Let me tell you but thus much: Jupiter is Jupiter still, be he where he will.

 

Signs of life at the Decumbiture.

First, Jupiter, Venus, the Sun and the Moon in the Ascendant, nor afflicting nor beholding the Lord of the Eighth, nor being Lord of the Eighth themselves, take away not only the fear of death, but also promise a speedy cure.

The conjunction of the Moon with Jupiter is always prosperous, most propitious if he be in Cancer; if doubtful at all, it is when they are in Capricorn, because in the one they are both dignified, in the other both cadent from their dignities. And yet, let me tell you but thus much: Jupiter is Jupiter still, be he where he will. 

The Moon in an angle well disposed in good terms, and free from the body or beams of Saturn or Mars, it restores the sick to health, and scorns to be beholding to any of them all.

The Moon applying to the Lord of the Ascendant, unless she carries the beams of the Lord of Death to him, does the like.

The Moon increasing in light and swift in motion, and not posited in the Sixth, Eighth not Twelfth Houses, applying to the sextile, trine or antiscion of the Lord of the Ascendant, though the Lord of the Ascendant be a malevolent it matters not, so he be direct and not infortunated by house nor impedited by another malevolent, neither in his detriment nor fall, it promises recovery.

If the Moon be void of course at the Decumbiture, if on the critical day she behold a good star, there is no question of recovery to be made.

If on a critical day the Moon be in her own House or exaltation, though she be void of course, the fear of death is more than the harm, for the sick will recover.

The Sun, Moon and the Lord of the Ascendant free from the beams of Saturn, Mars or the Lord of Death at the Decumbiture, there cannot be so much as a bare suspicion of death.

If the benevolents be stronger than the malevolents at the Decumbiture, and withal if they behold the Moon, the Ascendant or his Lord, they promise recovery. The malevolents may threaten hard, but the benevolents will stay the deadly blow.

If the Moon be separated from the weak malevolent and applied to a strong benevolent, the sick is easily recovered, for the weakest always goes to the wall.

If Saturn be significator of the sickness, oriental of the Sun, the disease coming of cold, oriental of the Sun, the disease coming from heat, seldom kills. My author may be something questioned for this yet this I'll easily grant him, that Saturn is not so subject to take away life in such a case as in the contrary. 

I dare not be positive in the things, because I have not spoken with Doctor Experience about it. 

Mars is not so formidable when he is occidental as when he is oriental.

Mars afflicts the Moon more when she is oriental than he does when she is occidental.

A reception between the Lord of the Ascendant and the Lord of the Eighth, if they be benevolent or if the benevolents lend them aid, shows recovery.

Also my author says that if the Lord of the Eighth receives the Lord of the Ascendant without the malicious beams of ill fortunes, the sick will escape, even when there is no hope of life.

I know not the truth of it, because as yet I know not the judgement of Doctor Experience in the thing; but Doctor Reason is of opinion that it is far better that the Lord of the Ascendant dispose the Lord of the Eighth, then that the Lord of the Eighth dispose the Lord of the Ascendant.

Is it not better that life dispose of death, then that death dispose of life? Indeed, this he told me: that if the Lord of the Ascendant do dispose the Lord of the Eighth, the sick will take such a course as will be for his own prejudice, and the hastening on of his end. 

But if sick people will not be ruled by fair means, they must be ruled by soul. And that is all that I can say unto it.

If good planets be in the Ascendant or Mid-heaven at the Decumbiture, and pretty strong withal, they will stand to their tackling stoutly to maintain life, though the significators of it be never so much afflicted.