AN astrological JVDGEMENT VPON HIS MAJESTIES Present march: Begun from OXFORD, May 7. 1645. Ludit in humanis divins potentia rebus. By GEO: WHARTON. As it was Printed at OXFORD by H. Hall, 1645. To the Friendly and Judicious READERS. YOU have here( at the request of some Honourable Personages) an astrological judgement, upon the future success of His Majesties present march begun the seventh of May Instant. It is delivered in general terms, for I neither will nor dare descend to Particulars: that would require the knowledge of many things, besides His Majesties Nativity, which I may not presume to meddle with; It being in itself both unlawful and very dangerous to publish any thing concerning the particular fortunes and Destinies of Princes. For this Thrasybulus, Ascletarion and Gauricus, were much to blame; the first whereof foretold the Destruction of Tiberius the Emperour; the second, of Domitian; the third, of Bentivola in Bononia: So likewise the Priest that caused the Rumour of the future murdering of Galeacius Sfortia Duke of milan, who were all of them worthily rewarded for their folly. And so ought Master lily and Master Booker to be for their pernicious Pamphlets, wherein their sole endeavour hath hitherto been by most disloyal and ambiguous Phrases to animate and hasten on the Rebels and other Conspirators to plot and attempt mischief against His Majesty, whereas an honest and discreet Artist ought not to divulge any thing( especially of Princes) that may any way tend to endanger their Persons, but either not to meddle at all, or else to deal privately with the Prince himself; and then also to adhere to Cardanes Rules in his book De astrolegicis Interogationibus: Principine magnum malum firmiter unquam praedixeris, said periculum. Howbeit Cardane himself dealt more plainly, and therefore more dangerously with Edward the Sixth, as appeareth in the Judicials of his Nativity given out in the beginning of his Duodecim Illustres Geniturae. But neither Cardane( notwithstanding he was a man of extraordidary credit) nor any other personal example can warrant any other private men to intermeddle with the Nativities of their Princes, otherwise then is before limited, or upon the Princes special command. And yet if in this respect or any other the Art happen to be abused by some Spurij( non verifilij) Artis, it hath but the same fortune that other arts and Sciences have: And the Lawyers Rule is, That abusus non tollit usum. The bounds of which limitation I presume I have not any way exceeded in this Discourse, which be pleased to accept as followeth. A celestial Scheame, or Figure setting forth exactly the true position and state of the Heavens at the time his Majesty began his march. astrological chart Fortitudes and Debilities of the Planets, according to their situation in the Figure. Saturnes Fortitudes reason of his Being in his term. 2 In the 9. House. 2 Direct. 4 Swift. 2 Orientally. 2 Free from Combustion. 5 17 weak by reason of his fall. 4 Jupiters Fortitudes. In his term. 2 Decade. 1 Tenth House. 5 Direct. 4 Swift. 2 freedom from Combustion. 5 19 Debilitated by reason of his detriment. 5 Under the Sun-beams. 4 Mars his Fortitudes. Direct. 4 Swift. 2 freedom from Comb. 2 8 Debilites. Peregrine. 5 In the twesth. 5 occidental. 2 12 Fortitudes of the Sum. In the tenth House. 5 Debilities. Peregine. 5 Slow in motions 2 7 Venus her Fortitudes. In her House. 5 Triplicity. 3 In the tenth House. 5 Direct. 4 Swift. 2 Free from Comb. 5 occidental. 2 Debilities. In ☌ with Cap. Algol. 5 Under the Sun-beams. 4 9 Mercury his Fortitudes. In his House. 5 Triplicy. 3 In the tenth House. 5 Direct. 4 Swift. 2 Free from Comb. 5 24. Debilities. occidental. 2 The Moon her Fortitudes. Free from Comb. 5 Debilities. Peregrine. 5 In the fixth House. 4 Slow in motion. 2 Decreasing in light. 2 An astrological Judgement upon His majesties march. BY this distribution the Fortitudes and Debilities of every Planet in the precedent celestial Scheme are easily gathered: It follows then that we likewise confer them amongst themselves according to the respective Numbers of their Fortitudes and Debilities; that at may yet more manifestly appear, which of them are most strong and fortunate, which most weak and infortunat, and accordingly how they succeed one another in strength and power. First then, the Planet Mercury of all the rest is simply most strong and fortunate in the Scheme. For if the number of his Debilities be deducted from the sum of his Fortitudes there still remaineth 22 Testimonies of strength, which no other Planet obtaineth in the Figure. The next in dignity is Venus, who hath 17 Testimonies; then Saturne and Jupiter, who are both very powerful; the first of them being endowed with 13 the latter with 10 Dignities: Mars and the sun are both but weak in respect of their essential Dignities: yet for some Circumstances very cousiderable in this case, the sun may be said to be the stronger, which being generally taken is a good and laudable token. The moon of all others is the most debilitated, her Detriments exceeding her Fortitudes by 8, which will prove very advantageous to His Majesty, as hereafter shall be noted. And thus much generally touching the constitution of the Planets in the Figure. Now to descend more particularly to the present matter: We are( in this case) principally to consider four things. First, the Ascendent of the Scheme, which is the Significator of the City from whence his majesty began his March: From which house we are to collect the condition and state of this City during his majesties absence. Secondly, the 10 House, which( according to holy) is the Significatrix of the journey: And from this we are to deduce our judgement of his majesties success during the time of his March. The Third thing to be considered is the 7 House, by which we are to judge how his majesty is likely to be received in those parts where his Army shall pass, and of his success against the Enemy. And lastly, the fourth House; whereby we are to inform ourselves of his majesties success in the return. Vnde si quis istorum locorum melior, & fortunatior fuerit factus, significat bonitatem in illa sua significatione: Et si quis fuerit malè afflatus & u●cens, significat damnum in ill a sua significatione. Vid. holy, pag. 328. As concerning the first, we find the 22 degree of the regal sign lo at that instant ascending our Horizon, Cor Leonis in the Ascendent: And the Dragons Head in the very cusp thereof: And the Sun( Lord of the First House) not unfortunately posited in the South Angle of the Heavens: Which is the house of Empire, Rule, Dignities, Offices, and Arts, &c. And he environd with the two benign Planets Jupiter and Venus, who likewise behold the Ascendent and are free from any configuration with the Malevolents. These are evident and undeniable Testimonies of the Honour and safety of this famous Vmuersity and city of Oxford; And of the care and vigilancy of those that are entrusted by his Majesty with the government thereof: Of the Fidelity, Courage, Industry, and necessary expense of her Inhabitants for the Defence of it: And of their conformity to such wholesome Orders, as either are or shall hereafter be made by the wisdom of the councillors for the good and Benefit of the City. In a word, All the good our hearts can wish for is promised us by the Scheme. I hope the seasonable care taken, and the Directions already given for prevention of the sickness will add very much to our happiness: Some strange kind of Mortality must be expected this year in most Cities and great towns, throughout the South, South-East, and southwest parts of this kingdom: But especially let London be forewarned of her misery: She is much( and that deservedly) threatened. You may hear more of her after the 23 of May instant, for from thence doth the Influence of Saturnes Transite our of Aries into Taurus begin to operate. As touching the second thing here considerable, which is the tenth House; we may observe the ninth Degree and 31 min. of Taurus Culminating, which is the House and Triplicity of Venus; wherein also she is most fortunately seated within 3 Degrees of the cusp thereof, beholding the Ascendent, free from Combustion, or any configuration with the Malevolent Planets; being Direct and Swift of Motion, and oriental of the sun: To her( therefore) may we justly attribute the signification of his majesties march: Who being( by nature) Benevolent, by her essential and accidental Position so fortunate: We cannot pronounce less to his majesty, and his whole Army, then a wonderful happy, prosperous and successful march, And contrarily exceeding much fear and terror, dissipation and utter ruin to his Enemies. The Dragons Head in the cusp of the Ascendent tells us, quod habebit honum antequam se ind moveat, & in principio It neris, holy par. 3. pag. 108. This was verified it part by that gullant Encounter with the Enemy, performed( with so good success) by the Right Honourable the Lord Goring near Newbridge the same seventh day; occasioned upon his majesties Motion hence. The Generality of this good to his majesty and his Army, is further confirmed by the powerful presence of Jupiter, the Sun, and Mercury in the South-angle; and the unfortunate Positure of the moon in the Figure, &c. Artabari dixit: Si quando Rex, vel alius voluevit capere inimicum qui sit valoris minoris co; statuat ☽ in ☌, aut ☍, vel in via combust. aut cum ☊, vel ☋, &c. Et sol sit salvus & p●rus ab infortuniis & in medio coeli sint fortunae; Etiam si quando magis infortunata fuerit ☽ crit peius & maius damnum pro illo inimico, quia ☽ est significatrix Populi, &c. ac servorum, holy, page. 340. We have here( as before we noted) the sun, both the Fortunes, and, Mercury safely seated in the Mid-heaven: And the moon( who naturally,( and in this case especially) signifieth the many-headed-monster Multitude,( such persons as in January 1641. tumultuously assembled themselves( to the hazard of his majesties royal Person) to cry for Blood in the terms of Justice; those who through their pretended zeal to I know not what, have brought the curse of God upon themselves and the whole kingdom, first by slaying the Innocent in could Blood, and ever since by engaging their Persons and estates in this most unnatural and Bloody war against his majesty.) The moon, I say, who is the natural significatrix of such mean Capacities is in the 6 House very sick( Master lily) and nigh to the Dragons tail. These Positions will puzzle and stupefy the misguided Commonalty, and make them know theres such a thing as Allegiance. More particularly; the Sun thus posited, and also Mercury being free from Combustion and the Infortunes; And the Dragons head so near the cusp ascending; Salvationem corporis, agilitatem, & gaudium in Itinere fignificant, bonamque fiduciam, & applicari ad id quod vult. holy, page. 324. Jupiters Position in the 10 House confirms the same. holy page. 328. The moon Lady of the 12, and moving betwixt the 8 degree, 34 min. and 21 degr. 26 min. of Aquarius, gives us to understand that His majesty shall receive much contentment by certain Messages brought him from foreign parts; and that he shall receive some sudden and unexpected supply of by the means of some that assimilate the condition of his Enemies: and withall this comfort; That His majesty shall be exceeding successful in besieging of town; Castles, or Forts, and in pursuing the Enemy. See holy, pa. 346. Mars his Sextile to the sun Lord of the Ascendant,( which happeneth the 18 day of May) will encourage our Souldiers to advance with much Alacrity and cheerfulness of spirit; and to show themselves gallant in the most dangerous attempts. The Ascendent and tenth house being both Fixed signs, tell us, That the march shall not be so speedy as is expected; but with great deliberation and care of settling the affairs of the distracted Counties through which his majesty passeth. Yet the great dominion of Mercury doth intimate quick Action about the latter end of June, and the most part of july. O! what snaffling there will be amongst the zealots before the middle of November? How many dayes of Humiliation? what fears? what Jealousies? what discontents and wranglings? what Murmurings? how many lies and Forgeries raised and dispersed to quicken a Dull and Dying Faction? The next thing( in Order) which we are to consider, is, the sign and degr. of the 7 House, which in this Scheme is the 22 degr. and 21 min. of Aquarius, the house of Saturne, but term of Jupitur, Saturne being in the 9 house of the Heavens in the end of Aries, and in a Sextile with the cusp of the 7 House, and in a Quartile with Mars. Si gradus 7 domus fuerit dignitas 4 timebitur & honorabitur & credetur eius verbis a gente illius Terrae ad quam vadit, & erit dilectus, a Gente Terrae ad quam vadit cum gaudio, et laetitiâ. Here by the word Gente we must understand the County or Counties principally aimed at by His majesty. And this happy reception is further attested by the propinquity of Venus to the sun as he is Lord of the Ascendent, and in the House of Kings, &c. Aquarius being a fixed sign, tells us that he shal not quickly remove thence, but remain there some convenient time for the settling of some important affairs, and a full reducing of those Counties to their obedience. If any man would be satisfied to what Quarter of the Heavens the design is intended, although he may guess something by the Motion which the Army hath already made; yet he may inform his Judgement best by considering the signs of the 4 Angels, viz. lo, Taurus, Aquarius, and scorpion,( which he shall find to be the one half northern, the other Southern; and also the Signs wherein the Planets are, viz. Aries, Taurus, geminy, lo and Aquarius, which are all of them( except the laft wherein the moon is) Septentrionall. Which will assuredly determine that the progress and principal Actions of this Army or the greatest part thereof are like to be Northerly, inclining sometimes to the East, otherwhiles to the West, as the Occasions of war requited. The fourth and last thing to be examined is the 4 House: The cusp whereof is the 9 degree and 31 min. of scorpion, the most viperous sign of the zodiac; where Mars hath the Dignities of house Triplicity and Decade; But is unfortunately collocated in the 12 house of the Figure. This position of his ought to forewarn our Commanders to take heed of some Disaster immediately before His majesty betake him to his Winter Quarters, It seems to be the beating up of an Out-quarter, and the surprisal of some few of our Men, who value their ease more then their safety: I will say no more: But I hope the Diligence and vigilancy of our Commanders may prevent the danger. And now to sum up all: It is most apparent to every impartial and ingenuous Judgement; That( although His majesty cannot expect to be secured from every trivial disaster that may befall his Army, either by the too much presumption, ignorance, or negligence of some particular persons, which is frequently incident and unavoidably in the best of Armies) yet the several Positions of the Heavens duly considered and compared amongst themselves, as well in the prefixed Scheme as at the Quarterly Ingresses, do generally render His majesty and his whole Army unexpectedly victorious and successful in all his designs: believe it ( London) thy miseries approach, they are like to be many, great and grievous, and not to be diverted, unless thou seasonably crave pardon of God for being Nurse to this present Rebellion, and speedily submit to thy Princes mercy; Which shall be the daily prayer of Geo: Wharton. FINIS. POSTSCRIPT. Since the Impression of the Starry Messenger, and before its publishing, I received an Oxford Pamphlet, to which I return this Answer, and so sand them both into the world together. An Examination of an astrological Judgement upon His Majesties present march, begun from Oxford, 7. May, 1645. Set forth purposely by G. WHARTON to advance their declining condition, to impedite the Parliaments, and dishearten the City and Citizens of LONDON. WHile we divide, the Enemy unites; our factions prove their victories, Wharton in behalf of our enemies appears publicly, nay requested by personages of Honour ( per fas aut nefas) whether he lye or not, so it advance, itis no matter: are any so indulgent on our side, & c? I must begin with his Epistle, wherein the Author professes to deliver his Judgement in general terms, and yet forgetful, being not ( mendax memor) a liar of a good memory, he goes on in the whole discourse, assigning and determining the success of his majesties march and his Army in particular words and terms, as appears, Fol. 4. line 20. 21. Fol. 5. line 10. Fol. 6. line 10. In all which places he proclaims victory, upon victory to His majesty, and not so much as the loss of one louse on their own party. In the next place he soberly dehorts Master Booker and myself from adhering to the Parliament, and tells a tale of a tubb, as of Gauricus, a certain Priest, &c. That meddled with the particular destiny of Princes, and were therefore well rewarded, and so would he have Master Booker and me, for publishing pernicious Pamphlets, as this man calls them. Were I commanded, I would make it apparent, the Parliaments cause shall not want a Champion in Astrology to confute any thing in point of Art that can bee allcadged from the greatest Clerk, in Oxford. God is on our side; the Constellations of Heaven after a while will totally appear for the Parliament, and cast terror, horror, amazement, and frights on all those Dammee-Blades now in arms against us, &c. But our Author in his Epistle goes on, and makes it evident, he hath red part of the last leaf in Cardan: whose words he recites, viz Never tell a King of any danger near unto him: then, itis probable, we must say as Ababs Prophets: Go to Ramoth Gilead and prosper: yes. so he did; for there the poor misled King was slain: I am Master Wharton so far from your mind, that did I know any sudden danger near to His majesty. I would adventure to the hazard of my life through both Armies to give him warning, and so would master Booker. do you Master Wharton red Cardan on the same side, and thereby rectify your partial Judgement. In praedacendo, amoveas timorem, odium & amorcm: when you take upon you to predict to a Prince( as you now in particular do) neither speak or writ out of fear, hatred or love: and you might know what Ptolom●y commands, viz: that in every Judgement we beware of flattery and hatred, for that renders the Art fallible, and the Artist scandalous. You are guilty in the breach of these aphorisms, while you call our Parliament Rebels, and convert every Judgement to signify victory to his Majesty: and leave the end of His march untouched because you love to speak Placentia: for in truth the scheame itself promises an unlucky end to your so fortunate and so much applauded march. do but red Goclenius in discursu pro Astrolo. Fol. 112. Scotie reges fear omnes: and a little further; Anglorum fear reges omnes; having perused those words, deal plainly with the world, and those Honourable personages at Oxford, which employ you. For his Majesties Nativity, I think Master Booker and I have some other better employments, we love not to take pains for so slight a reward as follows the handling the Genesis of a Prince without His consent: but get me public licence, under His majesty hand, and them George, have at any thing, else not. His Majesties march( as is suggested) began Wednesday 7. May, 1645. 10. 32. A.M. THe body of the discourse intends two things principally; threatenings against the City of London, victories to His majesty, or confusion to His enemies, &c. Not to play the critic with this University Freshman, or cavil at his ignorance in collecting the debilities of Venus which he makes more then they are by placing her, in Coniunction with Caput Algol, whose Longitude is 20.54. Of Taurus, vide Orig. 175. Nor is Mercury debilitated by occidentallity: Orig. 540. Nor is Venus fortified by Orienlity, but debilitated: Honest George cannot yet get out of his Horn-book. I begin with his astrological Judgement spewed out against London, out of His majesties Martching figure: Fol. 4. line 3. London is bereby forewarned of her misery, and deservedly hereby threatened. lily, Well may George have a great Whetston, he well deserves it; out of his own words itis lawful to beate him, and so I will. That geminy is the ascendant of the City of London all Authors agree, and George acknowledged in his first Progg. That Mercury is Lord of that sign, and simply most strong in this present figure, itis his own words at this time. Neither is the sign, or Lord thereof afflicted, but on the contrary the most Potent Planet in the figure, yea more dignified then Sol or Venus, he is in Conjunction with Jupiter, and in Trine with the moon who translats the Light and Virtue of Venus to Mercury: now according to George his own words, Fol. 3. These are undeniable testimonies both of the safety and honour of this famous City and Citizens thereof, nor doth it in the least particle point out by this his plaintiffs march any danger, loss, misery, or accidents unto them; this Constellation foretells what famed and esteem the Citizens hereof shall attain, by being the kingdoms bulwark against Tyranny and Oppression, by relieving the many thousands plundered and pillaged by his plaintiffs forces: and that this city shall get into their power one time or other all their enemies, perhaps in a very short time, for we see Mercury disposeth of Jupiter: I seriously avow upon my reputation to the whole kingdom, this Judgement I give, is, and will prove true according to the Scheame of heaven Wharton hath set, &c. Who prosecutes his story with many invectives alleged without Art or Judgement, and last of all, invites me to the combat, with these words, The moon is in the 6, very sick( Master lily) and mere the Dragons tail, this will teach the Citizens their Allegiance. An utopian judgement Master Wharton, that the afflicted moon in the sixth should teach us slavery: Our obedience we well know, we have performed our Allegiance, until necessity enforced us for the Defence of the Parliament and our own grievances to stand in arms, and engage our persons for the public Good: but what is this to the thing in question. Master Wharton see to it, there hath been one eclipse in lo, there will be another the eleventh of August, Remember George. The last Vomit against the city is an imprecation, that unless they submit to their Princes mercy, he like one of Baalls priests falsely prophesyeth such things unto them as cannot be diverted. But in what apocrypha he learned this Astrology, it appears not to me; no not out of quarterly Ingresses, which are signifycantly all averse to his majesty and that party. Master Wharton, having left the City with a curse, begins with full sails to tell us, All the good our hearts can wish for is promised by this Sobeame; Stay false prophet, your hearts wish every day for the City of London, and can never have it; he goes on, and tells how his Majesty shall pursue his enemies, besiege towns, Castles, Forts, ruin us, have great suecesse in all his designs: Cum multis aljis, &c. lily. This must needs be a happy election of time, or else George a stickling Prophet, for he pipes out nothing but victory for his majesty: Be it granted, that the storming of Leiceister hath in part verified some port of this prediction,( and a little treason besides) yet I deny it was signified by this positure, or that the rest of this mans words shall have like success: Nay, by position of Mars Lord of the fourth, in the twelve, his Majesty shall not keep that Town very long, or any else that he may take in this prophetic march, without infinite loss on his party: Venus in her house, doth assuredly tell us we shall keep Evesham taken by plain valour, and were it not for that accursed Cauda in Aquarius we should seldom be losers, but be gayners, but Division and Treason have got an habit and live with us, and are your friends, yea your onely friends. The figure doth at the beginning promise success, but the end of this march will be unlucky, and foreshow some wilful obstinate Commanders on his Maiestyes side, will afford us an absolute victory over you, George for pure love, I tell you, there is in the Army such as the traitorous Butcher in Leicester. But upon examination, I find that the sun whom George magnifyes so much is in square to the Ascendant, in Coniunction with the Virgilliae, twas no such prime time, observe the end, wait a few monthes, and consider if the Astrologer that elected this time for his majesty deserves not more punishment then Master Booker or lily: Herein George I will make you Judge, an honour you were never troubled with, nor are capable now, but that the thing is easy. See Guido Fol. 480. Whose words are: When you will elect a fit time for a King, &c. Let not the sun or moon be unfortunate or the Sun in a feminine sign; let him have dignity where he is, the Sun in this scheame is totally unfortunate, so is the Moon an ill Omen ( George) to his majesty that he will hardly keep any thing he gets; Oxford, being ( Locus a quo) is like to be safe while and the Judgement therein good, but you expose his majesty to infinite danger. again, see in the same Folio these words; Consider saith Guido, if in the same year there had been or will be an eclipse, and in all elections avoid that sign, and let the two Lights be in Trine or Sextill, the more fortunate the Lights are, so much the better, and so the Contrary. It is known there was a Lunar eclipse in January in Leone, the effects thereof began in april, Continue till the end of June, &c. That very Degree wherein the eclipse was, have you elected to be the Ascendant of his majesty and his armies march: In August there is a Solar eclipse, &c. In this figure the moon applies to asquare of the Sun in fixed signs: believe me, hear is no continuance of your successses, not the taking of so many Towns, Forts, or Castles, or such routing of our armies, as you Master Wharton delude the world with. He was none of his Maiestyes friends, that gave Direction for this march; the sequel will tell you so, ere you return to your winter quarters if any be left for you, Keep Leicester if you can, July may give it us again. After some evacuated Chollar, Wbarton bursts out for very ioy into these words, Oh what snuffling there will be amongst the zealots, before the middle of November. He goes on and derides our humiliation, &c. Do so still and prosper; God will not be mocked, whose Cause we do maintain, though I confess not as it ought to be. But let me tell you, such shall be our victories before the time limited by you be half come, that me thinks I hear the many accursed oaths the dam-boyes spew out both against God and man. Oh what skulking, sneaking, running into Corners, mouse-holes, sawpits, Cunny berries, tossing and tumbling the ungodly out of one County into another, do I foresee: face about Gentlemen says one for our honour, as you did at Newberry, that is with a good pair of heels, or alls lost say I; Oh the way to bristol, from thence to exeter, then into cornwall, thence into a safe harbour, if any can bee found for Malignants, Now Master Wbarton I leave you, till again provoked by a more able Astrologer, and I desire you to get into your Accidence against the publishing of the next journal or else you will be stripped out of the remainder of the Prerogative Astrology by Master Booker in his next almanac; to the total confusion, and dishonour of the university that suffer so weak an Artist to be their Standard-bearer; but money and Learning are equally plentiful in Oxford. 12. June 1645. WILLIAM lily.