Before we commence with the prognostication of the year, it is not amiss to explain a proverb which is frequently quoted by the learned, and even by Christian astrologers, because it bears upon this work: viz., Astra movent homines, sed Deus astra movet, that is, that the stars move and incline people to a change of nature, and that they do the same with all the created things of the world, living, sensible and insensible, shedding into them their proper qualities, good or bad. But further, the same proverb says that God moves the stars themselves, giving them by his great powers the natural virtue to influence men and every other thing according to its own proper nature; so that it is from them that the natural inclination of everything is; whence comes the old saying of Aristotle, which runs: Quod a natura inest, semper inest; that is, what is in a man naturally is separated from him with difficulty; and not only so, but it stays with him perpetually; for we prove that constantly in our own case and in the case of all others; but further it is certain that it is possible for the wise and discreet man to gain the victory over every inclination which comes naturally. Accordingly it has been wisely said: Sapiens dominabitur astris, that is, that the wise man is master of the stars, for he makes his proud nature mild and gentle, and he avoids the evil to which he is prone. Further, great almighty God, to whom we render all praise, has
The place of this planet is the seventh sphere, which is called the seventh heaven, and according to natural order it is called the first planet. Its property is to be cold and dry, melancholic, earthy, masculine and diurnal. It is naturally an enemy to human nature. It is the cause of much labour, famine, hardship, scarcity of the year's fruit, and detriment to food-stuffs: it causes likewise sorrow, sighings, destruction, poverty and death; trouble, unrest, weariness and despair. This planet usually inclines those over whom it rules to hatred, sadness, melancholy, torment, horror, loneliness and disinclination for company. This planet rules over the aged, the lonely, the miserly, the sad, the melancholic, the usurious, the penurious, the servile, the despondent, the incredulous, the inordinate, the gluttonous, the superstitious, and further over those who are prone to the black art, and who walk amongst the dead corpses making witchcraft and deviltry.
The day of this planet is Saturday: its hour is the first hour when the sun rises that day and the eighth hour after sunrise. And in case that the year shall begin on a Saturday, it will be dry and scarce of food; the spring will be very windy, the summer wet, the autumn dry and cool, the winter wearisome, windy, somewhat cold, and scarce of water. It denotes, further, shortage of wheat, wine, oil, and less honey. Flax will be scarce and dear; fruit will be plentiful, but fresh fish will not be so. It denotes likewise that there will be much mention of marriage, and that many of the old houses will fall. Fever will be powerful, and especially the tertian and the quartan, in many places in the world. Death is near old people in this year, for the weather is against them. It denotes death to the cattle (especially sheep), and the silk-worms.
Those who are born under the dominion of this planet are naturally cold and dry, large-faced and ugly. Their eyes are moderate in size and directed towards the ground, but they have one eye larger than the other. Nostrils fleshy, lips thick, brows close together, the colour of their face brown, their hair black, crisp, woolly and somewhat curly; some of their teeth longer than others, breast hairy, legs long and crooked. They are sinewy and dry-fleshed, their veins narrow though prominent. And if this planet be in the west, the people will be small, spare-fleshed, scant-bearded, and with long straight hair.
The property of those who are born under this planet is to be deeply thoughtful, timid and fond of husbandry. They are inconstant, sad, melancholic, deceitful, tricky (and, according to the philosophers, lecherous, owing to the excess of sperm which is generated in them). They are fond of solitude and hate rejoicing. They are angered by a trifling cause and difficult to part from their wrath; nevertheless, the wise man can guard himself against all these evil properties through the help of God and with the gift of free will.
They are inclined to letters and to learning, and especially to philosophy and the study of the understanding. Further, to holy secrets, of the free and unfree sciences, namely, husbandry, masonry, shoemaking and glovemaking. Others of them are inclined to inter corpses, and to every work that is made of earth. They are zealous in seeking mines of mercury, lead and tin, and the antique treasures of the earth. They make good friars, for they like solitude. This planet is ninety-five times greater than the earth (according to Alfraganus). Its metal is lead, its colour is the colour of ashes. It governs the earth and is distant from it 28,089,750 leagues, and has a body of 589,680 leagues.
The place of this planet is the sixth sphere. Its property is to be warm, moist, airy, sanguinary, masculine, and it is very favourable to human nature, because it is itself naturally moderate, and so it purifies the air; whence it comes, that the winds are wholesome, and the rain very profitable to the earth. It moderates the heat in summer and the cold in winter, lessens diseases, banishes plagues, and assists growing things. It makes folk to be peacefully disposed toward one another, and to be devout, especially those whose planet it is, that is, wise, honest, modest, generous, just, merciful, orderly, faithful, well-inclined, truthful, magnanimous, virtuous people; people who are right-lived, compassionate, generous, charitable; people who are fond of women, jolly, amiable; people who are well-shaped, handsome, wise; people who have the fear of God in their hearts and are vigilant and watchful for Him.
This planet's day is Thursday. Its hour is the first hour of sunrise on that day and the eighth hour after that. In the year which begins on this day, i.e., on Thursday, the Spring will be windy, the Summer moderate, the Autumn wet, and the Winter likewise moderate. Wheat and food will be plentiful. Small grain will be very plentiful and flax very scarce. Wine will be abundant, and oil and honey
People who are born under the government of this planet are well-personed, shapely, white, inclined to be fair formed; their beards brown, curly and divided into two portions; their eyes red, weaksighted, black, handsome; faces broad and fleshy; teeth large and closely set; hair soft and thin, as a result of which they become bald on the top; veins long and prominent.
They are very peaceful, honest, guileless, without duplicity in mind. They are temperate as regards food and drink, virtuous, faithful, well-informed; they are not hostile or vengeful, nevertheless they are easily moved to wrath at a slight cause. They fulfil their promises faithfully. They transact their business with discretion. They give good and salutary advice. They understand everything easily, because they have clear intellects; they are prolific and healthy, and of good character.
They are inclined for the Church, to faith and devotion, because they, are peaceable, virtuous, honest: in
The place of this planet is the fifth sphere. Its property is to be dry, warm, choleric, fiery, masculine and nocturnal. It is hostile to human nature owing to ils own evil nature. It causes winds, disturbances, frost and great cold, hailstones and darkness, great heat in due season, immoderate winds, unwholesome and of evil properties. And it is so perverse and harmful by nature, and that in such a way that it moves and inclines the mind of creatures against each other, until they are angry and contentious, disputatious, erratic, blood-shedding, warring and hostile towards one another. It inclines them likewise to be thievish, predatory, incendiary, murderous, unjust, abusive and quick-tempered. This planet governs the warlike, the angry, treacherous, faithless and lying, the drunkards, gluttonous and shameless, highwaymen, quarrelsome and contentious persons, those who are fond of weapons, who are quick-tempered, madmen, plunderers and robbers; the evil-intentioned, deceitful and distressed; the tricky, backbiting and calumnious; the envious, grasping, covetous; the treacherous, bloody, irascible, boastful.
The day of this planet is Tuesday; its hour is the first hour and the eighth hour. In the year which begins with this day, the spring will be wet, the summer hot, the autumn dry, and the winter cold, wet and dark, with much snow. There will be a fortune by the seaside owing to the great number of shipwrecks. It denotes damage to wheat and other grain, a moderate amount of oil and honey. All kinds of legumes will be plentiful, little wine, a moderate amount of fruit, and many of the small cattle will die owing to the abundance of blood, and the heat which governs them in that year. It denotes likewise many diseases and death to the female sex, and in addition it denotes sudden death, and that powerful nobles vitam cum morte commiitabunt. There will be strife and contention between tyrants.
Folk who are born under this planet have large faces, ugly, with small reddish spots in them; hair scant, red or fair; eyes inflamed, red and fleshy, and sight acute; nostrils large and broad; teeth clean, having spaces between them, incomplete; and they are small bearded, and with bent figures. If this planet is in the west it denotes narrow necks, and weak legs which take long strides in walking: feet high-arched; ankles small, and heads large.
They are irascible, ready at striking one, wanting in sense and in words. They seek contention and are enemies of quietude. They are fond of their own sort, of playing and of women. They are lying, deceitful, perfidious, without compassion, thievish; but the wise man gains the victory over the influence of the stars and his own nature.
These are inclined to arms and fire, and accordingly they are inclined to be smiths, artificers, armourers and mechanics of all kinds; they are fond of firearms, and of the manufacture of great and small guns, &c. This planet is, according to Alfraganus, one and a half times greater than the earth, and an eighth part more. It governs fire. Its metal is iron and copper, and it is distant from the earth 2,379,000 leagues, and has a body of 10,530 leagues.
The place of this planet is in the midst of the other planets, and in the fourth heaven or sphere, as lord and king over them, from which they all obtain their light. The property of this planet, which is called Sol, i.e., the sun, is to be warm and dry moderately, diurnal and masculine. From it it comes that the fruits are ripe, and every other thing fulfilled in its own time. It is because God has given it such power to advance things that Aristotle was moved
The day of this planet is Sunday, and its hour the first hour and the eighth. In the year which begins on this day, the spring will be moderate, the summer very warm, the autumn windy, and the winter sharp. Food will be plentiful and every sort of grain, and further, wine, oil, honey and fruits. The cattle, small and great, will be plentiful. This planet denotes contentions between nobles, and rumour about kings, and short life for the young, sed Deus super omnia.
Those who are born under the government of this planet are fair and fleshy; with round clear faces , mouth moderate, lips somewhat thick, brows narrow, teeth white and beautiful, nose straight and shapely: neck and bosom rounded; figure straight and shapely; they are very strong and powerful.
They are grave, honest, generous, of good counsel, anxious that another should honour them. They are princely in mind, well spoken, haughty, and having a great opinion of themselves.
These are inclined to be in an honourable position, and in high ranks governing other people: accordingly they are ready to be presidents, governors, captains, colonels, pilots and prelates; to be pastors over men and animals, but finally, they are inclined to every office and trade connected with silk, gold and silver. This planet is, as Alfraganus says, 166 times greater than the earth. It has dominion over fire. Its metal is gold. It is distant from the earth 1,213,333 leagues, and has a body of 1,075,680 leagues.
The place of this planet is the third sphere: its property is to be cold and moist moderately, watery, feminine, nocturnal and somewhat phlegmatic. It is favourable to human nature. This is the star which most illumines the night after the moon, and which is usually called the morning star. It is sometimes seen at sunrise, especially
The day of this planet is Friday: its hour is the first hour and the eighth. The year which begins on this day will not be lacking in water. The spring will be windy, the summer moist and gentle, the autumn dry and windy in some places and very wet in others, and the winter cold and very laborious. Food will be plentiful but dear. The vine will be good and fruitful, and oil and honey plentiful. It denotes disease of the eyes, and the death of many children by smallpox, and that many of the small cattle will die, and that there will be earthquakes in many places.
Those who are born under the government of this planet have fat, round, red faces; eyes black, sparkling and merry; brows black and joined; hair smooth and long, and, in some others of them, curled, and there is usually a mark on their faces; noses curved, mouth medium, upper lip smaller than the lower lip; neck handsome but narrow; persons small and spare; legs heavy; and if this planet is in the east it makes their bodies fat, fair and of handsome stature; if it is in the west they will be small-bodied and bald-headed.
These are inclined for idleness, and arts which are light, curious, showy, such as singing, and harping; accordingly, they are given to poetry, the organ, choirs, painting, the making of laces and gold thread, &c., and besides they are given to Comedy, i.e., a very public art.
These are of a warm, moist, phlegmatic nature; they are eloquent, prudent and fortunate, grateful, amiable, affectionate, just, sweet-spoken, fond of music, dancing and pastimes, idle games, fornication, self-adornment and dressing and making clothes; finally, they like to be treated well and joyously, and to have perfumed clothes, and it is seldom they give themselves to learning. This planet is, according to Alfraganus, 37 times smaller than the earth. Its metal is copper. It has dominion over the private parts of men and women. It is distant from the earth 325,656 leagues, and has a mass of its own of 175 leagues.
The place of this planet is the second sphere. Its property is to be masculine, diurnal and of a changeable nature; because it takes its property from the planet with which it conjoins, or to which it is nearest, in such a way
The day of this planet is Wednesday: its hour is the first hour and the eighth. In the year which commences on this day, the spring will be wet and not very good, the summer very hot, the autumn moderate, and the winter sharp, but it will not be very cold. Wheat and every other grain will be moderate, the vintage will be good and the oil plentiful, but it denotes scarcity of every other sort of food, and famine in places. In the autumn it denotes the death of some prominent person, and that pregnant women will lose their children prematurely, and some of them will have still-born children at birth; the fiery fever will be common; and headache, and there will be much talk and mention of great novelties in this year.
Those who are born under this planet are of handsome person, medium, spare-fleshed; faces narrow, well-proportioned, long-jawed; noses long and pointed; eyes small and
These are sharp-witted, earnest, wise; they discover new things easily; they transact their business punctually; they are fitted for every trade and art, and fond of travelling in foreign lands, &c.
They are inclined to be professors, writers, painters and sculptors; some of them to be mathematicians, arithmeticians, merchants and matchmakers, &c. This planet is (according to Alfraganus) much smaller than the moon, and the moon is much smaller than the earth, as we shall say in its own place. Its metal is quicksilver, and it is distant from the earth 125,185 leagues, and has a mass of 1,000 miles, which is equal to 200 Italian leagues.
The place of this planet is the first sphere which is nearest to us; its property is to be cold, moist, watery, nocturnal, feminine. It is said that it is the cause of all
The day of the moon is Monday; its hour is the first hour and the eighth. In tke year which begins on this day there will be no lack of water; the spring will be cool, the summer moderate, the autumn very wet, and the winter mild. It denotes scarcity of wheat but plenty of other grain; a moderate amount of wine and oil. It denotes many diseases of cattle, so that the nations will wonder, and further, there will be diseases on people and schisms between the powerful. Women will suifer much in this year from their own disease, i.e., Suffocatio matricis. Neither honey nor silk will do well this year because many bees and silkworms will die.
These are very white and phlegmatic; face broad, round, blooming; eyes medium, squinting, sleepy, and one eye larger than the other. They usually have spots on their faces; their brows close together; noses stubby, and mouths small.
These are inconstant, virtuous, sleepy, subject to minor ailments, harmless. They are inclined to be mariners and travel by water; they are sluggish and unenterprising.
They are inclined to changeable things, because they themselves are so. They are apt to be fishermen, tavern-keepers, and to be selling food and drink and such like. This planet (according to Alfraganus) is 39 times smaller than the earth. Its metal is silver. It has dominion over the salt water of the sea, and over the olive tree. It is distant from the earth 9,847 leagues, and has a body of its own of 166 leagues.
In accordance with the signs and the physiognomy which the planets give to those who are born under their government it is possible for every man to know his own planet, and better if he looks at his own natural inclination; for if it be the nature of Mars which he shall perceive in himself, it is certain that that is his planet, and if it be the nature of Jupiter he shall feel in himself, that is his planet, and so on with the other planets.
Among all other things which the moon causes there is one of them very wonderful — namely, the flow and ebb of the sea, which flows twice and ebbs twice in the space of 24 hours and a little more, by the motion of the moon, and by accurate computation each flow and each ebb lasts six hours and the fifth part of an hour. This flow and ebb takes place on the whole coast of the sea which is called Mare Oceanum, and in part of the sea (called) Mediterraneum, so that sometimes much land is exposed. Accordingly it is necessary for mariners to know these, and when they commence, so that they may come safe to land through the strait narrow ways. It is no less fitting that the physicians should know these secrets, for Pliny wrote and Petrus Aponiensis affirms that it is when the sea is ebbing that all men and animals die which die a natural death; certainly a secret which is worth noting. In order that it may be known perpetually at what hour of day or night the flow or ebb of the sea begins, let the age of the moon be noted and the day on which it is desired to find out the hour when the flow and ebb commences; let one look it up in the appended table in the first column to the left-hand side, and opposite it on the right-hand side is found the hour when the flow and ebb commences, noting that the letter M means morning or before midday, and the letter T evening or after midday, that the letters ME signify midday, and the letters NO night.
Section 38 containing a table has been omitted.
And in order that this table may be easily understood by an example, let us ask what time the flow and ebb of the sea begins to-day — viz., the 20th of March here in Ireland, and that is the 30th day [of March] (according to the Pope) of the present year — viz., 1694 (and although this book treats according to the Pope's reckoning, nevertheless it may be used here as it is in Rome, because the day is the same, but it is not reckoned the same according to the month, outside the movable festivals). Accordingly I look at the age of the moon on the 30th of March in the calendar of the month, and that is 5: I look for this in the first column of this table to the left-hand side and I see opposite that the first flow begins on this day at seven o'clock in the morning, and its ebb at one and the fifth part of an hour after midday, and the second flow at seven and two-fifths of an hour after midday the same day, and its ebb at one and three-fifths of an hour after midnight following it in the morning of the day after. With this the table will be intelligible for the other days of the moon.
Section 39 containing a table has been omitted.
In order to ascertain by this following table the sign in which the moon will be each clay, one must look for the age of the moon, on the day on which it is desired to know that, in the table in the first column to the left-hand side, and opposite that number he will find the sign in which the moon will be that day, which corresponds to the month in which it will be, which is specified at the top of the table: and in order that this may be the better understood, let us inquire the sign in which the moon will be on the 22nd day of March in this year 1694, and I say that it is in the sign Gemini: for the new moon was on the 16th day, and from that to the 22nd are six days (without counting the day of new moon), and I look up the sixth day of the moon's age in the table, and I find the sign Gemini opposite, which corresponds to the month of March over it. And if it is desired to find out the sign in which the moon will be when new, it is certain that it will be in the same sign as the sun that day, and one will find that out in the calendar of the month, and note that further another table will be found of the signs which are good or bad for purging or bleeding.
In order that this may be certainly known, let attention be paid to three things: first, that on the day of the new moon, it and the sun will be in the same sign; secondly, that the sun remains in the same sign for a month and that
Let the age of the moon be multiplied by four, and the moon will be advanced one sign for each tenth of that
If the moon of the month of January enters the sign of Aquarius when waxing it denotes plenty of food in that year; and if it is waning when it enters it, it denotes poverty, sorrow and hardship, overflow of rivers, and great storms at sea.
If the moon of February enters the sign Pisces when waxing, it will cause things to be at a cheap price and easily obtained; and if it is waning when it enters it it denotes abundance of rain that year.
If the moon of March enters the sign of Aries when waxing, and it is to the north, it denotes insipidity and restlessness; and if it is waning when it enters it, it denotes a good fruitful year.
If the moon of April enters the sign Taurus when waxing, it denotes much good, contentment and joy; if it enters it waning, it denotes the opposite.
If the moon of May enters the sign Gemini when waxing, it denotes commotion, trouble and change in the regions whose sign that is; and if it is waning when it enters it, it denotes much rain.
If the moon of June enters Cancer when waxing, it denotes change, commotion and everything turned topsy turvey in the empire of Africa; and if it is waning when it enters it, it denotes much rain.
If the moon of July enters Leo when waxing, it denotes good and great profit to husbandmen; and if it is waning when it enters it, it denotes hardship, danger and diseases.
If the moon of August enters Virgo when waxing, it denotes whirlwinds, storms and earthquake; and if it is waning when it enters it, it denotes a good prosperous year as regards food.
If the moon of September enters Libra when waxing, it denotes plenty of all sorts of grain; but if it is waning when it enters it, it denotes storms and disturbances.
If the moon of October enters Scorpio when waxing, it denotes enmity and strife between lawyers, and envy; but if it is waning when it enters it, it denotes a prosperous and plentiful year in the regions whose sign it is.
If the moon of November enters Sagittarius when waxing, there will be no lack of water or oil that year; but if it is waning when it enters it, it denotes famine and likelihood of plague.
If the moon of December enters Capricorn when waxing, it denotes great storms at sea; and if it is waning when it enters it, it denotes contentment and joy for the husbandmen who labour the ground. But be it noted [with regard to] every thing signified here, that it is in the regions which these signs govern that it will happen more particularly than in other places; and if it be desired to find out which regions are under the government of each sign, that will be found in the place where we shall treat of the signs themselves.
Section 44 containing a table has been omitted.
In the following table there are five columns (apart from the first column to the left hand, which is not included, and in which is a record of the years in which the Dominical Letter changes irregularly): in the first column to the left hand side are the Dominical Letters of each year; in the second column are the years beginning with the year 1663, and this column will continue the same until the end of the world, repeating itself perpetually; in the third column are the days with which the years begin perpetually; in the fourth column are the planets of these days; and in the fifth column arc the things which each planet denotes as regards the food of that year. And in order that it may be the better understood, we shall set down here two examples of it, for the year set down for the beginning of the table, i.e., 1663, and for the year 1691, which is not mentioned in the table, but nevertheless corresponds to the year 1663, so that those two years will be the same; and again the two years 1664 and the year 1692 will be the same, and so on with the other years. But in order that we may come to a knowledge of the year 1663 (by which the whole table will be understood), whose Dominical Letter is G, (as is in the table to the left hand side opposite to that year), and beside it it is [set down] that Monday is the first day of it, and that the moon is the planet of that day, which denotes a moderate amount of food in the same year, as is [set down] opposite. And if it is desired to find out more about that year, one must look where we have treated of the moon before, and plenty will be found there. Here the captious may rise and say that it is not possible for this table to be perpetual, because the