CATASTASIS MƲNDI: OR, The true STATE, VIGOR, and growing Greatneſs of Chriſtendom, under the Influences of the laſt triple Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter in Leo, the late Comet, &c.
CHAP. I.
Treating of the Riſe of the Ottoman Family, which is accounted to be the Foundation of the Turks Empire.
IF we take the Original, or Beginning of the Turks Empire, to be from the Ottoman Family, as I ſuppoſe we juſtly may (although they had many Riſings and Fallings, after they left their Native Countrey, Anno Dom. 844. and were then called Scythians) for Ottoman taking upon him the Government of the Turks, he firſt founded this great Empire, in the year of Chriſt, 1289. at which time, Saturn was in Piſces; and Authors tell us, that Turky, or the greateſt part of it, lies under Capricorn, and therefore governed by Saturn. And according to the Rules of Aſtrology, Saturns greateſt years are 465. which added to 1289. will make 1754. therefore this Monarchy ſeemeth to ſtand firm and ſtable no longer then unto the year of Chriſt, 1754. but as it hath hitherto had at ſome times Riſings, and at other times Diminiſhings, ſo it will be like to continue; and had not Saturn at his Conjunction with Jupiter, been in Aquarius his own Houſe, and a fixed Sign, a little before the beginning of this Empire, it2 had not continued ſo long: But to take the time of this Conjunction, and to work by directions from the New Moon preceding, to find the Time of the good or evil Events of this Empire, I think it frivolous and vain, and an Abuſe to Aſtrology (as Mr. Holwel hath done) for would not any rational man think it great Folly or Madneſs in an Artiſt, to calculate a Childs Nativity, and take the time thereof, four months before it was born, or firſt drew breath in the World? but Mr. Holwel hath taken the Nativity of the Turks Empire, four years before it began, as he himſelf hath written; but neither the Day nor Hour being (as I ſuppoſe) known, nor attainable, when this Empire was firſt eſtabliſhed by a Law; therefore to know when this Empire ſhall be moſt Honourable and Succeſsful, or moſt miſerable and unſucceſsful, conſider carefully the Nativities of the Emperors, and chief Commanders thereof, and an able Artiſt may give a good Aſtrological Judgment of the Succeſs of that Empire, during his Reign; for as a King or Emperor is the Head, and his People the Members, ſo the Head cannot ſuffer Affliction, but the Members muſt partake with it; and what Increaſing, Decreaſing, Ebbing and Flowing have happened in this Empire in times paſt, Hiſtory relates at large; and therefore I ſhall not here mention it, leſt my Book ſwell beyond my Expectation; for I intend not to write a large-Folio, but a few Sheets, to ſhew the World that there is a more certain way of judging the State of a Nation, than Mr. Holwel hath uſed in his Cataſtrophe Mundi, or in his Appendix thereto. The future ſtate of an Empire or Kingdom, may alſo be judged, from the Conjunctions of the ſuperior Planets, Comets, Eclipſes, and Solar Ingreſſes; all which I ſhall give a hint at, which I hope I may do without offence.
And firſt, I will here inſert the true Nativity of the Grand Seignior, the preſent Emperor of the Turks; and it is the ſame which Mr. Gadbury hath in his Book de Cometis; which I alter only three Degrees on the Medium Coeli, and dare affirm it to be the trueſt that is attainable, as I ſhall prove by ſeveral Accidents.
The Nativity that Mr. Holwel hath taken, cannot be the true time, becauſe the Accidents which have already happened will not admit of Sagittary to aſcend in the Nativity of that Illuſtrious Prince.
CHAP. II.
Treating on the Nativity of Sultan Mahomet, the Turks Grand Seignior.
Sultan Mahomet Ham, was born January the 1ſt. 7h. 26′ A. M.
Lat. 43 deg.
☾. ☌. ☉ add V. Cour.
SUltan Mahomet Ham, the preſent Emperor of the Turks, was born at Conſtantinople, on the firſt day of January, 1641 / 2;. 26 minutes paſt 7 in the Morning.
That this is a moſt Illuſtrious Nativity, here are many eminent Teſtimonies, as may be ſeen by the Poſition of Jupiter, the Sun, Moon, and part of Fortune in the Aſcendent, and other Teſtimonies, which I will here omit, and proceed to the general fate of the Native; this Scheme was taken out of the Book de Cometis, written by my very good Friend Mr. John Gadbury.
The Sun, Jupiter and the Moon, in the Aſcendent, are ſure Teſtimonies of Honour, both from great and eminent Perſons, as alſo from the vulgar People, it makes him extreamly proud, ſo that he will eſteem none ſo good as himſelf, but will be apt to quarrel with thoſe of his neighbouring Nations; but the Moon in this Nativity, applies to void of Courſe, ſhewing moſt of his Undertakings to be unfortunate; in this Nativity, Saturn, Lord of the Aſcendent, is in ſquare of Mars, Lord of the tenth Houſe, the Houſe of Honour, ſo will he himſelf act ſomething that will be prejudicial to his own Honour. Mars, Lord of the Tenth, is in the Eleventh, the Houſe of Friendſhip, and there in Conjunction of Venus; ſhewing the Native will have many Friends, that will procure Honour to him by their means, which will be Leaders4 and Generals of his Armies, the rather, becauſe Mars is Lord of the eleventh Houſe, the Houſe of Friendſhip; but Jupiter Lord of the Twelfth, is in the Aſcendent, ſhewing that he will have ſecret Enemies about his own Houſe or Palace, and that there will be many Seditions and Tumults raiſed againſt him, by his own Subjects, but they will not prevail againſt him, but will be defeated in their Deſigns.
The Lord of the Eleventh, is in ſquare to the Lord of the Aſcendent, which will cauſe the Friends of the Native to prove deceitful to him. Saturn, Lord of the Aſcendent, poſited in the Second, ſhews the Native to uſe induſtry to increaſe his Subſtance, and to inlarge his Territories; but Saturn is an Infortune by Nature, and by being poſited in the Aſcendent, will rather deſtroy the Natives Subſtance, and diminiſh his Empire; the Dragons Tail, in the Third, makes his Inland Journies not to be very Fortunate, therefore not much like to inlarge his Dominions by Land-Armies; but Saturn muſt be ſpiteful, though he be defeated of his Enterpriſe; as the Moon is Combuſt, ſo hath he been all his Life-time in Combuſtions and Troubles, even from his Minority; his Sea-Affairs ſeem more ſucceſsful than his Land-Affairs do, yet he hath had his Affairs by Sea often defeated by the Venetians, which have taken, ſunk and burned, many of his Ships and Galleys.
The Moon, Lady of the ſeventh Houſe, the Houſe of publick Enemies, is ſtronger then Saturn, Lord of the Aſcendent, ſhewing that he ſhall not prevail againſt them, neither will his Enemies be apt to quarrel with him, ſeeing the Moon, Lady of the Seventh, is in Sextile to Saturn, Lord of the Aſcendent; but he diſpoſing of the Moon in the Aſcendent, and in the Sign of the Aſcendent, makes him think that he can over-power the whole World, and eſpecially Chriſtendom; not conſidering the Moon is in her own Triplicity, and in an Angle, and therefore not to be prevailed againſt; for though Mr. Holwel, in his Appendix, page the 25th: ſaith, that the Turk is ordained within a few years, to gain a great part of Chriſtendom, yet I do aver, that according to the Rules of Aſtrology, they ſhall not gain one foot of Land in Chriſtendom, but what they ſhall pay dear Sawce for (let them have a care they loſe none of their own) for I would have Mr. Holwel, as well as my Reader know, that the influences of the Stars, have not limited ſo ſhort a continuance for the Chriſtian Religion.
5But the main thing that provoked this Emperor to give ſuch an Alarm, againſt Chriſtendom in general, and Vienna in particular, are, becauſe about this time, he had the Sun, Moon and Aſcendent directed to the Square of Mars, and Germany being under Aries, drew him with a vaſt Hoſt that way, ſuppoſing that Germany had been his own with little or no Reſiſtance, and ſo his Ambition was againſt Rome, Italy, France, Spain, and all Chriſtendom; but let not him boaſt that putteth on his Armour, but he that puts it off.
But had Mr. Holwel rightly underſtood the Grounds of Aſtrology, he might have rectified his Scheme by Accidents, and he might eaſily have ſeen, that there had been but little hope, that the Sultan ſhould gain Honour, or enlarge his Territories about this time by the Sword, nor need he have judged Vienna to be taken upon ſuch Directions; but that is like the reſt of his nonſenſical ſtuff. I have wrought out the Directions of this Nativity, and will acquaint you with ſome of them, to ſhew thereby the truth of the Scheme, and others, what Fate the Grand Seignior is yet like to undergo.
In the year 1648. on the 17th. of Auguſt, Ibrim, Father of this preſent Emperor of the Turks, was ſtrangled in Priſon, and his Son Mahomet being not full ſeven years of age, was proclaimed Emperor in his Fathers ſtead; but he being in his Minority, the Government was wholly left to his Mother, who, by the Advice of the Councel, took on her the Regency; he had then the Midheaven directed to the Sextile of the Sun and Moon; when he was about nine years of age, he had his Mid-heaven to the ſquare of Mars, then were Domeſtick Troubles, as well as Loſs by the Venetian War; he was for the moſt part of his Life healthful of body, but he hath often been unfortunate in War, although he have had many good Directions of both the Sun, Moon and Aſcendent; but the general fate of his Nativity, and the many ill Directions of the Mid-heaven, hath made him often unſucceſful in War.
At ſeventeen years of Age, he took on him the Regency, about which time he had his Aſcendent, Sun and Moon, directed to the Anticians of Mars.
About twenty one years of age, he had the Aſcendent, Sun and Moon, to the Sextile of Mars; then was great care taken for the carrying on the War, both againſt Tranſilvania, Hungary and Venice.
6About the year 1669. came the Aſcendent, Sun and Moon, to the Sextile of Venus, and ſoon after, to the body of Jupiter; then was concluded Peace with the Venetians, and he prevailed in War againſt the Polanders, and he much delighted himſelf in Pleaſures and Recreations; but about the ſame time, he had his Mid-heaven to the Conjunction of Mars, and ſee the effects of it; for in the year 1673. the Poles deny paying to the Turk their promiſed Tribute; General Sobieski, now King of Poland, fell upon the Turks Camp, then under the Command of Chuſalin and other Baſhaws, killed about twenty five thouſand of their Men, with moſt of their Officers; this was very conſiderable; for beſides the ordinary Baggage, they took two thouſand Purſes of Money, that were brought to pay the Souldiers, and twenty five thouſand Waggons of Proviſion and Ammunition; and about this time, he had the Mid-heaven to the ſquare of Saturn, Lord of his own Aſcendent.
But ſince that time, he hath had the Mid-heaven directed to the Conjunction of Venus, and to the Sextile of Jupiter, alſo the Sun, Moon and Aſcendent to the Sextile of Mercury, which hath lifted up his heart with Pride; but to abate his haughtineſs, in this year 1683. he hath the Sun, Moon, and Aſcendent, directed to the ſquare of Mars, Lord of both his Houſe of Honour and Friends; Mars is alſo Lord of the third Houſe, ſhewing that his profeſſed Friends will be at variance, and break their Leagues with him, and ſo will ſome of his neighbouring Nations, to his great Loſs. Surely a great Overſight in Mr. Holwel, to thing the Grand Seignior ſhould overrun Chriſtendom, upon ſuch Directions, yet he will certainly come againſt Chriſtendom again.
About the year, 1687. he hath the Sun, Moon and Aſcendent, directed to the Body of Saturn; I cannot poſitively ſay that he will loſe his Life then about; but I am certain he will undergo Afflictions of body, and all his Affairs go unſucceſsful for ſome conſiderable time; he hath alſo about the ſame time, the Mid-heaven directed to the Co-Antiſcians of the Sun; ſure, under theſe Directions, the Chriſtians may regain what the Turks formerly took from them; and thus much of the Nativity of this great Prince. I will in the next place, inſert the Nativity of that grand Impoſtor Mahomet, the Author of the Turks Faith, ſhewing thereby, how ſome men are born to make and forge Lies, as he did, and others born to believe them.
CHAP. III.
Mahomet, Author of the Turks Faith, born April the 24th. 6h. 30′ P. M. Anno Chriſti, 569. Latitude 41d.
☾ △ ♄ add □ ☿
THis Scheme of the Nativity of Mahomet, the Author of the Turks Faith or Religion, accords to the time given by the learned Doctor Addiſon, and is very like to be true, becauſe it was ever (by Aſtrologers) concluded that the Turkiſh Faith, firſt roſe under Scorpio and Mars, as the Chriſtian Religion did under the Sun and Jupiter. I was preſented with this Scheme by my Friend and Tutor, Mr. John Gadbury, who alſo believes it true.
Moſt Writers accord, that Mahomet was born in Mecca, a City in Arabia the happy, and Son of Abdalla, a Merchant, his Mother Hemina, a Jew: his Parents died when he was young, and after their Deceaſe, he was brought up by his Uncle; at ſixteen years old, he was bound to a Merchant, named Abdalmutalif, who finding him a witty Lad, made him his Factor; afterwards his Maſter dying, he married his Miſtreſs, and until thirty eight years of age, he followed his Merchandiſe, travelling into many Countries, where being ſatisfied with Wealth, he began to think of high things, for he was a curious ſearcher into both the Jews and Chriſtian Religion, being himſelf brought up a Pagan; but Pride enflamed his heart, and wrought in him a deſire to be taken for a Prophet; and to make men believe that he was a real Prophet, he made uſe of his Diſeaſe which he was often troubled withal, that was the Falling-ſickneſs; for he gave out, that when he fell in thoſe Fits, that he then conferred with the Angel Gabriel, by whom the pleaſure of God was revealed to him; and thus by his Deluſions, he perſwaded the People, ſo that they believed him to8 be a real Prophet (or rather a God) and do ever ſince honour and eſteem him ſo to be.
Now that this Mahomet ſhould be ſo much honoured and eſteemed, may be thought ſtrange; but if we do but conſider the ignorance of People in thoſe days, and in thoſe Countries, we need not much ſcruple at it; for the Heathens worſhipped the Sun, Moon and Stars, eſteeming them to be Gods, becauſe they knew not the true God; nay, ſome were more ignorant, and worſhipped Stocks and Stones, alſo Images which their own hands had wrought, eſteeming them to be Gods; alſo the Iſraelites, unto whom God manifeſted himſelf by many Miracles, Signs and Wonders, and titled them his own People, they believed not in him, but made to themſelves a Molten Calf, and worſhipped it; ſaying, theſe be thy Gods, O Iſrael, which brought thee out of the Land of Aegypt, although they knew that they came out of Aegypt a long time before they made it; therefore, no wonder that the Turks, which were of the Seed of Ham, that wicked Son of Noah, whom his Father curſed, ſhould eſteem ſuch a lying Impoſtor as Mahomet was, for a God or Saviour; for Hiſtory plainly ſaith, that after the Death of Noah, Ham went into Africa, and there ſetled his Abode, and from his Poſterity ſprang the Turks, a ſort of People, much of his own nature; and here in the Nativity of this Impoſtor Mahomet, we find the Regal Sign Leo, on the Medium Coeli, and Jupiter, the greater Fortune, therein poſited, a moſt eminent token of Honour; and that he might ſeem to be a ſetter up of a Religion, contrary to that of Chriſt, or rather the Author and Forger of malicious Lies, we may conſider, that he hath Saturn in Libra, the Horoſcope of our bleſſed Saviour, as Mr. Butler hath it in his Chriſtologia, and hath wilfully made himſelf an oppoſer of the Truth, and hath eſtabliſhed Chriſtianity his Enemy, as may be ſeen by Libra on the twelfth Houſe, and Saturn therein poſited, and Mars Lord of his Aſcendent in Gemini, the Houſe of Mercury, and the Moon, Lady of the ninth Houſe; that being the Houſe of Religion, applying to a quadrat of Mercury, and to an oppoſition of Jupiter, might very well ſhew him to be both the Author of a falſe Religion, and promoter of Lies, and the Turks, that accurſed Generation of Ham, addicted to believe them; and that he ſhould be an Enemy to the Chriſtian Religion, may well be obſerved from this Nativity, the Moon being in Aquarius, in oppoſition to Leo, and Jupiter therein poſited, and in ſquare of the Sun, the Sign and Planets repreſenting the Chriſtian Religion.
9The opinion of Mahomet, or rather the Original of the Turks Religion, may be ſaid, to take its beginning at the flight of Mahomet, which was in the year Anno Chriſti 591. for in that year, the Saracens drove him from Mecca, at which time, the Turks firſt began to ſettle their Religion; and moſt Aſtrologers do conclude, that the Turks Faith aroſe under Mars and the Moon, and good reaſon may be ſhewed for it, for in this Nativity, Scorpio aſcends, and Mars is Lord thereof, Cancer is on the Cuſp of the ninth Houſe, the Houſe of Religion, and the Moon is Lady of it, and may very well ſignifie a Rude and Savage Religion, as well as People, given to many Vices and laſcivious Actions.
And to ſpeak ſomething of the continuance and deſolation of their Faith, if we take 264. the greateſt years of Mars, and 320. the greateſt years of the Moon, and add to the year of Chriſt 591. the year that Mahomet took his Flight, it will make but 1175. (a great miſtake of Mr. Holwel, who takes 480. for the greateſt years of Mars, and 260. for the Moons greateſt years; I wonder from what Author he had them, but I ſuppoſe, this is one of his own new Inventions, and like his Directions of the Othoman Family being taken four years before it began, as may be ſeen in his Appendix, page the fifth) and about the year 1175. this Faith was at the higheſt, for then the Othoman Family were much increaſed, and ſetled their Religion by a Law, which I confeſs, was before this time done, or elſe this had been but a birth of this Religion, and becauſe God hath ſaid in the Holy Scriptures, that all Nations ſhall be converted to the Chriſtian Faith, before the Day of Judgment, therefore we will conſider, about what time this Faith may have a Diſſolution, which according to the Rules of Aſtrology, and ſecondary Cauſes, if we add 584. the greater years of Mars, and the Moon, to 1175. it will make 1759. ſo that about the year, Anno Chriſti 1759. we may expect the Diſſolution of the Turks Faith, for I would have (Mr. Holwel as well as) my Reader know, that as any Religion hath a riſing, and increaſing, before it comes to its full height, ſo it will have the like time of Diminiſhing, before it can have its full Diſſolution.
CHAP. IV.
Treating of the Nativity of the preſent Emperor of Germany.
IN this Chapter, I will firſt ſhew you, how that Mr. Holwel, in his Appendix tells us, that this preſent Emperor of Germany, was born on the thirtieth Day of May, in the year 1640. at nine hours three minutes poſt Meridiem, or after Noon, in the Latitude of 48 Degrees, and that he had ſeven Degrees, and forty five Minutes of Scorpio on the Mid-heaven, and Jupiter in four Degrees and fifty four Minutes of Capricorn, as may be ſeen in his Scheme, which he affirms to be the true one; becauſe, ſaith he, it was rectified by the Mid-heaven, to the Square of Saturn and Jupiter, and the Square of the Moon, at which time, ſaith he, the Emperor and Empire had much Suffering, for the Turks did invade him; but behold his grand Miſtake, for I will appeal to all Artiſts, how the Mid-heaven can come to the Square of Jupiter (as he is poſited) in leſs than 150 years, whereas it was directed to the Square of Saturn and the Moon, about the twenty fourth year of his Age, and therefore in the year 1664. but any thing will ſerve with ſuch Artiſts, to fill a Book good enough for ignorant People to read and admire; for it is nothing with too many now a days, of our Godly Traitors, Sanctified Hypocrites, Religious Atheiſts, and Proteſtant Turks (as Mr. Pelling titles the Fanaticks in the twelfth page of his Sermon, preached on the ninth of September, 1683. being a day of Thanks-giving, for deliverance from the Fanatick Conſpiracy) to blaſt the Honour of Chriſtian Kings and Potentates, eſpecially thoſe of other Nations, when they can ſcarce forbear our own; but I will forbear to ſpeak any more of this Miſtake, and proceed to a greater. This Nativity, publiſhed by Mr. Holwel, is taken out of Mr. Gadburies Book of Comets, only the time a little altered, and it is the true Day, but not the true Hour, as hath been proved by Mr. Gadbury, ſince he wrote that Book; for any one that hath had any Diſcourſe with any man that hath ſeen him, or hath but ſeen his Effigie, may very eaſily conjecture, that this noble Emperor hath not Capricorn aſcending on his Horoſcope, but rather Gemini, and therefore I will inſert a Scheme, of11 the true time of this Emperors Birth, which is as followeth, and given me alſo by Mr. Gadbury himſelf.
Leopoldus the preſent Emperor of Germany, was born May the 30th. 4h. Ante Mer. Lat. 48.
☽ ☌ ♂ add ☌ ♄
This preſent Emperor of Germany, was born the thirtieth day of May, in the year of our Lord 1640. at four a Clock in the Morning, and chriſtened Leopoldus, Ignatius, Franciſcus, Balthazer, Joſeph Falicimus, in the City of Vienna.
At the birth of this Magnanimous Prince, Gemini was on the Horoſcope, and the Sun in the Aſcendent, and Mercury Lord of the Aſcendent in his own Houſe, and in the Sign of the Aſcendent, which are teſtimonies of the greateſt Honour, Dignity and Soveraignty, and though Saturn, Mars and the Moon, be in the Mid-heaven, yet will they not deſtroy the Natives Honour and Grandeur, becauſe they are not afflicted; for Saturn is Lord of the tenth Houſe, and Mars and the Moon are in trine to the Sun in the Aſcendent, from the Mid-heaven, which are rather teſtimonies of Honour than Diſgrace, and here we have Mercury, Lord of the Aſcendent, ſtronger than Jupiter, Lord of the Seventh, the Houſe of publick Enemies, which is an eminent token that his publick Enemies ſhall not prevail againſt him, yet his Poſition in the twelfth Houſe, may ſhew the Native to have many Enemies, the rather, being in ſquare to Saturn, but Mercury is ſtrongeſt in the Figure, therefore, as aforeſaid, his Enemies can never prevail againſt him, for the Lord of the Seventh is weak, and in his fall; neither can I ſuppoſe the Native to die in Battle, as Mr. Holwel awards, becauſe the Lord of the Eighth doth not afflict either the Aſcendent or the Moon, nor is there any ſignification of a violent Death he hath about this time; the Mid-heaven directed to the Sextile of Venus, Lady of the ſixth Houſe, a glorious Direction, ſhewing that his Servants and Subjects will be faithful to him, ſo that he need not, neither will he fear either Turk or Tartar, nor12 yet the power of Mahomet, the Treachery of Count Teckely, or Mr. Holwels idle Predictions, nor yet any other of Mahomets lying Prophets, whatſoever they ſhall write or predict againſt Chriſtendom; but let ſuch Predictors know, that God hath a Divine Providence over Chriſtendom, and will not ſuffer the name of Chriſt to be deſtroyed; but this Emperor hath had many ill Directions in his Life paſt, and he hath alſo had many Controverſies and Troubles, anſwerable to them, but the main cauſe of this his preſent trouble is, that he hath Lately had the Sun and Aſcendent, both directed to the 60 Anticians of Jupiter, the Significator of the Chriſtian Religion, and I think he hath not been free from trouble, ſince he had the Mid-heaven directed to the Square of the Sun, and the Moon to the Square of Jupiter, which was about ten years ſince, and it is much to be feared, he will not be free from trouble until he hath paſſed the Mid-heaven to the Square of Jupiter, which will be about the year 1688. yet before that time, he hath good Directions, for about the year 1685. he hath the Moon to the Sextile of the Sun, and the Sun to the Sextile of Venus, Directions good enough in a mean Nativity, to raiſe a Beggar to good Preferment, much more in a Regal Nativity, to give a King or Emperor Victory over his Enemies, to a great degree of Worſhip and Adoration from all kinds of People.
The Moon directed to the Sextile of the Sun, is held by all Aſtrologers, to produce unto the Native honourable Acquaintance, and Familiarity with ſome of great Rank and Quality, whoſe Friendſhip he will make uſe of to his great advantage, more eſteemed and beloved of People than formerly, both enriched and honoured by means of his Prudence and good Nature; ſometimes it produceth honourable Marriage, alſo Travel, both by Sea and Land, whereby Honour is attained; to Kings and Emperors, it ſhews the Renovation of Leagues and Friendſhip, and the compoſing of Differences with their Neighbours.
And the Sun, directed to the Sextile of Venus, doth import the Native to have a good Name, alſo ſome more than former advance to Dignity and Preferment, from whence he ſhall acquire great ſtore of Wealth, and be highly eſteemed of all ſorts of People in general, he ſhall perform all his Affairs with much facility, and obtain all his juſt deſires, with much love and content, it moſt commonly produceth a Child unto the Native; both theſe Directions happen about the year 1685. and what advantage he now gaineth, he need not fear loſing again, as long as he liveth.
13And about the year of our Lord 1688. this Native hath the Midheaven directed to the Square of Jupiter, intimating Kings and Princes to gain the Diſpleaſure of their Nobility and Gentry, by abridging their Priviledges, ſo that Judges and Lawyers will be at Controverſie with him, and many of them he will turn out of their Places; alſo Eccleſiaſtical Perſons, and thoſe of the higheſt degree offenſive againſt him, whereby will ariſe much Controverſie, Contention and Mutations, alſo ſome of his Kindred will be diſaffected to him, but at laſt they will be forced to comply with him, and that upon his own terms, and they will be glad if they can regain their loſt Favour.
But to mitigate theſe Troubles, he hath at the ſame time, the Aſcendent directed to the Sextile of Venus, which will make the Native delight himſelf in all manner of Pleaſures and Recreations, and that he will gain the Love of the Commonalty, and Familiarity with Women of great Rank and Quality, it often produceth honorable Marriages, and Iſſue ſoon after, and from henceforth for many years, he hath no ill Directions, ſo that according to the Rules of Aſtrology (from which Rules I would not willingly vary) this Emperor is like to have a long and proſperous Reign, and I know not, but that he may attain to eighty two years of age, which God grant he may, to the Honour of Chriſtendom; about which time, it ſeemeth to be ſomewhat mortal; but I will forbear any further Judgment thereof, as having a Veneration for the Perſons of Emperors and Kings, who are Gods Vicegerents on Earth.
CHAP V.
Treating of the Nativity of the moſt Chriſtian King of France, LEWIS the Fourteenth.
September 5. 11 h. 11 A M 1638.
Sub Lat. 49 d.
☾ ☌ ♀ ad △ ♂
THis Scheme of the Nativity of the moſt Chriſtian King of France, is the ſame which Morinus, Phyſician to the King of France, affirms to be the true one; and I ſuppoſe nearer the truth than that which Mr. Holwel inſerts in his Appendix: This Scheme may be ſeen in Morinus's Aſtrologia Gallica, fol. 555. as Mr. Gadbury hath aſſured me, and alſo printed it in defence of Scorpio.
In Mr. Holwels Appendix in the King of France's Nativity, he predicteth that moſt Chriſtian King to become one of the miſerableſt Princes in the world, becauſe, ſaith he, he hath many ill Directions. But we will firſt conſider the general Fate, (which is moſt to be regarded) and then proceed to particulars: but here I will ſhew you how there is ſome ſmall difference between Mr. Holwels Judgment and mine of the time; for I, with Morinus affirm, that he hath 14. degrees and 45. Minutes of Scorpio on the Horoſcope, and Mr. Holwel ſaith 22 degrees; no great difference in the general fate, but in the particular it will in ſome directions differ ten years of time: ſo that the Accidents which are produced by either the Aſcendent or Mid-heaven, by Mr. Holwels Scheme, will not come by Morinus until ten years after, which is a great difference in time.
But we have here in our Scheme the Regal Sign Leo on the Medium Coeli, and the Sun Lord thereof poſited in the Mid-heaven;15 alſo Mercury in his own houſe in the Mid-heaven, which are abſolute teſtimonies of durable Honour: he hath alſo the part of Fortune in the eleventh houſe, declaring that he ſhall be much advantaged by his profeſſed Friends, and that he ſhall have many Friends: likewiſe the Moon is in Conjunction of Venus, Lady of the Eleventh Houſe, the Houſe of Friendſhip, but Venus is Lady of the Twelfth Houſe, alſo the Houſe of private Enemies; ſo ſhe is likewiſe Lady of the Seventh Houſe, the Houſe of publick Enemies: but inaſmuch as Mars Lord of the Aſcendent, is ſtronger than Venus Lady of the Seventh and Twelfth, it is an eminent token that his Enemies either publick or private ſhall not prevail againſt him, neither will they be very apt to quarrel with him; but thoſe that will contend with him, let them be ſure to look to come off with loſs and damage, for they will not be able to withſtand him.
But I ſuppoſe the main thing that cauſed Mr. Holwel to predict of the miſerable poverty of this great Monarch, might proceed from the poſition of Mars, and the Dragons Tail in the Second Houſe of his Scheme; for theſe are commonly teſtimonies of waſte of ſubſtance: but Mr. Holwel doth miſtake, the Dragons Tail is not in the Second Houſe, as he hath placed him in his Figure, but in the Eighth Houſe, and the Dragons Head is in the Second Houſe.
And if we conſider that Mars is Lord of the Aſcendent, we need not judge him a teſtimony of Poverty, but rather of Riches; which is much augmented by the poſition of the Dragons Head in the ſecond Houſe; for Authors ſay, the Lord of the Aſcendent poſited in the ſecond Houſe, ſhews a great increaſe of Riches by the Natives own labour and induſtry, the rather being in Reception with the Lord of the ſecond. And pray what Prince in the World now living, hath laboured more, and uſed greater induſtry to increaſe his Riches, and to enlarge his Territories, than the preſent King of France hath done? neither hath any Prince had greater ſucceſs than he. And thus I ſhall leave the general, and proceed to the particulars.
Whereas Mr. Holwel deſireth any one that will, to run down the Directions of this Mighty Monarch, I have taken his advice, and have run down the Directions of his Figure, and I find that the Sun came not to the ſquare of Mars until Twelve years of age, (but Mr. Helwel ſaith at Nine) therefore unlike the Sun to the Square of Mars ſhould give the Small Pox at Nine years of age: Neither do I hold any Direction of either the Sun or Moon a ſafe Rule16 whereby to prove any Nativity by, but rather by the Aſcendent or Mid-heaven; yet I do not ſay but the Directions of the Sun or Moon may operate as forcibly as the other, according to their nature, though not to prove the time of birth by.
But according to Morinus's Figure, which I ſuppoſe to be neareſt the truth, he had between three and four years of age the Midheaven to the Sextile of Jupiter, about which time the French Kings Father died, and he ſtiled King of France: about twelve years of age, he had the Mid-heaven directed to the Conjunction of the Sun; under this Direction he received his Crown; about thirteen or fourteen he had the Sun to the Square of Mars, and then he had troubles in France; and at Paris they ſhut the Gates againſt him. About two or three and twenty, he had the Sun directed to the Sextil of both Venus and the Moon; under theſe Directions he was married to Maria Tireſia d'Auſtria, Infanta of Spain, which was on the Ninth of September 1660. And Mr. Holwel ſaith, the French King hath lately had the Midheaven to the Sextil of Mars, and that cauſed him to be proſperous in Arms; but I ſay he hath not yet had that Direction; but he hath lately had the Sun to the Sextil of Mars, and the Aſcendent to the Cuſp of the ſecond Houſe, this cauſed him to be proſperous in Arms, and thereby to increaſe his Subſtance and Territories.
And Mr. Holwel alſo ſaith, that the French King in Auguſt 1683. ſhall have many Miſeries, both in Body, Mind, and Fortune, and that then his own Subjects will rebel againſt him; and that he would be in danger of Fire and Gunſhot, alſo Stabbing and Impriſonment; and that he ſhould be in danger of being cheated of his Life; and then, ſaith he, if this happen, one may ſay there is ſome truth in Art. But I am aſſured, that as this hath not yet hapned, and though it never do (as I am perſwaded it never will) yet there is more Truth in Art than there is honeſty in Mr. Holwel, or truth in ſuch Artiſts; for ſuch nonſenſical boaſters of Art are but abuſers of Art, and therefore not worthy to bear the Name or Title of an Artiſt.
He ſaith moreover about the ſame time, the French King ſhould loſe all his former Honour both by Sea and Land, (but ſure he meaneth this of himſelf) and that all he takes in hand for ſeven years ſpace will proſper ill, if he lives ſo long, and that he will ſoon come to be impriſoned or Baniſhed, and be one of the miſerableſt Princes in the World.
17But none of theſe things have yet hapned, neither can I find according to the Rules of Aſtrology, that ſuch Calamities will at all happen to this moſt Chriſtian Prince; for certainly he is not a Prince born to Misfortune, Diſgrace nor Poverty, as an ingenious Artiſt may well perceive by his Nativity, but to be the Glory of his Nation, and a Terror to his Enemies: and as for thoſe Directions which Mr. Holwel pretends ſhould bring ſuch afflictions on this moſt Chriſtian King, are not yet come, neither will they for many years; and when they do come, they will not be ſo violent as he ſpeaketh of; for he conſidereth not that about the ſame time that there happeneth evil Directions, there alſo happeneth good ones; for about the year of our Lord Chriſt 1690. the Aſcendent comes to the Square of Mercury, Lord of the eighth and tenth Houſes, which might ſhew ſome danger both of Life and Honour; but at the ſame time the Sun comes to the body of Jupiter, Lord of the ſeventh and eleventh Houſes, thereby raiſing Friends unto the Native, and bringing even his Enemies to be at peace with him, and thus abating the evil threatned by Mercury. And about the year 1692. the Aſcendent will be directed to the body of Mars, Lord of the ſixth Houſe, which may give ſome afflictions of body, and at the ſame time the Mid-heaven comes to the Sextile of Mars, mitigating the evil influence of Mars to the Aſcendent; yet I ſuppoſe about the year 1690. or between that and the year 1693. he may have ſome affliction of body that will be very violent, which if he eſcape, he may (favente Deo) live many years.
Mr. Holwel alſo ſaith, that in a ſhort time the Commons of France will be in Arms againſt their preſent King, and that if he ſhould live but two years (that would be but to the year 1685,) he would be driven from his Throne by his own Subjects, and if he die before, then the next King will be ſerved ſo: but what reaſon he hath for any of this, I think that neither himſelf, nor any rational man can tell; but eſpecially whereby he judgeth the fate of the next King, by this preſent Kings Nativity; nay he is not content therewith, but he addeth more nonſenſical ſtuff; for in the ſame Nativity he ſaith, the Turks ſhall over-run France, Spain, Italy, Rome, Venice, Muſcovia and Poland, deſtroying it with Fire and Sword; and that the Key of Chriſtendom ſhall be loſt; (but it were better a thouſand ſuch Predictors were ſerved as Baals Prophets were, that we might have no more ſuch Chriſtian Turks amongſt us to diſhearten us with lies) but I ſhall forbear to mention18 any more of theſe fooleries, and certifie my Readers, that the ruine of theſe Kingdoms and Countries cannot by the Rules of Aſtrology be predicted of from this Nativity; therefore this is like the reſt of his falſe nonſenſical ſtuff, and Time will manifeſt it ſo to be; and then let Mr. Holwel be ſure that he will be derided, not only by Artiſts, but by every one wholly ignorant of Art, that hath, or ſhall chance to read his Books, which will be to him a greater Diſgrace, than ever his Books procured him Fame or Profit; thus he hath uſed his endeavour to diſhearten all Chriſtendom, and to incourage the Turks and Heathens with falſe Predictions. But I will adviſe Mr. Holwel, not to diſoblige the King of England, nor the Laws of our Land, for he hath diſobliged almoſt all Chriſtendom, and belied the Turks; and if he ſhould have a fanſie, or be forced to travel, I would have him well conſider, into what Kingdom or Country, he may be the moſt welcome; if to the Turks he go, let him have a care of ſtrangling, for he hath been to them an abominable lying Prophet, if to the Kingdom of France, the Baſtile is the way to the Wheel, on which they break all impudent Impoſtors, for he hath frighted that Country (if at leaſt any among them be ſo ſenſeleſs, to be frighted with his abſurd Crudities) with falſe Fears, more than enow. If to any other Country of Chriſtendom, they'l quickly ſmell out an Aſs under the Skin of a Lyon, and bait him accordingly; my Advice therefore is, that he keep himſelf at home, with the Cataſtrophe Mundi, and Appendix of his own addle Writing, there being nothing in them, but what is become moſt notorious and loathſome to all ſober men.
CHAP. VI.
Treating of the Conjunction of the Superior Planets, and more particularly, of the Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter, in Leo, in the year 1682.
EVery Planet contributeth in ſome meaſure or other to the Government of this World, but ſome more forcibly than others, as the Superiours, being forerunners of great and ſtrange Accidents, War, Slaughter, and Mutations.
19I come now to ſpeak ſomething of the Conjunctions of Saturn, and Jupiter; and as for Mr. Holwels method of direction to that purpoſe, in a Figure of the new or full Moon, either next before or after it, I think it not a ſafe way, there to find the time of their Effects, for by this way of direction round and round the Zodiac, the Effects of a Conjunction would laſt to the end of the World; and if all the Conjunctions which have been ſince the Creation, ſhould to this day work their Effects, as they did at or ſoon after they happened, what a miſerable time ſhould we now live in? but they are not to laſt always, for they are appointed for Signs and for Seaſons, for days and years; and as he hath directed Saturn and Jupiter in their Conjunction in Sagitary, Anno Dom. 1603. to the new Star, which was in the year 1572. and the Aſcendent and Midheaven of the new Moon, before the Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter, 1682. directed to the ſame new Star, is to no more effect (comparatively) than a man being very cold, ſhould fit by a great Fire till he had warmed and refreſhed himſelf, and many years after, he being in the ſame Extremity with Cold, and coming to the ſame Houſe, expecting there again to warm and refreſh himſelf, but finds neither Fire nor Inhabitants there at preſent, nor had any been there for many years paſt, only there remained the Houſe empty; ſo by this direction, the Houſe or Sign of the Zodiac may be found, but the new Star long time paſt, quite out and extinguiſhed; ſo are the directions to the other Promitters as erroneous and frivolous.
But I having been atleaſt twenty years a Student in Aſtrology (and other parts of the Mathematicks) I have read many Authors, and diſcourſed with Doctor Reaſon, and Doctor Experience, and they tell me, that the time of the Events of Conjunctions of the ſuperior Planets are taken two ways, that is generally and particularly; firſt generally, as to the time of the whole duration of their effects; take this for a general Rule, that the effects of the Conjunction of any of the ſuperior Planets continue in force, but until another Conjunction of them happen (which is in about twenty years) and then their effects will alter, according to the nature of the Sign in which it happens, conſideration being had to their Poſition and other Configurations; ſo that the effects of that Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter in Sagitary, in the year 1603. (ſo much ſpoken of by Mr. Holwel, in his Cataſtrophe Mundi) ended in the year 1623. for at that time there was a Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter in Leo, whoſe effects alſo ended in the year 1643. and the more fully,20 there then happening a Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter in Piſces, a Sign of the watry Triplicity, whoſe effects laſted but to the year 1663. for then hapned another Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter in Sagitary, whoſe effects were not different from that in 1603. I mean, in their own Nature, and not as the many Eclipſes, ſolar Ingreſſes and other Configurations, altered them, and their effects ceaſed, when the Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter hapned in October 1682. and was the firſt of the Triple Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter in Leo, which hapned then and in the following year, under whoſe effects we now are, and ſhall ſo be, until the year 1702, and their effects in their own nature are not like to be much different from that which hapned in the year 1623, only this in 1682. is of far greater force, it being a Triple Conjunction, and therefore its effects will be more powerful.
The effects of the Conjunctions of the Superior Planets, are commonly Seditions, Troubles, Mutations, Wars, Subverſions of Monarchies, Kingdoms, States, alterations of Laws, Cuſtoms, Priviledges, Treacheries, Treaſons, and ſometimes the Death of Emperors, Kings, Princes, Potentates and Powers; and thus much of the general Operation: now we come to the particular.
And the better to judge of the future effects of the Conjunctions of Saturn and Jupiter in Leo, in the years 1682. and 1683. let us look back into Hiſtory, and ſee what hath hapned under ſuch Conjunctions already paſt, and thereby we ſhall be the better able to judge of their following ſignifications. In the year Anno Chriſti 35. (being but one year after the Death and Paſſion of our Saviour Jeſus Chriſt) there was a Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter in Leo, and then the Jews waxed bitter cruel againſt the Diſciples of our Saviour; for after the death of Chriſt, the Holy Spirit falling on them, they boldly profeſs what they had ſeen and heard, and that openly; and Stephen being choſen to perform Holy Service, in the Company of the Chriſtians, becauſe he fervently imployed himſelf in publiſhing the Glory of Chriſt, being laid hold on by envious Perſons, was ſtoned to death, and from that time, the chief of the Jews endeavoured all they could, to blot out the name of the Chriſtians by what means they could; but eſpecially Saul breathed out threatnings againſt them, who having the largeſt Power made over to him from the high-Prieſt, he then bended toward Damaſcus, that he might oppreſs them, but in his Journey he was affrighted, and being ſtruck to the Earth,21 he is converted, and ſuddenly applied himſelf wholly to the Worſhip of Chriſt. This hapned in the third year after the death of Chriſt, and the firſt after the Conjunction.
And this is a very good Example of what is now coming on after the Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter in Leo, 1682. for Jupiter being a Significator of the Chriſtian Religion, and afflicted by the body of Saturn in Leo, the Houſe of the Sun, another Significator of the Chriſtian Religion, and Saturn being Significator of the Turks, may well ſtir them up againſt Chriſtendom; Saturn being the moſt ſuperiour Planet, put great and haughty thoughts of conquering the Chriſtians into the Turks malicious minds: But I ſuppoſe that neither the Turk nor Mr. Holwel thought of, nor conſidered, that Saturn was weak in Leo, and diſpoſed of by the Sun, Significator of both the Chriſtians and their Religion; for all that Saturn can do in Leo, is but to ſtir up Chriſtian Emperours, Kings, Princes, and Governours, to purge out all the dangerous dregs of obſtinate Diſſenters and Fanaticiſm, and thoſe of every wicked principle contrary to the well-being of Government; and that in all parts of Chriſtendom, but eſpecially in thoſe places under the Sign Leo, alſo to thoſe in Sextile or Trine to it, which are Aries, Gemini, Libra and Sagitarius; ſo that all Countries and Cities under thoſe Signs will in ſome way or other receive benefit by the means of this Conjunction, rendring the Regal power like the Sun, glorious and ſplendid; but I doubt of the Converſion of the Turks under ſuch a Conjunction, though Saint Paul had his under the like.
In the year of Chriſt 94. was a Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter in Leo, and ſoon after Ulpius Trajanus took the Roman Empire, being two and forty years of age: he was ſtrong and expert in Military affairs; he was alſo wiſe, moderate and courteous, ſo that by the general conſent of all he deſerved the name of very good: he was proſperous in War; he added to the Roman Empire Dacia of Scythia; in the year of Chriſt 102. he ſubdued the Armenians, Ibrians, Colchians, the Sermats, Arabians, and the Babylonians; he brought under his power Seleucia, Cteſiphon and Babylon, and ſeveral other Cities; but while he ſailed in the Red-Sea, they rebelled againſt him; but he in perſon, with his Army, ſoon ſubdued them again; he alſo ſmote the Cyrenian Jews and Parthians with great ſlaughters, which rebelled againſt him; he fell ſick and died naturally in Cilicia, in Auguſt, Anno Dom. 117.
22Sure, had Mr. Holwel compared Hiſtory with his Aſtrology, he might have judged more charitably of Rome, Italy and Chriſtendom; for never yet did Chriſtendom under any Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter in Leo, ſuffer Detriment, but came off Victoriouſly over their Enemies, neither can either Turk, Tartar, or any other Enemy to Chriſtendom, under this Conjunction, preprevail againſt them; yet I ſuppoſe, the Turk will have another attempt againſt Chriſtendom, though he come off with as great or greater loſs, than he did laſt at Vienna.
In the year of Chriſt 153, there was a Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter, and at the ſame time, Antonius Pius was Emperor of Rome, and with ſuch virtue and goodneſs governed he that Empire, that he excelled all others, the whole World was at Peace with him, all the time of his Empire, foraign Princes did dread him, ſo that they would make him the Arbitrator of their differences, becauſe of his Wiſdom; he died naturally, Anno Dom. 161.
Antonius Varus ſucceeded him, and reigned proſperouſly; he was ſuccesful in War againſt the Parthians, alſo in the Marcoman Wars; he died of an Apoplexy, Anno Dom. 171.
Surely, if Chriſtian Princes were under this Conjunction, ſo wiſe and ſucceſsful in War againſt their Enemies, I know no reaſon Aſtrologically, why they ſhould not be ſo now, for the Conjunctions are the ſame, and therefore muſt work the ſame effects; let Mr. Holwel, or any of Mahomets Prophets ſay what they will, for the Celeſtial Powers have not changed their former Influences.
Anno Dom. 829. there was a Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter in Leo, and then Lodovick governed the Roman Empire: but in the year following, Pepin King of France conſpired againſt him, with the chief Governours, and lays hold on the Empire, but in the following year, through the help of the Germans, Lodowick regains the Empire, and in the year 833. he is driven from the Empire, by the Conſpiracy of his three Sons, and advice of the Biſhops; but in the following year, Lodowick is wholly reſtored to Empire, and ſo governed it to the day of his death, which was in the year 840. after his deceaſe, his three Sons fall at difference for the Empire ▪ Lotharius the eldeſt, againſt Lodowick and Charles the two youngeſt, and joyn Battle, ſo that many men were ſlain on both ſides; but in the year 844. they agree, and divide their Fathers Inheritance thus amongſt themſelves; unto Lotharius the Roman23 Empire, that is, Rome and Italy, alſo Lorain, which took its Name from Lotharius, and alſo the Province of Burgany, and to Ludovick, all Germany, Mentzspiras, and Worms, and to Charles, the Weſt Country of France.
In the year 888. there was a Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter in Leo; about this time, was great War between the Normans and the French; for in the year 890. the Normans lay Siege againſt Paris, but took it not, though (as ſome ſay) the Siege laſted ſeven years, and in the year 898. the French ſlew of the Normans 18000, upon the Hill Faulcon, near the City.
Anno Dom. 948. there was a Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter in Leo, about this time, Berengarius uſurps the Kingdom of Italy from Lotharius, but the Italians diſliking his Tyrannical Government (which he held for the ſpace of twelve years) fled to Otho King of Germany, who being gone into Italy, in the year 962. received the Imperial Crown of Pope John, and was ſaluted the firſt Emperor of Germany; he two years after led away Berengarius into Bavaria, and there he died; ſo Otho governed the German Empire proſperouſly and victoriouſly all his days, ſo that the German Empire had its riſe under the Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter in Leo, a fixed Maſculine Regal Sign, which relates to Diuturnity, and the long continuance of all things begun under it.
Thus you may ſee, that under theſe three Conjunctions, the Chriſtians have had War one againſt another, an Error too much practiſed amongſt ſome Chriſtian Princes. And indeed at this time, amongſt thoſe that profeſs the Chriſtian Religion, there are ſo many animoſities and divers ways of Worſhip, that I think, moſt of our Diſſenters had rather chuſe to kiſs the Turks Alchoran, then to ſubmit to our Lawful Regal Authority; but let ſuch know, that under this Conjunction, and all other Conjunctions of Saturn and Jupiter in Leo, there hath been, and will be a cleanſing and purging by Regal Authority, all the dangerous dregs of Fanaticiſm, and of every wicked Principle, repugnant to the well-being of Government. There hath alſo been under thoſe Conjunctions, Treachery, Treaſon and Rebellion; the Son hath conſpired againſt the Father, and driven him from his Throne; the Subjects have conſpired againſt their Prince, and Brethren have made War one againſt another for their Fathers Inheritance; God grant that no ſuch Conſpiracy happen in any part of Chriſtendom under this Conjunction.
24In the year of Chriſt 1623. there was a Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter in Leo, juſt at which time Muſtapha the Turks Grand Signior was depoſed from his Imperial Throne the ſecond time, and Morat the rightful Heir proclaimed Emperour in his room, being but fourteen years of age. In this year the Turks had War with the Hungarians, Perſians and Tranſilvanians; and the Perſians took the Province and City of Babylon from the Turks, ſlew many of them, took Moſul (formerly called Nineve) Mecha, and great part of the Turks Territories. The following year was much in effect like unto this. In 1625. a Rebellion broke out in Aſia againſt the Grand Signior, and a great Plague in Conſtantinople. In 1626. the Turks beſiege Babylon, but came off by the loſs of 70000 Turks and Tartars; and in the following year no peace could be concluded. 1628. the War continued, and the Perſians took ſeveral Towns from the Turks. This War continued till the year 1638. at which time the Perſians had War with the Indians, and then the Grand Signior taking advantage of the Perſians, went himſelf in perſon with a mighty Army againſt Babylon, and with much ado, and the loſs of a great many men, took it from the Perſians on promiſe of quarter; but contrary to his promiſe he cauſed all Men, Women, and Children to be barbarouſly maſſacred: and by this you may ſee the faith of a Turk. And thus much of the ſignification of this Conjunction, and of what is paſt; I proceed now to what is yet to come.
I come now to ſpeak of the Triple Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter in Leo, in the year of our Lord 1682. And it is a Maxim according to that of Cardan, Segm. 5. Aphor. 63. Operationes Planetarum nunquam ceſſant, donec contraria à Planeta, vel Stella fixa, aut ſigni parte contrariae qualitatis impedimentur, vel in Solis radios incidant; The operation of the Planets never ceaſe until they are impedited by a contrary Planet or fixed Star, or from part of the Sign of contrary quality, or when they fall into combuſtion, viz. into the rayes of the Sun.
In this Conjunction thoſe Planets are not in evil aſpects of either the Sun or Mars, therefore no great matter of their effects could operate at the time of this Conjunction; but about the beginning of November 1682. the Sun came to the Square of both Saturn and Jupiter, and alſo of the place of the Conjunction; at which time the effects began to operate, though but ſlowly; but about the latter end of January following, the Sun came to the Oppoſition of both Saturn and Jupiter, and the place of the Conjunction;25 this inſinuated miſchief into the heart of the Turks, to proclaim open War againſt Germany; and in the latter end of Auguſt, and beginning of September, when Mars came to the Square of Saturn, and the place of the Conjunction, the effects began to operate to purpoſe, as we know about Vienna, and had not Jupiter been ſtronger than Saturn, Chriſtendom might have had too great a cauſe to have remembred it, for Mars is an Enemy to both Saturn and Jupiter; but a little after, Jupiter met with the Conjunction of Venus, governeſs of Libra (and thereby raiſed the Siege) being the Sign under which Vienna lieth.
And whereas this Conjunction hapned in Leo, we may conſider by what hath been already ſaid, that Chriſtendom never ſuffered much under ſuch Conjunctions, but hath come off either with honour or victory, although they have had many Troubles and Afflictions; for under ſuch Conjunctions they have beaten the Turks, and almoſt all that have oppoſed them.
Now if I ſhould be asked the reaſon why the Chriſtians have been ſo fortunate under the Conjunctions of Saturn and Jupiter in Leo? Conſider that Jupiter in Leo is ſtronger than Saturn there, and diſpoſeth of Saturn in his own Triplicity; for Saturn being Perigrine, and in his Detriment, he is as a man in cuſtody of his Enemy, forſaken of his Friend, and not able to work the evil effects he might do if he were ſtrong, either in his own Houſe or Exaltation; for what hurt can an envious man do, when he is bound in Priſon, and forſaken of his Friends? Saturn can do no more in this Conjunction (neither can Kingdoms nor People under Saturn) but envy the happineſs of Religions, Countreys and Perſons under Leo, and not under Leo only, but thoſe that be under any Sign that is in Sextile or Trine to Leo, which are Libra, Sagitary, Aries, and Gemini. But here, peradventure I may be asked the Queſtion, why Vienna in Auſtria, being under Libra ſped ſo ill? To that I anſwer, Had it not been for this Conjunction, it might have ſped worſe; for the Beſieging of Vienna, was not wholly occaſioned by the Conjunction, but rather by the laſt Comet that appeared in 1682, and paſſed through Libra, and the Conjunction may well be reputed the Raiſing of the Siege at Vienna; or if any one will have it to proceed from the Conjunction only, it matters not, for it is no more than I told you before, that Saturn or the Turks by him repreſented, would ſhew their Envy to Religion, Countries, Cities and Perſons under Leo, and under Signs in Sextile or Trine to Leo, but would want ſtrength and power to deſtroy them; for if we compute the Loſs that the Turks26 have ſuſtained by that Siege, both in Subſtance and People, and compare it with the Loſs of the Chriſtians, we may ſay, that the Conjunction was not prejudicial, but rather beneficial to Chriſtendom, and prejudicial to the Turks.
Yet I do not ſay, but theſe Places under Leo, and in Sextile, and Trine to it, may have Troubles, but their Enemies ſhall not have power to prevail againſt them to overcome them; for though Saturn be the moſt ſuperior, yet being out of all his eſſential Dignities, he ſhall be forced to ſeek to, and comply with the Sun and Jupiter, and that upon their terms, and not upon his own.
But theſe Regions, Countries, and Cities under Aquarius, being in oppoſition to Leo, and thoſe in ſquare, which are Taurus and Scorpio, will be like to be moſt ſufferers (under this Conjunction) by one means or other; either by War, Famine, Sickneſs, or Inundations of Waters, &c. for certainly, if thoſe under the Sextiles and Trines partake of Evil, much more thoſe under the Squares and Oppoſitions will be Sufferers by their effects, as may be ſeen by this following example, being yet in the memory of many thouſands now living in England. In the year 1663. there was a Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter in Sagitary, and Gemini is the oppoſite Sign, London being under it, what ſad fates did London undergo ſoon after? for in the year 1665, there was a lamentable Plague, and in 1666. the City almoſt conſumed with Fire; many more ſad Accidents I could inſtance, but let this ſuffice at this time.
And becauſe that every one that may happen to read this Book, may not be an Artiſt good enough to know what places are under the Signs before mentioned, I will here inſert the Names of ſome Countries and Cities under Leo, and under the Signs in Oppoſition and Square to it, which are as followeth.
Under Leo, are, Italy, Sicily, Bohemia, the Alps, Gallia, Togata, Apuleia, Phoenicia, and part of Turky: Cities, Damaſcus, Syracuſe, Rome, Ravinna, Cremona, Ulms, Prague, Lints, Confluentia, Briſtol, &c.
Under Aquarius, are, Samaria, Amazonia, Tartaria, Muſcovia, Weſtphalia, Moſel, Aethiopia, Media, Arabia, the deſart: Cities, Hamborough, Breme, Montſerat, Piſarum, Ingoldſtad and Trent, &c.
Under Taurus, are Ruſſia, Polonia major, Lorrain, Campagnia, Helvetia, Switzerland, Perſia, Cyprus, Parthia, Ireland: Cities, Parma, Nants, Bononia, Sena, Mantua, Sicila, Tigur, Tarentum, Lucern, Lipſic, &c.
27Under Scorpio, are, Norway the Higher, Bavaria, Campagena, Cappadocia, Idumea, Catalonia, Barbary, Fez: Cities, Gaunt, Algera, Meſſina in Italy, Frankfort upon Odar, Valentia, and Catalonia in Spain.
Thus I have ſhewed ſome of the Places under the Signs, in which the effects of this Conjunction is like to be moſt powerful; and for the time of the future effects, it is moſt like to be, when the Sun or Mars ſhall behold Saturn, Jupiter, or the place of the Conjunction by an evil Aſpect; that is, by Square or Oppoſition. I do not ſay that all the places aforeſaid ſhall be afflicted at one time, neither that all the Calamities aforeſaid ſhall happen to any one place; it is enough (nay and too much too) if any one of them happen in any Country or City in Chriſtendom. Thus have I given an Aſtrological account of the effects of this Conjunction, and I hope I have not varied from the Rules of Art; and here I ſhall ſpeak a little more of the effects of this Conjunction between the Turks and Chriſtians, in what may be the event of their preſent War. In April 1684. Saturn will be again in Leo, and in ſquare to Mars; in May following, Saturn meets with a Square of the Sun; Jupiter alſo meets with the Square of both the Sun and Mars, intimating that about that time, the Turks will be active againſt the Chriſtians, and then great preparation will be making on both ſides; but both Saturn and Jupiter are weak, and therefore no great Actions will yet be performed; but rather about Auguſt, when the Sun comes to the place of the Conjunction, or later in the year, when Saturn and Jupiter meets with the body of both the Sun and Mars, and then the Turks ſuppoſe to do great matters againſt the Chriſtians: but I find no reaſon in Art, why he ſhould have any more Victory in this year, than he had in the laſt againſt the Chriſtians; neither do I ſuppoſe, that their Differences will be reconciled until the year 1687. which if it be not, then let the Turk look to be beaten to purpoſe, for then Jupiter comes into Sagitary, his own houſe, and then, when it is too late, the Turk may repent of his Enterpriſes.
CHAP. VII.What a Comet is.
Treating of Comets and their effects, and particularly of the Comet that appeared in the year 1680.
MOſt Arologers of ancient times have told us, that a Comet or Blazing-Star, is a dry exhalation, viſcous and ſlimy, drawn up into the upper Region of the Air by the Sun, and there being ſet on fire by its Heat, breaks forth into a Flame, of which, there be divers ſorts, as Pliny writeth in Lib. 2. Cap. 25. de Nat. ſome whereof move Direct, ſome Retrograde, and ſome not at all, but are fixed as the other Stars.
But my Judgment of them is, that they proceed not from natural Cauſes (as before mentioned) but from Divine Providence, and ſent by Almighty God, as tokens of his wrath againſt mankind for their ſins, thereby threatning them with his Wrath and juſt Judgment, thereby to try if their obſtinate Hearts will relent and turn to the Lord, that he might turn his Judgments away from them; or elſe to be the forerunners of ſome more than ordinary Birth; whom God is pleaſed to honour with a new Light from Heaven; as he hath done, not only at the Birth of Chriſt, but alſo at the Birth of ſeveral Emperors, Kings and Potentates.
Hiſtories, ancient Writers, and common Experience in former Ages teſtifie to us, that theſe ſigns in the Heavens, or appearance of Comets, are the aſſured forerunners of ſterility of the Earth; Famine, Peſtilence, War, Alteration of Empires, Kingdoms, Statutes, Laws and Cuſtoms; Winds, Earth-quakes, Inundations, extream Heat and Drought, with grievous Diſeaſes, and ſuch like horrid evils; alſo the Birth of ſome great Emperor, King, Governor, or Learned Man.
That they are the cauſe of inordinate heat, it appears by their burning in the Air, as appears viſible to the eye of the beholders.
Of Sterility, by reaſon the fatneſs of the Earth, is by them drawn out, and the Earth left dry and lean, and ſo the Moiſture29 and convenient Humidity whereby it fructifieth, all things growing thereon is extinguiſhed; whence there muſt needs follow Famine and Sterility in thoſe Regions and Places, from whence the Matter and Subſtance is drawn.
And of Peſtilence and Diſeaſes, in that the Air is by them infected, through hot cloudy Exhalations, the which being drawn in at the Mouth of living Creatures, infecteth and killeth them; alſo by exceſſive Heat the radical Moiſture of living Creatures, whereby they ſubſiſt, is dried up, ſo they become no other than dead Carkaſſes.
Of War, Alterations in Kingdoms, States, Laws and Cuſtoms, in that when a Comet or Blazing-Star appears, there are many Exhalations in the Air, and thoſe of nature hot and dry, the which do ſo dry up the Humors in Men, and move Choler, that they are eaſily excited to Quarrels, after which, follows War and Bloodſhed; and ſo conſequently alterations in Kingdoms, States, Governments, Laws and Cuſtoms.
Alſo of Winds, for that they are of the ſame matter (ſuppoſed) whereof Comets are, and when any Comet or Blazing-Star appears, many ſuch Vapors are exhaled, and when they vaniſh, they become windly Vapors.
Of Earth-quakes for the ſame reaſon, for they are occaſioned of Winds, and Winds are the occaſion of Earth-quakes.
So of Inundations for the ſame reaſon alſo, for the Comets cauſe wind, and wind cauſes the Sea to roar and rage, whence follows Inundations.
Authors give a deſcription of ſeveral ſorts of Comets both in name and form, which I ſhall here omit, and proceed to their Effects; and particularly to the Effects of that moſt amazing Comet or Blazing-ſtar, which appeared not only to us, but to almoſt the whole World, in 1680. and it is credibly reported that this Comet was ſeen in Jamaica about the 12th of November, in five degrees of Libra to riſe in the Eaſt, in the Morning, and moved direct as the Planets do, and ſo ran through Libra, Scorpio, and Sagitary very ſwiftly, it ran five or ſix degrees in one day; but I am not certain whether it were ſeen in England until the eleventh of December, and then my ſelf ſaw the ſtream of it in the Weſt, of at leaſt 40 degrees in length, but the Star I could not ſee, it being under the Earth; but on the ſixteenth day of the ſame month I beheld it about the middle of Capricorn, and from thence I had the ſight of it every night when the Element was clear, until30 the 27th of January following; it was then in twelve degrees of Taurus, and by obſervation I ſometimes found the ſtream of it full ſixty degrees and upward, which is 3600 miles, ſo that after it appeared to us in the Evening, it ran through half Capricorn, all Aquarius, Piſces, Aries, and half Taurus; ſo that accounting from the firſt appearing to its diſappearing, it did run through two Thirds of the Zodiac, ſo that almoſt two Thirds of the World will be partakers of its Effects. When it appeared firſt in the Morning, it was ſaid to appear very red, therefore ſuppoſed to be of the nature of Mars; but when it appeared to us in the Evening, it was of a pale colour like unto the Planet Saturn, and therefore of his nature; and as it was a Saturnine Comet, we muſt expect Saturnine Effects; and to diſcover what a Saturnine Comet Effects are, both in its own nature, and in the nature of the Signs it paſſed through, let us peruſe the ancient Writings of the Chaldeans and Hebrews, which were very expert in theſe matters in former Ages; and we ſhall find Comets of the nature of Saturn to denote many Evils, as Wants, Anxieties, Famine, Deſtruction of the Fruits of the Earth by Caterpillars, Locuſts, and ſuch like vermine; Wars, Treacheries, and Troubles; Chronick Diſeaſes, and Melancholy Diſtempers, as Quartan Agues, Falling-ſickneſs, Leproſie, Palſies, Conſumptions, and all Diſeaſes which are of long continuance; Deſtruction of Beaſts appertaining to the uſe of Man, Exceſſive cold weather in Winter, and of long continuance, Clouds, Froſt and Snow more than uſually; ſtrong and high Winds, Tempeſts, Shipwrecks, with deſtruction both of Men and Fiſh, great Inundations, and Storms, to the annoyance of Cattel and of all things; Men and Kingdoms under the Dominion of Saturn will ſuffer detriment, and be in danger of deſtruction. Is not the moſt part of Turky under Saturn? then let them be ſure to ſuffer much by the Effects of this Comet.
And as it firſt appeared in Libra, it denotes Thefes and Robberies, exceſſive Cold, the Death of ſome great Man, great Slaughters, ſecret Plots and Treacheries, a ſcarcity of Rain, a Drought of Fountains, and other Waters, a want of the Fruits of the Earth, and Proviſion for the uſe of Man; great Winds, horrible Earthquakes: and as it appeared in the Eaſt, theſe effects ſeem to operate within few years after its Apparition, and places under Libra, will be the greateſt partakers of its effects.
Places under Libra are, Auſtria, Alſatia, Livonia, Sabandia, Savoy, Dalphinate: Cities, Lisbon, Francfort, Vienna, Arles, Spire, Platentia,31 Heilbarn, Landſhute and Antwerp, and ſome of theſe Places have already felt too much of the effects of this Comet.
And as this Comet paſſed through Scorpio, it ſignifies War and Rebellion againſt Kings, change and alterations in Governments, Contentions amongſt great Men, great Perils and Dangers, the death of ſome eminent Perſon, Detriment and Damage to Souldiers, Labour and Travel to all kind of Men, Miſchief to Women with Child, a ſcarcity of Water, and of the Fruits of the Earth; eſpecially on Countries, Cities and Perſons under the Sign Scorpio.
Places under Scorpio, I have ſhewed in the laſt Conjunction, and therefore omit them here.
Its going through Sagitary, denotes many Misfortunes to befal great Lords and Noble-men, Biſhops, Clergy-men, Scribes and Lawyers; much evil and Tribulation to be fall wiſe and Learned Men; ſometimes War and Captivity of Princes.
Places under Sagitary, are Spain, Dalmatia, Sclavonia, Hungary, Moravia, Miſnia, Celtica, Arabia Foelix; Cities, Toletum, Volateras, Malinum, Narbonne, Avignion, Colonia, Agrippina, Buda, Collen.
As this Comet paſſed through Capricorn, it ſignifies Fornication and Adultery, more than uſually committed amongſt Men and Women; War, Danger to Kings and Princes by Poyſoning, or by other Violent ways; Cutting by the High-ways, Quarrels, Misfortunes and Calamities amongſt the vulgar People; it alſo denotes Perſecution and contempt of Religion, and Religious men; but its appearing in the Weſt, may defer its operation until ſome years after its apparition.
Places under Capricorn, are Thrace, Macedonia in Greece, now part of Turky, Albany, Bulgary, Saxony, Stiria, India, Orcades Iſles, Haſſia: Cities, Meklin, Cleves, Vilna, Conſtance, Auguſta, Brandenburg, Oxford.
As it paſſed through Aquarius, it denotes War of long continuance, the death of ſome eminent Prince, or illuſtrious Perſon, and alſo of the common People; an obſcuration of the Air, much Thunder and lightning, Peſtilence alſo, and other epidemical Diſeaſes.
Places under Aquarius, I have alſo ſhewed in the late Conjunction, and thither I refer my Reader
As the Comet paſſed through Piſces, it foreſhews, that Kings ſhall war one againſt another, alſo Kindred, and ſuch as are allied one to another; the Father againſt the Son, the Son againſt the Father, and Brethren one againſt another, and there ſhall be much ſlaughter among men; great Contentions alſo32 touching matters of Faith, Priviledges and Cuſtoms in Religion, and antient Traditions, with deſtruction of Fiſh, and dangerous Navigation.
Places under Piſces are Cilicia, Calabria, Galatia, Lycia, Garomantes, Pamphilia, and the higher Egypt. Cities, Alexandria, Compoſtella, Hiſpalis, Rhemes, Worms, Ratisbone, &c.
As the Comet paſſed through Aries, it ſignifies Evil and Detriment to Noblemen, and the Grandees of the Earth, with abundance of ſadneſs to the common ſort of people; a dejecting or unthroning of ſome King or Emperor in the Eaſtern parts of the World, and the promoting of ſome Ignoble man; alſo great troubles in the Eaſtern parts of the Earth, much War and Blood-ſhed, with the death of ſome Eminent Prince, and ſlaughter among men; much troubles, violent pain in the Head, Eyes and Brain, a Rot of Sheep, and detriment to all ſorts of ſmall Cattel.
Under Aries are Paleſtina, Syria, Swevia, Polonia minor, Denmark, Germany, France and England. Cities, Naples, Capua, Fararia, Florence, Lyndavia, Padua, Brunſwick, Cracovia, Utretch, Marcelles.
And as this Comet took his courſe in Taurus, it foreſhews the death of ſome Great man, miſchief and injuries to the meaner ſort of people, with captivity and diminiſhing of their Goods, detriment to great Cattel, great and tempeſtuous Winds, corruption of Fruit, deſtruction of Corn, cold Winters, alſo diſeaſes proceeding from corruption of blood, as Scabs, Itch, &c.
Places under Taurus have been already ſhewed in the late Conjunction, to which I refer you.
And thus I have ſhewed you the nature of this Comet, and its Signification in the Signs through which it paſſed; alſo ſome of the Countries and Cities under thoſe Signs, in which the effects will be moſt manifeſt in ſome ſort or other.
Note, that if a Comet appear in the Aſcendent of any Kingdom, City, Town, or Family, or in the Aſcendent of the Revolution of the World, it ſignifies Detriment or Deſtruction of the thing by the Aſcendent ſignified, and the Sign thereof: And if it appear in the Mid-heaven, or in the Sign thereof of any of theſe aforefaid, it will bring danger to their Honour and Reputations in one way or other.
I come next to treat of the time when theſe Events will happen; and herein we ought to conſider, whether the Comet were Oriental or Occidental; for Oriental Comets ſoon ſhew their Effects, but Occidental Comets ſhew their Effects more ſlowly: this Comet33 was both Oriental and Occidental; Oriental at the beginning, while it paſſed through Libra, Scorpio and Sagitary; wherefore the effects in thoſe ſigns would quickly appear; but in Capricorn, it became Occidental, and ſo continued until it diſappeared, whoſe effects will be deferred until a longer time.
And for the time of the duration of their effects, Origanus admits, for every day a Comet appears, one years effect, and after this account, the effects of this Comet ſhould continue ſeventy ſix years, for it appeared from firſt to laſt ſeventy ſix days or more; but I will not preſume to affirm that it ſhall be exactly ſo; but if we take for every Sign that it paſſeth through, one years effects, which I ſuppoſe we juſtly may, we ſhall not have much leſs than eight years expired, before its effects be fully over, and I think, this will prove the exacteſt meaſure of time, in the effects of this Comet, and thus much of Comets in general, and of the Comet in 1680. in particular, with their ſignifications.
But what Mr. Holwel hath written of Comets, is nonſenſical, and the moſt part of it much varying from the Rules of Aſtrology, eſpecially what he mentioneth of this Comet, in his Judgment of the year 1683, which was one great cauſe of my writing, to ſhew the World the true ſignification of Comets, according to what Authors (more experienced than Mr. Holwel) and daily experience have ſhewed.
CHAP. VIII.
Treating of, and Confuting moſt of Mr. Holwels Judgments on the State of the years from 1683. unto the year 1700. mentioned in his Cataſtrophe Mundi.
MR. Holwel in his Cataſtrophe Mundi, ſpeaking of the Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter, ſaith, according to natural cauſes, Perſons ſignified by the Sun ſhould be afflicted in Perſon with Horror and Amazement, and ſhall be in danger of their Lives, Honour and Eſtate, and be forced to fly for Safeguard; for by bad advice, they ſhall attempt to do that which they ſhall never attain to, by which means, they ſhall bring themſelves and34 Fame to deſtruction for ever; and therefore he adviſeth Perſons to beware, that have ten or eleven Degrees of Leo aſcending.
And in his judgment of the year 1683. he ſaith, that a very great Perſon of Europe that hath Leo aſcending, will be afflicted and flung into a great many Troubles, with the death of ſome of his Children, Loſs of Honour and eſteem in the World. Sure Mr. Holwel hath forgotten that he himſelf hath Leo aſcending, that he judgeth ſo hard of perſons born under it; but I could wiſh that he had named what great Perſons of Europe he meaneth, that we might have obſerved the Event; but I ſhall here (as I have already) ſhew them, that great Perſons born under Leo, ſhall not by the effect of this Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter in Leo, receive Detriment or Loſs, either of Honour or Eſtate; but on the contrary, they ſhall gain both Riches and Honour, by the effects of this Conjunction, though Mr. Holwel gained the diſpleaſure of the Honourable E. A. Eſquire, to whom he confidently dedicated his Book; although he never knew him, which nonſenſical Stuff be diſliking, made the Epiſtle Dedicatory to be taken out again; this was done when Saturn tranſited Leo, Mr. Holwels Aſcendant, as alſo Saturn did, when the ſaid Book was written.
Neither do I judge of the death of any Prince in Europe, that hath about thirteen degrees of Virgo aſcending, though it be ſaid in Cataſtrophe Mundi, if there be a Prince in Europe, that hath about thirteen degrees of Virgo aſcending, he ſhould in the year 1684. return to the ground from whence he was taken; for I find no ſuch matter by the Rules of Aſtrology, as may ſignifie the death of any ſuch Prince; but I pray for all Chriſtian Princes, and particularly for ſuch as have Virgo or Leo aſcending on their Horoſcope.
And whereas Mr. Holwel ſaith in his judgment of the year 1698. that Saturn, in oppoſition to the place of the Conjunction 1682. and Jupiter in ſquare thereto, threatens Italy with no leſs than Confuſion, and utter Subverſion of the triple Crown; and although it may not be fully compleated in this year, yet, ſaith he, this year ſets a great ſay to it, and in the following year its full deſtruction. And that then the power of France ſhall be brought low, and many thouſands of his Subjects deſtroyed, through the pride of an inſulting King, and envy of the Roman Clergy. But if this Oppoſition and Square be the cauſe of all this, why had not Rome been deſtroyed in the year 1639. when Saturn was in oppoſition to the place of the Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter in Leo, which was in the year 1623. I have ſearched into Hiſtory, and found that there was War at that time between the Swedes and the Germans, and between the French and the Italians, but not any thing to the Deſtruction of any Nation or People, yet many eminent Perſons died about that time, ſome in War, and ſome in Peace, and many ſtrange Accidents hapned; and I ſuppoſe, near the like may happen now; but little or nothing of what Mr. Holwel writes in all his judgment on his ſeveral years will prove true, there being no grounds in Aſtrology for them, but what his own fantaſtical Pate hath imagined, to raiſe himſelf a Fame in the World, by predicting Lyes, and to deceive the World by Deluſions; for I will appeal to all Artiſts what Rules there are in Aſtrology, whereby to predict (as Mr Holwel hath) that in the Eaſtern part of the World, a whole Army ſhould be deſtroyed with fire from Heaven, with their Wealth and Treaſure; or that there ſhould be War and Plagues over the face of the whole Earth, and that there ſhould be ſo many men deſtroyed that there ſhould not be men enough left to get in Harveſt, as he predicteth in his judgment of the year 1699. therefore I aver all that he ſpeaks of that year and the next, to be abſolutely falſe, nonſenſical and erroneous; in the next year (with which he concludeth his Book) he ſaith, that Rome is now deſtroyed, and Peters Seat thrown down, and the Converſion of the Turks and Jews ſoon follows, and Religion (but what Religion he knows not) truly preached univerſally over all the World, ſure this muſt not be Aſtrology, but Prophecy; and if Prophecy, then Mahometal, and if Mahometal, then lying like Baal's Prophets, and ſo deſerving the reward that they received from Elijah.