had. And if I may be bold to leave my Author for a little time, if you view the presages of Hip­pocrates, which you shall find at the latter end of this Book;

The words run thus, or to this purpose; It is very hopefull when a man sick of a Feaver sweats upon a Criticall day; however my Author confesses, that both his Cough, and his paine in his side left him, though his Fea­ver still remain, nay increased; by reason of the Quartile of Mars & Venus at the same time Mercury being Lord of the Ascendent at the Decumbiture. Also it is worth noting, that the Moon being in Aquarius at the de­cumbiture, and comes to Taurus at the first Crisis both Taurus and Aquarius are signs of infirmity; yet you see the Plurisie left him, the Moon being strong in her exaltation, though void of course.

I passe by my Authors infirmities in this and other things.

January 23. When the Moon by transit made the second judiciall time, she was afflict­ed by the Trine of Saturn, which prognosti­cates cause enough of fear in the second Crisis.

January 27. at 5. 50. in the morning, the Moon came to the true opposition, to the place [Page 46] she was in at the decumbiture, she being then without any Aspect, either good or evill; this brought no hopes to the sick man of cure at that time; and indeed the sick was at that time very bad; yea, so bad that his Physicians were in doubt whether he would live or die.

January the 30. at 3 houres 44 minutes af­ter noon, comes about the third judiciall time, at which time the Moon was in Trine to Jupiter, which gives strong hopes that a healthfull and propitious Crisis would en­sue; and o it did; for upon

February the second at nine a clock after noon, the Moon coming to 10 degrees 9 mi­nutes of the Scorpion, where she made the se­cond Quartile to the place she was in at the decumbiture, and the third Crisis she applyed to the Trine of beautifull Venus: his Feaver began to leave him, and he began to attain his pristine health

By this one example you may see the won­derfull harmony and consent of diseases with the motions of the heavens, which that it may appear more cleer, and be visible to all, unlesse it be to such as are so blind they will not see, my Author adjoyns a rationall Figure of the decumbiture, and gives his judgement up­on it.

[Page 47]

An astrologicall Judgement upon the face of Hea­ven at the Decumbiture.

THe chief Significators of this Figure are the Ascendent and Mercury Lord of it, Retrograde in Capricorne, a moveable Signe [Page 48] in the 5th House of the Heaven, and in the House of Saturne.

The 6th, house and his Lord Saturne in Aquarius, in the 6th. house strong and po­tent.

The Moon in the 6th house upon the cuspe of it; Sol in the 5th House with the Lord of the eighth, afflicted by the Quartile of Mars in a fiery Signe; this plainly shewes a disease of Choler.

Jupiter in a moveable Signe in the 5 th. House, who rules the Stomack, Liver and Sides, combust and in Quartile to Mars stirred up a Plurisie, and Mercury afflicted shewed a dry Cough. Hence it appeares that Monnsieur Duryet was no Physician; for if he had, he would easily have known that a Plu­risie never comes without a dry Cough; the most excellent of men may have failings.

The Moon in Aquarius applying to Sa­turn at the beginning of the disease, shows the disease comes of wearinesse, according to the Doctrine both of Hippocrates and Hermes; but here arises another question; Shall the disease be long or short? This is answered thus, A fixed Signe upon the cuspe of the 6th. House shews length of the disease.

Saturne in the 6th. House shews no lesse, but tels the same tale.

[Page 49] Againe Saturne Lord of the 6th. stronger then the Lord of the Ascendent, shews a vio­lent increase of the disease.

Seeing Mars in a fiery signe afflicts both Luminaries, the Sun by a Quartile and the Moon by a Sextile; hence we may safe­ly gather, that Saturne and Mars are Au­thors of the disease, and to part stakes be­tween them, the one made it violent, the other continuing.

Give me leave now a little to passe my judgement upon this Figure: When first I viewed the Figure, upon the first blush I ad­mired the man should live; the Lord of the Ascendent being combust, & applyed to the Sun, Mars casting Antiscion to the Sun, the Moon upon the Cuspe of the 6th. Cum multis aliis; The onely reason that I could finde of the life were these;

• 1. Saturne and Mars are both strong, and neither of them Lord of Death, though both of them of the sicknesse; then will they both of them shew themselves like potent enemies, that are able to hurt their foe, but scorne it; though they are enemies to life, yet they are honorable enemies, because strong.
• The Moon implies not immediately to Saturne, but to the body of Mercury, who is Lord of the 10. which shews the disease might [Page 50] be cured by Physick if a wise Physician had it in hand.
• 3. There is a Reception between the Sun and Mars which tyes the Sword of Mars from killing.
• 4 Venus beautifies the signification of the 6th. house, almost as much as Saturne deforms it.
• 5 Neither Saturne nor Mars behold the Ascendent, and thats good.
• 6 The disease came by the mans own mis­guiding himselfe, because the Lord of the 12. and Ascendent are together.
• 7. The Moon applies to a fortune which hath triplicitie in the Ascendent, though in an ill House.
• 8. I am confident the man journyed again so soon as he was well. First, because Mars Lord of the end, is neer the House of Journyes at the decumbiture; Secondly, be­cause the Moon applies to the Lady of the third House at the decumbiture which is Ve­nus.

CHAP. VI.
The way to set a Figure of 16. Houses.

THe way of setting this Figure, differs no­thing from the former, save onely that the Heavens are divided into twice as many parts. The manner of erecting it, is this; the true place of the Moon being taken at the decumbiture, place that upon the Cusp of the Ascendent, as though it were ascending at the time, to which adde 22 degrees 30 minutes, and you have the first intercidentall time 22. 30 being added to that shew the first judicials time; as many more being added to that shew the second intercidentall time; and as many added to them brings about the first Crisis; this shall be clearly shewed in this Example. The Sun a Figure of Crisis in 16.

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[Page 54] The History of this second observation is of a certaine religious person, some Monke or Fryer a hundred to one else; who in 1640. December the ninth, stilo novo, was taken with a Feaver and shivering at eight of the Clock in the morning; the next day the shivering left him, the Feaver remaining; The Feaver seeming like a Hemitriters, or dou­ble tertian, or a Causus, which is a continuall burning Feaver; which of them soever it was, this is certaine, it arose from some cholerick matter.

The second day it had another accesse, and the third a worse then that.

The place of the Moon at the decumbiture was in a preterited trine of Saturne. The Moon applyed to the Sextile of Mercury, Ve­nus and Jupiter.

The Fifthteenth day of the same month of December appeares the first Crisis; and though to sweat well many medicines were applyed, and those powerfull, yet the Feaver gave not way an inch, because the Moon applyed to Mars, and the Sun to Saturne; though by good aspects; neither was it mitigated till the eighteenth day; at which time the Moon ap­plyed to Mercury, Venus and Jupiter.

Here was that Aphorisme of Hippocrates ra­tified, Chap. 5. Aphor. 15. that if the Moon be [Page 55] just afflicted at the decumbiture, yet if she be with the beames of the Malevolents at the Crisis a good Crisis is not to be expected, but health will be staved of.

[Page 56] An Astrologicall Judgement upon the Figure.

I Confesse in this judgement my Author is very faulty; he is dead, and I shall not make knowne his faults to my brethren the communalty of England: however this is true; In this figure Capricorne is upon the cuspe of the ascendent; and it is a moveable signe, therefore the disease is likely to be short.

2 Saturne Lord of it, is very potent and strong in his owne house, and swift in course, ther's a Second Argument.

3 Both fortunes in the ascendent may well make up a third.

4 The Moone applying to the fortunes, makes up a fourth; this is enough; onely the Quartile of the Sun and Mars shewes the sick­nesse of Choler.

I could give you mine owne observations upon this disease, if I would; but I let it alone and leave every man to his own heuretes.

How to set a Figure of twelve Hou­ses for the Crisis.
CHAP. II.

THis seems to me to be the most rationall of all the rest, and it is the most easily and readily done; and it may be thats the reason my Author left it out, though he promised it. And indeed the ways of God are all easie, ve­ry easie. Tis the ways of men that are crabbed and difficult.

I shall first of all shew you the way how to doe it, secondly give you an example of mine owne upon it.

First of all if you would know how to make such a critical a figure upon a decumbiture, make you a Figure after the vulgar form; then note what signe, degre and minute the Moon is in at the decumbiture, set that signe, degree and minute on the ascendent, and thirty de­grees to that, and the same degree and minute of the next signe will be upon the Cuspe of the second house; the worke is as easie walking upon and downe without a staffe, as I shall by and by make appeare by an example.

Then be pleased to take notice, that the first house is the decumbiture; the second the judiciall time; the third the intercidentall; which word Dr. Phage of Midburst in Sussex, in his Book called Speculum aegrotorum, So sillily translates Mortals, mistaking the word Caedo to kill, for Cado to fall; wherein the man most egregiously shewed his deficiency, both in Scholler-ship and Phisick; yet this commendation Ile give him, his heart was more free to do good then his braine was a­ble.

The fourth house brings the first Crisis a­bout; and when you are come to that be­gin againe as you did before; you may see the way without a paire of spectacles by the decumbiture, what I have quoted: you may take it pro confesso, if you please, that I have many decumbitures by me; But I want time to insert them, or if I did not, I would not blot paper with them.

Be pleased to accept of this one in lieu of all the rest.

[Page 59]

THis unhappy creature being untowardly matched with an unnaturall husband; came up to London and lived in a service; and in her service was surprised with a furious di­sease [Page 60] at the time, and under the face of heaven before noted.

I shall first give a rationall judgement of the Figure, and afterwards treat of the Crisis.

The Person of this young woman is signi­fied by Venus in Sagittarius; and truly I be­leeve she was an upright dealing creature; that the cause of her disease lay hid, or at least very obscure; is plainly signified by so many Planets being under the earth.

That she procured her owne disease, be­cause the Lord of 6th. is in the twelfth. As al­so because the Lord of the ascendent is dispo­sed by a Planet in the 12th.

Pisces is the Cuspe of the 6th. her disease came by wet taken at the feet. Jupiter in Vir­go gave corruption in bloud, and infirmities in the bowels; with what they were, more a­non.

Venus with the Scorpions heart shews a vi­olent Feaver; neither proved it to be any lesse.

The Sun and Mars in the Fourth house with the Dragons-tayl in Quartile to the as­cendent, shew violence in the disease, danger of poyson and an ill end of it; her Physician is signified by Mars, which was a French quake which lay in the house, and he was like Mars in Capricorne, as a Pomewater is an Apple.

[Page 61] He was also troubled with sore eyes, a man of forlorne fortunes: view the position of Mars, and you shall easily see the reason with­out a paire of spectacles.

The position of Mars in the Fourth cum­bust with the Dragons-tayle, and in the Quar­tile of the ascendents; First, clouded his judg­ement; Secondly, corrupted his practice; Thirdly set hard for her life.

Tis a sad thing when the Lord of death must be the Phisician in the disease.

Her disease was the smal pox in which being exceedingly bound in body, not going to stool in a week together aud above; he ap­plyed her all that time with strong purges, ( oh acute Physician,) never one of them working nor so much as coming from her, though there was Scammonie in every one of them, that had not I so soon as I knew of it perswaded her Nurse to give her a Glister every day, she had absolutely perished: her purges increasing her Feaver, and poysoning her body; and this I am confident was the reason, both of her be­ing so much disfigured by her disease. And of her Aches and swelling in the knees (for Mars was in Capricorne) which continued upon her untill her dying day, which followed about a year and a halfe after.

Neither was her Drs. judgement one jott [Page 62] inferiour to his practice; for in the beginning of the disease ( viz. the next day after) she fell sick, I came accidentally to the house, and found all the household weeping; every one that could eat an egge shed a teare. A Joyn­er was busie pulling down the bed-steds, the whole houshold preparing for a flight, with bag and baggage.

And what was the reason thinke you? the Dr, had passed a wilde peice of Non-sence, that she had got the peftilence, and was full of the tokens; up run I to se the Creature; I found her in a strong Feaver, thats true; but I could see no tokens, unlesse twere tokens of the Doctors ignorance. I demanded the time of her falling sick, which she very exact­ly, gave me: And having taken the paines to erect the figure, I did what I could to cherish up her spirits. I told her my judgement was that she would live; I certified the houshold that she had no such disease as the Pestilence; much lesse any tokens; And thus whoever lost, the Joyner he got money by the bar­gaine on both hands, First, pulling the bed­steds and tables to peeces, and for setting them together againe: And thus you see tis an ill winde that blowes no body no profit.

I have but two questions to answer, and then I come to the Crisis.

• [Page 63]1 Will she live or dye?
• 2 Will her sicknesse be long or short?

To the first of these I answer, That Mars is Lord of death, and also an afflicting Planet; in trine to the Lord of the Sixth. And in Sex­tile to the Moon, he with the Sun are in Quar­tile to the Ascendent; this is all the Signs of death, that is besides the great signe ( viz.) her Doctor swore she would die, and could not possibly live, having, as the Cox-combe said, not so much of her lungs left, as amounted to the quantity of three of her fingers, a likely tale for sooth was it not?

I was a diligent observer of every pas­sage in this sicknesse; and I found it always true, that during her sicknesse, the Moone by transit to the body, or beames of Mars afflicted her sorely.

But not so to the beames of Saturne, for that onely possessed her body with coldnesse and chilnesse.

That she should live, is very cleer; the Moon being with the Sextile of Jupiter, and the Lord of the Ascendent no way afflicted save only by the Scorpions heart.

To the Second Question, namely, whe­ther her disease should be long or short?

The Angles being all Cardinall, and the Moon swift in motion, and in Sextile to Ju­piter, [Page 64] shew a short sicknesse; The Lord of the Ascendent, and the Lord of the Sixth being both stationary prolong the disease.

And indeed though the disease taken under the notion of acute, were long, yet ta­ken according to reason, it is shorter then could be imagined.

[Page 65] The first judicial time is when the moon comes to Sagitarius, 10. 40. i'ts called a ju­dicial time because at that time the disease appears in his colours that a man may know what it tends to.

The second time which you may find up­on the third House in the Critical Figure, is called intercidental, because it falls be­tween judicial and Critical times: and up­on this intercidental time, there is usually some remission of the disease, that so na­ture may have time to rally up her forces against her incounter, with the disease on her Crisis. And according as it falls out upon the intercidental day, either to good or bad, so a good or bad Crisis may be ex­pected: But to return, the Moon comes to Sagitaris, 10. 40. upon the 14. of December, about halfe an houre after six in the Mor­ning. If you please but to set the figure, you shall find she is just upon the Cuspe in the ascendent, newly separated from the bo­dy of Venus, and the Quartile of Jupiter; now the small Pox came out, aud not till now.

The first intercident al tme happens when the Moon comes to 10. d egrees 40. minuts of Capricorn, the place where Mars was at the Decumbiture, and now the applies to [Page 66] his body, having newly left the Trine of Jupiter. If you please to set the Figure, the time was December 16. 1 hour, 24 minuts, P. M. Saturn is upon the Cuspe of the as­cendent: about this time she got cold.

And I am of opinion, that the ascendant and sixt House being earthly signes at this time: and the Moon in Conjunction with Mars in an other earthly sign, doth clearly shew her being bound in body. This day which should have mitigated her disease, in­creases it; and now her Dr. (if I may call him so without a Solaecism) begins to play the antique, I had almost said the mad man. Now he exerciseth her purging faculty, and left his wits abed and asleep with his last nights Mistresse. Sure I am, a Physitian would admire to heare Scammony given to a Creature that had the small Pox coming out upon her: To conclude, a very ill Cri­sis is threatned.

The first Crisis comes about upon the 18. of December, three quarters of an hour past 11 at night: the face of heaven is not much altered srom what it was at the Decumbi­ture. The Moon separates from the Sextile of Venus Ladie of the ascendent, and applies to the Quartile of Saturn; and had Dr. Dunce onely judged she would have [Page 67] dyed now, as indeed he did, he might have been pardoned although he had fail'd; but alas, he poor man had little skil in times and seasons; his skil was imployed to know awo­man from a man, when he had got herin bed.

He did not onely say, but also swore, that she would dye about the intercidental time, though such a thing be seldome seene in a mans age: but let us to our Art, and let the Doctors ignorance alone.

You shall finde if you please to set the position of Heaven, the Scheme almost the same with that of the Decumbiture. The Moon carries the beams of the Ladie of the ascendent to the Quartile of Saturn. The Sun and Mars cast hot full beams to the ascendent; and indeed my own opinion is, that had the Moon applied to Mars, as she did to Saturn, it had kil'd her.

Howsoever, the premises considered, it is cleare, that this is likely to be the time of greatest danger in all her sicknesse; and so indeed it was: Now must the disease needs be strongest, nature weakest: and if this time be passed, the bitternesse of death is past in­deed at this time. The Combate was sore, she distracted, senselesse, the small Pox be­gan to fall down; and withall, strength al­most spent: but above all, the Doctor [Page 68] swore she could not live while morning.

Rationall hopes of her life are the digni­ties of Saturn in the ascendent, but especi­ally the Trine of the Sun and Jupiter upon that day. It is the opinion of the learned in this Art; that let the Significa­tors of life or death be seated or disposed as badly as they can be; yet if the Sun be in Conjunction or good aspect with Jupi­ter, the sick will live; and truly so did she, almost to admiration.

But some will aske, and 'tis a question worth the answering; that if the Sun and Jupiter preserve life, as you say, when they are so seated: whats the reason men dye at that time? for we see men dye daily;

To this I answer bricfly, that truly in the nativity of some people, Jupiter is the kil­ling Planet; and in the sicknesse of sick persons, Jupiter will as soon kill, as Sa­turn and Mars; every Planet must do his Office: I proceed,

The second judicial time comes about the 21. of December, at noon, or a very little after; at which time Mars is Lord of the ascendent strong, and in his exaltation.

The Moon having left the Sextile of the Sun, applies to his Sextile. The face of heaven is quite and clean altered from what [Page 69] it was at the Decumbiture, a manifest signe of some chance. Besides, though Saturn be in the ascendent, and Mars in the 10th House; yet Jupiter is in the 6th; therefore some good may be hoped: I do not know that it is besides the rule of Art, if I should affirme that as Mars in the 4th House of the Decumbiture kept her Doctors (you may call it) folly, or madnesse (which you please) close; so now in the 10th house reveales it. Now, and not till now did I know of her Doctors frantick course of Physick, and of her not going to stool; from this time she took a Glister every day till she amended.

The second Crisis comes about upon the Sun, the 26 of Decem. about one hour after noon; at which time the Moon is strong in her own exaltation, and applyes to the Trine of the Sun, and Mercury. At this time her Feaver left her, and she began to recover: And upon the third Crisis, which hapned upon the first of January, she went abroad.

CHAP. VIII.
Certain precepts premised before the Prognosticks.

FIrst of all, take notice that the Signifi­cators of Diseases are to be taken under these two notions. 1. Generall, or more principal. 2. Particular or lesse principal; The generall or more principall are these, the Sun, the Moon, and the Ascendent; of these the Sun is most principally to be lookt upon in Chronick diseases, the Moon in acute.

Significators particular or lesse principal, are these:

• 1. The Lord of the Ascendent.
• 2. The sixth House.
• 3. The Lord of the sixth House.
• 4. The Planets in the ascendent or sixth House.
• 5. Saturn and Mars; for they naturally hurt the body, whatsoever the matter is.

2. The sixth House and i'ts Lord, and the Planets in it, if there be any there, best de­scribe the nature of the disease usually, nay alwaies if they afflict either of the Lumina­ries, [Page 71] or the Lord of the ascendent.

3. The aspects of the Moon to the Planets are alwaies to be noted; for they still pro­duce something to the sick, but especially upon Critical and Judicial dayes; for you shall find this a certain truth, even as cer­tain as the Sun (and he never failes without a miracle;) That when the Moon passes by the bodies of Jupiter or Venus, or their aspects, especially their good ones, if they be not Lords of death, remits the most desperate Symptoms in a sickness, and gives the sick some ease; as also the bodies, or any aspect of Saturn or Mars exasperates a disease, and spoiles the most hopefull Symp­toms.

4. Here then you have one way to doe your selves good.

A Physitian is natures helper, or at least he should be so; whosoever would help na­ture, must of necessity be well acquainted with her: a little communication between them, will instruct him the way and man­ner which Almighty God hath allotted her to govern the world by; wisdome instructs her Children in the knowledge of time; for there is an appointed time for every thing under the Sun: if then when a disease seems extream dangerous, you wovld make an es­say [Page 72] to relieve languishing nature, do it at the time when the Moon passeth by the body, or good aspect of Jupiter or Venus; then is nature in a capability of receiving helpe; you may better lift up a living man with onefinger, then a dead man with both hands; a Bird whilst she hath wings can fly; but cut off her wings, and hang a couple of Milstones on her legs, she cannot: Even so the bodies, and good aspects of Jupiter and Venus are like wings to carry a man from sicknesse to health.

The bodies and aspects of Saturn and Mars, are like Milstones to weigh him to his Grave.

One thing more let me tell you, and ile tell you but the truth; they say if Saturn afflict, Jupiter helps more then Venus; but if Mars afflict, Venus helps more then Jupiter; let them say so still; but if you will be ruled by me, make use of that fortune which is strongest; a rich friend may relieve your wants; a poor friend cannot, he may wish you well and so forth: but suppose you dare not stay while the Moon come to the good aspect of Jupiter and Venus, ad­minister you medicine when she is in the place, where one of them was at the Decum­biture, if you dare not stay that time neither, [Page 73] for delay is dangerous in acute diseases, be sure you place one of them two in the as­cendent, when you administer the medi­cine; Put all these together, and it will tell you in words at length and not in figures; that a Physitian without Astrolo­gy, is like a pudding without fat.

5. That place and state of the Planet, from which the Moon is separated at the Decumbiture, and the condition of the Pla­net also (for Planets are of different con­ditions as wel as men, some good, and some bad) is to be heeded.

If you please to observe the state of that same Planet, by it you may know the state of the sick, and what the cause of his sick­nesse is.

6. When you have done so, it is your wisest way to consider to what Planet the Moon applies; and then do but so much as view what signe that Planet is in, what his conditions be, whether he be benevolent or malevolent; whether he be Masculine or Feminine, Diurnal or Nocturnal, hot, drie, cold or moist; what parts of the body he go­verns, and what disease he governs.

7. Consider whether the Planet the Moon applies to, be in an Angle, in a succeeding, or in a Cadent house; and when you have [Page 74] done so, do but so much as consider what the House he is in signifies; and what mem­bers of the body it governs; and then take but a little notice whether the Planet joy in the House or not, that you may not be mista­ken herein. I will certifie you in what houses every Planet takes his delight, as be­ing confident even amongst Astrologers, more are ignorant of it then know it.

• 1 The Sun rejoyceth in the fourth, ninth and eleventh houses.
• 2 The Moon rejoyceth in the third and seventh houses.
• 3 Saturn rejoyceth in the ascendent eight and twelfth houses.
• 4. Jupiter rejoyceth in the second, ninth, and eleventh.
• 5. Mars rejoyceth in the third, sixth, and tenth.
• 6. Venus rejoyceth in the fifth and twelfth,

• 7. Mercury rejoyceth in the ascendent and sixth.

  Here's but a few words, yet so significant, that the nature and condition, the Sympa­thy, and Antipathy of the Planets, and by consequence of the Creation, may be known from it: 'Tis not my present scope to tell you which way; whet your wits upon it, [Page 75] and they will be the sharper.

• 8. Consider whether the Planet the moon applics to, be direct or retrograte; swift or slow, in motion, Oriental, Occidental, or Combust, whether fortunated or infortu­nated by other Planets; and —
• 9. And when you have done so, it is your wisest way to consider whether the threat­ning Planet be in his own House or Exalta­tion, or other essential dignities, whether he be in Terms of good Planets or cvill; for if a good Planet have gotten an ill Planet in his Terme, he will order him. To wind up this in one word, consider whether the threat­ning Planet have power to execute his will or not; for sometimes a curst Cow hath but short hornes.
• 10. Do but so much as note what con­sigurations the Lord of the ascendent, six and eight Houses have one with another: And amongst the rest, do not forget the lord of the seventh & twelfth Houses, and Ile give you my reason why: The seventh, because it opposeth the ascendent; he assaults life openly, and is not ashamed of what he doth; he plaies the part of Ajax, goes too't with down right blows without policy. The sixth, eighth, and twelfth Houses, have no affinity at all with the ascendent: And they [Page 76] have more of Vlysses in them then Ajax; they take away a mans life when hee's a­sleep, or else when he knows not how.
• 11. Partile aspects are far more strong and prevalent then Platick.
• 12. Be pleased but to consider, that the sixth House and his Lord signifies the sicknesse: The seventh the Phyfitian; the eighth Death; the tenth the Medicine; the fourth the end of the Disease: and when you have done so, I have done with this point.

These things thus premised, when you have read them, you shall finde I first come to —

CHAP. IX.
Generall Prognostications of the Disease.

1. FIrst of all (quoth my Author) The House of Heaven is of more force then the Sign; and its very like; and the Signe then the Planet; and the Planet then the fixed star he is with: But Doctor Reason told me, the Planet was of more force then the signe, be­cause he was nearer to the earth.

[Page 77] 2. If the ascendent, and the luminaries, and their Lords be afflicted by the Malevo­lent, or by an ill House, or by the Lord of Death, (its no great matter what star it is) and the benevolents lend no aid, 'tis shrewd­ly to be uspected the sicknesse drags death ats taile; he's a wise Physitian that can cut the cord.

3. If the forenamed significators be well disposed and not afflicted, the fear of death is more then the harme.

4. A Benevolent Planet in the sixth, cures the disease without the helpe of a Physiti­an.

5. A Malevolent Planet there causeth a change in the disease, and usually from bet­ter to worse.

6 An infortune in the seventh shews but, a paltry Physitian, though he be a Collegi­ate. A fortune there, the contrary.

7 A fortune in the tenth shewes proper Physick who ever gives it.

8 A fortune in the fourth brings the disease to a good and speedy end (unlesse he be Lord of the eight.) Every man must do his office; and as the case may be ordered, Ju­piter may kill a man as soon as Saturne.

9. Jupiter helps most in cold diseases, Venus in hot.

[Page 78] 10. The bodies of Jupiter and Venus soon cure the sick; their Trines and Sextiles will not be much behind hand in the busi­nesse: And to tell you my owne opinion without any complements; The Quartile and Opposition of Jupiter and Venus is better then the Sextile and Trine of Saturn or Mars in this case, unlesse they be Lord of the ascendent. And by the time you have been acquainted with Dr. Experience but halfe so long as I have been, hee'l make you beleeve that what I say, is true.

11 A Malevolent in the ascendent threa­tens death; and makes the sick as crosse­grained as Bajazet the Turkish Emperour when he was in the iron Cage.

12. Good stars in bad places, afflict the humour they governe; They doe the like if they be afflicted with malevolent. Was ne­ver any of you that reads these lines abused by honest people?

13 Th conjunction of the Moon and Mercury is as constant as a weather-cock: the disposition of Mercury is very various according to his position and aspect: With the Fortunes he is better then either. He's just like the people of this Nation; he fol­lowes the swinge of the times.

14 The Moon in conjunction with the [Page 79] Sun upon a criticall day, alwayes portends mischiefe; and take this for a Maxime from me, and say I told you of it; no aspect is so propitious to the Moon as the Trine and Sextile of the Sun. Nothing so hatefull to the squeamish Virgin as hls Conjunction Quartile and Opposition.

15 If the Moon upon a Criticall day apply to a malevolent, you'l say that is but a scurvy signe: I am halfe of your opinion: yet it is good to be wise, & that you may be so, see which of them is strongest; the Moon, or the Malevolent; if the Moon be strongest, she'l make a handsome shift with him: if she be weakest, you know the old Proverbe, The weokest goes to the wals, and the sick is like to be forced to make use of a winding-sheet in­stead of a featherbed.

16. If the Moon upon a Critical day be with the bodies of Sol, Mars, or Saturn; and which of them shee's withall, be Lord of the eighth House: away trots life to seeke a new habitation; for shee's weary of her old House.

17. If the Moon on a Critical day be strong in her House or exaltion, though aspected to no Planet at all; shee'l play her part stoutly (for all she is a woman) that she'l restore the sick to his pristine health, if she were not [Page 80] too too much afflicted at the Decumbiture.

18. If the Moon be not at all afflicted at the Decumbiture (as such a thing may be) yet if she be afflicted on the Critical day, a good Crisis cannot be expected: Sicknesse keeps his old house, unlesse death dispossesse him. This in general; But he that would go the wisest way to worke in judging of di­seases, must come to particulars. The thing I promised you in this Chapter, was gene­ral Prognostications of diseases; which that I may make lucidly appear to you, (for you shall not find one of Pharaohs Taske-masters of me, to set you to make Bricks, and give you no straw;) Be but pleased seriously to weigh in the Ballance of Reason, these particulars.

• 1. First of all, What diseases every Pla­net of himselfe distinctly causeth.
• 2. What diseases distinctly are under e­very severall signe of the Zodiack.
• 3. What particular part and member of the body, every Planet generally ruleth.
• 4. What particular part and member of the body, is under the the influence of every signe of the Zodiack, and house of the hea­vens in a Caelestial Scheme.
• 5. What part of the body every Pla­net particularly rules, according to his transit through each signe.

[Page 81] Of all these in Order, and in the same Order they are set down; and if I should happen to be a little critical against my Au­thor, who can helpe it?

CHAP. X.
How the nature and kind of the Disease may be found out by the Figure of the decumbiture.

1. THe nature of the disease is found out three wayes; First, by the houses of heaven, of which the 6th. 7th. and 12th. signifie diseases.

2 By the nature of the signes, of which fiery signe signifie choler and diseases thence proceeding; earthly signes signifies the di­seases of melancholy, aery Signes di­seases of blood and wind; watery signes, diseases of water and salt flegme.

3 By the Planets themselves and their as­pects; All this I shall make cleer, by this subsequent discourse, before which I shall premise these following Aphorismes; 1 If Saturne signifie the disease, tis like to con­tinue long enough, if not too long; yet if [Page 107] he be with benevolents it mitigates: if with malevolents it increaseth the evil. 2 Sa­turne in Leo, or Capricorn with the Dra­gons head or taile, or with Venus cumbust, or with violent fixed stars, he stirs up pestilen­ces, or other pernicious feavers that are lit­tle better. 3 Saturne alone in fiery signes shewes Hectick Feavers.

4 In watry signs sicknesses or watry hu­mours. The disease comes of grosse and vi­cious humours, which will continue long with continuall fluxes and cold tremblings.

5 Saturne in moveable signes shewes flux of humors in all parts of the body; Ima­gine the Dropsie or other diseases like to it; and yet it is some question to me, whether Saturne cause Dropsies yea or no, unlesse assisted by the Moon in signification.

6 Saturne in common signes gives com­pound diseases, and such as run out of one disease into another, and yet they passe lea­surely out of one disease into another to, you may almost whip a snaile as fast; you may easily see it before it come if your eyes be in your head.

7 Saturne in fixed signes, if in Leo, gives hectique feavers, in other fixed signes quar­tane agues, gouts, leprosies, and other di­seases that stay longer then they are wel­come.

[Page 108] 8. If Jupiter cause the disease, look to the Liver for that's afflicted, the digestion is bad; bloud abounds either in quantity or quality; a thousand to one if it be not too hot.

9 Jupiter in fiery signes bestowes upon men such feavers as come of bloud without putrefaction, such as the Greeks cal Synochus non putrida; they last but a very little while.

10 Mars gives violent feavers with putre­factions, and the Sun gives no other.

11 If you find Mars in a fiery sign, judge the disease either a burning Feaver called [...], or else the pestilence; if Saturne beare a share in signification with him, me­lancholy beares a share, or else a duske cho­ler which is more usuall.

12 Mars in common signes varies the di­sease; take heed of relapse; the Crisis is as certaine as a weather-cock, so exceeding swift and sudden will they come, even as swift as the wind not waiting the Moons leasure; In such a case you may more safe­ly iudge by the aspects of the Moon to the Planets then by the Crisis.

13 Mars in Leo afflicts the heart, the di­sease is a Feaver, and the cause of it Cho­ler.

[Page 109] 14. Alwayes when Mars signifies the di­sease, it is very short but extream acute.

15 If the Sun at the decumbiture be af­flicted by the body or Quartile Opposition, Antiscion of Saturne, the disease is Saturn­ing Melancholy, and will in all probabili­ty last longer then you would willingly have it.

16 If the Sun be afflicted in the same manner by Mars, the cause is choler; the motion of the disease is as swift as the wind, and as violent as the whirlwind.

17 If Venus be ill affected to the sicke, the disease comes of Intemperance, either one way or another; perhaps with drink­ing, perhaps by venereall sports; what ere the cause be, those parts of the body signifi­ed by Venus suffer for it.

18 Venus in fiery signes causeth one day Feavers; but if Mars joyne with her in signi­fication, the Feaver is rotten and proceeds from flegme.

19 If Mercury be infortunate and cause the disease, he proclaimes that the infirmi­ty lies in the braine, perhaps madnesse, or falling sicknesse, or it may be the man dreams waking.

20 If Mercury joyne in signification with Mars, you may be confident the di­sease is a frenzie.

[Page 110] 21 The Lord of the ninth in the sixth, witchcraft is to be feared, or else the disease lies very occult; I doubt my Author is mi­staken: surely it should be the Lord of the 12th in the 6th. for the Lord of the 9th. should rather occasion the disease about some whimsies in Religion.

22 The Moon in Aries in the 8th. afflicts the head with a disease to hot for it to bear, whether the disease lie in the mind, or in the body.

CHAP. XI.
How to know whether the disease be in the mind or in the body.

ALL the Aphorismes of my Author up­on this question are got so deeply to­gether by the ears, and in such a hubbub, that I know not in the world which way to goe about to reconcile them; every fol­lowing Aphorisme thwarts him that goes before; in one he affirmes that the Sunne, Moone and ascendent rule the body, and [Page 111] the Lord the mind; The very next Apho­risme affirmes the contrary; most of them contradict one another in such a hideous manner, that I was forced to leave their companies and search other Authors for a resolution of this point; and they conclude, that the Sun, Moon and Ascendent signifies the body, and their Lord the mind; and if this may be taken for truth, the directive Aphorismes are these;

1 The Sun, Moon and Lord of the As­cendent impedited, and their Lord safe shewes the disease lyes in the body and not in the mind.

2 If their Lord be impedited and they safe, the disease lyes in the mind and not in the body.

3 If both Sun, Moon and the Ascendent and their Lord also be impedited, or the greatest part of them, both body and mind are diseased; and this I confesse is something rationall.

4 Saturne generally signifies melan­choly, and by consequence alienation of mind, madnesse, &c. and therefore al­wayes you find him to be significator of the disease, or in the ascendent, or in the 6th. house afflicting the Lord of the Ascendent, or either of the Luminaries; the sick is af­flicted [Page 112] with care or griefe or something else thats as bad; be sure the mind suffers for it.

5 If Jupiter be significator of the disease, it lies in the body, if it lye any where; for Jupiter never troubles, unlesse it be that Monster which men call Religion.

6 It were a good thing when a man is troubled in minde, if an Artist could tell the cause of this his trouble; that you may do so, make use of these two or three rules; there is enough of them though there be but few, if you have but witt enough to know by a penny how a shilling is coyned; they are these;

1 If the Sun be Author of the distemper, as he may be if he be Lord of the House As­cendent 6th. or 12th. houses; the distem­per comes through pride, ambition or vain-glory.

2 If it be Jupiter it comes through reli­gion, some idle Preist hath scar'd the poor creature out of his wits.

3 If it be Venus, Love, luxurious expence, or something else of like nature is the cause.

4 If Mercury be the afflicting Planet, the sick is pestered with a parcell of strange i­maginations, and as many vaine feares at­tend him; great vexation or study, or both is the cause.

[Page 113] By these you may find out all the rest; for this is the sum of the businesse.

CHAP. XII.
How it may be knowne what part of the body is afflicted.

THat this may be knowne, for tis not onely possible, but also probable, be pleased to consider,

1 If the signe the Lord of the 6th posses­seth, especially if he be an infortune, or a fortune infortunated. And then

2 Consider what part of the body the signe he is in governs, as Aries governes the head, Taurus the neck and throat, &c. and be sure that part's afflicted.

3 Consider what parts of the body the afflicting Planet rules, which are under that signe, and you need not question but thats afflicted.; for example, Venus though she rule many parts of the body, yet in Scorpio she rules under the privities.

4 Saturne Lord of the 6th. and in the 10th. in Taurus afflicts the body uni­versally, but especially the left side.

5 Saturne Lord of the sixth in the last [Page 114] degrees of Gemini, or in the first degree of Cancer, causeth paine in the left side, as though an Awle were running to it.

6 Saturne Lord of the 6th. in Leo in the second house causeth pains in the back and heart; the originall of which saith my Au­thor, is bloud, but I should rather thinke it Melancholy.

7 If he bein Virgo the 12th. house, signifies paine in ths head; If he be in Mars orien­tall and slow in motion, signifies diseases in the Reines, as the gravell, stone and pis­sing bloud. I confesse I can give no reason for all this.

8 If Saturne be Lord of the disease and in Aquarius, the disease comes by travaile.

9 Mars Lord of the 6th. and in the 5th. and in Scorpio gives an internall pain in all parts of the body; if it be a woman she is not well in her wombe, the illnesse of which afflicts all her body, especially her head, by reason of that admirable congruity betwixt that part and her wombe; kind women, take notice of it; for it is as true as that the Sun is up when he is upon the me­ridian. All Cephalick medicines helpe the wombe and remedy its griefe; I am confi­dent you desire a reason of it, you shall not fail of your desires. It is because Aries and [Page 115] Scorpio are both the Houses of Mars.

10 If Mars be retrograde in Scorp io and in the Ascendent, the whole body is universally afflicted, but externally, viz. the man breaks out in boils and ulcers, or iteh, perhaps it is the small pox or measles; if Venus set forward the mischiefe, the French pox is shrewdly to be suspected.

11 If Mars be Lord of the 6th. in Leo, the sick is extreamely pained in his back, in this you need never fear failing.

12 If Mars be Lord of the 6th. in Virgo, my Author saith it will lye in the left side, or left legge; But after I had had halfe an houres talke with Dr. Experience, he pro­ved to me it was alwayes the Colick, and heat in the bowels; take heed it comes not to the gravell in the kidneys, when Mars comes into Libra: and to the stone in the bladder, when Mars comes to Scorpio. He that is a Physician knowes as well how to prevent a disease before it comes, as how to remedy it when it is come.

13 The Moon in the Ascendent afflicted by Saturne or Mars, bestowes difficulty of breathing, and infirmities in the lungs up­on a man; I confesse I can give no reason for it.

14 Venus Lady of the 6th. and infortu­nated [Page 116] by Mars gives suspitions enough in the French pox.

Here is enough to teach you more; lot not all your wits lye in your books; be di­ligent and studious, or else you may hap­pen to dye fools; let not all you wits lye in your books, but some in your heads; it is within you, and not that without you must do you good.

As sor the side of the body afflicted, my Author hath left a few rules to know it, which I will declare to you, and leave them to the approbation or exprobration of Dr. Experience; they are these,

1 If the Lord of the sixth house be afflict­ed above the earth, and in a diurnall signe, the sicknesse is in the right side of the body, and in the upper part of it.

2 If the Lord of the 6th. be under the earth, and in a nocturnall signe, the sick­nesse lyes in the inferiour parts of the body, and on the left side.

3 Whether he be under or above the earth in a diurnall, the sicknesse is in the forepart of the body, imagine the forehead, face, breast, belly, or some other visible part.

4 If it be in a nocturnal sign, the disease lies in the backe parts of the body, or else [Page 117] in some part but lies invisible, as the bowels, &c or perhaps the disease lies occult; for take this for a generall rule, the diseases are more hid from the eyes of your understanding, when the significators of them are in no­cturnall signes then they are when they are in Diurnall.

5 If the significators be corrupted by o­ther Planets, and a difference in these rules between the significator and the planet that corrupts them, the patient is afflicted both wayes; namely according as he signifies, and according as the Planet corrupting signifies.

6 In such a case view diligently which of them is most afflicted: and your reason, if you have any, will tell you, that the most part of the malady lies in that part of the body signified by the Planet which is most afflicted.

7 To wind up all in a word; Masculine Planets denote the right side of the body, Feminine the left, all of them afflict that part of the body which they governe.

CHAP. XIII.
Whether the disease shall be long or short, or whether it shall end in Life or Death.

FOr judging of this, take a few cautions by the way.

1 Consider if the Sun, Moon, Ascendent and their Lords be much or little afflict­ed.

2 Consider the age of the sick party; for old age brings longer sicknesses then youth.

3 Consider the time of the year; for Au­tumne and Winter bring longer sicknesses then Spring or Summer.

4 Consider the complexion of the Pati­ent; for a melancholy man is more subject to retaine a sicknesse then a cholerick.

5 Consider the Planet afflicting; for Sa­turne produceth longer sicknesses then Mars.

6 The Planets generally and briefly or­der the sicknesses they give in this manner; Saturne gives long sicknesses, the Sun in Jupiter short, Mars shorter then either of [Page 119] them, but acute; Venus meane; Mercury various and unconstant, according to the Planet he is joyned with or aspected. The Moon gives such sicknesses as often returne, as Agues, falling sicknesse, &c. And therefore tht direction of the Moon to the body, or in aspect to Saturne will soon­er cause a falling sicknesse then the directi­on of any other significator.

These are the cautions, and according to these cautions so understand these follow­ing Aphorismes which you shall find mar­shalled into these three divisions; First, Signs of long or short sicknesse; Secondly, Signes of recovery; Thirdly, Signes of death.