Book II, chapters 30–35: Planetary influence, fixed stars, sun and moon, and the mansions of the moon

CHAP. XXX. When Planets are of most powerful influence.

NOw we shall have the Planets powerfull when they are ruling in a House, or in Exaltation or Triplicity, or term, or face without combustion of what is direct in the figure of the heavens, viz when they are in Angles, especially of the rising, or Tenth, or in houses presently succeeding, or in their delights. But we must take heed that they be not in the bounds or under the dominion of Saturn or Mars, least they be in dark Degrees, in pits or vacuityes. Thou shalt ocserve that the Angles of the Ascendent, and Tenth and Seventh be fortunate, as also the Lord of the Ascendent and place of the Sun and Moon, and the place of part of the fortune, and the Lord thereof, the Lord of the foregoing Conjunction & prevention: But that they of the malignant Planet fall unfortunate, unless haply they be significators of thy work, or can be any way advantagious to thee; or if in thy revolution or birth, they had the predominancy; for then they are not at all to be depressed. Now we shall have the Moone powerful if she be in her house, or exaltation, or triplicity, or face, and in degree convenient for the desired work, and if it hath a mansion of these twenty and eight sutable to it self and the work; Let her not be in the way burnt up, nor slow in course; let her not be in the Ecclipse, or burnt by the Sun, unless she be in unity with the Sun; let her not descend in the Southern latitude, when she goeth out of the burning, neither let her be opposite to the Sun, nor deprived of light, let her not be hindred by Mars, or Saturn. I will not here discourse any longer of these, seeing these, and many more necessary things are sufficiently handled in the Volums of Astrologers.

CHAP. XXXI. Of the Observation of the fixt Stars, and of their Natures.

THere is the like consideration to be had in all things concerning the fixt stars. Know this that all the fixt stars are of the signification and nature of the seven Planets; but some are of the nature of one Planet, and some of two: Hence as often as any Planet is joyned with any of the fixt stars of its own nature, the signification of that star is made more powerful, and the nature of the Planet augmented: but if it be a star of two natures, the nature of that which shall be the stronger with it shall overcome in signification; as for example, if it be of the nature of Mars, and Venus; if Mars shall be the stronger with it, the nature of Mars shall overcome; but if Venus, the nature of Venus shall overcome. Now the natures of fixt stars are discovered by their colours, as they agree with certain Planets, and are ascribed to them. Now the colours of the Planets are these: of Saturn, blew, and leaden, and shining with this: of Jupiter citrine neer to a paleness, and clear with this; of Mars, red, and fiery; of the Sun, yellow, and when it riseth red, afterward glittering: of Venus, white and shining; white with the morning, and reddish in the evening: of Mercury, glittering; of the Moon, fair. Know also that of the fixed stars by how much the greater, and the brighter and apparent they are, so much the greater and stronger is the signification; such are these stars which are called by the Astrologers of the first, and second Magnitude. I will tell thee some of these which are more potent to this faculty, as are viz the Navel of Andromeda in two and twentieth degree of Aries, of the nature of Venus & Mercury: some call it Jovial, & Saturnine. The head of Algol in the eighteenth degree of Taurus, of the nature of Saturn and Jupiter. The Pleiades are also in the two and twentieth degree, a Lunary star by Nature and by complexion Martial. Also in the third degree of Gemini is Aldeboram, of the nature of Mars, and complexion of Venus: but Hermes placeth this in the twenty fifth degree of Aries. The Goat-star is in the thirteenth degree of the said Gemini, of the nature of Jupiter, and Saturn; the greater Dog-star is in the seventh degree of Cancer, and Venereal: the lesser Dog-star is in the seventeenth degree of the same, and is of the nature of Mercury, and complexion of Mars. The Kings star, which is called the Heart of the Lion, is in the one and twentieth degree of Leo, and of the nature of Jupiter and Mars; the tail of the greater Bear is in the nineteenth degree of Virgo, and is Venereal, and Lunary. The Star which is called the right wing of the Crow is in the seventh degree of Libra, and in the thirteenth degree of the same is the left wing of the same, and both of the nature of Saturn and Mars. The Star called Spica is in the sixteenth degree of the same, and is Venereal and Mercurial. In the seventeenth degree of the same is Alcameth, of the nature of Mars, and Jupiter; but of this when the Suns aspect is full towards it; of that when on the contrary. Elepheia in the fourth degree of Scorpio, of the nature of Venus, and Mars: The Heart of the Scorpion is in the third degree of Sagittarius, of the nature of Mars, and Jupiter: the falling Vulture is in the seventh degree of Capricorn, Temperate, Mercurial, and Venereal: The taile of Capricorn is in the sixteenth degree of Aquarius, of the nature of Saturn, and Mercury: The Star called the Shoulder of the Horse, is in the third degree of Piscis, of the nature of Jupiter and Mars. And it shall be a general rule for thee to expect the proper gifts of the Stars whilest they rule, to be prevented of them, they being unfortunate, and opposite, as is above shewed. For Celestial bodies, in as much as they are affected fortunately, or unfortunately, so much do they affect us, our works, and those things which we use, fortunately, or unhappily. And although manyeffects proceed from the fixt Stars, yet they are attributed to the Planets, as because being more neer to us, and more distinct and known, so because they execute whatsoever the superior Stars communicate to them.

CHAP. XXXII. Of the Sun, and Moon, and their Magicall considerations.

THe Sun, and Moon have obtained the administration or ruling of the Heavens, and all bodies under the heavens. The Sun is the Lord of all Elementary vertues; and the Moon by vertue of the Sun is the mistress of generation, increase, or decrease. Hence Albumasar saith, that by the Sun and Moon life is infused into all things, which therefore Orpheus cals the enlivening eyes of the heaven. The Sun giveth light to all things of it self, and give, it plentifully to all things not only in the Heaven, Aire, but Earth and Deep: whatsoever good we have, as Jamblicus saith, we have it from the Sun alone, or from it through other things. Heraclitus cals the Sun the fountain of Celestiall light; and many of the Platonists placed the soul of the world chiefly in the Sun, as that which filling the whole Globe of the Sun doth send forth its rayes on all sides as it were a spirit through all things, distributing life, sense and motion to the very Universe. Hence the ancient Naturalists called the Sun the very heart of heaven; and the Caldeans put it as the middle of the Planets. The Egyptians also placed it in the middle of the world, viz. betwixt the two fives of the world, e. i. above the Sun they place five Planets, and under the Sun, the Moon and four Elements. For it is amongst the other Stars the image and statue of the great Prince of both worlds, viz. Terrestiall, and Celestiall; the true light, and the most exact image of God himself; whose Essence resembles the Father, Light the Son, Heat the Holy Ghost. So that the Platonists have nothing to hold forth the Divine Essence more manifestly by, then this. So great is the consonancy of it to God, that Plato cals it the conspicuous Son of God; and Jamblicus cals it the divine image of divine intelligence. And our Dionysius cals it the perspicuous statue of God. It sits as King in the middle of other Planets, excelling all in light, greatness, fairness, enlightning all, distributing vertue to them to dispose inferior bodies, and regulating and disposing of their motions, so that from thence their motions are called daily, or nightly, Southern, or Northren, Orientall, or Occidentiall, direct, or retrograde; and as it doth by its light drive away all the darkness of the night, so also all powers of darkness, which we read of in Job; Assoon as morning appears, they think of the shadow of death: And the Psalmist speaking of the Lyons whelps seeking leave of God to devour, saith, The Sun is risen, and they are gathered together, and shall be placed in their dens; which being put to flight, it followes, Man shall go forth to his labor. The Sun therefore as it possesseth the middle Region of the world, and as the heart is in Animals to the whole body, So the Sun is over the heaven, and the world, ruling over the whole Universe, and those things which are in it, the very author of seasons, from whence day and year, cold and heat, and all other qualities of seasons; and as saith Ptolemy, when it comes unto the place of any Star, it stirs up the power thereof which it hath in the Aire. So as with Mars, heat; with Saturn, cold; and it disposeth even the very spirit and mind of man; from hence it is said by Homer, and approved by Aristotle, that there are in the mind such like motions, as the Sun the Prince and moderator of the Planets every day bringeth to us; but the Moon, the nighest to the Earth, the receptacle of all the heavenly Influences, by the swiftness of her course is joyned to the Sun, and the other Planets and Stars, every month, and being made as it were the wi[…]e of all the Stars, is the most fruitful of the Stars, and receiving the beams and influences of all the other planets and Stars as a conception, bringing them forth to the inferior world as being next to it self; for all the Stars have influence on it being the last receiver, which afterwards communicateth the influences of all the superiors to these inferiors, and pours them forth on the Earth; and it more manifestly disposeth these inferiors, then the others, and its motion is more sensible by the familiarity and propinquity which it hath with us; and as a medium betwixt both, superiors and inferiors, communicateth them to them all; Therefore her motion is to be observed before the others, as the parent of all conceptions, which it diversely issueth forth in these Inferiors, according to the diverse complexion, motion, situation, and different aspects to the planets and others Stars; and though it receiveth powers from all the Stars, yet especially from the Sun; as oft as it is in conjunction with the same, it is replenished with vivifying vertue, and according to the aspect thereof it borroweth its complexion; for in the first quarter, as the Peripatetickes deliver, it is hot and moist; in the second, hot and dry; in the third, cold and dry; in the fourth cold and moist; and although it is the lowest of the stars, yet it bringeth forth all the conceptions of the superiors; for from it in the heavenly bodies beginneth that series of things which Plato calleth the Golden Chain, by the which every thing and cause being linked one to an other, do depend on the superior, even untill it may be brought to the supreme cause of all, from which all things depend; from hence is it, that without the Moon intermediating, we cannot at any time attract the power of the superiors. Therefore Thebit adviseth vs, for the taking of the vertue of any Star, to take the stone and herb of that plant, when the Moon doth either fortunately get under or hath a good aspect on that Star.

CHAP. XXXIII. Of the twenty eight Mansions of the Moon, and their vertues.

ANd seeing the Moon measureth the whole Zodiack in the space of twenty eight dayes; hence is it, that the wisemen of the Indians and ancientest Astrologians have granted twenty eight Mansions to the Moon, which being fixed in the eight sphere, do enjoy (as Alpharus saith) diverse names and proprieties from the diverse Signs and Stars which are contained in them, through which while the Moon wandreth, it obtaineth other and other powers and vertues; but every one of these Mansions according to the opinion of Abraham, containth twelve degrees, and one and fifty minutes, and almost twenty six seconds, whose names and also their beginnings in the Zodiack of the eight sphere, are these. The first is called Alnath, that is the horns of Aries; his beginning is from the head of Aries of the eighth sphere; it causeth discords, and journies; the second is called Allothaim or Albochan, that is the belly of Aries, and his beginning is from the twelfth degree of the same sign, fifty one minutes, twenty two seconds compleat; it conduceth to the finding of treasures, and to the retaining of captives; The third is called Achaomazon or Athoray, that is, showring or Pleiades; his beginning is from the twenty five degrees of Aries compleat fourty two minutes, and fifty one seconds; it is profitable to Saylers, Huntsmen, and Alchymists; The fourth Mansion is called Aldebaram or Aldelamen that is the eye or head of Taurus; his beginning is from the eight degree of Taurus, thirty four minutes, and seventeen seconds of the same Taurus being excluded; it causeth the destruction and hindrances of buildings, fountains, wels, of goldmines, the flight of creeping things, and begetteth discord. The fift is called Alchatay or Albachay; the beginning of it is after the twenty one degree of Taurus, twenty five minutes, fourty seconds; it helpeth to the return from a journey, to the instruction of scholars, it confirmeth edifices, it giveth health and good will, the sixth is called Alhanna or Alchaya, that is the little Star of great light; his beginning is after the fourth degree of Gemini, seventeen minutes, and nine seconds; it conduceth to Hunting, and besieging of Towns, and revenge of princes, it destroyeth Harvests and fruits and hindreth the operation of the Physitian. The seventh is called Aldimiach or Alarzach, that is the Arm of Gemini and beginneth from the seventeeneth degree of Gemini, eight minutes and thirty four seconds, and lasteth even to the end of the sign; it conferreth gain and friendship, its profitable to Lovers, it scareth flyes, destroyeth Magisteries. And so is one quarter of the heaven compleated in these seven Mansions; and in the like order and number of degrees, minutes and seconds, the remaining Mansion in every quarter have their severall beginnings; namely so, tha[…] in the first signe of this quarter three Mansions take their beginnings, in the other two signs two Mansions in each; Therefore the seven following Mansions begin from Cancer, whose names are Alnaza or Anatrachya that is misty or cloudy, viz. the eighth Mansion; it causeth love, friendship, and society of fellow travellers, it driveth away mice and afflicteth Captives, confirming their imprisonment. After this is the ninth called Archaam or Arcapb, that is the eye of the Lyon; it hindreth Harvests and travellers, and putteth discord between men. The tenth is called Algelioche or Albgebh, that is the neck or forehead of Leo; it strengtheneth buildings, yeeldeth love, benevolence and help against enemies; the eleventh is called Azobra or Ardaf, that is, the hair of the Lyons head; it is good for voyages, and gain by merchandize, and for redemption of Captives; the twelfth is called Alzarpha or Azarpha, that is the tayle of Leo; it giveth prosperity to Harvests, and Plantations, but hindreth Seamen, but it is good for the bettering of servants, Captives and companions. The thirteenth is named Alhaire, that is Dogstars, or the wings of Virgo; it is pravalent for Benevolence, gain, voyages, Harvests, and freedom of captives; the fourteenth is called Achureth or Arimet, by others Azimeth or Alhumech or Alcheymech, that is the spike of Virgo, or flying spike; it causeth the love of marryed folk, it cureth the sick, its profitable to Saylors, but it hindreth journies by land; and in these the second quarter of Heaven is compleated. The other seven follow, the first of which beginneth in the head of Libra, viz. the fifteenth Mansion, and his name is Agrapha or Algarpha, that is, covered, or covered flying; its profitable for the extracting of treasures, for digging of pits, it helpeth forward divorce, discord, and the destruction of houses and enemies, and hindreth travellers. The sixteenth is called Azubene or Ahubene, that is, the Horns of Scorpio, it hindereth journyes and Wedlock, Harvests and Merchandize, it prevaileth for redemption of captives. The seventeenth is called Alchil, that is the Crown of Scorpio, it bettereth a bad-fortune, maketh love durable, strengtheneth buildings, & helpeth Seamen; The eighteenth is called Alchas or Altob, that is the Heart of Scorpio; it causeth discord, sedition, conspiracy against princes and mighty ones, and revenge from enemies, but it freeth captives and helpeth edifices; the ninteenth is called Allatha or Achala, by others Hycula or Axala, that is the tayle of Scorpio; it helpeth in the besieging of Cities and taking of Towns, and in the driving of men from their places, and for the destruction of Seamen, and perdition of captives. The twenteeth is called Abnahaya, that is a beam; it helpeth for the taming of wild beasts, for the strengthening of prisons, it destroyeth the wealth of societies, it compelleth a man to come to a certain place. The one & twentieeth is called Abeda or Albeldach which is a desert; it is good for Harvests, gain buildings and travellers, and causeth divorce; & in this is the third quarter of Heavē compleated. There remaineth the seven last Mansions compleating the last quarter of heaven; the first of which being in order to the two and twentyeth, beginneth from the head of Capricorn, called Sadabacha or Zodeboluch, or Zandeldena, that is a pastour; it promoteth the flight of servants and captives, that they may escape, and helpeth the curing of diseases; the three and twentieth is called Zabadoia or Zobrach that is swallowing; it maketh for divorce, liberty of captives and the health of the sick; the twenty fourth is called Sadabath or Chadezoad, that is the Star of fortune; it is prevalent for the Benevolence of marryed folk, for the victory of souldiers, it hurteth the execution of Government, and hindreth that it may not be exercised; The twenty fifth is called Sadalabra or Sadalachia, that is a Butterfly or a spreading forth; it helpeth besieging and revenge, it destroyeth enemies, maketh divorse, confirmeth prisons and buildings, hasteneth messengers, it conduceth to spels against copulation, and so bindeth every member of man, that it cannot perform his duty; the twenty sixth is called Alpharg or Phrag[…] Mocaden, that is the first drawing; it maketh for the Union and love of men, for the health of captives, it destroyeth prisons and buildings; The twenty seventh is called Alcharya o[…] Alhalgalmoad that is the second drawing; it encreaseth Harvests, Revenues, Gain, it healeth infirmities, but hindreth buildings, prolongeth prisons, causeth danger to Seamen, an[…] helpeth to infer mischiefs on whom you shall please; the twenty eight and last is called Albotham or Alchalcy, that is Pisces; it encreaseth Harvests and Merchandize, it secureth travellers through dangerous places; it maketh for the joy of marryed couples, but it strengthenth prisons, and causeth loss of treasures; and in these twentyeight Mansions do lye hid many secrets of the wisdom of the Ancients, by the which they wrought wonders on all things which are under the circle of the Moon; and they attributed to every Mansion his resemblances, Images, and seals, and his president intelligences, and they did work by the vertue of them after diverse manners.

CHAP. XXXIV. Of the true motion of the heavenly bodies to be observed in the eight sphere, and of the ground of Planetary hours.

WHosoever will work according to the Celestiall opportunity, ought to observe both or one of them, […]amely the motion of the Stars, or their times; I say their motions, when they are in their dignities or dejections, either […]sential or accidentall; but I call their times, dayes and hours […]stributed to their Dominions. Concerning all these, it is abundantly taught in the books of Astrologers; but in this place […]o things especially are to be considered and observed by us. […]he that we observe the motions and ascensions and windings […] Stars, even as they are in truth in the eight sphere, through […] neglect of which it happeneth that many err in fabricating […] Celestiall Images, and are defrauded of their desired effect; […] other thing we ought to observe, is about the times of […]osing the planetary hours; for almost all Astrologers di[…]e all that space of time from the Sun rising to setting into […]elve equall parts, and call them the twelve hours of the day; […]n the time which followeth from the setting to the rising, like manner being divided into twelve equall parts, they call the twelve hours of the night, and then distribute each of those hours to every one of the Planets according to the order of their successions, giving alwayes the first hour of the day to the Lord of that day, then to every one by order, even to the end of twenty four hours; and in this distribution the Magicians agree with them; but in the partition of the hours some do dissent, saying, that the space of the rising and setting is not to be divided into equall parts, and that those hours are not therefore called unequal because the diurnal are unequal to the nocturnall, but because both the diurnal and nocturnal are even unequall amongst themselves; therefore the partition of unequall or Planetary hours hath a different reason of their measure observed by Magicians, which is of this sort; for as i[…] artificiall hours, which are alwayes equall to themselves, the ascensions of fifteen degrees in the equinoctiall, constituteth an artificial hour: so also in planetary hours the ascensions of fifteen degrees in the Eclipticke constituteth an unequall or planetary hour, whose measure we ought to enquir[…] and find out by the tables of the oblique ascensions of every region.

CHAP. XXXV. How some artificiall things as Images, Seals, and such like, may obtain some vertue from the Celestial bodies.

SO great is the extent, power and efficacy of the Celestia[…] bodies, that not only naturall things, but also artificial[…] when they are rightly exposed to those above, do presenth suffer by that most potent agent, and obtain a wonderfull li[…] which oftentimes gives them an admirable Celestiall vertue which thing Saint Thomas Aquinas that holy Doctor, tha[…] confirmeth in his book de fato, when he saith, that even garments, buildings and other artificiall works whatsoever, […] receive a certain qualification from the Stars; so the Magicia[…] affirm, that not only by the mixture and application of nature all things, but also in Images, Seals, Rings, Glasses, and some other Instruments, being opportunely framed under a certain constellation, some Celestiall Illustration may be taken, and some wonderfull thing may be received; for the beams of the Celestiall bodies being animated, living, sensuall, and bringing along with them admirable gifts, and a most violent power, do, even in a moment, and at the first touch, imprint wonderfull powers in the Images, though their matter be less capable. Yet they bestow more powerfull vertues on the Images, if they be framed not of any, but of a certain matter, namely whose naturall, and also specificall vertue is agreeable with the work, and the figure of the image is like to the Celestial; for such an Image, both in regard of the matter naturally congruous to the operation and Celestiall influence, and also for its figure being like to the Heavenly one, is best prepared to receive the operations and powers of the Celestiall bodies and figures, and instantly receiveth the Heavenly gift into it self; then it constantly worketh on another thing, and other things do yeeld obedience to it. Hence saith Ptolemy in centiloquio, that inferior things do obey the Celestiall, and not only them, but also even their Images; Even as earthly Scorpions obey not only the Celestiall Scorpion, but also his Image, if it shall be opportunely figured under his ascent and Dominion.