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 Table of the Twelve Houses.
Astrologers draw their table of the TWELVE HOUSES into a triple
quadrangle prepared for the purpose, of which there are four
principal angles, two of them falling equally upon the horizon, and
the other two upon the meridian, which angles are sudivided into 12
triangles for the 12 houses, in which they place the 12 signs of the
Zodiac, to each of which is attributed a particular quality,—viz.

1.— Aries, denoted by the sign ♈︎, is, in their extravagant opinion,
a masculine, diurnal, cardinal, equinoctial, easterly sign, hot
and dry,—the day house of Mars.
2.— Taurus, ♉︎, is a feminine, nocturnal, melancholy, bestial,
furious sign—cold and dry.
3.— Gemini, ♊︎, is a masculine sign, hot and moist, diurnal, aërial,
human, double-bodied, &c.
4.— Cancer, ♋︎, is a feminine, nocturnal, phlegmatic sign, by
nature cold and moist, the only house of Luna.
5.— Leo, ♌︎, is a sign, masculine, diurnal, bestial, choleric and
barren; a commanding, kingly sign—hot and dry, the only
house of the sun.
6.— Virgo, ♍︎, is a feminine, nocturnal, melancholy, and barren
sign.
7.— Libra, ♎︎, is a sign masculine, cardinal, equinoctial, diurnal,
sanguine and human, hot and moist.
8.— Scorpio, ♏︎, is a feminine, nocturnal, cold and phlegmatic
northern sign.
9.— Sagittarius, ♐︎, is a sign masculine, choleric, and diurnal, by
nature hot and dry.
 10. Capricorn, ♑︎, is a feminine, nocturnal, melancholy, solstitial,
— moveable, cardinal, and southern sign.
11.— Aquarius, ♒︎, is a masculine, diurnal, fixed, sanguine, and
human sign.
12. Pisces, ♓︎, is a feminine, nocturnal, phlegmatic, northerly
— double-bodied sign, the last of the twelve.
Having thus housed their signs and directed them in their
operations, they afterwards come to enquire of their tenants, what
planet and fixed stars they have for LODGERS, at the moment of the
nativity of such person; from whence they draw conclusions with
regard to the future incident of that person’s life. For if at the time of
that person’s nativity they find Mercury in 27° 52 min. of Aquarius,
and in the sextile aspect of the horoscope, they pretend to foretel that
that infant will be a person of great sagacity, genius, and
understanding; and therefore capable of learning the most sublime
sciences.
Astrologers have also imagined, for the same ridiculous purpose,
to be in the same houses different positions of the signs and planets,
and from their different aspects, opposition and conjunction, and
according to the rules and axioms they have prescribed to themselves
and invented, have the sacrilegious presumption to judge, in dernier
resort, of the fate of mankind, though their pretended art or science
is quite barren either of proofs or demonstrations.
 Signs to the Houses of the Planets.
The planets have allowed themselves each, except Sol and Luna,
two signs for their houses; to Saturn, Capricorn and Aquarius; to
Jupiter, Sagittarius and Pisces; to Mars, Aries and Scorpio; to Sol,
Leo; to Venus, Taurus and Libra; to Mercury, Gemini and Virgo;
and to Luna, Cancer.
 Angles or Aspects of the Planets.
By their continual mutations among the twelve signs, the planets
make several angles or aspects; the most remarkable of which are the
five following, viz.—
☌ Conjunction.—Δ Trine.—☐ Quadrate.—⚹ Sextile.—☍
Opposition.
A Conjunction is when two planets are in one and the same
degree and minute of a sign; and this, according to Astrological cant,
either good or bad, as the planets are either friends or enemies.
A Trine is when two planets are four signs, or 120 degrees distant,
as Mars in twelve degrees of Aries, and Sol in twelve degrees of
Leo. Here Sol and Mars are said to be in Trine Aspect. And this is
an aspect of perfect love and friendship.
A Quadrate Aspect is when two planets are three signs, or 90
degrees distant, as Mars in 10 degrees, and Venus in 10 degrees of
Leo. This particular aspect is of imperfect enmity, and Astrologers
say, that persons thereby signified, may have jars at sometime, but of
such a nature as may be perfectly reconciled.
A Sextile Aspect, is when two planets are two signs, or 60 degrees
distant, as Jupiter in 15 degrees of Aries; and Saturn in 15 degrees
of Gemini; here Jupiter is in a sextile aspect to Saturn. This is an
aspect of friendship.
An Opposition is, when two planets are diametrically opposite,
which happens when they are 6 signs, or 180 degrees (which is one
half of the circle) asunder; and this is an aspect of perfect hatred.
A Partile Aspect, is when two planets are in a perfect aspect to
the very same degree and minute.
Dexter Aspects, are those which are contrary to the succession of
signs; as a planet, for instance, in Aries, casts its sextile dexter to
Aquarius.
Sinister Aspect, is with the succession of signs, as a planet in
Aries, for example, casts its sextile sinister in Gemini.
In addition to these, Astrologers play a number of other diverting
tricks; hence we read of the Application—Prohibition—
Translation—Refrenation—Combustion—Exception—
Retrogradation, &c. of planets.
 The Application of Planets.
Application of the planets is performed by Astrologers in three
different ways.
1. When a light planet, direct and swift in its motion, applies to a
planet more ponderous and slow in motion; as Mercury in 8° of
Aries, and Jupiter in 12° of Gemini, and both direct; here Mercury
applies to a sextile of Jupiter, by direct application.
2. When they are both retrograde, as Mercury in 20° of Aries, and
Jupiter in 15° of Gemini; here Mercury, the lighter planet, applies to
the sextile aspect of Jupiter; and this is by retrogradation.
3. When one of the planets is direct, and the other retrograde; for
example, if Mercury were retrograde in 18° of Aries, and Jupiter
direct in 14° of Gemini; in this case Mercury applies to a sextile of
Jupiter, by a retrograde motion.
 Prohibition,
is when two planets are applying either by body or aspect; and
before they come to their partile aspect, another planet meets with
the aspect of the former and prohibits it.
 Separation,
is when two planets have been lately in conjunction, or aspect, and
are separated from it.
 Translation of Light and Virtue,
is when a lighter planet separates from the body or aspect of a
heavier one, and immediately applies to another superior planet, and
so translates the light and virtue of the first planet to that which it
applies to.
 Refrenation,
is when a planet is applied to the body or aspect of another; and,
before it comes to it, falls retrograde, and so refrains by its
retrograde motion.
 Combustion.
A planet is said to be combust of Sol, when it is within 8° 30″ of
his body, either before or after his conjunction: but Astrologers
complain, that a planet is more afflicted when it is applying to the
body of Sol, than when it is separating from combustion.
 Reception,
is when two planets are in each other’s dignities, and it may either
be by house, exultation, triplicity, or term.
 Retrogradation,
is when a planet moves backward from 20° to 9°, 8°, 7°, and so out
of Taurus into Aries.
 Frustration,
is when a swift planet applies to the body or aspect of a superior
planet; and before it comes to it, the superior planet meets with the
body or aspect of some other planet.
 The Dragon’s Head and Tail.
To the seven planets, viz. Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Sol, Venus,
Mercury, and Luna; Astrologers add, two certain nodes or points,
called the Dragon’s head, distinguished by this sign ☋, and the
Dragon’s tail by ☊. In those two extremities of the beast, our students
in Astrology place such virtues, that they can draw from thence
wealth, honour, preferments, &c. enough to flatter the avarice,
ambition, vanity, &c. of the fools who follow them. Sensible,
however, that the admirers of this art support their principles and
defend their doctrines by examples founded on their own experience
and on the authority of history; there is no necessity for us here to
expose the weakness and futility of their arguments. Tully’s proof
will suffice; who, amidst the darkest clouds of superstition and
ignorance, and in the very heyday of paganism and idolatry, and
whilst religion itself seemed to countenance Astrology, inveighs
severely against it in Lib. 2, de devinat. “Quam multa ego Pompeis,
quam multa Crasso, quam multa huic ipsi Cæsari a Chaldæis dicta
memini, neminem eorum nisi senectute, nisi domi, nisi cum clantate
esse moriturum? ut mihi per Mirum videatur quem quam extare,
qui etiam nunc credastis, quorum predicta quotidie videat re et
eventis refelli[9].”
 Climacteric.
Astrologers have used their best artifices, and employed all the
rules of their art, to render those years of our age, which they call
climacterics, dangerous and formidable.
Climacterick from the Greek, κλιμακτης, which means by a scale or
ladder, is a critical year, or a period in a man’s age, wherein,
according to Astrological juggling, there is some notable alteration to
arise in the body; and a person stands in great danger of death. The
first climacterick, say they, is the seventh year of a man’s life; the rest
are multiples of the first, as 21, 49, 56, 63, and 84; which two last are
called the grand climactericks, and the danger more certain.
Marc Ficinus accounts for the foundation of this opinion: he tells
us there is a year assigned for each planet to rule over the body of a
man, each in his turn; now Saturn being the most maleficent
(malignant) planet of all, every seventh year, which falls to its lot,
becomes very dangerous; especially those of 63 and 84, when the
person is already advanced in years. According to this doctrine, some
hold every seventh year an established climacteric; but others only
allow the title to those produced by the multiplication of the
climacterical space by an odd number, 3, 5, 7, 9, &c. Others observe
every ninth year as a climacterick.
There is a work extant, though rather scarce, by Hevelius, under
the title of Annus Climactericus, wherein he describes the loss he
sustained by his observatory, &c. being burnt; which, it would
appear, happened in his grand climacterick. Suetonius says, that
Augustus congratulated his nephew upon his having passed his first
grand climacterick, of which he was very apprehensive.
Some pretend that the climacterick years are fatal to political
bodies, which perhaps may be granted, when they are proved to be so
to natural ones; for it must be obvious that the reason of such danger
can by no means be discovered, nor what relation it can have with
any of the numbers above-mentioned. Though this opinion has a
great deal of antiquity on its side; Aulus Gellius says, it was borrowed
from the Chaldeans, who, possibly, might receive it from Pythagoras,
whose philosophy turned much on numbers, and who imagined an
extraordinary virtue in the number 7.
The principal authors on the subject of climactericks, are Plato,
Cicero, Macrobius, Aulus Gellius, among the ancients; Argol,
Magirus, and Salmatius, among the moderns. St. Augustine, St.
Ambrose, Beda, and Bœtius, all countenance the opinion.
 Lucky and Unlucky Days.
Astrologers have also brought under their inspection and controul
the days of the year, which they have presumed to divide into lucky
and unlucky days; calling even the sacred scriptures, and the
common belief of Christians, in former ages, to their assistance for
this purpose. They pretend that the 14th day of the first month was a
blessed day among the Israelites, authorised therein, as they pretend,
by the several following passages out of Exodus, c. xii. v. 18, 40, 41,
42, 51. Leviticus, c. xxiii. v. 5. Numbers, c. xxviii. v. 16. “Four
hundred and thirty years being expired of their dwelling in Egypt,
even in the self same day departed they thence.”
With regard to evil days and times, Astrologers refer to Amos, c. 5,
v. 13, and c. vi. v. 3. Ecclesiasticus, c. ix. v. 12. Psalm, xxxvii. v. 19.
Obadiah, c. xii. Jeremiah, c. xlvi. v. 21, and to Job cursing his birth
day, chap. iii. v. 1 to 11. In confirmation of which they also quote a
calendar, extracted out of several ancient Roman catholic prayer
books, written on vellum, before printing was invented, in which
were inserted the unfortunate days of each month, as in the following
verses;—
January.—Prima dies mensis, et septima truncat ensis.
February.—Quarta subit mortem, prosternit tertia fortem.
March.—Primus mandentem, disrumpit quarta bibentem.
April.—Denus et undenus est mortis vulnere plenus.
May.—Tertius occidit, et Septimus ora relidit.
June.—Denus Pallescit, quindenus fædera nescit.
July.—Ter denus mactat, Julii denus labefactat.
August.—Prima necat fortem, perditque secunda cohortem.
September.—Tertia Septembris, et denus fert mala membris.
October.—Tertius et denus, est sicut mors alienus.
November.—Scorpius est quintus, et tertius est vita tinctus.
December.—Septimus exanguis, virosus denus ut Anguis.

This poetry is a specimen of the rusticity and ignorance at least of

the times; and is a convincing proof that Christianity had yet a very
strong tincture of the Pagan superstitions attached to it, and which
all the purity of the gospel itself, to this very day, has not been able
entirely to obliterate.
That the notion of lucky and unlucky days owes its origin to
paganism, may be proved from Roman history, where it is mentioned
that that very day four years, the civil wars were begun by Pompey
the father; Cæsar made an end of them with his son, Cneius
Pompeius being then slain; and that the Romans accounted the 13th
of February an unlucky day, because on that day they were
overthrown by the Gauls at Allia; and the Fabii attacking the city of
the Recii, were all slain with the exception of one man: from the
calendar of Ovid’s “Fastorum,” Aprilis erat mensis Græcis
auspicatissimus; and from Horace, lib. 2, ode 13, cursing the tree
that had nearly fallen upon it; ille nefasto posuit die.
The number of remarkable events that happened on some
particular days have been the principal means of confirming both
Pagans and Christians in their opinion on this subject. For example,
Alexander the Great, who was born on the 6th of April, conquered
Darius and died on the same day. The Emperor Bassianus Caracalla
was born and died on a sixth day of April. Augustus was adopted on
the 19th of August, began his Consulate, conquered the Triumviri,
and died the same day.
The Christians have observed that the 24th of February was four
times fortunate to Charles the Fifth. That Wednesday was a fortunate
day to Pope Sixtus V. for on a Wednesday he was born, on that day
made a Monk, on the same day made a General of his order, on that
day created a Cardinal, on that day elected Pope, and also on that day
inaugurated. That Thursday was a fatal day to Henry VIII. King of
England, and his posterity, for he died on a Thursday; King Edward
VI. on a Thursday; Queen Mary on a Thursday; and Queen Elizabeth
on a Thursday. The French have observed that the feast of Pentecost
had been lucky to Henry III. King of France, for on that day he was
born, on that day elected king of Poland, and on that day he
succeeded his brother Charles IX. on the throne of France.
 Genethliaci.
(From γενεθλη, origin, generation, nativity.)
These, so called in Astrology, are persons who erect Horoscopes;
or pretend what shall befal a man, by means of the stars which
presided at his nativity[10]. The ancients called them Chaldæi, and by
the general name mathematici: accordingly the several civil and
canon laws, which we find made against the mathematicians, only
respect the Genethliaci, or Astrologers; who were expelled Rome by a
formal decree of the senate, and yet found so much protection from
the credulity of the people, that they remained unmolested. Hence an
ancient author speaks of them as hominum genus, quod in civitate
nostra sempe et vetabitur, et retinebitur.
Genethliacum, (Genethliac poem,)

Is a composition in verse, on the birth of some prince, or other

illustrious person; in which the poet promises him great honours,
advantages, successes, victories, &c. by a kind of prophecy or
prediction. Such, for instance, is the eclogue of Virgil to Pollio,
beginning
Sicelides Musæ, paulo majora Canamus.

There are also Genethliac speeches or orations, made to celebrate a

person’s birth day.