The Hartlib Papers

          Problema Physico-Astroligicum

     First its graunted by all knowing Persons that the Moone is at the nearest distance with this our earth of any other of the Planets.

     That as the Operations & Influence of the Moone are therfore stronger vpon vs & much more easily felt or discerned by vs, then those of any other Planetts. so shee hath yet the more efficacy & power to affect vs because her motions are the swifftest of any other Planett & that shee doth beare & carry to vs the Influence Power & Aspect of all the other Planetts as they doe severally impresse her.

     Soe that as the Astronomers justly call her Coelestis disciplinæ prima Magistra & doe confesse her severall motions, & the severall Hypotheses grounded vpon the said motions to be the foundation for demonstrating all that Science that is framed concerning the motion distance & magnitude of the rest of the cælestiall Bodies. Soe the Astrologers doe in the same manner noe lesse acknowledge, that in reference to this our earth, shee is omnium planetarum Herilis ac Domina, as most vigorously transferring to vs the severall powers affections & Influences of the respective Planets according as shee stands in a respective configuration with them. Whence alsoe shee is by some not vnaptly calld the Laboratory workehouse or shopp of the rest of the Planets.

     It is not to be doubted but from common experience the Gardiner Husbandman Sayler & the most ordinary Physitians also that are: will assure vs of large observations, that they have made of the power, vertue & influence of the Moone over this our earth, & the severall bodies of it in severall cases, though they vnderstand not or acknowledge not perhaps the power [catchword: of]

     But admitting her thus first to be the cheife Medium or Mediatresse by whome a familiarity or correspondency is principally had or gained between vs & the rest of the Planets admitting also that shee is at some time more powerfully dignifyed disposed or enabl'd to transfer those Influences vpon vs then at other times.

     Admitting lastly that the vertues powers & Properties of the severall Planetts doe more strongly operate by the mediation of her then by their owne light immediatly or at least that so considered they operate very differently.

   It must needs follow that if we will allow a consideration to be had to the severall vertues & Powers that those coelestiall bodies have vpon these our Elementary mixt substances, or if wee allow any relation allyance or influence to be between them & vs. But more especially if we allow that those bodies & their vertues are they & they only which at all times both doe & can most immediatly affect & alter our spirits. That our enqviry then is to begin heere (viz. When the Moone is most dignified, dispos'd or assisted to poure out her influence vpon vs & when shee is lesse & at what time also her poure & strength is most of all enfeebl'd & weakened. And hence this scruple or doubt following ariseth; viz.

     That for as much as all her light (at least what is reflected to vs) is wholly borrowed from the Sunn.

     For as much alsoe as answerable to the Degrees of this light & her Position to the Sunn, such is supposed to be the powerfullnes of her force influence & opera- [catchword: tion]

     Whether conseqvently her greatest Planetary vertue & force must not depend from the Sunn; And if soe,

     Whether conseqvently shee must not be reputed of the greatest Power & force when the Sun is in his greatest dignities. viz. when he is in his proper house, or in his exaltation. Or thus/.

      Whether a greater vertue or force (in Generall) be to <H: bee> ascribed to the Moone at such times as the Sunn is dignifyed: though shee bee in the encrease or full, in another sign & Peregrine. Or whether shee be most strong & dignified when shee is in the full or increase in her owne house or in the sign where she hath exaltation, the Sunn beeing at that time in another Sign, without any Dignity & Peregrine. As for Example,

     The Sunn is in his owne house (& so singly considered by himself is most of all fortified) in Leo which is a fiery sign & a fixt. At that time the Moone hath her increase & full in those signes wherein shee hath noe speciall dignities but on the contrary hath both her fall & Detriment as in Scorpio & capricorne.

     In her Decrease when conseqvently she is most weake (in reference to her light & to the Sunn) she [catchword: enter]

     On the contrary in December shee is fully illuminated in cancer, which is her owne house, while shee is in her encrease, she is in her exaltation also in Taurus. But the Sunn then is in capricorne a Southerne signe, earthly, moveable, & wherein he hath noe speciall dignity.

     The Qvestion now is at which of the Seasons the Moone is to be reputed to have most Power or Planetary force vpon vs or most strongly to Impresse and influence vs._/