Merlini Anglici errata. Or, The errors, mistakes, and mis-applications of Master Lilly's new ephemeris for the yeare 1647. Discovered, refuted, and corrected. By C. George Wharton, student in astronomy. Wharton, George, Sir, 1617-1681. This text is an enriched version of the TCP digital transcription A96283 of text R207525 in the English Short Title Catalog (Thomason E1180_4 C.54.aa.1(4)). Textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. The text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with MorphAdorner. The annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). Textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. This text has not been fully proofread Approx. 78 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 32 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. EarlyPrint Project Evanston,IL, Notre Dame, IN, St. Louis, MO 2017 A96283 Wing W1553 Thomason E1180_4 Thomason C.54.aa.1(4) ESTC R207525 99866570 99866570 118846 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A96283) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 118846) Images scanned from microfilm: (Thomason Tracts ; 167:E1180[4]) Merlini Anglici errata. Or, The errors, mistakes, and mis-applications of Master Lilly's new ephemeris for the yeare 1647. Discovered, refuted, and corrected. By C. George Wharton, student in astronomy. Wharton, George, Sir, 1617-1681. [4], 58 p. s.n.], [London? : Printed in the yeare 1647. [i.e. 1646] Place of publication conjectured by Wing. Thomason received his copy in December 1646. Annotation on Thomason copy: "Dec: 4th 1646". Reproduction of the original in the British Library. Appears in catalogue and on film as C.54.aa.1.(4). eng Lilly, William, 1602-1681. -- Merlini Anglici ephemeris -- Controversial literature -- Early works to 1800. Astrology -- Early works to 1800. Ephemerides -- Early works to 1800. Almanacs, English -- Early works to 1800. A96283 R207525 (Thomason E1180_4 C.54.aa.1(4)). civilwar no Merlini Anglici errata.: Or, The errors, mistakes, and mis-applications of Master Lilly's new ephemeris for the yeare 1647. Discovered, ref Wharton, George, Sir 1647 13528 15 0 0 0 0 0 11 C The rate of 11 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the C category of texts with between 10 and 35 defects per 10,000 words. 2007-06 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2007-06 Aptara Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2007-08 Robyn Anspach Sampled and proofread 2007-08 Robyn Anspach Text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion MERLINI ANGLICI ERRATA . Or , The Errors , Mistakes , and Mis-applications of Master Lilly's New Ephemeris for the yeare 1647. Discovered , Refuted , and Corrected . By C. GEORGE WHARTON , Student in Astronomy . Printed in the yeare 1647. To the Reader . IT is a common Proverb : Dogs bark more for Custome , then Fiercenesse . And had I not assuredly known this Whelp Lilly , to be one of that bawling Litter ; I should not have suffered his perpetuall snarling with that Patience and temper I did : but before this , would have alighted from my Saddle , to hurle him one stone ( at the least ) to gnaw on . But , as hee is now growne bolder , and blacker in the jawes ; I must begin to have an eye over him , and a care to keepe him at a distance , lest he byte mee till I bleed , and thereby I become maniaque , or Brain-sicke like himselfe , and so be more desirous of his Liver , then his Heart . I shall scorne to take notice of his former Grinnings ; nor will I trouble my selfe , or the Reader , with any repetition of his by-past Fooleries , frantique expressions , and but a few , ( if any ) of his many Errors and Mistakes , so grossely committed , in every of his Lowzie-Pamphlets ( for them ( indeed ) I have tyed and twitch'd up together in a Pack-thread , as thinking them fitter for his Quondam Hell , then the meanest Shelfe in my study ) but I will content my selfe only , with that dainty bit , this sweet bratt of his owne begetting , Merlini Anglici Ephemeris , the 4th ( and perhaps the last ) of that name : And examine I shall , and that strictly , of what mettall it is compounded , or whether it bee simple ( like the Dad of it ) and the truth you have freely , as followeth . The Errors , mistakes , and mis-aplications of Mr. Lilly's New Ephemeris , &c. I Will not trouble my selfe , or the Reader in taking notice of any thing in his Long-winded-Preface , save only the reverend mention he hath made concerning him , whom he is pleased to tearm an A. B. C. felow , viz. Naworth of Oxford , by whom ( as he pretendeth ) hee found himselfe intollerably abused in Print , and could doe no lesse , then vindicate himselfe in point of Art , As for the Name , Naworth , which William Lilly , and John Booker ( to make their Worships merry ) have so often , and as wisely , as wittily , inverted to No-worth , and Worth-nothing : it is well knowne , to be the Letters of my name long since transposed , purposely to avoid the Scandall and obloquy , which both these Mounte-banks so greatly delight in , and indeavour so much to assume . For , whereas I observed , the Common people generally possessed of a confident beliefe , or rather a foolish conceipt , that such as could write Almanacks , were esteemed ( with a Country-reverence ) Wise-men ( like Lilly and Booker ) or ( if I shall render it in their owne Dialect ) Conjurers , or such as can tell all things , past , present , and to come : And so were usually haunted ( by the silly people ) with a number of unlawfull , unnecessary , and ridiculous questions by meanes whereof , many ingenious and honest Artists , have not only been branded with the titles of Conjurers , Necromancers , Wizards , Sorcerers , and Figure-Casters ( in the worst sense ) but have often been imprisoned , and Indicted and proceeded against upon the Statute , against Witchcraft , &c. and hardly escaped with their lives , ( especially when they came before Judges , that were ignorant in , or disaffected to Astrology ) after they had suffered severall yeares imprisonment , and thereby wasted and consumed their estates : I say , that I having resolved to write yearly , which was not usuall without prefixing a name ; ( nor for the reasons above-mentioned , would I then publish any thing of that nature , in my owne name : ) I therefore Anagramatiz'd my name to Naworth , and by that Name I writ an Almanack for severall yeares together , and continued unknowne , unlesse to some two or three of my friends ; whereby I seasonably prevented the before-named inconveniences and hazards , which otherwise I should inevitably have shared of : And I presume that in doing this , I neither wrong'd my selfe , nor abused the Countrie where I lived : And what ever other witty construction may be made thereof , by these two trifling Gypsies ; by this they may perceive , I tooke no delight ( as they doe ) to be tearm'd a Conjurer , a Magician , a Cabalist , a Merline , a trucking Mercury , or any thing else , whereby they desire , and indeavour so much to promote , and propagate their deceitful & unwarrantable dealings . And whereas Lilly , in the same Preface , chargeth me under the same name to have wrested many false judgements from Astrologie , against the Parliaments actions , intending thereby to prepossesse the Kingdome with a vaine feare , that his Majestie and his designes should take place , &c. I must tell him , that this his Accusation , is most maliciously false : And let him shew me ( if he can ) but one Aphorisme , or Sentence that ever I delivered , for which I either quoted not my Authors , or gave a sufficient reason in Astrology : or that ever ( of which I shall hereafter prove him apparently guiltie ) I wrested any part of Astrology from the Genuine sence thereof , either to make for his Majestie , or against the Parliament ? And if it hath pleased God , to suffer the loyall party thus to bee trampled over , it is for their sinns : and carries with it a supernaturall Cause and Reason above the stars , which could not be discerned by the clearest mortall eye . No Symtome of such ( our sufferings , could be read , or observed by any man in the great Booke of Heaven ; but rather the quite contrary , as I could instance for many reasons in Astrology : And whatsoever I spoke , or writ , was ( as your owne sence implyes ) ever with submission to divine Providence . But I will not busie my selfe so much , as to examine and retort every Tatter of his ragged-Preface : nor shall I need to vindicate his Majesties Officers , ( whom hee is therein pleased to tearme Ravenous ) from his polluted lips : I see no reason why they may not meet with a fitter occasion and opportunitie to requite him : but the thing I have proposed to my selfe , is first , to ferret the poore Quack in point of Art , and afterwards in matter of Judgement . The first thing , and indeed the only thing that 's worth my observation is , his Transcript of Eichstadius his Ephemerides , for the year 1647. wherein ( indeed ) he hath taken a great deale of paines , and deserves to be commended for this indifatigable Labour : but withall , I must tell him , that hee hath therein greatly betrayed his owne ignorance in Astronomy , or shewed himselfe exceedingly negligent and carelesse , in that he hath not fitted the places of the Sunne , Venus , and Mercury , ( but especially the Moone , ) to the Meridian of London , as he hath done ( to his thinking ) in the Lunations and aspects of the Planets , nor ( which had been more easie , and sooner done ) prescribed any Rule , or Direction , whereby to supputate their true places for that Meridian , or any other place of the Kingdome : And this Error hee hath beene guilty of throughout the two former yeares : whereby our young Tyro's are much deceived in the Merline , when they thinke they have the places of those Planets therein exactly Calculated to the Noone-tide of every day at London : for , although in the higher Planets , whose motion is but slow , there bee no sensible difference : yet , in the Sun , Venus and Mercury , there is an apparent error : For , when they are in their swift motion , their places at noone , as Lilly hath set them , will differ above 2. min. and often 3. min. from the truth : And in the Moone ( whose motion is farre swifter then any other of the Planets ) her Error is intollerable ( especially when she is in her swift motion . ) For example : the first of January 1647. the Diurnall motion of the Moon is 12. degr. 24 min. ( being then but in her slow motion . ) The difference of Meridians , betwixt London & Uraniburge● to which place the Longitude of the Planets , ( as Wil. Lilly hath printed them ) were Calculated by Eichstadius , ) is 50 minutes , ( by his own confession in his Anglicus 1645. Page 54. ) that is , the Sun cōmeth later to the Meridian at London , then he does at Uraniburge , by 50 min. of time ; so that how much soever the Moon moveth ( according to longitude ) in that space of time ? by so much hath Lilly erred in the Moones true place at noon , for every day in the yeare : which , what it is for the said first of January ; I examine thus : If the Moone in 24 houres , move 12 degrees , 24 minutes in Longitude , What moves she in 50 min. of time ? Facit 26. min. ferè . And by so much hath Lilly erred from her true place the said first of January at Noon : So that whereas he hath placed her that day in 21 degrees , 10 min. of Pisces , she ought to have beene in 21 degrees 36 min. of the same Signe . And when she is in her swift motion , he commits a greater Errour : as the tenth of March 1647. ( if you examine it according to the former rule ) you shall find just halfe a degree ( or 30 min. ) error ; and in stead of 26 degrees , 3 min. of Virgo , ( wherein Lilly hath put her that day ) she should be in 26. degree 33 min. of the same Signe . The next thing which I meane to take notice of , is , his Scheme erected to the Apparent time of the Moons Ecclipse upon the tenth of January 1647. at 9. houres and 19 min. P. M. as he hath taken it from Eichstadius , by deducting 50 min. for the difference of Meridians betwixt London and Uraniburge : and to the same time I erect the Figure of Heaven , according to the Doctrine of Regiomontanus ; and comparing his printed Scheme with that , which I had more curiously set , I find Lilly still bungling and botching , but without any result of truth : For , whereas he hath made the Cuspe of the tenth House 22. degrees 20 min. of Gemini , according to exact Calculation , it is no lesse then 23. degr. 30 minutes , whereby it appeares , that Master Lilly hath mistaken 1 degree , & 10 mi. in the Cuspe of the Medium Coeli . And in the Ascendent of the same figure , he hath mistaken above one whole degree , viz. 1 degr. 10 min. for hee hath made the Cuspe thereof but 23 deg. and 51 min. of Virgo , which should have been 25 degrees , and 1 min. and the like Errors follow in the seventh house of the Figure ; and proportionably in all the rest , which makes me wonder with what face this senslesse botcher dares tearme me an A. B. C. fellow , when all men may perceive him so shamefully ignorant in the very fundamentalls of the Art hee pretends to , and that I am able to correct him in every point and particle of his Profession : For , I desire the Reader to consider but thus much with me , that if ( as Sir Christopher Heydon hath said , in his unparalell'd Treatise , written in defence of Judiciall Astrologie against Mr. Chambers ) that Astrology is an Art which teacheth by the Motions , Configurations , and influences of the Signes , Stars , and Coelestiall Planets to Prognosticate of the naturall effects , and mutations to come in the Elements , and these inferiour and elementary bodies : How ( I pray ) is it possible , that this fellow can Prognosticate rightly of the naturall effects and Mutations to come in the Elements , and these inferiour and elementarie bodies , before he be able to Calculate exactly the true motions and configurations , &c. of the Signes , Stars and Planets , which you clearly see , he is not ? And I marvell much that Lilly should bee no more tender and cautilous of his credit , then thus foolishly and frequently to divulge his unskilfulnesse : for me thinkes , as he knowes that he cannot Calculate the houses exactly , either by the Doctrine of Sphericall Triangles , or ( which is more ready , and built upon the same foundation ) by the Tables of Directions in Regiomontanus ) to the degree and minute of each Cuspe , yet he should have held it a safer way ( if he purposed to palliate his defects ) to have set down the Cuspes only in whole degrees , and not have published himselfe thus erroneously scrupulous , which hee might have done very easily , by the Domifying tables , without further helpe . But I perceive him so impudent , and shamelesse , that he neither heeds , nor cares what hee does , or otherwise hee would have beene more wary in supputating the places of the Planets : For ( according to Eichstadius , whom he indeavours to follow ) the Sun ( at the middle of the Eclipse ) should have been in 56 minutes of Aquarius , and the Moone in 56. min. of the Opposite Signe Leo , Venus in Capricorne , 24 degr. 29 min. and Mercury in Aquarius , 3 degr. 17 min. But this man's discretion hath put the Sun in 53 min. of Aquarius , and the Moone in 53 min. of Leo , Venus in 24 degr. 39 min. of Capricorne , and Mercury in the 3 degr. 20 min. of Aquarius ; So that he hath erred 3 min. in the places of the Luminaries , and Mercury ; and 10 min. in Venus , as may appeare to every man , that will take the pains to Calculate the true places of these Planets by Eichstadius his Tables , to the Mean , or Equall time of the said Eclipse . And in like manner , hath he playd the Botcher in his Figure at the Vernall ingresse : for according to the time therein posited , the Cuspe of the tenth House ought to be 13 degr. 44 min. of Taurus , and the Ascendent 25 degr. 48 min. of Leo , yet he hath made the tenth House 14 degr. 0. min. of Taurus , and the Ascendent 26 degr. 0. min. of Leo : so that he hath committed 16 min. Error in the Cuspe of the tenth House , and 12 min. in the Cuspe of the Ascendent , nor is hee lesse erronious in collocating of the Planets here , then in the former Figure , but especially in the Moone , whom he hath placed in 27 degree 48. min. of Virgo , whereas she ought to have bin in 28 degr. 14 min. of that Signe , wherein hee hath mistaken no lesse then 26 minutes . And thus much I conceive sufficient to prove his ignorance , in point of Art : Now will I also unmaske his Errors , defects , mistakes , and mis-applications in matter of judgement . I will not meddle with , or question upon what grounds Prince Charles left his Native . Countrey of England , nor who were the original causers of this his so long absence ; It is sufficient that Will . Lilly confesses him to bee Enforc'd upon necessitie , exiled , or banished , for the honour of the English Parliament . I will not enquire further , then of the Scottish Papers , whether the King be at present restrained of his Libertie , as Lilly tells us he is ; Nor dare I interrogate by what Law of God , or Man , the King of Englands Person , ought to be imprisoned , or be disposed of , by either , or both of the two Kingdomes , or by any , or all of his Subjects : Or whether His imprisonment , &c. be intended for the defence of his Majesties Royall Person , &c. and the Liberty of the Subject ? Or how it can consist with the Honour of the English Parliament to suffer his Majesties Honour thus to lye at the stake , and his Sacred Name to bee traduced , by such Pamphlet-mongers as Lilly and Booker , and that Pillory-man Walker , without any restraint , or punishment . Neither doe I care , whether the Eclipse in Aug. 1645. pre-signified the P. of the Earle of Essex , or whether he have merited so much Honour , as to have a Statua in Crowne Gold erected at the Charges of William Lilly , and an Epitaph made ( and thereon engraven ) by Martin Parker , or Mercer ( the Scot ; ) These things are all beside my Text , my intention being only to examine Master Merlin's Astrologicall discourse , and to shew him , and all men wherein it is invalid , and no more . The judgement he hath given , is generally deduced from the position of the Heavens , at two distinct points of time , viz. From the Lunar Eclipse the 10 of Ianuary , 1647 Suns entrance into Aries , March 10. The Eclipse he makes the first generall subject of his Discourse , the effects whereof of ( as he tells us ) may be somewhat put forward by reason of a non-apparent Eclipse in the 15th degree of Capricorne , December 26. 1646. What the Simpleton meaneth by Putting forward , I know not , 't is no tearme in Astrologie : but surely I have Put him out of doubt in my Prognostication 1647. that Eclipses are not hurtfull at all to those Regions , or Cities , where they are not visible ; yet lest the testimony of that learned Authour therein mentioned should not be enough to convince him of his Folly , I shall further recommend unto him the words of Cardanus upon Ptolomy , lib. 2. cap. 5. Text 26. ( if he can translate them any better then hee hath done the first 50 Aphorismes of the Centiloquie ) they sound thus ; Ut igitur locus a deliquio affici● debeat in Luna , duo sunt necessaria : unum quod Luna tunc temporis in hemisphaerio superiore illius loci sit , & cum provincia illa concordet signo , vel trigono saltem : secund● cum civitate in solis loco , vel Lunae , vel Ascendentis , vel cum medio coeli illius qu● regit civitatem ipsam . In sole vero necessarium est , praeterid quo● fit supra terram , & conveniat locus ejus provinciae vel civitati Eclipsis ipsa appareat . Whereby it is cleare , that unlesse ( in a Lunar Eclipse ) the Moone bee above the Earth , and likewise on the Signe , or at least in the Triplicitie of that Signe , whereunto the Kingdome ( in whose Hemisphere the Defect happeneth ) is subject : And unlesse that the Sun , or Moon place , or the Signe ascending or Culminating , be also the Horoscopicall signe of the Citie , or Towne ( you live in , or enquire after ) the effects of such a Lunar Eclipse , shall not any way concerne that Kingdome or Citie . But in a Solar Eclipse it is necessary , ( besides that the Sun be above the Earth , and that his place agree to the Kingdome , or Citie , ) that the Eclipse be also visible to the Kingdome or Citie , or otherwise the effects shall in no wise concerne the one , or the other . Now the Solar Eclipse , here ( by him ) mentioned , is not visible at all to us , for it appeares in the Islands de S. Pedro , Barbados , de Don Alfonso , de Praxaros , and to such as sayle beyond the Equator , and under the Tropick of Capricorne through the Persian Sea : and ( indeed ) in 13. and 14. deg. of North latitude , it wil be a very great Eclipse but of what concernment is this to England ; or why should it put forward this Lunar Eclipse in January , seeing it is neither visible to us ( for at London it happeneth at their 11. aclock at night , & so the Luminaries are both under the Horizon , ) nor yet is the degree Eclipsed in the Signe , or Triplicitie of that Signe whereunto either England or Scotland are thought to be subject , which is required ( by Cardanus his Rule ) before the effects can concerne either . Whereby it appeares that this Non-apparent Solar Eclipse can no way helpe or harme us , nor augment , or put forward the effects of the Lunar Eclipse , and that William Lilly in thus preferring his owne idle fancy , beyond the experience , and more solid Reasons and Rules of Campanella , Cardanus , and of all other Authors that ever I read , or heard of , hath very much abused the Reader , and rendered himselfe a very Novice and fondling in Astrology . As touching the Lunar Ecclipse in January 1647. I have writ of it already in my Prognostication , wherein you may see what the effects of it are ; and those that desire further satisfaction , may have recourse to Origanus , page 460. upon Mercury's being Lord of an Eclipse , as hee is of this . But although this Lunar Eclipse bee visible , and fall out in a signe of the Fiery triplicity , and in that respect doth generally concerne England : yet in regard it is so small , viz. but 4. digits , 47 min. 42 sect. its effects will scarcely be felt , or observed by any body ; For , as , Eclipses nihil nocent illis Regionibus in quibus non videntur ; So , parvae Eclipses parum nocent , & in pauca operantur . It is true , as both ( Lilly in his Anglicus , and I in my Prog. ) have in effect observed , that , in caeremoniis , religione ( to which hee addes in reditibus regiis ) ac legibus mutationes affert : A likelyhood ( as hee saith ) of some change , or alteration in Church affaires , in the Revenues of Kings , or more properly , in such matters as at present the Parliament make use of , for maintenance of their Wars and affaires : and of altering or abolishing many lawes formerly in use . All this I grant him , and why may it not admit of thus much malignancy in the application thereof , viz. That the Kingdome are weary of the Presbireriall Government , and will not indure the smell of Elders , for Gentlemen are ( commonly ) Schollers , and doe naturally affect freedome in the Exercise of their Religion , and scorne to be constrained to give an account of their Beliefe to Broom-men , Coblers , Taylors , and Tinkers , or to any such illiterate , mechanique and prophane fellowes , or to subject their understandings to the sense and interpretation of so unsanctified a Societie , and shall therefore wish for , and ( most justly ) indeavour a change of Government in the Church . So likewise may his Majesties Revenue ( so long detained from him ) be in a better possibility of regaining , or in some part restored to him , or at least great means used to perswade those that have usurped the Possession and profits thereof to resigne and accompt . And that many Ordinances , Orders , and Votes that have passed and been formerly enjoyn'd , and observed , as Lawes must admit of alteration and abolishment : but ( as I have formerly noted ) these things will not be done effectually this yeare , in regard of the smalness of the Defect , so that we shall be scarce sensible of its operation . Yet without all doubt the Dragons head in the tenth House ( in the intercepted signe Cancer ) bodes very much good to his Majestie to be begun and wrought by the Scottish Nation , who shal partake of that influence . And whereas Lilly addes , that C●lerem Regis , Principis , vel nobilissimi viri alicujus infirmitatem , vel praeclari viri cujuspiam mortem adducit : That this small Eclipse portends some sudden infirmity , or casualty to a King , Prince , or worthy man , perhaps some eminent and famous Man's death , &c. he had done well to have cyted his Author , or given his Reasons for what he sayes here , for I cannot pick out any such signification from this Eclipse , as Mercury is truly and really Lord thereof : nor as he hath made Mars and Saturne to be sharers with him : Indeed Mars stirrs up Wars , intestine Seditions , tumultuous uprores , the wrath of Princes , and by that meanes some unexpected slaughter : And Saturne premonstrates perturbation of the Humours , Fluxes , and Quarten Feavours , Poverty and Banishment , Dearth Penury , &c. but I find no such sudden infirmity , or casualty to befall any King or Prince , &c. as he chattles of , yet I le undertake for him , that if prince Griffith should but this yeare fall asunder of the Pocks ; the next yeare after , Lilly will tell you that this Prediction was verified in him . Nor know I any reason why Scotland should be at all concern'd in it , seeing the Eclipse happeneth in the Fiery Trigon , and that the Ascendent of Scotland , which is Cancer , is of another , viz. the Watery triplicity , nor at all aspected by the Signe , wherein the Eclipse happeneth , nor afflicted by either of the Malevolents , but rather fortified by the presence of the Dragons Head in it ( as before I noted ) in the Mid-heaven ; and although the Eclipsed Body be Dispositrix of the signe Cancer , yet for the reasons formerly given , the effects of the Eclipse cannot be at all discerned in Scotland , or scarce in any part of England , and therefore it is but a foolery in William Lilly to make such a fluttering and a noise about nothing : But I am well pleased to heare him scatter that one truth ( if so it prove ) that the Scots will stand like Okes unshaken to their first Principles , &c. It behoves some body else to remember their Covenant , &c. And truly the Scots do owe William Lilly a great many thankes for his confiding Epithites : but I feare , I feare I shall heare him ere long , lash out of his open Sepulchre as much and as vildly as ever he did against the King and the Cavaliers , though now he Court them , with the Titles of Prudent and Wise People . I hope they 'le be wise enough , for those they are to deale with . What he sayes against the Irish is not materiall : the more the Fox is curs'd , the better he thrives . But I suspect Lilly to be one of those London Adventurers , who were dividing the Beares skin , before hee was taken , ( as his Majestie once told them ) If he were , I presume a man might purchase Lilly's share of the Land in Ireland , at an easie rate : And although out of his Malice he tell them their Ruines approaching , and threaten them with Cupps , and even brimmers of vengeance ; I believe he may drink them their off himselfe , before they once pledge him . And although Booker ( in his bloody Irish Almanack ) hath disgorg'd a filthy and confused heap , and masse of misery , ruine and vengeance to befall that Kingdome , yet you have not heard of any considerable losse that they have sustained since first that malicious lying Pamphlet peep'd out into the world , which beares date on Tuesday the 17th of March , 1645 / 6. But on the contrary have beene exceeding victorious , and successefull beyond expectation , and at this present have all , or the most part of the Garrisons and strong Holds in that Kingdome under their subjection ; But I shall not ( at present ) take any more notice of that notorious peece of Non-sense of John Bookers , because I have reserved the Examination and confutation thereof , to a particular discourse comming out shortly , wherein I discover his grosse Errors and mistakes in point of Art , and plainly prove that his Pamphlet to be stuft with nothing but inveterate malice , and unparalell'd ignorance . Lilly . J will adde no distempered conceptions to this Discourse ensuing , lest J bee thought an Incendiary , J can breake out at what time J shall see my Pen may be usefull , and profitable for the cause J so much honour , &c. Wharton . No ( Sir ) you must first have your Inke tempered , before you can counterfeit without suspition : those things you call your conceptions so naturall Rough , must be first Polish'd , before they can advantage the Cause , and run smoother , and with more shew of truth ere they shall deceive me . You dare not , you will not candidly , and impartially relate what you find recorded in the Register of Heaven , lest you should bee taken for an Incendiary : that is , one that moves not by the wyre of the great Engine , one that speaks the truth without feare , or flattery ; and 't were your utter undoing , should the least scruple of ingenuousnesse be observed in your Lines . Therefore ( say you ) I can breake out at what time I shall see my Pen may bee usefull and profitable for the cause ; That is to say , when I perceive the Scots and the Parliament fall asunder , and dis-joynted in their opinions and affections , then will I make the Starres every minute pick quarrels with the Scots , I shall then breake out of a sudden , and prophesie nothing but losse , ruine , and destruction , and beggery , to that perfidious Nation : And that the States of England shall be victorious over them : I shall encourage our Souldiers , and disanimate the Enemy , &c. whereby I hope to be usefull and profitable for the Cause I so much honour , and bee rewarded well for my paines . Lilly . The English wearied with the sad attendents of Warre , seeme at this present Suns ingresse into Aries , to bee desirous of Peace , yet not willing to be baffled , or curb'd by any neighbour Nation , Kingdome , or People , or to have Lawes imposed on them , contrary to their native humours and Customes , &c. Wharton . Great cause have the English , and especially the poore Inhabitants of the North to grone under , and to be weary on , and to shake the intollerable burthen from off their shoulders , which so long they have been forced to trudge under like so many Asses : but where is the man that sometimes so much hugg'd himselfe with the very name of Liberty , that endeavours now but to ease , though not to free the poore Countrey from that bondage and slavery ? who was the cause of their present misery ? who was is that hyred , and brought your deare Bretheren ( the Scots ) first into the bowels of this Kingdome ? and where lyes the fault now they are not sent home againe ? Have the Scots baffled and outwitted your wise and grave Senators ? Have they put you in mind of your Covenant , and thereby blasted the fruit of your foure yeares — ? What pitty it is you must not enjoy your Humours ; what griefe it is you must yet be troubled with a King ? Lilly I doe still confide in the Integrity of the Scottish Nobility and Clergy , and hope there may be unity betwixt the two Nations , &c. Wharton . You Confide , and you Hope , but what is that to the Portents of Heaven ? It is expected that you should Astrologically , and thereby impartially relate , what the Signes , Planets , and Starres doe premonstrate to happen in these Kingdomes , what signes they have of War , or what of Peace . Or in plaine tearmes , whether the former Unitie and League , betwixt the Scots and the Parliament is likely to bee broken , or continued : and of this it is that people would be satisfied , and not of your hopes , and your confidence , and yet any man that warily reads you , shall find you very dubious in your expressions , and to carry your selfe so cunningly , and in so equall a poize , that ( for ought I have observed , the Reader may bee as well satisfied ( in that point ) from Erra Pater , as from your Anglicus , as hereafter shall appeare . And now we have done with the Prologue , the play begins . Lilly . Come wee now to the matter , and let us beleeve this will be a yeare of admiration , if wee doe credit Bonatus , fol. 514. Aspice etiam in revolutione Anni , utrum Jupiter ingrediatur in ● , vel sit in eo quoniam tunc augmentatur ejus virtus , & majorificantur ejus significata , significat enim res magnas & mutationes mirandas , & nominatas & durabiles , ad bonum tamen , &c. Behold , saith he , if Jupiter in the Revolution of a yeare be in Cancer , or enter that yeare into that Signe , then shall his influence , vertue , and such actions as he naturally signifies , bee exceedingly augmented , and take place to purpose , then are matters designed by him exalted and magnified , then shall be wonderfull alterations , and eminent changes upon the Earth , matters durable and tending to the benefit of man-kind , or all things inclining to Peace and Tranquilitie , &c. Wharton . Having already discovered his decrepednesse in point of Art , I come now to rip him up in matter of judgement , and shall begin with this his first Aphorisme , wherein the Reader may observe himselfe sufficiently abused , in the very quotation thereof : for , whosoever will persue that place of Guido , Colum. 514. may observe , that Lilly ( to fit the words for his turne ) hath left out at least two lines of the Aphorisme . For , thus the words are in Guido : Aspice etiam in revolutione anni , utrum Jupiter ingrediatur in ● , vel sit in eo maxime in 15. grad. ejus , quoniam tunc augmentatur ejus virtus , & majorificantur ejus significata , Et eò fortius si receperit dispositionem alicujus fortunarum significabit enim res magnas , & mutationes mirandas & nominatas , & durabiles , ad bonum tamen , &c. So that the words here marked ( by a different Letter ) he hath quite expunged , whereby it is plaine , that this Aphorisme hath but little force , unlesse that Jupiter were in the 15 degree of Cancer ( which now hee is not ) or that he received the disposition of the Fortunes , which in this Revolution he doth not , for Jupiter is in the 28 degr. 25 min. of Cancer , and within 3 degrees of Malevolent Mars , whereby he is much afflicted and weakened : and although he be in the Signe of his Exaltation , yet he is there slow in motion , Occidentall of the Sun , and Retrograde , and Planeta Retrogradus nihil boni significat , donec dirigatur , A retrograde Planet hath no signification of that which is good , untill he be direct . It is true , that within five dayes , he begins to move slowly forward , yet , that brings him to a perfect Conjunction with Mars the 23 day of March , and they will not be fully separated from each others Beames of a sudden , by which Jupiter is very much debilitated : And notwithstanding that Mars is in his Fall , yet he is the strongest save one in the Figure ; so that I cannot perceive upon what ground in Astrology he should Prognosticate of Peace and Tranquilitie from the Position of Jupiter in the latter part of Cancer , considering him so weake and unhappy , by reason of his Conjunction with Mars , &c. and that hee staies no longer in that Signe then the 15 of April . Besides , let him consider what Messahalack tells him : Conjunctio Jovis & Martis significat accidentia quae fiunt ex pluviis , & nivibus , & corruptionem aëris atque bellum : Si autem vincit in eorum Conjunctione fortuna , significat fortunam , & si malus malum : Scito etiam quia quotiescunque juncta fuerit fortuna cum malo , apparebit natura fortioris eorum , &c. The Conjunction of Jupiter and Mars hath signification of such Events as are caused of Raine and Snow : It foretels corruption of the Aire and Warre : And if a Fortune predominate at the time of their Conjunction , he signifieth that which is wholsome and good , but if a Malevolent , the contrary : understand also , that so often as a fortunate Planet shall bee joyned with a Malevolent , the naturall Effects of that which is strongest shall appeare . Now if William Lilly could but have set a Figure rightly to the Apparent time of this Conjunction of Jupiter and Mars , which happens ( by the Rudolphine Tables ) upon the 23 day of March , at seven a clock and 14 min. P. M. in the Meridian of London , & would but have taken the paines to collect the severall Fortitudes and Debilities of Each Planet at the time of their meeting , he might have found Mars much stronger then Jupiter , and likewise elevated above him ( secundum Latitudinem : ) hee might also have observed the Conjunction to be in Scotlands Horoscopicall Signe , and neare the Cuspe of the 10. House , Saturne ( their Senators Significator ) unfortunatly posited in the house of Death , &c. And the Moone ( his Majesties as being Lady of the tenth House , and Dispositria of the Conjunction in the fifth in a mutuall Reception with Jupiter , beholding Saturne with a Sextile aspect , and the Signe Cancer with a Trine : and Venus yet in her Detriment , and applying to the Quartile Aspect of Jupiter and Mars : and the Sun the other Significator of his Majestie in his Exaltation , &c. with Mercury in the 6. House from the Ascendent : Which severall Positions being deliberatly considered , and rightly applyed , could have afforded him but small ground of pronouncing Peace and Tranquility . Moreover , Conjunctio Jovis & Martis , significat mortem divitis & magnae famae , idque eo fortius , si fuerit in Signo fixo : The Conjunction of Jupiter and Mars , portends the death of a rich and famous Man , and so much the rather if it happen in a fixed Signe : but Cancer is a moveable Signe , and by so much the lesse feare there is of the death of such a person : I rather conceive that this Aphorisme presages only that some such person shall have his Honour , ( and may be his life ) questioned , and bee thereby in some perill of being deprived of both . However , you may perceive by what hath bin said , that William Lilly hath greatly deceived the Reader , by this false quotation out of Bonatus , and that all things considered , he had no cause or ground in Astrology to delude the world with a vaine hope of Peace and Tranquility , when nothing but Contention , Warring , & Bloodshed is threatned by the great dominion of Mars , and the infortunate positure of Jupiter in the Revolution . And if Lilly would learne when this shall happen Lupoldus wil tell him ; Belli tempus est cum fuerit Mars in opposito , vel Quartili aspectu Jovis , vel Saturni : When Mars shall be in an Opposite , or Quartile Aspect of Jupiter or Saturne : And when 's that ? Let but our Ephemeris-master looke in May 1647. and against the 22. day he shall find a hatefull Square betweene Saturne and Mars ; and in October following upon the 21 day will be a most terrible Opposition of Saturne and Mars , which will be very dreadfull and ominous to many parts of England and Scotland ; and upon the 28. day of the same October , is another Square betwixt Jupiter and Mars : and no doubt but we shall heare of much Contention and Bloodshed about those times . I have noted every of these Aspects before-mentioned in my Calender for 1647. against the day of the Moneth whereon they happen , to which I referre you . Lilly . In the interim let those whom it may concerne ( and many are herein concern'd ) receive from mee this Astrologicall Caball judgement , either in jest , or in earnest , as they please , &c. He or they , King or Kings , Prince or Princes , Nobles , Gentlemen , or of any Quality soever , shall indeavour the advance of a Forraigne Army or State amongst us ( as it is certainly determined ) to yoke us , and destroy this present Parliament , he or they shall never attaine his or their desires , shall perish in the Designe , shall never againe make his or their peace with this Kingdome of England . I know we are threatned , it must bee so , but woe to the invader ; Invaders , or procurers of our Invasion ; the Invaded shall prevaile , viz. the Parliament and Commonalty of England ; and although we shall be in danger of betraying , yet shall wee behold another providence contradicting that Treacherie , even in the nicke of time , for this Kingdome ofEngland , is not ordained untill the worlds end , to be any more conquered , we shall give , but not receive Lawes , &c. Wharton . All the ambition & aime of this trifling fellow is to be thought a Necromancer , a Conjurer , another Lullius , Trithemius , or the Ghost of Agrippa , or what ever you will have him to be , so he may but obtaine a popular esteeme , and by that meanes more easily cozen and cheate the poore people of their money , for otherwise why should he monstre such a confured heape of ridling trash without giving any reason , or naming any Author for what he saith : and if you peruse it seriously , and compare it with the 4. last lines of the 4th following Page , you will find him plainly contradicting himselfe , for whereas in his Caball judgement , hee saith that the Advance of a Forraigne Army or State is certainly determined to yoake us and destroy the Parliament , &c. yet there he affirmeth that we shall not be oppressed with any invasive , or domestique War : And if Invasion were but attempted , I beleeve it would puzzle us , and more then oppresse us : But were Astrology the ground of this judgement of his , he might have told us a more probable , though not so pleasant a story as he concludes with . For , let this Cabalist but looke into Lupoldus de Revolutionibus , and he shall find these words , Victor erit qui invadit , si dominus 4tae , vel 7ae in prima fuerit , vel in 10ae . If the Lord of the fourth House , or the Lord of the seventh House shall be in the Ascendent or Mid-heaven , it signifies that the Invader ( or Invaders ) shall prevaile against , and overcome the Invaded . And now ( Good-man Merline ) is not Saturne Lord of the seventh House , and posited almost in the very Cuspe of the Tenth ? If this Aphorisme prove true ( as possibly it may , if the Scots and Parliament fall to pieces ) you must invent other Epithites for the Scots , then Prudent , Wise , and Religious people , or else I know what will become of you . I will not urge this Aphorisme any further , as how farre it may concerne Ireland , or France , &c. lest I bee counted an Incendiary ; but a few moneths longer wil produce a Miracle , &c. And for this Caball judgement , bee it in jest , or be it in earnest , I hold it for no better then a mere Scar-crow purposely devised to deterre his Majesties friends from any longer adhering to him ; but it is in vain , for so much true Policy have that Party , that if any designe were a foot , whereby to restore his Majestie to the Rights of his Crowne , &c. and to regaine their owne , they would not be discouraged in the prosecution thereof , upon the reading of your fooleries , and this ( sir ) you may beleeve upon the reputation of a Cavaliere . Lilly . If we consider the profectionall Figure of the last Conjunction of Saturne andJupiter , wee shall find Aries ascending , and the Sun , Saturne , Iupiter , and Mercuryall in Cancer , both the one figure and the other , as also that of the Annuall returne of the Sun to his place at the Parliaments beginning promise us exceeding faire this yeare , &c. VVharton . I have considered the Profectionall Figure of the last Conjunction of Saturne and Jupiter , and find the Sun , Saturne Iupiter and Mercury , as you say all in Cancer ; yes , and more then that I observed Aries ascending , and Pisces Culminating , Venus in Gemini , and Luna in Libra : and I have made inspection into the sixth Revolution of the Sun , to his place at the Parliaments beginning , and there I meet with the seventh degree of Virgo ascending , and the last degree of Taurus Culminating , and that Mercury Lord of the Ascendent is in 12 degr. 45 min. of Scorpio & subradiis solis : and the Moon is in 5 degr. 20 min. of Aquarius in opposition to Jupiter and Mars , who are neare unto a perfect Conjunction in the eleventh House of the Figure in Leo , and she is also hastening to a Quartile with Saturne in the ninth . And I thinke ( sir ) you 'le not deny but that Mercury and the Moon are your Senators significators : so that how faire soever you imagine these positions to promise you : I am assured they will performe but slowly , you had done well to have shewn us some testimony of the Peace you mention , but as you have denyed us that favour , let mee instance you one testimony to crosse your conceit . You may see ( sir ) that Jupiter and Mars are there also in Conjunction , and that in Leo , a Signe of the Fiery Triplicitie , which is farre worse then their Conjunction in Cancer ; for , Mars in Leone significat bella & contentiones , & paucitatem annonae in partibus orientalibus , & erit Mars in hominibus , & maxime in juvenibus 40. Annorum usque ad 50. in pueris tamen erit hoc fortius . It signifies Wars and wranglings , and scarcity of Corne , in the Easterne parts , and Mortality amongst men , but especially to such as are betwixt 40. and 50. yeares old . Notwithstanding , this shall be most operative amongst children . And thus faire ( and no fairer ) are you promised by the Annuall returne of the Sun to his place at the Parliaments Commencement , if you will credit bonat. . Colum. 365. so that you see what ever our Merline hath indeavoured to gull the people with , yet the Heavens speake no such Language , they tell us of nothing but Warre and strife , &c. What the Position of Saturne in the 10. signifies in the Vernall Ingresse , I have publish'd in my Prognostication : And if I should grant him what so much he desires and urgeth , viz. that Saturn's being in the Midd-heaven should portend some sorrow and affliction to the King : yet Albumazar ( a man of better credit ) affords us this comfort ; Si fuerit dominae decimae domus Venus ( as she is in this Revolution ) significat quod sequetur ex hac tribulatione prosperitatem atque sublimitatem & gaudium atque profectum . If Venus be Lady of the tenth House , it sheweth that his affliction and sorrow , shall bee turn'd into joy , prosperity , sublimitie , and advantage , the sight whereof , will even breake the Malitious heart of this proditorious peasant . Lilly . And for the signification of Venus , who is under the Sun beames , and thereby much impedited and descending into the eighth , though now locally in the ninth , it portends a disturbed fancy , and a person not free , or much enlarged , for the Sun Lord of the 12. and Venus are within Orbes : her debilities promise him no great good : significat enim , quod eveniat Regi in revolutione illa ira , & tristitia , & contentio , similiter atque timor : she as posited , is the signifier of much anger , malecontentednesse , and controversie , and the Conclusion which is worst of all , saith , that he shall be in great feare , &c. of what , I am silent ? Wharton . I have told you in my Prognostication , that Venus her fortitudes , exceeds the number of her Debilities by 8 , and is therefore to be accounted strong and powerfull in the Figure , so that what detriment soever her debilities might promise , her fortitudes ( being so many more in number ) doe utterly extinguish and annihilate , whereby is clearly signified good fortune and authority to Officials , and other of the Kings head Officers , and that the King shall prosper in his affaires . So that the Reader may perceive your owne Fancy so disturbed , and clowded , as that you cannot fancy , or discerne any sentence or Aphorisme that hath any shew in it of good towards his Majestie , but indeavour to conceale all things that tend thereunto against your owne conscience , and the Principles of Art . Nor can ( in my opinion ) the Sun and Venus their being within Orbes , portend any kind of restraint to his Majesty , but rather absolute freedome , in regard they are both his Majesties significators , and behold the Cuspe of the twelfth House with an Aspect of true and perfect Amity . Lilly . But let me examine Astrologically , whether there be any affection , or unity , betwixt his Majesty and Subjects , which you may discerne saith Bonatus , Fol. 526. Per Conjunctionem significationem ad invicem , viz. by the Conjunction of each significator to other , or with other ; vel per eorum aspectum cum receptione , quia ille ex significatoribus qui recipit alium , committit illi dispositionem , or by the mutuall aspect of the Significators with Reception ; for observe whose Significators receives the other , commits his disposition , or vertue to the Planet received , or more properly may be said to be ruled or directed by him . Here doe I find the Sun Significator of our Honourable Patriots at Westminster , in his Exaltation , receivingVenus ( his Majesties ) in her detriment , viz. in a low condition , &c. Wharton . If the Conjunction of the Sun and Venus had seene by Application , or a perfect conjunction , you had said something to the purpose , but ( Mr. Wisdome ) you see Venus is separated from him , and the Moone , who is Significatrix of your Honourable Patriots is hasting to an Opposition with them both , which are signes of small Affection , or unitie betwixt them ; and as for that Reception you mention to be betwixt them ; I will not grant any , for I learn'd when I was in my A. B. C. of Astrology , that Receptio est duplex , una ex domicilio , altera ex exaltatione : It is either from House , or Exaltation , which you cannot find here betwixt the Sun and Venus ; for , althought the Sun be in his Exaltation , yet Venus is not in hers , so that there is no Reception in respect of Exaltation , and for matter of House you 'le grant there can be none . Yet I remember Zael admits of this , and one more , as a kind of Reception ; and Origanus takes notice of them in him and Schonerus , and calls them Receptiones minores but he does not commend , or allow them , but rather sets a marke upon them for invalid and superstitious , for saith he , posteriores receptiones non nisi in particulari et ad superstitionem inclinante judicio locum habent . Pag. 427. So that if the Commonalty , or Kingdom be no more obedient and kind to the King , then this reception inclines them to , I shall despaire of any Peace or Tranquility this yeare , nor expect better successe of their formall addresses , then formerly . Lilly . If we run a straine above Astrology , the Hermeticall Learning will tell us , that the Angells Samael , and Malchidael are the Intelligences , or presiding Angells of the English Common-wealth and Kingdom , and Generally every Astrologer is satisfied , that Marsis the Planet , and Aries the signe to which Great Britaine is Subject . If the greater Angell and his Minister stand firme for us , as its thought they doe , and if the Planet be well fortified and the Ascending signe of this Kingdome not afflicted , I see no cause in nature to mistrust any gewerall misfortune to happen within this Kingdome to the Inhabitants thereof in this present yeare 1647. For though we find Mars our English Astrologicall , Planet in his Fall , yet we have him very potently placed in the Heavens , in Conjunction withIupiter and Caput Draconis , in the 11. house , and what Authors deliver upon such a Position as this , you shall be your owne Judges that read the discourse : Si Iupiter fuerit in undecima , significat lucra et merces in omnibus rebus , Haly 378. When Iupiter is in the 11. House he intimates much trade and merchandizing , and great wealth obtained thereby . Si quidem Iupiter fuerit in undecima significat laudem et bonam famam ex parte amicorum , et quod gaudebant homines , et erunt in alacritate , et bonus effectus , et profectus in rebus de quibus habebunt homines fiduciam , et de quibus sperant bonum Bonat . 567. Iupiter as new posited portends great comfort from friends , and that they shall merit honour and a good name , that men shall rejoice and be cheerfull , and have good effect and encouragement in the actions they seeke after , and of which matters they themselves expected good . If wee would dilate , or exemplify , why from hence may we not expect all faithfullnesse and honourable correspondency from the Scottish Nation ; contrary to the expectation of some , and those not a few that divine otherwaies . Wharton . If William Lilly run out quite from his Witts , I shall here make him understand ( if not acknowledge an other very grosse Error of his , notwithstanding the Angells Samael and Malchidael doe both of them take his part : for though I grant him that Mars is more powerfull then he speakes of , yet is the Signe Ascending of this Kingdome sufficiently afflicted , by the Platique Square of Mars unto it , ( who is also within 3. degrees of Conjunction with the Lord of the eight House , which is the House of death , labour sadnesse , and heavinesse , heritage of dead men , and the end of life , and the Ascendent of the revolution is no lesse afflicted by the Quartile of Saturne unto it : and the Moone , who is Lady of the Houre ( although he hath here forgot to mention her , is separate from the Sextile of Mars and in a partill Sextile with Jupiter , but comes immediately to a Diametricall configuration with Aries Englands Horoscopicall Signe ; whereby you might have seene ( if you had not beene worse then purblind ) cause too much to mistrust some generall misfortune to befall the Inhabitants of this Kingdome : I doe not love to create new jealousies and feares , but I presume Will . Lilly will not ( upon second thoughts ) deny what I have said , nor that hee hath plaid the foole in giving judgement of Jupiters positure in the eleventh only , withour mixing the nature of Mars with him , who is there likewise so powerfull , and neare unto Conjunction with him . But I have elsewhere told you what their Accidentall Scite there doth signifie , and therefore shall not need to give him any further answer in this particular , since what hee here reiterares , is , only to clear his Brethren the Scots , lest they become unruly , & kick out that small proportion of his idle brains . Lilly . And surely were not Mars overswayed by the presence of Jupiter in that Nations ascending Signe , I should somewhat doubt of them my selfe , but I doe not , for the truth is Religion and Faith , overmasters their naturall Policy , Really ; Mars in undecima inimicitias amicorum praenotat : Mars in the 11. destroyes the Leagues and friendships of People , &c. Wharton . And surely William Lilly a Horne-book-blade , hee would not divulge so much of his ignorance at one clap , as to say that Mars is overswayed by the presence of Jupiter , cujus contrarium verum est ; for as before I have proved , Mars is the strongest save only the Moone : and Jupitar the weakest but Mercury in all the Figure , as will appeare to any man that will take the paines to collect the Dignities and Debilities of the Planets respectively in the Figure . And therefore hee hath good reason to doubt of himselfe , and to suspect the Scottish Nation will become Converts : which if they did not , wee ( Malignants ) should have questioned , whether they had any Religion , or Faith at all ? But to the matter : Mars in the 11. House presages something else then amicorum inimicitias , if you had not abused Guido Bonatus Colum. 571. and in him the whole Kingdome : whose words ( if he had not beene interrupted by this unmannerly clowne ) had been thus ; Mars in 11● domo , significat paucitatem lucri , seu profectus in rebus de quibus spaeratur utilitas ; & quod cadent in inimicitias amicorum , & significat diminutionem substantiae , & desperabant homines derebus in quibus habebatur siducia , & quibus spaerebatur : That is , Mars in the eleventh House foretells but little profit , or gaine in those things by which profit was expected , and that they shall fall at enmitie with their friends . Also , the diminution of their substance , and that men shall utterly despaire of ever obtaining what they most trusted to , and expected . This Aphorisme carryes a great deale of matter in sit , in relation it hath to the differences depending and impending betwixt the Scots and the Parliament : and therefore it was not held fitting to be published , or communicated ( by our misterious Merline ) without a Fee . The plaine English of it is , that ( according to naturall causes ) it is most evident that the Parliament , &c. shall be frustrated in their expectation ; that they shall be mvch deceived , and deprived of the profit and commoditie , which might have accrued unto them , by having the King at their owne disposall : and that for this cause they shall fale fall at difference with , and incurre the dislike and enmity of those that were formerly their friends and confederates , who shall account them no otherwise then such as have forgot and neglected their Covenant with God and man , &c. And hereupon they dispaire of the Scottish Religion , because it is come nearer the Kings , and of their Faith , because they have not so much credulity as to interest them alone in the disposall of his Majesties Person : and hence arise new discords and contentions , and greater taxes are imposed then ever upon the poore Kingdome , whereby mens Estates are exhausted and consumed , and fresh miseries daily approaching , if not timously prevented . What he cites out of Haly concerning Jupiters positure in the 11 House , I have sufficiently answered and explained before , upon the words which he quoted from Bonatus , for the same thing . And thus farre hath Mr. Lilly made his progresse in preaching Peace and Tranquilitie to the People , to what purpose I have sufficiently declared ? and now he comes to the Qualitie of the yeare , wherein I scorne to detract the least scruple from him of what 's his due , but shall agree with him in every thing which he performs but any thing like an Artist , ( though he stumble of it against his will ) his quotation of Bonatus Pag. 55. ( by great fortune ) is very true and pertinent , whereby is proved a yeare of scarcity of Corne and other Provision for the use of man : But the application of his next Aphorisme out of Haly is very illicite , and ignorant , for although he affirme it shall assuredly come to passe in those parts of this Kingdome , which lye South-East , and full South from London , but nothing so violently as in the Kingdom of Ireland : I shall prove him here and errand Bo●cher : For , if he had understood the Aphorisme ; Saturn ought to both infortunate in alto loco , and elevated above all the other Planets , or otherwise it hath no signification , which he is not in this Figure ; For although he be weake in his Essentiall Dignities , yet considering his other Accidentall fortitudes , he is indifferent strong and powerfull , so that the Aphorisme will not serve for this Position . And if you will know the principall waies by which a Planet may be said to be elevated above another , they are three , viz. In respect of their Latitude from the Ecliptique . Nearnesse to their Auges , Position in the Figure . A Planet is said to be elevated above another ( according to Ganivetus ( cap. 1. differ . 3. of his booke entituled Amicus medicorum ) who hath greatest Northerne Latitude from the Ecliptique : now if we Calculate rightly , we shall find Mars elevated above all the rest of the Planets , the moone expected , for he hath 3. degrees of North Latitude , and Saturnes Latitude is meridionall no lesse then 2. degrees 6. min. So Iupiter hath 0. degree 47. min. of North Latitude , Venus , 1 degree . 10. min. and Mercury 2 degree 5. min. both South , and the ● indeed hath 4. degree 47. min. of N. Latitude so that in respect of Latitude , Saturne is the most depressed of all the Planets in the Figure , and the moone most elevated next Mars , and then Jupiter . The next way is in respect of a Planets propinquity to his Auge , according to Altohazen Haly in his Comment upon Ptolomy : So that the Planet which is nearest the Summitie of his Epicyle , is elevated above another , which is further removed thence , and if we consider here which of the Planets is most elevated secundum Augem , wee shall finde that Mercury is in Apog. Epicicli . 12. March Mars is in Apog. Eccentr . the 14. of March , and Saturne is not in Apog. Epicicli untill the 4. of May following : so that this way Mercury and Mars are both elevated above Saturne . And hereby the way will I put Mr. Merline in mind of one mistake in this kind committed in his Englands Propheticall Merline Pag. 78. Where he hath put Saturn transire Apoge . on 20. Martii & Jupiter Epicicli sui superiorem partem 23. Martii , wheras Saturne is in Apog. Epicili the 10. of March and Jupiter the 13. so but only 10. daies Error in each committed . The 3. way by which a Planet may be said to be elevated is in respect of their places in the Figure ; as he that is above the earth is more elevated then he that under is the Horizon , he that is in the 12. House is elevated above an other Planet in the Ascendent , he that is in the 11. above any i● the 12. and he that is in the 10. above any other in the Figure as indeed Saturn is now : And if all the Planets were under the Horizon , then that which is nearest to the Ascendent is said to be most Elevated ; but this is not so much considedered by Astrologers as their elevation in respect of Latitude , and of their proximitie to their Auges , or if it were , yet you see there is two to one against Wil. Lilly : For Saturne is neither elevated above all the other Planets in respect of Latitude , nor in respect of his Auge , and therefore that Aphorisme of Halyes hath no signification here , Saturne being neither infortunatus in alto loco , nec sublevatus super omnes alios planetas as William Lilly supposes him : So that the South , and South-east parts of this Kingdome need not feare this positure at all . Next I desire the reader to observe that he hath cut off ▪ corrupted , and misunderstood that Aphorisme in Bonatus 574 viz significat naufragia repente , &c. For that Aphorisme is not deduced from the dominion of Mars in the 4 and 9 houses of the figure , but ( as you may see in Guido ) from the scituation of Mars in Cancer and his triplicity , and the words of Bonat : are these , Et si fuerit Mars in Revolutione anni in Cancro , vel elus triplicitate : & maxime in Cancto , erit apparitio eorum , quae significaverit in partibus Septentrionalibus : and thus much of that Aphorisme Master Merline hath quite left out , which is thus much in English : if Mars in the yeares revolution shall be in Cancer or his triplicity , but especially in Cancer , the visibility of his effects shall be in the Northern parts of the Kingdome : Further In Cancro significat naufragia repente venientia ex forti atque subito flatu ventorum , & significat rixam atque contentionem , & bellum , &c. Mars in Cancer hath signification of unexpected shipwracks , happening by fierce and sudden gales of wind ; he also portends strife , contention , and warre , &c. Lilly Gaudebunt Reges , & habebunt laetitiam , & securitatem , that our principall Governours and officers that have with such industry these many years steered the affairs of our Kingdome shall in this year rejoice . Wharton ( indeed ) Lilly ) you steere by a false Chart , for there is no such thing absolutely signified to the Governours you speak of from the sunne as he is Lord of the ascendant , for he that will look into Guido Pag. 575 whence he takes this judgement , shall find the words to carry another sence , viz. Et si fuerit Sol Dominus , Anni , ac Dominus ascendentis fueritque liber a malis , dixit Albumazar , gaudebunt Reges , & habebunt letitiam & securitatem , so that if you expect to have benefit by this aphorisme the Sunne must not onely be Lord of the ascendent , but free from the Malevolents , but he must also be Lord of the yeare , which he is not in this revolution ; and how farre soever this aphorisme may be in force , the King will have the best share thereof , if the Sunne be the naturall significator of Kings as all authors accord : nor shall those Governours he talks of want their part of what the Sunnes accidentall position in the 8 house doth signifie . viz. depressionem Divitum & Magnatum , seu Nobilium atque potentum , eorumque diminutionem , & mortem , ac improperium Bonat . 577. I 'le lay my life this aphorisme belongs to the Round-heads . What Venus portendeth in the 9 as she is significatrix of his Majesty , I have told you in my Prog. and what Mr. Lilly hath added out of Bonat 579 is not amisse ; onely his application is like all the rest , as idle and foolish as may be , in that it concerns all the Clergy in generall , and not the Prick-ear'd Divines onely , as every Artist can testifie . Now , for that William Lilly seemes to be very much offended with one Master Geere , who ( as he saith ) was sometimes a priest of Tewksbury , and hath lately writ a Pamphlet called Astrologo-mastrix , ( which indeed is as full of old idle Sophistry , as Master Lilly is of Malice , and Ignorance ) yet I hold it no sufficient answer to tell him a story of a Weathercock , or a Cock and Bull , in stead of denying and avoyding his Arguments by better Reason : nor is it Scholler like , or favours at all of Common Civility , to fall upon scandalizing of a mans Reputation , when he hath not wit enough to require him otherwise . I think ( Lilly ) you would scarce accept of it as a sufficient answer from me , if in stead of correcting your errours , I should tell the world that you were but a Taylours Boy in Saint Clements Parish , and that the summity of all your honour was to be afterwards a Scriveners Man , and that he dyng your Mrs taught you first to write Secretary , in which respect I account you not worthy of the just revenge of my Pen : This ( though it be true ) were but mean Logick , but the truth is , you are lame of that legge , and therefore you may do well to borrow a crutch of Master Thomas Challoner , that precise Logitian , &c. Nor does it grieve me at all that I suffer so much for the justnesse of the Cause which I have undertaken and sworn to , as to be traduced by you , with the tearmes of an obscure footman , ungownd , and unbooted , &c. the time was when I have been on Horseback , where neither Lillie , nor Booker durst have shown their faces , and 't is no matter whether I weare Boots or Shoes , either shall content me : I have both , and if I want a Colledge Gown , I believe ( Sir ) you 'r not in so much credit as to take one up for me till my nex yeares Almanack may defray your engagement , however you are not so much Master of your trade , as to make it for me , for ( to say the truth ) I was told you Master was a womans Tailour . I find nothing left now worthy my notice , save onely the Quadrate Aspect of Saturn to Jupiter , which hapeneth this year , which ( Master Merline ) saith onely signifieth mutationes . & res multas 〈◊〉 in Negotiis Regis , similiter & in lege , very great aterations , and many things concerning his Majesties affairs and the Law : but you see Master Merline dare not tell us his author , and ( indeed ) he either will not , or dare not ; yet neverthelesse I have trac'd him , and found Haly to be the authour of those words , and of some other proceedings , which you may guesse he was unwilling to publish , by the tenour of them , Haly pag. 391 they run thus : Significat ( saith Haly ) quod existent Rebelles qui adversabuntur Regi , & qui querunt regnum , &c. The plain English is this , it signifieth that there shall be Rebels ( and traytors , who shall rise and oppose themselves against the King , who shall endevour to deprive him of his Kingdome , &c. and this together with the former , is the genuine signification of the square of Saturn , and Jupiter ; and these very words I had noted in my Almanack , but the Printer maliciously expunged and altered them and divers more , whereby he hath unworthily abused me , and made my Almanack look weatherbeat lik himself . As for the Conjunction of Saturn and Mars in Taurus , which Master Merline , saith , hath been so learnedly handled by John Booker ; I have sufficiently laid him open in that discourse I formerly mentioned ; and no doubt , but it will serve both their turns : yet I cannot passe by one grosse errour ( above all the rest ) committed by this woodden Prick-eare John Booker , in his new Almanack for 1647 ( which may be easily known , by the signe of the Logger-head in the front of it ) upon his judgements of the yeare at the Vernall ingresse , where he saith that Jupiter is in Ascendente hora revolutionis , and accordingly drawes fine Peaceable judgement from Iupiter , being in the Ascendent , when notwithstanding , Iupiter is above 30 degrees ( or a whole signe ) distant from thence , and so in the 11 house , as you may see in William Lillies Figura mundi , in his Anglicus , erected , for the same time and place , by which the Reader may perceive what certainty can be in this dull fellows Prognosticks , who is thus palpably & intolerably erronious , as to misse no lesse then a whole signe in the place of one Planet ? And thus have I diligently and carefully examined William Lillies Discourse , wherein I find him very foolishly rash , and even brim full of malice and ignorance ; and do now assuredly know him unworthy the name of an Artist . I could have taken notice of a great many more Errours , &c. and particularly in his Translation of those first 50 Aphorismes of Ptolomi●s Centil●qui , wherein he showes himself ignorant in the Originall , so hath he infected some of them with his own foolish Commentaries , and ( amongst the rest ) a ridiculous story of a suit of cloths , that he tore many holes in , in going a nutting , when the Moon was ill dignified in Lea , which suit he sayes did never do him any service after : whereby you see that Lilly is as bad a Taylor , as he is an Astronomer , that could mend his own cloathes no better . The truth is , he was not born to be a workman . But I shall reserve my other more serious observations till I heare further from him , which if ever I do , I promise to lash him without mercy , in the interim I should advise such Gentlemen as desire to be instructed in this kind of Learning , to shake off these ignorant fellows , and apply themselves to Doctor Nicholas , Fisk Doctor Scarborough , Master Jonas , Moore , or Master , Holland , who are all of them singular Artists , and men of honest and cleare intentions . FJNIS .