The High King Guanyin Sutra as an apocryphal sutra: A responsa of Master Jingkong,

In Chinese Buddhism we find a scripture known as the High King Guanyin Sutra 高王觀音經. This sutra has already been featured twice before on this blog: 

first in translation: https://edwardwhite123.blogspot.com/2020/11/high-king-avalokitesvara-sutra.html  

and secondly as to its preface: https://edwardwhite123.blogspot.com/2021/05/the-original-preface-to-high-king.html 

However, it has recently come to my attention that Some Chinese buddhists consider this sutra an Apocryphal sutra 偽經 and hence a suboptimal means of devotion,  In this post I shall translate a responsa given by Master Jingkong as to this sutra, available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNYVi96YA98

 

這位同修問：「《高王觀世音經》，請問是真經或是偽經？」

A Devotee asked: "Is the High King Guanyin Sutra a true or apocryphal sutra?

答：古大德說這個經是後人偽造的，不是佛說的。

Answer: "The Great Virtuous ones of old stated that this scripture [i.e. the High King scripture] is created by later people, and is not spoken by the buddha

"你喜歡念也可以，總而言之，都是勸善，不是教你作惡的。 You can recite it if you please- after all, it encourages people to do good, rather than evil.

假如你真的有智慧，為什麼不去念《普門品》 But if you really have Prajna [Wisdom], why not recite the "Universal Gate chapter?

或者是《楞嚴經》第六卷「觀世音菩薩耳根圓通章」？Or indeed, the sixth chapter of the Surangama Sutra "The Chapter of Guanyin's Ear root completion?"

《華嚴經》跟《楞嚴經》觀世音菩薩這兩章經文都有單獨流通，合《法華經‧普門品》，叫「觀音三經」。"These two chapters, from the Flower Ornament Sutra, the Surangama Sutra, along with the Guanyin Chapter of the Lotus sutra, are collectively called the "Three Sutras of Guanyin."

這是真實的，決定不是虛偽的，為什麼不念這個？這是給諸同修自己去選擇。 These are true scriptures, and are not false. Why not recite those? I leave the choice to all those who intend to cultivate [the Buddhist path]"

***

Comments:

When read together with the preface shown above, it is evident why the scripture is considered "false" or 'Apocryphal' as it was not transmitted by the Buddha. As the preface makes plain, this scripture was revealed by a monk who appeared in a dream to someone.

Indeed, Master Jingkong's point actually restores the hierarchy that was inverted in the High King Sutra's preface. Said preface explicitly states that the person to which the sutra was revealed, chanted the Lotus sutra's Guanyin chapter endlessly to no effect.

But, returning to Master Jingkong's speech, he does not state the scripture is harmful: after all, about half the scripture is consisted of nothing but the names of buddhas and Buddhisatvas. Indeed, the comments left beneath the youtube videos suggest that the sutra is still effective- eg reporting cures of cancer after reciting the sutra ten thousand times

Another commentator added that reciting this scripture allowed them to have a dream-vision of their mother

More broadly, one wonders if this rejection of the sutra yet another example of the protestantisation of buddhism- emphasis more securely canonical works, rather than extra-canonical literature like this. In any case, I recently heard form a Singaporean acquaintance, when he tried to ask Internal Printers-- a Singaporean company that exclusively prints Buddhist scriptures-- if they could print this scripture, they refused to do so, saying "it is not a buddhist scripture".

In any case, it is interesting to note that this scripture has also found its way into the Taisho Tripitaka-- albeit under volume 85,the volume of (amongst other things) "Doubtful sutras")

http://tripitaka.cbeta.org/T85n2898_001

Questions and Answers with Confucius 孔子問答

 In this post, I will post a bilingual edition of a curious Chinese text about Confucius. Entitled 孔子問答, - Questions and Answers with Confucius, also called 小兒論- Discussions with a child -- it shows how Confucius is is first matched, then flummoxed by a  boy called Xiang Tuo.項橐 It is reprinted yearly in Chinese almanacs.

His story was mentioned as early as in the Stratagems of the Warring states, https://jenniferdodgson.wixsite.com/warringstates/qinwang2 , but the actual interactions, we are told, was lost. The text translated here is probably an apocryphal text that fitted into this story. Xiang Tuo also has a baidu article (In Chinese  https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E9%A1%B9%E6%A9%90/3121539 )

One of the segments of the Stratagems In which Xiang Tuo (or, as he is called, Xiang Gao) is mentioned

Only one translation has been made of this text, which is found in Martin Palmer et, al's T'ung Shu (Vinpress, 1990),. However, this translation is also flawed-- and indeed, leaves out an entire segment of the text. The author thus reproduces Palmer's translation here, correcting it as necessary, and supplying the missing parts. 

.  

.  

These images are the text as shown in the 廣經堂 Guang jing Tang Almanac for 2020. The actual text translated is in the bottom half of the page. The top half of every page except the first is occupied with a list of Confucius' disciples, and has nothing to do with the bottom "Q&A with Confucius" text, except, perhaps, in theme, 

William Lilly on the planets

The following is a transcription of the planetary sections found in William Lilly's Christian astrology. Additions from Zadkiel's 1852 "Introduction to astrology", which is a modified form of Lilly have been added where relevant. These notes are added in indented paragraphs. Glosses, etc. added by me are in square brackets. 

I have omitted the sections where Lilly lists the Terms (bounds) and Faces of the planets, for the sake of saving space.

It is hoped that by making a fully-typed text version of Chirstian Astrology, the study of Early Modern English astrology-- both by scholars and by practitioners-- would be furthered. If there are any errors, etc. they are my own, and I hope that if readers would spot them, they would point them out to me. 

Of Saturn and his significations

Names

He is usually Saturn, but in some authors Chronos, Phaeton, Falcifer

Colour, motion, laititude 

He is the supremest or highest of all the planets, and is placed between Jupiter and the firmament ; he is not very bright or glorious, nor does he twinkle or sparkle, but is of a pale or wan ashy colour ; slow in motion, finishing his course through the twelve signs of the zodiac in 29 years, 157 days, or thereabouts. His mean motion is two minutes and one second ; his diurnal motion sometimes is three, four, five, or six minutes, seldom more ; his greatest north latitude from the ecliptic is 2 degrees 48 minutes ; his greatest south latitude is 2 degrees 49 minutes.

The "Original Preface to the High King Guanyin Sutra" 高王觀世音真經 原序: A bilingual edition

In this post I shall translate the "Original Preface to the High King Guanyin Sutra" 高王觀世音真經 原序, which tells a rather dramatic story of religious practise, a monk seen in a dream, and escape from execution. It was previously posted as a twitter thread here, but with some editits, I repost it on my blog now. 

For starters, if you want to read a translation of the sutra itself, see here: https://edwardwhite123.blogspot.com/2020/11/high-king-avalokitesvara-sutra.html 

The preface to this sutra itself is found in the following 19thc. woodblock edition https://books.google.com/books?id=ZDRbAAAAcAAJ&pg=PP3#v=onepage&q&f=false  

as well as a modern transcription on this blog https://m.xuite.net/blog/tum4vu6/twblog/122883551 also web.archive.org/web/2021030707…

As is oft the case with Chinese texts, there are small variations between the two texts; I will point them out as we go along.

 

*** *** *** 

1【高王觀世音真經 原序】 The original preface to the High King Guanyin sutra 

昔五代時有高歡國王。為相州郡主。好殺

During the Five Dynasties period, there was the Prince of Gaokuan. He was the governor of the commandery of Xiangzhou. He liked killing.

 

2。適寶藏官‧孫敬德誤犯重法。囚禁[就死](1)。專持觀世音普門品經。日夜不歇
 The controller of the treasury 適寶藏官 Sun Jingde was falsely accused of a high crime. He was imprisoned and sentenced to death In prison he chanted the "universal gate chapter "(2) day & night without ceasing 

1)Words omitted by woodblock

2 The famous 25th Chapter of the Lotus Sutra, wherein the powers of Guanyin are expounded. - E.W.

 

3/ 忽夢見一憎曰。「汝持此經。不能免死。吾勸汝持誦‧高王觀世音真經※一千遍。當脫刑」。名敬德曰。「今在禁中。安得經典」。僧曰。「吾口受汝」。睡覺，敬德便無忘失。(1)虔心誦念得九百遍。

 

3/ One night, he suddenly dreamed of a monk, who said "Reciting this scripture [i.e. the Lotus sutra] will not deliver you from death. I counsel you to recite the high king Guanyin sutra 1000 times, thereupon you will be released from death" . Jingde said, “I am in prison; how May I get this scripture?” The monk replied "I shall transmit it to you orally". (Upon awakening) Jingde did not forget it. He then recited it sincerely, eventually accumulating 900 recitations.

 

(1) Woodblock has for the last sentence “睡覺驚，書便無妄失，志心誦念得九百遍。
 “He awoke with a fright, but yet he did not forget the book; he then sincerely recited it, accumulating 900 recitations.

 

4/ 文案已成。事須呈押。王遂令赴市斬之。敬德畏懼。問監史市之遠近。監史曰。「問※何之故？」敬德曰。「時夜夢一僧。令持觀音經千遍。當得免死。今尚欠一百遍。請求緩行！」。隨路急念滿數。 The documents were completed and sealed; The king ordered [Jingde] to be taken to the market and be beheaded. Jingde fearfully asked the gaoler "how far is the market from here?”. The gaoler replied "why do you ask me that?" Jingde answered. “Last night I dreamt of a monk, who ordered me to recite the Guanyin scripture 1000 times. By doing so I would be delivered from death. I have only 100 recitations to go; Sir, I beg you to travel slowly!" On the road to the market, he hurriedly completed the last 100 recitations.

 

5/ [監史從之](1)至市監史乃宣敕斬之。身首不損。刀折三段。
When he reached the market The gaoler received the order to behead him. His head and body did not separate, and the knife split into 3 pieces 

(1) words omitted by internet

 

6/ 呈王。王駭議題問曰。「汝使何幻術。令得如此！」※
 The king of wu, in a great fright said "what sorcery is this? I order you to tell me how did you get this power?:

 

7/ 敬德曰。「實無幻術。因在獄中畏死。持誦觀世音普門品經。忽夢見一僧。教誦高王觀世音一千遍。獲福如是。」
Jingde replied "This is no sorcery! I was jailed and in fear of death, and so I recited the universal gate chapter. I then dreamt of a monk who taught me to recite the high king Guanyin sutra 1000 times to protect my fate.

 

8/ 王謂敬德曰。「汝勝於我。與佛何異」。
The king told Jingde. “You have surpassed me! Indeed, your relationship with the Buddha is most extraordinary.”

 

9/ 王喚典獄者。書是經。令諸罪人與死者。各持誦千遍。斬之取※驗悉應。
The king ordered the jailor to write down this scripture, He then ordered all those condemned to death to recite the scripture 1000 times. When they were brought to be executed to test the scripture’s effects, it proved effective every time.

 

10/ 王乃敕下。令民普誦。用證福果。世遂傳稱高王觀世音經云。 The emperor pardoned all of them, and ordered the people to recite this scripture, (and thus create roots of goodness). Thereafter this scripture called the "High king Guanyin sutra."

 

11/ 蓋感應之理。誠至斯孚謹述其緣起并載其徵應俾齋心向善者。有所勸云[耳](1).
 Such is the principle of Ganying (action-response). With great sincerity this truthful description has been recorded, and has been displayed as a truthful account to encourage the hearts of those who would cultivate purity. Let those who have the power to do so, spread it to those who can [hear it]

 (1) *Omitted by woodblock

(I am somewhat unsure about the translation of the last sentence; if anyone can suggest a better translation I would be most glad)

 

~ Analysis ~

The reference to "The knife split into three pieces" is actually a reference to the Universal Gate Chapter of the lotus sutra: As translated by Fo Guang Shan (p 47)

或遭王难苦 临刑欲寿终 念彼观音力 刀寻段段坏 

"Or if persecuted by the royal court,

Facing death by execution;

 Keep in mind Avalokitesvara’s powers,

And the executioner’s blade will break into pieces."

 

The circumstances of this sutra are also worth mentioning here. The lotus sutra, as you may recall, is a translation from the Sanskrit, which came from India, a nation distant and removed from China...

 

What this tale forcefully shows, is that far from buddhism and its buddhisatvas being alien to the Chinese people, these same figures are, on the contrary willing to help, and indeed directly contact, the people of China.

 

Indeed, one could go so far as to say that the tale inverts the expected hierarchy of scriptural authority: The Lotus Sutra, transmitted in the distant past by the historical Buddha, is less explicitly stated to be less effective than this scripture that was revealed directly to a real person in a real time and place by a Bodhisattva-- and indeed, proved to work in exactly the same manner as the celebrated Lotus sutra itself.

 

Such tales like this doubtless contributed greatly to the popularisation and acceptance of Buddhism in China.

Note, however, it is precisely because of this property that some buddhists now reject the scripture as  an authentic scripture: See this post for more; 

The Blood Basin Sutra 血盆經 A bilingual edition

This page displays a copy of the "Blood Bowl Sutra". It is derived from a twitter thread that I posted in November 2020. With some edits, I reproduce it here for the ease of citing: 

The Chinese  text of the sutra for this edition has been taken from the Baidu page baike.baidu.com/item/%E8%A1%80…, but you can find a substantially identical text here. archive.org/details/xuepen…, which is a chapbook purchased from a Chinese vendor in about 2018-2019. I shall call thus the Chapbook edition. The full extent of this sutra is reproduced below: 

The English translation featured here comes mostly from Beata Grant and Wilt. J. Idema’s "Escape from Blood Pond Hell" (University of Washington press, 2011). Their translate most of the relatively short sutra (~400 chars), but one or two passages they leave untranslated. 

I have hence supplied translations of my own. These are marked with a "E" in what follows. Grant and Idema's translations are marked with "GI" 

However, I must confess, as these parts contain some technical terms, my translations may not be entirely accurate; I thus beg the reader's forgiveness. 

*** *** *** 

1/~血盆經~

The Blood Basin Sutra

尔时目连尊者。昔日往到羽州追阳县。见一血盆池地狱。阔八万四千由旬*。

GI: ‘Once some time ago, Venerable Mulian was travelling in the Zhuiyang district of Yuzhou province when he saw a Blood Bowl Pond Hell that was eighty-four thousand leagues wide. 

*Chapbook has 游 for 由旬

2a/ 池中有一百二十件事。铁梁铁柱铁枷铁索*。见南阎浮提许多女人。披头散发。长枷杻手。在地狱中受罪。 

2b/

GI: In the pool there were 120 implements of iron beams, iron pillars, iron yokes and iron chains. He saw many women of Jambudvipa – their hair in disarray, their necks in cangues and their hands in fetters—suffering for their sins in this hell 
* Chapbook has 铁梁铁柱铁枷锁 "Iron beams, yokes, pillars, iron fetters and locks."

3/ 狱卒鬼王一日三度。将血勒叫罪人吃。此时罪人不敢服吃(1)。遂被狱主(2)。将铁棒打作叫声。

GI: The demon in charge of the punishments three times a day takes the blood and makes the sinners drink it. If the sinners are not willing to submit to him & drink , then he takes his iron rood and beats them as they scream. 

(1)chapbook has 甘 for 敢 an obvious error 
(2) Chapbook has 此遂被狱主

4/ 目连悲哀问狱主。不见南阎浮提丈夫之人受此苦报。只见许多女人受此苦痛。

GI: When Mulian saw this, he sadly asked the hell warden “ I do not see any men from Jambudvipa here suffering these torments. [why] do I only see women here suffering this cruel retribution?” 

5/ 狱主答师言。不关丈夫之事(1)。只(2)是女人产下血露。污触地神（3）。若秽污衣裳。将去溪河洗濯。流水污漫(4)。

GI: The warden answered him “Master, it is not something that involves men. It only has to do with women, who every month leak menses or in childbirth release blood, which seeps down and pollutes the earth gods, And what is more, they take their filthy garments to the river to wash, thereby polluting the river water." 
(1) Chapbook: 不千丈夫之事 ,which i think is an error 
(2) Chapbook: 此 instead of 只
(3) Chapbook: 污浊地水二神 “Pollutes the two gods of water and earth"
(4)Chapbook: 将去溪河洗出水流污浊漫. "They take thee garments to wash in the river, and the water which flows therefrom is polluted" 

6/ 误诸善男女。取水煎茶供奉诸圣(1)。致(2)令不净。天大将军刻下名字。附在善恶簿中。候百年命终之后。受此苦报。

GI: Later an unsuspecting good man or woman draws some water from the river, boils it for tea, and then offers it to the holy ones, causing them to be impure. The great general of heaven takes note of this and marks it in his ledger of merits and sins, After a hundred years, when their lives are over, [these sinful women] undergo this retribution of suffering [that you see before you]. 
(1) Chapbook has 尊 “Worthies" instead
(2) Chapbook: 自 

7/ 遂问狱主。将何报答产生阿娘之恩。出离血盆池地狱。狱主答师言。

EW: [Mulian] then asked the Guardian “How can I repay my mother for giving birth to me, [and] let her escape the Blood Bowl Hell?” The Warden replied:

8惟有小心。孝顺男女。敬重三宝。更为阿娘。持(1)血盆斋三年。仍结(2)血盆胜会。请僧转诵此经一藏。满日忏散(3)。

GI: "Master, you only need to take care to be a filial son or daughter, respect the three jewels, & for the sake of your mother, hold Blood Bowl feasts for three years, including organizing Blood Bowl gatherings to which you invite monks to recite this sutra for a full day, as well as ceremonies of repentance. (4)
(1) chapbook has 吃 an obvious error. 
(2) chapbook has 任及
(3) chapbook has 满日忏忏散

(4)The Chinese punctuation in both the Chapbook and Baidu versions  suggests the following reading instead: 

"....which you invite monks to recite this sutra, and perform a day-long ceremony of repentance."-- E.W. 

9 便有般若船。载过奈河(1)江岸。看见血盆池中（2）。有五色莲花出现。罪人欢喜。心生惭愧。便得超生佛地。

GI: Then there were will be a prajnana ( enlightened wisdom) boat to carry the mothers across the River Alas奈河 , & they will see 5-coloured lotuses appear in the blood pond, and the sinners will come out happy and contrite and they will be able to take birth in a Buddha Land. 
(1) chapbook has 爱河
(1) chapbook has 看见血河池中

10/ 诸大菩萨。及目连尊者。启吿奉劝。南阎浮提善男信女。早觉修取大办前程。莫敎(1)失手万劫难复。

EW: All Great bodhisattvas, along with Mulian received this teaching. The Good men and Believing women of Jambudvipa, soon attained the prospect of enlightenment, and they did not lose their way again in the myriads of Kapalas of suffering.
（1） Chapbook has 教 instead.  

11/ 佛说女人血盆经。若有信心书写受持。令得三世母亲。尽得生天受诸快乐。衣食自然长命富贵。

GI: The Buddha again told women, saying: “As for the Blood Bowl Sutra, if you copy and keep this sutra with a believing mind, then you will be causing, as far as possible, the mothers of the three worlds to gain rebirth in heaven, where they will receive pleasures, clothes and food naturally; their lives will be long, and they will be rich aristocrats. 

12/ 尔时天龙八部。人非人等。皆大欢喜。信受奉行。作礼而去

EW: At that moment, the Nagas , Eight Divisions, Humans, non-humans and others all rejoiced, at receiving this teaching and practised it; they paid their respects and left. 

*** *** ***

The western study of this text is fairly substantial- doubtless because of its obvious interest to feminists.

One early article is TAKEMI Momoko's "Menstruation Sutra" Belief In Japan (Japanese Journal of Religious studies, 10/2-3, p. 229). The article has a fairly comprehensive account of the sutra as it was received in Japan. There are apparently several such sutras of varying lengths. The author notes that the sutraplayed a particularly prominent role in the funerals of women who died in childbirth.

Culpeper's aphorisms part 5: Culpeper's astrological secerets

PROGNOSTICATIONS,
AND
Astrological Secrets.
 Collected by NICH. CULPEPE
R Gent. Student in Astrology and Physick.
Virgo 1647.
Elaudandus Deus est in operibus suis.

LONDON, Printed for Rich. Moone, & Steph. Chatfield.
1654.

Prognosticks.

[if news is true or false]

1. When you hear any News, or else in Questions about News, behold the Ascendant and his Lord, and the Lord of the hour.

2. If the Dragons tail, Saturn, or Mars be there, or the Lord of the Ascendant  with them, there is not a word of it true.

3. If Jupiter, Venus, or the Sun be there, not impedited, 'tis true enough.

4. If no Planet be in the Ascendant , view the fifth house: if any Planet be there, judge by the former Rules.

5. If there no Planet there neither, view the Lord of the hour; see whether he be Direct or Retrograde, in what house he is, and to what Planet he is aspected. Your own Reason, and the former Rules, will help you to judge of the matter.

[The Lot of News: An “Arabic part” for determining the falsity of news]
6. The part of reports is taken from the distance from Mercury to the Moon, counting so much by the Ascendant : you may judge by that: for if that be in a fixed Signe, or a Signe of right ascensions, it is likely to be true; otherwise false.

            In othee words, [Moon]- [Mercury] + Ascendant

7. If the Ascendant  be a moveable Signe, especially Aries, be sure there is never a word of it true.

8. If the Fortunes be in angles, 'tis probable to be true: if the Infortunes be there, 'tis false, unless it belong to the Infortunes.

9. As for example: if it belong to Wars, or strife, and Mars be in an angle, they are true.

10. If Jupiter be there, 'tis false, because Jupiter loves Peace; War is contrary to his nature.

11. Likewise if Saturn be angular, and the report be concerning death, captivity, or sickness, 'tis true, because they are of his nature.

12. If a Letter come to thee, and thou wouldst know his intent that sent it; the man that sent it is signified by the Planet the Moon separated from; the messenger, by the Lord of the fifth house; thy self, by the Lord of the Ascendant : and Mercury is the general significator of writing Letters.

[Electing a time for searching for hidden treastures]

13. At the time when you search for hid treasures, let the Lord of the Ascendant  be in the tenth or eleventh houses, or else give his strength to the Lord of them: let the Moon apply to a Planet above the earth: let Jupiter be Lord of the hour; let him not be retrograde nor combust, nor impedited; nor let Saturn nor Mars be in angles.

[Captivity]

14. If a Question be demanded, when any any shall get out of prison, or captivity, behold the Ascendant  and his Lord.

15. If the Lord of the Ascendant  be angular, especially in the fourth house, it will be long ere he be delivered.

16. The like if the Moon be angular; worse in the twelfth, or joyned or aspected to the Lord of the twelfth.

17. The like if the Lord of the Ascendant  be joyned to the Lord of the twelfth: for then if Saturn or Mars be Lord of the twelfth, he will die in prison.

18. If you would know his intents that laid him in prison, behold the Lord of the seventh house, and judge accordingly.

19. Moveable Signes hasten delivery; so doth the Lord of the third house, in aspect to the Lord of the Ascendant , or the Moon or Lord of the Ascendant  in the third house.

[Thought interpretation]

Note: This section was more or less copied by Partridge's 1692 Centiloquy. See here 

20. When a man comes to demand a Question, it is possible to know what his thoughts are, before he reveals them.

21. Behold where the Lord of the Ascendant is; provided he be not combust, nor retrograde, nor in his detriment or fall: for then you must heed the Moon, and the Lord of the hour.

22. Consider them: if they, or which is strongest of them, be in the first house, the Querent comes about himself; if in the second, about his estate or goods.

23. If in the first part of the third, about little journeys; in the second, about his brethren.

24. In the first part of the fourth, his father, mother, or ancestors; the second part, his house, farm, or ship: if it be a watery Signe, the third part, of the end of some business.

25. In the first part of the fifth, children or scholars; the second, joy or play; the third, clothes or ornaments; the fourth, reports, letters, books, or messengers.

26. In the first part of the sixth, of sickness; the second, of servants; the third, of small cattle.

27. In the first part of the seventh, of his wife or sweet-heart; the second, of his society; the third, of theft, or goods lost.

28. In the first part of the eighth, of death or fear; in the second part, dividing inheritance; in the third, of debts.

29. In the first part of the ninth, of Religion, or Laws; the second, of journeys; the third, of dreams.

30. In the tenth, of Kings, Princes or Potentates; of honour, office, or dignity.

31. In the first part of the eleventh, of Merchants, or Merchandizing; the second, riches; the third, of friends.

32. The first part of the twelfth, enemies; the second, captivity; the third, beasts.

33 If the Lord of the Ascendant  be impedited, or not in a Signe of his own sex, take the Moon: if the Moon be in no better case, take the Lord of the hour.

34. There are two Significators special, of Questions: First, the Planet which the Lord of the Ascendant is separated from. Secondly, the Planet the Moon is separated from.

35. The general Significator is the Planet which hath most dignities in the Ascendant , or in the Conjunction or Opposition of the Sun and Moon, if it were neer at hand, or in the Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter, if that were also newly past.

I shall insert one Example for this, and so conclude.

A certain man came to an Artist about a Question, without revealing one particular, but onely the general, what he came about.

First, he viewed the Lady of the Ascendant , from whom she was separated; and that was from the Sun, who is Lord of the eleventh house, and is in the fourth: by that, he knew the Question was about something which he loved; which was signified by the fourth house; viz. either his father, or his mother. But because the Moon is separated from the Lord of the seventh, which is the house of women, he knew it was his mother he came to enquire about. And because the Moon is in the house of Journeys, he knew it was about some Journey his mother was about to take; which is aggravated by her being disposed by Mercury in the third house.

And because Venus is opposite to Jupiter in the tenth house, he said she was going to the King.

But because both of them are Retrograde, and in Opposition, and Venus in the fall of Jupiter, he said the King would frown upon her at the first; as also because the Moon is received by Mercury Lord of the twelfth house.

Yet because Jupiter is a Fortune, in his exaltation, in an Angle, free from the beams of Saturn and Mars, he said he would hear her, at last; also, because the Moon disposeth Jupiter, and is in a humane Signe.

This was all true

Revised, Sun 12 Scorpio. 1648. NICH. CULPEPER

FINIS.

Virgo 1647.