THE first three Months of the Year are always considered from the positions of the Suns entrance into the Tropical sign Capricorn, which was [from the Caroline Tables] in 1687. on the eleventh of December, at 2 hours 24 minutes P. M. at which time three degrees of Aquary was on the M. C. and 7 degrees of Gemini on the Ascendent: Saturn is in 23 degree of Libra, in the sixth House: Mars in 26 degree of Pisces, in the eleventh, and Jupiter in conjunction with the Sun, in the eighth, in Capricorn his fall; Cumbust and Occidental, and Venus in the sixth in Scorpio her detriment. So that the two Fortunes are in a poor week condi­tion, and none of the seven Angular but the Moon. At the Pre­ventional full Moon all the Plannets were under the Earth, except Mars and the Moon, and they in a double Square from the tenth and seventh Houses; and the Sun likewise in Square to Mars. At the Postventional New Moon, the Sun is in the tenth, and Mars in Aries in the Ascendent, in Square to Jupiter and Mercury. And now let us examin what will be the effects of these posi­tions.

At the Ingress and the full Moon, the Planets are generally under the Earth, and in obscure Houses, which shews close Con­sults, Councils and Cabals in divers places and parts of Europe, and that the principal part of this Quarter will be spent in debates, and affairs of that nature. The things in debate are two, and those are Religion and Dominion, or rather a power to impose the former upon mankind, the better to introduce some other projects. And this is shewed by the position of the Sun in conjun­ction with Jupiter, and he in Reception with Mars, Jupiter (you must observe) alwaies personates the Clergy of Nations, and they you know generally love to be concerned in Government, and ac­cordingly he is here got under the Suns protection, who is the real Patron of Government and Rule: and Mars is to be his Hector to manage the affair by force, if no other way will do. But if Bona­tus says true, They will be cruelly disappointed; for he says, the Sun in the eighth House significat depressionem divitum & magna [...]um seu Mobilium, &c. and in another place speaking of Mars in Pisces, [Page 4] he says, Mortem Magnatum & Divitum signficat. So that between depression and death they are like to lose their long lookt for, and wished for desire, to the great grief of Mother Church and her Babes. But yet to make it more clear that the thing is Religion, pray ob­serve, that Saturn, who is Lord of the ninth and tenth Houses, hath been lately in Sextile with the Sun; and Mercury the little foot-post among the Stars, is in the ninth House Retrograde, and his first application is to the bodies of Jupiter and the Sun: from whence it is more than probable, that the design is so.

If we consider, that immediately after the Ingress, the Sun, Jupiter and Mercury meet in the beginning of Capricorn, and this in the eighth House, about which time we may conclude, that there was some considerable thing taken into conside­ration, that is fit and serviceable for the present Juncture of affairs: but while it is under consideration, the advantage propounded is spoiled. For Mars comes up presently after to the Square of Mercury and Jupiter, and the Sun shortly after to the Square of saturn, which divides their Councils, and destroys the design; so that when Mars comes to the Opposi­tion of saturn in the end of January, or thereabouts, you may hear of Favourites turned out, and new ones entertained. Fresh Dragooning in France, or something like it, new at­tempts in England, to wheedle the people to chuse a Parlia­ment, to destroytheir Laws and Religion. But under the af­fects of that Opposition of Saturn and Mars, will be laid the project or design of some cursed attempt, to be performed a­bout June following, for that opposition is celebrated upon a New Moon, from active parts of Heaven, attended by bad Aspects, and the Sun and Moon at the same time in Opposition to the places of the last great triple Conjunction in Leo. And Bona­tus tells us, that Mars joined to Saturn by opposition, is of a pernicious consequence. Insurgent enim in eos ex guerris, & ni­tentur contra eos; and again he says, Mars in Ariete significat victorium in bello civibus civitatum illarum: & habit atoribus illarum tregionum super inimicos eorum, qui venerint de aliis partibus ad illas ceusa nocendi eis. That Mars in Aries signifies victory to the Citiziens and Inhabitants of those Cities and Countries under that sign (I suppose he means if they have occasion to fight) and that they shall put to flight all those that come to offer them either Violence or injury. And to say the truth I do believe that Opposition with some other Positions and Configurations, will [Page] be the occasion of such differences, that will come both to blows and blood, in what part of the world I shall leave to time to shew: only this I will say, those Cities and Countreys under Aries and Libr [...] will feel the smart of it.

The effects of this Querter will consist more of Consults, than Action, and the Contrivances thereof will be the work of the following Summer. And so I come to consider the Vernal Ingress of the Sun, which is March the ninth at 4. hours P. M. 1688. At the time mentioned of the Suns entrance into Aries, there is 2. degrees of Gemini on the M. C. and 9. degrees of Virgo Ascending; Saturn than in 23. degrees of Libra; Jupiter in 22. degrees of Capricorn; Mars in 24. degrees of Taurus, among the Pleiades; Venus in 18. degrees of Aquary; the Moon in 11. de­grees of Scorpio; and Mercury in 12 degrees of Aries. The first and the principal think remarkable in this figure, is the Square of Jupi­ter and Saturn from Cardinals signs: and this of it self will bear the general sway in the effects of the three following Months, and ought to be considered two several ways. First from the Aspect, and secondly their Position. As to the Aspect: it ne­ver gives any thing, that is either sudden or very violent; but it stirs up differences and Societies, gives Treacheries and Vil­lanies, with the discovery thereof; gives Nations and Kingdoms suspitions of their Governors. And this sometimes not without a cause; but it always begets Troubles, Animosities, Differences, and the like, from whence proceeds greater mischiefs, which certain­ly shew themselves by some great Irruption in the State, or alte­ration in the Government by the death of the then King, Prince, &c. And this the more certain if there be three Squares of Saturn and Iupiter, as there are now, and be sure there effects fall always in those Countries subject to the Signs they are in, or their Quadrangles; but when they happen to be in Cardinal Signs (as they are now) then is their Effects the more fa­mous and remarkable. And for the truth of this be pleased to consider the preceding Presidents of this kind, before the cursed Popish plot in 1678. there was a single Square of the two Su­periors from Gemini and Pisces, here London and England also suffered sufficiently by that damned design of the Papists, and those Villains their Accomplices. In 1668. there was a single Square from Aquary and Taurus, this did not at all concern Eng­land, neither was that then disturbed. In the years 1657. and 1658. there was a triple Square of Saturn and Iupiter, from Libra and Capricorn, and satura then opposite to the Horoscope of England [Page 6] At that time there was murmurings and plottings against the then Oppressors, which at last was concluded with Olivers Death, and a general mutation in the Government, with divers others Chan­ges and Alterations, as those that then lived, can well remember. Likewise when Oliver turned out the long Parliament, and took the Government on him, it was just after an Opposition of those two Su­periours. In the year 1647. and 1648. there was then also a triple Spuare of Saturn and Jupiter from Geminy and Virgo; What plot­ting contrivances there was then against the Government, let the affairs of Wales, Lancashire and Colchester inform you, which cost many thousand men their lives, and last of all the King lost his head. In the year 1637. and 1638. there was a triple Square of the two Superiours from Libra and Capriocorn, and Scorpio and Aqua­ry. What murmurings there then was among the People of all sorts, for their Oppressions they then laboured under, let History, inform you, which was at last followed with a War, &c. I could go further in these Historical passages; but I think these five Exam­ples are sufficient to prove, that a triple Square of Saturn and Jupiter from Cardinal Signs doth certainly make an Irruption in the Go­vernment of England, and generally turn up the heels of it, especi­ally when it stands tottering as at this time; and the first of them happens in March 1688, the second in July, in the same year, and the third the January following, which by the Grace of God will in time have their Effects also.

Secondly, as to their position, we find the one in the third House, and the other in the fifth, and nearly in paralld, without any Configuration or Aspect to any of the other Stars, and both under the Earth, which shews as if there were some designs in hand, that the Managers are either affraid or ashamed to have known; that they are few in number is plain from their position sine Configurationibus, and that they are very private from their being under the Earth in succedent Houses. In short, the position and the Aspect considered with other things, doth certainly presage some villanous contrivance by the Papists, which will be the ground of their Ruine, and when their turn is come, I hope the Protestants will not forget to hang them for all their kindness and good nature to us. And now if we consider Mars, who is the other Malefick, we shall find him in Taurus in the 24. degree thereof, and in Trine to Jupiter in the fifth, rhe House of Children, Venus in Aquary in the sixth, [Page] and the Moon in the third house cadent in Scorpio, that Villanous Treacherous, Cheating, Perfidious, Truce-breaking, wHoreing-sign. And the first Aspect the Moon makes in the Zodiack, is the Square of Venus, then to the Trine of Jupiter, and lastly to the Opposi­tion of Mars, and all these from that Pious sign Scorpio. Hence I judg that there is some bawdy project on foot, that must be ma­naged by such people as are described by the Moon in Scorpio. And this is either about buying, selling, or procuring a Child or Children for some pious use. Perhaps it may be nothing else but the taking care of Father Peters his Child that he got on Mrs. Betty at the Bath last Summer; and that I may do you all the service I can, I will here describe what manner of made persons they are that are to be concerned in this bawdy project. And they are a sort of scandalous, impudent, mercenary people, that will sell or ruin their own Souls, to serve the cause they are dipt in, of a fat corpulent Body, not very tall, perhaps but short; for they are like the Moon in Scorpio, which may give both, but always fat or inclined to it. For a Man Gadbury the Popes Astrologer is exactly described both for body and mind, and for a Woman Mrs. Cellier Midwife to the Popish plot, who doth not come an Inch behind him, both for reputation and ho­nesty.

But besides this, there may be other designs in hand sui­table to this position▪ and that is some Embassy, or forreign Message, to be negotiated a few weeks after the Ingress, about a weighty affair now in hand, and since we find Jupiter, Venus and Mars to be concerned in it, the business may be about mo­ney, Councils and Souldiers. And the reason that induceth me to believe it to be beyond the Seas, is because the Moon is in the third, the House of Journeys, Jupiter in the fifth, the House of Embassies and Ambassadors, and Mars in the ninth, the House of Long-Journeys and Voyages by Sea: and that it is about Souldiers and armed men, because of the Moon and Mars in violent and per­nicious parts of Heaven. But if you consider Mercury swift in motion, in his Oriental Occidentakity, and separated from the Sun (who is in exact Sextile to the tenth) and next applys to the opposition of Saturn and Square of Jupiter in the Zodiack, and to the Sextile of Jupiter in Mundo, all from Aries, the Ascendent of England. So you will see a fine Issue of these things a few days after the Ingress, whether it will be Discoveries of Treachery with loss of Honour and Court­favour, or Impeachments, or both, I will not take upon me to [Page] determin; but the time you may expect it, will be in April and Iune. Perhaps when Thieves differ there may be some work for the Hangman.

But one thing more I shall observe from this Ingress, and that is, when Saturn and Iupiter make their second Square, which is in Iuly. Then the Sun and Mars are in Leo, near the place of the last great Conjunction, and they both keep within ways, during their passage through that sign; why may not the Turk again feel the force of his Enemies Army, or Italy receive some disturbance from a neighbouring Invader?

In short, the figure of the Ingress doth not promise any great Action in publick, that is generous and brave; but abundance of deceipt, wheedle, Tricking, and such kind of base underhand­dealing, wrought in the dark, as the Popish Faction usually do. And now if the Popish Juggler in Brick-Court pleaseth to call this in question, that I do this year, I would advise him to leave off his Cant, and tell his Friends the truth if he is able, before it is too late, that they may provide for themselves. And so I come to consider the Autumnal Ingress, and that is, when the Sun enters the first scruple of Libra, which is this year, September the twelfth at 30 minutes; past six of the clock in the morning.

In this figure we find Cardinal signs possess the four Angles, which, according to some learned Coxcombs in our profession, is a mighty thing; but for my part I know no reason for it, nor they neither; but onely some Bouncing Huffs will impose, and find easy People to believe them. Any signs on the Angles with Planets in them, are great positions, but cardinal signs there without Planets, signify little; but si populus vult decipi, &c. but in this Figure we have three Planets Angular, and yet they signi­fie very little to the advantage of the position in general. For Jupiter is in his fall in opposition to the Angle of dignity and gran­deur, and in Square to Saturn, and Saturn is in Lihra his Exalta­tion, applying to the Mundane parallel of the Sun, and in the Ascendent also▪ of which thus speaks Bonatus, Saturnus in Ascendente, significat mærorem multorum hominum, that it shews much grief and sorrow to many men. And if other positions and Aspects say true, it is more than probable too. And he says the same also of the position of Mars in the twelfth, which must be aggravated and increased by his being Combust, Sig­nificat mæorem & tristitiam venturam: and I judg, he might also have said, Causa Criminum & Carceris. for Mars in the twelfth house afflicting the Sun, gives sorrow, loss, imprisonment, and [Page] divers other Calamities of that kind, and this to such persons as are signified by the sun and Mars.

But what means the sun in the twelfth, within six degrees of the Body of Mars, and not far from the body of Saturn, and this in Libra his fall? this is a position of pernicious consequence, of which hear what Bonatus says: Significat diminutionem atque depressionem divitum & Magnatum. Nobilium quoque & eorum mor­tem: corunque dignitatum ablationem: & injurias eis illaturas ab ignobilibus. It signifys, says he, the fall and depression of great and noble men, and their death also: Loss of their dignity, and af­fronts to them from the common people: and indeed whether Bonatus says so or not, Common reason will tell any man, that such effects must be the consequence of such a position, if he un­derstands Astrology: and as the Sun goes from the Body of Mars, so he apply's to the Body of Saturn, who is Lord of the Eighth from the tenth; and for that reason also seems to threaten death to great men in this Quarter, and perhaps a King or Prince too. For the sun signifies Kings, &c. Besides, the Moon, who is Lady of the tenth, the house of Kings, is hastening to the Body of Mars and Zodiacal parallel of saturn, which exceedingly strengthens the fore­mentioned Aphorism and Judgment. I have seen a Nativity of a certain great Man in Europe, whose fate seems to agree with this position, and I care not much if I give you the particulars of his present impending directions and other adjuncts that the common Astrologers know nothing of. He hath Leo Ascending, and the part of fortune giver of Life, which is directed to the points and Aspects following, with the Arks of directions, and the time there­to agreeing.

Thus you see here are 13 directions, and the Major part of them, [Page] begin to operate in and about the Month of October this present year, and the Question is, whether they have power to Kill or not? I answer, yes, they may kill, and there is but one objection to hinder an Artist from being positive, and that is the pars fortunæ ad par. Jupiter mdo. dd. according to Ptolemey, Lib. 3. Cap. 14 and indeed it might be Judged, that the dire­ction would have defeated all the rest, with the assistance of the Square of Venus, had not Jupiter at the same time been directed to the Parallel of Saturn in mundo motu Rapto, and Venus by the same motion to the Square of Saturn in mundo: but perhaps some may object, and say, that I mention some directions that are far distant in degrees, and therefore they cannot signify much: to those I answer, let them read and study well that Chapter in Ptolomey, de numero annorum Nati, and perhaps they may understand it so far as to be satisfied. If they do not, it is not my fault: But I will here speak something in particular as an Artist, but it will be wholly different from the Common Astro­logical cant now in use.

The Part of fortune is Giver of Life, out of the Ecliptick, and in a violent parallel in Square to the Moon, and in opposition to Mercury: and therefore violently placed, Saturn the principal Planet directed in this figure is in Sagitary, a sign of a Contra­ry nature to him, and there in Conjunction with the Scorpions bears according to Longitude. In a mundane Square with Mars, and under this qualification is the part of fortune directed to him as you have it before, and this assisted by the Sun to the Mundane parallel of Saturn, pars fortunæ to the Sesquiquadrate of Mercury, and to the Mundane parallel of Mars motu Rapto. With these Consider that at the Moment of the Revolution the Sun is Eclipsed; in Conjunction with Saturn in the twelfth house, as in this Ingress of the Sun into Libra he is with Mars, and all this in a Climacterical year. But that which is most Remarkable, Saturn at the same time by direction afflicts two of the prime Hylegiacals, and the only two assistants. And in the Revolution he afflicts the Sun and Moon by his presence, he being within 4 degrees of them, the Radical part of for­tune by parallel, the Midheaven by opposition: and the Horo­soope by Square. Now suppose the question was Asked, Whe­ther a man of 55 years of age, under such a Crowd of directions, could live or not? why really I must needs say, if it was my own Brothers Case, I should not think it was possible for him to Escape with his Life.

[Page]But to Conclude the Judgment of the whole year, and [...] quarter in particular, I shall only add this, that there [...] various and many mutations at hand, and I believe the Effusion of some Blood also.