A general Judgement of this Nativity.

I Shall not be very tedious in the general Judgement of this Nativity, becauſe it would be very painful, and unprofitable; and Lilly himſelf would never do any thing without a reward. However, for Aſtrologers honor I ſhall remark the moſt eminent and conſiderable things therein, and that in the form following.

Here we finde ♓ aſcending, which Lilly himſelf p. 99. of his Introduction, terms, A Sign double bodied, idle, effeminate, and ſickly, repreſenting a party of no action. Perhaps a main reaſon of his juggling, and his playing faſt and loſe with all he hath dealt with, and of being ſo lazy and ignorant in the Art be pretends to, that he ſeldom did any thing true therein, unleſs he had the aſſiſtance of other men, better acquainted with the Art than himſelf. But to ſhew that William Lilly was never like to make a good Artiſt, or be of any admirable conception, we finde that he hath Mercury in Taurus, a dull, heavy, earthly ſign, and ☽ diminiſhing in light in another earthly ſign. In his Introduction p. 584. he ſays, Luna diminiſhed in light, Mercury in Taurus, ſignifies the Native will prove a very Aſs or Widgeon. And I remember it is nearly from the ſame reaſons, that in his Epiſtle to his Almanack 1645. he confeſſeth his conceptions dull, and his ſpeech and diſcourſe, (and he might have ſaid writings alſo) defective. But I cannot deviſe what Configuration ſhould make Mr. Lilly drop this truth! The Moon to the quartile of Mercury cannot I am confident, though Mercury be Lord of the ninth. It is very probable, that ☿ in △ to ♂ might do it; for that ſometimes makes the verieſt Ideot ingenious. If yet a little further we enquire into this Natives manners, adhering ſtill to his own Book, (becauſe he ſhall have the leſs occaſion to be offended) we finde in p. 538. That when the ſignificator of Manners is in ♎, as ♃ is in this Nativity, it denotes one inconſtant, crafty, a contemner of all Arts, yet conceited of his own parts. But that I remember to have read this Aphoriſm in ſeveral other Authors, I ſhould have believed that Lilly had made it from the experience he had of his own inclination and temperature; For how exactly this hits him in every part, I leave all thoſe to judge that know him, by either his writings or actions. In p. 536. Lilly adviſeth us to judge of the Natives manners more particularly thus, If there be no Planet in the Aſcendant or joyn'd to the ☽ or ☿, or that the Lord of the Aſcendant be not aſpected of his Depoſiter, then have recourſe to that Planet that forcibly aſpects the ☽ and ☿ with a partil aſpect; which in this Nativity is ♂, and he ill dignified. And therefore by Lilly's own rule, in p. 450. ſignifies a perſon cruel, quarrelſom, and tyrannical, raſh and head-ſtrong, bloody-minded, unſhamefac't, ſumptuous; a bragger, impious, a ſhedder of blood, impudent in provoking, but timerous when it comes to action, a thief, author of diſſentions, tumults, ſedition. And thus much of the man, and his manners and inclination.

2. Of his Riches: Venus is Lady of the ſecond, and in page 543. he ſayes, That ſhe ſignifies Riches by friends and womens gifts. And that way indeed hath Lilly been ſomewhat enriched. And in p. 561. When a benevolent Planet is ſignificator of Riches, and combust, the Native thrives by indirect and unlawful means. And Venus Lady of the ſecond, being in exact oppoſition of ♄, the means ſhould be the more indirect. All men (almoſt) know how Lilly hath got his eſtate; ſome by wives, but moſt by ſomewhat elſe, but what I will not ſay, let thoſe that have a deſire to know, ask the Swedes, and the Members of the Long-Parliament, Oliver Cromwel, and Richards friends, and they perhaps can inform them. If we enquire whether the eſtate ſhall continue, Lilly tells us in page 563. the Sun in the ſecond is ill, and it is very bad when • he Lord of the ſecond is combuſt, and the pars fortuna infortunate, it uſually portends confiſcation of eſtate, baniſhment, &c. And he ſaith page 564. Caput Meduſae, with pars fortuna, or joyned to his Lord, expreſſes loſs of Riches, and threatens poverty; which poſitions exactly happen in this Nativity, and ſomething elſe to aggravate them, viz. Saturn being in exact oppoſition to Sol and Venus; but I hear Lilly hath made over his eſtate already, in hopes to prevent theſe evils that his Nativity unhappily threatens.

3. He ſaith page 567. the ☋ in the third, portends little agreement between the Native and his brethren, or kindred; And this is true enough in his Nativity, for although he hath a poor Brother in the Countrey, and a poor Siſter a Waſher-woman, in Milford-lane, he ſeldom gives them a penny; and beſides hath paſſed away his eſtate to ſtrangers.

4. If we enquire whether this honor ſhall continue, himſelf ſaith, page 623. the Hyades, Hercules cor, Scorpio, Lanx Auſtralis, in Angles, in □ or ☍ of the infortunes; whom they raiſe from the dunghil they at laſt caſt down with a vengeance. In this Nativity, although theſe Stars are not in Angles, yet Mars caſts a quartile to two of the eminenteſt of them, from an Angle; which is every whit as forcible, as if they had been in Angles. If two and four make ſix, then four and two makes the ſame number. Thus you ſee the demonſtration is familiar and eaſie.

5. If we make enquiry after the Natives impriſonment or reſtraint, it is apparent he muſt ſuffer by ſuch means: For in page 642. he ſaith, If ♄ afflict ☉ or ☽ with partil or platick Aſpect, it denotes impriſonment to the Native. Here you ſee Sol is moſt exactly oppoſed by Saturn, and he Lord of the twelfth, and Retrograde in the eighth houſe. I hope better for him, than that he die in a priſon: but that I have made a promiſe to quote no Authority herein, but Lillyes own, I could produce divers that relate ſuch a poſition to be moſt cruel and ominous.

6. Having treated of the moſt material paſſages of Life, we come now to treat of Death; And ſhall queſtion firſt, whether it may be natural, or violent? In page 644. Lilly ſaith, If either the Sun or Moon be in violent ſigns, and the other Light with a violent fixed ſtar, it denotes a violent Death, chiefly if any of the infortunes inveſt either Sun or Moon, or Lord of the eighth. This Aphoriſm takes full place in this Nativity, for the Moon is in Capricorn, and the Sun with Oculus Taurus, in oppoſition of Saturn; Ergo, it ſtands the Native upon, to beware of a violent end. In page 645. he ſaith, A malevolent in the eighth, and either of the Lights afflicted, or in a violent ſign, portends violent death. He ſaith alſo, The Lord of the firſt in a violent ſign, and the depoſiter of the Light of the time in a violent ſign, or afflicted, intends violent death. ♃ Lord of the firſt, is in ♎, a ſign violent, and ♄ diſpoſer of the ☽ is in ♏, a ſign violent; Ergo, the dint of the Aphoriſm is to be feared. The kinde or quality of death is known from Saturn, becauſe he is in the eighth, thence afflicting the Sun, the Fountain of Life. And the kinde of death that Saturn in this caſe ſignifies, Mr. Lilly ſaith, page 646. is by drowning, ſhipwrack, ruine of old buildings, poiſon. And Saturn being in Scorpio a poiſonous ſign, 'tis the more likely to be by poiſon. In pag. 647. he ſaith, Saturn in oppoſition of the Sun from fixed ſigns, many times denotes ſtoning to death, or ſuffocation by fire, or water, ſometimes beheading, (that is if the perſon be honorable) death by a Gun, or great inſtrument, or hanging, or ſtrangling, &c. But of all, I ſuppoſe the former, viz. poiſon, becauſe it is ſo natural to Saturn, and to the ſign he is in. And perhaps it may ſo fall out, that the native coming into danger to prevent a publick ſhame, may turn his own Executioner, and poiſon himſelf, But in this matter I leave Mr. Lilly to do what he will, I will promiſe him before-hand it ſhall never trouble me. And this ſhall ſerve for a general Judgement upon the Scheme of his Nativity.

I ſhall ſet the Figure of his next years Revolution, it being moſt probable to prove a prodigious year unto him, and the moſt remarkable that ever he had, yea far more notable than that in which he received a gold Chain from the King of Sweden And I ſhall give a particular Judgement upon the ſame, with conſidering the directions and other things that con-comitate it, and ſo end my intended Task, and leave Mr. Lilly to ſhift for himſelf, and baffle if he can, his bad fate, as he hath done all he ever had to deal with.

Of his Revolution for the Year 1661. being the 59th year of his Age.

To finde the true Revolutional Figure, I equate for the Suns true place, thus:

April 29 the Sun is 19 d. 14 m. 41 ſ Taurus 30 20 12 24     Difference 00 57 43  

The Suns place is 20 05 00 Taurus. Next greater is 20 12 24 Taurus. Difference 00 07 24

Then I work b • the Rule of proportion, and ſay, if 57′ 53″ give 24 h. what ſhall 7′ 24′ give? Anſwer 3 h. 4 m. which ſubſtracted from Noon the 30 of April, leaves the true time of the Revolution ſought, April the 29 da • , at 20 h. 50 m P. M. Aſtronomically, or more vulgarly, April the 30 at 56 mi • u • es paſt eight a Clock in the morning; for then the Sun comes to his Radical place, viz 20°. 5′ in Taurus.

The Figure of Heaven, is as followeth.

The Planets places are as followeth.

Long Planets. ♄ 20 43 R. ♏ ♃ 4 31 R. ♎ ♂ 6 13   ♈ ☉ 20 05   ♉ ♀ 05 03   ♉ ☿ 09 46 R. ♉ ☽ 04 47   ♎ Ω 14 40 R. ♎

The right Aſc. ☉ 47 37 Right A. Time 313 30 Added, makes 361 07 The Circle ſub. 360 00 Right Aſc. M. C. 001 07 Add the quadrant 090 00 Ob. A. Horoſcope 91 07

The Figure it ſelf follows.

April 30. 1661. 20 h. 56 m. P. M. Revolution for the 59th year current. ☽ ad ☍ ♂. diagram

A general Judgement of this Revolution.

IN this Revolution the ſign of the ſixth houſe of the Radix aſcends, and the Moon Lady thereof, is in exact oppoſition of ♂ Lord of the eighth in the Radix. To the firſt, Mr Lilly ſaith, page 727. If the ſign of the ſixth aſcends, in that year the Native may fear ſickneſſes, imbecility of body, or other very many caſualties &c. but to the latter he ſays nothing. Howbeit, other Authors ſay, it is many times fatal to Life, and truly it is the more to be feared, becauſe oppoſition happens from Angles, and Saturn in the return ſo near the oppoſition of the Sun, (who is Lux temporis) and exactly returned to his Radical place, and the Lord of the eighth wholly, in the Revolution. If Saturn be naturally an enemy to Life, and accidentally Anareta or Lord of Death, then muſt his influence be the more malignant and cruel. Sed verum prius, Ergo, &c. the 59th year of his age, (a year more dangerous by reaſon of Saturns double return, than either 42. or 63.) we may upon better grounds than himſelf predicted Prince Roberts death, pronounce this year moſt fatal to him; And ſeriouſly Lilly ought to thank me for my plain dealing with him, if he ſhall but conſider what a muſter of cruel and ominous Directions are coming towards him; for they are ſuch as his own Book (whom all along you may ſee I have made his Judge, and fairer play he cannot deſire to have of any man) terms fatal, as you ſhall largely hear from thence—

1. He hath the Sun to the ſixth houſe, whoſe Ark of direction is 59°. 18. which direction he ſaith, page 668. ſignifies to the Native himſelf ſickneſs, &c.

2. He hath the Aſcendant to the terms of Mars, whoſe Ark of direction is 60° 23′. And in page 660. he ſaith, It inclines the temperature of the Native to choller, and incites him to raſh actions, and to have a hand in many idle and wicked matters, all tending to a general diſtemper of the body, ſubiect to ſcandal, and not undeſervedly.

3. He hath the Medium Coeli directed to the quartile of Saturn, whoſe Ark of direction is 61° 14′. And Lilly ſaith p. 669. This direction diſcovers many laborious, difficult and unfortunate miſchances unto the Native, deprives him of his Honor, Office, Magiſtracy, Employment, or Reputation, by means of Saturnine and vulgar perſons, or of ſly diſſembling Courtiers, Countrey-clowns, Husbandmen, Colliers, Day laborers, who ſeem all to conſpire and agree herein againſt him. And as this portends to vulgar perſons, beggery, poverty, diſgrace; ſo unto people, diſcredit, (ſurely he eſteems vulgar perſons not worth the terming people) accuſations, and treacherous informations, dammage by thefts. Theſe are Mr. Lillies own words.

4. He hath the Medium Coeli to the quartile of Venus by direction, which Ark of direction is 62°. 6′. And he ſaith, page 673. This direction is ever full of ſcandal and ignominy, and detracts from the Natives fame and honor, by means of women, and ſtirs up ſtrife, hatred, and contentions againſt him; the Native ſubject to be deluded by women, to wooe many, and to be rejected by moſt, or all women, they putting tricks upon the Native, ſcorning and deriding him, who will be jealous of his Miſtriſs upon every ſleight occaſion: It ſhews death many times to the mother or wife, and an unquiet and uncheerful life — with his wife, many times divorce, jealouſies, and great diſcontents, ſale, or loſs of much eſtate, or many coſtly Jewels. Now beware the Gold Chain!

5. He hath Pars fortuna directed to the quartile of Jupiter, whoſe Ark of direction is 61°. 42. He ſaith, page 704. Such a direction ſignifies— Loſs of wealth by means of Gentlemen, or Law-ſuits, and vexations by ſuch, and againſt ſuch, much labor and difficulty to procure the preſervation of his eſtate, loſs of Office, or leſs increaſe thereby than formerly.

6. He hath the Medium Coeli alſo directed to the quartile of Sol, whoſe Ark of direction is 62°. 54′. And he ſaith, page6 672. That it renders the Native obvious to many diſcommodities, makes him odious to great men, to looſe his offices, honor, or preferments upon a ſudden, and changes and perverts all his former good fortunes, a Trades man cracks his credit, or turns Bankrupt, &c. For now he is in danger of being impriſoned, baniſhed, and many times (if the Nativity threaten, a here it doth) he is ſentenced to death by the judgement of his Prince, or ſome of his Officers.

Theſe are the dire directions that are coming toward Mr. Lilly apace; ſome of which have partly ſeized on him already; and let Mr. Lilly tell me whether I have not dealt like a faithful friend by him, and as truly as Damboyſe, and the Kings Brother did by each other in the Tragedy Here are no Sycophantique tow'ring ſtrains, nor have we flattered Lilly in hopes of reward, as he hath done many to their ruine; Nor have we uſed any ſtick Heraldy, no clawing Epithetes, nor charms to cheat his underſtanding; we have not conſulted Mother Shipton, the Sybills, or that crack-braind fellow Merlyn, &c. nor Dic mie, nor any ſuch like cheats and knaveries; we have kept cloſe to Aſtrology, and becauſe we would not be adjudged partial, in that, to Lillies own book; a civility, that young Merlyn never merited from any Artiſt in the world.

But perhaps Lilly will ſay, when he ſees this, that ſome of theſe directions come not yet a while, according to the meaſure of time allowed in a direction, I ſhall eaſily concede thereunto they do not; two of them eſpecially. But nevertheleſs if Lilly remembers what Sir Chriſtopher Heydon ſays, Fol. 412. That events proper to men, may be both anticipated and continued before or beyond a direction, as other things ſhall occurre; the objection is cleerly invalidated, and Lillies dancing days neerer unto an end, then he is aware of.

Let Lilly or the beſt Aſtrologer of his acquaintance, tell me what they think of July 1661. when ♄ is ſtationary upon the oppoſite place of the ☉, and ſuddenly after meeting with the ☉ by a quartile? And of ♂ his being ſtationary to Retrogradation upon the degree Aſcending in the Revolution, in November following, a place that Mars ſo miſcheivouſly hate; And preſently meeting an oppoſition of Venus, (Lillies beſt friend) and this in ♑ neer the twelfth Houſe of the Radix? Nor will the four Eclipſes in that year, in the Angles of his Revolution ſpeak better things unto him, that in September of the ☉ eſpecially; it happening ſo directly upon the place of the ☽ in the Revolution—

If Mr Lilly be unſatisfied in any thing herein written, let him publiſh his doubts, and I hereby promiſe him In verba Aſtrologi, in the word of an Artiſt, to dilucidate any thing to him that is therein contained. Or if he ſhall he captious or quarrelſom (which is ſomewhat probable he may) at me, for my ſerious pains in his Nativity taken, I ſhall then call back my civil offer, and will undertake to juſtifie what is here performed, either by diſpute, or which way that he ſhall think proper for to ingage, provided it may be for the honor of Aſtrology, unto which end alone I have publiſhed his Geniture.