CHAP. I.

FOR the Instruction of the unskilled in the Art, and that they may the better understand our following Dis­course, it's necessary that I explain the Characters of the 12 Signs, and the Planets and Aspects, as followeth.

[Page 2]And for the sake of young Artists, which are not furnished with the Globes, and do not understand these following Cir­cles, &c. of the Heavens. I say, for their Instruction, I have drawn two Projections or Diagrams, which I shall explain, as followeth, that they may be the more capable to understand my following Essays; the Circles are these which follow.

The Horizon, Meridian, the Zenith and Nadir, which are Poles to the Horizon;

These alter according to the Place in which you live.

The Equinoctial, Ecliptick, two Tropicks, and the North and South Poles;

These are always supposed fixed in the Heaven, live where you will.

The Horizon is a great Circle, dividing the uppermost or visi­ble part of the Heaven from the Invisible: As suppose your self at Sea, or upon an high Hill; and looking round you, you ima­gine that the Sky touched the Earth or Water. Now that Line of Separation of the Sky and Earth, or Water, is the visible Horizon, and such a Circle is supposed to be in the Heavens.

And when the Sun, Moon and Stars, either rise or set, they are then said to be upon the Horizon.

And note, that this Circle is moveable, because that it alter­eth according to the Place of your aboad.

To this Circle there are assigned Poles, which are also move­able as the Circle it self is; these Poles are called the Zenith and Nadir.

The Zenith is that Point just perpendicular over your Head in the Heavens, and is every way equidistant from the Horizon 90 Degrees.

The Nadir is that Point in the Heavens opposite to it, being also 90 Degrees in distance from the Horizon on the nether side thereof.

The Meridian is a great Circle passing through the Poles of the World, and Zenith and Nadir, and crosseth the Horizon at [Page 3] Right Angles in the North and South Points.

The Sun, Moon and Stars, when they are full South, as the Sun is every Day at Noon, then are they said to be upon the Meridian. The Circle altereth according to the place of Longitude in which you live.

The Equinoctial is a great Circle, and crosseth the Meridian at Right-Angles, and crosseth the Horizon in the East and West Points thereof; thereby, with the Meridian, dividing the Horizon into four equal Parts, each Part containing 90 Degrees. So that the whole Circle contains four times 90, or 360 De­grees; as all other Celestial Circles are supposed to contain the same Number. This Circle is drawn through the midst of the Heavens exactly, between the two Poles of the World, being equidistant from each Pole 90 Degrees, and is known by the Way or Course of the Sun every Year, about the 10th day of March and 12th of September.

The Ecliptick is a great Circle, and crosseth the Equinoctial it Oblique Angels, in the East and West Points thereof. This Circle is the Way of the Sun or Earth, in the Zodiack, and is divided into twelve Signs, viz. ♈, ♉, ♊, &c. Each Sign is also again subdivided into Degrees, containing each 30 De­grees, making thereby the whole Circle to contain 360 De­grees. And by reason of the Obliquity of this Circle, it con­stitutes Breadth to the Zodiack, extending to 23½ Degrees on each side the Equinoctial; the boundary Limits whereof are the North and South Tropicks.

The North Tropick being the greatest Northern Declination of the Sun, who chalks out this Circle by his apparent Diurnal Course every Year about the 11th day of June. The South is the greatest Southern Declination of the Sun, and is chalked out by his apparent Diurnal Circuit each Year, about December the 12th day.

But for the better understanding of these Circles, I have drawn two Projections of the Sphere, one upon the Plane of [Page 4] the Horizon of those who live under the Equinoctial Line; and the other being the second, is projected upon the Ho­rizon of 52 Degrees 21 minutes, (the Latitude of Allconbury) North.

Now by the first Projection or Diagram, you may see by the Ecliptick crossing the Equinoctial Line obliquely, that there are these six Signs ♈, ♉, ♊, ♋, ♌, ♍, on the North Side the Equinoctial-Line; and also the other six Signs, ♎, ♏, ♐, ♑, ♒, ♓, on the South side of the Equinoctial-Line.

So that the Sun always to appearance moving in this Circle, he thereby becomes sometimes near to us who live in that Point where the Latitude of Allconbury, being 52 deg. 21 min. North, crosses the Meridian: for when in ♈ upon the E­quinoctial-Line, he marches through ♉ and ♊, and comes to our North Tropick, and then is our Summer; and then he passeth back through ♋, ♌, and ♍, and comes to the Equi­nox again ♎, and then marches southward through ♎, ♏, and ♐, to the Southern Tropick, in which place he is farthest from us, and then is our Winter and the Southern Spring; and then as he comes back through ♑, ♒ and ♓, he comes again to the Equinoctial-Line: By which we see that they who live un­der this Line, have two Summers and two Winters. See the Diagram.

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CHAP. II.

THESE Variations or Seasons are caused by the Motion of the Earth: which is twofold, viz. Diurnal and An­nual, (of which I shall treat more particularly in the next Chap­ter): for as the Earth turns round upon her own Axis, she maketh our Days and Nights; and as she moves in the Obli­quity of the Zodiack, she constitutes our Seasons, Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter.

And note, that in our following Discourse, where I write of the Sun's Motion in the Zodiack, &c. understand that I mean his apparent Motion, and do express my self according to the common way of speaking.

About the 10th day of March every Year, the Sun is in the beginning of ♈, and upon the Equinoctial Line, and then he riseth at ♈ full East, and is South upon the Meridian at AE, and sets full West at ♎, at which time the Days and Nights are of equal length throughout the World; and from thence he ad­vanceth through ♈, ♉, ♊, in the Months March, April, May, to the 11th of June, whereby our Days lengthen, and Nights decrease, as the Sun advances nearer and nearer towards us; for when in ♉, then he riseth at C, culminates at the Meridian, and sets at D; whereby he riseth more towards the North, and sets also more North, making a greater Circle above our Hori­zon.

[Page 7]

And when that the Sun is advanced to his Northern Tropick s, then he is at his nearest approach to us under the North [Page 8] Pole who live at Z: Now our Days are longest, and Nights shortest, the Sun riseth North-East at R, and is South at ♋, and sets North-West at Q; whereby he goeth almost round us, and is but little depressed under the North side of the Horizon, as you may see by the Diagram by the Circle R ♋ Q: And while, the Sun transits these Signs, ♈, ♉, ♊, he constitutes our Spring by his near approach, who (under our great Creator) is the Life and Cherisher of all Sublunary Bodies.

The Birds of the Air chant out their melodious Harmony as a Welcome to his Approach, the Flowers of the Field open for his Entertainment; every thing rejoices and is active in its Sphere; all things vegetate and are pregnant, endeavouring towards a continuation of their Species, while the Sun ad­vances to our Northern Tropick, who enters ♋ June the 11th: And being then at his nearest Approach, as I said before, he returns back through ♋, ♌ and ♍, in the Months June, July, August, to the 12th of September, at which time he comes to the Equinoctial again, (which aforesaid time is our Summer Quarter.) Now are our Days and Nights of equal length, and the Sun riseth and sets in the same place as he did on the 10th of March. And from this Line he takes his Journey South­ward through ♎, ♏ and ♐, in the Months September, October, November, to the 11th of December, thereby constituting our Autumnal Quarter, and the Southern Spring. Now do their Vegetables spring and flourish, and ours tend to Corruption; the Sun by his cherishing and enlivening Rays, revives their drooping Spirits, who in his absence lay locked up in Frost and Snow; now do their Days lengthen, and ours shorten, their Spring increasing while the Sun cometh to their Southern Tropick, making their longest and our shortest Day. Now are we generally locked up with Frosts and Snow, and they con­trarily are scorch'd with the Sun's perpendicular Rays; and having arrived to his Southern Tropick ♑, which he always doth about the 11th of December, he then recedes back [Page 9] through ♑, ♒ and ♓, in the Months December, January, Fe­bruary, to the 10th of March; and cometh to the Sign ♈ a­gain where he began.

By which we see that the Sun is (apparently) always in Mo­tion, nor can he be perswaded to stop or stay at all in his Jour­ney, except by the Almighty Hand, he being of himself an impartial Dispenser of his Heat or Influence.

For without him (the great Minister of Light, Motion, Heat and Life, under God, especially of our Vortex) Dark­ness would usurp her old Dominions again, we should have neither Day nor Night, Winter nor Summer; all things would be in Confusion, the Sea would be Ice, and the Land Flint; Motion would cease, and our Vortex would turn to a Chaos or confused Lump again, as they were before the World was made.

This Solar Influence is so obvious, that none can deny it.

But methinks I hear some Criticks make this Objection, viz. If (saith he) the Sun be the Ruler of the Seasons, and he coming to the Equinoctial Line always at the same time of the Year, What makes our Spring to be sometimes late, and some­times early, coming or putting forward sooner by five or six Weeks some Years, than at other some? What makes our Da­ry, Primrose, Violet, &c. to put forth at Candlemass some Years, and at other some they are not to be found at Lady-Day?

What's the Cause of Winter's Heat and Summer's Frosts? Can a Winter's Night be warmer than a Summer's Day? Can the Sun in his lowest Degree and Absence be more potent, than in his Presence and almost Verticity?

Sure if the Sun were the only Cause of the Seasons, they would be (like him) more constant, our Heat and Cold would increase and decrease gradually, according to his Ac­cesses and Recesses to and from us.

[Page 10]I believe, saith our Antagonist, that the Sun rules and con­stitutes the Seasons, viz. Day and Night, Winter and Summer: But what makes our Winters and Summers to be sometimes colder, and sometimes warmer? Why some Winters pass away without Frosts almost, and some again are very severe and frosty? How shall we believe in Astrology, when none of our Astrologers can foretel, or truly demonstrate, or shew a Rea­son for these Variations? Which of them foretold the last cold Summer, or this warm Winter? Or which of them can shew me why they were so? Are they not all of them mistaken in the Weather of this present Winter, which makes us think and say, (with Marcianus) Si vis divinare, totum contrarium ad unguem dicito ejus quod Astrologi pollicentur; that is, if we should say Rain, when the Astrologer writes fair and dry Wea­ther, or Warm, when he writes of Cold, we should guess right as soon as the Astrologer, who doth only banter his Rea­der, and pretended Art. Who can be such Fools as to believe them? Or who can pretend to vindicate Astrology, which ought to be credited no farther than it can be demonstrated? To which I agree, and believe that to be no Art, or at least vain and frivolous, and not to be trusted, which doth not car­ry Reason and Demonstration along with it.

Therefore in our following Essays, I shall endeavour thereat, and desire to be credited or believed, no further than I can give a rational Demonstration thereof.

CHAP. III.

IN the third Diagram you may see, that I, according to Co­pernicus, have put the Sun in the Centre of his Vortex, he being the Fountain of Light, and Heat, and Prince of the Planets; who, like a great Monarch, having large Dominions, maketh use of Deputy-Princes and Magistrates to distribute his Majestick Rays throughout his Dominions. Which Deputies I represent to be Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, the Earth, Venus and Mercury, with their several Satellites which respect their several Orbs, as the Moon doth our Earth.

The Motion of the Sun round his own Axis, is the Spring or first Mover of the Planets, who are carried round him in their several Orbits, as you may see by the third Diagram, which I shall demonstrate as followeth.

You see the Sun is in the Center, and each Planet is put in his respective Place and Orbit for the 10th day of June 1696, at Sun-set, being marked with their respective Characters. Now the Sun moving round his own Axis from West to East, carrieth the Planets round him the same way as followeth.

Mercury is the nearest, and is carried round the Sun in 88 days.

Venus is the next in order, and is carried round the Sun and Mercury's Orbit in 225 Days.

[Page 12]The Earth is the next in order, (about whom moves the Moon in 27 days and odd Hours) who together with the Moon is carried round the Sun, and the two Inferiors in her Orbit in 365 days and 6 hours ferè.

Mars is next, and is carried round the Sun in his Orbit in 682 days.

Jupiter is next, and is carried round the Sun in his Orbit in 12 Solar Years.

Saturn is the last in order, and is carried round the Sun and all the Planets in his Orbit, in almost 30 Solar Years. Beyond whom is the large and unaccountable Space, or Heavens of the fixed Stars.

And these aforesaid Planets are moved round the Sun by a twofold Motion, viz. round their own Axis, and also round their respective Orbits, through the Zodaical Signs about the Sun.

Like as a Bowl is trundled to a certain Mark or Jack, it moves round its Axis, and also from the place of your Station where you delivered it; for by its often turning round its Axis, it at last arrives at or near the aforesaid Jack, only with this difference, that as the Bowl moves in a streight Line, the Planets are moved circularly in their Orbits about the Sun. But I shall explain their Motions more plain by the Motion of the Earth, as followeth. But before I begin, a word or two to explain some Requisits belonging to the third Diagram. 1. Understand that the Earth is placed on the East side of the Sun, who appears to set in the West, to the Inhabitants who live at the Point B. 2. The Point ♑ (Saturn being therein) is the East side of the Diagram. 3. The Line perpendicular from ♎ down to B, is the Meridian, or South, and its opposite the North Point. 4. The Center of the Earth is its Axis, about which it moves, and the outward Circle of the Earth A, B, C, D, is that Line or Surface of the Earth, which lieth parallel under the Equinoctial Line, and represents the Equator. 5. Those Lines [Page 13] drawn through the twelve equal Divisions of the Lunar Or­bit, are the Right Ascensions of the twelve Zodiacal Signs.

Now suppose that you lived at the Point B upon the Equa­tor, then would the Sun seem to set to you in the West, and Saturn presently after appear to rise near the East; for the Earth turning or trundling round its Orbit and Axis from West to East, the Zodiacal Signs do each severally appear to rise, culminate and set, as also the fixed Stars, the Sun and Planets. Now the Earth turning from B to C, which it performs in six hours, from the aforesaid time of Sun-set, then would it be Midnight, the Earth's Body interposing between the Sun and you at C; and in six hours more you would, by the Earth's Motion, be carried to D, then would the Sun appear to rise; and in six hours more you would be moved to A, and then would the Sun be upon your Meridian, viz. just over your Heads, making thereby Noon with you; and in six hours more, (making in all 24 hours the length of the Day and Night) you would be brought to the same Place again, and the Sun setting as before; and by that time that the Earth had moved round her Axis 365 times, thereby constituting as many Days, she would in the said space of time be carried round the Sun in her Orbit, through the Obliquity of the Ecliptick, and the 12 Zo­diacal Signs thereby constituting our Year, as was before treated on in the last Chapter.

And as the Earth is carried round the Sun, from East to West, both in respect of her Axis as well as Orbit, so likewise are rest of the Planets, though with different Spaces of Time, both in respect of their Diurnal as well as their Annual Revo­lutions, who (as the Earth) are carried round in the Obli­quity of the Ecliptick, through the 12 Zodiacal Signs in their several Orbits; whereby they appear to us as the Sun doth, viz. sometimes in Summer, and sometimes in Winter Signs; so that we have a Saturnine Year, a Jovial Year, a Martial Year as well as a Solar Year, and also a Lunar Year. Venus and [Page 14] Mercury being within the Perimeter of the Earth's Orb, seem to us to be the Sun's particular Attendants or Lacquies, Venus never being above 48 Degrees, and Mercury never above 27 Degrees from him, either before or after him. However they have their several Revolutions or Years in respect of them­selves.

Authors pretend to tell us their Diurnal Motions about their own Axis: Among whom Rheita affirms, that Mercury's Day or Motion about himself is about six hours; that the Motion of Venus about her Axis is 14 hours: Mars his Day or Motion a­bout his Axis is in 45 hours: The Diurnal Motion of Jupiter is performed in 11 of our Days and 20 Hours.

The Diurnal Motion of Saturn is performed in 29 of our Days and ten Hours: But these are uncertain, and not perti­nent to our Purpose, therefore I shall not impose the belief thereof upon you; but for their Annual Revolutions we are certain of, and find it very material to our Purpose, and ne­cessary to be known.

CHAP. IV.

BY reason of the different Motion of the Planets in their several Orbs, they become sometimes in Conjunction, and sometimes in Opposition; and sometimes beholding one another with different Angles and Faces, both in respect of the Earth and themselves: Which Angles or Radiations are by Astrologers called Aspects, and were taken notice of by the Antients to be of singular Efficacy and Power in the Mutations of the Air. The Reasons why they embraced only these Positions, are too long and tedious for me to treat of here; but I shall explain them, and say something thereof, and in some other Tract I shall [Page 15] inlarge further thereupon: In the mean time if you be impati­ent, I refer you to that learned and incomparable Piece wrote by Sir Christopher Heydon.

And for the Explanation of the aforesaid Aspects, &c. I have drawn the fourth Diagram, which is drawn for the same Time that the third Diagram is drawn for, viz. the 11th day of June 1696, at Sun-set, and is only to shew the Planetary A­spects that are then in the Heavens, and is the same as the Lunar Orbit in the third Diagram, and is drawn larger on pur­pose to demonstrate the Aspects.

Which are five in number, viz. Conjunction, Opposition, Sex­tile, Quartile, and Trine.

A Conjunction is, when two Planets are in one Sign and Degree, or within seven or eight Degrees of one another in distance; for the Planets admit of their Rays, and are said to be in Conjunction or Aspect, though not bodily conjoined, and that Aspect is called a Platick Aspect; but when they are in per­fect Aspect to a Degree and Minute, then that is called a Par­tile Aspect. And note, that the nearer they are, the Aspect is the stronger and of more force.

A Conjunction, as I said before, is when two Planets are both in one Sign and Degree, whereby the Earth and they come into a Diametrical Line; and when the two Planets are partilely joined, both in respect of Longitude and Latitude, then is the highest or Superior eclipsed by the lowest or Inferi­or: Also the two Planets do then rise South, and set both at the same time; and this Aspect or ☌ is shewed by Jupiter and Mars in the fourth Diagram, where you may see how they send their mixed and united Rays to the Earth.

They may also be seen in the Firmament (if the Air be clear) at the same time the Diagrams are drawn for, viz. June the 11th, after Sun-set, to be near the West, within a Span's breadth of one another; a beautiful Sight to behold.

[Page 16]An Opposition is, when two Planets are 180 Degrees, or half the Zodiack in distance, the Earth being in a Diametrical Line between them. And to them who live under the Equi­noctial Line, always when one riseth the other sets, as is evi­dent by Saturn and Mercury in the fourth Diagram: Mercury be­ing at his farthest Elongation almost from the Sun, may at the aforesaid time be seen to set North-West after him, and Saturn at the same time to rise South-East in opposition to him.

A Quartile Aspect is, when two Planets are elongated 90 Degrees, or a fourth part of the Zodiacal Circle, making there­by a Right Angle at the Earth: This Aspect is demonstrated by the Sun and Moon, she being in her last Quarter; view them in the fourth Diagram. And note, that to them who live un­der the Line, where the Meridian is their Zenith; always when one Planet is upon the Horizon, either rising or setting, then the Planet in Quartile to him is in the Zenith or Nadir, viz. upon the Meridian. Which Aspect is of great force, for divers Reasons which shall hereafter be made appear, but for brevity must be omitted here; the Influence of a Planet upon the Ho­rizon or Meridian, is vulgarly known even to the Rustick, who when he meets with a misling or hazy Air in the Morn­ing, he remains in doubt until the Sun hath mounted the Me­ridian, and then he tells you, that the Day will either clear up and be fair, or else prove rainy down-right; the Reason (though unknown to him) is this, that the Sun then coming to his Virtical strength, hath more Power to dissolve the Vapours or Clouds, if not beheld by some other Planet which then may rise above the Horizon: As suppose ♄ or ♂, and then that Planet getting above as aforesaid, causeth it to rain down­right, which before was only misly.

A Sextile Aspect is, when two Planets are a sixth part of the Zodiack, or 60 Degrees elongated, making thereby an Equi­lateral Triangle at the Earth, which is delineated by the Moon and Saturn in the fourth Diagrams.

[Page 17]A Trine Aspect is the distance of two Planets, a third part of the Zodiack, and is an Angle of 120 Degrees, making an Equi­lateral Triangle in the Heavens, and is delineated by Saturn in Trine to Jupiter and Mars, who send their Rays to the Seven Stars, as you may see by the aforesaid Diagram.

These two last Aspects are not of such force in the Mutation of the Air as the other, which shall be made appear in my next, together with the Reason of their Influence.

If you have a mind to view these Distances or Aspects in the Heavens, you may see them at the aforesaid Time, viz. near an Hour after Sun-set, when you may see Saturn rising South-East in Opposition to Mercury, setting North-West; and beholding Ju­piter and Mars with a Benevolent Trine, they being near the West: and if you rise the next Morning before the Sun rises, you may see the Moon in Sextile of Saturn, and in Quartile to the Rising Sun. And so much shall suffice at present concern­ing the Aspects.

CHAP. V.

THE Natures of the Planets were first found out by the diligent Observation and Experience of the Antients; amongst whom Ptolomy was the chief, who left us their Natures and Affections, and wrote the whole Body of Astrology, and left it to Postority, he being called the Prince of Astrologers. It's pity his Foundation was laid upon the Sands, for if he had built it upon the Philolaian or Copernican Hypothesis, which was in­vented by Philolaus before Ptolomy's Time, he would by his Ob­servations and Industry have done Wonders, and Astrology by this time might have been much approved. But Learning as well as other things is subject to Changes and Vicissitudes, ac­cording [Page 18] as it doth please God to reveal himself to Man; for tho some Men in any Age be never so wise, and do leave their Aphorisms and Arcana's to Posterity, yet by several Accidents they may be lost, for either the Genius of that Age may not be fit or capable to receive them; or they may be lost by Fires, or the Subversion and Alteration of Governments, &c.

Is it not great pity that the Works of that most wise Man Solomon should be lost, who wrote of all things under the Sun, from the Cedar of Lebanon to the Hysop that grows upon the Wall? Wisdom of Solomon, Chap. 7. But to our purpose.

Ptolomy, and all Astrologers after him, (Dr. Goad excepted) define the Nature of the Planets as followeth.

Saturn cold and dry; Jupiter hot and moist; Mars hot, dry, and burning; the Sun hot and dry, more temperate than Mars; Venus cold and moist; Mercury cold and dry; the Moon cold and moist. This is their brief Account of the Na­tures of them.

They tell you also why they retain those Natures, too tedious here to insert, because I think it not material, being their Opi­nion is grounded upon a false Supposition.

Dr. Goad, a late Author, denies the Account, and makes Ju­piter to be a cold Planet, yea colder than Saturn.

How shall we agree these Opinions? Truly I think they are both mistaken, being both upon a wrong and false Foundation; for Dr. Goad treads in Ptolomy's steps in all things, except in this, viz. about the Nature of the Planets.

Now I shall lay down my Judgment of their Natures, which I presume will hold the Test of Experience, which is the only Refiner of Truth.

Saturn I believe to be (as well as the rest) an Opake Body, and (as saith Ptolomy) of a cold and dry Nature, especially by Accident, for we are always sensible of his chill Influence, when he is in Perigaeon, or in Heliocentrick ☌ with the Earth: and [Page 19] for Demonstration view the fifth Diagram, where you'l see Sa­turn in Perigaeon, or in conjunction with the Earth, which was the principal Cause of the last cold Summer. I could bring se­veral Examples and Reasons to prove my Assertion; two or three Instances we have had in our late cold Summers, which were always cold when Saturn was in Perigaeon.

Mars all agree to be hot, dry, and burning, yea, hotter than the Sun himself: Which seems a Contradiction, that a reflected Light should be hotter than the Fountain from whence it pro­ceeds. To which I answer, that it may be by Accident: As for Instance. The reflex burning Glass, which receiving the Sun's Rays, and contracting and uniting them, they become hotter than the Sun's Rays; and being darted upon any combustible Matter, it sets it on fire. And such is the Nature of Mars, who when in Perigaeon, or near the Earth, doth make us sensible of his Heat. View the sixth Diagram, where Mars is in conjunction with the Earth, which at the same time caused a very warm Season.

And now I come to Jupiter, concerning whom there hath been much Controversy: Ptolomy making him warm, and Dr. Goad contrarily making him a cold Planet, and gives very pro­bable Arguments to prove his Assertions.

How shall I reconcile these two Opinions, for they both plead Reason and Experience for their so doing?

Ptolomy thinks him warm, because when simply in opposition with the Sun, he produceth a warm Season, and when joined with Mars, he often produces great Heat and Thunder.

And Dr. Goad maketh him a cold Planet, because that when joined with Saturn, he augments Cold; yea and in Winter, when joined with Mars, he hath a hand in many hard Frosts, he being the Parent of the North Wind, and Serenity, both great Friends to a cold Constitution; with many more Reasons of the like Nature.

[Page 20]Now my Opinion of Jupiter is, that he is a Planet composed of Nitrous Particles, which like Gunpowder or Nitre, when it meets with Cold, it actuates it: And when it meets with Fire or Heat, it actuates that, and breaketh forth into Combustions.

Jupiter being a Planet full of Nitre, doth (as the Cartesians say) six the Particles of the Atmosphere, thereby stopping or hindering Motion, and then Cold followeth of course, which is an Essential Quality, and was in being before the World was created; for in the beginning this Vortex was a Chaos or confused Lump, the Air, Earth, and Water, being congealed or mixed together.

But when God created the Sun, Moon, and Planets, by put­ting them in Motion, this Motion was the Original of Heat, as may be proved by the violent Motion of any thing, as suppose a Mill, which will cause Heat to that Degree, that she will fire if not prevented.

Now when this Motion is hindred by the Nitrous Particles of Jupiter, then Cold the prime Quality takes place. As is proved by mixing of Salt or Nitre with Snow, it will freeze and cause Ice by the Fire-side. But if this Nitre or Gunpowder be join­ed with hot and sulphurous Planets, then it causeth Combu­stions in the Atmosphere, as Heat with Thunder and Corusca­tions, &c.

So that I define Jupiter to be of a Nitro-sulphurious Nature, like to Gunpowder, and is either Hot or Cold by Accident, but rather a favourer of Cold if simply considered: Which afore­said Definition I shall prove by Examples.

The Nature of the Sun needs no Definition, it being vulgar­ly known to every Plow-boy, all the World being sensible of his Warmth, nothing being hid from the Heat thereof.

But as for the Natures of the Inferiors, viz. Venus, Mercury, and the Moon, I shall at present rest with the Opinion of the Antients, for brevity-sake, they not having so great Influence in the general Constitution of the Seasons: But it may be ex­pected [Page 21] in some succeeding Book, where I treat of the daily Vi­cissitudes of the Air, and shall say no more here, having cleared the great Point between Ptolomy and Dr. Goad.

CHAP. VI.

IN this Chapter I shall explain my Method; and as I have in the foregoing Chapters explained the most material Circles, &c. of the Sphere; and also how, by the Motion of the Sun or Earth, our Seasons are constituted, viz. Day, Night, Win­ter and Summer; together with the Natures and Aspects of the Planets:

So now in this, and the following Chapter, I shall demon­strate why some Winters are warmer than others, and some Summers are colder than other-some; and the reason why our Spring sometimes is late, and at other times early, coming soon­er by five or six Weeks some Years than other.

First, Know that the general Constitutions of the Seasons are caused by the Diurnal and Annual Motion of the Earth, as before treated of.

But the Reason of their Variations must be examined by the Annual and Revolutional Motion of the rest of the Planets, especially the Superiors, the Inferiors having most to do in the daily Mutations of the Air.

Now the Motion of the Planets is to be considered in a threefold manner.

1. According to their Revolution in respect of the Ecliptick, whereby they sometimes, as the Sun, (though with some diffe­rence of Latitude) are in Estival Signs, and sometimes in Win­ter Signs.

2. They are to be considered according to their Motion in this Copernican Projection, whereby they are sometimes near to the Earth, and sometimes at remoter distance, having great In­fluence [Page 22] at some times, and at other times in abject Places, and almost void of Influence in respect of us.

3. They are to be considered as to their Aphelions and Peri­helions, they moving in Eliptick Circles, as also their Diurnal Revolutions; passing by the Motion of their Satellites, which as yet have no known Influence.

4. Their Natures are chiefly to be noted, both Simple and Complicated: These are the chief relating to the several Constitutions of the Seasons.

But in the Diurnal and Horary Vicissitudes, we consider the Motion of Venus and Mercury, and chiefly the Lunar Mo­tion, as also their Aspects and Transits: And the Diurnal Motion of the Earth, whereby the Sun, Moon, and Stars, be­come sometimes upon the Meridian or Zenith, and sometimes under the Earth or Nadir, and sometimes upon the Horizon, ei­ther rising or setting. And note, that those Planets are of greatest Force which are nearest to us, both in respect of their Perigaeons, as well as being Vertical, and having North Declination and La­titude; as also that Planet which is above the Horizon: and the more vertical he is, the stronger he is; which also is aug­mented or diminished, according as he is beheld by the Sun, or the rest of the Planets. These and many more Phenomena's are to be considered, and well poised in Judgment, of which I shall treat in some following Tracts: This Tract only treats of the general Nature and Constitution of the Seasons. And I shall farther explain the Copernican Projection, or Diagrams, which ought well to be understood by every one that would be a Pro­ficient in the Knowledg of the Weather.

Which Diagrams are a new Projection, and never before made publick: They shewing the true Motions of the Earth, and other Planets about the Sun; and represent to you the true Geocentrick Places of the Planets, as well as Aspects; but in the Heliocentrick Places and Aspects of the Planets, they vary a little from Truth, because of their apparent Eliptical Motions.

[Page 23]And note, that what I say concerning the Demonstration of the third Diagram, understand the same of the rest.

In the said Diagram the Sun is the Center, the other Planets move about him in their several Orbits, as I have demonstrated in the third Chapter of this Book.

In this Diagram you may see, that the Lunar Orbit is divided into 12 equal Parts, being the Right Ascensions of the 12 Zodiacal Signs, viz. ♈, ♉, ♊, ♋, ♌, ♍, ♎, ♏, ♐ ♑, ♒, ♓, to those who live under the Zodiack.

Now when a Planet is in the Point ♑, then I say that Planet [...] in Heliocentrick Conjunction with the Earth; and in Perigae­i [...], or at his nearest approach to the Earth, when in the fore­said Position. But note, that I call a Planet in Perigaeon, when that he is elongated, from the Point ♑, as far on either side as the two next Signs, viz. ♐ and ♒, that is 30 Degrees on each side.

And a Planet posited within a few Degrees of the Lines ♏ or ♓ on either side, then I say that Planet is in △ with the Sun.

And a Planet upon or near the Lines ♎ or ♈, then is that Planet in Square to the Sun.

And when upon the Lines ♍ or ♉, then in Sextile of the Sun.

And when in or near the Line A ♋, then he is in ☌ with the Sun.

But when in the Space between the Points ♍ and ♋, or ♉ and ♋, then, I say, that Planet is in an Abject place, or place void of Influence, or at least having very weak Influence.

And note, when two Planets are in both in Abject places, as suppose ♄ in 15 Degrees of ♌, in Quartile of ♃ in 15 Deg. of ♉, then is that Aspect of much less Force than if they were in Aspect, in other places posited nearer the Earth; which Aphorism ought well to be heeded.

[Page 24]And note farther, that what I have here said, relates chiefly to the Superiors, the Phenomena of the Inferiors being something different to them; for the Demonstration whereof I shall say nothing until my next appears.

And what I have said of this Diagram, I would have you un­derstand the same of the 5th and 6th Diagrams, and in all others of the same Projection.

Mars is called by me the Sun's Deputy, who if near or at a fit distance, he becomes hotter than the Sun himself, who by re­flecting the united Rays of the Sun upon us, like a Burning-glass doth make them the more strong and forcible to us; but if he be in an Abject place, then he hath little or no Force; for place a Burning-glass in an Abject place, or so far off that the reflected Rays do not reach the Matter or Object to be cal­cined, it cannot fire it.

Saturn is famed on the other hand for Cold, who being com­posed of Nitrous Particles, doth, when near the Earth, (and not opposed or hindred by ♂ his Rays) by his Nitrous Parti­cles, stop or slacken the Motion of the Atmosphere, and thereby (as I have said before) cause Cold.

But Jupiter simply considered, viz. when powerful or near the Earth in Perigaeon, and in Estival Signs, causeth Serenity, and wholsome North Winds in Winter, seasonable Frosts; and in Summer a serene, sweet, temperate, and prolifick Air, being rather a favourer of Cold than Heat.

CHAP. VII.

IN this Chapter I shall demonstrate my former Method by Examples, which shall be done by the cold Summer in the Year 1695, and the succeeding warm January and February.

And first, for the reason of the cold Summer 1695, view the fifth Diagram, which is drawn for the Sun's Ingress into the [Page 25] Tropical Sign ♋, viz. June the 11th at Sun-set; in which Dia­gram you see that Saturn is in Perigaeon, or near the Earth, and Mars in an abject Place, as also ♃, which is the Cause of our cold Summer; for Saturn's nearness fills our Atmosphere with Nitre; and Mars not being able to oppose his chill Influence, we therefore had a very cold Summer, notwithstanding the Sun was then in his greatest Northern Vertical Strength.

And in the next place, let us see the Reason for our warm and favourable Winter, especially in January and February fol­lowing the said cold Summer, which two Months are as much fam'd for Cold, as June and July are for Heat.

In the sixth Diagram, which is drawn for the Sun's entrance into ♓, viz. the 8th of February at Sun-set, wherein we find the cold Planet Saturn in an abject place, being thereby far re­mote from the Earth; and Mars and Jupiter are in Perigaeon, and also in an Estival Sign, viz. on this side the Equator, and Mars in a Southern and Winter Sign: for depressed Mars in this place becomes our Deputy-Sun, who, like a Burning-Glass, warms our Atmosphere by reflecting back the Sun's Rays upon us, thereby warming our Air very much; whose Heat is aug­mented by the Proximity of Jupiter, they both being in Oppo­sition of the Sun.

In Places about ten degrees North and South Declination, viz. on each side the Equinoctial, yea all that part of the Torrid Zone, they felt Mars his Influence with a Vengeance; for Mars being in ☍ of the Sun, and in Conjunction with Jupiter a Ni­trosulphurious Planet, would, like Gun-powder, cause violent Combustions in the Atmosphere, great and violent Thunders and Lightnings, burning up the very Vegetables with their great Heat.

But we in the more Northern Climates, by reason of the Sun's Absence and great Depression, only enjoy'd a more warm Sea­son than usual at the Season; nay it was oft and many a day in January and February, warmer than several days in June and July preceding.

[Page 26]We had Thunder and Lightning even at Christmas this Year in our Climate, caused by the aforesaid Position.

But before I conclude this Chapter, I shall say something concerning the unparallell'd and never to be forgotten Frost, which happen'd in the Year 1683, which most Astrologers judged to be a Badg of the Effects of the grand ♂ of Saturn and Jupiter trebly repeated the Winter and Spring preceding; but tho that was the Cause, as I believe it was, why had we not the Cold the Winter before, when they were partilely con­join'd? I doubt not but it will puzzle most of our Modern Astrologers to shew the Reason.

But by our Copernican Method it's plain, why the Cold did not commence the Year before; for tho ♄ and ♃ were both in Perigaeon, which by our Method is a strong Augment of cold and severe Frost, yet we had then Mars our Deputy-Sun in square to the Sun, who being upon the Meridian or Zenith, while Saturn and Jupiter were upon the Horizon, who hath great Force and Power by that Position, and did by his great Power overcome the chill Influence of ♄ and ♃, and caused a temperate Season.

But after that Mars had got into an abject place, which was the succeeding Winter; and Saturn and ♃ still continuing near together, and becoming in Perigaeon again the next Winter, who then play'd their parts to purpose; for Mars was also in a Winter Sign, as well as in an abject place, who being thereby weakned, and not able to over-power the Influence of ♄ and ♃, who then play their parts to purpose, then began the time for Severity.

They that will or can may draw the respective Diagrams for the said Winters, wherein they may find Satisfaction. And so I shall conclude this Chapter, and with it the first Part.

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