Merlini Anglici Errata

MERLINI ANGLICI ERRATA.

Or, The Errors, Miſtakes, and Miſ-applications of Maſter Lilly's New Ephemeris for the yeare 1647.

Diſcovered, Refuted, and Corrected.

By C. GEORGE WHARTON,Student in Aſtronomy.

Printed in the yeare 1647.

To the Reader.

IT is a common Proverb: Dogs bark more for Cuſtome, then Fierceneſſe. And had I not aſſuredly known this Whelp Lilly, to be one of that bawling Litter; I ſhould not have ſuffered his perpetuall ſnarling with that Patience and temper I did: but before this, would have alighted from my Saddle, to hurle him one ſtone (at the least) to gnaw on. But, as hee is now growne bolder, and blacker in the jawes; I muſt begin to have an eye over him, and a care to keepe him at a diſtance, leſt he byte mee till I bleed, and thereby I become maniaque, or Brain-ſicke like himſelfe, and ſo be more deſirous of his Liver, then his Heart. I ſhall ſcorne to take notice of his former Grinnings; nor will I trouble my ſelfe, or the Reader, with any repetition of his by-paſt Fooleries, frantique expreſſions, and but a few, (if any) of his many Errors and Miſtakes, ſo groſsely committed, in every of his Lowzie-Pamphlets (for them (indeed) I have tyed and twitch'd up together in a Pack-thread, as thinking them fitter for his Quondam Hell, then the meaneſt Shelfe in my ſtudy) but I will content my ſelfe only, with that dainty bit, this ſweet bratt of his owne begetting, Merlini Anglici Ephemeris, the 4th (and perhaps the laſt) of that name: And examine I ſhall, and that ſtrictly, of what mettall it is compounded, or whether it bee ſimple (like the Dad of it) and the truth you have freely, as followeth.

The Errors, miſtakes, and miſ-aplications of Mr. Lilly's New Ephemeris, &c.

I Will not trouble my ſelfe, or the Reader in taking notice of any thing in his Long-winded-Preface, ſave only the reverend mention he hath made concerning him, whom he is pleaſed to tearm an A. B. C. felow, viz. Naworth of Oxford, by whom (as he pretendeth) hee found himſelfe intollerably abuſed in Print, and could doe no leſſe, then vindicate himſelfe in point of Art,

As for the Name, Naworth, which William Lilly, and John Booker (to make their Worſhips merry) have ſo often, and as wiſely, as wittily, inverted to No-worth, and Worth-nothing: it is well knowne, to be the Letters of my name long ſince tranſpoſed, purpoſely to avoid the Scandall and obloquy, which both theſe Mounte-banks ſo greatly delight in, and indeavour ſo much to aſſume. For, whereas I obſerved, the Common people generally poſſeſſed of a confident beliefe, or rather a fooliſh conceipt, that ſuch as could write Almanacks, were eſteemed (with a Country-reverence) Wiſe-men (like Lilly and Booker) or (if I ſhall render it in their owne Dialect) Conjurers, or ſuch as can tell all things, paſt, preſent, and to come: And ſo were uſually haunted (by the ſilly people) with a number of unlawfull, unneceſſary, and ridiculous queſtions by meanes whereof, many ingenious and honeſt Artiſts, have not only been branded with the titles of Conjurers, Necromancers, Wizards, Sorcerers, and Figure-Caſters (in the worſt ſenſe) but have often been impriſoned, and Indicted and proceeded againſt upon the Statute, againſt Witchcraft, &c. and hardly eſcaped with their lives, (eſpecially when they came before Judges, that were ignorant in, or diſaffected to Aſtrology) after they had ſuffered ſeverall yeares impriſonment, and thereby waſted and conſumed their eſtates: I ſay, that I having reſolved to write yearly, which was not uſuall without prefixing a name; (nor for the reaſons above-mentioned, would I then publiſh any thing of that nature, in my owne name:) I therefore Anagramatiz'd my name to Naworth, and by that Name I writ an Almanack for ſeverall yeares together, and continued unknowne, unleſſe to ſome two or three of my friends; whereby I ſeaſonably prevented the before-named inconveniences and hazards, which otherwiſe I ſhould inevitably have ſhared of: And I preſume that in doing this, I neither wrong'd my ſelfe, nor abuſed the Countrie where I lived: And what ever other witty conſtruction may be made thereof, by theſe two trifling Gypſies; by this they may perceive, I tooke no delight (as they doe) to be tearm'd a Conjurer, a Magician, a Cabaliſt, a Merline, a trucking Mercury, or any thing elſe, whereby they deſire, and indeavour ſo much to promote, and propagate their deceitful & unwarrantable dealings.

And whereas Lilly, in the ſame Preface, chargeth me under the ſame name to have wreſted many falſe judgements from Aſtrologie, againſt the Parliaments actions, intending thereby to prepoſſeſſe the Kingdome with a vaine feare, that his Majeſtie and his deſignes ſhould take place, &c. I muſt tell him, that this his Accuſation, is moſt maliciouſly falſe: And let him ſhew me (if he can) but one Aphoriſme, or Sentence that ever I delivered, for which I either quoted not my Authors, or gave a ſufficient reaſon in Aſtrology: or that ever (of which I ſhall hereafter prove him apparently guiltie) I wreſted any part of Aſtrology from the Genuine ſence thereof, either to make for his Majeſtie, or againſt the Parliament? And if it hath pleaſed God, to ſuffer the loyall party thus to bee trampled over, it is for their ſinns: and carries with it a ſupernaturall Cauſe and Reaſon above the ſtars, which could not be diſcerned by the cleareſt mortall eye. No Symtome of ſuch (our ſufferings, could be read, or obſerved by any man in the great Booke of Heaven; but rather the quite contrary, as I could inſtance for many reaſons in Aſtrology: And whatſoever I ſpoke, or writ, was (as your owne ſence implyes) ever with ſubmiſſion to divine Providence.

But I will not buſie my ſelfe ſo much, as to examine and retort every Tatter of his ragged-Preface: nor ſhall I need to vindicate his Majeſties Officers, (whom hee is therein pleaſed to tearme Ravenous) from his polluted lips: I ſee no reaſon why they may not meet with a fitter occaſion and opportunitie to requite him: but the thing I have propoſed to my ſelfe, is firſt, to ferret the poore Quack in point of Art, and afterwards in matter of Judgement.

The firſt thing, and indeed the only thing that's worth my obſervation is, his Tranſcript of Eichſtadius his Ephemerides, for the year 1647. wherein (indeed) he hath taken a great deale of paines, and deſerves to be commended for this indifatigable Labour: but withall, I muſt tell him, that hee hath therein greatly betrayed his owne ignorance in Aſtronomy, or ſhewed himſelfe exceedingly negligent and careleſſe, in that he hath not fitted the places of the Sunne, Venus, and Mercury, (but eſpecially the Moone,) to the Meridian of London, as he hath done (to his thinking) in the Lunations and aſpects of the Planets, nor (which had been more eaſie, and ſooner done) preſcribed any Rule, or Direction, whereby to ſupputate their true places for that Meridian, or any other place of the Kingdome: And this Error hee hath beene guilty of throughout the two former yeares: whereby our young Tyro's are much deceived in the Merline, when they thinke they have the places of thoſe Planets therein exactly Calculated to the Noone-tide of every day at London: for, although in the higher Planets, whoſe motion is but ſlow, there bee no ſenſible difference: yet, in the Sun, Venus and Mercury, there is an apparent error: For, when they are in their ſwift motion, their places at noone, as Lilly hath ſet them, will differ above 2. min. and often 3. min. from the truth: And in the Moone (whoſe motion is farre ſwifter then any other of the Planets) her Error is intollerable (eſpecially when ſhe is in her ſwift motion.) For example: the firſt of January 1647. the Diurnall motion of the Moon is 12. degr. 24 min. (being then but in her ſlow motion.) The difference of Meridians, betwixt London & Uraniburge[•] to which place the Longitude of the Planets, (as Wil. Lilly hath printed them) were Calculated by Eichſtadius,) is 50 minutes, (by his own confeſſion in his Anglicus 1645. Page 54.) that is, the Sun cōmeth later to the Meridian at London, then he does at Uraniburge, by 50 min. of time; ſo that how much ſoever the Moon moveth (according to longitude) in that ſpace of time? by ſo much hath Lilly erred in the Moones true place at noon, for every day in the yeare: which, what it is for the ſaid firſt of January; I examine thus:

If the Moone in 24 houres, move 12 degrees, 24 minutes in Longitude, What moves ſhe in 50 min. of time?

Facit 26. min. ferè.

And by ſo much hath Lilly erred from her true place the ſaid firſt of January at Noon: So that whereas he hath placed her that day in 21 degrees, 10 min. of Piſces, ſhe ought to have beene in 21 degrees 36 min. of the ſame Signe.

And when ſhe is in her ſwift motion, he commits a greater Errour: as the tenth of March 1647. (if you examine it according to the former rule) you ſhall find juſt halfe a degree (or 30 min.) error; and in ſtead of 26 degrees, 3 min. of Virgo, (wherein Lilly hath put her that day) ſhe ſhould be in 26. degree 33 min. of the ſame Signe.

The next thing which I meane to take notice of, is, his Scheme erected to the Apparent time of the Moons Ecclipſe upon the tenth of January 1647. at 9. houres and 19 min. P. M. as he hath taken it from Eichſtadius, by deducting 50 min. for the difference of Meridians betwixt London and Uraniburge: and to the ſame time I erect the Figure of Heaven, according to the Doctrine of Regiomontanus; and comparing his printed Scheme with that, which I had more curiouſly ſet, I find Lilly ſtill bungling and botching, but without any reſult of truth: For, whereas he hath made the Cuſpe of the tenth Houſe 22. degrees 20 min. of Gemini, according to exact Calculation, it is no leſſe then 23. degr. 30 minutes, whereby it appeares, that Maſter Lilly hath miſtaken 1 degree, & 10 mi. in the Cuſpe of the Medium Coeli.

And in the Aſcendent of the ſame figure, he hath miſtaken above one whole degree, viz. 1 degr. 10 min. for hee hath made the Cuſpe thereof but 23 deg. and 51 min. of Virgo, which ſhould have been 25 degrees, and 1 min. and the like Errors follow in the ſeventh houſe of the Figure; and proportionably in all the reſt, which makes me wonder with what face this ſenſleſſe botcher dares tearme me an A. B. C. fellow, when all men may perceive him ſo ſhamefully ignorant in the very fundamentalls of the Art hee pretends to, and that I am able to correct him in every point and particle of his Profeſſion: For, I deſire the Reader to conſider but thus much with me, that if (as Sir Chriſtopher Heydon hath ſaid, in his unparalell'd Treatiſe, written in defence of Judiciall Aſtrologie againſt Mr. Chambers) that Aſtrology is an Art which teacheth by the Motions, Configurations, and influences of the Signes, Stars, and Coeleſtiall Planets to Prognoſticate of the naturall effects, and mutations to come in the Elements, and theſe inferiour and elementary bodies: How (I pray) is it poſſible, that this fellow can Prognoſticate rightly of the naturall effects and Mutations to come in the Elements, and theſe inferiour and elementarie bodies, before he be able to Calculate exactly the true motions and configurations, &c. of the Signes, Stars and Planets, which you clearly ſee, he is not? And I marvell much that Lilly ſhould bee no more tender and cautilous of his credit, then thus fooliſhly and frequently to divulge his unskilfulneſſe: for me thinkes, as he knowes that he cannot Calculate the houſes exactly, either by the Doctrine of Sphericall Triangles, or (which is more ready, and built upon the ſame foundation) by the Tables of Directions in Regiomontanus) to the degree and minute of each Cuſpe, yet he ſhould have held it a ſafer way (if he purpoſed to palliate his defects) to have ſet down the Cuſpes only in whole degrees, and not have publiſhed himſelfe thus erroneouſly ſcrupulous, which hee might have done very eaſily, by the Domifying tables, without further helpe. But I perceive him ſo impudent, and ſhameleſſe, that he neither heeds, nor cares what hee does, or otherwiſe hee would have beene more wary in ſupputating the places of the Planets: For (according to Eichſtadius, whom he indeavours to follow) the Sun (at the middle of the Eclipſe) ſhould have been in 56 minutes of Aquarius, and the Moone in 56. min. of the Oppoſite Signe Leo, Venus in Capricorne, 24 degr. 29 min. and Mercury in Aquarius, 3 degr. 17 min. But this man's diſcretion hath put the Sun in 53 min. of Aquarius, and the Moone in 53 min. of Leo, Venus in 24 degr. 39 min. of Capricorne, and Mercury in the 3 degr. 20 min. of Aquarius; So that he hath erred 3 min. in the places of the Luminaries, and Mercury; and 10 min. in Venus, as may appeare to every man, that will take the pains to Calculate the true places of theſe Planets by Eichſtadius his Tables, to the Mean, or Equall time of the ſaid Eclipſe.

And in like manner, hath he playd the Botcher in his Figure at the Vernall ingreſſe: for according to the time therein poſited, the Cuſpe of the tenth Houſe ought to be 13 degr. 44 min. of Taurus, and the Aſcendent 25 degr. 48 min. of Leo, yet he hath made the tenth Houſe 14 degr. 0. min. of Taurus, and the Aſcendent 26 degr. 0. min. of Leo: ſo that he hath committed 16 min. Error in the Cuſpe of the tenth Houſe, and 12 min. in the Cuſpe of the Aſcendent, nor is hee leſſe erronious in collocating of the Planets here, then in the former Figure, but eſpecially in the Moone, whom he hath placed in 27 degree 48. min. of Virgo, whereas ſhe ought to have bin in 28 degr. 14 min. of that Signe, wherein hee hath miſtaken no leſſe then 26 minutes.

And thus much I conceive ſufficient to prove his ignorance, in point of Art: Now will I alſo unmaske his Errors, defects, miſtakes, and miſ-applications in matter of judgement.

I will not meddle with, or queſtion upon what grounds Prince Charles left his Native. Countrey of England, nor who were the original cauſers of this his ſo long abſence; It is ſufficient that Will. Lilly confeſſes him to bee Enforc'd upon neceſſitie, exiled, or baniſhed, for the honour of the Engliſh Parliament.

I will not enquire further, then of the Scottiſh Papers, whether the King be at preſent reſtrained of his Libertie, as Lilly tells us he is; Nor dare I interrogate by what Law of God, or Man, the King of Englands Perſon, ought to be impriſoned, or be diſpoſed of, by either, or both of the two Kingdomes, or by any, or all of his Subjects: Or whether His impriſonment, &c. be intended for the defence of his Majeſties Royall Perſon, &c. and the Liberty of the Subject? Or how it can conſiſt with the Honour of the Engliſh Parliament to ſuffer his Majeſties Honour thus to lye at the ſtake, and his Sacred Name to bee traduced, by ſuch Pamphlet-mongers as Lilly and Booker, and that Pillory-man Walker, without any reſtraint, or puniſhment.

Neither doe I care, whether the Eclipſe in Aug. 1645. pre-ſignified the P. of the Earle of Eſſex, or whether he have merited ſo much Honour, as to have a Statua in Crowne Gold erected at the Charges of William Lilly, and an Epitaph made (and thereon engraven) by Martin Parker, or Mercer (the Scot;) Theſe things are all beſide my Text, my intention being only to examine Maſter Merlin's Aſtrologicall diſcourſe, and to ſhew him, and all men wherein it is invalid, and no more.

The judgement he hath given, is generally deduced from the poſition of the Heavens, at two diſtinct points of time, viz.

The Eclipſe he makes the firſt generall ſubject of his Diſcourſe, the effects whereof of (as he tells us) may be ſomewhat put forward by reaſon of a non-apparent Eclipſe in the 15th degree of Capricorne, December 26. 1646.

What the Simpleton meaneth by Putting forward, I know not, 'tis no tearme in Aſtrologie: but ſurely I have Put him out of doubt in my Prognoſtication 1647. that Eclipſes are not hurtfull at all to thoſe Regions, or Cities, where they are not viſible; yet leſt the teſtimony of that learned Authour therein mentioned ſhould not be enough to convince him of his Folly, I ſhall further recommend unto him the words of Cardanus upon Ptolomy, lib. 2. cap. 5. Text 26. (if he can tranſlate them any better then hee hath done the firſt 50 Aphoriſmes of the Centiloquie) they ſound thus; Ut igitur locus a deliquio affici[•] debeat in Luna, duo ſunt neceſſaria: unum quod Luna tunc temporis in hemiſphaerio ſuperiore illius loci ſit, & cum provincia illa concordet ſigno, vel trigono ſaltem: ſecund[•] cum civitate in ſolis loco, vel Lunae, vel Aſcendentis, vel cum medio coeli illius qu[•] regit civitatem ipſam.

In ſole vero neceſſarium eſt, praeterid quo[•] fit ſupra terram, & conveniat locus ejus provinciae vel civitati Eclipſis ipſa appareat.

Whereby it is cleare, that unleſſe (in a Lunar Eclipſe) the Moone bee above the Earth, and likewiſe on the Signe, or at leaſt in the Triplicitie of that Signe, whereunto the Kingdome (in whoſe Hemiſphere the Defect happeneth) is ſubject: And unleſſe that the Sun, or Moon place, or the Signe aſcending or Culminating, be alſo the Horoſcopicall ſigne of the Citie, or Towne (you live in, or enquire after) the effects of ſuch a Lunar Eclipſe, ſhall not any way concerne that Kingdome or Citie.

But in a Solar Eclipſe it is neceſſary, (beſides that the Sun be above the Earth, and that his place agree to the Kingdome, or Citie,) that the Eclipſe be alſo viſible to the Kingdome or Citie, or otherwiſe the effects ſhall in no wiſe concerne the one, or the other.

Now the Solar Eclipſe, here (by him) mentioned, is not viſible at all to us, for it appeares in the Iſlands de S. Pedro, Barbados, de Don Alfonſo, de Praxaros, and to ſuch as ſayle beyond the Equator, and under the Tropick of Capricorne through the Perſian Sea: and (indeed) in 13. and 14. deg. of North latitude, it wil be a very great Eclipſe but of what concernment is this to England; or why ſhould it put forward this Lunar Eclipſe in January, ſeeing it is neither viſible to us (for at London it happeneth at their 11. aclock at night, & ſo the Luminaries are both under the Horizon,) nor yet is the degree Eclipſed in the Signe, or Triplicitie of that Signe whereunto either England or Scotland are thought to be ſubject, which is required (by Cardanus his Rule) before the effects can concerne either. Whereby it appeares that this Nonapparent Solar Eclipſe can no way helpe or harme us, nor augment, or put forward the effects of the Lunar Eclipſe, and that William Lilly in thus preferring his owne idle fancy, beyond the experience, and more ſolid Reaſons and Rules of Campanella, Cardanus, and of all other Authors that ever I read, or heard of, hath very much abuſed the Reader, and rendered himſelfe a very Novice and fondling in Aſtrology.

As touching the Lunar Ecclipſe in January 1647. I have writ of it already in my Prognoſtication, wherein you may ſee what the effects of it are; and thoſe that deſire further ſatisfaction, may have recourſe to Origanus, page 460. upon Mercury's being Lord of an Eclipſe, as hee is of this. But although this Lunar Eclipſe bee viſible, and fall out in a ſigne of the Fiery triplicity, and in that reſpect doth generally concerne England: yet in regard it is ſo ſmall, viz. but 4. digits, 47 min. 42 ſect. its effects will ſcarcely be felt, or obſerved by any body; For, as, Eclipſes nihil nocent illis Regionibus in quibus non videntur; So, parvae Eclipſes parum nocent, & in pauca operantur.

It is true, as both (Lilly in his Anglicus, and I in my Prog.) have in effect obſerved, that, in caeremoniis, religione (to which hee addes in reditibus regiis) ac legibus mutationes affert: A likelyhood (as hee ſaith) of ſome change, or alteration in Church affaires, in the Revenues of Kings, or more properly, in ſuch matters as at preſent the Parliament make uſe of, for maintenance of their Wars and affaires: and of altering or aboliſhing many lawes formerly in uſe. All this I grant him, and why may it not admit of thus much malignancy in the application thereof, viz. That the Kingdome are weary of the Presbireriall Government, and will not indure the ſmell of Elders, for Gentlemen are (commonly) Schollers, and doe naturally affect freedome in the Exerciſe of their Religion, and ſcorne to be conſtrained to give an account of their Beliefe to Broom-men, Coblers, Taylors, and Tinkers, or to any ſuch illiterate, mechanique and prophane fellowes, or to ſubject their underſtandings to the ſenſe and interpretation of ſo unſanctified a Societie, and ſhall therefore wiſh for, and (moſt juſtly) indeavour a change of Government in the Church. So likewiſe may his Majeſties Revenue (ſo long detained from him) be in a better poſſibility of regaining, or in ſome part reſtored to him, or at leaſt great means uſed to perſwade thoſe that have uſurped the Poſſeſſion and profits thereof to reſigne and accompt. And that many Ordinances, Orders, and Votes that have paſſed and been formerly enjoyn'd, and obſerved, as Lawes muſt admit of alteration and aboliſhment: but (as I have formerly noted) theſe things will not be done effectually this yeare, in regard of the ſmalneſs of the Defect, ſo that we ſhall be ſcarce ſenſible of its operation. Yet without all doubt the Dragons head in the tenth Houſe (in the intercepted ſigne Cancer) bodes very much good to his Majeſtie to be begun and wrought by the Scottiſh Nation, who ſhal partake of that influence. And whereas Lilly addes, that C[•]lerem Regis, Principis, vel nobiliſsimi viri alicujus infirmitatem, vel praeclari viri cujuſpiam mortem adducit: That this ſmall Eclipſe portends ſome ſudden infirmity, or caſualty to a King, Prince, or worthy man, perhaps ſome eminent and famous Man's death, &c. he had done well to have cyted his Author, or given his Reaſons for what he ſayes here, for I cannot pick out any ſuch ſignification from this Eclipſe, as Mercury is truly and really Lord thereof: nor as he hath made Mars and Saturne to be ſharers with him: Indeed Mars ſtirrs up Wars, inteſtine Seditions, tumultuous uprores, the wrath of Princes, and by that meanes ſome unexpected ſlaughter: And Saturne premonſtrates perturbation of the Humours, Fluxes, and Quarten Feavours, Poverty and Baniſhment, Dearth Penury, &c. but I find no ſuch ſudden infirmity, or caſualty to befall any King or Prince, &c. as he chattles of, yet Ile undertake for him, that if prince Griffith ſhould but this yeare fall aſunder of the Pocks; the next yeare after, Lilly will tell you that this Prediction was verified in him. Nor know I any reaſon why Scotland ſhould be at all concern'd in it, ſeeing the Eclipſe happeneth in the Fiery Trigon, and that the Aſcendent of Scotland, which is Cancer, is of another, viz. the Watery triplicity, nor at all aſpected by the Signe, wherein the Eclipſe happeneth, nor afflicted by either of the Malevolents, but rather fortified by the preſence of the Dragons Head in it (as before I noted) in the Mid-heaven; and although the Eclipſed Body be Diſpoſitrix of the ſigne Cancer, yet for the reaſons formerly given, the effects of the Eclipſe cannot be at all diſcerned in Scotland, or ſcarce in any part of England, and therefore it is but a foolery in William Lilly to make ſuch a fluttering and a noiſe about nothing: But I am well pleaſed to heare him ſcatter that one truth (if ſo it prove) that the Scots will ſtand like Okes unſhaken to their firſt Principles, &c. It behoves ſome body elſe to remember their Covenant, &c. And truly the Scots do owe William Lilly a great many thankes for his confiding Epithites: but I feare, I feare I ſhall heare him ere long, laſh out of his open Sepulchre as much and as vildly as ever he did againſt the King and the Cavaliers, though now he Court them, with the Titles of Prudent and Wiſe People. I hope they'le be wiſe enough, for thoſe they are to deale with.

What he ſayes againſt the Iriſh is not materiall: the more the Fox is curs'd, the better he thrives. But I ſuſpect Lilly to be one of thoſe London Adventurers, who were dividing the Beares skin, before hee was taken, (as his Majeſtie once told them) If he were, I preſume a man might purchaſe Lilly's ſhare of the Land in Ireland, at an eaſie rate: And although out of his Malice he tell them their Ruines approaching, and threaten them with Cupps, and even brimmers of vengeance; I believe he may drink them their off himſelfe, before they once pledge him. And although Booker (in his bloody Iriſh Almanack) hath diſgorg'd a filthy and confuſed heap, and maſſe of miſery, ruine and vengeance to befall that Kingdome, yet you have not heard of any conſiderable loſſe that they have ſuſtained ſince firſt that malicious lying Pamphlet peep'd out into the world, which beares date on Tueſday the 17th of March, 1645/6. But on the contrary have beene exceeding victorious, and ſucceſſefull beyond expectation, and at this preſent have all, or the moſt part of the Garriſons and ſtrong Holds in that Kingdome under their ſubjection; But I ſhall not (at preſent) take any more notice of that notorious peece of Non-ſenſe of John Bookers, becauſe I have reſerved the Examination and confutation thereof, to a particular diſcourſe comming out ſhortly, wherein I diſcover his groſſe Errors and miſtakes in point of Art, and plainly prove that his Pamphlet to be ſtuft with nothing but inveterate malice, and unparalell'd ignorance.

Lilly.

J will adde no diſtempered conceptions to this Diſcourſe enſuing, leſt J bee thought an Incendiary, J can breake out at what time J ſhall ſee my Pen may be uſefull, and profitable for the cauſe J ſo much honour,&c.

Wharton.

No (Sir) you muſt firſt have your Inke tempered, before you can counterfeit without ſuſpition: thoſe things you call your conceptions ſo naturall Rough, muſt be firſt Poliſh'd, before they can advantage the Cauſe, and run ſmoother, and with more ſhew of truth ere they ſhall deceive me. You dare not, you will not candidly, and impartially relate what you find recorded in the Regiſter of Heaven, leſt you ſhould bee taken for an Incendiary: that is, one that moves not by the wyre of the great Engine, one that ſpeaks the truth without feare, or flattery; and 'twere your utter undoing, ſhould the leaſt ſcruple of ingenuouſneſſe be obſerved in your Lines. Therefore (ſay you) I can breake out at what time I ſhall ſee my Pen may bee uſefull and profitable for the cauſe; That is to ſay, when I perceive the Scots and the Parliament fall aſunder, and diſ-joynted in their opinions and affections, then will I make the Starres every minute pick quarrels with the Scots, I ſhall then breake out of a ſudden, and propheſie nothing but loſſe, ruine, and deſtruction, and beggery, to that perfidious Nation: And that the States of England ſhall be victorious over them: I ſhall encourage our Souldiers, and diſanimate the Enemy, &c. whereby I hope to be uſefull and profitable for the Cauſe I ſo much honour, and bee rewarded well for my paines.

Lilly.

The Engliſh wearied with the ſad attendents of Warre, ſeeme at this preſent Suns ingreſſe into Aries, to bee deſirous of Peace, yet not willing to be baffled, or curb'd by any neighbour Nation, Kingdome, or People, or to have Lawes impoſed on them, contrary to their native humours and Cuſtomes, &c.

Wharton.

Great cauſe have the Engliſh, and eſpecially the poore Inhabitants of the North to grone under, and to be weary on, and to ſhake the intollerable burthen from off their ſhoulders, which ſo long they have been forced to trudge under like ſo many Aſſes: but where is the man that ſometimes ſo much hugg'd himſelfe with the very name of Liberty, that endeavours now but to eaſe, though not to free the poore Countrey from that bondage and ſlavery? who was the cauſe of their preſent miſery? who was is that hyred, and brought your deare Bretheren (the Scots) firſt into the bowels of this Kingdome? and where lyes the fault now they are not ſent home againe? Have the Scots baffled and outwitted your wiſe and grave Senators? Have they put you in mind of your Covenant, and thereby blaſted the fruit of your foure yeares—? What pitty it is you muſt not enjoy your Humours; what griefe it is you muſt yet be troubled with a King?

Lilly

I doe ſtill confide in the Integrity of the Scottiſh Nobility and Clergy, and hope there may be unity betwixt the two Nations,&c.

Wharton.

You Confide, and you Hope, but what is that to the Portents of Heaven? It is expected that you ſhould Aſtrologically, and thereby impartially relate, what the Signes, Planets, and Starres doe premonſtrate to happen in theſe Kingdomes, what ſignes they have of War, or what of Peace. Or in plaine tearmes, whether the former Unitie and League, betwixt the Scots and the Parliament is likely to bee broken, or continued: and of this it is that people would be ſatisfied, and not of your hopes, and your confidence, and yet any man that warily reads you, ſhall find you very dubious in your expreſſions, and to carry your ſelfe ſo cunningly, and in ſo equall a poize, that (for ought I have obſerved, the Reader may bee as well ſatisfied (in that point) from Erra Pater, as from your Anglicus, as hereafter ſhall appeare. And now we have done with the Prologue, the play begins.

Lilly.

Come wee now to the matter, and let us beleeve this will be a yeare of admiration, if wee doe credit Bonatus, fol. 514. Aſpice etiam in revolutione Anni, utrum Jupiter ingrediatur in [•], vel ſit in eo quoniam tunc augmentatur ejus virtus, & majorificantur ejus ſignificata, ſignificat enim res magnas & mutationes mirandas, & nominatas & durabiles, ad bonum tamen, &c. Behold, ſaith he, if Jupiter in the Revolution of a yeare be in Cancer, or enter that yeare into that Signe, then ſhall his influence, vertue, and ſuch actions as he naturally ſignifies, bee exceedingly augmented, and take place to purpoſe, then are matters deſigned by him exalted and magnified, then ſhall be wonderfull alterations, and eminent changes upon the Earth, matters durable and tending to the benefit of man-kind, or all things inclining to Peace and Tranquilitie,&c.

Wharton.

Having already diſcovered his decrepedneſſe in point of Art, I come now to rip him up in matter of judgement, and ſhall begin with this his firſt Aphoriſme, wherein the Reader may obſerve himſelfe ſufficiently abuſed, in the very quotation thereof: for, whoſoever will perſue that place of Guido, Colum. 514. may obſerve, that Lilly (to fit the words for his turne) hath left out at leaſt two lines of the Aphoriſme. For, thus the words are in Guido: Aſpice etiam in revolutione anni, utrum Jupiter ingrediatur in [•], vel ſit in eo maxime in 15. grad. ejus, quoniam tunc augmentatur ejus virtus, & majorificantur ejus ſignificata, Et eò fortius ſi receperit diſpoſitionem alicujus fortunarum ſignificabit enim res magnas, & mutationes mirandas & nominatas, & durabiles, ad bonum tamen, &c. So that the words here marked (by a different Letter) he hath quite expunged, whereby it is plaine, that this Aphoriſme hath but little force, unleſſe that Jupiter were in the 15 degree of Cancer (which now hee is not) or that he received the diſpoſition of the Fortunes, which in this Revolution he doth not, for Jupiter is in the 28 degr. 25 min. of Cancer, and within 3 degrees of Malevolent Mars, whereby he is much afflicted and weakened: and although he be in the Signe of his Exaltation, yet he is there ſlow in motion, Occidentall of the Sun, and Retrograde, and Planeta Retrogradus nihil boni ſignificat, donec dirigatur, A retrograde Planet hath no ſignification of that which is good, untill he be direct. It is true, that within five dayes, he begins to move ſlowly forward, yet, that brings him to a perfect Conjunction with Mars the 23 day of March, and they will not be fully ſeparated from each others Beames of a ſudden, by which Jupiter is very much debilitated: And notwithſtanding that Mars is in his Fall, yet he is the ſtrongeſt ſave one in the Figure; ſo that I cannot perceive upon what ground in Aſtrology he ſhould Prognoſticate of Peace and Tranquilitie from the Poſition of Jupiter in the latter part of Cancer, conſidering him ſo weake and unhappy, by reaſon of his Conjunction with Mars, &c. and that hee ſtaies no longer in that Signe then the 15 of April. Beſides, let him conſider what Meſsahalack tells him: Conjunctio Jovis & Martis ſignificat accidentia quae fiunt ex pluviis, & nivibus, & corruptionem aëris atque bellum: Si autem vincit in eorum Conjunctione fortuna, ſignificat fortunam, & ſi malus malum: Scito etiam quia quotieſcunque juncta fuerit fortuna cum malo, apparebit natura fortioris eorum, &c.

The Conjunction of Jupiter and Mars hath ſignification of ſuch Events as are cauſed of Raine and Snow: It foretels corruption of the Aire and Warre: And if a Fortune predominate at the time of their Conjunction, he ſignifieth that which is wholſome and good, but if a Malevolent, the contrary: underſtand alſo, that ſo often as a fortunate Planet ſhall bee joyned with a Malevolent, the naturall Effects of that which is ſtrongeſt ſhall appeare.

Now if William Lilly could but have ſet a Figure rightly to the Apparent time of this Conjunction of Jupiter and Mars, which happens (by the Rudolphine Tables) upon the 23 day of March, at ſeven a clock and 14 min. P. M. in the Meridian of London, & would but have taken the paines to collect the ſeverall Fortitudes and Debilities of Each Planet at the time of their meeting, he might have found Mars much ſtronger then Jupiter, and likewiſe elevated above him (ſecundum Latitudinem:) hee might alſo have obſerved the Conjunction to be in Scotlands Horoſcopicall Signe, and neare the Cuſpe of the 10. Houſe, Saturne (their Senators Significator) unfortunatly poſited in the houſe of Death, &c. And the Moone (his Majeſties as being Lady of the tenth Houſe, and Diſpoſitria of the Conjunction in the fifth in a mutuall Reception with Jupiter, beholding Saturne with a Sextile aſpect, and the Signe Cancer with a Trine: and Venus yet in her Detriment, and applying to the Quartile Aſpect of Jupiter and Mars: and the Sun the other Significator of his Majeſtie in his Exaltation, &c. with Mercury in the 6. Houſe from the Aſcendent: Which ſeverall Poſitions being deliberatly conſidered, and rightly applyed, could have afforded him but ſmall ground of pronouncing Peace and Tranquility.

Moreover, Conjunctio Jovis & Martis, ſignificat mortem divitis & magnae famae, idque eo fortius, ſi fuerit in Signo fixo: The Conjunction of Jupiter and Mars, portends the death of a rich and famous Man, and ſo much the rather if it happen in a fixed Signe: but Cancer is a moveable Signe, and by ſo much the leſſe feare there is of the death of ſuch a perſon: I rather conceive that this Aphoriſme preſages only that ſome ſuch perſon ſhall have his Honour, (and may be his life) queſtioned, and bee thereby in ſome perill of being deprived of both. However, you may perceive by what hath bin ſaid, that William Lilly hath greatly deceived the Reader, by this falſe quotation out of Bonatus, and that all things conſidered, he had no cauſe or ground in Aſtrology to delude the world with a vaine hope of Peace and Tranquility, when nothing but Contention, Warring, & Bloodſhed is threatned by the great dominion of Mars, and the infortunate poſiture of Jupiter in the Revolution. And if Lilly would learne when this ſhall happen Lupoldus wil tell him; Belli tempus eſt cum fuerit Mars in oppoſito, vel Quartili aſpectu Jovis, vel Saturni: When Mars ſhall be in an Oppoſite, or Quartile Aſpect of Jupiter or Saturne: And when's that? Let but our Ephemeris-maſter looke in May 1647. and againſt the 22. day he ſhall find a hatefull Square betweene Saturne and Mars; and in October following upon the 21 day will be a moſt terrible Oppoſition of Saturne and Mars, which will be very dreadfull and ominous to many parts of England and Scotland; and upon the 28. day of the ſame October, is another Square betwixt Jupiter and Mars: and no doubt but we ſhall heare of much Contention and Bloodſhed about thoſe times. I have noted every of theſe Aſpects before-mentioned in my Calender for 1647. againſt the day of the Moneth whereon they happen, to which I referre you.

Lilly.

In the interim let thoſe whom it may concerne (and many are herein concern'd) receive from mee this Aſtrologicall Caball judgement, either in jeſt, or in earneſt, as they pleaſe, &c.

He or they, King or Kings, Prince or Princes, Nobles, Gentlemen, or of any Quality ſoever, ſhall indeavour the advance of a Forraigne Army or State amongſt us (as it is certainly determined) to yoke us, and deſtroy this preſent Parliament, he or they ſhall never attaine his or their deſires, ſhall periſh in the Deſigne, ſhall never againe make his or their peace with this Kingdome of England.I know we are threatned, it muſt bee ſo, but woe to the invader; Invaders, or procurers of our Invaſion; the Invaded ſhall prevaile, viz.the Parliament and Commonalty of England;and although we ſhall be in danger of betraying, yet ſhall wee behold another providence contradicting that Treacherie, even in the nicke of time, for this Kingdome ofEngland, is not ordained untill the worlds end, to be any more conquered, we ſhall give, but not receive Lawes, &c.

Wharton.

All the ambition & aime of this trifling fellow is to be thought a Necromancer, a Conjurer, another Lullius, Trithemius, or the Ghoſt of Agrippa, or what ever you will have him to be, ſo he may but obtaine a popular eſteeme, and by that meanes more eaſily cozen and cheate the poore people of their money, for otherwiſe why ſhould he monſtre ſuch a confured heape of ridling traſh without giving any reaſon, or naming any Author for what he ſaith: and if you peruſe it ſeriouſly, and compare it with the 4. laſt lines of the 4th following Page, you will find him plainly contradicting himſelfe, for whereas in his Caball judgement, hee ſaith that the Advance of a Forraigne Army or State is certainly determined to yoake us and deſtroy the Parliament, &c. yet there he affirmeth that we ſhall not be oppreſſed with any invaſive, or domeſtique War: And if Invaſion were but attempted, I beleeve it would puzzle us, and more then oppreſſe us: But were Aſtrology the ground of this judgement of his, he might have told us a more probable, though not ſo pleaſant a ſtory as he concludes with. For, let this Cabaliſt but looke into Lupoldus de Revolutionibus, and he ſhall find theſe words, Victor erit qui invadit, ſi dominus 4tae, vel 7ae in prima fuerit, vel in 10ae. If the Lord of the fourth Houſe, or the Lord of the ſeventh Houſe ſhall be in the Aſcendent or Mid-heaven, it ſignifies that the Invader (or Invaders) ſhall prevaile againſt, and overcome the Invaded. And now (Good-man Merline) is not Saturne Lord of the ſeventh Houſe, and poſited almoſt in the very Cuſpe of the Tenth? If this Aphoriſme prove true (as poſſibly it may, if the Scots and Parliament fall to pieces) you muſt invent other Epithites for the Scots, then Prudent, Wiſe, and Religious people, or elſe I know what will become of you. I will not urge this Aphoriſme any further, as how farre it may concerne Ireland, or France, &c. leſt I bee counted an Incendiary; but a few moneths longer wil produce a Miracle, &c.

And for this Caball judgement, bee it in jeſt, or be it in earneſt, I hold it for no better then a mere Scar-crow purpoſely deviſed to deterre his Majeſties friends from any longer adhering to him; but it is in vain, for ſo much true Policy have that Party, that if any deſigne were a foot, whereby to reſtore his Majeſtie to the Rights of his Crowne, &c. and to regaine their owne, they would not be diſcouraged in the proſecution thereof, upon the reading of your fooleries, and this (ſir) you may beleeve upon the reputation of a Cavaliere.

Lilly.

If we conſider the profectionall Figure of the laſt Conjunction of Saturne andJupiter, wee ſhall find Aries aſcending, and the Sun, Saturne, Iupiter, and Mercuryall in Cancer, both the one figure and the other, as alſo that of the Annuall returne of the Sun to his place at the Parliaments beginning promiſe us exceeding faire this yeare, &c.

VVharton.

I have conſidered the Profectionall Figure of the laſt Conjunction of Saturne and Jupiter, and find the Sun, Saturne Iupiter and Mercury, as you ſay all in Cancer; yes, and more then that I obſerved Aries aſcending, and Piſces Culminating, Venus in Gemini, and Luna in Libra: and I have made inſpection into the ſixth Revolution of the Sun, to his place at the Parliaments beginning, and there I meet with the ſeventh degree of Virgo aſcending, and the laſt degree of Taurus Culminating, and that Mercury Lord of the Aſcendent is in 12 degr. 45 min. of Scorpio & ſubradiis ſolis: and the Moon is in 5 degr. 20 min. of Aquarius in oppoſition to Jupiter and Mars, who are neare unto a perfect Conjunction in the eleventh Houſe of the Figure in Leo, and ſhe is alſo haſtening to a Quartile with Saturne in the ninth. And I thinke (ſir) you'le not deny but that Mercury and the Moon are your Senators ſignificators: ſo that how faire ſoever you imagine theſe poſitions to promiſe you: I am aſſured they will performe but ſlowly, you had done well to have ſhewn us ſome teſtimony of the Peace you mention, but as you have denyed us that favour, let mee inſtance you one teſtimony to croſſe your conceit. You may ſee (ſir) that Jupiter and Mars are there alſo in Conjunction, and that in Leo, a Signe of the Fiery Triplicitie, which is farre worſe then their Conjunction in Cancer; for, Mars in Leone ſignificat bella & contentiones, & paucitatem annonae in partibus orientalibus, & erit Mars in hominibus, & maxime in juvenibus 40. Annorum uſque ad 50. in pueris tamen erit hoc fortius. It ſignifies Wars and wranglings, and ſcarcity of Corne, in the Eaſterne parts, and Mortality amongſt men, but eſpecially to ſuch as are betwixt 40. and 50. yeares old. Notwithſtanding, this ſhall be moſt operative amongſt children. And thus faire (and no fairer) are you promiſed by the Annuall returne of the Sun to his place at the Parliaments Commencement, if you will credit Bonat. Colum. 365. ſo that you ſee what ever our Merline hath indeavoured to gull the people with, yet the Heavens ſpeake no ſuch Language, they tell us of nothing but Warre and ſtrife, &c. What the Poſition of Saturne in the 10. ſignifies in the Vernall Ingreſſe, I have publiſh'd in my Prognoſtication: And if I ſhould grant him what ſo much he deſires and urgeth, viz. that Saturn's being in the Midd-heaven ſhould portend ſome ſorrow and affliction to the King: yet Albumazar (a man of better credit) affords us this comfort; Si fuerit dominae decimae domus Venus (as ſhe is in this Revolution) ſignificat quod ſequetur ex hac tribulatione proſperitatem atque ſublimitatem & gaudium atque profectum. If Venus be Lady of the tenth Houſe, it ſheweth that his affliction and ſorrow, ſhall bee turn'd into joy, proſperity, ſublimitie, and advantage, the ſight whereof, will even breake the Malitious heart of this proditorious peaſant.

Lilly.

And for the ſignification of Venus,who is under the Sun beames, and thereby much impedited and deſcending into the eighth, though now locally in the ninth, it portends a diſturbed fancy, and a perſon not free, or much enlarged, for the Sun Lord of the 12. and Venus are within Orbes: her debilities promiſe him no great good: ſignificat enim, quod eveniat Regi in revolutione illa ira, & triſtitia, & contentio, ſimiliter atque timor: ſhe as poſited, is the ſignifier of much anger, malecontentedneſſe, and controverſie, and the Concluſion which is worſt of all, ſaith, that he ſhall be in great feare, &c. of what, I am ſilent?

Wharton.

I have told you in my Prognoſtication, that Venus her fortitudes, exceeds the number of her Debilities by 8, and is therefore to be accounted ſtrong and powerfull in the Figure, ſo that what detriment ſoever her debilities might promiſe, her fortitudes (being ſo many more in number) doe utterly extinguiſh and annihilate, whereby is clearly ſignified good fortune and authority to Officials, and other of the Kings head Officers, and that the King ſhall proſper in his affaires. So that the Reader may perceive your owne Fancy ſo diſturbed, and clowded, as that you cannot fancy, or diſcerne any ſentence or Aphoriſme that hath any ſhew in it of good towards his Majeſtie, but indeavour to conceale all things that tend thereunto againſt your owne conſcience, and the Principles of Art. Nor can (in my opinion) the Sun and Venus their being within Orbes, portend any kind of reſtraint to his Majeſty, but rather abſolute freedome, in regard they are both his Majeſties ſignificators, and behold the Cuſpe of the twelfth Houſe with an Aſpect of true and perfect Amity.

Lilly.

But let me examine Aſtrologically, whether there be any affection, or unity, betwixt his Majeſty and Subjects, which you may diſcerne ſaith Bonatus, Fol. 526. Per Conjunctionem ſignificationem ad invicem, viz. by the Conjunction of each ſignificator to other, or with other; vel per eorum aſpectum cum receptione, quia ille ex ſignificatoribus qui recipit alium, committit illi diſpoſitionem,or by the mutuall aſpect of the Significators with Reception; for obſerve whoſe Significators receives the other, commits his diſpoſition, or vertue to the Planet received, or more properly may be ſaid to be ruled or directed by him. Here doe I find the Sun Significator of our Honourable Patriots at Weſtminſter, in his Exaltation, receivingVenus (his Majeſties) in her detriment, viz. in a low condition, &c.

Wharton.

If the Conjunction of the Sun and Venus had ſeene by Application, or a perfect conjunction, you had ſaid ſomething to the purpoſe, but (Mr. Wiſdome) you ſee Venus is ſeparated from him, and the Moone, who is Significatrix of your Honourable Patriots is haſting to an Oppoſition with them both, which are ſignes of ſmall Affection, or unitie betwixt them; and as for that Reception you mention to be betwixt them; I will not grant any, for I learn'd when I was in my A. B. C. of Aſtrology, that Receptio eſt duplex, una ex domicilio, altera ex exaltatione: It is either from Houſe, or Exaltation, which you cannot find here betwixt the Sun and Venus; for, althought the Sun be in his Exaltation, yet Venus is not in hers, ſo that there is no Reception in reſpect of Exaltation, and for matter of Houſe you'le grant there can be none. Yet I remember Zael admits of this, and one more, as a kind of Reception; and Origanus takes notice of them in him and Schonerus, and calls them Receptiones minores but he does not commend, or allow them, but rather ſets a marke upon them for invalid and ſuperſtitious, for ſaith he, poſteriores receptiones non niſi in particulari et ad ſuperſtitionem inclinante judicio locum habent. Pag. 427. So that if the Commonalty, or Kingdom be no more obedient and kind to the King, then this reception inclines them to, I ſhall deſpaire of any Peace or Tranquility this yeare, nor expect better ſucceſſe of their formall addreſſes, then formerly.

Lilly.

If we run a ſtraine above Aſtrology, the Hermeticall Learning will tell us, that the Angells Samael, and Malchidael are the Intelligences, or preſiding Angells of the Engliſh Common-wealth and Kingdom, and Generally every Aſtrologer is ſatisfied, that Marsis the Planet, and Aries the ſigne to which Great Britaine is Subject. If the greater Angell and his Miniſter ſtand firme for us, as its thought they doe, and if the Planet be well fortified and the Aſcending ſigne of this Kingdome not afflicted, I ſee no cauſe in nature to miſtruſt any gewerall misfortune to happen within this Kingdome to the Inhabitants thereof in this preſent yeare 1647. For though we find Mars our Engliſh Aſtrologicall, Planet in his Fall, yet we have him very potently placed in the Heavens, in Conjunction withIupiter and Caput Draconis, in the 11. houſe, and what Authors deliver upon ſuch a Poſition as this, you ſhall be your owne Judges that read the diſcourſe: Si Iupiter fuerit in undecima, ſignificat lucra et merces in omnibus rebus, Haly 378. When Iupiter is in the 11. Houſe he intimates much trade and merchandizing, and great wealth obtained thereby. Si quidem Iupiter fuerit in undecima ſignificat laudem et bonam famam ex parte amicorum, et quod gaudebant homines, et erunt in alacritate, et bonus effectus, et profectus in rebus de quibus habebunt homines fiduciam, et de quibus ſperant bonum Bonat. 567. Iupiter as new poſited portends great comfort from friends, and that they ſhall merit honour and a good name, that men ſhall rejoice and be cheerfull, and have good effect and encouragement in the actions they ſeeke after, and of which matters they themſelves expected good. If wee would dilate, or exemplify, why from hence may we not expect all faithfullneſſe and honourable correſpondency from the Scottiſh Nation; contrary to the expectation of ſome, and thoſe not a few that divine otherwaies.

Wharton.

If William Lilly run out quite from his Witts, I ſhall here make him underſtand (if not acknowledge an other very groſſe Error of his, notwithſtanding the Angells Samael and Malchidael doe both of them take his part: for though I grant him that Mars is more powerfull then he ſpeakes of, yet is the Signe Aſcending of this Kingdome ſufficiently afflicted, by the Platique Square of Mars unto it, (who is alſo within 3. degrees of Conjunction with the Lord of the eight Houſe, which is the Houſe of death, labour ſadneſſe, and heavineſſe, heritage of dead men, and the end of life, and the Aſcendent of the revolution is no leſſe afflicted by the Quartile of Saturne unto it: and the Moone, who is Lady of the Houre (although he hath here forgot to mention her, is ſeparate from the Sextile of Mars and in a partill Sextile with Jupiter, but comes immediately to a Diametricall configuration with Aries Englands Horoſcopicall Signe; whereby you might have ſeene (if you had not beene worſe then purblind) cauſe too much to miſtruſt ſome generall misfortune to befall the Inhabitants of this Kingdome: I doe not love to create new jealouſies and feares, but I preſume Will. Lilly will not (upon ſecond thoughts) deny what I have ſaid, nor that hee hath plaid the foole in giving judgement of Jupiters poſiture in the eleventh only, withour mixing the nature of Mars with him, who is there likewiſe ſo powerfull, and neare unto Conjunction with him. But I have elſewhere told you what their Accidentall Scite there doth ſignifie, and therefore ſhall not need to give him any further anſwer in this particular, ſince what hee here reiterares, is, only to clear his Brethren the Scots, leſt they become unruly, & kick out that ſmall proportion of his idle brains.

Lilly.

And ſurely were not Mars overſwayed by the preſence of Jupiter in that Nations aſcending Signe, I ſhould ſomewhat doubt of them my ſelfe, but I doe not, for the truth is Religion and Faith, overmaſters their naturall Policy, Really; Mars in undecima inimicitias amicorum praenotat: Mars in the 11. deſtroyes the Leagues and friendſhips of People, &c.

Wharton.

And ſurely William Lilly a Horne-book-blade, hee would not divulge ſo much of his ignorance at one clap, as to ſay that Mars is overſwayed by the preſence of Jupiter, cujus contrarium verum eſt; for as before I have proved, Mars is the ſtrongeſt ſave only the Moone: and Jupitar the weakeſt but Mercury in all the Figure, as will appeare to any man that will take the paines to collect the Dignities and Debilities of the Planets reſpectively in the Figure. And therefore hee hath good reaſon to doubt of himſelfe, and to ſuſpect the Scottiſh Nation will become Converts: which if they did not, wee (Malignants) ſhould have queſtioned, whether they had any Religion, or Faith at all? But to the matter: Mars in the 11. Houſe preſages ſomething elſe then amicorum inimicitias, if you had not abuſed Guido Bonatus Colum. 571. and in him the whole Kingdome: whoſe words (if he had not beene interrupted by this unmannerly clowne) had been thus; Mars in 11• domo, ſignificat paucitatem lucri, ſeu profectus in rebus de quibus ſpaeratur utilitas; & quod cadent in inimicitias amicorum, & ſignificat diminutionem ſubſtantiae, & deſperabant homines derebus in quibus habebatur ſiducia, & quibus ſpaerebatur: That is, Mars in the eleventh Houſe foretells but little profit, or gaine in thoſe things by which profit was expected, and that they ſhall fall at enmitie with their friends. Alſo, the diminution of their ſubſtance, and that men ſhall utterly deſpaire of ever obtaining what they moſt truſted to, and expected. This Aphoriſme carryes a great deale of matter in ſit, in relation it hath to the differences depending and impending betwixt the Scots and the Parliament: and therefore it was not held fitting to be publiſhed, or communicated (by our miſterious Merline) without a Fee. The plaine Engliſh of it is, that (according to naturall cauſes) it is moſt evident that the Parliament, &c. ſhall be fruſtrated in their expectation; that they ſhall be mvch deceived, and deprived of the profit and commoditie, which might have accrued unto them, by having the King at their owne diſpoſall: and that for this cauſe they ſhall fale fall at difference with, and incurre the diſlike and enmity of thoſe that were formerly their friends and confederates, who ſhall account them no otherwiſe then ſuch as have forgot and neglected their Covenant with God and man, &c. And hereupon they diſpaire of the Scottiſh Religion, becauſe it is come nearer the Kings, and of their Faith, becauſe they have not ſo much credulity as to intereſt them alone in the diſpoſall of his Majeſties Perſon: and hence ariſe new diſcords and contentions, and greater taxes are impoſed then ever upon the poore Kingdome, whereby mens Eſtates are exhauſted and conſumed, and freſh miſeries daily approaching, if not timouſly prevented.

What he cites out of Haly concerning Jupiters poſiture in the 11 Houſe, I have ſufficiently answered and explained before, upon the words which he quoted from Bonatus, for the ſame thing.

And thus farre hath Mr. Lilly made his progreſſe in preaching Peace and Tranquilitie to the People, to what purpoſe I have ſufficiently declared? and now he comes to the Qualitie of the yeare, wherein I ſcorne to detract the leaſt ſcruple from him of whats his due, but ſhall agree with him in every thing which he performs but any thing like an Artiſt, (though he ſtumble of it againſt his will) his quotation of Bonatus Pag. 55. (by great fortune) is very true and pertinent, whereby is proved a yeare of ſcarcity of Corne and other Proviſion for the uſe of man: But the application of his next Aphoriſme out of Haly is very illicite, and ignorant, for although he affirme it ſhall aſſuredly come to paſſe in thoſe parts of this Kingdome, which lye South-Eaſt, and full South from London, but nothing ſo violently as in the Kingdom of Ireland: I ſhall prove him here and errand Bo[•]cher: For, if he had underſtood the Aphoriſme; Saturn ought to both infortunate in alto loco, and elevated above all the other Planets, or otherwiſe it hath no ſignification, which he is not in this Figure; For although he be weake in his Eſſentiall Dignities, yet conſidering his other Accidentall fortitudes, he is indifferent ſtrong and powerfull, ſo that the Aphoriſme will not ſerve for this Poſition. And if you will know the principall waies by which a Planet may be ſaid to be elevated above another, they are three, viz.

In reſpect of their

• Latitude from the Ecliptique.
• Nearneſſe to their Auges,
• Poſition in the Figure.

A Planet is ſaid to be elevated above another (according to Ganivetus (cap. 1. differ. 3. of his booke entituled Amicus medicorum) who hath greateſt Northerne Latitude from the Ecliptique: now if we Calculate rightly, we ſhall find Mars elevated above all the reſt of the Planets, the moone expected, for he hath 3. degrees of North Latitude, and Saturnes Latitude is meridionall no leſſe then 2. degrees 6. min. So Iupiter hath 0. degree 47. min. of North Latitude, Venus, 1 degree. 10. min. and Mercury 2 degree 5. min. both South, and the [•] indeed hath 4. degree 47. min. of N. Latitude ſo that in reſpect of Latitude, Saturne is the moſt depreſſed of all the Planets in the Figure, and the moone moſt elevated next Mars, and then Jupiter.

The next way is in reſpect of a Planets pro piuquitie to his Auge, according to Altohazen Haly in his Comment upon Ptolomy: So that the Planet which is neareſt the Summitie of his Epicyle, is elevated above another, which is further removed thence, and if we conſider here which of the Planets is moſt elevated ſecundum Augem, wee ſhall finde that Mercury is in Apog. Epicicli. 12. March Mars is in Apog. Eccentr. the 14. of March, and Saturne is not in Apog. Epicicli untill the 4. of May following: ſo that this way Mercury and Mars are both elevated above Saturne.

And hereby the way will I put Mr. Merline in mind of one miſtake in this kind committed in his Englands Propheticall Merline Pag. 78. Where he hath put Saturn tranſire Apoge. on 20. Martii & Jupiter Epicicli ſui ſuperiorem partem 23. Martii, wheras Saturne is in Apog. Epicili the 10. of March and Jupiter the 13. ſo but only 10. daies Error in each committed.

The 3. way by which a Planet may be ſaid to be elevated is in reſpect of their places in the Figure; as he that is above the earth is more elevated then he that under is the Horizon, he that is in the 12. Houſe is elevated above an other Planet in the Aſcendent, he that is in the 11. above any i[•] the 12. and he that is in the 10. above any other in the Figure as indeed Saturn is now: And if all the Planets were under the Horizon, then that which is neareſt to the Aſcendent is ſaid to be moſt Elevated; but this is not ſo much conſidedered by Aſtrologers as their elevation in reſpect of Latitude, and of their proximitie to their Auges, or if it were, yet you ſee there is two to one againſt Wil. Lilly: For Saturne is neither elevated above all the other Planets in reſpect of Latitude, nor in reſpect of his Auge, and therefore that Aphoriſme of Halyes hath no ſignification here, Saturne being neither infortunatus in alto loco, nec ſublevatus ſuper omnes alios planetas as William Lilly ſuppoſes him: So that the South, and South-eaſt parts of this Kingdome need not feare this poſiture at all.

Next I deſire the reader to obſerve that he hath cut off▪ corrupted, and miſunderſtood that Aphoriſme in Bonatus 574 viz ſignificat naufragia repente, &c. For that Aphoriſme is not deduced from the dominion of Mars in the 4 and 9 houſes of the figure, but (as you may ſee in Guido) from the ſcituation of Mars in Cancer and his triplicity, and the words of Bonat: are theſe, Et ſi fuerit Mars in Revolutione anni in Cancro, vel elus triplicitate: & maxime in Cancto, erit apparitio eorum, quae ſignificaverit in partibus Septentrionalibus: and thus much of that Aphoriſme Maſter Merline hath quite left out, which is thus much in Engliſh: if Mars in the yeares revolution ſhall be in Cancer or his triplicity, but eſpecially in Cancer, the viſibility of his effects ſhall be in the Northern parts of the Kingdome: Further In Cancro ſignificat naufragia repente venientia ex forti atque ſubito flatu ventorum, & ſignificat rixam atque contentionem, & bellum, &c. Mars in Cancer hath ſignification of unexpected ſhipwracks, happening by fierce and ſudden gales of wind; he alſo portends ſtrife, contention, and warre, &c.

Lilly

Gaudebunt Reges, & habebunt laetitiam, & ſecuritatem, that our principall Governours and officers that have with ſuch induſtry theſe many years ſteered the affairs of our Kingdome ſhall in this year rejoice.

Wharton

(indeed) Lilly) you ſteere by a falſe Chart, for there is no ſuch thing abſolutely ſignified to the Governours you ſpeak of from the ſunne as he is Lord of the aſcendant, for he that will look into Guido Pag. 575 whence he takes this judgement, ſhall find the words to carry another ſence, viz. Et ſi fuerit Sol Dominus, Anni, ac Dominus aſcendentis fueritque liber a malis, dixit Albumazar, gaudebunt Reges, & habebunt letitiam & ſecuritatem, ſo that if you expect to have benefit by this aphoriſme the Sunne muſt not onely be Lord of the aſcendent, but free from the Malevolents, but he muſt alſo be Lord of the yeare, which he is not in this revolution; and how farre ſoever this aphoriſme may be in force, the King will have the beſt ſhare thereof, if the Sunne be the naturall ſignificator of Kings as all authors accord: nor ſhall thoſe Governours he talks of want their part of what the Sunnes accidentall poſition in the 8 houſe doth ſignifie. viz. depreſſionem Divitum & Magnatum, ſeu Nobilium atque potentum, eorumque diminutionem, & mortem, ac improperium Bonat. 577. I'le lay my life this aphoriſme belongs to the Roundheads. What Venus portendeth in the 9 as ſhe is ſignificatrix of his Majeſty, I have told you in my Prog. and what Mr. Lilly hath added out of Bonat 579 is not amiſſe; onely his application is like all the reſt, as idle and fooliſh as may be, in that it concerns all the Clergy in generall, and not the Prick-ear'd Divines onely, as every Artiſt can teſtifie.

Now, for that William Lilly ſeemes to be very much offended with one Maſter Geere, who (as he ſaith) was ſometimes a prieſt of Tewksbury, and hath lately writ a Pamphlet called Aſtrologo-maſtrix, (which indeed is as full of old idle Sophiſtry, as Maſter Lilly is of Malice, and Ignorance) yet I hold it no ſufficient anſwer to tell him a ſtory of a Weathercock, or a Cock and Bull, in ſtead of denying and avoyding his Arguments by better Reaſon: nor is it Scholler like, or favours at all of Common Civility, to fall upon ſcandalizing of a mans Reputation, when he hath not wit enough to require him otherwiſe. I think (Lilly) you would ſcarce accept of it as a ſufficient anſwer from me, if in ſtead of correcting your errours, I ſhould tell the world that you were but a Taylours Boy in Saint Clements Pariſh, and that the ſummity of all your honour was to be afterwards a Scriveners Man, and that he dyng your Mrs taught you firſt to write Secretary, in which reſpect I account you not worthy of the juſt revenge of my Pen: This (though it be true) were but mean Logick, but the truth is, you are lame of that legge, and therefore you may do well to borrow a crutch of Maſter Thomas Challoner, that preciſe Logitian, &c.

Nor does it grieve me at all that I ſuffer ſo much for the juſtneſſe of the Cauſe which I have undertaken and ſworn to, as to be traduced by you, with the tearmes of an obſcure footman, ungownd, and unbooted, &c. the time was when I have been on Horſeback, where neither Lillie, nor Booker durſt have ſhown their faces, and 'tis no matter whether I weare Boots or Shoes, either ſhall content me: I have both, and if I want a Colledge Gown, I believe (Sir) you'r not in ſo much credit as to take one up for me till my nex yeares Almanack may defray your engagement, however you are not ſo much Maſter of your trade, as to make it for me, for (to ſay the truth) I was told you Maſter was a womans Tailour.

I find nothing left now worthy my notice, ſave onely the Quadrate Aſpect of Saturn to Jupiter, which hapeneth this year, which (Maſter Merline) ſaith onely ſignifieth mutationes. & res multas [〈◊〉] in Negotiis Regis, ſimiliter & in lege, very great aterations, and many things concerning his Majeſties affairs and the Law: but you ſee Maſter Merline dare not tell us his author, and (indeed) he either will not, or dare not; yet nevertheleſſe I have trac'd him, and found Haly to be the authour of thoſe words, and of ſome other proceedings, which you may gueſſe he was unwilling to publiſh, by the tenour of them, Haly pag. 391 they run thus: Significat (ſaith Haly) quod exiſtent Rebelles qui adverſabuntur Regi, & qui querunt regnum, &c. The plain Engliſh is this, it ſignifieth that there ſhall be Rebels (and traytors, who ſhall riſe and oppoſe themſelves againſt the King, who ſhall endevour to deprive him of his Kingdome, &c. and this together with the former, is the genuine ſignification of the ſquare of Saturn, and Jupiter; and theſe very words I had noted in my Almanack, but the Printer maliciouſly expunged and altered them and divers more, whereby he hath unworthily abuſed me, and made my Almanack look weatherbeat lik himſelf.

As for the Conjunction of Saturn and Mars in Taurus, which Maſter Merline, ſaith, hath been ſo learnedly handled by John Booker; I have ſufficiently laid him open in that diſcourſe I formerly mentioned; and no doubt, but it will ſerve both their turns: yet I cannot paſſe by one groſſe errour (above all the reſt) committed by this woodden Prick-eare John Booker, in his new Almanack for 1647 (which may be eaſily known, by the ſigne of the Logger-head in the front of it) upon his judgements of the yeare at the Vernall ingreſſe, where he ſaith that Jupiter is in Aſcendente hora revolutionis, and accordingly drawes fine Peaceable judgement from Iupiter, being in the Aſcendent, when notwithſtanding, Iupiter is above 30 degrees (or a whole ſigne) diſtant from thence, and ſo in the 11 houſe, as you may ſee in William Lillies Figura mundi, in his Anglicus, erected, for the ſame time and place, by which the Reader may perceive what certainty can be in this dull fellows Prognoſticks, who is thus palpably & intolerably erronious, as to miſſe no leſſe then a whole ſigne in the place of one Planet?

And thus have I diligently and carefully examined William Lillies Diſcourſe, wherein I find him very fooliſhly raſh, and even brim full of malice and ignorance; and do now aſſuredly know him unworthy the name of an Artiſt. I could have taken notice of a great many more Errours, &c. and particularly in his Tranſlation of thoſe firſt 50 Aphoriſmes of Ptolomi[•]s Centil[•]qui, wherein he ſhowes himſelf ignorant in the Originall, ſo hath he infected ſome of them with his own fooliſh Commentaries, and (amongſt the reſt) a ridiculous ſtory of a ſuit of cloths, that he tore many holes in, in going a nutting, when the Moon was ill dignified in Lea, which ſuit he ſayes did never do him any ſervice after: whereby you ſee that Lilly is as bad a Taylor, as he is an Aſtronomer, that could mend his own cloathes no better. The truth is, he was not born to be a workman. But I ſhall reſerve my other more ſerious obſervations till I heare further from him, which if ever I do, I promiſe to laſh him without mercy, in the interim I ſhould adviſe ſuch Gentlemen as deſire to be inſtructed in this kind of Learning, to ſhake off theſe ignorant fellows, and apply themſelves to Doctor Nicholas, Fisk Doctor Scarborough, Maſter Jonas, Moore, or Maſter, Holland, who are all of them ſingular Artiſts, and men of honeſt and cleare intentions.

FJNIS.