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Subsection 4. the Stars as a Cause. Signs From Physiognomy, Metoposcopy And…

Subsect. 4. Stars a cause. Signes from Physiognomy, Metoposcopy, Chiromancy.

Natural causes, are either Primary and Universal, or Secundary, and more Particular. Primary causes are the Heavens, Planets, Stars, &c. by their influence (as our Astrologers hold) producing this and such like effects. I will not here stand to discusse obiter, whether Stars be causes, or Signes; or to apologize for judicial Astrology.

If either Sextus Empericus, Picus Mirandula, Sextus ab Heminga, Pererius, Erastus, Chambers, &c. have so far prevailed with any man, that he will attribute no vertue at all to the Heavens, or to Sun, or Moon, more then he doth to their signes at an Inne-keepers post, or tradesmans shop, or generally condemne all such Astrological Aphorismes approved by experience: I refer him to Bellantius, Pirovanus, Marascallerus, Goclenius, Sr Christopher Heidon, &c.

If thou shalt aske me what I think; I must answer, nam & doctis hisce erroribus versatus sum, they do incline, but not compel; no necessity at all: agunt non cogunt: and so gently incline, that a wise man may resist them; sapiens dominabitur astris: they rule us, but God rules them.

All this (methinks) Joh. de Indagine hath comprized in brief, Quæris à me quantum in nobis operantur astra? &c. Wilt thou know how far the stars work upon us? I say they do but incline, and that so gently, that if we will be ruled by reason, they have no power over us; but if we follow our own nature, and be led by sense, they do as much in us, as in brute beasts, and we are no better.

So that, I hope, I may justly conclude with Cajetan, Cœlum is vehiculum divinæ virtutis, &c. that the heaven is Gods instrument, by mediation of which he governs and disposeth these elementary bodies; or a great book, whose letters are the Stars, (as one cals it) wherein are written many strange things for such as can read, or an excellent harp, made by an eminent workman, on which, he that can but play, will make most admirable musick. But to the purpose.

Paracelsus is of opinion, that a Physitian without the knowledge of Stars, can neither understand the cause or cure of any disease, either of this, or Gout, not so much as Tooth-ache: except he see the peculiar geniture and Scheme of the party affected. And for this proper malady, he will have the principal and primary cause of it proceed from the Heaven, ascribing more to Stars then humors, & that the constellation alone many times, produceth melancholy, all other causes set apart. He gives instance in Lunatick persons, that are deprived of their wits by the Moones motion;

and in another place, referres all to the Ascendent, and will have the true and chief cause of it to be sought from the Stars. Neither is it his opinion only, but of many Galenists and Philosophers, though they not so stifly and peremptorily maintain as much. This variety of Melancholy symptomes, proceeds from the Stars, saith Melancthon: The most generous melancholy, as that of Augustus, comes from the conjunction of Saturne & Jupiter in Libra: the bad, as that of Catilines, from the meeting of Saturne and the Moon in Scorpio.

Jovianus Pontanus in his 10. book, and 13. Chap. de rebus cœlestibus, discourseth to this purpose at large. Ex atra bile varii generantur morbi, &c. many diseases proceed from black choler, as it shall be hot or cold; and though it be cold in its own nature, yet it is apt to be heated, as water may be made to boyle, and burn as bad as fire; or made cold as Ice: and thence proceed such variety of symptomes, some mad, some solitary, some laugh, some rage, &c.

The cause of all which intemperance, he wil have chiefly & primarily proceed from the Heavens: from the position of Mars, Saturne, and Mercury. His Aphorismes be these, Mercury in any geniture, if he shall be found in Virgo, or Pisces his opposite signe, and that in the Horoscope, irradiated by those quartile aspects of Saturne or Mars, the childe shall be mad or melancholy.

Again, He that shall have Saturne or Mars, the one culminating, the other in the 4. house, when he shall be borne, shall be melancholy, of which he shall be cured in time, if Mercury behold them. If the Moon be in conjunction or opposition at the birth time with the Sun, Saturne or Mars, or in a quartile aspect with them, (è malo cœli loco, Leovitius adds) many diseases are signified, especially the Head and Brain is like to be mis-affected with pernicious humors, to be melancholy, lunatick, or mad,

Cardan adds, quartâ lunâ natos Eclipses, Earth-quakes. Garcæus and Leovitius will have the chief Judgment to be taken from the Lord of the geniture, or when there is an aspect betwixt the Moon and Mercury, and neither behold the Horoscope, or Saturne and Mars shall be Lord of the present conjunction or opposition in Sagittary or Pisces, of the Sun or Moon, such persons are commonly Epileptick, dote, Dæmoniacal, Melancholy:

but see more of these Aphorismes in the above-named Pontanus. Garcæus cap. 23. de Jud. genitur. Schoner. lib. 1. cap. 8. which he hath gathered out of Ptolomy, Albubater, and some other Arabians, Junctine, Ranzovius, Lindhout, Origan, &c. but these men you will reject peradventure, as Astrologers, and therefore partial Judges; then hear the testimony of Physitians, Galenists themselves,

2218.BurtonMargin m: “Astra regunt homines, & regit astra Deus.” The stars govern people, and God governs the stars.

2219.BurtonMargin n: “Chirom. lib. Quæris à me quantum operantur astra? dico, in nos nihil astra urgere, sed animos proclives trahere: qui sic tamen liberi sunt, ut si ducem sequantur rationem, nihil efficiant, sin vero naturam, id agere quod in brutis fere.” Book on chiromancy. You ask how far the stars act? I say they force nothing upon us but draw minds already inclined; these remain so free that, if they follow reason as guide, the stars accomplish nothing, but if they follow nature, the stars act almost as they do upon beasts.

2220.BurtonMargin o: “Cœlum vehiculum divinæ virtutis, cujus mediante motu, lumine & influentia, Deus elementaria corpora ordinat & disponit. Th. de Vio. Cajetanus in Psa. 104.” Heaven is the vehicle of divine power, through whose motion, light and influence God orders and disposes bodies composed of the elements. Thomas de Vio, Cajetan, on Psalm 104.

2221.BurtonMargin p: “Mundus iste quasi lyra ab excellentissimo quodam artifice concinnata, quem qui norit mirabiles eliciet harmonias. J. Dee. Aphorismo 11.” This world is like a lyre fashioned by a supreme craftsman; one who understands him will draw forth marvellous harmonies. John Dee, aphorism 11. The printed quem is retained; Burton’s English turns the image towards playing the instrument.

2222.BurtonMargin q, continuing across the foot of page 57: “Medicus sine cœli peritia nihil est, &c. nisi genesim sciverit, ne tantillum poterit. lib. de podag.” A physician without knowledge of the heavens is nothing; unless he knows the nativity, he will not be able to do even the smallest thing. Book on gout.

2223.BurtonMargin r: “Constellatio in causa est: & influentia cœli morbum hunc movet, interdum omnibus aliis amotis. Et alibi. Origo ejus à Cœlo petenda est. Tr. de morbis amentium.” The constellation is the cause, and heaven’s influence brings on this disease, sometimes with all other causes removed. Elsewhere: its origin must be sought in heaven. Treatise on the diseases of the mentally disturbed.

2225.BurtonMargin s: “Lib. de anima cap. de humorib. Ea varietas in Melancholia, habet cœlestes causas ☌ ♄ et ♃ in □ ☌ ♂ et ☾ in ♏.” On the Soul, chapter on humours. This variety in melancholy has heavenly causes. The printed symbols indicate conjunction, Saturn and Jupiter, then a square, conjunction, Mars and the moon in Scorpio. This compressed formula differs from the body’s Saturn–Jupiter in Libra and Saturn–moon in Scorpio; it is not silently reconciled.

2227.BurtonMargin t: “Ex atra bile varii generantur morbi perinde ut ipsa multum calidi aut frigidi in se habuerit, quum utrique suscipiendo quam aptissima sit, tam etsi suapte natura frigida sit. Annon aqua sic afficitur a calore ut ardeat; et a frigore, ut in glaciem concrescat? et hæc varietas distinctionum, alii flent, rident, &c.” Various diseases arise from black bile according as it contains much heat or cold, since it readily receives either, although naturally cold. Is not water so affected by heat that it burns, and by cold that it freezes into ice? Hence these different states: some weep, some laugh, and so on.

2228.BurtonMargin u: “Hanc ad intemperantiam gignendam plurimum confert ♂ et ♄ positus, &c.” The position of Mars and Saturn contributes greatly to producing this imbalance, and so forth.

2229.BurtonMargin x: “☿ Quoties alicujus genitura in ♍ et ♓ adverso signo positus, horoscopum partiliter tenuerit, atque etiam a ♂ vel ♄ □ radio percussus fuerit, natus ab insania vexabitur.” Whenever Mercury in a nativity, placed in Virgo and its opposite sign Pisces, occupies the ascendant by exact degree and is struck by a square ray from Mars or Saturn, the native will be afflicted by madness. The compressed Latin uses et, and, where the English body gives the alternative Virgo or Pisces.

2231.BurtonMargin y: “Qui ♄ et ♂ habet, alterum in culmine, alterum imo cœlo, cum in lucem venerit, melancholicus erit, à qua sanabitur, si ☿ illos irradiavit.” Whoever at birth has Saturn and Mars, one at the midheaven and the other at the bottom of the heavens, will be melancholy, from which he will recover if Mercury has cast its rays upon them.

2232.BurtonMargin z, continuing at the foot of page 58: “Hac configuratione natus, Aut Lunaticus, aut mente captus.” One born under this configuration will be either lunatic or deprived of reason.

2236.BurtonMargin a: “Ptolomæus centiloquio, & quadripartito tribuit omnium melancholicorum symptomata syderum influentiis.” Ptolemy, in the Centiloquium and Quadripartitum, attributes all melancholic symptoms to stellar influences.