Anti-Prognostication, Treatise 1

Anti-Prognostication · Treatise 1

SVCHF is the nature of mankynde, carnestely desprous to hauehave knowledge of thynges to come, that in seekyng out & inuētyng of such artes as n…ight seme to pertain to the certayn therof, she hath taken greate and laborous paines. For trauailyng to get out a science of Diuination, or foreseeyng, out of eueryevery element, she hath broughte foorth vntounto vsus Pyromancy, whiche is to for shewe thyngs by the Fyre: Hydromanci…, to declare of thynges to come by the water: Geomancie by the Earth: and diuers other artes of this kynde, promisyng the knowledge of hy…de and secrete matters. And lest the practisers of these artes shoulde at any tyme beynge destitute of their bokes and instrumentes, not bee able to tel of thynges to happen: she hath found out that handlom art of foreshewyng by the hand (which is an instrument, that eueryevery man car…eth about with hym) so that by this sciēce of Palmestry, at no tyme nor place, they shall be to seke of diuina…ion or (as they terme it) Fortune tellyng▪ Fynally, there is nothyng so vaine or of so lyt…l importance, in w…ich she hath not boulted o…som cunnyng of forshewyng, seyng she hath alredy set forth. Capnomancy a… Sciomancie, whereof the one teacheth to hauehave vnderstandynge of thynges to come by smoke, the other by shadow. These thinges peraduenture myght seeme somwhat tollerable, so long as mans witte is occupied in matters that are neare to hym (I meane the elementes and such like) if that those false diuinours would not drawe heuen it selfe and the starres, to their superfluous rules of Diuination, of whome a greate numbre doo not this modestly, and as it were dius…yng or gessynge; but arrogātly do pronoūce their oracles as though they had ben giuen of Apollo Pithyus, the god of foreshewing. It were a smal matter if they told only of rayne, and wethers, but also they must …yl the whole world at their pleasure with warre, sycknesse, and rebellion. What shall we say that they ar not content to set out their oracles generally and vniuersally, but they must also thretten the lyfe of eueryevery particular man, (as it were the goddesses of destenie) manifest…ly against the order of all learnyng and philosophie. Neyther is it ynoughe for theim to hauehave lordshy… and dominion ouer menne… bodies, excepte they dyd also charge they… myndes and soules wyth vertues or …es, according to their owne preceptes & rules. grosse errour to desect, vanite to open, & au thoritie to eleuate & extenuate, I thought it worth the labour, bicause they so shameful ly now adais, do set forth their wares to sell among al mē, partly because they so proudly with al their force inuey ageinst such mē as contemne & despise these and suche lyke their predictiōs. Yea som are not ashamed to cōmend a necessary vse of their diuinati ons. But that onelyonly is necessary (if we beleue Cicero) without the which we can not lyue. Then how many thousandes of men be there, which not only lyue, but also lyue wel, and yet neuer hauehave regarde or care so muche as ones to see prognostications. Other some there be, whiche call all men that be desirous of goodly arts and sciences, to their Almanach, as to a storehouse, replenyshed with all precious iewelles. Finally what signe of arrogance or boastyng can be named, whiche in the booke of these pro phecies may not easyly be perceiued? Ther fore who soeuer dare be so bolde as ones to open his mouthe agaynste these oracles, streight way shall bee called an ignoraunt person, a detractour, and a sycophant. And this is the cause that so fewe hauehave taken vponupon thē to detect & opē their trifling in pro gnostications, leste he shoulde incurre the reproches and contumelies of the prowde and arrogant rable of Prognosticatoures. For in our tyme (as farre as I hauehave knowledge) among al men, the most famous and excellent Doctour, Peter Dacquet onelyonly hath both learnedly and playnely declared, that the vse of this fayned art is altogither vnprofitable for the woorkes and practises of phisike. But I beynge (as I thinke) sufficiently armed agaynste all the assaultes of all prognosticatours, hauynge also gotten conuenient leysure (except my tonge or pen do faile me) wil endeuour my self vtterly to ouerthrow this tower of Astrology, when's they behold the signification of the planets & starres, that no pece nor parcel therof that remayn. Neyther am I so ignorant of that knowledge (yf any suche knowledge be) as they would goe about to perswade the common people, that all suche are, whiche despise their for shewyng and premōstratio…s: neyther beyng moued with the desyre of euyl speakyng or enuy, do I addresse my self to writyng: (for I am assured, that I do pro uoke waspes) but seeyng many whiche are desirous to learne the sciences, to hauehave also muche sette by this celestiall diuination, I thought good to admonishe them by this litle treatise, that they laboure not in vayue, hopyng for that, which the place it selfe wil not suffre them to hauehave. that whē they hauehave throughely seene and considered the whole matter, they may leaue to hauehave in admiration these inuencions of the prognosticatours: and if they wyll nedes hauehave knowledge of secretes and thynges pertainynge to the future tyme, they may learne to seeke it out of suche thyngs as are more nere and better knowen vntounto them. For as it is said and not withoute a cause: Those thynges that are aboue vsus, perteyne nothyng vntounto vsus: and those thynges which are aboue our reache, ar not to be sought for, with muche curiositie. Neither let any man slaunder me, as though I went about to impugne or assaulte the moste beautyfull and certayne science of Astronomye, as the Prognosticatours themselues, (suche is their malice) crie out, yf any man speake boldly against the vanitie of Astrologie: But that science as of all humayn sciences it is the most diuine, so wolde I wishe that it shulde be embraced, learned, & perceyued of most men, especially of all suche as beare and professe the name of Philosophy. And let not them bee troubled wyth theyr prowde bragge, whiche say, that their calculation is thend… and scope, where vntounto the noble science of Astronomie dothe tende, seyng there is no communitie or felowshyp betwene certen…y and vncertayntie, neyther can truth and fayned falshod, at any tyme be coupled and ioyned together. And as for the studious, they shall not be compelled in vayne to con sider the course of the stars (although this diuination be cleane banished awaye) seing the knowledge it self (yf we trust Aristotle) is an end and scope of it selfe. Moreouer be syde the most pleasant cōtemplacion of the whole workemashyp of the world, doth not y^e sciens it selfe bryng w^t it infinite profites and vtilities? What neade I to speake of so many kind of Dialles, so many differences of tymes and yeares? fynally so manye varietes and degrees of glystering lyghtes.

One starre (whiche is the sonne) as it were the ymage of one god, communicateth hys lyght to all the rest, whome so longe as the residews of the starres beholde, resplendishynge with most bright beames, they …hine ouer the whole worloe: But yf any of them by the enuious shadowe of the earthe, be dep…ued of his syght, strayght way as it were mor…yng, and without lyght, it is voyde of all beautye and glorye: Doth it nothyng auaile to know the cause of so diuers formes and shapes of the moone? Suche varieties of dayes in length and shortnesse? So manye differences of heate and colde by reson of the Sonnes commynge neare or departynge farre from vsus? They therfore whyche styffely affirme, that Astronomye cannot co…siste wythoute Astrologie, and that the knowledge of the one is vnprofitable without the vse of the other, are here reproued of a manifest error, or rather conuicted of a shamefull lye. Lest therfore vnderunder the bewtifull and glorious cloke of this sciens of Astronomye, they should any longer proceade to commende their false and hyppocriticall art, I would wishe that thys little booke were but ones perused and red ouer of all suche as seme to fauour this deceyte: and except either their wilful and per uerse affection, or elles to grosse ignorance dyd lette them, I am assured they would vtterlye forsake and reiecte thys kynde of forshewynge by the starres. For longe tyme vnderunder the pretexte and colour of Astronomye, thys auguration or diuinotion hathe bene cloked, in so muche that the professoures thereof hauehave not doubted openlye for Astrologians, to call theym selues Astronomars. Other some confoundynge the names of Astrologie and Astronomy, bothe in teachyng and also in wrytyng, hauehave so mixed the one with thother, as though they were not distincie sciences, but the one of them dyd hange of an other, after the maner of relatiues. And herein they are …ot vnlyke to men of vngracious lyuynge, whiche to the intent they may with lesse daunger and suspition committe he ynous offences, will gladly vse and frequent the company of suche as be taken to be good and honest men: but the difference of those artes, I thynke is manifestly knowen to all men, so that I am certainely perswaded, it were but loste labour to stande longe in puttynge a diuer …e betwene them. Wherfore it shall suffise to admonisshe the symple sorte, leste when we speake agaynst the art of foreshewyng by the starres, they shoulde vnaduisedly thynke that wee dispute agaynste the course of the starres, their lawe, order, or learnyng. But wherof shall I take my beginnyng, or of what parte shall I chiefely goe about to publyshe and desorte so greate vanitie, whether of the vncertainte, therof▪ … of the vnprofitable, yea hurtfull obseruation thereof that so muche troubleth the common wealthe, or rather of the impossibilitie, shal I shewe that there is no suche science of diuination? If that whiche is vncertayn deserue not to bee obserued, for what cause, I praye you, doo you cleaue to the do…yng of Astrologie? If that whiche deserueth not so muche as to be consydered is worthily called vayne, or of none effect, wherefore shall menne more truste the diuination of the starres, then they wyll credite the vnconstant waues of the sea? It shall not be nedefull in this place to alledge Aristotles opinion of the future contingēt, nether to vouche thauctoritie of other philosophers, concernyng the vncertayne and vnknowē procedyng of matters. For who doth not see clerer then the sonne at noone days, that not the fourth part of those presages or fortellyngs come to passe, as they before hauehave pronounced them? Yea who is so forgetfull, or of lyttel memory, that can not recorde and remembre, that the moste parte of their predictions hauehave chaunced cleane contrary to their calculations. It is not therefore without a cause, yf we m… uayle with what face they dare he so bol… to propounde suche vayn and folyshe varicinatious, to be considered of wyse and discrete persons. Certainly eueryevery science, of what sort soeuer it be, consisteth on thyngs that be true certayne and immouable: but Astrologie which standeth on thynges that most commonlye are false, but alwayes vn certayne and vnconstant: Tell me all you prognosticatours, by what reason it may… be called a sciēce? but if this your methode & rule of prophesieng be not to bee noumbred among those sciences, which consist of thin ges certayne and immutable, what other thyng is this your knowledge but folishnes so greate, that foly her selfe coulde not light lye inuent a thyng more fond and foolyshe. But peraduenture your predictiōs, be they neuer so vncertayne, yet they maye bee profitable to the publike welth, so y^t which your arte lacketh of certayntie, it recompenceth wyth vtilitie: Nay rather with how greate euyls do you burden the cytie (I speake not of the horrible wonders that you threaten to fall on them) but what a dearth of vitayles youcause in the commē welth, while the farmers of the countrye (as I hauehave good vnderstandynge) beleuyng your oracles of the imtēperaunce of wethers do so craftily dyspose their wares, y^t in abundaunce of al thynges, the common people suffer a greate and greuous scarcity. What? is it to be kept in sylence, howe slowlye and coldly the people in the last yeare, seduced by the foolyshe prophesye of Nostrodamus addressed them selfe to sette vppe the true worshippynge of GOD and hys religion, good Lord what tremblynge was there? What feare?

What expectation? What horror? Leste all thynges sodenlye shoulde bee turned vp sydowne, so that none almost of them that gaue any credite to prognostications, durst be bolde to open their faythe and religion, whyche they bore in theyr hartes. Yea thys Nostrodamus reigned here so lyke a tyrant wyth hys south saiynges, that wythout the good lucke of hys prophesies it was thought that nothyng could be broughte to effecte. What shal I speake of the common peoples voyce? Thys daye the Bishoppe of Rome must be driuen out of the parliamēt. To morow the Queene shal take vponupon her the name of supreame head. After xx. dayes all thing shall ware worse. Such a day shall be the day of the last iudgement, that except the true prechers of Goddes holye woords hadde sharpelye rebuked the people for creditynge suche vayne prophesies, there shoulde hauehave bene none ende of feare and expectation. But oure craftye Nostrodamus, that coulde wrappe hys prophesyes in suche darke wryncles of obscur…ye, that no man could pyke out of them, either sence or vnderstandyng certayn. Without double he hath herde of the oracles of Appollo, whiche the denyll at Delphos, gaue out of an ydoll to them that asked counsel, whiche were obscure, double, and suche as myght chance bothe waies, As that whiche was aunswered to kyng Pyrtus, demaundyng of hym:

I say that Aeacides the Romaynes maye ouercome.

Neyther is that vnlyke, whiche the ryche Cresus entendyng to make warre agaynst Cyrus, had gyuen hym, that is:

Croesus percyng through the citie Halis shall ouerthrovve great ryches.

So that you may wrest them to what sence you lyst. For Pyrrus while he did promise hymselfe victory ouer the Romains, might hauehave also vnderstode (as it came to passe in deede) that he hymselfe shulde be ouercome of the Romans. Lykewyse Cresus, while he turstyng thoracle, perswaded hymselfe, that he shuld ouercome Cyrus ryches, that were so great and abundant, brought his owne kyngdome, ryches, and what soeuer he possessed into vtter ruin and destructon The same trade of fortelling Sibylla Cumana dyd also depe, of whom Uergile reporteth, that the recorded fearefull circum stances and doubtes, resowndynge in her caue. Finally, all they whiche inflamed with the diuelles sprighte, tolde of thynges to come, gaue either darke or doubteful answers to them that required their oracles. The same maner of foreshewyng in darke and double riddles our prognost… catours, as it were receiued of the heathenyshe prophets do obserue and keepe vntounto this day fornot only Nost rodamus telleth thyngs darkly and doubtfully, but diuers others: yea many of our countreymen, an Cunyngham, a man otherwise bothe lerned and honest, Hyll, Lou, Uaghan, and not longe ago Askham, with sixe hundred more of that sort, among whiche, the afore named, maye chalenge the chiefe place, not that they prophecie truer then other, but that they hauehave more exactely (as they say them selues) formed their calculatiōs to the course of the starres. And leste any man shuld thynke that I sclander them, I entende to reherse certayne things out of their bookes, in whyche we wyll playnly note a double doubtfull forshewynge. By reson of Saturn in Cauro (say they) and the eclipse in Aprill, there shall folow mur muryng amonge the common people: but Mercurius, with his eloquence dooth pacifie theim. Likewise Mars this yeare shall saue Englād harmlesse from many euils, except the Eclipse of the Moone do somewhat abate his courage. After the some maner doo they pronounce of wheate, bar ley, and otes, that they shall prosper well, except the heate, moysture, or other vnsea sonable weather doo endamage them. Finally this almoste is generall, yf they foreshewe a thyng to come without exception, it is false: if they pronounce it with exception, howe soeuer the game go, their error is without daunger of reprouyng. Moreouer they them selues confesse, that there bediuers impedimēts which cause y^t many things to come not to passe, not only about in the heuens, but also here beneth. O good ly science, O diuine knowledge, whiche so many causes doo frustrate, and brynge to none effecte. To what purpose then serue so many prohibitions against the surgeōs, that they take nothyng in hande, but in a a prescripte tyme? Shall they tary seuen dayes before they lette a man bloudde that is sycke of the Pleuresie: Why doo you not by the same reason forbydde them that be poysoned to take any medicine, before the signe apt to comfort the vertue expulsiue. But these matters by doctor Da…quet are so playnly sette before mens eies, that onelesse these Prognosticatours euen yet dydde geue suche cautions, it were but … vayne for me asmuchas ones to make men cion of that super…tious abuse.

Hytherto as (as I suppose) we hauehave sufficiently spoken of the inconstancy and vn certaintie of these pred…ons, yea and ynough also of the vn…rositable obseruation and credityng of the same.

Nowe therfore let vsus prepare our selues to that argumēt, which is al the prognostitators, what soeuer thei be, & where soeuer thei be, ar able without al couin or deceipt to remoue: they shal not only defend their are, which otherwise must nedes fal down and vtterly decay, but also they shall hau… the writer hereof, with shame ynoughe, to retract and recant al that he hath hytherto against Astrologie sayd or written.

And that we may by lytle and litle procede to the effect of our matter, we dare bebolde to affirme, That this is cōmon to all sciences, that they may bee demonstrated. For although the principles and grounds in eueryevery arte, be of suche nature, that they canne not bee shewed and confyrmed by things more general, and therfore it is said, that they can not be proued, yet by demonstration or induction they maye be so playnly sette before our eies, that no man neede to doubte, but that they are moste true and certain. For eyther they are shewed by a manifest figure that they muste nedes be true, and that it were impossible to thinke otherwise of them then so, or els by recitall of all the particulers, one vniuersall is euermore concluded. Therfore of suche foundations eueryevery art is grounded, which beyng surely layd, meruallous workes are builded vponupon them. But if the soūdatiōs which ought to be most stronge and sure, in any poynt doo fayle, streighte way y^t whole buildyng with great weight falleth downe and is destroied. For dately experience teacheth vsus, that no structure can be firme and of continuance, excepte the foundatiōs therof be first surely laide. And reason teacheth the same lesson, whiche with open mouthe crieth, and biddeth alway to beware of the beginnings. Whiche thynge although we see dayly in buyldyng of houses, yet may we see it also, yf we wyll vse a little diligence in eueryevery arte and science. As in Geometry, it to a principle, that from one poynt to an other, you may alwaies drawe a streighte lyne, this nowe by exaumple maye be demonstrated very easily. Likewise it is an other groūde that all the three angles or corners of a triangle, howe soeuer they be taken, are equal vntounto. ii. rectangles. If this be shewed in eueryevery particular kinde of triangle, as Orthogonius Oxygoniꝰ, Aequilaterus Scàlenus, and suche lyke, we shall plainly vnderstand that whiche is required. And that we hauehave here sayde briefely in a fewe, the same to be true in al other propositions, he that hath but meanly trauayled in the sciences can beare witnesse. But perchance some prognosticatour will start vp & say, that although this is easy to be shewed in suche thynges as almost we may perceiue by our sences yet the same in thynges farther of; can scarsly be declared, As y^t greatnes of the starres, or their distance from theearth, or from themselues one from an other: Doo not learned men teache, that the Sunne is an hundreth sixty and six tymes greatter then the earth? and that the Moone is thirty and nine tymes lesser thā the earthe? We graunt that these matters be difficult, and suche as hardly can be per swaded to the cōmon sort: yet as difficulte as they be, and harde to knowe, there is a meane wherby men maye come to the science and vnderstādyng of them. We hauehave the shadowe of the earthe as it were a ladder, whereby we ascende into heauen, and beholde many thynges, wherevnto grosse wittes can not frame. But by no waie is it possible, that the principles of this arte of Astrologie, may be either demonstra…d or proued. Ther is no mean wherby mās witte may atteyne to so greate knowlege, ther is no methode, no inductiō, y^t cā main tayn truth of th…se propositions, whyche they take for their principles.

Nowe therefore (as I hauehave saide) the foundation of this tower, beeyng shaken, the whole weyghte of Astrologye, muste needes hauehave a greate and saubdeyne falle. And as Capitaynes experte … feactes of warre, whenne they determyne vtterlye to subuerte and ouerthrowe a tower, castell, or other fortresse of their ennemies, with vnderminyng they loose the foundations of it, orels setting vnderunder it a quantitie of gunpowder, blowe away the whole substance: So we autendyng not onelyonly to proue, that youre arte is vnproufytable, but also to condempne it to perpetuall prison of Oblinion and forgetfulnesse, goe aboute to shewe, that there neyther is nor can bee any suche arte of diuynation or forshewynge. For by what reason are ye able to demonstrate or shewe, that Saturne is so hurtefull, malicious, and pestilent? By Induction? What if he hauehave do mynyon as you tearme it) in the Natiuitie of a Prynce, a warryoure, or a Sanguyne? Naye, there is nothyng dothe oftener fayle, then Predictions of natiuities: Howe thenne are you able to proue, that this Planette dooeth so muche, and so greate euylle amongest menne. I for my parte, coulde rather proue by probable reason thei contrarye. For it is nothynge lyke, that Saturne whiche is farthest frome the earthe, shoulde hauehave the mooste earthely nature. Besyde this, he that is farre hygher thenne Uenus, and nearer to the immense and large. Fyrmamente, whyche the Hebrewes doo call, A stretchynge abroade, by no meanes can bee counted woorse. Wherefore is the Planette Iupyter, more wholsome than Saturne? In whose tyme (whyle that he reygned or ruled on the earthe, the same antiquytie wytnessethe, that the golden worlde was, the whyche flatterynge their king Iupiter, oscribeth to him better effectes then to his father. But how vnjust a thynge is it, and agaynst all reason, that the Sonne it selfe, without whom thother planettes hauehave no more beautie then the earthe, can searcely of them bee compted among the good …holsome starres: where as he, whiche with his heate geueth lyfe, with his …hynynge lyght, and with his beholdyng, gladnes to all liuyng creatures. (If an arre of astrologie were to be inuen sed accordyng to reason) shoulde hauehave the thiese rule among all starres, as well planettes as fixed. Lykewise the Moone whi the gouerneth humours, shuld be seconde to the Sonne, specially in dominion of lynyng creatures, for as muche as by these two, that is, Heate and Moisture, wherof the Sonne ruleth heate, & the Moon moist nes, all lyfe is proserued and nourished. By what argument are you persuaded to preferre a trine aspecte before a quartile, where as the numbre of foure among the Pytha…rsens, which had the exact know Iudge of numbres, and to theym referred all thynges, was more reuerentely obserued then the rest: in so much that by foure they were wonte to sweare. But you wyll say…, that for the holye …rinities sake the numbre of. iii. is preferred. Thā grantyng the numbre of thre is good, booth it folow that the numbre of foure, in whiche God concluded the elementes, their qualities and all perfecte essences to be eu…l? What persuadeth you to thynk, that the. xii. signs of the Zodsake hauehave so dyuers qualities, and accordyng to resons iudgement, contrary to nature. For you will hauehave Aries to be fyery, which is the beginnyng of the spryng: more ouer you teach, that Taurus which is a sygne of the spryng, shuld be of earthly nature. Which thyng how muche it striueth agaynst reason eueryevery man may perceyue, that knoweth aptly howe to referre the spryng tyme to the element ayre. Cancer also the beginnynge of Sommer is safed to bee a watrie signe. Howe fonde therfore … vaine are your principles, whiche you are not able by any reason to demonstrate or proue, euvn fooles may easily vnderstande, seyng you so foolyshly referre fyer to water, and ayre to earth. Besydes this, it is no smalle matter in youre cunnyng, to attribute to eueryevery plnner his propre sygnes. But here also howe much you diffre from your owne doctrine euen Chor…bus hymselfe if he were present, woulde perceyue, When you …iuide the. xii. lignes of the Zodiake into sowed orders or bandes. To some you ascribe a nature erthy, to some watry, to some ayry, and to somme fyery. Lykewyse when you giuegive to euerye housholder (as you call the planettes) theyr seruynge signes: you grant sem to Saturn som to Iupiter, and so forth to eueryevery one their propre signes. But this I can not passe ouer with silence that almost eueryevery housholder wyll mayntayne and kepe in his seruyce any seruan …es that are so reyugnant from his owne nature and disposition. That ys they vse them as ministers in bringyng their workes to effect, I meruayle how they do not rather execute their owne wille, than the wyl of their maisters. As for example, Saturne whiche is sayd to be earthy, hath Aquarius to wayte vponupon hym, which all togither consisteth of asry qualities. Iupiter reported to be ayry, hath two seruantes, Sagittarius and Pisces, of whome sagitarius is fyry, and pisces warry. Likewise Ma… that is whose and drye, is contente with the seruice of Scorpio, that is colde and moyste. Uenus boyng full of cold and moysture, hath Taurus an earthy sygne, and Libra an ayry sygne, dooyng her service. I leaue here to speake offeigned the distinctions and difference of howses, angles, dignities, and other like of this kind: of all whiche yf they canne proue but one principle by good and sownds reason, the way shoulde be more easy for theim to depende the rest. But nowe seyng they hauehave nothynge that can testifie of the truthe of their principles, it remaynethe, that the arte it selfe beeyng grounded of falle propositions, and of them heaped to a huge and greate buildynge, this so selender and weake a foundation beeyng taken away, muste needes falle downe, and lye prostrate.

These thynges I doo the oftener repete, that all men may knowe what vayn bragges they make, whyles they take that whi che is no cause, in steade of a sure and certayne cause. For by what reason Saturnus shoulde sygnifie this or that, neyther they them selues, nor any man elles canne shewe, and that wee hauehave spoken of Saturne, the same also maye bee sayde of all the reste of portendynge sygnes. Excepte peraduenture they wyll boaste of somme reuelations to bee geuen vntounto the snuen…rs of theyr arte, whyche yf they bee not ashamed to confesse (as is their mad boldnesse they shall turne the foly, which now a litle, repentance wold correct, into mer… madnes. Let vsus grant them their priuate reuelations, visions, and fantasies, for so we shall encreace their follisshenes, with pride and vaineglorie, yet we are sure they are not to bee trusted. And to declare that more p…ninely, bicause all reuelations are not of one sorte, let vsus deuyde theim into two kyndes: for some are geuen of good angels, and some of euyll: They that are geuen of good angels are suche, as the nature of good spirites is wont to be, that is to say true, profitable, and to be thorte, generally good. The oracles of …uyl spirites agree in qualitie with the geuers of them: that is, they be false, hurtful, & euyll. Now of whether sort this reuelation is, by whiche the principles of Astrologie at the first were reueled: let vsus in few wordes consider. Now vncertayn these principles are, and to speake playnly, howe false, we may bothe see by daily experience, and also we hauehave sufficiently aboue declared. Seynge then it appeareth, that your science is not deriued from a good angel or spirite, whe ther you wyll hauehave it to come of an euyll spirite, or of neyther, the choyce at this …yme (O Astrologians) shalbe yours. In the meane season either ceasse to boaste of your rotten and cancred art, orels by som… waie perswade your principles to be true, to suche as without proofe can beleue nothyng. whether you entend to doo, we that shortly perceiue: for if you bold your peace wee hauehave ouercome, and wyll celebrate a triumph for ouerthrowyng your myghty gyant Atlas. But if any of you be so …ham les, that he dare enter into battail again… truth, and vsus, that maynteyn her quarell, yf he be found it …onger in armes then we are, we wyl geue place, and yelde, but if he be not able to abyde our strokes, we wyll take the castell of Astrologie, and destroy all thynges that maketh resistence, with weapon, fire, and famine. Nowe we hauehave cast our dartes bothe in numbre and fo… sufficient among the thickest of our … mies, it remaineth that we beate backe the weapons throwen of them, or at the least take them clean away, that they beyng destitute of them, may run about as it were fightyng and beatyng the aire with vayne strokes. And to begin of that part, in w… che they put no smalle confidence: I hauehave herd many which boasted, that they were able to proue their diuination out of holye scripture: which mē whē by reson of cōten tion they wer cōpelled to bring forth what they could for their defēce, wold sain hauehave cōcluded their vaticination out of the first chap. of Genesis. For whē God the most excellēt wise workman, of nature had crea ted heauē & orth, with his almighty word, had put also a difference betwene the light which he had made, & darknes: more ouer had placed the firmamēt in the midst of the waters: Furthermore gathered y^e waters, y^t before couered y^e whole face of y^e erth for preseruatiō of liuing cretures that he entē ded to create into one place, & fynally had garnished the earth with a moste pleasant ve…ure of trees & grene herbes, the fourth day determinyng to create lights, to make distinction betwene day & night, apointed then their propre vse, saying: The… shal be vntounto signes vntounto appointed seasons (for so the Hebru word soūdeth) vntounto dais & vntounto yeres, & the lightes shalbe in heuen to geue light vpō y^e erth, whose eternal wil theffect streight way folowed. For god made two great lights, a greater light to rule y^e day, & a lesser light to rule y^t night, & also y^e stars. Here the prognosticators take no smal cou rage, y^e god ordened the lights, y^e thei shuld be vntounto signes. But how litle these signes make for y^t purpose of their predictiōs, he y^e …rarketh y^c order & discours of y^t words shal easily …cesue. For y^t which foloweth of appointed sesons, likewise y^t which foloweth of dais & yeres, these seme to me to expon̄d what maner of signes thei shalbe, y^e is, thei shalbe tokēs of sprig, sōmer, au…ūne, & win ter, of dais natural & artificial, lōg or short of yeres, according to y^e sons course, or to y^e moones course, & so of y^t rest. And wheras here is chiefly mētion made of y^e sonne & y^e moon, if we wil nedes by signs, vnderstad for shewing, thei shalbe vntounto signes of he… whē y^t son oraweth nere to vsus, of cold wh… ̄ …h departeth, of abūdāce of humors whē y^t moon encreaseth, & y^e cōtrary whē she is in the wane or decreasing. But vf of necessitie you wold hauehave vsus to vnderstand fatall …dictions, notw^e standing the argument is in force, seing you know not what y^e stars do signify, you can not by their aspects tell of thyngs to come. But there be som, whi che as they thinke wil defend their science w^e much more strength, requiring that we shuld grant them y^t al things in erth ar ruled & gouerned by the power of y^e heuēly signes. Truly I am not so hard to be entre… ted, y^e. I wold deny the Astrologiās being oppressed w^e such calamite so litle a matter but rather I wil geue thē more thē they de mād, & such thigs as I wold beni thē if thei duplicate page duplicate page were obstinate and stubburn, now flying to their shoote an…re and last helpe, I wyll gentilly graunt them. All higher thynges saith Aristotle, woorketh in the lower bebies. Let al the power in these lower thinges be confessed to come from aboue. Nei ther wyll we greatly at this tyme striue against that deriuation of causes (deuysed by M…rcutius Trismegistus) from God to the angels, from them to the heuens, that it perteyneth to Fortune or fate, which he calleth foreign, neither doo I see how it shoulde hurt oure cause that we hauehave in hande, if we graunted theim that whiche they moste desire, and moste earnestly require, that is, that the starres hauehave dominion & exercise their power on mens matters contingently, that is, as it were a certaine inclination or some secrete motion, (for yf destenye consisted of the starres it coulde not be chaunged) but as for the signification of the starres bothe we learne by experience, neither doo the Prognosticators denye, but that they may, by diuers meanes be auerted or tourned to some other effect. Therfore seyng we hauehave granted this, that coulde not bee compelled, I long to see what helpe you can from thens transferre to youre selues. And nowe me thynketh I heare an Astrologian triumphyng on this maner: If the course of the starres, their reuolutions and aspectes do so strongly woorke in these lower bodies, that they shuld be causes of many effectes in the earth: what felowe is this, that will denye a proposition bearynge witnes to so many learned mens writynges beyng allowed by so many authorities of all ages, That the cause beeyng graunted, the effect must needes folowe, by what reason dare he affirme the cause, and denye the effect…? But these so thretnyng wordes, what are they at the length but very words in dede? For geuynge to eueryevery cause her propre effecte, yet wyll I not graunt effecte to that whiche is no cause: or if it be a cause, I wil not graunt that to be the offect which they wyll hauehave. For they knowe not what the starres doo cause or sygnifie, but embracyng an art delyuered of their ancestors, without any sure grounde or foundation, hauehave it in estimatiō as a diuine knowlege whiche conteineth in it no more diuinitie and truthe then the rest of the Chaldeans superstitions that yet remayne: of whome this science was receyued: whiche learned & wise philosophers in all ages contemned and vtterly despised. And not only heathē men as Porphyrius, whiche to Iamblicus saythe, That it is impossible that a manu… shuld knowe the signification of the celestiall reuolutions. Iamblicus hymself whi che denyeth, that any vertue or power descendeth frome the starres, & dyuers other contemned the vayne ostentation of this art: But the prophete Hieremye himselfe with lowde voyce forbyddeth the Israelites to feare the influence of the starres, as the heathen doo. But therfore (say you) do they signifie nothyng? Wherfore I pray… you, are they not to be feared? eyther bycause they signify nothyng, or bycause the signification of them to men is vncertain and vnknowen? What, doothe not Paule thapostle of the Gentiles exhort his scolar Titus, that he regard not foolyshe and su perfluous questions of Genealogies and natiuities? F…r what cause then dothe Ieremie forbydde to feare, and Paule to regarde Predi…ions of Astrologye, yf in theym were any thynge eyther to be feared or regarded? Go youre wayes nowe, and make the people afrayd with horrible threatnynges, proclayme great calamitie to follow…: Of pestilence, bat tayle, and famyne: or yf any thynge bee more greuous then these? Warne them of a sodayn destruction that shall falle vppon theym. As two yeares ago Cunyngham threatned to Egypte, Babylon, Constantinople, and the Cities of Italye a mooste lamentable and vtter subuersion. Had not the Italyans, Egyptians, Grecian…, and Chaldeans greate cause to feare, consyderyng that by the iudgemente of astrologians so great ruine hanged ouer their heades? Who wolde not in this case hauehave be… afrayde, except it were such as (I can not tell howe preposterously) woulde preferre Hieremies pro…hecie before Cunynghā … prognostication? Lykewyse he that had rather gyue credyte to the Prognosticatours thenne to sainct Paule, shoulde he not hauynge his natiuitie caste, forsee by it, what good thynges, and what euyll… thynges he shoulde in all his lyfe attayne? so shall he deuyse to auoyde the euylle, and brynge the good thynges to effecte. O blockeheade, that must hauehave thy Natiuitie caste, howe dooest thou determyne to leade thy lyfe, lyke a bruite beaste, that thou wylle suffer all thynges to woorke vponupon thee. Wherefore serueth thy reason which thou dost not vse? nay rather which thou dooste abuse in suche vanities. … wynge thy fortune (y^e saist) by thy natiuity thou wilte endeuour thy selfe to seeke for good thynges, and auoyde euyll thynges. Why wouldest thou not hauehave doon so, although thou haddest neuer asked counsell of the …? Alas, when wyl the world leaue to hauehave in admiration suche curious vanities. But now an other obiection. Berosus the Chaldean, a most auncient histo riographer reporteth, that the holy Patriarke Noah dyd forsee the vniuersall floud by the aspect of the starres: and to the intent that he myght auoyd the danger therof, he made the arke to preserue the life of hymselfe, his sonnes, and their wiues, and beasts of eueryevery kynde. Then is not so auncient a science muche profitable …omans▪ lyfe, whiche the holye patriarke dyd practise, and by helpe of which mākynd, beasts and what soeuer in al the worlde was plesant or profitable in tyme past was preserued from vtter destruction? This no lyght or contemptible author hath reported, but euen Be…osus the Chaldeā. But Moses the Hebrue, beyng also a most iust lawe geuer and historye writer, as moste auncient, so moste faithe worthy, witnesseth, That the Lorde God spake vntounto Noah, and foreshewed the vniuersall …loude, commandynge hym to make the Arke. And lest the Astrologians shulde dreame of a reuelation by the starres, prescribed vntounto hym a determinate forme and measure of the ship that he willed to be made. Then where is your boastyng of the antiquitie and necessarys vse of Astrologie? where be your bragges of the patriarke Noah, whom you would hauehave to be a patron of your foly? Shal we beleeue Moses, whiche write that, whiche was reueled by God? orels Berosus whic… studieng to aduance an art inuented of the superstitious Chaldeans, imagyned and fained, that the floude was foreseen by the practise of that arte.

Nowe therfore which way wil ye turne the saile of youre safetie? The Patriarke Noah dooth renounce you, Hieremie and Paule doth hate you: Porphy…ius & Iambli cus, dothe contemne you. Who shall then be your standard bearer? or who the trompettour to blowe out your praise? Ptholomeus ascribeth as much certaintie to you as to the wynde: For he affirmeth, That your prediction… doo not bynde any man, but onelyonly drawe them that be wyllyng. Then by this reason their will shoulde be cause of those thynges that chaunce, and not the starres. For against them that wil not, the starres can do nothyng: and them that hee wyllynge they canne not lette to …oo what they wyll. If this bee true, as it is moste true what power is left to the influence of the starres: We grant, say they that of those accions whiche a man doth, his wylle is the nexte cause: But of those actions whyche be not in a mans power, that is suche, as he can not bryng to passe as he woulde, the starres be gouernours. But then to what purpose or end dryueth that notable sayeng, whych beyng sprong from anercellent learned manne, all men by their consente do…e allowe, that is, (A wise man shal rule the starres) Is not this ment, that the signification of the starres althoughe they were knowen, hauehave not so greatte power in mennes mattiers, but that a wyse mannes prouydence is of muche greatter force, so that not without a cause, A wyse manne is sayde to re…ls the startes, that is to saye, the Iufluence and signification of the starres.

Yet sommetyme it commeth to passe, that in castynge a mannes natiuitie, you doo hyt…e ryghte of his lyse or maners. And we wyll not greately str…ue agaynst you, but seeyng you doo so often and so dyuers thynges foretell to eueryevery mann…e by his natiuitie, yt were impossible, but that som what muste nedes chaunce accordyng to youre predictions: yet this is by chaunce and not by arte: for he that wysely and … ly gently reuolueth in his mynde, that hen uenly reuolution, can not be certainly per suaded, that so momentaneous and shorte face of the heuens shuld worke any thyng strongly so long tyme after: for in the moment of an howre it is continually chau… ged frome one to an other: and this is the cause, that Iamblicus thynkethe, that the differences of tyme, whyche the Astrologiaus obserue, auayleth lyttell or nothyng to the effecte of stronge and meruaylous woorkes. Besydes this a certayne Astrologian or Palmester, Iohannes Indagine affirmeth, that this shorte and momentaneous reuolution of the heuēs is of lesse effecte and power then that, whyche he …l leth naturall astrologie, reducyng all fortes of menne what saeuer they be…, vntounto xii. horoscopes, accordynge to the numbre of the twelue signes. Therfore as well he as the other dooe ascribe so manye and so dyuers qualities to euerye manne by hys natiuitie, that of necessitie some of theim muste bee in euerye manne, As he whythe saythe, That a manne shall bee apte to anger, Pryde, LoueLove, Pytye, and duplicate page duplicate page suche lyke: where as there is no man but he shall fynd these & suche like qualities in himself, yf he enter into his owne mynde.

But to procede, howe eueryevery starre hath a name, whiche oftentymes seemeth to be geuen by the signification therof. Wherefore it shall not be out of the way, somme thyng to tary in resonyng of their names, left perchaunce the Astrologians of them (as of a gnatte) woulde seeme to make an Elephant. Fyrst therfore that the names whereby the starres are called, are not of their owne nature, but geuen to theim by men. Iohannes de sacro Bosco, sufficiently heareth wytnes, with whom Uer…ll agreeth in his first booke of Georgikes, saying

The shipman fyrste then gaue to starres their nomber, and their name:

The Pleiades, Hyades, and Lycaons, heare of worthy fame.

Neuertheles all the starres had not their names geuen theym of the same occasiōs yet they were al deuised for difference that they myght be one knowen from another, as Bernardus Syluestris sayth very pretily.

Leste that without… distinction the cōmmon worde shulde go,

The names wherby the starres be cald, by men were termed so.

But of the names some were attributed vntounto them for the forme whiche they seme to beare in heauen to theym that beholde them: Of that sort ar the wain, the crown, the shippe, the serpent, the harpe, and such lyke. Some beare their name of their propre place, in whiche they bee sette: As Aries the ramme fyrste of the stocke, and firste of the signes. Cancer the crabbe, … beast that goeth backewarde, gaue name to that signe, in whiche the sonne retourneth to the lower hemispher. Libra, the ba lance, that maketh euē weight, so being the name of a signe, it maketh nightes & daies of equal lēgth. Aquarius, the water he arer and Pisees the fishes, for the abūdance of water, that is, when the sonne keepeth his course in those places, gaue name to those signes. Caper the goate, whiche in fedyng lifteth vp himselfe, and semeth to hang on the rocks, was thought a mete name to be geuen that signe, in whiche when the Son is, he daily riseth vp toward vsus frome the Antipodes, or men that go with their feete right against our feete. A greate number also of the names whereby the starres are called, were geuen of the Eth…kes, partly flattetyng their princes, and partly beleuyng that theyr sowles beyng translated after their death into heuen, had the do… mon of certayne starres, and therof from ancient tyme came the names of Saturne, Jupiter, Mars, Mercurie, O…ion, & such like. The men of later tyme perchance thynke that they eyther hauehave changed or reteyned certayn names, by reason of the qualities which they ascribe to the starres them selues. But this is specially worthe the markyng, that they are accustomed not of the qualities to geue the names, but of the names to derine theyr qualyties: as to the Crabbe, which is a fyshe by the water side (although he be a signe of the sommer, yet beyng in heauen, they ascribe a wa…ry nature. Likwise to the Bull, whiche is a melancolike beast euen amōg the signes, they attribute an earthy dispolition: The rāme in deuē also they wil hauehave to beare domini on of the pe in erth, like as the bull of oxen. So also to Saturne whiche of the poetes was feigned to be a lur kynge god, they ascribe melancolike qualities, but Iupiter which in the Fables is found a gentil & fauorable God, is also iudged to bee a well willyng planet. Venus which was gentyl and amiable, euen amonge the starres is said to keye y^e same nature still. Mereurius which is reported of the poets to be a these and a crafty felow, being translated to the numbre of gods, is also vnstable & inconstant, applying himself to eueryevery company, for with the good, he is also good, and with the euill, agreable in qualitie with theim. And now by this means we hauehave veriued the significations of moste part of the planets, from the very fountain out of which they are drawen, wherby eueryevery man may se vponupon what reason their principles both consist, out of which they feine themselues as it were gods, to hauehave knowledge of thin ges past, thinges present, & things to com. But abide for, bid not the. iij. wise men by aspect of a starre in the east, vnderstande, that Christ was borne, and by leadyng of the same, come to the place of his birth, to worship him, how then do you cry that the predictions of the starres are to be cōtemned? If you entend to wrest this to the con firmatiō of your art, by y^e same reason you shall cōclude y^e inumerable wōders which at y^t time chā …ed in al places were done by y^e order of nature. But at y^e time al thyngs ministred vntounto god: & y^e his power might appere, Nature her self went our of her ac customed place. For at that time great & wondrous meruaile hapned, in so much y^e the diuinors, soothsaiers, magitians, and all they that were wonte to tell the significations of such matters, beyng demanded what these wonders ment, answerd, That Nature was in trauail with the LORDE of all thynges created. There testeth no more nowe, but to dissolue Cunynghams confutatione (set forth by hym iwa certain Epistle, whiche he calleth his Inuectiue) by lyke force as we hauehave doon the test. Master Cunynghā thinketh y^t he hath reduced al aduersaries calūniations vntounto ij. poyntes: The fyrst is, that y^t knowlege of Astrologie, is enemy to the most laudable sciēce of phisike: The other, That the Astrologiā can not foreshewe thynges to come by his starres. Concernynge the former parte he sendeth us ouer to Hipocrates the prince of phisike, in his boke De aëre, aqua, & locis. Seyng therfore it was nedefull for me to reade ouer that booke (although not agreable with my study and profession) yet hauyng one lent me, according to the smal leisure that I had, and the litle capacitie of my poore wytte, I redde hym ouer bothe in Greke and latin. And truely as farre as I remembre the notes of the margent in the latin translation proclaimed open war betwene Hipocrates and me: but when I looked nerer to hym selfe, I found no man so frendly to me, whiche prescribed so profytable necessary vse of astronomy (not ones dreaming of fatal signs, as they wold seme to hauehave hym. But seing peraduēture I shal seme to dispute on these matters beyonde my cunnyng, I wolde sayne learne of doctour Cunyngham what argumentt to confirme Astrologie he can gather out of that booke. In the meane tyme suche thynges as I redde and vnderstode, I wil briefely recite. Hipocrates speaketh muche of the risyng of certayne signes and stars, as of the Pleiades, Arcturus, Canis, and suche other, all the which sayenges are most plainly to be referred to the state of Tyme that is, when those signes rise or go down. And not here onelyonly, but also in his Aphorismes, Hipocrates dryuethe to the same ende. Wherefore he concludeth, That the knowledge of Astronomye, not of Astrologie, is profitable to the science of phisike Bicause that by the course of the starres the phisition may forsee many thynges ne cessary to his science. Not that the starres …oo foretell hym of any thynge, but that their risynge or fallyng is coincident with suche state of tyme. Secondly, master Cu nyngbam concludeth, that things to come may be forsene by aspect of the starres, by this argument. If the Maryner by his signes can forshe we the tempest to folowe, the Phisition by his tokens, can forsee the increace or declination of the liknes. The husband man by his argument can fortell the state of the yeare to folowe, why may not the learned Astrologian by his starres hauehave knowledge of thynges to come? As for example, Mars is whotte and drye, nowe yt he see many fyery thynges mete with hym, may he not boldely pronounce that the yeare folowyng shalbe muche enclined to heate. But of howe smalle force this argument is, we shal vnderstande by the easy solution thereof. For grauntynge that the maryner, phisition, and husbande man can forsee thinges by his certayn sygnes and tokens: Yet what fatall necessitie (in gods name) compelleth vsus to think likewise of thastrologians. For the example that is brought to confirm the matter, is more doubtfull then the matter it selfe: for we can not tell of what nature Mats is, nor thastrologians them selues, so that is they wyl proue any thyng by this argument, they must fyrst shew by what reson they call Mars whote, or Saturne colde.

For except they bee sure of this, that they make their priciples tru, thei may at their pleasure conclude what thei list. But their propositions shall hauehave no more credite then truth & certayntie. Wherfore not because the phisitiā or the mariner can know any thing, therfore the astrologians shall do the lyke, except they fetch theyr premō strations of as sure groundes as the other do. But lest we should to insolently inuey agaynste these false tellers (foretellets I wold say, master Cunyngham hath geuen vsus ensaumple of two yeares that chaunced accordyng to the predictions of moysture, 1524, and drynesse. 1540. But here I appeale to Cuninghams wisedom, why he bryngeth exaumple of two yeares onelyonly, and them so longe agoe past? and why he dyd not she we exaumple of thre yeares laste paste? yf he wyll boaste that his arte is certayne and trewe, why doothe he not declare, that the euent of eueryevery yeare was suche, as thastrologiās for shewed it shulde bee, whether because all menne with one voyce wold say nay…or els because of tyme longe paste he may feigne, and no manne reproue him. but there shal nede no such cō tention we wil grant. xx. yeres sens astrol. first began, whiche hapned accordyng as the prognosticators fortold them: wylyon then boast that your diuinatiō is true, be cause of. 2000. yeares onelyonly, twenty serus for youre pourpose. But these thynges beyng so clere I omytte.

And that we may make haste to the had uen that is not nowe farre of, seynge this ap…she arte is vnprofitable to the woorkes of phisike, to the profite of the studentes, to the state of the common wealth: and seyng that without principles nothyng can be knowen: but astrology consisteth either of no principles, or of false, in is softe labony that is spent in thobseruation therof: in vayne it is to credite their predictions, vnsust it is, that she is of the vnlerned people reuerenced, more worthy to bee buried vnderunder the chanell of Lethe, the ryuer of ob liuion, than that she shoulde enioyeng the cleare lyght of men, be had in any estimation. But if there be any Prognosticatour that will take vppon hym to defende Astrologie thus battered in pieces, let hym make haste to dooe it, before she vtterlye false to ruyne.

FINIS.

¶ Herafter foloweth a short Treatise, as well for the vtter subuersion of this fained art, as also for the better vnderstandyng of the cōmon people.