Harley 2269 f.23r

Off the feblenes of planettes which may be in 10 manner of wyse 

be they in nativite or in questions

1. The fyrst manner is when a planet is fallying from angulis, and beholdythe not the ascendant that is to say in the 6 or 12
2. The 2^nd manner is that a planet be retrograde, that is to say going backwarde
3. The 3^rd manner is if he be sub radiis solis whiche is 12 degrees byfore the 1 and 12 after
4. The 4^th manner is if he be ioyned with anyl planet by # / or % aspect
5. The 5^th is if there be anny beseginge between to evill planettes or els be departyd from one bad planet and joyned to an other where he be light or hevy, as if 5 be in the 3^rd degree of a and 4 in the 6 degre of the same signe and 7 in the 10 degree of the same signe, then is 4departed from 5 that is evyl and askyth conj with 7 and that is evell and is callyd beseginge, but if fortune beholde them.
6. The 6^th is if a planet be in his discencon or in his house of dyscencion, or els ioyned to a planet that is in his owne discencon, for this betokenyth the destroying of the thing
7. The 7^th is if he be joined to a planet that is fallying from the ascendant, or ells departing from a planet that friendly recyvyd hym.
8. The 8^th is if a planet be in a house where he hath no testimoniis or dignites as in his house/exaltation/terme/or face, for then he is but as a pilgrim and hath no strengthe of the same, that is to say being before the same or after or nere voyde
9. The 9^th is if a planet be in Nor n if there be no latitude which is bredyth
10. The 10^th is when planets do let them selves as when they be in / of there owne housys, for that is an Impediment.

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Of the feebleness of planets which may be in 10 manner of ways 

whether in nativities or questions

1.    The first manner is when a planet is falling from angles, and does not behold the ascendant, that is to say, is in the 6^th or 12^th houses.
2.    The 2^nd manner is that a planet is retrograde, that is to say going backward.
3.    The 3^rd manner is if he is under the Sun’s rays, which is 12 degrees before and after the Sun.
4.    The 4^th manner is if he is joined with any planet by conjunction, opposition, or square aspect.
5.    The 5^th is if there is any besieging between evil planets, or else he is departed from one bad planet and joined to another whether he is light or heavy. As if Mars is in the 3^rd degree of Aries and Venus is in the 6^th of the same sign, then Venus has departed from Mars, an evil planet, and asks [applies to] a conjunction with Saturn. That is evil and is called besieging, except if a fortune behold them.
6.    The 6^th is if a planet is in his descension, or in his house of descension, or else joined to a planet that is in his own descension, for this signifies the destroying of the matter.
7.    The 7^th is if he is joined to a planet that is falling from the ascendant, or else is departing from a planet that received him in a friendly way.
8.    The 8^th is if a planet is in a house where he has no testimonies or dignities as in his house, exaltation, term, or face, for then he is but as a pilgrim [i.e. is peregrine] and hath no strength of the same, that is to say being before the same or after, or near void.
9.    The 9^th is if a planet is in the North Node or South Node if there be no latitude, which is breadth.
10. The 10^th is when planets do let [hinder] themselves as when they are in opposition of their own houses [detriment], for that is an impediment.

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Harley MS 2269 f. 86v

Incipit: these ar the precepts that must be observyd or kept in the asking of every question of any person.

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This manuscript is from the first half of the sixteenth century and was written on paper and parchment; there is no known author according to the British Library. It is written in English and Latin. Most, if not all of this manuscript will have been copied from other sources, but only one is mentioned, that of Roger Bacon. The copying of books was a common method of dissemination long before the advent of photocopiers and scanners, thus it would be unsafe to assume that anything found in these is original to the author. What is of interest is what they chose to copy and emphasize. Of course, astrology’s most important purpose in the middle ages was medicine, but throughout this manuscript other applications for astrology are addressed including horary – interrogations. The folio that I have transcribed relates to, what we refer to as, the considerations before judgement. Although, traditional astrologers will be familiar with the principles the scribe brings to the reader’s attention, it is interesting that he emphasizes these in particular. Of course, it is possible that he was unaware of any others, still he goes to some length to make his point.

Editorial interventions

I have expanded all abbreviations and contractions, but have maintained the spelling and punctuation in the transcription. In the more modern form that follows it, I have modernized the spelling, inserted a little punctuation, and made some light adjustments for ease of reading. A brief comparison will make any changes obvious.

these ar the precepts that must be observyd or kept in the asking of every question of any person.

note prepare every man in the asking of his question of the astronomer whether it be of thyngs present, past, or els to come, always he must desire almighty god of whom al godenes takyth hys begynyng and with a contrite harte praying hym that he may come to the truthe of the thing that he intendyth to aske for and then he shal go with thys intent of the truthe and with no fabyll to the astronomer for to demonde his question of hym or interrogation of the which he hath kept in his mynd a day or a night at the leste or more and not demondyst by enny light moving of his owne mynde as many ignorant and unlernyd persons dothe and he that askyth or interrogat of any thing he must demonde but of one thing onely, for if he interrogat for more thyngs than one at one tyme than the astronomer his responsion shalbe untrue and to none affects. Therefore if any person demonde of the more thyngs then of one thing at one tyme only than you shal take the first and the chefe matter that he come for and the which he hath kept longyst in hys mynde and the resydou to demonde at a nother tyme convenient and after thys manner hyt must be done in anny interrogacon or question and know thou the longer the matter is kept in a manys mynde or he aske his question the better it is and soner he shall fende the significator of the question therefore this aforesaid oft to be observyd and kept except hit happyn from sodden chounce the which causyd a hastier question and a responsion the which may have no deliberacon and that the name of almighty god must be the begynyng thereof and by cause from dothe otherwise many tymes they dystreyst them selfes, and the astronomer also, and cause hym to juge wrong and dyffame hym where he is not worthy and it is thorou the folyshnys of hym that askyth the question therefore when thou makyst interrogacon it must be when the son dothe shyne and thereby to know the clock truly, and at an evyn houre and the 2 may not be lettyd that is to say at the # nor / for this she is infortunat for the infortune of the 2 lettyth anny thing in questions and journyes and in that part that she is lettyd thys is the true experiens that hath byn truly prechyd and provyd the 17 chapiter of the 6 house

These are the precepts that must be observed or kept in the asking of every question of any person

Note: prepare every man in the asking if his question of the astronomer, whether it be of things present, past, or else to come, always he must desire Almighty God, of whom all goodness, takes his beginning and with a contrite heart praying to him that he may come to the truth of the thing that he intends to ask for, and then he shall go with this intent of the truth and with no fable to the astronomer to demand his question of him, or interrogation, which he has kept in his mind for a day or a night at the least or more, and not demand through any light moving of his own mind, as many ignorant and unlearned persons do. And he that asks or interrogates about anything, he must demand for one thing only, because he he interrogates for more things than one at one time, then the astronomer’s response shall be untrue and to no effect. Therefore, if any person demand of the more things than of one thing at one time only, then you shall take the first and chief matter that he came for and that which he has kept longest in his mind, and the residue to be demanded at another convenient time. And after this manner it must be done in any interrogation or question, and know that the longer the matter is kept in a man’s mind before he asks his question, the better it is and the sooner he shall find the significator of the question. Therefore, this aforesaid is to be observed and kept often, except when it happens suddenly and caused a hastier question and a response may have no deliberation, and that the name of Almighty God must be the beginning thereof because by doing otherwise many times they destroy themselves, and the astronomer also and cause him to judge wrongly and defame him where he is not worthy [it is not his fault], and it is through the foolishness of him that asks the question. Therefore, when you make an interrogation it must be when the Sun shines and thereby you may know the clock truly, and at an even hour. And the Moon must not be letted [hindered], that is to say at the conjunction or opposition [of the Sun]. for this she is unfortunate, for the infortune of the Moon lets [hinders] anything in questions and journeys, and in that part that she is letted [hindered]. This is the true experience that has been truly preached and proved [in?] the seventeenth chapter of the sixth house.

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