Prognostication

Winds will also blow strongly because of the lordship of Mercury in the figure of the prevention of the Sun’s entry into Capricorn. A reduction in cold stems from the sign ascending in the prevention, and also from the entry being hot and dry, and Jupiter’s lordship in that quarter in a fiery sign. However, the application of the Moon to Mercury in the figure of the prevention, conjoined to Saturn in a cold and dry sign, operates against this.

Chapter four: Concerning the diverse state of men according to the disposition of the seven planets.

¶ Those governed by the very harsh ray of Saturn, such as Hebrews, rustics, farmers, old men, and those following vile occupations. Monks also, according to Guido, dressed in black garments, will behave well at the beginning of the year and will be very fortunate, since their significator will be in its own house and joy. Truly, because of his retrograde motion, which he will make from the first of April until the fourteenth of September, they will be vexed by various thefts and infirmities, and they will not be wrong in deeming themselves unhappy. After the beginning of September, however, Saturn having escaped from the greatest misfortune, will also prepare better fates for them.

¶ Those protected by the ray of the most excellent Jupiter, such as judges, interpreters of the law, bishops, cardinals, and counselors of princes (according to Guido), will not be fortunate in the first quarter of the year because of Jupiter being combust in the figure of the revolution and in a bad aspect to Saturn. However, because the lord of the ninth house is well disposed, a middling fortune will accompany them, unless they have to fear melancholy infirmities. In the second quarter, they will experience the most excellent Jupiter as pious. In the third quarter, however, they will feel unhappy fates joined with miseries. In the last quarter, they will not consider themselves governed by the unhappy ray, for being healthy and safe, they will voluntarily lead a pleasant life.

¶ Regarding the state of the supreme pontiff, I would say something here. I am held back by the opinion of Julius Firmicus Julius Firmicus Maternus, a 4th-century Roman astrologer saying: "Only the emperor is not subject to the stars, and mathematicians have never said anything true about his fate." Since we believe that true things cannot be said about the state of the supreme pontiff, we pass over it in silence, because he alone is ruled immediately by the divine will, just as the emperor was once ruled, according to the opinion of Julius.