FOR to haue cleare, and easye vn­derstandynge of the vse, and practyse of the Ephemerides, in le­uynge all superflu­ous thynges & wor­des, it is conuenient first to note that at the begynnynge: and entrynge of euerye Ephemerides, is wryt­ten the yeare for the whyche it serueth, and apperteyneth, and after there folow­eth the common thynges of the ecclesia­sticall compost and kalender, that is too saye, the circle of the moone, called the golden nombre, the circle of the sunne, the Dominicall letter, and the Indyc­tion Romane, called in latten Indictio Romana, wyth the monthes and dayes, [Page] vpon the whyche the mouable feastes in that yeare maye be celebrated accordyng to their order.

COnsequentlye are noted and figu­red the eclypses of the sunne, and of the moone, whyche shall appere the same yeare, and fyrste is wrytten the monthe, daye, hower, and mynute, of the mydle time of the sayde eclypses, that is to saye, when the sunne or the moone, shall come into the moste obscuration, or darckenes that maye then happen vnto theym, afterwardes is noted the halfe of the tyme that the sayed eclipses shall en­dure, or continewe, that is to saye from the begynnynge vnto the greatest obscu­ration abouesayde, or from that darknes vnto the ende: thirdlye are noted the par­tes of the sunne, or of the moone, whych shalbe eclypsed, and they are called eclip­ty [...]e poyntes, as well in the perticuler eclipses, as in the vniuersall, and it is cō ­ueniente to ymagen that the Diametre vysuall of the sunne, and of the moone, (that is to saye, taken and ymagened ac­cording [Page] to the iudgement of the sight (is deuided into. 12. egall partes, the whych are brought backe into the moone, in re­tournynge towardes the begynnynge of theym, and they doo make the nombre of. 24.

And it is to be noted y^• the sunne can neuer be eclipsed vniuersallye throughe all places of y^e earth, nor yet of one like sort, quātitie, or disposition, by reson of divers aspectes of the inhabitāts, and although the sunne do appeare at some times wholy eclipsed, it cānot be ouer al places, nor by any notable space of time, by cause the eclipse of the sunne dothe come by the in­terposition of the moone, betwene the sunne and vs, and that the moone is of a more sodaine and swifter mouement thē is the sunne, and is more nearer vnto vs and also lesser then all the earthe, and the moone, and the earth are both much lesse then is the sunne, and for to say the truth the sunne neuer loseth his light, as doth the moone entringe into the shaddow of the earthe, when she is Diametrally op­posite vnto the sunne for the sayde shaddowe doth then depriue the moone of her lighte (which she receyueth of the sunne. By the Interposition of the sayde earthe [Page] whyche is then betwene the moone and the sunne.

IN the eclipse then of the moone, if the eclipticke pointes bee lesse then. 12. the eclipse shalbe particuler (as the same of the sunne) accordynge vnto the proportion of the saide pointes vnto. 12., and if the sayde pointes be presisely. 12. the sayd eclipse shalbe vniuersall without during that is to saye that she shall sodenlye be­gynne to recouer her lyghte, but if the saide pointes bee more then. 12. it betoke­neth that the moone shall be wholy eclipsed by some space of time, and soo muche the more, as the saide pointes are, or shal be in greatest nombre.

And to knowe then howe longetyme the moone shalbe wholy depreued of her lighte, you shall take the saide eclipticke pointes, and the mynutes if there be any (for euery pointe is deuided into. 60. mi­nutes) the whiche you shall fynde in the Ephemerides, and you shall seeke theim at the lefte hande of the table entitulid. Ta­bula more Lune in tenebris, tempore totalis [Page] [...]sdem defectionis. For at the ryghte hande you shall fynde the howers and minutes, or the minutes only, of the said fatall obscuration. And if you fynde not the mynutes of the saide poyntes eclyp­ticke precisely in the saide table, you shal then take the moste nearest, and it shall suffice.

AFterwardes doth followe vnderneth the saide eclipse, the time pr [...] fired of the directions and retro [Page] gradacions of the. 5. planetes, that is to saye vpon what daye they do beginne and ende their sayde Retrogradacions, and consequentelye howe often tymes Mercury shall bee retrograde the same yeare, for he by reason of the fwyft mouement of his epicicle is more often retro­grade then are y^e other planets, the which you shal finde lykewyse among the mo­uementes of the sayd planets whiche are noted in the lefte face of the said Epheme­rides with this sillable Re. which signify­eth the beginning of the retrogradacion and with this sillable Di. whiche betoke­neth the beginninge of the directiō of the same planets. And furthermore the proper mouement of the sayde planets wyll shewe it you, for when the mouemente doth go encreasing from daye to day the planet is directe, & when it doth decrease the planete is retrograde. We doo call the planete directe, when the line of his true mouement goeth after the order of the. 12. signes of the Zodiake, and retro­grade, when the sayd line goeth agaynst the ordre of the sayd signes, notwithstanding the moone hathe no direction, nor retrogradatiō, by reasō that his epicicle goeth contrarye to the others, and is of [Page] more hasty mouement: But she hath on­ly swiftnes, or slownes, & is called hasty or slowe.

THese thinges thus set forthe, there foloweth after the. 12. monethes of the yeare deuided in two faces, of the whyche the lefte face conteyneth the name of the moneth, with the noumbre of the daies of the same, wherof the Son daye is named by the dominicall letter, which hath course for that yeare. And yf there be any sestable daye, it is lykewyse noted, at the leest wise accordinge vnto the cōmon vse of the churche. After there foloweth the true mouementes of the lightes and planetes calculated at none­tide of euery day, which are deuided and set in. 8. collōnes or spaces, of the which the first is of the sunne, the second of the moone, the thirde of Saturne the fourth of Iupiter the fifthe of mars the sixte of Venus the seuenth of mercury and the eyghte for the intersection or seperacion of the cir­cle [Page] of the moone, and of the Zodiake, whiche is called Caput draconis, as the ca­recters or marks of the said planets and of the said dragon (whiche are aboue the heed of euery colompne do shewe) of the which the interpretation foloweth.

• The Sunne ☉
• The moone ☽
• Saturne ♄
• Iupiter ♃
• mars ♂
• Venus ♀
• mercury ☿
• The hed of the dragon ☊
• The tayle of the dragon ☋

And it is requisite to note that euerye colompne hathe two orders of noumbers wherof the lest is of degrees & the righte of the minutes of the signe whereof the carecter is nerest collocated or set ouer the head betwene the sayde degrees and minutes: of which carrecters, here ensueth the interpretacion.

[Page]And thus you haue ryghte againste euery daye, in what signe, degree, or my­nute, is euery one of the sayde planettes, and the saide section of the heade of the Draggon of the moone, vpon the pointe of noone, of the same day.

BUt it is to bee noted y^• the natural daies are supposed to be equall the one to the other in the saide Epheme­rides, althoughe they bee not so: & that for by cause of the obliquitie, or crokednes of the zodiacke, and of the mouement irreguler of the sunne aboute the centre of the worlde, the tyme then, at the whyche the sunne departeth from the Merediane (whiche is the true noonetide) and goeth into the occident vnder the earth, retour­nynge by oriente vnto the saide meridiane againe: is the true quantitie of a naturall deye, and the tyme at the whyche all the equinoctiall circle is passed and reuo­luted or tourned backe vnder the sayde merediane, wyth. 59. minutes and. 8. se­condes of a degree more, is the measure of a natural daye equall and measurable [Page] according vnto whiche are ma [...]e the supputations of the meane and reguler mo­uementes astronomicalls. And although that there be difference betwene the true and the meane or equall dayes naturall aboue sayde, yet notwythstandynge ther can folow no notable errour for the true place and mouement of the sonne and of the. [...]. planettes, whych are of mouement slowe ynoughe, but onely of the mone by reason of the swiftnes of her mouement.

VVhen thou wylte then reduce, or bring the true place and mouemēt of the mone vnto the true vulgare or common noonetide at the whyche the true naturall dayes, do begynne and end that is to saye when the sunne is ryghtely vpon the meridianc: thou shalt do thr [...] as foloweth. Take ryghte with the daye proposed, the true place of the sunne, [...]nd of the moone, then entre wyth the sygn [...] and degree of the saide place of the sunn [...] into the table entituled Tabula motus lun [...] in takynge the signe ouer the heade, an [...] [Page] the degree at the lefte syde of the saide table: and you shall fynde vnder the sayde signe, righte wythe the sayde degree, the nombre of minutes, whyche you muste take awaye, and substra from the true place of the moone taken in the Ephemerides for to bryng them vnto the true noone tide proposed. And for by cause the de­grees which are at the left side of the said table do procede from two vnto two you shal take the degre which shalbe most nerest vnto the sayd place of the sunne, not hauyng any regard vnto the minutes, in case they passe not. 30. & when they passe. 30. you maye then adde▪ one degree, with out any errour, for the sayde mynutes.

ANd if it be cōueniēt to haue y^e true place of the sunne or of the moone or of any planet, at what howre so euer it be, either before none or after, you shal take his true place & mouement aunswering vnto the nonetide past, and also the same of y^e nonetide folowing, as hath ben said before. After you shal substra the [Page] mouemente from the greatest: and that whiche doth remayne shalbe the moue­ment of the sayd plan [...]e answering vn­to the same natural daye, frō one noone tide to the other, the whyche mouement you shall deuide by▪ 24. in resoluinge the degrees into minutes, and the minutes into secondes, if there be nede, then thou shalt adde so manye times the. 24. parte of the sayd dayly mouemēt vnto the mo­uement of the nonetide past, as there be howers past since the same nonetide, yf the planet be direct. Or els you shal sub­stra the same. 24. parte so many times if he be retrograde, & if you haue one quarter, one third, or halfe of an houre more: you maye likewise adde or substraye the fourth, or the thirde, or the halfe of the a­boue sayd. 24. parte of the sayd dayly mouemēt and by this meane you shal haue that which you demaund.

ANd although that the Ephemerides last imprinted, are calculated and reduced vnto the meridiane of a Citie of Almaigne called Tubinge, yet ne­uerthelesse [Page] it is no neede to reduce, or brīg the true places & mouemētes of the sunne and of the. 5. planetes (whiche are slowe inoughe of mouement) vnto anye other meridiane what so euer it be: ex­cept onely the place of the moone, for the swiftnes of his mouement. The whiche you shall do after this maner. Take the name of your city, or of y^e place most ne­rest to the same, in the table which is called Tabula regionum, prouinciarum, et oppido­rum insigniorum Europae. and drawinge to­ward the right hande, you shal finde vn­der the charecter of the moone the num­bre of minutes, which must be added or substraed from the true mouemente of the said moone, which hath bene calculated by the sayd Ephemerides: accordinge as the letter. A. or. M. being at the left hand shal shewe you, for the letter. A. signify­eth that ye must adde, and the letter. M. that you must dimynishe or substra the sayde minutes, and therewith you shall finde al at once at the right hande of the sayd minutes, in the laste columpne, the degrees of the latitude, or eleuatiō of the pole Articke of the sayd citie or region, of the which you may haue to do withal as here after you shal see.

Furthermore vnder euery columpne of the. 5. planetes, are noted their latitu­des (that is to say, how much th [...] decline from the eclipticke, calculated onely for the. 1. 10. and. 20. day of euery moneth by the meanes of the which, you may easely proportionate the latitudes of those pla­netes for all the other dayes whiche are betwene both, of the which latitudes the denominations are noted aboue y^• head of euery of the sayd columnes, by the Capital letters which hereafter folowe

The which dominations whē they do chaūge are likewise noted by the chaūge of y^e sayd capital letters put or set amōg the noumbers of the true mouementes. As if ouer the head you haue. S. A. and then you mete belowe vnderneth in any of the colomnes, this letter. D. it betokeneth y^• the planet which was septentrional [Page] ascendant is made septentrional descen­dāt, so must you vnderstand if it chaunce contrary, and it you haue ouer the head S. A. or S. D. and then you mete. M. that denoteth that the latitude septentrional is conuerted into the meridionall, and contrary wise if after. M. there do folow the letter. S. which is a thing righte ea­sy to be vnderstande, we call the planet descendant, whan the centre of his epici­cle, descēdeth from the point of the eccentrike the most farthest parte of the earth whyche is called Axe tree, towardes hys opposite whych is the most nearest and is called ascendant, when from the said point opposyte he mounteth towardes the sayd poynt most farthest of the earth.

THe latitude of the moone, is founde in the sayde Ephemerides by his owne table intituled Tabula latitudiais lunae thus as foloweth. Take the true mouement of the mone, & of the dragons head. ☊ of the same, at the day and hower proposed as hath bene said hereto fore: and resolue the caracters of the syg­nes of the same mouemēts into the nombers of the saide signes whiche are these that folowe.

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¶ Then substra the true mouemente of the head of the dragon of the moone, frō his owne proper and true mouement in adding. 12. signes if the substcaction cā not be otherwise made) and that whyche resteth, shal be the true argument of the latitude of the moone, with the which argumente you shall enter the table of the latitude of the same in taking the noumber of the signes of the sayde argument at the head of the sayde table, and the de, grees at the lefte side, in the line intitu­led linea numeri, which procede in descending from the toppe downeward or els in taking the nomber of the signes at the foote of the sayde table, and the degrees at the right hand in the line which amoū teth from beneth vpwarders: for in the place at the which y^• lines of the nōbers of the sayd signes & degrees do agree together, you shall find the latitude of the moone in degrees & minutes, the which latitude shall be called septentrionall, if you haue taken the nombers of the sygnes at the head of the table, or els meridionall [Page] if the saide signes haue bene taken at the foote of the table. And further the moone shalbe called ascendant if the nū ­bre of the signes of the argument of the latitude be. 0. or. 1. or. 2. in the head, and. 9 or. 10. or. 11. at the foote of the saide table And if the saide nombre of signes aboue saide bee in the heade. 3. or. 4. or. 5. and at the foote. 6. 7. or. 8. she shall be named descendant as the titles and inscriptions of the said table doth declare, being secur y^• head & fote of euery colūne of the same ¶ And if it happen that your argument haue any nombre of minutes ouer & be­sides the degrees, it behoueth to enter the sayd table two times, & to take firste the latitude whiche aunswereth vnto the degrees precedinge immediatlye the sayd minutes, and then the latitude aunswering vnto the degrees which next do folowe the said minutes. After it is cōuenient to take the difference of both the latitudes in substraing the least from the greatest. That done put. 60. for the first nombre, & the nombre of the sayd minu­tes for the second, and the said difference for the third: and multiply the third nō ­bre by the seconde, and that whiche co­meth of the multiplication deuide by the [Page] first & you shal haue the fourth noumbre proportionall, the whiche you must adde vnto the first latitude, yf it be lesse then the second: or els substra the same from the sayd first latitude, if it do surmounte the secōd latitude for that which cometh or remayneth therof shal be the true latitude of the moone answering vnto the minutes of the sayd argument.

And who that would make shorte, there is no daunger if he leaue the sayd minutes if they be lesse then. 30, or els to adde one degre vnto the degrees of the sayde argument, if the sayde minute do excede or passe 30. and then to finde the latitude as aboue hath bene sayd.

Consequently in the right and second face of the saide Ephemerides, are comprehended the aspectes of the moone vnto the sunne, and vnto the. 5. planetes, and from one of the planets vnto the other: as the superscription of the said face doth shewe. And firste of al is declared the [Page] nombre of the yeare, and the nombre of the monthe and vnderneth the same, the nombre of the dayes of the sayd moneth ioyning vnto the sayd noumbre, are no­ted the coniunctions, oppositions, qua­dratures, trines, and the sextiles aspect of the moone vnto the sonne: then frome the moone vnto Saturne, Iupiter, Mars, Ve­nus and Mercury, as it appeareth by the caracters of the sunne and of the said pla­nets being set above the head of the. 6. colompnes and the sayd aspectes are no­ted by their figures and caracters, wher of the interpretacion and diffinicion fo­loweth.

☌ signifieth coniunction, that is to say when, 2. planettes are vnder one like de­gree accordinge vnto the lōgitude of the Zodiake.

☍ Signifieth opposition, that is to say, when two planets are diametrallye constituted, distante. 6. signes the one from the other.

□. Signifieth quadrate aspecte: which is made, when. 2. planets are distant the one from the other by. 3. signes, whyche make the fourthe parte of the. 12. sygnes of the Zodiacke

[Page] △. Sygnyfyeth trine aspecte: whyche happenethe when two plannettes are distante the one from the other by foure signes, whyche do make the thirde parte of the sayde. 12. signes of the zodiacke.

⚹. Signifieth sextile aspecte: whiche is caused, by the distaunce of two sygnes betwene two planettes. And it is soo na­med, by cause two sygnes doo make the syxte parte of the. 12. signes of the sayde zodiacke, and it is too bee noted, that the nomber sette after the character of eueri aspecte sheweth the howre in the whyche the sayde aspecte shall happen in recke­nyng from the noonetide of the same day righ [...] with the whiche is noted the saide aspecte. Excepte the coniunctions and oppositions of the moone and of the sunne, that is to saye the newe and full moones of the whyche not onely the howres, but also the mynutes are written for the first nombre after the carrecter of the cōiunction or opposition of the sunne and of the moone, do signifye the howre: and the se­conde and ryghte nombre, the mynutes that the said coniunctions, or oppositions shall fall vpon.

[Page]FOr so muche that the sayde new and full moones, and the eclypses of the sunne and of the moone, whiche happen in theim, are calculated in the sayde Ephemerides for the meridiane of the afore named cytie of Tubinge in Almaigne: it is conueniente [...] reduce, for the leste, the tyme of the sayde coniunctions, oppositions, and eclypses of the sunne and of the moone vnto your meridiane, wytheoute hauynge care of the other aspectes the whyche you shall easelye doo by the table entituled Tabularegionum, prouinciarum, et oppidorum insigniorū europae thus as followeth.

Take the name of youre Citye, or of the place most nearest to the same, in the table aboue sayde, & you shal fynd at the ryghte syde vnder this tittle Tempus, the howers and mynutes, or the mynutes onely, whiche you must adde, or substra [...]rom the howres and minutes of the said coniunctions, and oppositions, and eclipses of the sunne and of the moone: as the [...]ettre A. or M. written at the lefte syde of [...]he sayde howres and mynutes shall [Page] shewe you.

AFterwarde there foloweth vpon the ryghte syde of the sayde face of the Ephemerides, the aspectes of the sunne vnto the planettes, and of one planet vnto a nother, whiche are figured as well by the carracters of the sayde plannettes, as by the characters of the sayde aspectes, of the which the interpretation hathe beene heretofore declared. Consequently amonge the saide aspectes is noted when the moone is in the head or in the tayle of the dragon, whiche are their intersections or diuisions of his circle and of the Zodiake, as we haue said a [...] fore. When she is in the head, she is thus figured. ☽. ☊. and whē she is in the taile she is figured after this maner. ☽. ☋.

[Page]FInally is noted ouer the head of euery columpne of the. 5. planets, vnder their propre charecters, when the sayd planets are orientall or occidentall by these sillables. or. and. oc. and it is to be noted that saturne, Iupiter and mars, are orientall whiles the sunne departeth frō them after the couiunction of him and of the sayd planets, comminge vnto the opposition and occidentall, from the said opposition in approchinge him selfe nere vnto them, vntill the coniunction nexte ensuing. But Venus and mercury are cal­led orientall, when they do precede▪ the sunne from the east parte, and are seene before the sunne rising and occidentall, when they do folowe the sunne from the west parte, and are seene after the sunne is sette.

ANd too the ende that all menne maye knowe, if they canne see the eclipses of the sunne or of the moone which happen nere vnto the hori­zont [Page] aboute the sunne settinge, or the sun risinge, it is necessarye to knowe the quā titie of the dayes and of the nightes arti­ficiall, and at what howre the sunne ry­seth and setteth. There is than before the table of the Ephemerides, a table intituled Tabula quantitatis dierum, that is to saye a table of the quantitye of the dayes: the whyche conteyneth in the hedde the lati­tudes, or eleuations of the pole of al places vpon the earth, from. 36. degrees, vntill. 55. degrees: and at the left hand there are. 6. sygnes of the zodiack & other. 6. at the righte hande, whyche are distributed from. 3. degrees to. 3. in the middes of the sayd table are comprehended the houres and mynutes of the halfe of an artificial daye, whyche are from the sunne risyng vntyll noonetide, or from noonetide vntyl the sunne settyng, when the sunne is in the signes septrentionalles: or eles the howres & minutes of half of the nyghte whyche are from the sunne settynge vntyll mydnyghte, or from mydnyghte vntyll the sunne rysyng, whan the sōne is in the sygnes meridionalles, knowe then in what signe, and degree the sunne is, and howe muche the poole is eleuated aboue your horizont, as before hath be [...] ­sayd. [Page] And take the sayde sygne and degre at the ryghte, or lefte syde of the aboue sayde table, and procede ryghtelye in the same table, vntyll that you be [...]ustelye at the nombre of youre pole: and there you shall finde the howers, and minutes of the halfe of the artificiall day if the sunne be in the septentrionall parte of the zodi­acke: or elles of the haife of the nyghte, if he bee in the meridionall parte: what sygnes are septentrionalles, and what me­ridionals hath beene declared in the fifte Rule. The whiche is likewise euident by the sayde table, by these woordes, Sig▪ Bor. fig. Aust. Yf you double then, the sayde howres and minuttes of the halfe of the artificiall daye, you shall haue the whole day: and if you do substra them from. 24. howres, there resteth the nyghte. Or yf you double the howres and mynutes of the halfe of the nyghte, you shall haue the nyghte wholye: and if you substra them from. 24. howres, there restethe the artyfyciall day, and by thys meanes you maye knowe at what howre the Sunne rysethe, or settethe euerye daye in the yeare.

[Page]For the daye artificial dureth from the sunne risinge to noone, vntill the sunne setting: and the night artificial, from the sunne setting vnto midnight, and so vn­til the sunne rising. And the natural day of. 24. houres dothe comprehend them both.

FOr to gather any sruyt of the thynges abouesayd according to the ha­bilitie that god hath geuen vnto mē it is conuenient, to treat of the. 12. hou­ses of heauen, and of their accidentiall nature and how they must be distingued and erected in all regions. In leauinge then a heape of superfluous and vnpro­fitable wordes, whiche are in the latine rules of the Ephemerides and the va­rietis of the opinions of the Astrolo­gians touching the said houses, I wil declare the opinion and maner howe to do them, according vnto the which, the Ta­bles are calculated which are in the Ephemerides, and that all men do commenlye vse now adayes. To come then vnto the [Page] poynt you muste note that as the sunne and the moone and the. 5. planettes, ma­kinge their reuolution by their propre mouementes vnder the Zodiake, doo cause diuers effectes and sensible muta­cions in earthly thinges, according vn­to the diuers proiection of their beames and diuers dispositions of natural thin­ges here belowe, in makinge their pere­grinacion from signe to signe, and according vnto the nature accidentale, of the 12. signes of the Zodiake: likewise the sayd lightes and planetes, in tourninge round about the earthe by the firste and vniuersal mouement of al the world, frō the orient by the south into the accident, within the time and space of. 24. houres (whiche we cal a natural daye) do cause again euery day of the yeare diuers and perticuler effectes, according as they be in the orient or occident, and notably eleuated or depressed vnder y^• earth, & y^• thei haue more stronge or weake irradiaciō vppon the sayde thinges here belowe on earth. For this cause the Astrologians haue distingued all the roundnes of the vniuersall worlde into. 12. partes (after the nombre of the said. 12. signes) whych are called houses, of the which there are [Page] 6. aboue the earth, and. 6. vnderneth par­petually and in all regions, in the maner and forme as foloweth.

First it is to vnderstande, that the meridian circle and the Horizont, do deuide them selues into 2. halfes, and with right angles towardes the South and North, and they deuide the Equinoctiall into 4. quarters, whereof there be. 2. aboue the earth, and 2. vnderneth: two lykewise to­ward the East, and 2. toward the West. And euery. 4. porcion contemeth. 90. de­grees. You must thē imagen euery of the said quarters of the equino. to be deuided into 3 egal parts of 30 degrees, euery one of them & by the pointes of the said deuisions to passe. 4. great circles, proceding frō the foresaid intersections of the meridian circle, & of y^• horizont, by this menes the said 4. circles with y^• sayd meridian & horizont (which do make togither the nū bre of. 6.) do deuid the equl. & al the sphere of the world into. 12. partes, which we cal the. 1 [...]. houses of heauen: the which are or dained & distributed accordinge vnto the succession of the 12. lines of the zodiacke & of the propre mouement of the lyghtes & planets, cōtrary vnto the first mouemēt vniuersall, as it doeth somwhat appeare by this fygure folowinge.

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MYne opinion notwith­standinge is, that the saide. 4. circles oughte to passe by the deuisyons of the Circle vertycall, whiche doth deuyde the meridian circle with right angles and not by the equinoctial (yf it be not in the right Sphere) for many good causes and inuincible reasons as is noted in the Cosmographie or Sphere of the worlde, publysshed by Orentius, and in the. 12. Chapter of the seconde boke of the same.

[Page]¶ The first house beginneth then in the orientale parte of the horizont, and en­deth in the next halfe circle which is vn­der the said horizont, the which house is named the angle of orient, or ascen­daunt, and horoscope: and it is the house to iudge of all the beginninges of life, & the beginninges of all workes. For by­cause the first and vniuersal mouement beginneth at the east parte, and rayseth the sterres and planets aboue the earth in such wise that from the orient cometh all vertue and the heauenly goodnes.

The second house foloweth after, vnder the said horizont. The which is the house of substaunce as well of necessary thyn­ges to the life, as of other goodes, of marchandises, of byinges, sellinges, administrators, and helpers.

¶ The. 3. house folowinge endeth at the part of the meridiane, whyche is vnder the earthe, and bath signification vppon brothers, and sisters, cousynes, neigh­bours and friendes, and vpon smal and short viages.

¶ The. 4. house beginneth at the sayde parte of the meridiane, whiche is vnder the earth. The which is called the angle of the point of the earthe, or of midnight [Page] and of same the bottome or depth of hea­uen. And it is the house for to iudge of diuisions and heritages, of treasors hide and of all thynges vnmouable

The. 5. house foloweth after, the whyche is the house of chyldren, of frendshippe legates and messengers.

The. 6. and folowing house, is ended at the occidentall parte of the horizont and hath signification vpon sickenesses, lordeshippes, membres of the body, vp­on seruauntes, prysoners, and domesty­call beastes.

7. The seuenth house begynneth at the saide horizonte occidentall drawynge to­ward the south, called the angle or point of occident, opposite vnto the ascendant: whiche beginneth to descende vnder the horizont. And it is the house to iudge of women, mariages, debates and conten­tions, of the one halfe of the humaine lyfe.

8. The. 8. house foloweth after appro­ching toward the South. The whiche is the house of death, and interfection, and of the ende of life.

9. The. 9. and house folowing is ended at the part of the meridiane which is aboue the earthe and hathe signification vppon [Page] long vsages, peregrinations, fayth, reli­gion, wisedom, and dreames.

10. The tenthe house begynneth at the saide meridiane verticall aboue the earth the whyche called the angle or poynte of the south, or of the middes of heauen, op­posite vnto the fourth house which is the angle of the earthe, and is the house roy­all, imperiall, of exaltacion, and honoure noblenesse, and good renoume.

11. The eleuenthe house, foloweth affer, drawing towardes the Easte, the whiche is the house for to iudge of hope, cōfidēce and the fortune of man.

12. The twelfe and last house, endinge at the oriente is the house of sadnes, enuye, malice, deception and craft.

And by this maner there be foure angular and principall houses, that is to saye the first, the fourth, the seuenth, and the tenth. And foure whiche are named suc­cedinge, that is to saye. The seconde, the fyfthe, the eyght, & the eleuenth, whiche do folowe the other foure abouesayd.

The other foure whiche come next after the succedinge houses, are called falling or coming after, which be these. The thirde, the sixt, the ninth, and the twelfth Of the whiche houses this is the figure­folowing, [Page] after the iudgemente of our Astrologians, and as they are accusto­med to vse them and to put them in platfourme.

[Page]And it is conueniente finallye, to note that the lyghtes and planettes do reioise, and haue certeyne power, and acci­dentall vertues, in some houses more then in other, as dothe heareafter fo­lowe.

TO erect thē or caculate the. 12. houses of heauen is no other thinge but to finde the pointes of the Zo­diacke, which are noted and distingued by the sixe circles abouesaid: the whiche you shall do by the tables of the Ephemerides thus as foloweth. You must thē first note, y^• there are in the sayde Ephemerides [Page] 5. tables perticulers, sufficiente for all Europe, calculated for the latitude or eleuation of the poole of. 42. 45. 48. 51. and. 54. degrees. And althoughe that there be difference of. 2. degrees, betwen euerye of the saide eleuations or lati­tudes: yet can there folowe no notable erroure of the same. If for the degrees left out you do vse of the table whiche is calculated for the next degre. For the ta­ble of. 45. degrees shal serue principally for the sayde. 45. degrees: and without any notable errour for. 44. and. 46. and the same of. 48. shall serue for. 47. and. 49. degrees and, so of the other. Com­ming then to the effect, you must consy­dre the time, at the which you will erect he said houses of heauen, to knowe if it be precisely at none, eyther before or af­ter.

AFter this it is necessarye to haue the complexion, vertue, & nature, as well of the sunne & of the mone as of the .v. planetes: the whiche is such as foldweth here in orde [...].

The Sunne is hote and drie, louing, geuynge lyfe, and lyghte vnto all na­turall vertues. And of the members humayne he rulethe the brayne, [Page] the marowe, the sight, the syuewes, and generally all the members of the righte parte of the bodye.

¶ The mone is colde and moist, louyng, of whome the effectes are manifeste, hauing dominatton ouer the stomacke, the bellye, and of the mother of women, and generally ouer the members of the lefte parte of humayne bodye.

Saturnels colde and drye, enemye of nature, malitious and enuious, destroy­er of life, and of the bodye he gouerneth the right eare, the milte, and the bladder: and of humors the inclancholye, and parte of the fleume.

Jupiter is hoate and moiste, louinge, sanguine, hauinge regarde ouer the lan­ges, the sides, the gristels, and of the sede or naturall humour of man.

Mars is hote and drye, cruell: and of the humaine bodye is attributed vnto him the lefte eare, the vaynes, the gene­tories, and of the humors, the choler, and after the opinion of some men, he gouer­neth the liuer.

Uenus is colde and moyste, louinge, flewma [...]ike, and of the bodye humayne he gouerneth the backe bone, the buttoc­kes: the lower partes of the bellye, the matrice with the mone, and the fa [...]te and [Page] the sede, with the signe of Leo.

And it is to be noted, that Jupiter and Uenus are called good and fortunate, but Jupiter is the greatest good fortune and Uenus the leaste.

Saturne and Mars are called vnfor­tunate, or euill fortunes, but Saturne is the greatest vnfortunate, and Mars the leaste.

The Sunne and the Mone are called meanes, or betwene both, that is to say, neither fortunate nor vnfortunate, but indifferent.

Neuerthelesse, Mercury taketh parte alwayes of the nature of the Planete, with the whiche he is cont [...]yned, or nea­rest vnto: for with the good he is good, principally when he beholdeth him with a trine or sextile aspecte. And with the e­uill he is euill likewise, when he is oppo­site or comoyned with them, or when he beholdeth him with a quadrate aspecte.

FOr somuche that the lightes and planets do chaunge their influence ac­cordinge vnto the varietie of the a­sectes, whiche haue ben declared in the [Page] 12. rule, it is conuenient to note the goodnes and malice comming of the saide a­spectes, in the fashion and maner as fo­loweth. Fyrst as touchinge the coniunction (whiche properlye is no aspecte) you must note that although the coninnctiō be defined to be one, whan the planetes are vnder one like degree of the zodiake, according vnto the longitude of y^• same, neuerthelesse in matter of influence, one planete is saide to be conioyned with the other, when the one is entred vnder the beames of the other, although that they be not in one like degre, and foreseynge that the distaunce of the one vnto the other be lesse thē 12 degres. And the mone or planet so conioyned wyth the Sunne, is sayde to be combuste by the beames of the Sunne, and such coniunction is not proprely a coniunction. And it is to be noted, that when two good planetes are conioyned together, the same denoteth manifest amitie and good wyl of the one vnto the other, & encreasemente of their goodnes. And the coniunction of the good with the euill, diminisheth the malice of the euill planete, and weakeneth somewhat the goodnes of the good Planete.

[Page]As touchinge the opposition, it is an aspect of manifest discord and inimitie.

The quadrate aspect is hate and vnper fite inimitie.

The trine aspect, signifieth perfect and manifest loue of the Planetes.

The sextile aspecte, is of hidde & secrete beneuolence, and vnperfect amitie.

FOr to knowe the aspectes, not onely of the one planet vnto the other, but also of the sayd planetes & fixed ster­res, you haue before the Ephemerides a table intituled, tabula stellarum fyxarum in­signiorum. That is to saye, the table of the mooste notable fixed sterres, rectified in the yeare. 1499. The whiche conteineth first of al at the left side the names of the most notable fixed sterres, after the members & dominations of the images & con stellatiōs in the which they ar brought. The afterward doth containe their lōgitude. that is to say, their true place, & di­staūce frō the beginning of Aries. After the which longitude, there foloweth the latitude of the sayde sterres, which is the deuiatiō & distaūce of y^• same fixed sters [Page] from the zodiake or Ecliptike li [...]e, or to­warde the parte meridionall. Conse­quentlye foloweth the declination of the sayde sterres from the equinoctial circle, and the difference or denominatiō of the saide declination, that is to be knowen if she be septentrionall by this lettre S. or if she be meridionall by this lettre M. Af­terwarde foloweth the right ascention of the same sterres, that is to saye, the arche of the Equinoctiall, beginninge at the diuision of the springe time, and heade of Aries, ascending aboue the horizont with the saide sterres in the right spheare, and vnder euery merediane. For all m [...]r [...]dianes are euery one as a right horizonte, and euery right horizont, is that whiche passeth by the poles of the worlde: finally is noted the greatnes or magnitude, and then the nature of the sayde sterres referred vnto the Planetes, as the titles, in­scriptions, and characters of the saide ta­ble doth shewe plainely inough.

COnsequentlye is to be noted, that euen so as the sunne doth passe the 12 signes of the zodiake in 365 days [Page] and almost 6 houres (whiche maketh the whole yeare) doth cause here below vpon the earth diuers effectes, according vnto the nature of the 12 signes, the diuers protection of his beames, and the disposition and varietie of inferiour thinges, so likewise doth the mone, as touchinge his in­fluence, passinge the saide Zodiake in 27 dayes, and almost 8 houres, accordinge vnto the metinge together of her, with the fixed sterres, whiche are principally in the 12 signes of the Zodiake, for she causeth diuers alterations, and mutati­ons in the elementall region. By menes of the which, and to discerne and knowe the effectes abouesaide, the aunciente A­strologians haue deuided the same time of 27 dayes and 8 houres into 28 egall partes, wherof euery one comprehēdeth 2 [...] houres and 25 minutes and almooste 43 secondes, and to euerye one of these sayd 28 partes, do aunswere 12 degrees, 51 minutes and almoost 26 secondes, the whiche are called the 28 mansions of the mone, of the which the distinctions, and beginninges iustified in oure time, and vnto the ninthsphere, with their natures and properties, ar brought (for more am­ple ease) into the fourme of a table thus, as foloweth.

FOr so muche that the influences as well of the lightes as of the planets, are augmented, when they be in those signes, in the whiche they haue their force or dignitie as when they be in their propre house, exaltation, triplie [...] ­tie, face, or terme prefixed. There is put in the Ephemerides, after the tables of the 12 houses, a table of the 12 signes, of the dignitie, force, and strengthe of the sayde planetes in euery signe and degree of the Zodiake, of the whiche table, the interpretation is manifest and playne y­nough by their titles, inscriptions, and subscriptions of the same. For first of all ioyning vnto the degrees of euery signe, you haue towarde the righte hande, the depe degres called in latin putei. noted by the letter P. then the degrees fortunates by this sillable For. and the degrees of weakenes and defection of the humaine body, caled Asemene by this leter A. Then [Page] foloweth the triplicities, faces, & tymes prefixed of the planetes▪ marked by the propre characters of them. Consequent­ly are noted the degrees masculines, by this lettre M. and the feminines by this letter F. The darke and cloudye by this lettre T. The brighte and cleare by this lettre L. and the voyde or emptye by this lettre V. and laste of all at the ende and righte side of euery signe, are noted the degrees of the dignities, of the lyghtes and planetes by ordre, beginning at Saturne vnto the mone, and vnto the intersections or deuisions of ☊ and ☋, that is to saye, of the heade and of the tayle of the dragon of the same, as well by their proper characters, as by the nombre of the said degrees. And vnderneth euerye signe, is noted the house and the degree of the exaltation & detriment of the sayde lightes and planetes, which are thinges necessary & worthy to be noted of al such as do practise the iugemente of the sters.

TO vnderstand and to knowe more easelye how to iudge of the chaun­gement of the time or wether, and [Page] the mutation of the ayre, it is first requi­site to knowe the qualitie and dispositi­on of the foure [...]artes and seasons of the yeare, whiche are suche as foloweth. The springe time is hoat and moist, san­guine, and beginneth when the sunne entreth into the signe of Aries. The somer is hoate and drye, cholerike, and begin­neth when the Sunne entreth into the signe of Cancer. Harueste is colde and dry, melancholike, and beginneth when the Sunne entreth into the signe of Li­bra. The winter is colde and moyst, fleuma [...]ike, and beginneth when the Sunne entreth into the signe of Capricornus. Afterwardes muste be knowen and vn­derstande the natures and affections of the 12 signes of the Zodiake, here before expressed in the ninetenth rule. For y [...] the planettes (yea those that be of a hote nature) doo beholde the one the other, or be conioyned together in hoate and drye signes, they shall cause heate and excesse of drougth in Sommer, or elles tempe­raunce of ayre in Winter. And contra­ry wise, if the sayde aspectes and coniunctions of the planetes abouesayd, do happen in colde and drye sygnes, they wyll cause in wynter great snowes and yet, and in sommer moderation of the [...]eate, [Page] and in hoate and moiste signes, greate aboundaunce of windes. And if this happen in waterye signes, they will cause then great haboundaunce of rayne, whi­che will make the ayre very intemperate in winter, and of a moderate heate in sō ­mer. And so is to be vnderstande, and to iudge conformablye of all lyke thinges, accordinge vnto the nature of the pla­nets and signes, and the▪ qualitie of their aspectes. Also hauinge regarde with the same, vnto the nature of the▪ fixed sterres likewise of them whiche are most n [...]est vnto the Zodiake. And that not onely in all elections, but also in the mutation of the ayre lykewise, as shalbe perticulerlye recited hereafter.

THe dysposition of the heauenly bo­dyes do grea [...]lye inclyne the infe­riour thinges to bee happely done or begonne, and dothe aduaunce theyn: or elles make late theyr comminge to perfection, and their full and hole effecte to comme forthe, for this cause are here sette forthe by order the elections whiche must be obserued or auoyded in these places beginninge at Saturne and then at the other planettes in order.

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[Page]Likewise when the moone after her coniunction with anye fortunate planette shal be notably remoued farre from the sayd planet, the daye shal be vnfortunate and when she shall be notablye remoued farre from her coniunction with any vnfortunace planet, it is the good to worke in all matters, especiallye the moone be­ing in the signe of Cancer, Taurus, Pi­sces or Sagittarius, or in the house of the Sunnne, hauynge Trine or Sextil e as­pect with the sayd Sunne.

¶ Besides this the moone hath certeyne and propre effectes in euery one of the. xii signes, in case she bee not then letted by any stronge signification or constellati­on. The whyche are suche as foloweth.

Aries,

It is good to begin that which a man would haue sone ended, and nought to beginne anye thinge that a man would haue to be firme and stable, and to haue to do with kinges, and riche men, good to bathe, & nought to clippe heare, & to scarifye the skinne with cuppinge, of suche as haue disease in their necke and eares.

Tau.

It is good to beginne suche thinges, as you woulde haue to be firme and stable, good to sowe, and to plant trees, to labour the vines, to buylde, to be gladde and merye, to comen with women, and [Page] to bye bulles and beues.

Gemi

It is good to begin the thinges whiche shoulde be of litle duraunce, good to put children to learninge, and not mete to let bloude.

Cācer

It is good to iourney, to make vyages, and to take electuaries.

Leo.

It is good to beginne such thinges as shall be of longe duraunce, and stable, and nought to take medecine by vomite and to shape and putte on newe appa­rell.

Virgo

It is good to putte children to be in­structed in learninge, to seke the loue of younge maydens, and not good to mar­rye.

Libra

It is good to begin thinges of small duraunce, te ionrney, to bye and sell, to haue to do with religious persons, & not good to haue copulation with women.

Scorp

It is an vnlucky day for to begin any matter of goodnes.

Sagit.

It is good to learne to shote in the bow, to vse marchaundise, to be conuersaunte with iudges, and men of lawe, and to haue copulation with women.

Capri.

It is good to be in company with aged people, to plowe the fieldes, and to decke gardens and vines.

Aqua.

It is good to edefie towres and [Page] cities, and to buyld houses, to plant trees and decke vines.

Pisces.

It is good to iourneye and to go a fys­shinge.

And here you must note, that whan the moone is in a moueable signe, it is then good to beginne the thinges, where of ye desire sone to haue an ende, and in a fixed signe, that whiche you desire to be of lōge duraunce. And in common signes, the thinges whiche ye will haue of litle du­raunce.

And whan the mone is cōioyned with the fortunate sterres, the aspecte is fortunate, and contrarywise vnfortunate.

Likewise whan the mone is in the section or diuision of the head of the dragon thus figured ☊, she is fortunate, and in the section of the taile of the dragon, thus marked ☋ vnfortunate.

VVHo that will consequently know whan it is good to lette bloude, he must take good hede vnto the aspectes whiche folowe. Fyrste, if the mone be in coniunctiō with Jupiter in a mete signe, or in trine aspecte, or in opposition [Page] with him, or in in aspect with Venus: it is good then to be let bloude. The signes mete are Aries, and Sagittarius, for the flemmatikes, and the firste parte of Libra, for the melancolickes, and for the cholerickes Cancer Pisces, and the signes disagreīng vnto the Phebotomy are Leo. the seconde part of Libra, & the first part of Scorpius. Likewise is to be noted that al y^e hole course of the moone is deuided into foure quarters whyche must also be be obserued.

¶ Likewise you must cut no vayne, nor touche any membre withany yron [...]oole what so euer it be, the moone beinge in the signe which beholdeth, and hath do­mination vpon the sayd membre. What membres are subiect vnto euerye signe hath ben declared in the .xix. rule.

And on the other part, it is not onelye euel to let bloude, when the moone is in the section of the head or of the tayle of the dragon (thus marked. ☊. ☋.) but al­so by [...]

[...] [Page]with Mars, Saturne, or Jupiter. And this shal satisfy you for me decinal rlections.

FInally as towchinge the moste apte and mete time, for [...]o sowe & plante trees, & to dec [...]e vyn [...], it behoueth to note that there are▪ v. monthes▪ in the yeare deputed and mooste [...]ete for the same, that is to sa [...], Marche, Apryll, Maye, Septembre and Octobre▪ But in al times, you must take hede of the euill aspectes of Saturne and of Mars. And to kepe the aspects & places of the moone which do here folowe

And especially if the moone do beholde Venus or Jupiter (which are the. [...]. best fortunates) with Trine, Sextile, or qua­drate, Aspect. And it is good to plante trees at the last quarter of the moone.

Conclusion of the Author.

And this suffiseth for the declaration vse [Page] and practise, of the matters, conteyned aswel in the Almanackes, or Ephemerides, as in y^• Latin rules of the same. In the whiche I haue not folowed the let­ter worde by worde, but onelye the mea­ninge and doctrine in chaunginge, ad­dinge, and substrainge that whyche I thought worthy to be chaunged, added, and substrayed, bycause of the more perfect and easter erudition, desyringe my lord god with all my power to satisfye you herein, and all theim whiche be lo­uers of this science.