English Puritan & Reformed

Four Great Liars Striving

William Perkins (1558-1602) · 16,057 words · 71 min

The source for this document is https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo/A09431.0001.001

Project Note

This is licensed under Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND. This license allows reusers to copy and distribute the material in any medium or format in unadapted form only, for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.

The source of this document is the Early English Books Online (EEBO-TCP) website. Those books were transcribed in a character for character manner and can be very cumbersome to read since there was no standard spelling during that time. Many spelling variations such as "unlesse", "vnlesse", and "vnles" regularly appear.

This project was conceived to clean up those books as much as possible and make them more accessible to the interested reader, leading to the creation of a massive list of variant spellings and their corrections. This was used to clean up the text, but is of course only as complete as the list itself. Because of the nature of the original transcription, some words have missing characters or places where the original language (e.g., Greek) was not transcribed. This effort does not change that. Be aware that the original transcription can also be faulty and in some cases entire sentences may be missing.

Although this is no substitute for a properly compared, proofed, and scholarly edition, I believe that the result is a document which is far more accessible, particularly for searching for terms using standard spelling. The document has been cleaned and presented in what I hope is a pleasing and useful format for the vast majority of Christian brothers and sisters who just want access to read these spiritually nourishing works.

However, a word of warning: The Puritans were a very diverse group of people and their age was characterized with godliness, but also much upheaval, disputation and strife. They disagreed on many doctrines and some of these works contain less orthodox or Scriptural views than others. The reader is strongly advised to read with discernment, particularly if it is unknown whether author is trustworthy.

This project took a huge amount of time and skill to bring to fruition. I would particularly like to thank David Jonescue for the initial list of Puritans he found on EEBO and the concept behind this project as well as the continuous, unceasing efforts toward seeing this complete. Without his labor, this would not be available. Alex Sarrouf was invaluable in providing the initial list of over 7,000 spelling variations he had identified and corrected, as well as continuing to review more than 16,000 additions to that list for any typos.

Logan West
(with David Jonescue and Alex Sarrouf)
www.puritansearch.org

FOVRE GREAT LYERS, Striuing who shall win the silver WHETSTONE. ALSO, A RESOLVTION to the countri-man, proving it utterly unlawful to buy or use our yearly Prognostications.

Written by W. P.

ESAY. 47. verse. 12, 13, 14.

Stand now among thine inchaunters, and in the multitude of sothsayers, (with whom thou hast wearied thyself from thy youth) if so be thou mayst have profit, or if so be thou mayst have strength. Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels: let now the Astrologers, the Stargazers, and Prognosticators stand up, and save thee frō these things that shall come upon thee. Behold, they shall be as stubble: the fire shall burn them, they shall not deliver their own lives from the power of the flame: there shall be no coals to warm at, nor light to sit by.

AT LONDON; Printed by Robert Walde-grave.

Four great liars, striving who shall win the Silver whet-stone.

January.

First day.

B Cold and moist weather.
F Hard underfoot.
T Temperate weather.

B Rayne & windy weather.
F Drye underfoot.
T Cloudy, rain and slatter.

B Lowring weather.
F Hoarie frostes.
T Rayne or hail.

B Windie and foul weather.
F Fayre winter weather.
T Warme air.

B Cloudie and shewerie.
F Fayre and frostie.
T Moyst.

B Raw cold.
F Seasonable for the time.
T Temperate.

B Enclined to frost.
F Raynish weather.
T Temperate air.

21.

B Foule and windy.
F Inclined to moisture.
T Rayne or snow.
D Great winds and blustering air.

B Temperate for the time.
F Cold rainish weather.
T Inclined to snow or sleete.

February.

B Rayne, cold and dark air.
F Windie frost.
T Fayre.

B Uariable close weather.
F Calme and clean.
T Indifferent warm.

B Sharpe weather thick and dark air.
F Cloudie and moist weather
T Frost with snow or hail.

B Uariable▪
F Thicke air disposed to snow
D Blustring winds.

B Uariable.
F Rayne and snow.
T Temperate.
D Blustring winds.

B Small rain and close air.
F A goodly winters day.
T Black frost▪

B Cloudy and lowering.
F Frostie and clear▪
T Rayne.

B Rayne, cold inclined to snow or sleete▪
F Seasonable weather▪
T Rayne.

B Wind and storms.
F A dull day, but dry over head.
T Cold wind, freeze with hail or snow▪
D Blustring winds.

March▪

B Temperate.
F Hard and frostie.
T Windie.

B Cold with wind and some rain.
F Faire warm weather
T Windie.

B Calme but inconstant.
F Close weather.
T Rayne.

B Lowring mingled with some showers.
F Fayre clear and calm, but windy.
T Fayre Sun shine,

B Like to thunder.
F Cold and raynie.
T Cold blasts.
D Winds and blustering air.

B Rayne or other moisture.
F Windy, frost with clouds.
T Clear sun shine.

B Disposed to rain or moisture.
F Fayre and windy.
T Small showers.

April.

B Close wether disposed to rain
F Uery fair weather.
T Dispersed clouds.

B Some showers the wind variable.
F Windie and perchance mizling withal.
T A dark cloudy skye.

B Close, and mingled with small rain.
F Seasonable wether.
T Dark cloudy sky.

B Hot and moist.
F More warm then before.
T Thunder and lightning.

B Uariable wether.
F Hot and dry.
D Red Elementes and flashing metors to be seen.

B Cloudie, inclining to rain.
F Uerie hot.
T Clear sky, and fair wether

B Fresh air and variable.
F Uery hot for the time.
T Sweet smelling shewers.

B Cloudy with wind and some showers or else thunder & rain
F A close air wich April showers▪
T Sweet showers.

B Warme weather like to thūder.
F Close air with showers.
T Fayre weather.

B Freshe air variable winds, some rain.
F Fayre and kind weather.
T Fayre sun shine.

B Close with clouds threatening rain.
F Troublesome and distemperate weather.
T Warme sun shine.

B Warme inclined to moisture
F Pleasant and dry.
T Some showers.

May.

B Fresh air somewhat lowering
F Fayre and windy.
T Some showers.

B Colde clouds inclining to moisture.
F Azzured skye.
T Fayre.
D Red elements flashing metors to be seen.

B Rain and windy.
F Somewhat sharp weather.
T Fayre.

B Temperate weather.
F Dull and dark with rainy clouds.
T Faire and clear air.

B Faire and warm weather.
F Uariable weather.
T Lightning and thunder.

June.

B Wind with rain like to thunder.
F Dull and cloudy.
T A gille heat some thunder and lightning.
D Red elements flashing metors to be seen.

B Somwhat mild wether.
F Calme but cloudy and dark.
T Lightning and thunder.
D Store of rain.

B Rain and wind.
F Faire wether▪
T Temperate wether.
D Thunder and lightnings.

B Temperate wether
F Unsteedie wether.
T Air overcast.

B Close and lowering.
F Indifferent clear and calm.
T Fayre.

July.

B Fresh wether.
F Fayre.
T Cloudie.

B Warme.
F windy wether.
T A pempline wind.
D Red elements and Flashing metors to be seen.

B Some rain, like to thunder,
F Fayre weather.
T A fertile of Saturn and Mercury.

B Thunder
F Pleasant showers.
D Rain

B Hot wether.
F Troublesome or tempestuous weather.
T Cloudie sky.

B Fresh winds and cloudines.
F Tempestuous weather.
T Warme weather.

B Unkindly wether for the time
F Fayre, but somewhat cloudy with lightning.
T Moist weather.

B Likely to thunder with some rain.
F Some kind of tempestuous weather.
T Uery hot.
D Fearefull lighteninges and thunder.

B Lowring and variable wether.
F Tempestuous thunder, and lightning.
T Some warm showers.
D Blustring winds.

B Lightning thunder and rain.
F Temperate and seasonable.
T A conjunction of Jupiter and Mars.
D Blustering winds.

B Temperate and warm.
F Seasonable weather.
T Moyst weather.
D Great store of rain.

B Some rayn and close air.
F Divers coloured clouds.
D Thunder and lightninges.

B Ouercast and some rain.
F Inclined to thundering,
T A sextile of Jupiter and Venus.

B Rain and variable weather.
F Seasonable and d • y wether.
T Cold and dry air.

B Faire and hot▪
F Seasonable weather.
T Colde and dry weather.

B Pleasant weather.
F Somewhat windy.
T Clear sky.

August.

B Foule weather.
F Faire weather.
T Moist weather.

B Foule for the time.
F Uerie hot.
T Moyst.
D Fearefull thundering and lightninges.

B Warme weather.
F Drie but windy.
T A fair sky.

B Uariable.
F Misling rain.
T Somewhat cold.

B Lowring and hot weather.
F Fowl weather.
T The Moon with the tail of the Dragon.
D Feareful thunder and lightninges.

B Close cloudy air full of scattering rain.
F Good weather for the season.
T A true aspect of Saturn and Mercury.

B Uariable and somewhat fresh weather.
F Good weather for the season.
T Rainie weather.

B Some dashing showers.
F Pleasant and hot.
T Cold weather.

B Lowring and warm weather.
F Disposed to thunder & lightning.
T Colde.
D Fearful thunder & lightning

B Lowring and warm weather.
F Waueringe and uncertain weather.
T Inclining to heat.

B Showrie and hot.
F Close glomie weather.
T Moyste weather

B Showrie and hot.
F Glommie weather somewhat wyndie.
T Fayre weather.

B Wynde and some rain.
F A pleasant seasonable day.
T Cloudie weather.

B Some misling rain.
F A pleasant day.
T Cloudie weather.

September.

B Wynde and some small rain.
F Fayre weather.
T Cloudie.

B Uariable and mislinge unto moisture.
F Change of wether
T Colde and sharp air
D Red elements and flashing metors.

B Sodaine shows.
F Fayre and dry.
T Moyst dew

B Cold and windy.
F Cloudie and variable.
T Cold and moist weather.

B Cold▪ close air, yet dry.
F Raw cold and rain.
T Faire weather.

B Inconstant weather.
F Faire somewhat windy with whitish clouds.
T Some rain.
D Great store of rain.

B Somewhat cold.
F Warme and moist.
T Clearing up.

B Temperate for the season.
F Close weather.
T Faire weather.

B Temperate.
F Disposed to mislinges.
T A quarti • e of Mars and Venus.
D Great winds and blustering winds.

B Raw cold & variable wether.
F Seasonable weather.
D Wind with great store of rain.

B Cold.
F Seasonable weather.
T Warme.

B Faire for the time.
F Windie.
T A raw fog or myste.
D Great store of rain.

B Windie and variable.
F Faire.
T Warme.
D Great store of rain.

October.

B Faire.
F Windie with rain.
T Warme.

B Sodaine showers.
F Somewhat windy.
T Faire.

B Windie.
F Misling.
T Cold frost.

B Close air.
F Mutable.
T Hoare frost.

B Enclined to frost.
F Snowe or sleete.
T Colde.

B Wind, rain or sleet.
F Faire clear day.
T Cold dry frost.

B Cold and variable clouds.
F Loud and boisterous strong winds.
T A fair sky.

B Moyst weather.
F Temperate weather.
T Cold foggy mystes.

November.

B Raw cold, and lowering.
F Windie and dry.
T Warme.

B Wind and rain.
F Faire.
T Cold and moist.

B Driuing rain.
F Cold from the North.
T Faire.

B Cloudie.
F Frost.
T Reasonable fair.

B Bent to snow.
F Faire.
T Rain or sleete.

B Showrie and cold.
F Faire over head.
T Rain or sleete.

B Rainie weather.
F Subject to diverse changes.
T Colde like to freeze.

B Seasonable weather.
F Divers changes.
T Cold frost.

B Rayne or other moisture.
F Cleere weather.
T Mistes or foggy weather.

B Faire and comfortable.
F Somewhat windy.
T Mystie and foggy.

B Temperate weather.
F Rainie weather.
T Faire and dry.

December.

B Cold wind and raw weather.
F Warme air.
T Frost snow, and hail.

B Showers and windy blasts.
F A black day.
T A frost with some snow or hail.

B Windie blasts.
F A black day.
T A quartile aspect of the Sun and Mars.

B Temperate weather.
F Cold and rainy.
T Mystes.
D Great winds and blustering air.

B Uerie cold weather.
F Indifferent good weather.
T Faire.
D Great winds and blustering air.

B Disposed to frostes.
F Faire weather.
T Store of snow.

B Disposed to frostes, but not like to hold.
F Faire weather.
T Great store of snow,

B Uariable winds, and cold raw weather.
F Cloudie.
T Fayre thaw.

B Cold raw weather.
F Strong winds and rain.
T An opposition of Jupiter & the Sun.

B Stormie weather.
F Calme.
T A clear starry sky.

B Some showers.
F Loude winds.
T Warme thaw.
D Great winds and blustering air.

B Fayre & temperate weather.
F Lowring.
T Warme thaw.

B Seasonable.
F Fayre weather for y ^e greatest part.
T Warme thaw.

B Misling rain.
F Fayre weather.
T A sextile of Saturn & Venus.

B Misling rain and raw cold.
F Seasonable weather for the greatest part.
T Cold and dry.

B Boystrous wind, & some driving showers.
F A black frost in the morning, afterwards loud and unconstant, weather.
T Opposition of Jupiter and the Sun.

B Boystrous wind & some driving showers.
F Calme weather.
T The Moon with the head of the Dragon.

B Windie and foul weather.
F Somewhat moist.
T A pimpling wind.

B Wauering weather.
F Fayre.
T Moyst.
D Great store of rain.

B Thicke air and windy weather.
F Fayre enough for the season.
T Moyst.
D Great winds and blustering air.

B Thicke air and windy weather.
F Frostie.
T Moyst.
D Blustring winds.

B Lowring close and somewhat windy.
F Snow.
T Slatter.

B Windie weather.
F A windy frost in the morning.
T Snow and slatter.

Not convenient to have Prognostications Reasons:

1 Concerning the byer.
- 1 Immoderate care, joined with distrust in God.
- 2 Contempt of the providence of God, in not reverently regarding it.
2 Concerninge the maker
- 1 His vnability in Prognosticating, proved
  - 1 By the true end of the heavens.
  - 2 By want of good experience.
  - 3 By ignorance of particular causes.
- 2 His manifold untruths.
- 3 His impieties and profane speeches, and actions, not seeming a Christian.
- 4 His tricks of deceit.

A RESOLVTIon to the Country-man, prouyng it unlawful for him to bye or use our yearly Prognostications.

G OOD Reader, I have thought it convenient (for some special causes) in this short treatise, to disclose a part of my mind unto thee, concerning the making of Prognostications, and if it might be, to persuade thee, not to spend thy money in buying any of them. I have long studied this Art, and was never quiet until I had seen all the secretes of the same: but at y ^e length, it pleased God to lay before me, y ^e profaneness of it, nay, I dare boldly say, Idolatry, although it be covered with fair and golden shows. Wherefore, that which I will speak with grief, the same I would desire thee to mark with some attention. My reason shall partly concern thee, partly y ^e Prognosticatour himself. First on thy behalf, I reason thus.

The first Reason, immoderate care.

1 AS a man doth see the blessings of God upon him, so he must also labor with a careful diligence to maintain the state of this life. But because the affection of man is carried headlong unto a greedy covetousness: this desire of overmuch carpyng and caring, must be bridled with two strong bittes. First, all our care must extend it self no further, then the present day: Secondly, in caring we must not trust unto our selves, but fixe all our confidence in the mercy and providence of God who blesseth all, and without whose goodness, nothing can come to pass, do what we will. As touching the first, we have the direction of our Savior Christ: who teacheth us to pray on this wise. Give us this day our daily bread, whereby we are given to understand, that we are only to seek for the present time, resting with this persuasiō, that he which hath blessed us this day, will also tomorrow, & the next day show his like goodness unto us. Again, in y ^e same place, our Savior Christ speaketh on this wise. Care not thē for the morrow: for the morrow shall care for it self: the day hath enough with his own grief. By this we learn that God will provide for every day all things necessary, though we do not increase the present grief, with caring and casting in our heads how we shall live in the time to come. Now tell me what is the cause that thou yearly doest buy a Prognostication, & one of those, which tell the straungest things? Is it because thou hast a delight to read the style of Prognostications? Or because thou wouldest learn to Prognosticate? Or because the pictures and Characters which they make, delight thy mind? it were folly to be persuaded of this, seeing the very cause it self is manifest. Thy whole desire is to fil thy coffers, & to heap up wealth, thou art afraid least thou shalt become poor, therefore thou greedely buyest thee Prognostications, and continually searchest all the corners of them, to see the state of the year to come, evē thus in mind reasoning with thyself.

I can never be quiet, nor take my sleep, until such time as I have known the state of the year ensuing, that I may frame my business accordingly: This next year there will be much rain, it will rotte corn upon the ground, it will be spoiled, I will keep my corn until the next year following: I find that corn will be dear about half a year hence, I will not sell my corn now, but keep it, that I may have plenty of money for it, and sufficient beside, to maintain my house: the sea and land is calm & quiet this year, the next year many shipwrackes & troubles in many countries will fall, now I will fraught my ships that then I may be quiet.

These imaginations are lively arguments of thy diffidence, & despair in the goodness & loving kindness of God. If thou fear God, love God, put thy whole trust in God, y ^u art content to refer thy whole preservation unto the hands of God: now, these proling and raingeing conceits of the time to come, argue that either thou never thinckest on God, or at the least persuadest thyself, that either he will not, or cannot help thee. And if thou, in thy covetous mind, pray unto God, thou canst not pray according to the institution of Christ, without hypocrisy, give us our daily bread this day : Wherefore, seeing the having of Prognostications, cometh of so wicked causes, as is the greedy desire of prosperity, & wealth, and argueth some kind of diffidence in God: when thou readest these my words, examine thine own heart, if thou find my sayings true (as certainly thou shalt) never hereafter desire to know the state of the year before hand, except it be for the seasons of the year, which I am persuaded, y ^u mayst know in some part, without any skill, even by thine own experience.

The second Reason, neglect of God's providence.

2 COncerning the contempt of God's providence, thus much I say. The Prognosticatour, if he be asked whether he confess the providence of God, he will with all his heart confess it: but by his deeds he doth deny it, for all the things whatsoever, which can happen in a whole year, he attributeth them to the stars, & so he publisheth his Predictions, always mentionyng stars, never, or very slēderly, making any significatiō of the power, & justice, mercy, and everlasting wisdom of God. And surely, even for the very paring of thy nails, for the cuttyng of thy hair, for the putting on of thy shoes, for taking a journey two or three miles frō thine house, for obtaining at God's hands thy request, for making thy bargain with thy neighbor, for all thine actions be they never so small: these wise men (if thou wilt ask their advise) will give thee counsel from the stars. Now whē these their irreligious predictions shall be had in thy bosom, and red of thee daily, thou being a man unlearned & worldly given, never hearing any mention of the special providence, & hand of God in every thing, but long discourses of the virtues of Planets, & signs, doest never think upon the wonderful and most infinite power of God, working after a special manner in every matter, but art drawn straightways into an admiratiō of the Astrologer, and a great fear of the constellations of heaven. An experience of this I found in thee, about two years ago. A learned man (yet in this case far deceived) wrote an Astrological discourse of the cōiunctiō between Jupiter & Saturn, wherein he shown of great alteratiō in everything to fall. At this thou wast sore agast, thy mind was incōbred with • ettling thy goods to set thē in order against that day: thy song for half a year was nothing else, but, the conjunction the conjunction: the day being come, what staryng was there and gazing into heaven, to see the meeting of those 2. Planets: Now all this while, where was God's providence? where was that trust and rejoicing in him? where was that praising of his name for all things whatsoever should come to pass? where was that meditation of his infinite, & unsearchable wisdom? these things were never thought nor hard of, and if they were hard of, yet by reason of thine earthly affections, they took no place in thine heart. This thy dealing is like unto the folly of that man, who having a costly clock in his bosom, never extolleth or thinketh on the wit and invention of the clockemaker, but is continually in admiration of the spring or watch of the clock, by whose means all the wheels have their swifter or flower, their backward or forward motions, and by which the whole clock keepeth his course. Wherefore me thinketh that in a Christian common wealth, those only books should be published for thine use, which might beat into thine head, and make thee every hour and moment to think on the providence of God: which being once settled in thy mind, the consideration of the means, which GOD useth, will follow it of self. Contrarywise, to tell thee the means which GOD doeth use, to thunder out the aspectes and constellations of Stars, and seldom to mention of his providence, maketh thee to fear, and admire, and love the means, quite forgetting the work of God in the means. This fault was very rife amongst the Israelites, who came yearly unto Astrologers and wise mē: Wherefore that which is spoken by Jeremiah unto them, is also spoken unto thee. Here ye the word of the Lord, that he speaketh unto you, O house of Israel: Thus saith the Lord, learn not the way of the heathen, and be not afraid for the signs of heaven, though the hethen be afraid of such: In like sort, God forbiddeth his people of England to give credit, or fear the cōstellations & coniunctions of stars and Planettes which have no power of themselves, but are governed by him, & their secret motions and influences are not known to man & therefore there can be no certain judgment thereof. If thou wilt not hear & follow this which I say, see what will ensue. Thou seest that the greatest matters which these Diuinours and Prognosticaters foretell, fall out flat otherwise then they say, to to their perpetual shame, Truly I am persuaded, that it is the judgment of God upon them (although they cannot see it) who maketh them, when they think they are moste wise, to be most fools. For so the Lord used the wise men and Astrologers of Chaldea, as he speaketh by his Prophet Isaiah. I am the Lord that made all things, that spread out the heavens alone, & stretch out the earth by myself, I destroy the tokens of soothsaiers, & make thē that conjecture fools, and turn their wise men backward, & make their knowledge foolishness. Doest thou then O careless and miserable man, think to escape the same, or greater punishment being a cause of this fault, for if none desired to know what is to come, none would busy themselves in that vanity. Wherefore, read the word of God in the 18. of Deut. When thou shalt come (saith the spirit of God) into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. In the words following Moses numbereth 9. abominations.

1 To make his child go through the fire.
2 To use witchcraft.
3 To regard tims, this is thy fault
4 To mark the flying of fowls.
5 To be a sorcerer.
6 To be a charmer.
7 To counsel with spirits.
8 To be a soothsayer.
9 To ask counsel at the dead.

Al these horrible abominations being rehearsed, mark what followeth. For all that do such things are an abomination unto the Lord, & because of their abominations, the Lord thy God doth cast thē out before thee: now seeing most of these abominations, & especially the 3. is used of us, why should we not fear y ^e like judgments upon us, unless we will repent, and that with speed.

1 The reasons which concern the Prognosticatour, and may avail to the persuading of thee, not to buy anymore of their unprofitable books, as these which follow, first their vnhability in Prognosticating : secondly, their manifest untruths: thirdly, their impieties: fourthly, their tricks of deceit. What? can they not foretell that which is to come? can they not make conjectures of that which is like to ensue? No surely. And I will use arguments to confirm it unto thee.

The first reason, of the use and end of the Heavens.

THe true use of the heavens consisteth in many pointes. 1. To declare the glory of God. The Heavens (saith David) declare the glory of god & the firmament showeth the work of his hands. It is an Alphabet written in great letters, in which is described the majesty of God, and that by these four special points: First, the majesty of the work it self. 2. the infinite multitude of Stars. 3. by the wonderful variety of Stars. 4. by the greatness of the Stars.

Secondly, it maketh sinners and wicked men inexcusable before the judgment seat of God. For the invisible things of him (saith Paul ) that is, his eternal power, and Godhead are seen by the creation of the world, being considered in his works, to the intent that they should be without excuse.

Thirdly, they serve to the appointing of times, as day, night, month, year, which are both measured and described by the course of the son, and moon, and other Stars. And so the feast of the Israelites, and the computation of the year in our Church, dependeth thereupon, and without them there would be great confusion both in the common wealth and Church.

Fourthly, they serve to be signs, that is, to foretell things to come. And they are signs either of extraordinary things, or things which be ordinary. Whē they are signs of extraordinary things, then there is, and appeareth in them some extraordinary work of God: as appeareth in these examples which follow. At the suffering of Christ, not only the veil of the temple rent, and the dead rose forth of their graves, but also the sun was wholly eclipsed, the Moon being in y ^e full. At which sight, Dyonisius Areopagita, a good Astronomer spake these words: either the frame of this world is destroyed, or the God of nature suffereth. The Prophet Ezekiel being commanded of God to prophecy the destruction of Egypt, he first putteth down extraordinary signs: And when I will put thee out, I will cover the heaven, and make the stars thereof dark: I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the Moon shall not give her light. All the lights of heaven will I make dark for thee, and bring darkness upon the land, (saith the Lord.) Before the second coming of our savior Christ, there shall be signs in the sun, and moon, and in the stars. Lastly, the extraordinary going back of the sun signified the lengthening of the life of king Hezekiah. Secondly the stars or signs of general things, which happen ordinarily every year in nature among us.

As of

1 approaching and dedeclining of
- 1. The spring.
- 2. Summer.
- 3. Harvest.
- 4. Winter.
2 Ordinary weather in these quarters.
3 Ebbing and flowing of the sea.
4 Seasons of
- 5 Plowing.
- 6 Sowing.
- 7 Setting.
- 8 Planting.
- 9 Cutting.
- 10 Felling.
- 11 Reaping.

I say general, because the particular estate and affairs of men can in no wise before signified by the stars. I say ordinary, because the things which fall out seldom, and are besides the common course of nature, as plenty of all things, famyne, plague, war, euersions of kingdoms, &c. Do not depend upon the Stars. For the confirming of this, I have three reasons: first, in the 1. of Genesis, God saith that he made the lights to be signs, and yet, the same God in the 47. of Isaiah saith, he will destroy the signs of them which divine: flatly forbidding us to use Stars, as means to judge of anything to come, saving only of those, of which they are expresely made signs of God in the creation: all which are put down before. Secondly, this is manifest by the order of the creation: the third day God created upon the earth herbs & trees, & the earth brought forth fruits and was fertile: the fourth day God commanded lights to be made in the firmament of heaven, to separate the day and the night, and to be for signs & for seasons, and days, and months, and then it was so, and then God saw it was good. Out of which I gather that it cannot be a sign causing famyne, or plenty and fertilnes, because fertility went before the creation of the host of heaven. Also of wars, and plagues, and the particular estates of men, they can be no signs, because man was not yet created, and yet even then they were signs. Some will say they were no signs of those matters in the creation, but now they may be, and are: No, for the works which God created, he now preserveth, neither increasing, nor diminishing any thing in them. Philo, Iudeus in his book de opificio mundi saith, he was persuaded that God foreseeing the minds of men, given to search strange matters to come, did in this order create the heavens, to confute and dysprooue their imaginations. Thirdly the Heavens and stars were made for the use of man, and man is theii ende, so that it is absurd to imagine they have any force in the affairs of man. Now then, Prognosticatours if they will foreshowe of strange things to come: they must undo the work of their Creator, and give unto it new uses, otherwise they shall not be able to prognosticate as they yearelie do.

The second reason, the providence of God.

THe providence of God is his decree by which he appointeth how everything shall come to pass. The continual execution of this decree is ordinarily by means, but often without means. The means which God useth are either general or special. General are these by which he governeth all the whole world, and every particular thing, which concerneth this life: unto this kind are referred spiritual creatures, called Angels, by whom the philosophers say the heavens are governed, and we see that whole kingdoms, Provinces, and Cities have been kept and defended by them, as also consumed and destroyed. Again the stars and heavenly bodies are used of GOD to govern and order things here below as it is in the 19▪ Psalm. Nothing is hid from the heat of the sun. And by the prophet Hosea, the Lord speaketh thus I will hear the heavens, the heavens shall hear the earth, the earth shall hear the corn, the corn shall hear Israel. But this instrument is only a general instrument, and hath his wor • in ordinary matters of nature. Beside▪ these means, there be many •• her by which God ruleth the world. In the beginning he set 〈◊〉 over the whole world▪ that he 〈…〉 fowls, beasts and all things 〈…〉 set the first born before their brethren, 〈…〉 Abel ▪ Princesse and Tirauntes over Cities▪ Kingdoms, common wealths, and therefore by reason of their dignity calleth thē God's▪ There be also governors of families over their families, fathers over their children, masters over their servants. Yet GOD hath a more near care in preserving and governing his chosen, as appeareth in the 43. of Isaiah. Thus saith the Lord God that created thee, O Jacob: and he that fourmed thee▪ O Israel▪ fear not, for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name, thou art mine: when thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee, & through the floods, that they do not ouerflowe thee. When thou walkest thorough the very fire, thou shalt not be burnt, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee, for I am the Lord thy God, the holy one of Israel thy savior. This is also manifest by that Sympathie which is in the Lord, when his Children are afflicted as appeareth by the 11. of Zechariah. He which toucheth you, toucheth the apple of mine eye. And in the 9. of the Acts. Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me, that is, my elect. Wherefore there be also special means by which he more carefully governeth the elect. As be Aungelles, whom Paul to the Hebrews calleth ministering spirits: it is certain they defend everyone of the elect particularly. Hitherto may be referred the preaching of the word of god, the ministering of the sacraments. Besides this. God useth the devils, and wicked men and tiraunts to exercise the faith of his elect and to confirm them in patience: whereby they are called the servants of the Lord, axes, hammers, sawes, and swords in the hand of God: as Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar, and Sennacherib ▪ Moreover as the means by which he worketh upon y ^e wicked are also many.

As ▪

1 Angels good and evil. Ex. 14.
2 Frends and familiars. Jer. 13.14. Amos. 7.1.
3 Wilde beasts. Ierem▪ 8.17.
4 Heaven above. Deut. 11.17.
5 Diseases, plague. Exod. 15.16.
6 Famyne. Hos. 9.3.
7 Fire. Hos. 8.14.
8 Fury. Hos. 7.9.
9 Hardnes of heart. Rom. 1.28.
10 Captivity. Ierem. 15.2.

All these means God's providence useth, first that he might show his goodness towards us: secondly, y ^t he might be known to be the Lord over all, thirdly, that we might be thankful, because he not only himself governeth us, but also maketh his creatures to serve our turns. Ma •• ie this must be noted (as I said before) that in all these secondary causes, beside their natural work, which God hath given them, there is also the special work of God his special h • d showed. God worketh not by second causes as Magistrates govern their common wealths by their inferior officers. For they so govern by them, that they do nothing or very little themselves▪ and peradventure never know what is done. God governeth not the world so, but in every particular work, he hath his particular stroke. That the thunder burneth, moveth, hurteth, it is the general providence of God: but that it burneth, or hurteth this or that man, on this or that part, in this or that manner, it is the special providence of y ^e same God. The Lord hath s •• wed his special providence in one excellent example. If the hatchet, (saith God) fall forth of the hand of him which loppeth the tree, and kill a man in the way, I the Lord have killed him. God also governeth the world immediately, and his prouydence worketh without means, and many things he bringeth to pass against all means, which is manifest by that of Matthew. Man liveth not by bread only, but by every word which proceedeth out of the mouth of God. For example without means. The spirit of God did move upon the waters, and cover them in the creation immediately. The first garment which was made, was of leather, and God alone without means made it. Noah in the Ark was preserved by God alone an whole year against the force of the waters, without means did he keep the shoes and garments of the Israelites whole forty years. He alone ius • ifieth, sanctifieth, and converteth a sinner, against the course of nature he made y ^e sea to divide itself, the sun to go backward, the fire not to burn the 3. children, the Lions not to devour Daniel. The causes of this, are these. 1 That we may know when God worketh by causes, he doth by no necessity, but freely. 2. that we might know when God useth means, that then he is not idle, but worketh all in all. 3. That if means want▪ nay if means be against us, yet we should not despair of GOD'S providence. Now to come to our Prognosticatours, and Moon prophettes, how shall they be able to know what will come to pass hereafter? for first, the heavens being only one particular instrument of God's providence, amongst many, they cannot certainly and truly say, this thing or that thing proceedeth from the heavens: secondly they cannot determine whether GOD in extraordinary matters, as Plague, Famyne, Barrenness, Distempered weather, Earthquakes, Wars, &c. Doth work immediatelye, or with means: If with means, they cannot determine, whether the Heavens, or Aungelles, or men, or any other things be the means of his providence. Thirdly, if they were able to know what the Heaven worketh naturallye, yet they were never the better, for GOD beside the power of the heavens: hath in all things his particular working providence, alteryng, and framyng, and bendyng a • wax his instruments to his good will. Truly by this consideration, a Christian man will be brought to leave of to seek what event the works of God shall have before they come to pass. If a man shall come into a Ioyners shoppe can he by knowing the use of all his tools, tell what things he hath made in his shoppe? No. What is the cause of that? he useth not only his tools in his work, but thereunto adjoineth his own hand, by which he handleth and tourneth the tool to his own pleasure, and so maketh diverse kind of works with the same instruments. The same may be said of our Prognosticatours, which I would to God they would somewhat consider.

The third Reason, the want of experience.

IF our Prognosticators have any means to foretell things to come, they have those means either without experience, or with experience: If they have them without experience, then must thou accompt all which they do to be foolish dreams & deceit. For all kind of human learning which is profitable, & hath use in the life of man, is taken frō often observations, and experience. If it be said that they have their directions in Prognosticating from experience, and that of all times, I will convince them thus. True experience of the causes of things is an often observing of the effects of the same causes, with this ground that they can proceed from no other thing. The Physician saith Rhoubarbe doth purge choler. Well: how knoweth he this? he hath often tried this, and that in old men, young men, children: and hath found, that in the bodies of all men, the cause of purgyng this humor, could be ascribed to nothing else. Wherefore he may peremptorily conclude, Rhoubarbe purgeth choler. Our Prognosticatours, in the heavens, can have no such experience. For they cannot observe often the same position of stars in the heaven. The order and cause of the fixed stars and Planets, which we find in the heavens this day, the next day will be changed, and never the like again. They will say, in deed although the same position of the whole heaven never happen, yet the same coniunctions of notable stars, the same visinges and settynges, and the same constellations of the chiefest stars are marked often. I say again, that when these Eclipses and great coniunctions happen, the rest of the stars being otherwise affected then they were before, & having new positions, may either increase and diminish their effects, or else hinder them, and quite take them away. As we see when the Sun casting his beams into a chamber, the light of candles▪ and torches, and fires do make it shine dim, yet these being absent, it will shine bright. Agayne, they are not able to say that constellations, which they have marked, are causes of those effects which follow, as wars, diseases, distēpered wether, earthquakes, famine, &c. For in those things which hap̄ together, the one is not the cause of the other. When Nero played upon his harp, Rome was on fire: yet Nero's playing on the harp was no cause of the burning of Rome. Also these effects may have others causes in the heaven, then those which they mark, and they may come immediately frō God, they may come only from the will of man. Wherefore seeing that they cannot assure themselves that those Eclipses, & coniunctions are the works of such effects upon earth, & they cannot have often observations of the course of heaven, their rules of Predictions are feigned and supposed, & not built upon true experience. Let a man which knoweth not one herb, take all kinds of herbs, and put them into a great vessel, yet so, that there be more of some herbs, and less of other some: let him beat them all together, & make a compound virtue of all their virtues: Can he now tell the nature and operation of every particular herb? Can he devide and sever by any help the virtue of one herb frō another? No in deed. The same thing may be said of the stars of heaven: all their lights, and all their influences (as they term it) are in the lower bodies▪ more plainly, every earthly body hath in it all the secret powers, & working of every particular star: so that they make (as it were) a compound operation rising of all, or of the most of their virtues joined together? for the Astrologers hold, that although the light may be hindered by the thickenes of the body, yet the heavenly influence pierceth through all. Therefore they are not able to sever, and learn the nature of these stars, except they cā stop the influence of what stars they list, and bring them into what cōpass they will. Yet thus much I will grant them, that they may have a little knowledge of the virtue of the Sun, and Moon. and some other stars: as we see those herbs in the former cōposition, whose virtues be the chiefest, though not fully, yet somewhat do represent their nature, and show themselves above the rest. But what is this to the purpose? If I confess the operations of the Sun & Moon. If I shall grant that Saturn is in nature cold & dry, Jupiter warm & moyste, Mars hot & dry, Venus cold and moiste, Mercury in nature mixed, the notable fixed stars in the Zodiac to be of the nature of Planets, and to have manifest operations, as the rising of the •• gg to make heat & tempestuous seas, the rising of Arcturus to make rain and showers, Pleiades to be of the nature of Mars & the Moon &c. what will all this suffice to make a Prognostication? for seeing all stars have their own powers, & peradventure also the least stars▪ which we make no accompt of, have great effects amongst us (as one grayne of muske in the Apothecaries shoppe maketh a greater smell then all other powders be they never so many) nothing will the knowledge of the operation of some▪ Stars prevail, the rest being not known and never regarded. They will say they have some experience but yet vnperfite. I have showed how they have no true experience at all: and their vnperfite experience maketh them perfect liars.

The fourth Reason, the ignorance of causes.

A Man which will judge rightly of any matter by the causes, must not only consider the common causes, but he must also with them confer the particular causes of all things which happen amongst • us, so he shall judge a right. In heaven the stars be common causes of all things amongst us, because they show their virtue on every matter, one way or other. The same things have their peculiar efficientes, and matters, and forms, by which, & not by the heavens, they are made that▪ whatsoever they are. These proper causes because their natures be unknown unto us, I cannot see how the Prognosticatour is able to foretell any thing to come, in good and convenient manner, laying aside all deceiuyng and forgeing of untruths. To make this more plain, I will use this similitude. Suppose an hen to sit upon many eggs, some of her own, some of diverse other fowls: she imparteth her heat equally unto them: at the length she hatcheth, and some of her chickens are cockes, some hennes, some crows, some patriches, some doves, some black, some white, some like and live, some die, some are killed of the kite, some are roasted. No man, I think, will profess so much skill, as to say that he by the considering of the hen and her heat, which is a common cause of the chickens, and all that befalleth them, is able to tell, why of this egg came a partriche, of that a crowe, why this egg had no chicken, why that had a dead chicken, &c. except he do therewith all adjoin the consideration of the particular effectts. The heaven is as it were an hen fostring under her wings all earthly things, imparting his virtue and heat unto all. Can our Prognosticatour: by the erectyng of figures, by considering the disposition of every Planet in their houses, and the significations of every thing, judge, why this man is wealthy that man a beggar, why this noble man dieth this year, none the next year, why it is naught to travel this way, good to travail that way, why these diseases abound, and not other, why corn shall be dear this quarter, not the next, why this week is fair and temperate, that week, that month unseasonable and tempestuous. Truly it is a thing flat impossible. They must hereunto adjoin the particular nature of the country, the particular causes both in men's minds and bodies, as, education, place, honesty, birth, blood, sickness, health, strength, weakness, meat, drink, liberty of mind, learning. &c. and all other special circumstances: which they never do as we may see in their Prognostications: and if they would do it, yet they could not. Wherefore I must needs say this, that their folly is great in publishyng, their Prognostications: and thou also greatly to be blamed which by thy greedy desire givest them great occasion to be so unprofitably occupied.

To show more briefly & plainly of their vnabilitie in Prognosticating, although I grant the stars have great force, yet I say they cannot judge of things to come. And there be 6. impedimentes. The first impediment is imbecillicie of wit, for as man's eye from the earth beholding the heavens & the stars perceiveth them not in their just quātitle, but as very small lights: for in deed the Sun is an hundred & threescore & six times bigger thē the earth, Saturn 90. times, Jupiter 95. Mars one and an half the Moon is the 39. part of the earth: the biggest fixed stars contain y ^e earth 107. times, the stars of the second magnitude 90, the third 70. times, the fourth magnitude 54. times, y ^e fifth magnitude 35. times, the sixth magnitude 18. times. So the weakness of man's understanding is not able to conceive and learn the things which the heavens do bring to pass on earth.

The 2. impediment, y ^e infinite mumber of stars which no doubt all have great power, although we do not find it. For the Prognosticator only marketh 1028 stars & of these he taketh only heed unto a very few. Which is as though a man should judge the power of an army by the powers of one or two soldiers and Captains, not by the power of the whole company.

The 3. impedim •• t is the infinite varieties of the virtues of stars, & the parts of heavē, which Astrologers grant to be: yet they do not know thē. As touching y ^e nature of the fixed stars, they know nothing but by the color, which is red, leady▪ white, pale &c. resembling some Planet. And because they know not y ^e virtue of all stars & every part of heavē, they are not able to judge anything but to their own shame, no more then the Pysician is able to know the nature of the cōpound medicine without the knowing of every simple.

The 4 impediment, the manifold and daily change of the motions positiōs, and configurations of the stars: for if a man could tell both the number and nature of stars, yet the variety of positions breedeth trouble & hindereth right judgment: because by this means the powers of stars are increased, diminished, & changed. And these rules which served for ancient times to foretell things, will not serve us, because all the fixed stars have changed their places, and the rest are daily changed.

The 5. impediment, the infinite variety of inferior things, which do hinder, pervert, change, receive, or not receive y ^e virtue & predictions of stars, as y ^e nature of the soil, the dispositiō natural of air, orders, & constitutions of the common wealth, occasions, education, institution, kinds of meat and drink &c.

The 6. impediment, the will of man, which freely in common matters chooseth this, & refuseth that. There are many things which are caused without any work of stars, only by the will of man, & study, as we may see in Socrates, Demosthenes, and other &c.

Thus much shall suffice to show that they cannot Prognosticate of things ensuing: now follow their manifold untruths, and most false rules. In disclosing them I will keep the same order they use in their Almanackes.

In the first or second leaf of their books thou shalt find a picture of mans body with the 12. signs round about it, they call it the Anatomy of man's body, showing how the 12. signs have government of the same, for the Moon or any other significatour of anything being in the sign, they say, that it is dangerous to box, to sear that part or to let blood in it, which is subject to the dominion of that sign. All these are nothing but vain Fables, as I will manifestly prove.

1. Whereas they call it an Anatomy, me thinketh, it is a butcherly Anatomy: nay that of the butchers is far better, for they join head & appurtenaūce together: these men being sparing give Aries the head, Leo and Cancer the heart & longes. As for the liver. I know not which sign hath it, peradventure in old time men had no livers. At the Anatomye of a carrian crows deal friendly, for everyone hath somewhat: but in the division of man's body, signs play foul play, for Capricorne hath got nothing but a pair of knees. It is like that the signs scramblyng for their portions Capricorne being slow got nothing, hereupon compassion being had, there was a gathering made, and Sagittarius gave the lower part of the thighe, Aquarius the higher part of the leg which both together make the knee. But to deliver thee out of all doubt, mark these reasons which follow. 1. The signs cannot have any such dominion over man's body: I make it manifest thus. There is no corporal heaven in deed above the firmament, yet because the firmament or 8 Sphere hath many motions, to give reasons of those motions, the Astronomers have feigned two heavens above the firmament, the Christaline heaven, and the first movable or 10. Sphere, which they devide into twelve partes. which partes they call signs. Now, I pray you tell me, is it possible to conceive that an imagined part of any imagined heaven void of all stars, shall either have in it self, or give unto other Stars power to govern the parts of man's body? More reasonable was that man, who being asked what was the cause of the sandes in Sandwiche haven, he answered the building up of Tenterton Steeple Secondly the government of the signs in the body is not taken from experience in nature, but feigned long ago by some drowsy pate, and now because it hath a cloak of antiquity, it is allowed. More natural was this kind of way, that hot signs should govern hot partes, cold signs cold partes, earthy signs earthy partes. So Aries should govern the heart and the vital blood, not the head, & the rest of the signs those partes which are of their nature and disposition. Thirdly great experience of many men daily confuteth this rule. For many learned Physicians, & expert Chirurgians have by infinite examples found, that if a man be let blood in the sign, or launched, or boxed, or seared, no harm ensueth, nay they have given testimony that the patients have found even then great comfort. Wherefore let not these things trouble thy mind anymore, but let them be numbered even amongst vain and unprofitable fables.

2. Next after followeth Elections of days and hours, necessary for all matters as followeth.

Special days to

Prepare humors.
Let blood.
Purge with
- Vomite.
- Electuaries.
- Potions.
- Pilles.
Cut hair.
Comforte the virtue Bathe.
- Attractiue.
- Digestiue.
- Retentiue.
- Expulsiue.
Put children to school
Travel.
Marrye.
Hunte, Hauke, Fish.
Plante.
Geld Cattle.
Laye foundations.

Here, I pray thee, mark their naughty dealings how they abuse thy ignorance, to make themselves skillful and to do more then they can do. For, if the judgments of the best Astrologers may be taken, certainly most of these elections cannot be prescribed to thee, unless they know beforehand the figure of thy Natiuitie. For all Election, which concern thy person, must be moderated (to speak as plainly as their toys will suffer me) by the direction of the root of thy Natiuitie, and by the monthly and diurnall Progressions of thy present Revolution. If any of these pretend some evil, the particular Election may be a means to increase, and to bring it to pass. For example, suppose, thou being a man toward marriage, in the Almanac thou findest a good day noted by the Prognosticatour to marry in: thou takest thy opportunity: after a while, thou art weary of thy life: the first day of thy marriage was the last day of thy joy. What is the cause of this? All the Planettes which were signifiers of thy marriage in thy nativity, were then evilly affected, and peradventure also, at the first thou wast borne, they received some disgrace. So then thou mayest lay all blame, partly upon thyself for believing and partly upon the Prognosticator, who deceived thee. But to come unto particulars, the elections of days to purge the body with any kind of purgation, and to comfort the same, are most ridiculous. Why do they not also prescribe hours of eating meat? Why do they not appoint the kinds of meats and drinks, which we must eat & use daily? If thou see that God doth daily bless the enterprises of those Physicians, which never regard those elections in ministering to their patients: never esteem of them, let them go as lies to the Devil from whence they came. Concerning the elections of days to sow, to set, to plant, to lop, they are also foolish: the general observation of the season of the year, in which these things are to be done is sufficient. And S. Augustine in his book de ciuitate Dei laugheth at the folly of them, which choose particular days to do their husbandry, as though some certain positiōs of stars had some special influence to the things which are sown then. His reason is, because many grains of corn being cast into the ground together, springing up together, and riping all at one time: yet some of them are blasted, some are eaten of birds, some are trodē down under foot, some stand and are never touched. The rest of the elections, and especially that of laying foundations is most absurd. They say that if an house, a city, a town have his foundation when the stars be well affected, the inhabitauntes shall have prosperous and quiet living: if when the stars be evil disposed, then trouble & disquietness. They have no experience of this, but y ^t only which is most false, for they know not the foundations of cities and towns, neither the positions of the stars, when they were built. Let Rome and Venice be examples, because these are most alleged of Astrologers, the time in which they were built is uncertain, and the Planets are falsely set in the figure of the foundation of Rome because Mercurye is contrary to the sun, a thing flat impossible. Agayne the folly of this is thus manifest, that an house, or City, or common wealth may remain the people being gone, as it is in the time of plague, and banishment, and conquestes of Princes: And the inhabitants also may be safe and remain, the building quite ransumed, and beaten down, as we may see in Carthage, the people and common wealth remai. ned, the City quite defaced. That all elections are unlawful, Saint Augustine writing unto Ianuarius, proveth it forth of the 4. to the Galatians by these words: ye observe months and times and years (Therefore saith he) let us not observe days, & years, and months, and times, least we hear this of the Apostles: I am afraid least I have taken labor in vain with you : for he rebuketh them which say, I will not go, because the Moon is thus or thus moved, or I will take my journey that I may have good success, because there is such a position of Stars: I will not do my business this month, because such a Star governeth this month: or I will do my business this month because such a star ruleth. How then shall a man do, not to break the word of God? Art thou a man that desirest to lead a Christian life? Then take the example of Paul, as a pattern to govern all the actions of thy life: without ceasing (saith he) I make mention of you in my prayers: beseeching that by some means, one time or other I might have prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you. So thou if thou hast any business in hand, any journey to take, anything to buy or sell, or any other matter: never regard the constellations of Heaven, committee thyself to the only providence of God, in whom thou hast thy life, and motion, and being, who directeth all thy steppes: pray unto him privately with thyself to bless thee and all thy actions, that they may tend to his glory, thy welfare: thou shalt find that all thy enterprises will have better success, then if the whole host of heaven, and all the Prognosticatours of england had promised never so much prosperity. Now let us show their absurd folly in prognosticating of the state of the year: of which their predictions are either general for the whole year, or special for every day. In their general predictions are considered either the grounds of them, or the matters which they foretell. Their groūdes are especially two. 1. The figure of the reuolution of the year, erected when the sun entereth into the first minute of Aries. 2. The figure celestial for the time of the Eclipse of the sun and moon: for up • n these twain, say they, dependeth the whole state of the year. In their celestial figures they consider the erecting of them, and the finding of the Lord of the figure. The erecting of the figure, containeth very many absurdities.

1 They follow that way, which Regiomontanus did invent, never as yet proved by any experience, and flatly differing from those ways which of ancient Astrologers wer used▪ and were invented by Gazulus and Campanus. Nay oftentimes it maketh the Planet or fixed star to signify a flat contrary thing to that which these two other do.

2 The casting of the heavens into twelve partes, signifying twelve didistinct kind of matters is ridiculous, because it being imagined, and void of stars, can have no force. Yet (some will say) other stars being in those places may have and signify such or such effects. I answer that if stars of diverse natures coming to such an house always signifying someone kind of thing, then the house must of necessity give some force unto the Planet: and so it shall have not only an augmenting, but also an effectually working power, which Astrologers deny, and no reason can prove.

3 They make the twelfth and eleventh houses being higher above the horizon then the first, to be of less force then it: and the fourth house to be of greater power then any above the Horizon not Cardinal: and the ende of the ninthe to be more in power then the beginning of the eleventh house: all which are against reason, because a Planet the more perpendicular his beams are, the more is his force. They answer, although the force of the light be greater, yet the secret influence is less, and the first house hath more forcible influence thē the twelfth or eleventh. If the influence be secret how can they know it? again they can by no good experience show that those houses have more influence then the rest: this influence maketh against them. I say they cannot prognosticate because thei know not one stars virtue. For whereas they say, that the sun, and moon and planets have most force. I answer that it is by reason of their light, not their influence, which is small, and there is far greater in the smallest fixed Stars. So that the fixed Stars although they have no light, or very small light perceived, yet they have most influēce. And so these men must needs dream because they judge by wrong causes. Well, their figure being framed and distinguished with fair characters, then go they on to find the Lord of the figure, that is, that Planet which hath most dignities in the figure.

The dignities of the Planets, are found out by these means especially.

1 Houses of Planets.
2 Exaltation.
3 Triplicity.
4 Termes.
5 Stars.
6 Howses.
7 Freeness from Combustion.
8 Directions.
9 Velocity of course.
10 Sazimi.
11 Some aspects of other Planettes.

These toys be so foolish that a reasonable man would not vouchsafe to refute them: yet a word or twain. If the houses of the Planettes shall be battered and pulled down, all the rest of their worship and dignity will lie in the dust. Aries and Scorpius are appointed the houses of Mars, Taurus, and Libra the houses of Venus, Gemini, and Virgo, the houses of Mercury: Cancer the house of the Moon, Leo the house of the Sun, Sagittarius and Pisces the houses of Jupiter, Aquarius, and Capricornus the houses of Saturn. What reason do they give of this? Leo and Cancer, say they, are the houses of the Sun and Moon, because they resemble the nature of these Planets ; and because they come most near our heads: such reason they give of the rest. What feeble grounds are these? As in the North parte of the world Cancer and Leo resemble the nature of the Sun: so in the South part, in the contrary climats, Capricornus, and Aquarius do resemble their natures. Also in every country some diverse signs be either vertical or else come near the topp of the country, and so all signs shall be the houses of the Sun and Moon. Now then, the sun being displaced, I cannot find how the rest of the Planets can keep their hold. To go further the exaltations of Planets in like manner are very dreams. They suppose Exaltations be those degrees in which the Planets were in the beginning of the world. But why should those places give more force then any other? And if they could give more force, yet they have falsely assigned them. For the Sun was not in Aries, when it was created of GOD, but was placed in Libra, which I prove by this reason. GOD created man and beast in perfect age, giving unto them all kinds of fruits being then ripe, so that in the beginning was the time of the year, which we call harvest. Now, because God never afterward changed the seasons, and we find that in the time of ripeness the Sun is always in Libra, we must needs also say that his place in the creation was in Libra. In the 23. of Exodus God commandeth that the feast of tabernacles should be celebrated in the ende of the year when the Israelites had gathered their fruits out of the fields. Wherefore it must needs be that harvest was in the beginning of the year (the beginning and ending being both together) and so by compting backwardes we shall find that the Sun was in Libra in the beginning of the world. To this agreeth Josephus de antiquit. Lib. 1. cap. 3. Rabbi Eleazar upon Genes. and Rabbi, Abraham, Abem, Ezra upon the 7. of Daniel.

The rest of the dignities of the planets consist of principles more weak then water. First what is more unreasonable to a reasonable man then this, that swift motion should give unto a Planet two dignities, and slow motion two debilities: it seemeth to be plain contrary. For a swift course hindereth the force of the Planet, a slow course helpeth the same: and the stations of any Planett make an effectual and sensible operation. A cole of fire in a man's hand if it be shaken about very much, it heateth very little, if it be shaken more slowly, it heateth more: but if it lie still, it burneth violently. Beside this, also experience confirmeth my assertion. In the year of our Lord 1513. the Sun enteryng into Pisces was almost in trine aspect with Saturn stationarie, a little while after, there was a great frost and snow continuing many days: and when Saturn began again to be direct, the weather was indifferent warm. In the year 1518. In April Jupiter almost in secunda station beholding Saturn in station prima caused a great heat considering the time of the yere. In the year 1520. Saturn (as I said before) being stationarie made such a cold, that spoiled the Grapes and made Wine dear. Uppon these examples and many other I may conclude, that the work and influence of of Planettes, is moste felt when they are stationarie: because their virtue is fixed (as it were) in one place by reason of the slow motion,

Combustion is in like sort a feigned thing, What reason can Astrologers give, why it should give unto a star five debilities? They talk howe that experience teacheth them, that Planettes being under the beams of the Sun, do loose a great, nay (some say) all their force. It is a manifest untruth. For, Mercury being of the nature of that Planett with which he is conjoined, if he go from conjunction with Saturn unto the Sun, he getteth no debilities thereby, but rather losing the feeble and unfortunate Nature of Saturn, receiveth a more strong and fortunate nature of the Sun. If any man say against me that Mercury combust hath no force, he deceiveth himself. For if he be not hindered, he naturallye will cause winds, being combuste he not only engendereth winds, but causeth tempestuous winds and foul weather. In Aries, Taurus, Cancer, he maketh tempests, in Virgo and Scorpius, raging Seas, in Sagittarius, Capricornus, Aquarius and Pisces rain and snow. Again when many days together there hath been fair weather, the Sun if it come to be in conjunction or any other aspect with Saturn maketh very foul weather, and therefore the aspectes of the sun and Jupiter are called apertiones portarum pro pluuia. This could not come to pass if Saturn had his force diminished by the beams of the sun. A Planet also being in Cazimi, that is, being within 16. minutes of the suns middle haith thereby 5. dignities, which cannot well be, if that cōbustion give 5. debilities. For the Planet is in the middle of his combustion, and the sun casteth his beams and force very vehemently upon it. These suns show how absurd a dream combustion is: yet if it were a good & sound principle of Astrology, and gave unto every Planet 5. debilities, yet it could not be proved, that liberty from combustion should give five dignities, being only a mere absence and privation of the other. Magnes at the presence of the Adamant, is hindered from drawing Iron: yet if the Adamant be away, the attractive virtue of the magnes is not increased. Here I might with ease confute y ^e triplicities of Planets, directions, aspects, applications, preventions, refrenations, with many such like, but my intent at this time is only to show thee some untruths of our Prognosticatours.

Thus much of the grounds of their predictions, now follow the matters of which they Prognosticate, and they are very many: nay, there is no matter almost, of which they will not give their verdict: but how they do this I will briefly make it manifest unto thee, that their lies & their unchristian dealing may be more loathed of thee.

1 They foretell of Comets, Earthquakes, Famynes, and plagues &c. but they do it as the blind man which casteth his staff he knoweth not where. No man as yet ever knew the true causes of these. As for Cometes and blazing stars they do not rise of the influence of any stars, neither are they any earthly things, but are in heaven, moste commonly far above the Moon, as by Geometrical & Astronomical demonstrations may be be proved: how this cometh to pass the Lord only knoweth. And surely they do thee great injury, that when as, no doubt, God doth lighten them, and send the rest extraordinarily, as threatening tokens of his sore displeasure, yet they will rock thee a sleep in the cradle of security by telling that such tokens came from the ordinary course of the heavens.

2. They foretell all things which happen in civil affairs amongst men, as are these which follow.

Love and hatred of kinsfolk.
Mariages.
Encrease of farms and livings.
Injuries and quarells.
Raysing of rentes.
Exactyng of subsidies by officers.
False rumors.
Imprisonmentes.
Hard entreating of Ecclesiastical persons.
Buying, selling, vnderminyng.
The studying of sciences.
Frendes fall out for trifles.
Solemn progresses.
Favor of noble men.
Men shall fall, body, and goods into the Princes hands.
Marchandise unprofitable. &c.

These and such like proceed only from the will of man: the constellations of stars are neither signs nor causes of them. Some will say, Non imponere necessitatem, sed inclinare Stellas, that is. That stars do not contstrain, but only incline the minds of men: a most wicked saying, although most commonly spoken of, and defended. For y ^e inclinyng of the will of man is only the work of God, as the holy Scriptures do teache us. The heart of man (saith Solomon) purposeth his ways, but the Lord directeth his steps. O Lord (saith Jeremiah the Prophet) that the way of man, is not in himself, neither is it in man to walk and direct his steppes. He speaketh this, because that Nebuchadnezzar purposed to have made war against the Moabites and Ammonites, but hearing of Zedekias rebellion, he turned his power to go against Jerusalem, therefore the Prophet saith, that whereas he had otherwise purposed, yet this was the Lord's inclination and direction. Agayne in the Proverbs, we read this: That the heart of the king is in the hands of the Lord, as the Rivers of water he directeth it whether he will. It will be said, that although God properly and immediately inclineth the will of man: yet also some small inclination must be given unto the Stars, and that immediately. For

Say some.

Constellations work vpō the Elementes by the four first qualities.
Elementes work upon, and alter the compound bodies and humors.
Compounde bodies by their qualities change the senses.
The senses being altered, the understanding is altered.
The understanding lastly altereth and inclineth the will of man.
Therefore Constellations incline the will.

This reason is not much unlike that which the drunken man maketh, serving as well for the defense of his vice, as the former for approving of truth in divination.

He which drinketh well, sleepeth well.
He which sleepeth well thinketh no harm:
He which thinketh no harm, is a good man:
Therefore he which drinketh well, is a good man.

The deceits and untruths which be in their reasons, are very many.

1. The stars work upon men's bodies, yet so y ^t the nature of the Country and soil, the meats and drinks have most commonly greater force. Why are the bodies of Gentlemen of England and poor laboring mē of diverse dispositions? are they not both in one country? do not the stars show their force in them alike? yes truly, but the kind of life and diet prevaileth. In the same region, why are they, which dwell upon hills, of other temperatures then they, which dwell upon plain & champion ground? Why? do not the same influences of Stars make them of like natures? is it not because the nature of the soil prevaileth? So then, when as there be many causes effectual, and differing in altering men's bodies, to build an argument upon one cause is most unreasonable.

2. The stars work upon the Elementes earth, water, air, by making heat, cold, moisture, drines. The elements, how work they on men's bodies? They will also say by making heat, cold, moisture, dryenesse: which is most untrue: for the whotter and dryer the Elementes be, the colder and moyster by nature are men's bodies. Accordyng to that saying of Empedocles: Nature placed a hot body in a cold country, and a cold body in a hot country.

3. The Philosophers say that all causes are either per se or per accidens. Now the heavens being causes of the alteration of the senses per accidens, they must not be causes of the inclination of the will, either per se or per accidens, but per accidentis, accidens, which is most ridiculous.

4. This long chain by which they lincke the will of man to the stars, if it shall be applied unto particulars it must needs break: for the actions of the will is buying, selling, trauailyng, lying, heaping up wealth, murdering, spreading of false rumors, offering of discourtesies, hatyng of kinsfolks, and such like, which our heauengazers foretell, have no coherēte with the first qualities, heat, cold, moisture, dryness: neither can they any way proceed from them, and therefore the stars cannot be causes of them, for they work only by these qualittes.

5. This reason is nothing to their purpose: for because they grant that a man may freely resist the inclination of the stars & he may hinder that, unto which the stars bend his will, how dare they presume to say this or that will come to pass. The heathen men gave up thenselves to their own lusts & vanities and followed every little and vain inclination: & of them, in this order, did ancient Astrologers among them divine that this or that time, such actions, such vices, such enterprises, such affairs should be among them. In like manner our English wisemē, speak of us as though we were beasts, not reasonable men, as though we never had heard the blessed Gospel of God, never tasted of the grace of God, never learned what is good and what is bad, never labored to subdue our lusts & affections, always turned to and fro with the blast of any influence, working very slenderly in us.

Thus much of Civil affairs. They make mentiō also yearly of the diseases which shall reign: but the way which they follow, is taken forth of the barren and uncertain rules of of the old Astrologers, who do so ascribe unto every Planet certain diseases, that if need shall require, they may refer the same disease unto many significatours as in the plague, the putrefaction of humors is attributed unto Jupiter, the sharp fever unto Mars, the madness which followeth unto Mercury, the whole plague unto Mars. In the plurecie the inflammation of the blood between the skin called Pluritis, and the ribbs is attributed unto Jupiter, the suppuration of the blood unto Saturn, and the whole pluresie unto Jupiter. In the Iaundes the inflamation and corruption of humors, unto Jupiter, the yelow humor in the gaule, unto Mars, the obstruction of the partes unto Saturn, the whole Iaunds being white unto Mars, black, unto Saturn. And so in every disease, they use this inconstancy and ambiguity in Prognosticating. It is a rule among the Astrologers that if the Planets signifiers of diseases be well affected, then there shall be no diseases but health: if they be evilly affected then diseases follow. Our Prognosticatours never mark this rule, but howsoever the Planets be affected, they straightways pronounce that such diseases shall reign. For example the last winter quarter, it was said by one of them, that y ^e diseases which should afflict men's bodies were rewmes, coughes, cold laskes, swelling of the face & throat, falling of the Colmel sore eyes, deafness, the stone, goute, dropsy, greenesicknes, madness, quarterne fevers. &c. And all the Planets signifiers of diseases in that quarter were indifferent well affected: wherefor thou hast not one cause to fear their threatenings, but rather to be sorry for their continual deceits, wishing them minds that they may one day see their own folly.

Concernyng the time when the constellations take their effects, our Prognosticators say that some take their effects, the same year, some not the same year but long after, as great coniunctions and Eclipses. For they say if the Moon be eclipsed one hour, she worketh her effect a month after, if two hours, two months after: and the Sun for every hour it is Eclipsed taketh his effect an whole year after. Truly this rule which they follow, must needs be against all reason. For why should not all coniunctions and oppositions of the Sun and Moon differ their effects as well as those coniunctions and oppositions in which the Sun and Moon is Eclipsed? if they show forth their power immediately after, why should not these also do the same? Moreover the Epignosticall Astrologers who have conferred the course of the heavens, with histories show very manifestly, that Eclipses do not defer the time of working their spite upon the earth.

In the year of our Lord. 1419. the Sun was Eclipsed in Aries, and presently after shown all his force. There was a great sedition in Prague that year: In Paris an uproar between them of the City and the University, and two thousand Scholers were slain. Then also Wenzeslaus king of Bohemia being in a great palsy died▪ In the year .1524. There was a conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter in Scorpius & also a great Eclipse of the Sun in June, which took their effects the same year: Charles king of France driven forth of his country: war between Danes and the men of Sleswicke. There was a great plague in Germany, Civil dissention amongst the Princes of the Empire and them which took the part of John Hus .1452. An Eclipse of the Sun in Sagittarius, his effects began presently, and lasted a great while: Even then Constantinople was taken by the Turk. The Hungarians and Bohemians besieged Frederick the Emperor. 1473. the 27. of April: the Sun was Eclipsed in Taurus, Mars being in Aries, and Jupiter in Sagittarius. The same year in summer was such heat and dryness of weather that woods even withered, and one might wade over deep rivers. In the years of our Lord. 1476. 1460. 1469. 1486. 1502. 1518. And many years after there were both great coniunctions & strange Eclipses which took their effects presently, not one, or two, or three years after (as our heauengazers bear thee in hand). All these examples which I bring against them, I have not feigned, but taken forth of those books which they have in greatest estimation, and could, if need should serve, bring an hundred more, all to show their lies, when as they commonly say thus,

there shall be an Eclipse this year, mary I will not here determine his effects, but reserve them to be declared in my Prognostication one year or two years hence, when it will take place.

To know where the effects of the stars shall take place, they have appointed unto every sign certain countries, as over Europe they have set the fiery Triplicity, over the Oriental and North partes of the Asia the airy Triplicity, the watery Triplicity over Africa, over y ^e South partes of the Asia the earthie Triplicity : & so every peculiar sign hath his dominion over some partes of those. Now therefore, when a conjunction or Eclipse is in any of these signs the Cities and countries subject unto them feel the force of that constellation especially. This is a most manifest untruth and may be confuted by many reasons. 1. The nature of the signs is not the same now as it was in times past, and by the confession of the 〈◊〉 learned have other effects, now then they had in the days of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 : yet we see the nature of Countries and people to remain the same still, as may be seen by reading Tacitus, Pliny, Caesar, Strabo. 2. America which is half the world, hath no signs appointed over it: why? it was found out of late. True it is, but this is an argument that y ^e rules of Astrology, are absurd, and were the bare inventions and imaginations of idle brains. For, there is no doubt, but that America his partes and Ilandes as Br • silea, Peru, Pari, Terra Florida, Iaua Major, Iaua Minor, Puloana, Pauilonga, Subath: Massana, Mattan, Iuuacana, Cozumella, Iamaica &c. Have felt the force of those Constellations, which they attribute to some partes of the old world. Because these Countries be about the middle Zone, and have both Planetes and signs full over them, and therefore if the stars threaten any strange thing to come, they must especially feel it. 3. Experience the cause of all acts is against them, as is manifest in these examples. 47. years before the Natiuitie of our Savior Christ there was a conjunction of the higher Planets in Scorpius. And then was civil war between Caesar and Pompey : And the change of the Empire was in Europe. But according unto the institution of Astrologers all these troubles should have been in Aphrike, because Scorpius hath his dominion there. In the year of our Lord. 34. there was a great conjunction of Planets in Leo, and then (saith one very profanely) was the Gospel preached through the world. But if he make this conjunction to be a sign of the preaching of the Gospel, then it should more have been preached in the partes of Europe then Asia, which is not true. In the years of our Lord. 331. and 1137. There were great cōiunctions in Virgo, and yet the Countries subject to this sign felt no harm, but Italy was troubled with the Popes superstitions, and Arius his heresy was broached. There was a meeting of Planetes in Sagittarius. 73. years after Christ, when as Otho, Galba, Vitellius, and Vespasian troubled the Romaine Empire, yet there was nowhere more gre • uous wars then in Palestine, and no greater slaughter then of the Jews, who are subject unto Scorpius and not unto Sagittarius. In the year .1464. a conjunction of higher Planets was in Pisces, under whose dominion, although Europe be not placed, yet it most felt the smart by troubles and civil wars. So 1576. and 1577. Two Eclipses of the Sun, the one in Leo, the other in Capricorne took their effects in Germany: when as Leo and Capricorne do not rule that Country. It is vain to show the absurdity of this rule by moe examples, these shall be sufficient.

This shall suffice to have spoken of their general Predictions, now follow their special determinations of the state and temperature of the weather, wherein I will set forth first of all a most manifest and absurd contradiction, which most of them make & that is this. They use (as I have said) to set down their judgments of the whole quarter, that it should be either moist, hot, cold, or dry: afterward judging particularly they disprove by particular days that which they said before. In the year of our Lord. 1581. one said that in y ^e Autumn quarter should be a great drought, yet I perusing his particular judgments upon the days of the quarter, I find it should have plētie of rain. In the year last past, another said, the s • mmer should be so hot & dry that even Welles & rivers should be dried up, and fishes be scarce, and Cattle dry for want of water: yea the same party in his particular judgment of the weather, maketh 20. days of the same quarter, at the least rain and misling, and 30. other either temperate or very cold.

In one word, the judgments which are set down, of the weather, they are more tolerable then the rest: yet as long as the world endureth, no man shall be able to Prognosticate truly what weather shall be in every day of the year. The causes of this I have set down before, and need not now to repeat. Wherefore they might leave of any longer to busy themselves in this kind. And it shall be sufficient for thee leading a Christian life to know the general and ordinary estate of the partes and seasons of the year.

The third reason impieties.

Besides all this the impious speeches and ungodly practices, which these men use, might move a Christian man to loath their predictions. First, yearly some of them do foretell whether men shall study and embrace, or forget and neglect true Religion. What a filthy and devilish thing is this, not to be suffered in a common wealth where the Gospel of Christ is preached. Every man naturally is the child of wrath, the vnprof • table servant, dead in all kind of sin, his understanding it is enmity against God, his affections are rebellious against his will: none doth good no not one: not one hath any faculty to receive or keep true religion: we are as sawes in the hands of God, as the prophet Isaiah speaketh: howe then become we religious? by the only work of God. No man can come to me (saith Christ) except the father draw him. And as God draweth us first unto true religion, so he also maketh us continue in the professing of the same, as S. Paul saith, he which hath begun a good work in you, will finish the same &c. By what means doth God do this? by the outward preaching of the law and the Gospel, and by the inward working of his holy spirit: other means the scripture never mentioneth. On the contrary part, if any man refuse the grace of God, and will not embrace the true Religion, it proceedeth from the hardness of his own heart, and willful rebellion. Seeing therefore the rebellion of man cometh from his own will, and the embracing of true godliness from God alone: Why dare they presume without great impiety to adjoin y ^e constellatiōs as adiuuāts either unto man or God in this divine work. Again these predictions are very perilous, for if a man be wickedly given, they hinder him from the acknowledging of his sin, because they make him lay part of his faults upon the stars, when as all indeed come from his own soul. And if a man be a penitent sinner and feel the grace of God: yet being weak in faith and conscience, they make him not to put his whole trust in God, and to love him with all his soul, with all his strength but allure him in some part to attribute that unto the stars which is the only work of God and not of any creature. 2 They use to foretell what vices shall reign, as in these examples.

There shall be much unlawful and secret whoredom.
Great robbing by hyewayes sides.
Wanton and young women shall sit in their Ladies lappes, by reason of their GODDESSES well placing.
Many shall use deceit and cozening.

By these and such like, lewd & dissolute people, take occasions & ar stirred up to live profanely, & to follow those vices unto which, y ^e lusts of their nature carry them.

The fourth reason tricks of deceit.

A Iugler which taketh upon him to do strange things must use many sleights, least if the stander by shall see his tricks of ligierdemayne he be descried, and all his former cunning turn to his shame. Our Prognosticatours understanding this, have thought it convenient to use in their kind some tricks of deceiving Jugglers, I can cal them by no better name, for so they are in deed. First publishing their predictions in thy behalf, they use such absurd, unknown, and insolent words, as (I think) never the like were red or hard amongst us in England. As are these which follow.

1 A Prognostication Astrologically calculated for the pole areticke for such a city whose longitude and latitude is thus.
2 Quartill reuolution.
3 Rectified for the motions and aspectes of the meridian and elevation.
4 Capricorne in quality cold and dry, melancholy, in taste bitter, nocturnal foeminine, meridionall, of the earthly trigon.
5 Mercurialistes, Iouialistes, Martialistes. Hiemal Solstice Aestiual, Verual, Autumual.
6 Pars torturae coupled with the Dragons tail.
7 Taurus a sign of the earthy trigonisme naturally, cold in the sign horoscop: and virgo of the same stamp the sign of the prevention praeceeding.
8 A sign of the same triangularity Jupiter Lord of this reuolution resident with Venus in domicilio deorsum ab Angulo cadente.
9 Planets retrograde.
10 Cardinal or a succedent position.
11 Lunarie defect. In his dodecatimorian.
12 Names of strange authors. Proclus, Alchindus, Messahala, Zael, Albohazen Haly, Albumacer, Albubater, Guido, Bonetus, Hispaleusis, Firmius, Abrahā, Auenezra, Trismegistus, with many other woēdrous Doctors having a great deal of small learning, and being far borne as in Chaldea, Persia, Arabia, Jury.

1 Thou wilt say what means all this? here is great learning no doubt, it passeth my capacity: who would not have an Almanac, if it wer for nothing but for this, to see and hear how profounde our Prognosticatours are? Thou far deceivest thyself: for they perceiving well that their deceits and lies may be soon espied, have invented strange terms to color them, and to cast a mis • e before thine eyes that thou mayst not see their naughty dealing. For any man the more true and honest he thinketh his matter, the more desirous is he to speak plainly to the understanding of all.

2 It was a point of the knavery of the Devil, otherwise called Apollo, as the Heathen men asked his counsel, to answer doubtfully, because when as he was ignorant of the event, yet would not, but seem to know, as in this answer.

I tell thee Pyrrhus the Romans may conquer.

It is understood two ways: either that Aeacides might vanquish the Romans, or the Romans Aeacides. Our Prognosticatours have chosen a very good pattern to follow, their dealing with thee is the like: when they doubt and cannot tell what to Prognosticate, then they use two ways of foretelling, either to speak that which is true every way, or that which is true every year. For the first, amongst many examples, I will put one or two that thou mayst see their dealing in true, not forged examples.

1 The conjunction of Mars and Saturn threaten wars, but Jupiter will mitigate the same: as a man should say, the Prognosticatour telleth true, except he tell a lie.
2 1585. We shall have a very dry winter, if peradventure any floods and store of rain do fall, they shall proceed of former causes.
3 This summer quarter is like to be for the greatest part dry & hot, yet it is like neither to be to hot, nor to cold, but indifferent.
4 Neither fair, nor foul, both together.
5 Faire and calm, but a little missing.
6 Clouds portending rain and snow.

Examples of those predictions, which may agree to every year are common with them, as these.

1 This year Artificers must take heed of too much streining their backs.
2 Take heed of ventering in slippery places holdly in building.
3 Old men shall die.
4 Death of Sheep and other cattle this year shall be.
5 Sundry diseases are like to reign amongst many which will sweep away many.
6 False rumors, imprisonmentes, tortures.
7 Brethren and sisters shall love one another.
8 Sundry men & women shall be troubled with pains in their eyes.
9 Much strife amongst men and women.
10 Small love amongst kinsfolks.
11 Much unlawful lust, this year and secret fornication.
12 Some Ecclesiastical person shall be in trouble, and some noble man shall die, this is ever at one place, or other.
13 Many shipwrackes, & other stirs on the seas.
14 Many shall addict themselves to the study of Negromancie.

Agayne beside these ways there is also a third, and that is this. They fearing lest their Prognostications should not be regarded because of their lies, and that they might win men unto the using of them, have adjoined Astronomical matters of the rising and setting of stars, of the aspectes and motions of Planetes, which are no profit to thee. Here also they have annexed Tables of all the Fairs in the land, and of the chief high ways, which being of some price with thee, make that which is naught of it self, to be of some accompt.

A CONCLVSION.

THus much (good Reader) I hope shall be sufficient to persuade thee of the Vanity of PROGNOSTICATIONS: if not, I beseech thee accept of my simple endeavor, serving in some part unto thy profit. For if thou be a Christian man thou oughtest only to be contented with knowing the times and ordinary seasons of the year: not regarding nor searching any secret and special PREDICTIONS, for which the Lord never gave any man warrant, but in plain words hath forbidden thē. Nay they which be engrafted into JESUS CHRIST indeed, are so far from searching what shall be-fall hereafter, that they lead a life which is a continual meditatiō of present death. The which the LORD for JESUS CHRISTES sake, grant unto us, that we may in some measure behold our own vanities.

Trinuno Deo sit omnis honos, omnis gloria.