¶ An Astrological Discourse upon the great and notable Conjunction of the two superior Planets, SATURN & JUPITER, which shall happen the 28. day of April, 1583.  
With a brief Declaration of the effects, which the late Eclipse of the Sun 1582. is yet hereafter to work.  
Written newly by RICHARD HARVEY: partly, to supply that is wanting in common Prognostications: and partly by prediction of mischiefs ensuing, either to breed some endeavour of prevention by foresight, so far as lieth in us: or at leastwise, to arm us with patience beforehand.  
Seen and allowed.  
〈◊〉 C●ARISS●●M ET GRATISSIMUS ●IN●VIVS 〈◊〉  
AT LONDON: Imprinted by Henry Bynneman. Anno Domini. 1583.   

TO THE RIGHT REVEREND FATHER IN GOD, JOHN, BISHOP OF London, and his very good Lord: RICHARD HARVEY wisheth long life, with increase of all honourable virtues.  
RIGHT REVEREND, my duty in most humble wise remembered, I am to beseech your good Lordship, to vouchsafe me that favour, (if not for mine own sake, or the worthiness of the thing itself, yet for Cambridge sake, and that especial affection, which you have always borne towards University men, and namely your singular courtesy toward my brother Gabriel, when he should have travailed to Smalcaldie, which courtesy he doth often recognise) that as it hath pleased you already to commit the perusing of the Astrological Discourse following, to your most learned son in law, M. Doctor Squire, who can very well judge, and hath very friendly allowed thereof: so it may now like your Lordship, to admit of the same for the best New years gift, that such a scholar on such a sudden can bestow. Which albeit in respect of the base handling, it be nothing worthy either the view, or the handling of such a parsonage, as I can not but know your Lordship to be: yet considering the great importance, and consequence of the argument, I am both persuaded by some friends, who are to overrule me in a greater matter, to adventure the publication thereof, (insomuch that I have made my good Lord of Rochester, and M. Doctor Lewen privy thereunto, who like well of the impression) and with all am encouraged to crave your good leave, that upon your private liking, (which notwithstanding myself of myself can not greatly hope for) you would suffer it to pass under the title of your good Lorshippes' public maintenance, and patronage. I may easily presume too much of your accustomed favour, so assuredly known as well in both the Universities, as abroad in your Lordship's Diocese, and other parts of the Realm: and therefore (notwithstanding the importunity of those my friends, and the gravity of the argument itself) being loath to be overbold, where I own so much reverence and duty, I have thought good, not to use your name without your own licence, but wholly to commit the publishing, or suppressing of this Discourse to your Lordships liking or disliking. You may haply marvel what I mean, either to deal myself in any such matter of Astrology being shortly to profess Divinity, (so soon as my place in the College shall call me thereunto) or to dedicate a Treatise of any such contents unto one, that hath both so many years, even in King Edward's, & Queen Mary's days, (as appeareth by his own, and others writings) carried so singular credit for his knowledge, and practise in Divinity, & now by God's providence is in place, to benefit and countenance those, that being admitted to that vocation, shall deserve to be well accepted therein. But for the one, besides that I might allege for my defence, the examples of Melancthon, Chytraeus, junctinus, Maestlyne, our M. Doctor Fulke, your M. Doctor squire, and some other of like credit: who being professed in Divinity to their own special commendation, & the general benefit of the Church, were not afterward ashamed both to defend, & to practise Astrology: the very subject and matter of the Art itself is such, that none, which knoweth it in deed, can justly charge it with the least contrariety or repugnancy either to Divinity itself, or to the soundest parts of Moral and Natural Philosophy. Coeli enarrant gloriam Dei; and Plato's opinion is, that our eyes were principally given us, for this use and end, to be occupied in the contemplation of the heavens; whereunto he attributeth so much, that he thinketh Astronomy and wisdom to be so inseparably linked and chained together, that neither a very wise man can want Astrology, nor a very good ginger want wisdom. To which effect, that notable saying of his, deserveth to be as famous, as your Lordship knoweth it to be amongst the learned: 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Which very saying seemeth unto me to import some part of that Divinity, whereof so many ages he hath carried so high, and honourable a surname: the rather because the singular and incomparable wisdom of Solomon, as your Lordship best remembreth, is thus particularly described, in the book entitled, Liber Sapientiae. Deus mihi dedit harum rerum cognitionem veram, ut sciam dispositionem orbis terrarum, & virtutes, effectionesque elementorum, initium, & finem, & medium temporum, solstitiorum vicissitudines, & consummationes temporum, & morum mutationes, annorum orbs, & stellarum situs, ac dispositiones, & naturas animalium, & iras bestiarum, & ventorum impecus, & cogitationes hominum, & stirpium differentias, & radicum virtutes: & quaecunque sunt abscondita, & improvisae didici, cum me omnium Artifex docuit Sapientia. For which very kinds of knowledge, (albeit I believe never any had them in that full measure, that it pleased God to bestow upon Solomon) our chiefest Astrologers, especially the most learned Arabians, so often as they are occasioned to cite, or mention any of their predecessors: call them commonly by the name of Sapientes, which some I know merrily translated Wizard's, but how wizardly, (if they speak generally without exception of the better sort) let the proverb testify, which saith, Scientia non habet inimicum, nisi ignorantem. What should I speak of Thales Milesius, who being the first, that among the Grecians was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, as Diogenes Laertius reporteth▪ was also the first among them, that searching out the secrecies, and mysteries of Astrology: both foretold the conversions, and eclipses of the Sun, as Eudemus witnesseth in his Astrological history, and found out Vrsa minor with her little stars, whereby the Phoenices direct their navigation, as Callimachus testifieth in his Greek verses: and foreseeing a very great dearth of olives, and thereupon purposing to show, how easy a matter it was for Philosophers to grow rich, got into his hands by a reasonable price, all the olive gardens in Miletum, and Chium, the winter before, whereby afterward making his own price at his pleasure, he gained exceeding great sums of money: as is credibly recorded not only by Hieronimus Rhodius, and Aristotle in Greek, but also by Tully De Divinatione, and divers other in Latin: Aristotle saying, one while he did it, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, an other while, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉: and Solon the wise Lawmaker among the Athenians, following his advise, set down certain Astrological observations of the Aequinoctia, and corrected the Attic year, as appeareth by many histories: and finally by the defects of the Moon and Sun, he prognosticated the defects and subversions of certain states and kingdoms in Asia, as out of Pliny's Natural history, I have specially noted in my brief Treatise of the late eclipse. I should be over tedious unto your Lordship, if I should go about to recite the tenth part of those testimonies, and authorities, which I could easily allege to the same effect: whereby it is certainly evident, that as wise, and worthy men, as ever were in the world, both made very special account of this study in other, and travailed exceedingly therein themselves: as namely julius Caesar, Octavius Augustus, Ptolomey, Theodosius, one of the best Emperors, Frederick the second, (who caused Ptolomey, Messahalah, and divers other principal Astrologers, to be translated out of the Arabian into Latin: Hos quia consilijs regum conducere sensit: as Hellerus writeth to Ernestus, Prince of Hennenberg:) Alphonsus the most excellent King of Arragonia, and Naples: Mathias corvinus of Hungary: Charles the fift of famous memory, and sundry other, as well Princes, as subjects of the most notable sort. But I can not praetermit that Astrological conference between Caesar, and the Egyptian Priest in Lucan's Pharsalia, where Caesar's own confession of himself is thus delivered: media inter praelia semper, stellarum, coelique plagis, superisque vacavi: Eudoxi Fastos noster superabit & Annus. Which he in deed performed, correcting and reforming the Roman year by the help of Sosigenes, as Solon did the Attic year by the help of Thales: an other manner of reformation, than that of the Calendar, which the Pope Gregory the xiii. hath newly published, by the help of I know not what Astrologers. As for the rest, least I should seem to forget myself, in not having that regard to your Lordship's person, which I ought, will reserve their Astrological commendations unto some fit place, thinking it sufficient for this present, to stand upon the Reasons, which Melancthon, a man as your Lordship best knoweth, of a sharp, and sound judgement in most schollerly points of learning, allegeth, in a notable preface of his, In Theoricas novas planetarum Georgij Purbachij directed to his most learned countryman, Simon Grynaeus: wherein he showeth how needful judicial Astrology is, both for private uses, and for public. For private uses, first in medendo: then, ad regendos mores: thirdly, ad deligenda studia: plurimum enim refert intelligere, quo quemque natura ducat: (I use not a word, but his own:) beside, fortuna saepe comitatur mores: & quanquam aliae quoque causae funt humanorum eventuum, tamen res loquitur ipsa, interdum in Astris causara esse, cur ut Hesiodus inquit: ipse dies quandoque parens, quandoque noverca, sit. Fiftly, conducit tempestatum obseruatio ad Oeconomiam: last of all, high proximi anni aliquot satis claras significationes praebuerunt, sidera magnam vim in aere, & rebus nascentibus habere, idque palam testantur insignes siderum congressus (which maketh directly for the present Discourse.) And as for the public use and necessity thereof, he goeth forward thus, in my simple opinion, both very politickely and divinely: Existunt & inrebus publicis fatales tempestates, in quibus admoniti ab hac arte, multa providere possunt, vel ad cavenda, vel ad mitiganda pericula. Saepe enim fata consilio in melius flecti queunt, saepe fatorum saevitiam lenit Deus, placatus piorum votis. Quare haec quoque gravis causa fuerit, rerum futurarum significationes animaduertendi. He addeth for reason. Prodest enim commonefieri homines atrocibus siderum minis, ut à Deo opem implorent; deinde, ut bonitatem Dei magis agnoscant, cum viderint aliquam esse superiorem ac meliorem naturam sideribus, quae tristes significationes mitigat. To the breeding of which politic, and divine considerations in the minds of some or other, I would to God, this slender Discourse of mine might be any means. Melancthon leaveth not thus, but still goeth on, as it were in a certain fervent zeal towards this profession. Nec dubia est harum Artium fides: nam & motuum ratio demonstrationes habet, quarum eò est suavissima cognitio, quia delectat animos certitudo, & harmonia, seu consensus in tanta varietate argumentorium: & Divinatricem si quis prudenter ad Physicen referet, intelliget eam habere graves causas; & tuetur eam experientia peritissimorum hominum: rectè verò Galenus de hac ipsa arte inquit: Sophisticum esse, contra experientiae testimonium, rationes quaerere. Finally, to answer common objections, and such ordinary contradictions, as Astrologers ears are well acquainted withal, he at last briefly decideth, and determineth all such doubts in the words following. Nec eo detrahenda est arti fides, quia aut artifices aliqui inepti sunt, aut non omnes eventus humani in arte monstrantur: sunt enim & aliae quaedam praeter sidera, eventuum causae. Etsi autem in tantis tenebris humanae mentis, multa prospici nequeunt, tamen ariis beneficium non leave ducendum est, quae pleraque interim; & ad vitae summam pertinentia monet. Quoties fallimur in levioribus artibus, & in ijs rebus, quae sunt, ut ita dicam, in manibus? Neque tamen propter eiusmodi errata explodandae sunt arts; sed prudentia est, ad vitae usum inde, quantum possumus, transfer. His resolution and conclusion there is. Illud etiam rectè institutis judicare facile est, quis esse modus Divinationum debeat, & quòd religio approbet has Divinationes, ut Medicorum judicia, aut caeteras Physicae parts. Which reasons of Melancthon, I doubt not but your Lordship will admit, and allow for effectually material and good. Now I see not greatly, what remaineth to be yet objected: unless haply some will oppose the old decrees of the Roman Senate, and some newer imperial laws, against all such, as were vulgarly called Mathematici, Chaldaei, Arioli, and Divinatores, of whom Ulpian the famous lawyer treateth libro 7. de officio Proconsulis, under the title, De Mathematicis, & Vaticinatoribus: Which very title I have heard so alleged. Whereunto, first I might answer, that they dispute not ad idem: those laws being made only against such, as Moses condemneth in the XVIII. of Deuteronomie, who vainly took upon them, to divine by magical and superstitious sorceries, numbers, lots, characters, charms, interrogatories propounded to the dead, inspections of birds, entrails of beasts, and such other monstrous, and abominable means: for so saith A. Gellius in his first book of his Noctes Atticae: vulgus quos gentilitio vocabulo Chaldaeos dicere oportet, eos Mathematicos vocat; & Servius Honoratus upon the fourth of Virgil's Aeneidos: Cum multa sacra Romani susciperent, semper magica damnarunt; probrosa enim ars habita est. Secondly, that albeit those Roman laws had in deed been devised as well against their Astrologers then, as against any other Diviners or Soothsayers: what reason is there, they should make more against ours now, than the like laws make against our Rhetoricians, Philosophers, Physicians, and in a manner against all other professors of any liberal art? All such being by one Roman decree or other, at one time, or other, upon one sudden occasion, or other, banished the city, as troublesome, and needless persons, in a politic and martial state, so long as the rage of that tempest endured. Thirdly, admit their Astrological divinations were lawfully forbidden, being found commonly deceitful and false, by reason that the art itself was then very unperfect, and uncertain, as it continued to the age of Ptolomey, who flourished but in the time of the Emperor Antoninus Pius, which succeeded trajan and Adrian: yet may ours nevertheless lawfully stand, the art being now generally of the most and best acknowledged to be much more perfectly reform, and a right art in deed: or if that seem more, a right science in deed. For which two last reasons, I am to thank a late conference, that I had with my brother Gabriel, about Hallowmas last, touching the validity of those Roman laws. As for other later laws, & statutes, either foreign, or our own, I know not any that universally and simply condemn Astrology: and as for those, that condemn some particular abuse thereof, I must needs confess, they are very wise, and necessary ordinances, to meet with the lewd practices, and impostures of many, that under the pretence of their figure commit intolerable villainies, wherein for my part, I doubt not, but they deserve the penalties, inflicted upon them by law, thinking them worthily punished, Pro mensura consultationis, as Ulpian speaketh of his Mathematici in the forenamed title, with this addition of his, following immediately after in the same place: qui de principis salute, capite puniantur, vel qua alia graviore paenae afficiantur: extending withal the force of the law in that point, even to the punishment of other simple wizard's: Qui contra quietem, imperiumque populi Romani, improbandas artes exercent: and finally alleging the example of the Emperor Marcus, Qui in Syrum insulam eum relegavit, qui motu Cassiano vaticinatus erat, & multa quasi instinctu Deorum dixerat: Neither dare I excuse either Thrasillus, or Ascletarion, or Gauricus: whereof the first foretold the destruction of Tiberius the Emperor: the second of Domitian: the third of the Bentivoli in Bononia: or the Priest, that gave out the rumour of the future murdering of Galeacius Sfortia, Duke of Milan, (who were all worthily rewarded for their folly) or any other, that by their horoscopical predictions might seem to hearten, & hasten one conspirators, to the achieving, or attempting of their Prince's death, but in that case would wish all Astrologers, either not to deal at all, or else to deal privately and privily with the Prince himself: & then too, to hold Cardanes rule, set down amongst eight other like conditions, in the end of his book, De Astrologicie interrogationibus: principi ne magnum malum firmiter unquam praedixeris, sed periculum: howbeit Cardane himself dealt more plainly, and therefore more dangerously with our King Edward the VI as appeareth in the judicials of his nativity, given out in the beginning of his Duodecim illustres geniturae. At mihi, ex innata sinceritate, & quod miserum adolescentuium amarem, sortisque eius misererer (quoth Cardane there) certum erat, etiam cum manifesto vitae discrimine, omnia patefacere; quamuis futurum crederem, ut me irriderent. But what followeth? Ergo volentibus fatis, nec singularis hu●●s artis cognitio prodesse regi potuit: nec bonitas, atque simplicitas ingenij, mihi obesse. Which good success of Cardane, was partly to be attributed to his own discreet handling, free from all manner of suspicion, but specially to the innocent, and singular good nature of that most noble young King, who accepted so favourably of his affectionate intention. But, neither this special privilege of his being withal a stranger of extraordinary credit, nor any like personal example can warrant other private men, to intermeddle in like sort in the nativities, and destinies of their Princes, otherwise than is before limited, or upon the Princes own direct commandment. And yet if either this way, or any like, the art happen by some busy, and fond fellows to be abused, it hath but the same fortune, that all other arts and sciences have beside: & the lawyers rule, Abusus non tollit usum, will still justify the right, and commendable practice thereof. The bounds of which limitation, I having no way exceeded in any part of the Discourse following: I hope, there is nothing therein contained, which, considering the premises, might not proceed, even from one, that were already professed in Divinity. And, than I trust, in respect of the matter, I have committed no inconvenience, in recommending the same to the favour and patronage of such a Divine, as all England knoweth your Lordship to be: who I doubt not, can judge exactly thereof. For the manner, I am humbly to crave pardon, being neither practised in writing English, nor purposing any such public dedication at the first. It may peradventure be an occasion, that hereafter I shall acquaint my pen better with inditing in our own tongue. In the mean time, I am to beseech your Reverend Lordship, to respect rather what is here said, than how it is said: presuming that I have little erred in my judicials, whatsoever defects may chance to appear in the style. And yet for the very consequence of the matter too, I must say with Tully, Optanda quidem optima: expectanda deterrima: ferenda quaecunque erunt. How Gods omnipotency overruleth all causes, and effects, as well particularly in specie, & individuo, as universally in genere, I have sufficiently uttered as it were by the way in other places: our last remedy is Christian patience, if there be no other remedy. But that is a Theological argument, worthy your Lordship's handling: and I see I have already presumed overmuch of your lordships patience, in being thus troublesome, and tedious unto you, beyond the compass of an ordinary Epistle, or Preface. Which nevertheless I durst in no respect have done, but upon certain assurance of that favourable acceptation, which from time to time, it hath pleased you to vouchsafe the like writings of divers University men, being little past my standing there, and namely my brothers Anticosmopolita, when he was not much above the same continuance. In full hope, and affiance whereof, I will here most humbly take my leave, committing your Lordship to the protection of God, who give you many prosperous Newyeares', and long preserve you, to his own glory, and the benefit of his Church. Here in London this 23. of januarie. 1583.  
Your good Lordships most humble, RICHARD HARVEY.   

T. S. Ogdoas in R. H. Prognosticon.  
CEdite Francitali, florenti cedite vati,  
Harueius meruit nomen habere Sophi.  
Spirat in ore Furor, Bacchoque & Apolline dignus,  
Palladis ut noscas Mercurijque genus.  
Ergò agite Anglorum proceres, legitote Prophetan,  
Memphiticis similem, nobilibusque Magis.  
Vade Liber, liberi ingenij, genijque beati  
ensign, & Patriae pulpita scande tuae.   

Coeli schema sub Coniunctione Saturni & iovis.  
 sky map   

To my very good, and most loving Brother, Master Gabriel Harvey, at his chamber in Trinity Hall.  
GOod Brother, I have in some part done my endeavour to satisfy your late request, wherein you advertise me either not so much to addict myself to the study, and contemplation of judicial Astrology, or else by some evident and sensible demonstration, to make certain and infallible proof what general good I can do my country thereby, or what special fruit I can reap thereof unto myself. I confess greater wits can work greater matters: and mine own principal study as yet, is but Philosophy and Physic, wherein I pray God I may speedily grow to any reasonable mediocrity, that I may the sooner proceed to my final Profession: But seeing it is your desire to practise me, & as it were to oppose me in this kind: you shall hear, what I can briefly say touching the great Conjunction of Saturn and jupiter, the next year immediately following. I am to submit my opinion to the censure and correction of those, that are longer studied, and more profoundly seen in this faculty: but that you may not conceive, I have altogether misspent my time this way, I will endeavour myself to make proof in some sort, how I have profited in the study. Yourself have often willed me to go roundly to the matter, without either glorious insinuations by way of Preface, or pleasurable and conceited floorishes by way of digression: and therefore I presume you will not blame me, though I take a direct and plain course in the discourse following. First, that judicial Astrology is neither any vain and idle study, nor forbidden and unlawful Art, yourself having long since, taken some reasonable pains therein, and being able to say so much in the defence thereof, out of many old and new histories of approved authority and credit, can sufficiently (I know) and will readily (I think) testify. The slight arguments of Picus Mirandula, Cornelius Agrippa, and divers other to the contrary, have been thoroughly answered, by Balantius, Schonerus, Melancton, Cardane, & sundry other, but specially of late by junctinus, who in his confutation proceedeth compendiously, and directly from argument to argument, leaving in a manner nothing untouched, that hath been, or can be objected in disgrace of this knowledge. And if the authorities of men, that have given themselves that way, make any thing for the purpose, what goodlyer wit in the world, than some in every country, that have made special account, & bestowed much travel in this divine study? To let strangers go, these of fresh memory have been none of the basest scholars in England: M.D. Buttes, principal Physician to king Henry the eight. Sir Thomas Eliot, Sir Thomas Smyth, who as you best know, and have both truly and honourably testified in your Musarum lachrymae, excelled therein. M.D. Record, both the Digges, M. Dee, who her majesty vouchsafeth the name of her Philosopher: M. Securis, M. Buckmaster, M. Mounslowe, M.D. Twine, besides most of our chief Doctors in Physic, as namely our M.D. Baro, in Cambridge, and M.D. Forster in London, and some of our very chiefest Philosophers in either University, that shallbe nameless, being not so certainly professed and renowned that way. But to omit for brevities sake, all other arguments and authorities that might plentifully be alleged in the maintenance of judicial Astrology, I will content myself, and I think, I shall content you with that only famous testimony of Melancton, amongst many of his to the same purpose, set down in an excellent epistle directed to the two noble & honourable Lords, George and Huldrich Fuggeri, in commendation of Astrology. Norunt omnes sani prorsus necessariam esse doctrinam, quae anni metas & ordinem ostendit. Quam ob causam & sapiens antiquitas hanc curam publicè doctissimis hominibus, qui custodes erant religionis, commendavit, ut Solis circuitus & interualla, & aequinoctia, & solstitia obseruarentur, & mensium spatia, ad Solis iter accommodarent. But what followeth? Alteram partem quae Diuinatrix nominatur, multi acerbè vituperant, de qua alibi copiosiùs dixi. Quanquam autem nequaquam omnium eventuum humanorum causae sunt, stellarum positus, & sapienter causae discernendae sunt, & vitandae praestigiae falsarum Divinationum▪ tamen certum est, multas in Elementis mutationes, ab Astris oriri: & in crasi humanorum corporum, et ingeniorum inclinationibus lumen coeleste magnam vim habere. Prodest autem ad valetudinem tutandam nosse crasim corporum, & moribus prodest, cernere inclinationes coelestes, & eas arte regere, aut fraenare, sicut Pegasum Bellerophontes, ita demùm rectè gubernavit, cum Pallas aureum ei fraenum iniecit. Wherein for his opinion de crasi corporum humanorum, he jumpeth with the ancient and most renowned Physician Hypocrates, who in his book de aere, aqua & regionibus, being translated into english saith thus much in effect: If we shall consider duly of the highest causes and béeings, we shall find that Astrology is not the least portion of Physic, for it behoveth the Physician to know the moon, and the sign of heaven wherein the moon is, when any patient beginneth to fall sick, & so forth. But hereof more at some other time, remitting you in the mean while to the learned Apology of junctinus, who is copious in these points, touching the defence of judicial Astrology. Now to come speedily and directly unto that, whereunto at this present the particular occasion draweth me. In this year ensuing, 1583. which from the creation of the world is 5545. (to overpass other needless computations and Chronologies: as how long from Noah's flood? how far from the destruction of Troy? how many years from the Assyrian, Persian, & Macedonian monarchy, & so forth) The 28. of April being Sunday, about high noon, there shall happen a very great and notable Conjunction of the two superior and weighty Planets Saturn and jupiter, which Conjunction shall be manifested to the ignorant sort, by many fierce & boisterous winds then suddenly breaking out & continuing certain days before and certain days after the same Conjunction. These two high planets shall be conjoined in the last minute of the 21. degree of Pisces, a sign (as is commonly known) of the watery Triplicity, feminine, nocturnal, septentrional, common, cold, moist, phlegmatic, that is wholly of the nature & quality of water: the essential house of jupiter, the eraltation of Venus, the governor of the feet, which Conjunction may, and aught to seem so much the more fearful & terrible unto us, by how much the more it is very strange, marvelous, rare, and most specially noted of the learned. This is called of Astronomers, Coniunctio planetarum maxima, quip qua reguntur leges, imperia, regiones: as Ptolomey the Prince of Astrologers writeth, and Cardane more at large in his Philosophical, and Astrological Commentaries upon Ptolomey, This is that Conjunction quae significat prophetam, & destructionem quorundam Climatum, & sectas, & regnum: damna plwiarum & pestilentiae, as Messahalah witnesseth, whose books have been much esteemed of kings and Princes. This is that Conjunction which Alboazen Haly saith doth praesagire mortem regis magni & potentis, multam tristitiam hominibus, damnum in divitibus et nobilibus, etiam in illis qui sunt sicut Prophétae, et multas locustas. This is that Conjunction which Guido Bonotus affirmeth, to praemonstrare res magnaes & mirandas venturas in mundo. This is that Conjunction, which johannes Molitor surnamed of his country Regiomontanus, a man in my opinion, little inferior in worthiness, or fame to the former more ancient Astrologers, doth report to portendere continuas aquarum inundationes, & particularia dilwia. Finally, this is that Conjunction quae minatur multum mali, as junctinus Florentinus testifieth, a great writer at this day, a Conjunction and meeting, or joining togiter of the very worst & very best planet, Saturn & jupiter, whereof the one is termed Infortunium maius, barbarously Infortuna mayor, the other, Fortuna maior, both singular in their kinds, the one being (as it were) the Lord of horrible misrule, and tragical mischiefs, the other a precedent of sovereign bounty & felicity, both Heavenly instruments, ordained by God to those high purposes and intendementes, wherein they are employed, more ancient indeed than in name, everlasting workers of contrary inclinations, and effects in the world, to he short both mighty Princes and potentates in their several actions, so far as it pleaseth God to auctorize their proceedings, & use their ministry to his own glory. Touching whose great conjunction, it is doubtless the more hard and difficult, to set down any certain effects & Accidents, thereof to ensue, because the Fortune and Infortune are equally matched, and as it were, indifferently encountered with power and strength: For if the Infortune had been greater and stronger than the Fortune, as if Saturn had been joined with Venus, which is called Fortuna maior, Saturn no doubt would have challenged the prerogative or pre-eminence unto himself, as being mightier & of more force: or if jupiter had been joined with Mars himself being Fortuna maior, and the other Infortunium minus, he would so have repressed the sturdines and fury of Mars, that the operations and effects of that Conjunction should have been indifferent, that is rather good than evil. Whereupon in this case Guido Bonatus a famous and renowned Astrologian of Italy, (as you know) in his fift Treatise the 146. Considerationibus, setting down 4. especial ways and principal points, wherein an ginger may soon be deceived, and most easily overshoot himself, maketh this the fourth, Difficile erit aliquid certi judicare, si aequales fuerint Fortunae cum Infortunijs. Moreover these two planets do not behold one another by any aspectuall radiation, as either by Trine or Sextile, which are aspects of amity & friendship, or by Quartile and opposition, which are aspects of enmity and hatred, for than it had been somewhat the easier to determine thereof in respect of the general judgement, but they are joined together in one degree, and one minute of the self same degree and sign, which is termed of the Astrologers, Corporalis congressus, Coitus, or Coniunctio, being always of more power, strength, force, and efficacy, than any other aspect, because as Stoeflerinus writeth in his 12. Proposition: In ea radij maximè propter unionem condensantur, which also Hermes Trismegistus himself affirmeth in verbo septimo, where he saith: Aspectus non potest diminuere significationem Coniunctionis, Coniunctio verò minuit significationem aspectus, why? nam fortior est aspectu, as there followeth. And yet by nature it is simply and essentially neither good nor evil, but sometimes good and sometimes evil, according to the nature and disposition of the planets, which are conjoined, so that consequently, quia Coniunctio honorum bona est, malorum autem mala, difficilè admodum erit judicium in Coniunctione illa, quae & bona respectu iovis & pernitiosa respectu Saturni judicatur. divers of the learned in this faculty & namely Alboazen Haly, Capite 4. partis octavae saith, quòd jupiter iunctus cum Saturno prohibet omne malum, whereas Franciscus junctinus avoucheth the contrary, to wit, that Coniunctio boni cum malo, mala est, alleging this very Conjunction of Saturn and jupiter for example, but on both sides they conclude with this clause or definitive sentence, hoc tamen pro natura & dispositione planetae vincentis in figura judicandum est. This therefore now only remaineth, to consider which of them shall be strongest, and of most virtue, power and might in the heaven at that instant. For Mesahalah in his excellent Treatise de Coniunctionibus planetarum, delivereth this judgement, Scito quòd cum jupiter fortior fuerit Saturno, significabit bonum in eadem Coniunctione, si verò Saturnus praeerit significabit detrimentum atque tribulationem, which is also generally agreed upon with the rest. Wherefore we are to understand, that jupiter is joined with Saturn in Pisces, which is his own proper and natural house, but by night, and not by day, which is a little the worse, because himself being a masculine, diurnal, and fortunate planet, he doth not so much rejoice in a feminine, nocturnal, and infortunate sign, as he doth in a sign of his own disposition & quality. For so Alcabitius one of the most notable Arabians, very well concludeth in Isagogae astrologicae prima differentia: Fortitudo Planetae reboratur quando est in suo Alhaiz, id est in sua similitudine masculinus scilicet & diurnus in signo, & gradu masculino & diurno: nocturnus verò & faemininus contra, which is likewise avouched by his Commentator joannes de Saxonia. whereof by a contrary sequel it followeth, that a masculine and diurne planet is somewhat depressed and weakened in a feminine and a nocturnal sign, and yet because it is the house of jupiter, and himself resident therein, as in his own mansion place, and court (albeit sagittary be the house of his speciallest delight and joy) he receiveth five dignities thereby, being by so much the more strong, and virtuous, according to that sensible axiom of Guido Bonatus, capite 19 primae partis. Dum planeta est in domo sua, est sicut vir existens in propria domo: est autem quilibet fortior in domo sua de jure, quàm in aliena, & ut plurimùm de facto quàm alius, qui aliàs esset fortior eo▪ unde Trutanus, Ante suam gallus stat portam quisque vasallus. But yet jupiter is not so highly promoted & exalted by his own house, but is well nigh as much humbled and weakened by his unlucky placing in the eight house of Death whereby he looseth four prerogatives, then is he there also afflicted and oppressed by the presence & company of frowning Saturn, and in the terms of Mars his deadly enemy, in quarta coeli faeminina, & Meridional discendent, which do also much decrease and abate his courage. So that it evidently appeareth, that the good planet jupiter is but indifferent: & that as he will not do much harm so he can not do much good. Now concerning Saturn, as jupiter was never the better, because he was in signo faeminino & nocturno, so Saturn being in the same sign, and also a diurnal and masculine planet is much the worse. For Messahalah in his golden book, the revolutione annorum mundi, the chapter entitled de anno timendo, saith plainly Saturnus in signo diurno et masculino minus impedit, so that by an argument drawn from the contrary I may logically conclude the In loco nocturno et faeminino magis impedit, but this impediment is nothing to speak of or very small in comparison of the rest: for besides that he is in a feminine and nocturnal sign, & place of heaven contrary to his proper nature, he is withal peregrine too, and out of all his essential dignities in the same sign, whereby he hath five debilities or impediments. Furthermore he is placed in domo octava, whereby he hath four more hindrances, & slow in motion, whereby he hath two detrimentes. In so much that if we set and oppose his 11. debilities, and the debilities of jupiter against his five virtues, which is two to one, there is no doubt, but we will soon & may truly conclude, Si illius Fortuna cum huius Infortunijs comparetur, nihil est: jupiter is Oriental, so is Saturn: jupiter is direct in motion, so is Saturn: jupiter is free from combustion, so is Saturn: jupiter is little the better for his virtues, because his hindrances are full as many, but Saturn is much the worse for his debilities, because his virtues be not so many. For as Guido Bonatus notably determineth, Mali Planetae quantò magis sunt impediti, tantò efficiuntur deteriores, & augmentatur eorum malitia, & eorum impedimentum. See the infortunate disposition of infortunate planets the more they be troubled, disturbed or entangled, the worse and more malicious they are and consequently do hurt and annoy the more spitefully. The conclusion & sum of all must needs be this, that the vehement hatred, despite & malice of the unlucky planet Saturn, hath by his mischievous importunity overcome & vanquished the good, wholesome, & sweet nature of the benevolous and favourable planet jupiter, which victory (I fear me) and I think I am too sure thereof, will cause great abundance of waters, and much cold wether, much unwonted mischiefs & sorrow, much envy, debate, quarreling, hatred and strife, many grievous and bitter contentions, much going to law one with another for dead men's goods and old reckonings, manifold troubles, and sudden uproars, much violent oppression, extreme poverty, hunger and misery to the needy and impotent sort of people, great persecutions of ecclesiastical persons, much despiteful, injurious, and wrongful dealing, as also the tragical ruin & destruction of sundry great-men and noble personages, both old and young, whereof some shall treacherously be entangled & entrapped, some violently overthrown with shameful disgrace and dishonour, losing both estimation, goods and life too. Great fear and dread shall come suddenly upon the people, a great sterility and barrenness of the earth shall ensue, manifold submersions, shipwrecks, exustions, burnings, and such other, watery and fiery calamities will follow: finally, a very great and sore mortality, with many general contagions, and pestilent diseases, both among men and beasts, and specially an extraordinary death and destruction of fishes, and all other creatures living, by, in, or upon the waters. Al which evils and miseries, (howbeit I know every man shall not personally feel them, yet if there appear not a sensible difference between certain years immediately following, and other ordinary years, let me lose the credit of my Astrology) shall be the more dreadful and terrible, because the good & amiable planet jupiter is so much abased and humbled in the eight house, being simply the very worst place of the heavens that can be, called commonly of the Astronomers, domus incantationum, veneficiorum, timoris, magni infortunij, et etiam mortis: who will also begin to shrink and go backward the 10. day of july, until the 4. day of November, which shrinking too will not a little hinder his good and prosperous influence. All which time, frowning Saturn shall be retrocedent also, beginning his retrogradation the 25. day of june, and so continuing till the 10. day of November, yea and that which is more notable for the space & continuance of these whole five or six years together, they shall both be very often retrograde, and more than commonly they use to be: and this withal is to be observed the these two superior planets Saturn and jupiter shall the second time also be very nigh the one the other, the 26. day of October, this present year 1583. being then almost conjoined again together in Pisces, but both retrograde, & not long before, at the beginning of the second Revolution, and third part of the Astronomical year: to wit, at the suns entrance into the Equinoctial sign Libra, most unluckily and ilfaringly placed in the 10. house, which must needs greatly increase their malice, and make their operations the more unhapy & unfortunate. The unlucky constellation and constitution of the other planets, doth also seem to help forward & augment the lamentable events threatened by this Coniunction'. For fiery and furious Mars peregrine & occidental in the fourth degree, and sixth minute of Leo, and placed in Gacodaemone, In domo ubi tristes, tragici, & exitiales eventus notantur, having there no less than 12. impediments, whereby he is much afflicted, & greatly disgraced, but the more perniciously hurtful and malicious, portendeth wonderful contention, sedition, treason, rebellion and war: many tumults, mutinies & uproars, with horrible shedding of blood, and warranteth this terrible Prognostication, that huge multitudes shall be spoiled, subdued, destroyed and murdered of their enemies, who shall furiously assault, & cruelly, unmercifully and barbarously oppress them perforce, with sword & fire, And because Mars, who is a fierce, violent, and outrageous planet, is placed in Leo, a hot, choleric & fiery sign, which notwithstanding of all the signed of the zodiac is most excellent and most noble, for that it is so goodlily & gallantly adorned and decked with so many beautiful and notable fixed stars, bearing signification only of high and great matters, concerning states, kingdoms and empires, being the natural, essential, and only proper house of the mighty & royal planet Sol, who is the signifier of Princes, Potentates, and high Magistrates: but a mortal and deadly enemy unto Mars, who is now most infortunately seated in his house: many tragical mischiefs and notorious calamities and presaged to some great rulers and mighty governors, placed in sovereign and supreme authority, or else it is vehemently to be feared, that in the East, and Southeast countries, a desperate company of vile and villainous rascals shall flock together, and seditiously, rebelliously, and traitorously arise in arms against their Princes and Magistrates: who, (as a dog hath a day, and a spider provision of ill favoured gear to serve her turn) shall for a time violently set upon, and vehemently afflict many: which maugre their heads, must suffer grievous and spiteful indignities. And yet because he is Lord and Ruler of the 9 House, wherein Mercury is most unluckily appointed, being not long since much discouraged and discomfited of him by a hateful quartile Aspect: it seemeth that diverse persecutions are threatened unto sundry Ecclesiastical persons, which shall be much disquieted and vexed by their rage. All which maladies shall be the more hurtful and vehement, because he is entered into a fixed sign: according to that maxim of Haly, Capite quarto partis octavae. Siquando Mars fuerit in signo fixo, significat fortes lites inter Reges, & eiectos, and in another place his judgement is: Si Mars fuerit in signo fixo, significat lites sine ratione & causa. Beside, he will do the more harm also, because he is in a masculine and diurnal sign: Name in signo foeminino & loco noctis, minoris impedimenti est: as Messahalah saith in his book, De Revolutione Annorum mundi, the 2●. chapter. Item, Mars in Leone, and in the 12. place from the Horoscope, threateneth great loss and destruction in all kinds of beasts, that have hooves, or fleeces, and with all prognosticateth that pismires, wasps, and other flies, and vermin shall not greatly abound. Furthermore, because he is seated in the eight house from the Moon, ipse significat interfectiones & infirmitates magnas in h●minibus. To all which evils they shall be most subject, which inhabit such regions, provinces, territories, and cities, as are under the partition of the hot sign Leo. Item, Sol Lord of the Ascendent, but peregrine, and out of all his essential dignities in the sixtéenth degree, and eight and fortieth minute of Taurus, the night House of Venus, and resident in the tenth house, (the house of dominion, and power, wherein he would greatly have rejoiced, had he not been so infortunately disgraced by his weakness) will also help to increase the fury and outrage of Mars, causing much trouble, vexation, and sorrow, to some noble men, and honourable personages: yea this his placing doth furthermore signify, that many Magistrates shall be thrust out of office, and deprived of all dignity, and other advanced to their rooms, who peradventure shall scarcely be so good, but most likely to verify the Proverb, Seldom cometh the better. Item, Venus' Lady of the tenth house, being both peregrine, and combust, doth increase the signification of the Sun, who because he is Lord of the Ascendent, and infortunately seated in her house, signifieth a bad state, not only of Princes, but of their subjects too: which bad state shall specially be found in the countries situate between the East and the West: Moreover Venus, who naturally is very fortunate, and a planet of a good and amiable nature, being withal settled in the 11. house, the house of amity, friendship, & good fortune, would have pronounced much good, if she had not been so unluckily peregrine in the second degree, and third minute of Gemini, being there also combust, and accompanied with the mischievous Catabibazon: which is with all as unhappy, and pernicious, as may be, by reason of her fall in Geminis, in domo casus sui. For which cause she is therefore to signify much subtle dissembling, and false packing amongst men: little faithful and sound friendship, but much counterfeit and feigned amity: nay, many through uncourteous dealing, and falsehood, shall break of friendship, so that one shall hardly repose any trust in another: beside, she foreshoweth that much hatred, discord, and strife, much matter of divisions & factions, much debate & contention shall ensue: & yet some naughty & ungodly persons, (whereof the world shall never be to seek, but what remedy?) are like to accord & agree together well enough, or rather ill enough. For much shameful & filthy whoredom shall be secretly committed, diverse shall give over themselves to pleasure, voluptuousness, riot, unlawful concupiscence, lechery, forbidden lusts, and other unclean misdemeanours. But let those that are so corruptly, & villainously affected, beware in time, beast for every dram of momentany pleasure, they be rewarded with a pound of durable sorrow. For besides that many thereby shall be shrewdly endamaged, & presently punished, according to the quality of their deserts: the rest of that ungracious crew, unless they repent, and amend the sooner, shall altogether most woefully perish, & be utterly destroyed, both goods, body, & soul too. Haly his judgement is, the Venus juncta cum cauda Draconis, significat destructionem futuram in mulieribus: and this he also as resolutely affirmeth, that Venus infortunata in undecima domo, praesagit leguminum caritatem. Finally, I am persuaded, that she will cause very many winds, bringing very much rain, by reason of her occidental combustion in Geminis, in the house & terms of Mercury. And, as for Mercury, he in station secunda, placed in domo peregrinationum, itinerum, rerum sacrarum, & religionis: but peregrine, and much afflicted in the 21. degree, and 20. minute of Aries, in the house & terms of Mars his mortal enemy, doth signify many journeys, and voyages, much travailing, great removing from place to place, (for Aries as every one knoweth, is a movable sign, and Mercury a convertible, and wavering planet) but not without many losses, damages, and troubles: so generally true it is, that is commonly alleged in a manner to this very purpose. The rolling stone, seldom gathereth any moss. For sundry grievances, much theft, many violent robberies, and spoilings, with wilful murder, and cruel interfections shall be committed, in such wise, that plain, innocent, and true meaning men, (whereof our world now a days is not greatly lavish) and the honest and faithful dealing merchant, shall eftsoons go in danger of losing both goods and life. Furthermore, this his unlucky constitution doth portend the irreligious, and impious behaviour of divers wicked, obstinate, stubborn, and disorderly persons, who will not care most desperately to conspire, even against heaven itself, and most horribly to abuse, even jesus himself, in not esteeming his sacred & blessed word, in reviling his zealous preachers, in making no account of religion, piety, and godliness, in abandoning God himself out of their company, and betaking themselves to all villainy. Likewise this his infortunate state, threateneth like troubles, detriments, and dangers unto those, that are Mercurists, as namely, unto Ambassadors, secretaries, Notaries, Registers, Clarks, Scriveners, Messengers, factors, Mercers, & such other: as also unto divers of the learneder sort, amongst whom some hot controversies, and contentions are like to arise, touching some new contrary opinions, and heresies, which shall be invented, published, and maintained by certain busy fellows, and factious heads, too affectionately wedded to their own conceits. Item, Luna peregrine in the fourth degree, and 58. minute of Sagittarius, decreasing in light, and accompanied with her Dragon's head, in the fourth house, and nigh the fift, being but six hours before, most infortunately in opposition, and at destance with the gentle and merciful planet Venus, of whom I spoke before, betokeneth many heavy calamities, imprisomments, disturbances, and tribulations, with much thought, anguish, and sorrow amongst the common people, who not withstanding shall not be punished or afflicted, but according to their own rebellious deserts, and misdemeanours: for her opposition with Venus, lady of the 10. house, signifieth the disloyal and unfaithful hearts of many froward and disobedient persons, rebelliously set against their Magistrates, helping forward the mischiefs and horrors presaged by the infortunate constitution of Mars. And through her company with the Dragon's head, ipsa significat consumptiones, multas aquas, & damnum in frugibus, as a credible author testifieth. And her application unto frowning Saturn, by an aspectuall radiation, I mean, a malicious quartile aspect: denotat, quòd accident hominibus infirmitates mortiferae, somnia horrenda, & opiniones expavescibiles, provenientes ex abundantia melancholiae. And, what saith Haly, Cap. 4. Part. 8? Sol est anima mundi, qui si quando maleficus fuerit, intemperie afficietur Aër, ut cùm Luna malefica est, afficitur terra. another judgement of his is thus delivered in the third chapter of the same eight part: Si quando tota Triplicitas ignea fuerit infortunata, (as now it is in the figure erected for the time I speak of) accident damna, & occasiones magnae Dominis, Regibus, & claris hominibus. Idem significat signi undecimae Domus, & eius oppositi, scilicet, signi quintae Domus, (in which sign Luna is now placed) mala, & infortunata constitutio. Item, Saturn placed in the eight house, and lord of the sixth house, which is domus aegritudinum, morborum, & servitutis corporis, foreshoweth many dangerous, and mortal diseases, which are like to reign and rage in their kind: as also the stubborn, disobedient, and ill disposed affections of diverse servants towards their Lords and masters. Moreover Saturn lord of the 7. house, which is domus Coniugij, Inimicitiae, Contentionum forensium, furti, & aliorum scelerum, threateneth many troublesome, and terrible events, which are like to be as mischievously accomplished. But, as touching this his lordly government of the 6. and 7. houses, together with certain other Incidents, which by the figure erected might Astrologically be gathered, for brevities sake, and for some other good considerations, I add nothing, acknowledging that the heavenly and almighty jupiter, (that I may so speak) sitting above Sol and Luna in his everlasting majesty, ruleth both Saturn and jupiter, at his gracious will and pleasure, as also furious Mars himself, with Venus, and Mercury too: quae inclinant modò, non necessitant, as is truly answered in an old distinction. Nevertheless, I am verily persuaded, that no Nation, or Country shall behold this great Conjunction unpunished: but amongst the rest, they I grant, shall especially feel the vehement force, and violence thereof, that inhabit such regions, as are subject to the first, and second Climate.  
Thus, as compendiously, as on the sudden I could, I have here, Brother, written down, in what sign, and part of heaven every planet shall be placed: how affected and disposed in the celestial scheme, at that very instant and moment, in which this great, and wonderful Conjunction shall happen, with the several, and special significations of each of them particularly, according to the place of their residence at that time: agreeing wholly which the Astrological judgements, and predictions of the most ancient and best approved writers in this profession. Which I have done to this end, to show as it were in a glass, what concordance and agreement, there shall then appear between one planet and another: and what good or evil every one of them shall for his part procure: good, by diminishing, slaking, and repressing the misfortunes which are presaged by the Conjunction: evil, by helping forward, and increasing the perilous malice, and as it were, venomous spite thereof.  
Now, to treat somewhat more specially touching the weather, & constitution of the air, I have good conjectural Arguments to persuade me, that great store of rain and cold is like to ensue, that we shall have much hail, thunder, and lightning, much unseasonable, immoderate, tempestuous, and boisterous weather, that huge waters shall arise, that floods extraordinarily shall increase, many overflowings happen, diverse eruptions of waters suddenly break out, causing some loss by land, but much greater decay of substance by shipwrecks on the seas, whereby very many shall be shrewdly endamaged, and not a few utterly undane. Which operations and effects the late Eclipse of the Sun, which happened the last year 1582. the twenty day of june in the watery sign Cancer, shall marvelously help forward and augment, especially in winter this year, 1583. for these foresaid Accidents shall continue until the beginning of the next spring after, Anno 1584. At which time about the end of March, and the beginning of April, there shall happen a wonderful, strange, and rare Conjunction, convent, or assembly in a manner of all the planets in Aries, a fiery sign. So that then both Saturn and jupiter shall forsake Pisces the last sign of the watery Triplicity, and inhabit Aries the first sign of the fiery Triangularitie: which alteration from one contrary triplicity to his contrary, cannot be without diverse new effects opposite to the former. For so Haly concludeth, Duo planetae ponderosi, (as Saturn and jupiter are) semper faciunt diversitates sua mutatione de una triplicitate in aliam, & de una natura in aliam, & de una haiz in aliam. Wherefore now the watery Trigone shall perish, and be turned into fire. jupiter shall be joined with Sol, with Mercury, and with Luna: Saturn shall be joined with Venus, and with Mercury: Mercury shall be in Conjunction with jupiter, and with Mars: Luna shall be one while joined with Saturn, another while with Venus, another with Mars, with jupiter the second time, and then with Mercury, and lastly of all, there shall be a great Conjunction of jupiter, and Mars, which is the third weighty planet, and in malice little inferior unto devouring Saturn himself. After which kind of Conjunctions, some terrible, and fearful Comet, or blazing star is like presently to ensue: for the congress of planets in a fiery sign, doth commonly foreshow, and in deed naturally cause a blazing star. As by induction of examples might at large be discoursed, but one for every sign shall suffice. In the year 1556. in the same month of March, when there was the like coaceruation of both superior and inferior planets in this very sign Aries, there followed immediately a great Comet. Anno 1434. after the like meeting of the planets in the second fiery sign Leo, their appeared likewise a fiery Comet. As also after their Conjunction in the third fiery sign Sagittary, Anno 814. before the death of the invincible and most renowned Emperor Carolus Magnus, there ensued in like manner a terrible, and tragical Comet. And if a Comet, as I have now problably inferred, shall arise, these effects must be looked for, much scorching and vehement heat, the drying up of ponds and deep waters: barren, and unfruitful fields: and consequently, a dearth of all victuals, beside a sore death of cattle, and many pestilent diseases amongst men. But if no Comet appears, there shall doubtless be seen other horrible and rueful visions in the Heavens, and many very strange & terrible sights in the middle region of the air, as fiery Meteors, flashings, and flamings of fire, wonderful traiections, and impressions, much lightning, and thunder mixed with hail. Whereby many shall be perilously terrified, and some miserably undone. For even at the very self same time the operations and effects of the suns Eclipse, which happened the last year, 1582. as also of this great & strange Conjunction shall still continue: which shall afterward be accompanied with another fearful and pernicious Eclipse, 1585. in Tauro, nigh the head of Medusa, called of the Arabians, Caput Algol, a most hurtful, violent, cruel, and mortal fixed star, of the nature of Saturn and Venus. Whose significations for so much as they are not alike, the one threatening vehement heat, the other extreme cold, and with all the great Conjunction of Saturn and Mars in Pisces, a watery sign: and the great Conjunction of jupiter and Mars in Aries a fiery sign, both in April next, 1584. being thereunto joined, whereof also the one threateneth excessive cold, the other exceeding heat, there must necessarily follow very great inequality of the air, & very much inconstancy and alteration of the weather, which mutual infraction of qualities, non nisi coruscationes nubium sequentur, as Leovitius speaketh, yet the force and power of this Conjunction shall hear most effectual sway, especially in March, April, May, and june, Anno 1584. because then most of the planets shall run there course in hot and dry signs, as also 1585. in March, April, and May, when Mars a hot and fiery fellow shall possess a hot and dry sign: with whom Saturn shall fellowship himself, being then too seated in a fiery sign, & one while in Conjunction with Venus, another while with Sol, with Mercury, and with the Moon, with whom also Mars and the other planets shall be mingled: which Conjunctions shall all happen in fiery signs. And this year say I, is like to prove an unhappy year for divines, & religious persons. Item, in April, Anno 1586. the effects of these meetings shall evidently appear at which time, there shall fall out a Conjunction of Sol & Saturn, Mars and Venus, Mars & Mercury, Venus and Mercury, Saturn & Mercury, Saturn & Venus, Sol and Luna, Saturn & Luna, Mars & Luna, Venus & Luna, Mercury & Luna, and lastly of Saturn & Mars, which is a great Conjunction, and therefore the worse, and more terrible. Which Conjunctions for as much as they shall all happen in the same sign Aries, a fiery sign, there must needs ensue diverse strange effects, much fervent & exceeding heat, many rare & dreadful impressions in the highest region of the air, and consequently a sore and perilous drought. To make short, in this year sundry woeful, and cruel evils, together with many strange and horrible events shall sensibly appear, which shall principally molest and afflict the weastwarde countries. But of these terrors, one of us, either I, or if my leisure, by means of my final profession, happen to fail me, my brother john will treat more particularly hereafter, (if God spare us life), in there several and sundry years, according as the effects, and operations of the aforesaid Conjunctions shall specially work, and take place: as also of the Comet with the Eclipses of the Sun and Moon, which I have only touched here, reserving every such notable particular Accident, to his proper time and place, then severally to be discussed either by me, or by him. This alone I will add, as a needful Caution and admonition for those, which in there nativities had Aries placed in their Horoscope, accompanied with other planets, or which had the superior planets placed then in the same sign of the zodiac, as also for those, which had the great light of heaven, the Sun I mean, or the lord of the ascendent, or the lord of the nativity placed in Aries, illi enim in primis ad choraeas coelestes invitabuntur, aliquídque novi molientur, the judgement carrieth sufficient authority. And especially let Germany and Italy beware, for many grievous calamities, with sudden chances and changes are threatened to the countries there abouts, by this forcible concourse of planets in Aries: these nations being chiefly and principally under the regiment of that sign, whereunto our Astrologers add namely the Regions, and signiories following: Britain, France, Bastarnia, Syria, Philistim, Polonia minor, high Burgonie, Suevia of Germany, Sylesia superior, Pars Westriae, Naples, Florence, Capua, Ferraria, Verona, Vicentia, Bergamum, Imola, Padua, Brusuicum, Vtricha, Lindavia, Cracovia, Marsilia, Saragossa, with certain other Territories, and Provinces near adjoining. Praetereà, the same sign being the house and mansion place of Mars, there are portended many lamentable, and woeful casualties in battle, unto the German and Italian soldiers: which shall fall out, either by treachery, and prodition, or through the careless security and sluggishness of their Captains, two perilous and deadly enemies to Martial proceedings, as by all histories is most manifest, specially to you, that are so perfectly acquainted with them. Now, touching the whole continuance of the aforesaid strange effects, and operations of this present great Conjunction, I suppose it will suffice to quote the judgement of the famous Philosopher, and Physician Cardane, delivered in his Commentaries, upon Ptolomeis Quadripartita Constructio, concerning that point. Whose words are thus set down verbatim in the second book, ninth chapter, and LIVIA, Text of those excellent Commentaries. Effectus durant ad reditum, utpote Coniunctio Saturni & iovis, usque ad aliam coniunctionem: & Saturni ingressus in initium Arietis, usque ad alium ingressum in initium Arietis, quia nihil datur inane in natura, & ideo si effectus non duraret usque ad reditum, esset circuitus Mathematicus, non Naturalis, & causa sine effectu, & impotentia quaedam. Quamobrem, proportio circuitus ad circuitum, ut temporis ad tempus quod erat probandum. unusquisque tamen horum circuituum redigitur ad dimidium, nam ab oppositione finitur coniunctionis vis, attenditurque ipsa oppositio. Which place of Cardane may summarily suffice for warrant of the continuance, so far as Art, and man's foresight extendeth. For otherwise, ut caetera omnia, sic planetae in Manu Domini, who is truly termed of the old Philosophers, Ens Entium, and Causa Causarum, wherein I am to subscribe to the opinion of the noble Mathematician & ginger, Petrus Pitatus, who in the poem to his Diaria, giveth out this learned judgement: Ex futurorum eventuum generibus; sunt, quae habent causam determinatam, & infallibilem, ut motus coeli, ortus, & occasus signorum, Coniunctiones planetarum, & luminarium Eclipses, & similia: in quibus est determinatio, & infallibilitas ex part motoris, atque etiam omnis impedimenti remotio, ex part qualibet, nisi in quantum subiacent divinae voluntati, & Providentiae, quae tamen semper Ordinatè agit: with much more importing the same conclusion, his only exception is, ni secus à prima causa, secundae miraculose impediantur. And thus much touching the notable effects, and operations of this great Conjunction, in the last face of Pisces, and the first of Aries. Now, by a sensible conference of the same with other Conjunctions, which have heretofore happened in the watery Trigone not without certain famous, and most notable events consequently ensuing: I will presume, to set down certain Conclusions, collected out of ancient judgements and predictions of Astrology, whereby it should in great likehood appear not only that sundry, rare, and wonderful events must needs follow, but also that the very frame of the world, cannot endure long after. Wherefore, to speak only of the watery Trigone, which shall now bear rule for a time, which Trigone consisteth of these three signs of the zodiac, Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces: it seemeth a resolute case, (unless my induction marvelously faileth me) that their never happened any great Conjunction of the superior planets in any of those three signs, but some extraordinary change, and notorious alteration ensued. First, after the mighty Conjunction of the two highest planets, Saturn and jupiter in Cancer, which is reckoned the first sign of the foresaid watery Triplicity, (which Conjunction happened in angulo quartae domus, the ninth month from March first called of the Romans, and now of us November) the world was overflowed with that wonderful exceeding deluge, which to this day doth, and shall ever bear the name of Noah's flood: such a flood as the world shall never see again. Secondly, this fourth Monarchy, called the Roman Monarchy, to follow the common distinction, (howsoever monsieur Bodine probably reasoneth to the contrary) wherein we now live, and are still to prefer before the Turkish Monarchy, seem it never so ample and huge, began under the dominion of the watery Trigone: for the 47. year before the glorious nativity of our saviour jesus Christ, and five years before the destruction of the most valorous and puissant captain, julius Caesar there happened a great Conjunction of the superior planets in Scorpio, the second sign of the same Triplicity, at which time that most Memorable and notorious civil war between Caesar and Pompey, was very hot and violent, the end whereof ensued a little after the same Conjunction, whereupon julius Caesar having oppressed the contrary force, and valiantly subdued his enemies, which defended their ancient state, and common liberty, did first establish this fourth most noble Monarchy. Thirdly, not long after this, namely, six years before the happy birth of our Redeemer, there happened a Conjunction of these mighty superior planets, Saturn and jupiter, in the last face of Pisces, which is the last sign of the watery Trigone, & the beginning of Aries, which is the first sign of the fiery Trigone, which Conjunction happened never since, but only in the days of the worthy christian Emperor, Carolus Magnus, Anno. 789. which is almost 800. years ago, but is now to happen once again in this present year 1583. Touching which, forasmuch as it is the last Conjunction that ever shall happen in the end of the watery Trigone, I am Astrologically induced to this conjecture, that we are most like to have a new world, by some sudden, violent, & wonderful strange alteration, which even heretofore hath always happened, at the ending of one Trigone, & beginning of an other, but now most especially is like to happen, because the contrary Trigone succeedeth his contrary, the fiery followeth the watery, under which, or the like succession, a notable mutation hath already happened two several times: to wit, in the time of julius & Augustus Caesar, when as this fourth Monarchy (as I said before) was established with much effusion of blood: & again in the time of Carolus Magnus, and his father Pypin, (as I also said before) at which time, as histories report, Monarchia haec eneruata aliquantum respiravit: yea, your Paulus iovius, as you best remember, after two or three other most honourable greetings, saluteth this noble Emperor with these gallant Titles, Salve Christiani Imperij propagator augustissime, Pontificiae dignitatis assertor & vindex, aureaeque demum aetatis conditor: which last addition of iovius, maketh most for our purpose, together with that superlative justification of his surname not much before, non magni modò, sed Ter Maximi cognomento dignissime so that withal we forget not what the same iovius shortly after writeth, continuing the foresaid brave Apostrophe, directed unto Charlmaine himself: Te Auspice, Italia in primis, quae iampridem à Gothis, & Vandalis deformata, prostrataque, ferrei saeculi iniurias pertulerat, se usqueadeo faelici rerum omnium proventu erexit, ut pristinae amplitudinis ornamenta reciperet. having a little before given out certain other commendations of his martial prows, tempered with devotion and wisdom, in these honourable Terms: his longè optimis belli & pacis artibus, non indomitos modò saxons, & pervicaces Cantabros, perpetuis victorijs devictos, verùm, quod ad perenniorem laudem nobilius fuit, Longobardos' arroganter & impiè sacrosancto Pontifici infaestos, Deo ultore, funditus excisos videmus. But, to leave the second foundation, and as it were, the re-edifying of the imperial Monarchy under Charlmaine, which is far better known unto you, than unto me, (how be it by the way it would not be forgotten, that Romanum Imperium apud Graecos perstitit à Constantini Magni Temporibus, usque ad Tempora Caroli Magni, in quem nomen duntaxat Imperij translatum est ad Germanos, as Agrippa writeth in his invective discourse, De Nobilitate:) and to return now to the present Conjunction, considering that this fourth Monarchy began first about the end of the watery Trigone, and was afterward weakened and decayed under the same, as appeareth by the premises: may it now seem likely and probable enough, that it shall also finally be ended and destroyed under the same Trigone? And, for somuch, as our Lord and Saviour took our human nature upon him, being borne of the virgin Marie in Bethlem, at the end of the watery Trigone, and the beginning of the fiery Trigon: the same now happening again, may it not also signify and portend, some wonderful and marvelous alteration shortly after to ensue? yea, why not even that great, & dreadful time, wherein the same Jesus' Christ, shall come again in unspeakable majesty, to judge both the quick and the dead, consuming the whole world by fire? for now shall the fiery Trigone reign, and all the Conjunctions of the superior planets which hereafter shall happen, shall continually be in fiery signs, till the accomplishment almost of 200. years. In the reign of Carolus Magnus, albeit the like Conjunction happened, yet the world could not then be at an end: howbeit even at that very time, there were exceeding great Contentions amongst Princes, debated with many fierce battles, horrible murders, & much shedding of blood: to which effect I can not but remember those goodly verses of the excellent Italian Poet, Honoratus Fasitellus: 
— tum primùm Gallica signa  
Boetis, & infractus victricia sensit Iberus.  
Intremuere Asiae Reges, jam cuítque subacta  
Punica terribili tellus concussa duello.  Which are to be understood of that self same time▪ yet than I say, could not the consummation of the world be, because 5000. years from the Creation of the world, were not yet expired, but now the influence and effects of this present great Conjunction enduring and continuing, as I have said, how little to speak of, shall remain wanting, to make up the complete number of 6000. years, which account is originally grounded upon the ancient famous prophecy of Elias, concerning the world's continuance, foretelling that the same should stand 6000. years: 2000 vain: 2000 the law: 2000 Christ: which together make in all the final number of numbers 6000. years. Whereof it hath already continued 5544. so that not so much as 500 years do now remain, of which also, some even of those that are yet behind, shall be abridged in respect of our infinite sins, & exceeding wickedness, as it followeth in the same prophecy. Yea our Saviour Christ himself hath promised in his Gospel written by S. Matthew, the 24. chapped. that he will detract somewhat of the appointed time, saying: Except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved, but for the elects sake, they shall be shortened. So that all circumstances being weighed, and all Astrological likehoods together with prophetical predictions considered, what doubt is there, but we may, and aught to persuade ourselves, that the foundation of the world is in a manner worn out, and also this goodly frame ready to fall upon our shoulders? for if so be there yet remained another great Conjunction of Saturn and jupiter like to the first, than should there be required a Remanet of almost eight hundred years more, which being added to the year of this great Conjunction, would amount to the number of six thousand and almost four hundred years: which manifestly oppugneth the prophecy of Elias above rehearsed, and Plato, before 25. of those years were expired, would bid us who. Almighty God, through his infinite power, and unspeakable wisdom, in six days created heaven and earth, the sea, and all things therein contained, but the seventh day he rested, and hallowed the same: wherein some have reposed a high mystery, imagining, and persuading themselves, that by the sacred ministery of his holy word in this present life, within the compass of 6000. years, he will also gather together his Church, wherewith in the seventh he will celebrate and keep holy his eternal and everlasting Sabaoth. To which purpose they affirm, that the prophecy of Elias, was as it were allegorically borrowed from this number of the six days Creation, applying to every day, 1003. years, alleging to that effect, out of the ninety Psalm, for a thousand years in thy sight, are but as yesterday, & citing withal that place of Saint Peter, in the third chapter of his second epistle, dearly beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, how that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. But how sound these testimonies be applied to the enforcement of my conclusion, it is for learneder men to determine, myself dare not be over bold with Texts of scripture, which are so reverently, and religiously to be handled, and therefore take it best, to stand rather upon the probability of Astrological predictions, and namely, upon that old, and common prophecy, touching the year 1588. which is now so rife in every man's mouth, and was so resolutely defended in a public disputation in the last Commencement, by one, sufficient to maintain his assertion. That year hath many hundred years agone been specially foretold, and much spoken of amongst Astrologers, who have, as it were, unanimi consensu, prognosticated, that either a marvelous fearful and horrible alteration of empires, Kingdoms, signiories, and States, together with other wonderful, and very extraordinary Accidents, as, extreme hunger, and pestilence, desperate treasons, and commotions, shall then fall out, to the miserable affliction, and oppression of huge multitudes: or else, that an utter, and final overthrow, and destruction of the whole world shall ensue. Which prophecy for so much as it is reputed of so great consequence, and withal so nearly toucheth the scope of the present Treatise, I will here set down, as it is delivered by Leovitius, in Latin verses, made, as most suppose, by Regiomontanus, but translated out of a former style, far more ancient, as were also the Dutch verses of Stoeflerinus importing the same Contents. 
Post mill expletos à partu Virginis annos,  
Et post quingentos rursus ab orb datos:  
Octogesimus octauus mirabilis Annus  
Ingruet, is secum tristia fata feret.  
Si non hoc anno totus malus occidet orbis,  
Si non in nihilum terra, fretúmque ruet:  
Cuncta tamen mundi sursum ibunt atque retrorsum  
Imperia, & luctus undique grandis erit.  Which Latin verses, after the manner of our rude meeter, I not long since at adventure englished, for a friend of mine, but I make more account of so solemn a prophecy, than to disgrace it here with my poor translation. You see what therein serveth to my purpose, that either a final dissolution, or a wonderful horrible alteration of the world, is then to be expected. I might allege many other arguments, and authorities, implying the same conclusion, but I avoid to be over tedious. And yet am I violently brought to a further consideration of the premises, by such extraordinary, and as a man would say, presignificative Accidents, as these following: When were there ever seen so many dreadful Eclipses of the Sun and Moon? When so many strange, and wonderful copulations of planets? when so prodigious Comets, not without their tragical operations? When such terrible Examples of fiery Meteors, coruscations, traiections, impressions, and inflammations in the Air, as have been already observed in our Age, and will more fearfully appear within few years? When was the Earth so violently & terribly shaken with an Earthquake, as it was the sixth of April, 1580. not only in Ingland, and Scotland, but also in other Countries, and Nations further off? which Earthquake, (notwithstanding your pleasant Entrance into that Philosophical Discourse, delivered thereof by you ex tempore in company of honest gentlemen, & gentlewomen assembled together to make merry) seemeth yet unto me a matter of no small consequence, whereunto yourself also seem to incline in the earnester part of that Discourse. Were not such signs and tokens foretold by our Saviour Christ? hath he not forewarned us, that they should appear & show themselves, as it were in their terrible likeness? a little before, or in his very coming? doth not withal the contempt of good learning, the contempt of good manners, the contempt of good laws, the contempt of good Magistrates, the contempt of all good government, nay, doth not the contempt of good religion, good piety, good charity, & all goodness, which since these latter days never so universally reigned, as now it doth? do not these general abuses seem to argue & import as much? when was the world so quite devoid of care? when so secure, so reckless, so bend against all discipline, and order? when so vainly wicked or so wickedly vain? when was innocency more ridiculous, faithfulness more contemptible, virtue more abjected, holiness more profaned, love more hated, duty more neglected, honour more dishonoured, honesty more despised, good life more wounded to death, than now a days? Finally, when such unnatural parts, such monstrous corruptions of body & mind, such vile & absurd indignities, such inordinate, & barbarous proceedings, without any respect to law, or conscience, so universally put in practice? when ever that like general lustiness, & jollity, with such desperate wilfulness, and self-love, not in one or two more highly minded, or hawtily set than their fellows, but even commonly in the whole world to speak of? when ever so just occasion of complaint with the Poet? Omne in praecipiti vitium stetit. What is now the Conclusion? Truly, that the second coming of the son of man draweth nigh, which shall be as were the days of Noah, for as in the days which were before the flood, they were eating, and drinking, marrying, and giving in marriage, even till the day that Noah entered into the Ark, and perceived nothing, till the flood came, and overwhelmed them all, so shall also the coming of the son of man be. Matthew 2●. May we not now sensibly perceive, that these days of ours, and the days immediately following, be the very days here expressed: yea, even those days which Christ himself did so certainly, and more than prophetically foreshow unto his Disciples, preaching unto them of the destruction of the Temple, the end of the world, and the latter days? Why then do we still dwell in security, and deceive ourselves with vain conceits, building up a mountain of miseries, instead of the right felicity? If we know our Lords will, and do it not we shall worthily be beaten with many stripes. Wherefore let us now at the last, speedily and carefully call upon our merciful God, lest he consume us in the heat of his heavy wrath, and indignation: let us humbly sue for grace, and heartily crave pardon and favour at his hands, lest sudden destruction overwhelm us: let us with penitent, and obedient hearts fall down before the throne of his celestial majesty, ask remission of our manifold sins, and villainies, and with a contrite affection, earnestly and unfeignedly embrace the gladsum tidings of his holy Gospel, that through his infinite goodness, and exceeding mercy, we may be safely protected, and wholly delivered from all these horrible evils both of body and soul. For see what comfortable and sweet words the Lord of Hosts hath uttered with his own mouth: If ye walk in my Ordinances, and keep my commandments, and do them, I will send you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall give their fruit and your threshing shall reach unto the vintage, and the vintage shall reach unto the sowing time, & ye shall eat your bread in plenteousness, and dwell in your land safely, and I will send peace in the land, and ye shall sleep, and none shall make you afraid, and I will rid evil beasts out of the land, and there shall no sword go throughout your land, and ye shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you upon the sword and five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred shall put ten thousand to flight, and your enemies shall fall before you upon the sword: for I will have respect unto you, and make you increase, & multiply you, and set up my covenant with you, and ye shall eat old store, and carry out the old, because of the new, and I will make my dwelling place among you, and my soul shall not loathe you: I will walk amongst you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people, and so forth. These are the goodly and blessed promises, which the Lord of Heaven & Earth will assuredly and plentifully perform unto those; that do faithfully fear, and truly worship him, in that integrity of holiness & righteousness, that himself requireth. For no doubt, he is a most merciful God, & a most loving father, full of compassion, full of patience, & long suffering, full of goodness & pity. And yet as he is exceedingly merciful to the repentant sinner, so is he also just & terrible to the wilful & obstinate reprobate. For thus on the other side hath the Lord of Lords from the throne of his omnipotent Majesty thundered: but if ye walk contrary unto me, and will not hearken unto me, I will also walk contrary unto you: I will bring upon you fearfulness, consumption, and the burning ague, to consume your eyes, and gender sorrow of hart, and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it, and I will set my face against you, and ye shall fall before your enemies: they that hate you, shall reign over you, and ye shall fly when no man followeth you, and I will break the pride of your power, and I will make your heaven as iron, and your earth as brass, and your labour shall be spent in vain, for your land shall not give her increase, neither shall the trees of the lands give their fruits: I will also send in wild beasts amongst you, which shall rob you of your children, and destroy your cattle, and make you few in number, and make your high ways to be desolate. And if ye may not be reform by these things, I will punish you yet seven times for your sins, and I will send a sword amongst you, that shall avenge my covenant, and when ye are gathered together within your cities, I will send the pestilence among you, and ye shall be delivered into the hands of the enemy. And when I have broken the staff of your bread, ten wives shall bake your bread in one oven, and they shall deliver you your bread again by weight, ye shall eat, and not be satisfied. And if you will not yet for all this hearken unto, but walk against me, I will walk contrary unto you also, and will chastise you seven times more for your sins: and ye shall eat the flesh of your Sons, and the flesh of your Daughters shall ye devour: I will destroy your high places, and cut away your images, and cast your carcases upon the bodies of your idols, and my soul shall abhor you: and I will make your cities desolate, and bring your sanctuary unto nought, and will not smell the savour of your sweet odours: I will bring your land unto a wilderness, and your enemies which dwell therein, shall wonder at it. Levitic. Cap. 26. Now, Lord, can any be so ungraciously stiff necked, and hard hearted, as not to be terrified and astonished with the horror of such maledictions? then, alas, let him that hath an ear, hear what the Creator speaketh unto the Creature, the Lord of Lords, to his rebellious subject, Almighty God to man, to clay, to dust, and ashes: let every one remember, what he hath received and heard, and hold fast, and repent: he that overcometh shall inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he shall be my son, saith he that sitteth on the Throne. But the fearful, and the unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and idolaters, and sorcerers, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second Death. Let us therefore repent with Niniveh, lest we be consumed with Sodom, and Gomorrha: let us do his commandments, that we may be blessed, that our power may be in the tree of life, and that we may enter in, through the gates into the city, and take the water of life freely. Babylon is made a dwelling place of devils, a cage of unclean birds, spirits and goblins shall walk in her palaces, fearful wild beasts shall lurk there: scritchowles, and ostriges shall walk in her houses, Apes and satires shall dance in her beautiful buildings, wild Cats shall cry therein, and Dragons shall there abide, no voice of men shall be heard in her, no sound of a bell, or a mill shall be heard, no light of a candle shall be seen, but perpetual solitude, desolation, and sorrow shall remain and dwell there for evermore. But, we will faithfully praise the name of our Lord jesus, and in patience possess our souls, that when sudden destruction shall come upon the careless world, we may lift up our heads, and behold our redemption at hand. We will no more look for life, but where it dwelleth, in the flesh of Christ alone there it resteth, all promise and hope of life is in him, he hath alone the words of life, he is alone the bread of life, the water of life, the author of life, the word of life, the tree of life, the only life, he that believeth in him, hath everlasting life. We will cry no more upon Angels: we will look no more unto our own works: we will trust no more in our own prayers: we will no more call for the help of creatures, they are all subject unto vanity: there is no life, but in Christ above: the Elders, the Angels, the Beasts, all Creatures they give this honour unto Christ: salvation is of him, that sitteth upon the Throne, and of the Lamb, and altogether they cry, Amen.  
You will marvel, Brother, to see me thus vehemently, & zealously affected in a private Discourse, but truly the incomparable greatness, and importance of the Argument, to him that hath entered into any reasonable consideration of so universal future calamities, as daily threaten us, must needs seem to require much more, than I have here said, or can possibly say.  
The last notable thing, that I have to observe this year, 1583. is, that there shall not appear unto us in our Horizon, any Eclipse, either of the Sun, or of the Moon. Marry, forasmuch as the influence, and working of that Eclipse of the Sun, which happened the last year, 1582. beginneth to take place and effect but in this present year, 1583. in may, perduring till that time Twelve month, 1584. I have thought it not inconvenient, to prosecute these matters somewhat further, and to deliver my simple judgement touching that Eclipse, presuming herein of your patience, as in the premises.  

Of the Eclipse of the Sun, which happened the last year, 1582.  
IN this last year 1582. upon the 20. day of june, immediately after five of the clock in the morning, the body of the Moon at her change, being directly put between the Sun and the Earth, or between our sight, and the Sun, and thereby depriving us of the full light of his beams, there appeared within our Horizon at Cambridge, (as you remember) A small Eclipse of the Sun, the Sun and Moon being at that very instant conjoined in the seventh Degree, and 24. minute of the sign Cancer, within two degrees, & 39 minutes of Catabibazon, which Eclipse albeit it were of small continuance, the Sun being bodily eclipsed or darkened by the Moon, but unto three fingers, or points, and seven minutes, hath notwithstanding the proper influence and peculiar effects: for as Messahalah a cunning and perfect ginger witnesseth, whose books (as I said) have been much esteemed of mighty Princes, and as Experience herself teacheth, There never happeneth any Eclipse of the Sun, which doth not presignify and foreshow some great Accident to come to pass, and Ptolomey himself the Prince of Astrologers affirmeth, that the fatal conversions, overthrows, and destructions of kingdoms, may Astrologically be foreseen, and prognosticated by the Defects and Eclipses of the Sun and Moon. Whereby Thales Milesius, as Pliny credibly reporteth, did certainly foretell, sundry changes, and alterations of states, and kingdoms, to happen in Asia, which afterward came effectually to pass, even according to his Astrological prediction: & the like is avouched by diverse other, of some other well seen the same way. Whereupon Eclipses have been the more specially regarded, and observed of the best Astrologers, as is very well exemplified by Stadius: but I will return to the present Eclipse, from whence I have a little digressed. It is first to be noted, that the Sun was eclipsed in Cancer, which is the natural and essential house of the Moon, wherein she rejoiceth most, and wherein also the most benevolent and favourable planet jupiter, called commonly, Fortuna maior, doth ascend, being therein chief elevated, and exalted: a sign of the partition of the watery Trigone, feminine, nocturnal, northerly, movable, of direct ascension, whom Capricorn doth obey by reason of his superiority, unsavoury of taste and effect, being naturally cold and moist, and of the phlegmatic complexion, governor and ruler of the breast, the mouth of the stomach, the lungs, even almost to Diaphragma, or the Midriff. Now the nature and properties of the sign being known, considering that it is a cold and watery sign, it betokeneth, according to the judicials of Astrology, that great abundance of rain is like to ensue, with many perilous overflowings by rage of waters: whereby a great number shall be shrewdly hindered, and endamaged, it will also cause much raw, inconstant, and distemperate weather, evil for all kind of cattle, but especially for sheep: it portendeth the destruction of much fish, and water fowls: great envy, strife, debate, contention, and sedition with many privy conspiracies, unlawful frays, violent oppressions, robberies, and murders, yea and much martial provision, and preparation for war, beside sundry losses, and grievous perils unto those, that get their living by toil and labour on the seas, or other waters, which shall come to pass, by means of tempestuous, and immoderate weather, wherewith many ships shallbe overthrown, many mariners, and watermen drowned, many towns and cities desolate, nigh unto the sea. Moreover there shall follow a great death, and overthrow amongst the base, and poorer sort of people, according to that judgement of Proclus. Cum acciderit Eclipsis Solis in Cancro, obscurae turbae, ignobilisque plebeculae interitus sequitur, diuturnae bellorum seditiones, & aquatilium, marinorumque, & aliorum in aequore degentium magna pernicies. Which saying of Proclus, the infortunate constellation and constitution of the other planets do seem to verify: for Saturn was retrocedent in a feminine and nocturnal sign, to wit, in Pisces, which is a sign of the same complexion and quality that Cancer is of, being also phlegmatic, cold, moist, and of the nature of water: Mars, Venus, Mercury, and Luna, two of them in a dry and cold sign: the other two in a cold and moist sign, and also in a moist mansion, will likewise increase the cold watery operations of this Eclipse, and for their part, help forward the effects thereof. And as for jupiter, he too was much abased and weakened by his Retrogradation in Aquario, a moist sign. Item Mars being in Tauro, and in opposition to his own house, is become more sturdy, and infortunate: and being lord of the 10. house, he noteth that Lords and Nobles will much afflict and oppress their poor tenants by enhancing their rents, & putting them to huge fines, without regard of common reason, equity, or piety: so that the poor farmers shallbe scarcely able to live, and maintain their necessary charge. He signifieth furthermore the utter destruction, and overthrowing of those, which shall rebelliously set themselves against their rulers and magistrates: for he is in opposition to the same his own house, himself remaining in angulo Quartae Domus, unde emittit sursum, & ascendunt eius calores & malae naturae ad omnes alios planetas, as Haly saith) and there seated in Tauro the night house of Venus▪ which importeth much close whoredom, and secret ungodliness amongst many unclean & wicked persons, that have shaken of the awe, which the fear of God should breed in them, and only have respect to the impious policy, uttered in a common proverb, Si non castè, tamen cautè. Which policy too will fail them in the end, and lay their corruption open to the general view of the world, and shameful reproach of themselves, so universally true it is, that the Poet writeth: Quicquid sub terra est, in apricum proferet aetas.  
I might here rehearse sundry examples of diverse Eclipses of the Sun in Cancer, & thereby declare, both what destructions, and deaths, & also, what other strange and rueful accidents have ensued, but amongst the rest for shortness sake I will only report two, or three of the most notable, with the several operations and effects thereof: that every man of any reasonable conceit, and capacity, may thereby gather a sensible reason & cause of fatal conversions, changes, and alterations by conference of the antecedent causes, and skilfully with discretion and judgement apply the same to a farther consequence of times and matters to come: for as Stadius in the preface to his Ephemerides excellently noteth: Dum causas praeteritorum interpretamur, eadem quoque Methodo & futurorum docemus, nam futura à praeteritis non specie, non genere differunt, sed tempore tantum, quod eadem ut accidens comitatur. A very wise rule, not only serving for these Astrological observations, but much more to be extended to the right use of ancient histories, and politic practices, delivered to posterity for their imitation, in like necessities, and affairs. But, to contain us now within our bounds, in the year 1424. the 26. day of june, in the evening, as is credibly recorded, there appeared an Eclipse of the Sun in Cancer, the 14. degree: at which time, Charles the king of France being valiantly set upon in battle by the english men & Burgundians, was expelled his own realm: war was hotly maintained between the Danes, & the Slesuicians: the Bishop of bream provoking the Hollanders to battle, was grievously wounded of them, and taken prisoner: a terrible plague, and most vehement pestilence and mortality of men ensued, continuing fierce, and hot a long time: afterwards, certain Princes of Germany, entering Bohemia with a great army divided into three parts, were forcibly repelled and driven back of the Hussites, whereby the bounds of Bohemia were enlarged, and spread abroad, towards Misnia, and Noricum: finally, all the fruits of the earth, as corn, grain, vinetrées, and such like, perished through unseasonable pinching cold, and extremity of weather.  
In the year 1569. the ninth day of julie in the morning, there likewise appeared an Eclipse of the Sun in the 26. degree of Cancer, the influence, & effects whereof continued two years: when the Turks martially assailing and invading Pannonia, called otherwise Hungaria, and Syria, a country lying in the east parts of Germany, a portion whereof bordereth on Hungary, (saving which part the whole country beside is altogether mountainish) forcibly carried away many prisoners, & captives, with over sensible proof of their might & fury. Mathias Hunniades, surnamed corvinus, a most fortunate prince, and as happy a warrior, who five years before was crowned king of Hungary, by Frederick than Emperor, denounced & proclaimed war against the Bohemians, being requested, and persuaded thereunto by the Pope, & at that time by force of arms, took from them Moravia, Silesia, and Lusatia. The same Mathias continued as fierce war with Casimire the king of Polonia, courageously invaded the Turks, often discomfiting and vanquishing them: got away Vienna from the Emperor, subdued, and conquered diverse other nations, and territories adjoining, in so much that at his death, he deserved this noble Epitaph of Antony Thaebaldeus: 
Corvinoes brevis haec Vrna est: quem magna fatentur  
Facta fuisse Deum, fata fuissè hominem.   
The Prince of the Tartarians at the same time, assaulted and spoiled Russia, upon which country Tartary boundeth on the west. The King of Denmark was subtly entrapped and taken by the crafty wiles, and cunning fetches of Sweden, There ensued a sharp battle between the French, and Burgundian, Anno 1571. the force and influence of the Eclipse still continuing, many princes, and mighty potentates died: and amongst the rest, George the king of Bohemia, whom Ladislaus, son to the king of Pollonia succeeded. To conclude, Henry the sixth King of Ingland, was within the reach of this Eclipse, taken by king Edward the fourth, in the Bishop's palace at London, and by him committed to the tower, where afterwards he was murdered: as more fully appeareth by our own english Chronicles.  
Last of all, Anno 1536. there happened an Eclipse of the Sun in the seventh degree of Cancer, that is just in the very self same degree, wherein the Sun was darkened this last year 1582. After which Eclipse there arose hot war in Picardy, whereby both the French & Burgundians received mutual harms and damages divers ways, which are reported to have been very great and grievous. At the same time, the soldiers of king Ferdinand, brother to the Emperor Charles, being conducted by their Captains to resist the force of their enemies in Hungary, were, as you know, treacherously betrayed into the hands of the Turks by one Catzianerus: of whom they were almost all most cruelly slain, their chief Captains taken captive, and carried away to Constantinople the Turks chiefest city, where they lived in miserable servitude and bondage. At the same time the Geldrenses seditiously rebelled against their Sovereign. At the same time, the most fruitful, beautiful, and noble islands Sicilia and Calabria, were woefully destroyed with fire, which did strangely break out of the sealand being dried up. At the same time their was heard at Rome, a most fearful, and horrible thundering in the air, being also the more extraordinary for the very time of the year. At the same time, an ancient tower of Helderberg, being suddenly blasted with lightning, did cause a sore ruin, much mischief and great misery to that city. At the same time, in high Germany, their happened an exceeding great inundation, the force and rage whereof, was passing wonderful, and marvelous strange. And after the same Eclipse (which we in Ingland, ought chief to remember) two notable seditions and insurrections did shrewdly trouble, and disturb us here in Ingland: which fell out in the 18. year of the reign of the most mighty and puissant Prince king Henry the eight. Whereof the first was raised principally for religion amongst the commons of Lincolnshire, who had gathered together nigh 20000. persons, to serve their turns in the achieving of that rebellious enterprise. The second began farther of, in Yorkshire, which northern commotion was also attempted for matter of religion, the people there flocked together, amounting to the number of forty thousand. Against those of the first insurrection, the King sent out the Duke of Suffolk, with a strong and princely power, which when the rebels did understand, they strait ways broke up there army, and suddenly departed. Against those of the second insurrection, which was so far the greater, his Majesty sent the Dukes of Norfolk, and Southfolke both, with a far stronger power, and mightier host of soldiers: upon whose coming the battle was appointed to be fought between them on Simon and judes day, but the same night it rained so extremely, that the two armies could by no means meet according to that appointment. Whereupon the rebels (as lightly they are wont first, or last) were glad to crave pardon the second time, showing themselves very desirous to departed, with due submission to their most noble Prince: so that both these seditions were finally pacified, and dispatched with the death of a few Archerebelles, and Captain commotioners, which were shortly after executed for example sake, according to the heinousness of their disloyal, and desperate attempts. The same Eclipse might peradventure be accompanied with some other semblable Events: but these are the chiefest, that I can presently call to mind, and are sufficient, I suppose, to infer my Conclusion, what heed is to be taken of like Eclipses, and namely this of late. Whereunto if we shall now considerately apply the examples before alleged may we not generally conceive, what sequel of troubles and evils, is like to be prognosticated by the same? And yet to speak indifferently according to the rules of Art, I persuade myself, that the misfortunes threatened thereby, shall neither be fully so heinous, nor of so long continuance, as were those of the former Eclipses. My reason is, because the quantity of the Eclipse having been but very little & small, (not one quarter of the Sun being darkened) the quantity of the influence and effects is like to be proportionable. For so Messahalah judgeth in his book de Rebus Eclipsium, the 7. chapter. In Eclipsi Solis semper significatur magnum aliquod Accidens, sed tamen secundùm quantitatem ipsius Eclipsis. Wherefore the quantity of this late Eclipse being so small, I presume, the operations, and sequels thereof shall be both the less in quantity, and the shorter in continuance. Now, as concerning the Regions, Provinces, territories, and cities which shall chief be afflicted and oppressed with the evils ensuing, (which every man will be ready to demand) it is sufficiently known, which are principally under the dominion, and regiment of the sign Cancer: as Numidia, Africe, Bithynia, Phrygia, Colchis, Carthago, Regnum Franciae, Regnum Scotiae, Regnum Granatae, Comitatus Burgundiae, Prussia, Hollandia, Selandia, Constantinopolis, Thumissa, Venetiae, Mediolanum, Genua, Luca, Pisa, Lubecum, Treveris, Magdeburgum, Gorlicium, Berna, Civitas S. Andreae, Yorchia, sive Eboracum, as they are confusedly heaped together by our chiefest Astrologers, respecting rather matter, than form. Of which very countries, and cities, those persons too shall especially feel the violence of this Eclipse, which had Cancer placed in their Horoscope. And this in effect is all, that I have presently to say, touching the influence, and sequel of the foresaid late Eclipse▪ For, as for those two instances, which you in your chamber, not many months since, obiter, and as it were, disputandi causa objected against me, reasoning then familiarly of the observation, and heed that was to be taken of Eclipses: the one of Agathocles, the famous captain, and tyrant of Syracuse, the other of L. Sulpitius Gallus a noble Roman: whereof Agathocles, as I remember, in his wars against the Penians, when so ever any Eclipse was to happen the day before their battle lest his soldiers should take any prejudicial or superstitious conceit thereat, used, as you then alleged, to discourse unto his army the whole reason thereof: showing them, that what soever should chance there, was to follow by course of nature, & appertained nothing to their Military affairs: Sulpitius Gallus understanding likewise on a time, that an Eclipse was at hand, assembled his soldiers together, and warned them thereof afore hand, expounding unto them all the reason, and natural causes of Eclipses, lest they should ignorantly mistake them, for heavy, and unlucky tokens: As for these two instances, I say, I must needs grant, they were good martial policies, and wise Stratagems for the present, to abandon such fear, as their soldiers might haply otherwise have conceived, by such shows of some infortunate chance, to befall them, but as according to Aristotels saying in his Politics, Non est tuta Regula hominum voluntas: so I think, these, and such like Militate devices, are not of force, to prove, or disprove any other Conclusion, but this, that in the time of necessity, or extremity, especially in war, it is wisdom, to make the best of every such Accident, and to interpret it in such wise, as may seem most behoveful for the encouragement of those, whom it concerneth, to be kept in heart, and to be delivered of all by fear, that might any way daunt, or astonish their minds. Which no doubt was Aeneas his politic consideration, where Virgil writeth of him: Spem vultu simulat, premit altum cord dolorem.  
In which cases, not so much the very truth and consequence of the matter is commonly regarded, as what is most expedient, and available, to serve present turns. At an other time I remember, you urged upon me the like history out of the fourth book of Q. Curtius, de Rebus gestis Alexandri. Where it appeareth, how Alexander's soldiers were at the first terrified, and astonished, with a terrible Eclipse of the Moon, and how again afterward recomforted, and satisfied, by a cunning and subtle interpretation of certain learned Egyptian Astrologers, there present in the camp. The place is very notable, and therefore I have thought it worth the reciting. first, their marvelous fear, and agony is thus described. Prima ferè vigilia luna deficiens, primùm nitorem sideris sui condidit, deinde sanguinis colore suffuso, lumen omne foedavit: sollicitisque sub ipsum tanti discriminis casum, ingens relligio, & ex ea formido quaedam incussa est: Dijs invitis, in ultimas terras trahi se querebantur: iam nec flumina posse adiri, nec sidera pristinum praestare fulgorem, vastas terras, deserta omnia occurrere: in unius hominis iactationem, tot millium sanguinem impendi: fastidio esse patriam: abdicari Philippum patrem: coelum vanis cogitationibus petere. Then followeth Alexander's remedy, and means of pacification, more politic for the effect, than true for the cause. I am pro seditione Rex erat, cum ad omina interitus, Deuces, Principesque militum frequentes adesse praetorio jubet, Aegyptiosque vates, quos coeli ac siderum peritissimos esse credebat, quid sentirent, expromere jubet. At illi, qui fatis scirent temporum orbes implere destinatas vices, Lunamque deficere, cum aut terram subiret, aut sole privaretur, Rationem quidem ipsis perceptam non edocent vulgus, but what Reason then? Caeterùm affirmant Solem Graecorum, Lunam esse Persarum, quotiesque illa deficiat, ruinam, stragemque illis gentibus portendi: veteraque exempla percensent Persidis Regum, quos adversis Dijs pugnasse, Lunae ostendisset Defectio. Whereupon Q. Curtius interlaceth this politic judgement: Nulla res efficaciùs multitudinem regit quàm Superstitio, alioquin impotens, saeva, mutabilis, ubi vana religione capta est, meliùs vatibus quám Ducibus suis paret. For the effect of that forged interpretation, or rather, of that counterfeit Stratagem, was this: Igitur edita in vulgus Aegyptiorum Responsa, rursus ad spem, & fiduciam erexere torpentes. So easy a matter it is, by any colourable devise, or pretence of reason, to content the unquiet minds, and assuage the raging fury of the multitude. In which case, many both Martial and Mercurial experiments have been practised, that are not to enforce any rule of Art, other than this, what way a politic man is to take in time of like extremity. As for that efficacy, and sequel of Eclipses, that I here speak of, found out by induction of Examples, and observation of cunning Astrologers, it is not to be judged upon by any such Stratagematicall conceit either uttered in word, or practised in deed, at the point of necessity: but to be credited so far, as the judgement of the learned in this faculty, and the foresaid Exemplifications may give it credit. Artifici in sua arte credendum: especially if that Artifex be so expertus, as he ought to be, & as here I make Account he is, considering what already hath been alleged, and may father be justified. But, for this present, sufficiat, quod satis est. For mine own part, as I hope the best, so I fear the worst, inclining in some sort to the old rule, addiscentem oportet credere. What soever befalleth other places, I trust Ingland is still to continue in God's favour, who from day to day, and from year to year, mightily preserve our gracious Queen, as hitherto ha hath done: who grant her most excellent Majesty, a long and prosperous reign over us, that we may still enjoy this happy continuance of peace, wealth, health, and other our special felicities, whereas the sword, penury, and so many plagues, have joined their forces, in a manner against all other nations. Who for his exceeding mercy sake, vouchsafe us his singular accustomed favour more and more, and continually bless her sovereign Highness more and more. I doubt not, but every true english heart will say, Amen.  
I have now delivered what I thought convenient in this kind: unless haply you will furthermore enjoin me, to set down my Astrological judgement particularly & severally of the four quarters of this year 1583. after the ordinary manner of our common Almanac makers: which although it be less needful, being already performed by them, yet to take away all matter of suspicion, which other wise you might perhaps in some part conceive of my insufficiency this way, and withal to discharge a piece of my promise in the former discourse, I have briefly noted so much, as I would think necessary for common instructions, to serve either public, or private turns, and namely economical provision, if this Treatise were to come into more hands.   

A short judgement of the four parts of this year, 1583.  
1 THe Spring time ensuing, is, in my opinion, like to be very moist, very windy, and somewhat cold.  
2 Summer, I suppose, will be rather moist than dry, with some hail, thunder, and lightning, especially in july, and September.  
3 Harvest will be divers, and inconstant, moist, windy, cloudy, temperate, and dry.  
4 The Winter season is most like to be unseasonable, tedious, & very long, not without great store of hail, rain, snow, many boisterous winds, and very much cold, hard, sharp, and tempestuous weather.  
The whole year, to speak more universally, is like to prove but a bad year for all manner of cattle, but especially and principally for sheep. Pease & beans, I suppose, will be plentiful, & good cheap: but wheat, by my conjectures, will be scarce, & very dear. Barley shall be indifferent, but yet of the two, rather dear than cheap. We are like to have good store of Honey, & sufficient plenty of Oil. Butter & Cheese, shall be somewhat dear: we are not to look for any store, or abundance of fruit: a dearth of victuals is much to be feared: grievous losses by shipwreck: sundry damages by fire: many shameful whoredoms, thefts, robberies, spoils, oppressions, treacheries, and mutinies greatly to be dreaded: perilous factions, seditions, tumults, insurrections, & uproars, together with hot preparance for war to be looked for, especially in the Northeast countries. Many infirmities, & diseases, shall generally reign both amongst men, women, & children, proceeding of unnatural moistness, & distemperate heat, as by the Event will more sensibly appear. The death of some mighty, & renowned Magistrate by all Astrological Conjectures is to ensue: & finally a sore mortality is very like to invade many places, as well somewhat near hand, as farther off: which God of his everlasting goodness, & mercy, turn from his Elect, continuing our happy state and quietness in Ingland, to his gracious pleasure.  
Having thus much presumed of your patience, contrary to my manner in such private writings, I will yet adventure, to trouble you a little farther, with the view of a certain physical & Astrological table of Phlebotomy: which, (upon occasion) I have lately drawn, & already communicated with a friend or two, studious this way & desirous thereof. I will not say, but some error may peradventure scape me therein, as in the rest: & if you happen to light upon any such I am to crave pardon, as in the rest. The only preamble, I here think needful, is the notable Astrological, & physical judgement given out by Hermes Trismegistus himself, in the very end of his Iätromathematica, ad Amonem Aegyptium, thus translated into Latin by Stadius, in the Prolegomena to his Ephemerides. Multum refert in quae hora primus morbi insultus deprehendetur, observare, an eo tempore benefici in ortu sint, aut medium coeli occupent, plus námque sic constituti, collapsis alióqui viribus: opis subministrabunt, quam praestantissimus possit Medicus: scrutari igitur & diem, & horan decubitus exactè oportebit, & mundi positum examinare: nihil enim homini superuenit, quod ex coelesti consensu, & sympathia non oriatur, & originem ducat. Which famous & authentical Maxim of Hermes, together with the long approved verse, borrowed from hesiod: Ipsa Dies, hody Mater, cras ipsa Noverca, may generally suffice for the justifying of that difference, & distinction of hours, days, and times, which either here is, or else where may Astrologically and Phisically be maintained. And so with my dutiful Commendations, I heartily commit you to the protection of God: being loath to be overtedious in officious words, or sentences of courtesy, howsoever other whiles I may chance to overshoot myself in matter of Discourse.   

A COMPENDIOUS Table of Phlebotomy, or blood-letting, setting down by division the general and special considerations thereunto belonging.  
AS in other things, so in Phlebotomy, or letting of blood, the Cause is first skilfully & circumspectly to be considered, as that it be to purge the body of some unnatural, naughty, and superfluous humour, whose substance is either simple, or mixed: simple, when it doth of itself, without the admixtion of any other, degenerate, as blood doth, when it putrefieth in the veins, the pores being stopped: mixed, when it is mingled with some that is already corrupted, as in the Dropsy, where the blood is mixed with water, than the Cause being thus allowed upon, & certainly known for needful and good to the patient, (for otherwise letting of blood is very dangerous, and openeth a way to many grievous infirmities, and withal here would generally be noted, that it is not convenient either for a very lean & weak man, or for a very fat, & gross man to be let blood) there remain to be considered:  

How it standeth with the Patient. 

inwardly 

1. for his complexion.  
2. age.    
outwardly 

3. for the time of the year, and month generally.  
4. for the time of the day, and diet particularly.       

1. Complexion.  
1. In the complexion is to be considered, whether he be 

1. Sanguine, that is, hot and moist.  
2. Choleric, that is, hot and dry.  
3. Melancholy, that is, cold and dry.  
4. Phlegmatic, that is, cold and moist.     

2. Age.  
2. In his age, whether he be 

in his youth.  
in his manly, or middle age.  
in his elderly age.  
in his crooked old age.     

3. The time of the year.  
Concerning the time of the year, he is to be advised, what parts thereof are 

good, as the Spring: from the midst whereof to the beginning of summer is simply the best time for this purpose: howbeit some think Autumn reasonable good, as no doubt it is, in comparison either of summer or winter: being otherwise in itself, to be reckoned rather for bad, than good.  
bade 

very bad, as Summer and Winter, for their extremity of heat & cold.  
more tolerable, as Autumn, being somewhat more temperate.       

4. The time of the month.  
Concerning the time of the month, these general Cautions are to be observed, that he be not let blood in any member, with any chirurgical instrument, either▪ 

The Moon being in Tauro, Geminis, Leone, Virgin or Capricorno: or the last half of Libra, & first of Scorpio.  
The Sin, the Moon, or the Lord of the Horoscope, being in the sign, that ruleth that member.  
The Moon being in any part of via lactea, or in via combusta, or in domo casus sui, or being vacua, or tarda cursu▪ or in terminis infortuniorum, or in the duodenarial division of the twelve houses, placed either in 1.6.8. or 12. place thereof, or applying to the Lord of the 8. house.  
The day before, the day itself, the day after the change of the Moon.  
Half a natural day, that is 12. hours before, and as many hours after the quarters of the Moon.  
A day before, and a day after the full of the Moon.  
A day before, and a day after the Conjunction, Quartile, or opposition of the Moon with Saturn, or Mars.  
A day before the Conjunction of the Moon with Mercury, or Venus, or the head of the Dragon, or tail of the Dragon infortunate: beside other infortunate days in every month, severally noted in every Almanac: and expressly set down in certain old Latin verses to be seen in many ancient Calendars: which kind of verses for the matter commonly are currant enough.     

and then the convenientest time of the month, for the 

1. Sanguine.  
2. Choleric.  
3. Melancholy.  
4. Phelgmatick   the Moon being in 

1. Any of the signs following.  
2. Cancer, or Pisces.  
3. Aquarius, & first half of Libra.  
4. Aries or Sagittarius.     

Ratio. Contraria contrarijs curantur.  
Howbeit, some specially commend Cancer, Aequarius, and Pisces, for letting of blood: but Pisces can not be so good, being a common or bicorporall sign.  

also the best, and most laudable Aspects for this purpose, or these, according to our soundest writers in this kind. 

the conjunction of the Moon with jupiter, or Venus, are simply and principally best: so that Venus be not combust.  
the trine or sextile of the Moon with jupiter, Sol, Venus, and Mercury, are good, but especially with jupiter, or Mercury.  
the quartile or opposition of the Moon with jupiter or Venus, doth well.  
the trine or sextile of the Moon with Mars, are reasonable good, or indifferent.     

the time of the month for 

Youth: from the change to the first quarter.  
Middle age: from the first quarter to the full.  
Elderly age: from the full to the last quarter.  
Old age: from the last quarter to the change.      

Ratio. Simile gaudet suo simili.  
Howbeit, no child would be let blood before fourteen years of age: nor old man after seventy, unless his strength be the greater, and somewhat more than ordinary at those years.  

5. Time of the day, and diet.  
The time of the day must be either 

Morning: after the rising of the Sun: when a man is yet fasting: which is simply the best, excepting the hours of Saturn and Mars: and choosing specially the hours of jupiter, and Venus, whose nature is most temperate.  
After none: after reasonable good, or rather perfect digestion, and expulsion of superfluities.     
And withal, regard must be had of the air that it be not either too hot, or too cold, or cloudy, but calm, clear, and temperate: the wind being then either Northerly, or else, Westerly: for the South wind is no friend to Phlebotomy.   

Ratio. Callidum nimium dissoluit: Frigidum nimium refrigerat.  
Exception.  
Notwithstanding the premises, if this blood letting be for the frenzy, the Pestilence, the Squynancie, the Pleurisy, the Apoplexy, for a continuing headache, proceeding of choler or blood, or for any hot burning fever, or other extreme pain, a man in such a case may not tarry a chosen time, regularly set down by the Astronomer, or Physician, because haply, the patient might miscarry in the mean season, but incontinently with all convenient speed, he is to seek his remedy, this way: unless either himself be very weak, or like to sound, or the Moon be in the same sign that ruleth that very part of his body. Marry, in the foresaid case of extremity, blood is not to be let in so great a quantity, as otherwise it would, if a chose time might conveniently be expected.  
As before blood letting these circumstances of complexion, age, and times, are to be considered, so after blood letting, like consideration is to be had of our meats, and exercise. For meats we must take none, but such as are of an easy, and light digestion.  

For exercise, we are to abstain from all, until the fourth day, exclusive, not only those, that be vehement, as, 

riding.  
running.  
leaping.  
vaulting.  
wrestling.  
fensing.  
tennis, etc.     

But also, such as are more mild: as 

walking.  
bowling.  
bathing.  
and specially venery.     
Which both antecedent, and consequent limitations, being duly & orderly observed, I doubt not, but I may effectually conclude with that ancient commendation of Phlebotomy, given out in two common verses.  
Exhilarat tristes: iratos placat: amantes  
Ne sint amentes, Phlebotomia facit.  
And thus much, or rather thus little of Phlebotomy: hoping you will favourably accept of this Astrological and Physic table, together with the other rude papers: until better opportunity, and greater leisure, accompanied with more reading, shall afford some piece of work otherwise laboured, and more schollerly handled, than on such a sudden this could be. Rome, they say, was not builded in a day, nor any work of price huddled up in haste: every thing must have a reasonable time, and it is impossible for a beginner, or novice in any faculty, to attain unto that perfection, which long experience, and much meditation, have hardly bred in men of far riper years, & greater study. The best is, I know unto whom I writ: and I trust at my return, I shall find you (as I have always) rather a gentle reformer, than a sharp controller. You know I use not to dote upon mine own errors, but as in all things else, so in this pamphlet, am ready, to correct, or amend any thing that shall be found amiss, being glad to hold the ancient rule, Errare possum, haereticus esse nolo, which I pray God, I may always follow, as well in the conclusions of this science, as of any other. But truly, brother, I fear me, I have now been too unreasonable tedious unto you, and therefore will here once again take my leave, and bid you heartily farewell: wishing you as myself. From my fathers in Walden the 6. of December. 1582.    
Your loving brother, ever at commandment, RICHARD HARVEY.   

AT LONDON: Imprinted by Henry Bynneman, with the assent of R. W.