Judicium Astrologicum.

It is eminently observable, that all the Angles of the Figure are adorned with eminent Constellations, viz.

The Stars of Helice are Culminant in the Mid-Heaven.

The South Ballance, and the Sun, arising in the Horoscope.

The Pleiades setting with the Moon in the West-Angle.

The glorious Star Fomahant in the North Angle;

A Star (which the Learned Gardan saith) bestows Immortality upon Mortal Men.

And most of the Planets are, not only very power­ful in the Scheme, but near great Fixed Stars also, viz.

Jupiter, is near the Stars of Auriga, and Orion.

Mars, with the Virgins Spike, a glorious Star.

Venus is plac'd with the Star Arcturus.

Mercury, is in Conjunction of the Scorpions Heart. It is a glorious Scheme of Heaven, both in the parts thereof, and in the whole: Of which more anon.

1. Of the Almutens, or Lords of the Geniture.

From this Collection of Testimonies, it is apparent, that there are not less than four Planets contending and notably striving for the Dignity of Almuten, or Dominator over this Learned Natives Inclinations, Manners, Actions, Affections, and Passions, viz. Mercury, Venus, Saturn, and the Moon: And a fift, also, will not be debar'd a share in the Dominion there­of, the Sun, I mean. And by these five Planets, ge­nerally, was this excellent Native Influenced all his Life time.

First, There was Conspicuous in him, the Learn­ing, Dexterity, Apprehension, and Ingenuity of Mercury. And Men of great Places (such as this Natives were) had need of strong and powerful Mer­curies. Persons of mean Souls, are not capable of being employed, or fit to be entrusted in Lofty Mat­ters.

This Honourable Native had a Mercury fortunate in earnest, though in Sagittarius: [Which tells me, that Astrologers are Arbitrary, and impose upon the World, when they assign Imbecillity, or Male-effects to Planets, simply, for being in Detriment, and not regarding other assistances. Besides, we know it for a certain truth, —That a Man may be as free in the House of another, with whom he hath a fair and no­ble Reception, as if he were in his own, and had all his Tenants about him, paying to him the greatest Fealty [Page 7]and Homage.] Mercury is here, not only near a Kingly fixed Star, and in a glorious Reception of Ju­piter, befriended by the kind beams of Saturn and Venus; which, as Astrologers tell us, naturally inclines Men to be Just, Prudent, Honest, and to be of Praise­worthy and Upright preserving Principles. It shews Men propense to the study of the Law, and Theologie, and to all good Literature; and declares such Natives to be eminent pursuers of Justice and Goodness, and to be remarkably serviceable to their Prince, and to the People they shall live among. As an afflicted Mer­cury shews turbulent, disturbant spirited Persons, and promoters of Mischief and Discord; so an assisted and fortunate Mercury, denotes quiet; worthy, and peace­able Natures, abetters to Amity, Friendship, and Concord, and to all generous and laudable Actions among Men; all which was true in this Native.

Such a happy Mercury doth likewise make Excel­lent Poets, Orators, Philosophers, &c. And, was not this great Native all this? For his Oratory, the World sufficiently was acquainted herewith, from all his Excellent, Legal Orations, made on the Judg­ment Seat. For his Philosophy, let his Learned La­bours emitted into the World, be given in Evidence. For his admirable acquaintance with the Rules and Measures of Poetry; let his many Divine Poems made upon the Birth of our ever Blessed Saviour's Birth-Day, be a Testimony and Proof, how excellent­ly well he understood that Seraphique Science.

[Page 8]2. The Sun cannot be excluded from bearing a share considerable in the Honour and Dignity of Al­muten in this Nativity; because he is so happily po­sited in the Ascendant. — Sol in Horoscopo— tribuit Dominium super alios, & Authoritatem, Honores, Dig­nitatesque â Principibus, &c. The Sun, in any Geni­ture, being posited in the East-Angle, generally gives Honour, Authority and Dignity, from Kings and Princes; and fits Men for Rule and Dominion over the meanner sort of People. He declares such Natives to be of excellent Prudence and Judgment, Honour, Gravity, Affability, Courtesie, and Cheerfulness; and signifies them to be great observers of their Pro­mises, haters of all Sordid, Base, and Dishonourable things. All which Excellencies did shine in this our Pious Scorpionist. The Sun, like Truth, non quaerit angulos, disdains to lurk in Corners. And such Per­sons that will perform brave and noble things, must have the Sun for their Friend. For all Actions of Ho­nour and Gallantry, of publick Worth and Genero­sity, do naturally derive from the Sun. —If therefore thou findest in any Geniture, the Luminaries free and powerful (no matter, though they be in Conjunction or Opposition of each other; for that is another frau­dulent Aphorism in Astrologie, which Charactereth such Configurations, without exception, bad: As I shall elsewhere have occasion to demonstrate) thou mayst certainly pronounce that Native, who hath them so in his Geniture, to be of a generous and worthy Mind and Spirit, scorning mean and ignoble things; [Page 9]disdaining to be the Author of Mischiess, or Preju­dices to any Man: but rather covetous and ambiti­ous to do all sorts of People good; the Native is ne­ver well at ease, but when he is scattering of Cour­tesies and Benefits among others. All which was ad­mirably verified in this generous Native.

The Sun is disadvantaged himself, when he is Ob­nubilated, and hindred from discovering his glorious Rays: But when he is enabled to appear in his Native Claritude, he is Glorious in earnest. —And what doth he then? —Ask the whole Creation, and not the Rational and Sensitive parts thereof only, whe­ther he doth not Pride himself in being nobly kind and beneficial unto all things?

It is true, the Sun, as Seneca says, doth draw his nourishment from the Earth: Yet, like a good King, who receives a Tribute or a Tax from his Subjects, is never quiet, until he find a way to divide and scatter it among them again.— The Sun, or Solar Person, is too noble and generous minded, to be a Hoarder; he hates Avarice, and bequeaths it to his opposite, close-sisted Saturn. His Treasury is al­ways open. He is better pleas'd with the Fork, than the Rake.

The Sun (saith Haly) Est Planeta magni Dominii, Potentiae, Nobilitatis, &c. He is a Planet of great Dominion, Power, and Nobility; and therefore Astro­logers do reasonably signifie under him, Kings, Princes, Potentates, and the most worthy and honourable of Men. He telleth us further, that the Sun is melior [Page 10]& nobilior omnibus aliis Planetis, & in nobilitate cla­rior: And he gives this reason for his being so, in these words. — Quia natura sua operator in omnibus naturis, & nulla naturarum aliarum operatur in eo. He is, — Lumen & Candela Caeli, Gubernator Mundi, Factor Temporum, &c. The Light and Candle of Heaven, Lord of the World, and Distinguisher of Times and Seasons. How aptly therefore are the worthiest of Persons attributed to the Sun? And how happy are they, when so particularly signified by him? As this our Learned Native was.

Well might the famous Plutarch term the Sun, The Image of God; And, the Learned Author of Religio Medici, stile him, The Visible Deity. For we experi­mentally know, his Image upon Earth, (I mean a Man born under him, as was this worthy Judg, in a great Degree) is ever aiming at Noble, Virtuous, and Worthy things. I could produce Instances almost in­finite of this truth, were it needful. But since it is a Verity nearly as Conspicuous and Glorious as the Sun it self,— That Persons Born under the Sun, (well Dignified, as in this Geniture) or such as have the Sun for significator of their Manners, Inclinati­ons, &c. are propense naturally to Just and Honoura­ble things, &c. I conceive it stands in need of no proof.— If any Worthy and Learned Astrologer think it do, I let him, and the whole World know, that this Reverend and Learned Judg, had the Sun so to friend at his Birth: And accordingly did shine to the [Page 11] English Nation in all the Characters of Honour, Good­ness, and Magnanimity.

3. The gentle Planet Venus, had a share likewise in the significations of this honourable Scorponist's Actions, Temper, &c. And her sweet and curious Influences were eminently visible in him.— Not a Person frequenting Westminster Hall, and observing his Method and Demeanor in his dispensing of Justice, but is able to make Affidavit of this excellent Natives sweetness of Temper and Disposition: Of his great Patience and Gentleness: Of his readiness to hear the meanest Plaintiff or Defendant that came before him for Relief.

In his Place, and on his Seat of Justice, a Pauper was as much his Care, as the greatest Man in the Kingdom; he was always ready to help the Helpless, and to assist the Distressed. His gentleness of Hu­mour did more convince People that were in the wrong, than his Power. And his Patience wrought better Effects upon the Perverse and Obstinate, than his Authority, or the Sword he bore for the Punish­ment of Offenders.

But, if you would see a larger and more am­ple Copy of his Mind, read his Contemplations, those excellent Discourses, which were his private Medita­tions, wherein he breath'd forth his soul to God; with whom a just Man dares not dissemble.— And there you'l find much more of the Gentleness, Sweetness, and Affability of his Temper, Humour, and Dispo­sition, than I am able to express: Or, it maybe, than [Page 12]his Stars are fully able to declare.— For, though they discover great and illustrious Things of him, yet there were greater things in him, than his Stars alone could own.

And I am of Opinion, that there is somwhat which moves the Stars in the Generation of Mankind, (espe­cially of Good and Pious Men) of greater Influence than they, viz. The Spirit of God. From which Spi­rit, (and not singly from his Horoscope, as the Fatists teach) Man became a Rational Creature. And, if Reason be a spark of the Deity, (which Hermes Tris­megistus affirms in his Divine Pymander: Nay, the holy Evangelist St. John seemeth to say the same, Chap. 1.) Man hath thereby a better Title to his Do­minion and Lordship over the Creation, than all the Stars in the Heavens could afford him; he being Jure Divino, a Governour thereof, as Created in the Image of God. And so I have done with the significations of the mild and gentle Planet Venus, in the Nativity of this our thrice Learned Native.

4. Nor were the Influences of Saturn well digni­fied, mean, or inconspicuous in this great Man's Ge­niture. For it is very obvious to every discerning Artist, that he had interspersed throughout all his Actions and Expressions, the great Judgment, Gra­vity, Wisdom and Sobriety, which that sober Planet is Author of: He had an admirable Memory, pro­found Cogitations, and Conceptions, &c. which mix­ed with the excellent significations of a happy Mer­cury, before spoken of, gave him so great and deserved [Page 13]an esteem in the Breasts of the People: Insomuch, that all Men would willingly commence their Suits in that Court where he sat Judge: And, many of them who had begun in other Courts, would frequently appeal to him, and remove their Causes according­ly.

Good Lawyers coveted to Plead before him, and refer themselves unto him; as knowing, that where a Wise and Learned Man was to direct to the conclu­sion of a Difference, their Reasons and Arguments would never be neglected, but made the best use of, for a discovery of the Truth, and for the honour and security of Justice. But, as Good Men coveted to be Judged by him, so Bad Men would flie his Award, and rather chuse to comprimise their Differences, than stand to his Determination and Judgment. As know­ing him to be an Encourager of Truth and Justice, and an utter Enemy to Fraud and Falshood; and so in no wise fit for their turns.

Dost thou think (good Reader) that the great Trine of Saturn and Venus, and the same glorious Configuration between Mars and Jupiter, and Sa­turns platique Trine to Jove, together, with the for­tunate Mercury, as before; are not of excellent sig­nification? They are great and famous Positions, I assure thee: And declar'd this renowned Native to be blessed with a Spirit of Discerning; and with so great a portion of Judgment, Reason, and Courage too, (for a Coward dares not to be vertuous, cannot be so) that as he was thereby armed intellectually for [Page 14]to dispense Justice rightly, and discover Truth nim­bly: So he was provided also with an Amulet of Praise-worthy, and Honest-policy, to prevent his be­ing cheated with a Fallacy. He would search a crafty Cause, as a skilful Chirurgeon a dangerous Wound, viz. to the bottom, and discover the Corruption thereof to the owners shame and blushing.

I could relate sundry Stories of his Dextrous Saga­city, did I hold it requisite or needful; or, yet believe, that I have not said enough to prove,— That this worthy Man had an eminent share in the Influence of Saturn (well dignified) in him. To conclude this Point, His Saturn is assisted by Venus, and his Mer­cury by Jupiter and Venus— And if the Fortunes in any Geniture, can befriend the significators of Wit and Judgment, then this Honourable Native had a great advantage in both those intellectual Weapons, above most Men by his Stars.

5. Lastly, We come to the Moon, for she hath a share in the Gubernation of this worthy Natives Inclinati­ons, Actions, &c. together with the others mention­ed. For, she is herein, not only Angular, but in her Exaltation too. A Planet in his Exaltation, saith Bethem, is as a Person in his Castle or strong Hold, and is of admirable Influence. The Moon signifies the Commonalty generally: And if Vox Populi, be Vox Dei, the love and respect of the Common Peo­ple, is to be preferred as eminently worthy: It was from the Moons strength and Angularity, as well as the Suns, (though I say not so much as his) that this [Page 15]Native had so popular a Fame and Esteem attending him; and she is in this Geniture a Copartner with the Sun in the presages of Popularity and Authority. The Holy Scripture characters her for a Great Light, made by God in the beginning. And such an one she is, truly, in respect of us, though not in her self, as the Doctrine of Astronomy teaches.

The Books of Genethliacal Astrology, relating to Honour, Fame, and Esteem, abound with Instances of the Moon, and her Significations therein.

That pious, yet valiant Prince, King Edward the Third of England, had his Moon so posited; and his Geniture, in many respects, was like this most excel­lent Natives.

I need not quote many Instances and Authorities for the proof of a thing so commonly and famously known.

This Nativity is rather fit for to stand as a Presi­dent, or Touch-stone, to prove others by, than to need a proof from any: Albeit, you see, that there wants not some Genitures of the greatest among Men to parallel it.

I remember to have read somewhere, That a Man of great Learning, perusing the Works of Virgil, was pleased to say,—That if all the Books in the World should be destroyed, and Virgil only remaining, there would some Vestigia of all Sciences be found therein: Certain I am, that if all the Nativities of worthy Men, that are to be found among the Writings of Astrologers should be consumed, and this one of our [Page 16]Reverend Natives only remaining, there would be Arguments enough of Vertue and Honor, of Justice, Wisdom, and Piety found therein, as would serve to build up the whole Genethliacal Doctrine again, so far as Vertue and Honor, &c. are therein concerned. And so I conclude my Discourse of the Almutens, or Governors in this Geniture. I shall be briefer in the other parts of the Scheam.

2. Of the Hylech in this Nativity.

From the Almutens, we descend to a consideration of the Hylech, or giver of Life. And in this great Worthy's Nativity, the Sun is the Planet which so governs, as being placed in the Horoscope, the prime Aphetical Angle of the whole Figure, and the Geni­ture being neerly Diurnal. And, as the Sun, just rising, was the giver of Life, so he did confer on this Excellent Native a splendid, clear, and spotless one.—Such a Life! that nothing but the greatest Envy dares pretend, in the least measure, to tax or blemish. And yet this Reverend Native has Scorpio for his Horoscope, and the Sun (that glorious Lamp and Light of Honor and true Worth) posited there­in.

What shall we say? Either the Sign Scorpio is not so wicked as some People pretend it; or if it be, the Sun by his Horoscopical presence in this just Man's [Page 17]Nativity, was able to dispel the Fogs and Clouds of Prejudice that are presumed naturally to attend it. Which, if allowed, it will then follow, that Scorpio hath no native Vice belonging to it, (for Essences cannot be permuted, the Leopard and his Spots must keep together) nor is it so bad, but that it can admit of a mitigation, possibly a total alteration, from what some proclaim it chargeable withal, by an innate right and property.

And, if an allay, in any sence, be permitted as proper to the Sign Scorpio, may we not reasonably in­dulge the same to any other Sign of the Zodiack?— And then, who is there that will doubt, but that we may be enabled to find a Native born under the just Sign Libra, to be as vicious as any to be found brought into the World under the wicked Sign Scorpio? & è con­tra. And if we come once to have it allow'd, that the Signs of the Zodiack, as they become the Horo­scopes of Men, may submit in their significations to other more prevalent Causes; The Consequence is unavoidable, and I aver it for a splendid and fixed Truth,—That a very vertuous Man may be born un­der Scorpio, and a very vicious Man under Libra or Pisces.

These Circumstances being consider'd, (as they must be, or else Astrologie is no Science, but a meer System of Folly, Idleness, and Confusion) then may that excellent humane Sign of Aquarius, produce as wicked, as envious, and ungrateful a Nature, (supposing the Moon in quadrate of Saturn, and Mars in the seventh [Page 18]Angle) as any other Sign whatsoever.— Can any Astrologer give me a just Reason to the contrary?

But this Theam is handled more largely in my Obse­quium Rationabile, or Defence of Scorpio; unto which Book I refer my Reader, as being unwilling to enter upon any thing of Controversie, in this place espe­cially. And thus much shall serve for the Hylech.

3. Of the Alchocoden, or Giver of Years.

The Alchocoden, or Giver of the Number of Years, the Native might (according to Natural Causes) Live, or Arrive unto, is the vigorous Planet Mars; as being not only Dispositor of the Sun, who is Hy­lech, but of the Horoscope also: So that you see, he claims to be Governor of the Years of the Natives Life by a double Prerogative, and therefore must have the Honour thereof. And he being so considerably strong, and near to the Virgins Spike, an eminent fixed Star of the first Magnitude, of noble Nature and In­fluence; and also in a happy Trine Aspect of the be­nign Planet Jupiter: All which did very naturally por­tend this Renowned Native to arrive unto the great Years signified by Mars, which Ptolomy tells us, are Sixty and six. And, the Sun being in the Horoscope, might reasonably have extended his Line of Life be­yond that Number too, had not the Alchocoden been in an obscure Angle, (which is Inimical to Life) and [Page 19] Saturns great strength prevented it: For he being so powerful, and in Quadrate Aspect of the Horoscope, Minuit vitam Nati, as Haly saith; he did abate of the length of this glorious Natives Life.— Neverthe­less, we know he did survive his Alchocodonean Circle, and lived sixty and seven Years, and fifty five Days over: and exchanged this Mortal Life for one Immor­tal, on December 26. 1676.

And thus much shall serve to be said of the Alchoco­den, in this just Scorpionists Nativity.

4. Of the Anareta, or Abscissor of Life.

In the last place we shall speak a word of the Ana­reta, or Destroyer of Life; and that is in this Nati­vity, the benevolent Planet Jupiter [good Planets you see, may be designed sometimes, to the Executi­on of ill Offices:] as being both Locally and Virtually in the 8th House, viz. The Angle representing Death, and in reception of Mercury, Lord thereof; whose Position there, doth ever render the Death to be Natu­ral, unless there happen some great Conspiracy among the Stars to signifie the contrary; as there doth not in this Geniture. Possibly, his Position there, was one great Reason, why the Death of this worthy Heroe of Justice and Piety, is so much lamented and bewail­ed in this Sarcastical, Obdurate, and (I was about to say) Profligate Age. Which spirit of sorrow ap­pearing [Page 20]so remarkably among us, helps to prove,— That there is yet remaining in this (once Valorous and Religious) Nation, the Seeds of true Consci­ence and Goodness, in that we can be really moved ( Non obstante the natural Vitiousness and Obstinacy of the Times) to Mourn in earnest, when so great and so good a Man is taken from among us, though to Heaven.

I will not pretend to so exact an acquaintance with all the Actions and Passions of this excellent Natives Life, as to suit every one of them to its proper Dire­ction, or meetings of the Stars. Let it satisfie, that I have published this glorious Nativity, neerly, as I received it from the honoured Hand of my Learned Friend, John Aubery Esq; a worthy Member of the Royal Society: And, that it accordeth with the Ani­modar of Ptolomy; and most happily and truly re­presents the publique Honours, Actions, and End of this thrice excellent Scorpionist; Of whom the World was not worthy.

5. Something touching the Revolutions, &c. pre­ceding this great Mans Death.

To Conspire with this worthy Natives Death, Astro­logically the Horoscope was directed ad Quadratum Ve­neris, in dignitatibus Saturni; and she in Aspect of Sa­turn radically, and Lady or Governess (in a great [Page 21]measure) of the Seventh, and Fourth Angles. The seventh Angle is opposite to the Angle signifying Life, and the fourth Angle represents the Grave, or End of all things.— But this is not a Direction of force sufficient to signifie so great an Accident, may some say? No! Assure thy self but it is, when the Alcho­codonean Circle is finished, and the Direction chance to happen in the terms of an Interficient Planet, as this did.— Besides, the Luminaries were, by direction, in Interficient, or Unfortunate Terms also.

And if thou thinkest that this was not enough to play the Atropos, and cut off this great worthys Life; Observe what follows in the Revolution, and grand Transits and Aspects of the Stars that concomitated the said Directions, and then thou wilt be convinced that there were Stellary Causes, sufficient, to intro­duce the Death of this excellent Native.

In this Revolutional Figure, the place of the Di­rection ascends the Horoscope, and the Moon is in Con­junction of Jupiter, the Planet Anaretical, and both of them in Opposition of Mars, Lord of the Ascen­dent at Birth. Arguments very prejudicial unto Life. But above all, the Opposition of the Sun and Saturn in this Figure, is remarkable; for as much as it is An­gular both in respect of the Radical and Revolutional Scheams; together with Saturns obviating the Radi­cal places of both Luminaries. These are formidable Arguments in earnest, and in an Astrological sense, did plainly point out the Death of this glorious Na­tive.

Nor may it be forgotten that the two great Solar Eclipses, Anno 1676, which but little preceded this excellent Persons Death, were of eminent significa­tion therein. The one of them falling in the eighth House, upon the very place of the Anaretical Planet, and the other in Opposition unto it.

Before a great and just Man Dies, the Sun himself, is wont to put on Sables. He did so before the Death of that good King, and glorious Martyr, King Charles the First. And before the Death of many more he did so, that I could mention; but History is so full there­of, it needeth not.

Neither were the two grand Configurations of the Sun and Saturn in that very Year of a slight tendency or import, or fit to be neglected, viz. the Conjunction of the Sun and Saturn, in fifteen Degrees of Taurus, upon April the 24th Day, on the Radical place of [Page 23]this great Natives Moon. And (2.) The Quadrate of the same Planets from Taurus and Leo, on August the 7th Day; they happening in the prime Angles of the Nativity.

And, to add a little more weight hereunto, let the Lunar Revolution, immediately preceding this just Man's Death, be but consulted: And therein you will find the same Position of Heaven, as in that of the Solar Revolution; and Jupiter, the Anaretical Planet, ascending in the Horoscope thereof. Which Argument, together with the former mentioned, did naturally con­cur (in the Judgment of Astrologers) to the Extin­guishing the glorious Light and Life, of this great and glorious Lamp of Learning, Honour, true Piety, Worth and Justice.

It is eminently observable, that, as the Moon did apply to the Sun, or, was in Configuration with him, [Page 24]in the Figure of the Nativity, so she applied to the Body or Beams of Saturn, in the Luminarian Revo­lutions preceding this great Natives Expiration. The Sun and Saturn are of opposite Natures and Influ­ences: This preserves Life, that promotes Death.