SInce you have been so kind not only to acquaint me with the Intention and Design of your Defectio Geniturarum , but also to permit me the perusal of some part of it in Sheets ; I have so good an Opinion of the Work , and the Necessity of it , that I am sorry the Laziness or Ignorance of some men hath given occasion for such an Exposure . Never was Astrology more pretended to , and vended , than in this Age , and never perhaps less understood ; for tho' there be some learned Students and Professors of it , yet the most part of our Vulgar Practicers are so illiterate and negligent , that I may complain with the learned Cardan , Rem difficillimam & maximae industriae ad●o ●scitanter Com. in p●el . lib. 1. c. 2. ●ex . 13. tractant , ut artem in maximam vit●perationem d●du●erint : And others that understand little or nothing at all of it , yet that they may seem what they are not ( saith the same Author ) Lucrique cupid●t●te artem profitentur , quam vi● à limine salutarunt . There is also Ibid tex , ● 14. a mixt sort of these self-conceited men , who presumptuously trampling upon all Antiquity , have the confidence to erect their Babels of new Theorems and Systems , and other their dreaming Fancies in Astrology , tho' upon due Examination they must fall to the like Confusion with that presumptuous Undertaking ; and in this Folly they shew their ill manners also , and spare not to rail , not only at their Contemporaries , but even at Ptolomy himself ; to whom the world is obliged for what is preserved of the Art : Tho' indeed some of them cannot read him , nor others understand him , he having wrapp'd up the Secrets of this Mysterious Science in dark and concise Language , perhaps on purpose , Ne detur sacrum Canibus .

And because in our Age also there have risen up some pitiful illiterate Mushrooms , who for Gain would pretend to Astrology , which they understand not , and think that they shall raise themselves a Name and Reputation by scribling against others , honester and more learned than themselves ; but especially if a bold fellow dares to fly in the face of Ptolomy himself , whose Name he hath heard of , but understands nothing of his Writings : I will here take occasion to transcribe what the learnd Cardan's sense was of the incomparable Ptolomy , and of such like Empericks as these , which have been found in all Ages . Thus therefore Cardan .

Ut in omni disciplina nobiliore semper vitia major a Epist. nuncup . ad Archiep. Hamilt . contingunt ; alia quidem per eos qui cum eam non norint se scire jactant , alia per eos qui sciunt sed malè utuntur , it à in hanc ut nobilissimam etiam pessima vitia & innumerabilis turba Nebulonum se conjecit . Qui it à artem foedarunt ac conspurcarunt , ut ne quidem vestigium illius superfuerit . Tot Albumasares , Abenrageles , Alchabitios , Abubatres , Zaheles , Massahalacos , Bethenes , Firmicos , Bonatos ; Boni Geni● ! quid jam superest aut reliquum est à tot impostoribus ? à tot nugis ? Id factum est cùm ars haec esset , ut quilibet perspicere potest , tanto dfficilior quanto divinior : Imperiti illi simularunt quod assequi non poterant , in compendium velle redigere . It aque cùmQuaestus causa omnes ad illos recurrerent , miserta humani generis Divina Bonit as Ptolomaeum unum pro tot millibus sycophantarum largita est . Qui artem in ten●bris jacentem extulit , & in l●cem traduxit . Dgnus s●ne H●rculeis Honoribus , atque aliquanto etiam majorthus . Is mi●a arte , summa diligentia , maximis laboribus , magna fret●●s selicitate ac vitae diuturnitate , non solum errantium & inerrantium sid rum cu●sus , magnitudines , aliosque illorum affectus d●scripsit , sed & illorum decreta ac praesagia tanta ingenii subtilitate , ut mortales omnes ab arte ipsa absterrucrit , neminem accenderit . Quo f●ctum est ut rursus turba haec Nebalonum surrexerit , ipsa disciplina cum Ptolomaei Libro jacuerit squalore , & situ foedata . Non id fallebat Ptolomaeum futurum , sed maluit Veritatem obscurè , quam mendacia ac fabulas dilucidè scribere : Sperans futurum tandem aliquem qui sua haec m●numenta posset explicare . Jacuit itaque Liber hic annis Mille quadringentis it a abjectus , ut nisi nomen authoris illum defendisset , maxima cum jactura bonarum Liter arum peritsset , &c.

I shall not translate it , for it is no matter whether such mean Pretenders to Art understand it or not ; but if they will shew it to some body more learned than themselves , they may see the Pedigree described from whence they are spawned , and another kind of Picture of the most Excellent and Learned Ptolomy than they have drawn .

Take also Junctinus's Account and Character of Ptolomy , Spec. Astr. in his Prolegomena ; Clarior est quàm ut nostra commendatione indigeat , neminem enim latet quis Claudius Ptolomaeus fuerit ; qui in Mathematicis disciplinis omnibus , in Astrologiâ praesertim , omne tulit punctum , it à ut Astrologorum Homerum eum appellemus liceat . Constat autem inter doctos , eum Antonini Pii tempo●bus storuisse . Sed quid externo opus est testimonio , cùm doctrina ipsa quae hoc libro continetur , tantum non clamet à quo sit parente edita ; haec cum sit singularis & divina , cui potius est attribuenda quàm ei qui inter Astrologos tanquam Deus aliquis habeatur .

And for a triple Testimony take what the learned Sir Christopher Heydon writes of our Ptolomy ; He was ( saith he ) honoured of all the world for his extraordinary Defence of Astrol. p. 161. Knowledge beyond the common reach of mortal men , and especially for redeeming this Art from spurious Superstitions , wherewith it was defaced .

And this I hope is sufficient to restrain the licentious Tongues of men , who upon the foot of Learning should know their distance with Ptolomy , if any ingenuity or modesty be remaining in them : But if they have bid adieu to those Graces , they may rail on , and by my consent , all the notice or revenge which more ingenious men shall take of them , should be contemptu praeterire & silentio .

Yet I will be bold to add my suffrage too ( and I believe all learned and ingenious Students in this Art will agree with me ) ; Si non scripsisset Ptolomaeus , actum esset de Astrologia : If Ptolomy had not writ , Astrology had been utterly lost . And other foundation than what Ptolomy hath laid can no man lay ; a skilful Architect may build upon it indeed , and raise fair superstructures ( for the Theme is froitful and large enough ) , but then he must make his Enlargements uniform , and not put in Heterodox and irregular pieces , which are contrary to and dishonour the Foundation Builder .

But such is the fate of Human Condition , that the more excellent any thing is , the more it may be abused by the Ignorance , or the Malice , or the Lewdness of those that handle it : For , as Cardan observes , we find it in experience , Unaequaeque ars quanto Nobilior ●st eo pernitiosior , si per sycophantas administretur : Quid enim Comm. in Ptol. lib 1. cap. 2 t. 14. sanctius Religione ? Quid iniquius perdito Sacer dote ? Quid melius Jurisprudentid ? Quid deterius improbo Jurisconsulto , & c. ? And I doubt not but any impudent fellows who rail against Ptolomy , whom they do not understand , and whose Study they would not have been worthy to have sweep'd , will use the like Liberty with Hippocrates , Solomon , and Moses himself .

But you seem to me in this Treatise to take off the Vail from the Hearts and Understandings of such who have vaunted long in a superficial skill of this Science ( if at least it be possible to take it off ) , but I mean such as will be convinced by Reason , and are not obstinate and obdurate in a long erroneous Practice . You do not change or invent new Rules in Astrology , but you restore the Primitive Principles ; you lead them from their wandring Mazes , in running round the Figure to seek the Cause of Death , to fix them in the true genuine Hileg or Giver of Life , which must , and only must , measure out and determine their days ; this all Antiquity of any worth , this Reason , this Experience teaches and demonstrates . Let them stand out , the stoutest Champion of them all , and produce but one single Nativity ( confessedly allowed on all hands to be true ) where the Native dyed upon any Direction but that of the Hileg , or where they did not dye upon Direction of the Hileg to the proper Anaraetas , caeteris paribus . This is plain out of the Oraculous Ptolomy , who tho' he treats of the Art too briefly and something obscurely , yet writes as if he were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and is always constant to himself in the fundamental Principles , of which the Hileg is one of the chief . Let the ignorant and barking Antagonists to this Doctrine give in their own true Genitures ( if they dare ) and you will fairly try the Issue with them upon this Point ; but they are like some Women St. Paul speaks of , that are ever learning , and never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth . 2 Tim. 3. 7.

IT is the general unhappiness of our present Age , that he knows nothing that doth not know in Print , and as well increase the prodigious Issue of the Press as discover the Weakness and Inability of his own Parts and Pretences . I complain , and yet you see I add to the number ; but the necessity of the case will , I hope , plead my Excuse ; for never did Astrology stand in need of a speedy Reformation more than at this time ; and never fewer able to perform it , notwithstanding the prodigious number of Pretenders , who , if you will take their own Words for it , understand the Art better than ever Cardan did : Nay ! or Ptolemy himself .

Astrology is now like a dead Carkass , to which every Crow or Rook resorts and takes a Mouthful , and then flies to the next Tree , or other convenient place , and with his Croaking Noise tells the World he hath brought away the whole Body in his Bill : These kind of Creatures are like a pack of Beagles in a Forest , which by reason of their smallness could not be detected and known to be there , were it not for the Yelping and Noise they make ; by which kind of Cry they pursue their Game . You may , if you please , transfer this simile to some of the Scandalous Fry , who under the Notion of Astrology , cheat Mankind by pretending to things not in Nature ; like your Magick-Mongers , Sigil-Merchants , Charm-Broakers , &c. a Crew of Knaves more fit to be punished than encouraged : And indeed we find some of these Wretches among the Writers of Almanacks also ; no wonder therefore the lesser K—use it .

Astrology hath another sort of Votaries that make Mountain-Pretences of their Abilities in Art ( as they call it ) and their monstrous familiarity with their Divine Urania , a Lady for whom they have a mighty Respect , if you can but believe them ; and yet at the same time cloath the poor Gentlewoman in a Fools Coat , pin Papers at her Tail , and in all their Draughts of her , make her appear a compleat Monster , by their ridiculous ( yet laborious ) management of the Art and Rules they pretend to ; never considering that their Principles and Practice ought to agree , and that each Cause ought to have always the same or an adequate Effect ; and it is by this undiscreet management that our Authors have made so many Unbelievers ; for when men of Ingenuity come to read the Authors that teach us , and meet with so many notorious Contradictions in them , it sours their Opinion of that which before they thought moderately well of .

There is another sort that are strenuously diligent in finding out Novelties , and loading the A●t with Fcoleries of their own contriving ; and if they happen to have a good way in telling a Story , and a little Interest among mankind to be believed ; the more ignorant sort , that love Impossibilities , and to hear of things not in Nature , do immediately swallow the Gudgeon . And those men that are the promoters of this , and such like ways as these are , do not at all understand any thing of the true primitive Astrology , but only endeavour to set up something under that Name , upon which to build a Reputation and Trade for their Lives . And besides , if you lo●k out among our English Authors , pray consider how much Advantage , Credit and Reputation they have brought to the Art by all they have done these last Forty Years either in Printing or Practice ; and when you have numbred its Professors , you will not find One in Ten but what pretend to it more for the Profit it brings , than for the Advantage and Promotion of the Art : Nor is there One in Forty of these Questuaries able to do any thing , if they were willing ; for their business is to make themselves Masters of the Pratling part , that they may talk of it , and be great among those in Plato's Cave : But for Reformation , and those that undertake it , they esteem such their Enemies , and not fit for Conversation .

These are the Professors of Astrology that make it so Contemptible and Scandalous ; and these are the men that Ptolomy complains of in his time , as you may see , Lib. 1. Cap. 1. where he tells us , Praeterea multi quaestus causa alias divinationes venditant , nomine & dignitate hujus Artis , ac vulgo imponunt , multa praedicentes , quae non significantur naturalibus causis . And in divers other places of that first Book and Chapter he complains of these Ignorant and Knavish Abusers of the Art in that time when he writ .

And these are those Astrological Hypocrites that Cardan exclaims against in his Comment on that very Chapter before quoted , and the Text in particular mentioned ; where after he hath nominated divers ways that the Knaves of those times used under the Notion of Astrology , he says ; Mendaciis absurdis artem hanc Vituperantes . So that it is no strange thing ( you see ) for a Crew of ignorant Fellows , that know nothing of Astrology , to crowd themselves under that Name and Character ; look out into the world and you will certainly find your Tr — ers and your Co — ys in every corner of the City and Nation ; and where ev●r you find that Crew , that pretend to such Villanies , be certain they are perfect Strangers to the Truths of Astrology , and know nothing of the matter ; being only excellent in Tricking and Cheating . Nay , I know one ignorant Fellow that hath lived by the Art these Thirty Years , told mighty things about Cel●stial Influence , and the truth of the Art in print ; and yet I often hear , He doth in Company at Taverns say , It is a Cheat ; that there is nothing in it ; and that he useth it only for a Livelikood : I suppose you will guess at the man , his Guts and his Brains often contend for the Preheminence .

Now let me exhort all those that are real well wishers to Astrology , to set to the Work in earnest , get many Nativities that are true ( 't is no matter what their Quality is ) work and observe whether your Directions have the same effects in one that they have in another's Nativity ; make your ●●lves Masters of Ptolemy 's Rules and Principles , and make him your Standard to try your Operations by : Learn to chuse your Giver of Life , your Poiothanatos , and your Biothanatos : And when you are Masters of these , you will be able to see through those Fooleries no win fashion among those that are your Masters and publick Teachers of the Art in all the corners of the Town . When you are got into this Method and Way , you will see a Prospect of arriving at something that will be satisfactory to the laborious Student in his farther pursuit after Truth , and yet with me despair of ever seeing it brought to a compleat Perfection ; and both of us say with Campanella , Ptolemeum sequimur — Omnes enim Astrologi omnium temporum , ab exordio Mundi ad nos , non sufficiunt ad Astrologiam totam & recte conficiendam . And as a Conclusion to this Paragraph , give me leave to say , and that most truly , That all Methods , Ways and Projects in Astrology , not founded on the Principles and Doctrine of Ptolemy , are vain and idle ; and all those that employ themselves in such Methods , &c. do but trifle away their Time , and are never the better .

When I quote Ptolemy in the following Treatise , it is that Translation done by the Learned Melancthon , and printed at Basil in the Year 1553. and is the best of all the Translations that are extant of the Quadripartite . And I have an Intention to Print that Translation of Melancthon again , it being grown very scarce ; and to Print Melancthon 's Epistle before it likewise , and to add to it a short Comm●nt on the remarkable Chapters in the two last Books , making it a handsom Pocket-Volume , in a clear Letter ; an excellent Companion for those that are studious in this Art ; and whosoever is once Master of that Treatise , will set a small-value on the rest of the Authors . And it must be done at our own Charge , because the Booksellers will not encourage it , nor be at the Charge to do it will and fair .

When I quote Argol 's De Diebus Criticis , it is that Edition Printed at Padua in the year 1652. and is both the best and last , and a good thing in its kind , though the Nativities are for the most part false , and his Rules misappli'd .

I intend also to give the world a few Nativities , perhaps an Hundred or Two , in a way different to all that have gone before me ; and in all that I Print , I will take care to give the true Estimate Time , which all the Authors on that subject have hitherto omitted : It is the want of that which hinders our examining those already printed , and so prevents not only me , but all men else to endeavour a Correction of them . It is too arbitrary to impose upon mankind such Nativities that we have corrected , and neither give Reasons , nor the Estimate Time thereof , to assist them that come after ; some differing Three Hours from the Estimate , but commonly half an Hour , or an Hour : So that all that have been done hitherto , are of no use but to stare upon , and that with a doubtful Eye too .

I have not elected a Time for Publishing my Book , which perhaps some will wonder at , especially because Saturn is on my Radical Sun ; let it take its Fate , if the present doth not like it , the next Age , I am sure , will thank me for it ; and this Book will be the occasion of the Old Doctrine's Resurrection at one time or another .

And now Reader , I give it into thy Hand , prithee do not censure the Doctrine nor the Matter before you understand it ; you know whose Faculty that is ; read and consider well the matter throughout this whole Book ; and when thou hast done that , lay by partiality , and judge fairly , and do by me as you would be done by , were you in my place and station ; and then I can say , you are a kind Reader ; and yet it is no more than you ought to do by all , as well as

From my House in Salisbury-street ,