The Medieval Attitude Toward Astrology

YA L E STUD I ES IN EN GLI SH

K ED A LBE RT S . C OO , ITOR

T HE MEDIE VA L AT T I T UDE T OWA R D A ST R O LO GY

PA RT I C U L A R LY I N E N GL A N D

T HE O D O R E OTT O WE D E L

I n stru cto r i n E ngl i sh i n Y al e U n i ver sity

A D i ssertat i on p re se nt ed to the Fa cu l ty o f th e Grad u at e Sch o ol o f Yal e U n ive rs ity i n C an d id acy f o r the D eg ree o f D o ct or of Phil o so phy

N EW H A VEN : YA L E UN IVER SIT Y P R ESS

LON D ON : HUMPH R EY MI L F O R D OX FO R D UN IVER SIT Y P R ES S

MD C CC C X X

PREFACE

n ff n c c Mediaeval astrology ha s lo g su ered a egle t whi h , L n n c . j udged i tri si ally , it deserves ittle more than a romantic interest now attaches to a complex divinatory art that for centuries has been looked upon as one of the

n n . n c aberrations o f the huma mi d Whe viewed histori ally ,

a s l n cc c in however , tro ogy is see to have o upied a pla e art a nd c n sc nc n philosophy whi h ma y a later ie e might e vy , and Anc n c c n n to n . whi h , o seque tly , it is not well ig ore ie t

s n ha s c in c n c a trology , i deed , already re eived re e t years lose

n Th M n has n a d appreciative study . e poem of a ilius ever lost its appeal for the classicist ; a nd the prominence of astrological thought in ancient philosophy and ethics has n c A t freque tly aroused the curio sity of s holars . his ory of

a on n n medi eval astrology , the other ha d , still remai s to be n writte . o f c n n Yet for the men the thirteenth entury , eve more tha

t he s a nd o c and R for poet philos phers of Gree e ome , the rule of the stars over human destinies was an indisputable

c n n n t c nc n n s . fa t , e teri g i to heir every o eptio of the u iver e I n that sudden revival of A ristotelian a nd Arabian learning

c in c n t he c c whi h , the twelfth e tury , heralded s holasti age ,

c c nc A astrology was hailed as the hief of the s ie es . lthough a long warfare with theology had to precede its accepta nce

a n c . by medi eval orthodoxy , its ﬁ al triumph was omplete Theologians dared to credit the stars with a power seco nd

n . W n C c n o ly to that of God himself he hau er , in li es ’ c D I n erno c e hoing ante s f , ex laims

O i nﬂ uences o f thi se hevenes hye ! Sot i s t at u n e God e b en ou r hier des h , h , d r , y , he is expressing the convictio n of the best mediaeval n A ff n n n thi kers . strology , o eri g , as it did , a reaso ed expla a Medicevol Attitu de tow ar d A s tr ology

n n n n s c n n a nd tio o f a i ﬁ ite diversity of phy i al phe ome a ,

nc n in c s c and cs ss i ludi g its s ope p y hology ethi , made po ible

n a nc even in the Middle Ages dream s of a u iver s l scie e . I have endeavored in this dis sertation to trace the devel opment of mediaeval thought concerning a strology f rom

A n n c n and n ugusti e to the ﬁftee th e tury , to i terpret refer

The enc es to it in mediaeval English literature . larger — purpose w a s a direct outgrowth of the second a summary of as trological passages in Old and Middle Engli sh proving n n n c n barre without a i terpretative ba kgrou d . It will be easily recognized that the treatment of mediaeval astrology

is c n nc A as a whole ursory a d i omplete . ﬁeld so little explored a s that of A rabian and Jew ish scienc e off ers c n f n n ou tless di ﬁculties to the novice . But the ge eral tre d of astrological opinion in the Middle Ages seemed not

s o f c and c s n impo sible dis overy , alled for at lea t a te tative x n n e pla atio . The recent investigations of several scholars have nc n n h n e ouraged my i terest i t e prese t work . Professor ’ Tatlo-ck s studies on the astrology o f Chaucer w ere resp on s S ible for my ﬁrst intelligent V iew o f the problem . ome twenty pages o f incidental exposition in his S cene of the ’ F ranklin s Tale Visited co nstitute the most suggestive mo nograph of mediaeval astrology with which I am ’ c n Th h a quai ted . e earlie r volumes of D u em s Sys tem e du

onde s in c and in M al o aided me matters bibliographi al , out linin g the evolution o f scientiﬁc ideas f rom A r ist otle to n A n n moder times . lthough my i troductory discussio of ’ ancient astrology is based upon Bouché - Leclercq s As tr ol o i e Gr ec u e n n g q , I have e deavored to i terpret the early his

c nc in i n The tory of the s ie e the light of ts later developme t .

nc a c n i n n i n c pri ip l o tr butio of the prese t study , fa t , will be found to consist in an attempt to explain the mediaeval attitude toward astrology a s the result of a c ombat between an cc c nc n C c e lesiasti al hostility , inherited from the a ie t hur h , and nc n i n n s A r c nc the i reasi gly nsiste t dema d of abian s ie e . P r eface

My thanks are due to the ofﬁcials of the Library of Yale

‘ n c n o U iversity , who se ured for me ma y of the b oks here T L n S n f c s . S . . c ited ; to Profe sor J P atlo k , of ela d ta ord T C n C n n n and . . U iversity , Professor F ra e , of or ell U iver

i s C . s t c C . y, for ourteous replies to queries ; and to Pro fe sor T and s n n s orrey Profes or Willisto Walker , of Yale U iver ity , n n o a M for aid in solvi g problems of Orie tal bibli gr phy . y A Stanbur rou h C n gratitude to Professor lbert g ook , u der t t en whom this disserta ion was wri t , must be left largely

. C unexpressed Professor ook helped me everywhere ,

n and always u grudging of his time , always ready with c c n sympatheti ou sel . A portion o f the expense of printing this thesis ha s been n n L C b o f n bor e by the Moder anguage lu Yale U iversity , from funds plac ed at its disposal by the generosity of the Mr . E D late George . imock, a graduate o f Yale in the C 1 8 lass of 74 .

U V YALE NI ERSITY, N ovember 1 1 , 9 9.

CONT E NTS

CHAPTER PAGE

A c A o I . n ient str logy

A in M a C n II . strology the Early edi eval e turies

As o in L III . tr logy Old English iterature

A n A IV . rabia strology

The M a Acc nc A V . edi eval epta e of strology

A in M VI . strologers ediaeval England

A n VII . strology in the Mediaeval Roma ces

A o in M En L VIII . strol gy iddle glish iterature I X A l . stro ogy in Gower and Chaucer

Bibliography Index

CHAPTER I

ANCIENT ASTROLOGY

Little is deﬁnitely known of the history of astrology bef ore its advent in the Greek world at the time o f the A n w in C Alexandrian empire . risi g some here the haldean nd n w on East , a spreadi g early over Egypt , it its ﬁrst foot hold in the West in a school of astrologers founded by s on o A c n Berosu the island of C s . strologi al divi ation among the Babylonians seems to have been of a primitive

c n n n c and n c sort , o ﬁ i g itself to e lipses , to ge eral prophe ies c nc n n n o erni g ki gs and realms . It was in the ha ds of the Greeks that astrology developed into that intricate science o f n ca o f divi ation , fortiﬁed by the best philosophi l thought

c nc n in c c n the time , whi h we e ou ter the lassi texts of Ma ilius and 1 Ptolemy . n n Though astrology e tered the Greek world late , it fou d n a soil prepared for its reception . Popular superstitio s regarding lucky and unlucky days have been current among all peoples ; Hesio d had sung of them in his Wor ks and D a A s . n n y strology , furthermore , won ready co verts amo g T c the philosophers . hough the contemporaneous Stoi

c c s hool was the ﬁrst openly to espouse its do trines , astrology discovered many points of contact in the systems that had

c . n c n pre eded Pythagorea ism , with its mysti umbers , seemed

new c c The o f expressly made for the s ien e . four elements c n And Empedo les fou d here a new home . of the utmost importance for its later history were the relations which astrology formed with the philosophical systems of Plato

1 ’ The auth oritativ e stu dy o f Gr eek astrology is B ouché - Leclercq s ’ L A t Grec u e s 1 s r olo ie 8 . C aldean ast olo is dis g q , Pari , 99 h r gy

- cu ssed on 2 . T he b est s o t account o f anc ent ast olo pp . 35 7 h r i r gy ’ - is the a t cle As tr olo i e b . R ess in aul Wissowa s R ea l r i g y E i , P y

' enc clo adi e der Classis chen A lter thu msw is senscha Stutt a t y p f t ( g r ,

1 2- 2 896) 1 . 180 8. Medim /al A ttitu de tow ar d As tr ology

A c and ristotle . With Platonism , astrology experien ed little

f The Timeouts B c in di ﬁculty . e ame later times a veritable

not n s s ac s c breviary , o ly for a trologer , but for te her of magi

The D c n of all sorts . myth of the emiurge , reati g the world

n n sm r c n as a livi g orga i , eve y part o f whi h was i timately

n nc related to every other , prese ted the very pri iple that with the Sto ics became the corn e r - ston e of the an cient faith in

M n s c c s S cs sa n n . a a divi atio , a mi ro o m , the toi id , merely

c o and a M reﬂe ted the great w rld about bove him . oreover , the picture in the Timrous o f the soul descending fr om the

a n s w a n a s c n n upper he ve by y of the pla et ry god , ea h e dowi g

its r s a r s c it with p oper gift , was dmi ably ﬁtted for a trologi al n n 1 T n c n . o s i terpretatio at the ha d of the omme tator be ure ,

n s o s s on and whe a trol gy later allied it elf with a tr omy, took on sc n c s c n its s w as a more ie tiﬁ a pe t, Plato ism , with myth ,

n So s an o c c n fou d less adaptable . imple astr logi al do tri e as that c oncerning the evil inﬂuence of the planet Satur n

f s How c benefi cent n ba fled the philosopher . ould a pla etary c ? The n s n s god be the sour e of evil Ne l to i t , Ploti u , op aw m k u ’ 7 solved such difficulties by s aying the stafs vié£e not c s n n n n T s n n ause of a ythi g, but sig s o ly . his ea y expla atio

c n n n s i s o n as be ame ge eral amo g Plato i ts . It f u d late as

c c A n and R n s nc the s holasti , William of uverg e , the e ai sa e

M c n . philosopher , arsilio Fi i o

c 1n n While astrology dis overed a ready ally Plato , it fou d w “ only an indiff erent one in A r istotl e Tothos e familiar with

1 B - - 2 Th mm n h Timceus o u c Leclerc . . e co e ta es on t e hé q , pp 9 5 ri b the Neo laton sts o and oclus conta n m uc a st o y p i , P rphyry Pr , i h r B a o f halcidiu s and Mac o us see b elo lo cal m atte . w C b g i r y y r i ( w , t ese a st olo cal e lanat ons o f the Timwu b ecam e acces p . h r g i xp i s l th l i ddl A s The m ed ae al o ula t o f the s ib e to e ear y M e g e . i v p p ri y n Th l n m t o f th d s n Tim ceus itself is w ell know . e P ato i c y h e e ce t o f the soul to et e t its a st olo cal nte etat on ound its , g h r wi h r gi i rpr i , f w a in the twel t c entu nto the D e M a ndi Univer s i ta te o f y , f h ry, i ilv str i C auce d e u on t s o k f or a stan a B ernard S e s . h r r w p hi w r z ’ M Ta l l - 1 6 S ee b e o . in the an o aw s e w . f L ( 99 , pp 33 5, 4 Anci ent As tr ology 3

I n m a n . edi eval astrology , this seems stra ge indeed the

s n c s cholastic writer of the thirtee th century, the osmology r istotle furni shed the very axioms of the sc ience ; it

. a A n n n . s the authority of ristotle , more tha a ythi g else , n c T t hat caused its theoretical accepta ce by the Chur h . hus ’ A s nc c n ri totle s theory of the ﬁfth esse e , tea hi g that the substance of the stars was of a nobler order than that of

s n w a s n the ublu ary sphere , fou d admirably ﬁtted to form t he is of a scienc e ascribing to the stars the arbitrament n n T V n huma desti ies . his iew also fou d support in ’ All n Aristotle s physics of motion . the tra sformations

n n s c on u dergo e by phy i al bodies here earth , it taught , trace their origin to the local motio n of the imperishable beings

c c s . n c whi h on titute the ﬁxed stars It is this motio , re eived

‘ b ns Mover himself a nd n y the heave from the Prime , tra s mitted c to the lower spheres , that auses all earthly growth ‘ ’ ‘ Th A 1 n a nd c . e hange earth , says ristotle , is bou d up in

n c c n n some e essary way with the lo al motio s of the heave s , that all power that resides in this w orld is gover ned by ’ ( t A n in l u l ssi cus a hat above . d the oc s c a for medi eval — trology the tenth chapter of the seco nd book of the — D e Genera ti one et C orr u pti one Aristotle develops this t n The n n c heory eve further . motio of the heave s , to whi h

c on w and ha s all hange earth is due , is t ofold , a twofold

ff c on n The c n e e t sublu ary matter . perfe t diur al motion of the ﬁxed stars from east to west co nstitutes the principle of permanence a nd growth ; whereas the motio n o f the

n nn n nn c c pla ets , ru i g their a ual ourses at irregular pa es n n from west to east , athwart the diur al motio of the ﬁxed

c nc c n stars , onstitutes the pri iple of earthly ha ge . When ’ nc n c A s c n o e i terpreted astrologi ally , ri totle s physi s of motio was all that was needed to fasten upon the Middle Ages that exaggerated belief in the importa nce of the stars which l a in y at the basis of the faith astrology .

1 M eteor ologica 1 . 2 . 4 M ediceval A ttitu de tow ard A s tr ology

There are signs that even in the ancient world the pos sibilities of the Aristotelian co smology as a fundamenta l po stulate for a n astrological s cience had begun to be recog

iz Th c A n A s nd n ed . e a Peripateti s , lexa der phrodi ias

A s n t in n nc drastus , ba ed upo it heir faith stellar i ﬂue e ; and n C s in c c n whe laudiu Ptolemy, the se ond e tury of our

s n n c nc era , gave to a trology its ﬁ al deﬁ ition as a s ie e , he

A n c n A s employed several ristotelia do tri es . It was ri totle — who had formulated the theory of the four elements the c and — c c ns hot , the old , the dry , the moist whi h o tituted ’ c s c the basis of Ptolemy s physi . By pla ing these four qualities under the sway of the various planets and con stellations c e n sc n c , Ptolemy ould xplai ie tiﬁ ally the mani

f estations n nc . c of stellar i flue e From the Peripateti s , too , Ptolemy borrowed his masterly solution of the problem of c n c fi nd scientifi determi ism , whi h , as we shall , disarmed n h n c c . c t e ma y riti s Ptolemy, approa hi g astrology from n and not c side of astro omy , from that of mysti ism and c in n c ns religion , ould ge eral laim ki hip with the spirit o f ’ n one s in n Aristotelian scie ce . But look vai in Ptolemy s 1 proof of the existenc e of stellar influ ence for a mention ’ A n on of ristotle s theory of motio . He speaks the subj ect with no such dogmatic surenes s a s did the scholastic 2 c n t writers twelve e turies la er .

c c not Ptolemy , however , omes at the lose , at the begin

1 i Tetr a b blos 1 . 2 . 2 A st olo and ea l A st otel an sm ar e discu-ssd b B oll in r gy r y ri i i y ,

’ S tu di en iloer Clau dius P tolenu ius 1 6- 1 62 I ahr bii cher ur , pp . 5 ( f ’ ’ hilolo i e und P cida o ik Su lem ent F o r tolem s eb t t o P g g g , pp P y d h - - t e e atet cs see B oll 1 61 and B ou c Lecler c . 26 . P rip i , , p . , hé q , pp 7

B ou ché - Lecler cq takes B oll to task f or the statem ent th at A ri s oteliani m l l laton sm h sa s t s w as in tsel a o ab e t o ast o o . e i f f v r r gy P i , y , w as muc m m he oin o f e o f a nc ent ast olo o e so . F o t t h r r p vi w i r gy ,

B ouc - Lecler c is obabl t B u the sto o f m ed ae al hé q pr y righ . t hi ry i v ast olo o es I t nk t at the all ance o f ast olo t A s r gy pr v , hi , h i r gy wi h ri totelianism w as the m o e e m anent I d sca ded the ast olo cal r p r . t i r r g i m t olo o f lato and sub st tuted f o r it a at onal e lanat on y h gy P , i r i xp i o f the u niv er se which cap tivated the b est scientiﬁc minds down to A nci ent As tr ology 5

n . I n ni g , o f the history of Greek astrology the earlier

no n c n n centuries , e essity ma ifested itself of basi g astrology n A upon a s cientific conception of the u iverse . strology not c nc looked for its first support , to s ie e , but to philosophy and to religion ; and the Chaldean diviner found his first

n s n frie d , not amo g the astronomers , but the soothsayers

n c - n s n a d ora le mo gers . Ptolemy was the ﬁr t astro omer of n T o S c note to pay serious atte tion to astrology. the toi s the one philo sophical school that became its staunch ally

n n c astrology was merely a form of divi atio , ac epted and n n / nd c n defe ded alo g with augury a ora les . In that lo g controversy of the schools on the subj ect of divinatio n ’ which is preserved in such writings as Cicero s D e D ivina

ti one n n c c nc . , little me tio is made of osmologi al pri iples

The c n nc s t physi al i flue e o f the star , it is rue , played a part n C c in the argume t . i ero tried to deny the stars the power to influence human life by saying that all celestial bodies 1 and A above the sun moon were too distant . strology made sun and n et answer that the moo were distant , too ; y n n Th their i flue ce was manifest . e power of their rays diff ered o nly in degree from that exerted by the other n n heave ly bodies . Ptolemy , preservi g for us the arguments n S of Posidonius , the most importa t toic defender of astrol n c f n n n ogy , points to the i fluen e o the moo upo the ocea ,

and su n n a nd that of the upo the seasons , then leaves the matter with the assertio n that the other heavenly bodies 2 n n n act in a similar ma ner . Some i ﬂue ce of the stars upon

n n and human life was usually take for gra ted , the war was

on Th c n fought out other issues . e entral pri ciple wi th the S c n toi s was that of the solidarity o f the u iverse , the resem

he t m e o K e le and T c a The n u n h t i f p r y h o B r h e. i ﬂ e ce o f t e A ri s totelian cosm olo u on the late centu es is clea l a i gy p r ri r y tr ced n P . ’ D uhem s Le Sys tem e du M onde : His toir e des D octr ines Cos molo

i u es de la ton d Co er ni c ols. a s 1 1 see es ec all g g P p ( 5 v , P ri , 9 3 p i y 1 1 6 2 2 00 68 PL 8 2 8 2 1 . 4 ; . 77 , 3 , 334, 3 , 3 9 ; 3 . 4 , 34 , 35 . 1 D a 2 e Divin ti one . 43 . 2 T t bi l 1 2 e r a b os . . 6 Mediceval A ttitu de tow ar d A strology

nc n c c s a nd bla e of the part to the whole , the u ity of mi ro o m

nc c n not n mac rocosm . With this pri iple they ould defe d , o ly

s astrology , but likewi e augury from the ﬂight of birds and

n a s n s and n n the e tr il of a imal , the various ki ds of ome s which played so large a part in the superstitious beliefs o f the ancients .

e ns s S cs con The d fe e of a trology by the toi , therefore ,

not c s c nc c erned itself , so mu h with a trology , the s ie e , as

n h sub s . T e c n on t e with a trology , the art h ir hief oppo e t j cet of divination appeared in the perso n of Carneades

- A Ca r 2 B c . ( 2 1 9 1 6 . a member of the New ademy mea des launched against astrology a series of arguments T which remained standard for centuries . hese were

n and n Sc cs n repeated agai agai by the epti , were take over C c and nc n in almost bodily by the hur h , reappear u ha ged

n Th c c c a nd c . e Petrar h Pi o della Mira dola atta k , lever

w as can not s cc and though it , be termed wholly u essful , the

n e w n n n followers of Car eades w re slo to fa shio ew weapo s . n An S c , able defe der of astrology appeared with _ the toi

1 - 0 B c and w n na Po sidonius ( 35 5 . . ) he Ptolemy had ﬁ lly undertaken its justiﬁcation in the sane and moderate open in c a o f T etra biblos a g h pters the , very few of the rguments

C n s n n n s n of ar eade remai ed u a swered . Philo ophers a d

ns s n c c n n theologia of the oppo i g s hool , however , o te t with n c c C n n the brillia t diale ti of ar eades , remai ed oblivious of

s new n s The n the e developme t . work of Car eades himself is no n n his c on has lo ger exta t , but atta k astrology been — preserved by many later writers in the second book of ’ ’ C c s D e Divina ti one in A n i ero , the ﬁfth book of ugusti e s ’ D e Civitate D ei (based upon a lost portion of Cice ro s

D e F a to in w n Sc c s ) , the riti gs of the late epti philo opher ,

S s Em ir icu s and in c s c an extu p , the ex erpt f rom the rhetori i F avor inu s found in the N octes Ambr osianaz of Aulus lli 1 Ge u s .

1 F or the att tu de o f Sto c sm t o a st olo see B ouc - Leclerc i i i r gy, hé q,

2 - p . ff . The Sto c de ense o f d nat on as a ole is p 9 34, 593 i f ivi i , wh , A nci ent As tr ology

The opponents o f the Stoics were concerned above all T n with combating astrological fatalism . heir weapo s were n n T plain assertion and the dictates of commo se se . hey n n even went far in admitti g a rule of the stars over exter als , ’ so long as the inner cit adel of man s free will remained

Favorinu s c n an one inviolate . de lares it i tolerable that y should dare to impute to the heavens the power to intervene

ow n c c and ns in the acts of our free hoi e , to tra form C l m an from a reasoning being into a marionette . lose y

n s n c allied to the argume t that a trology was u ethi al , was ‘ ’ S Em ir i n w a s s as . the o e that it u eless well I f , says extus p ‘ — cu s n n s n s n c ss , huma eve t are ruled by three thi g e e ity , c nc and —it s ss t o s ha e , free will is u ele foresee what mu t n c s n and e es arily happe anyway , impossible to foresee what ’ m n 1 is dependent upon chance and the will o f a . But to assert the useless ness a nd the impiety of astrology w as not T h in c c s sc a s sc nc . e S c to di redit it a ie e toi s , fa t , fa ed a tro c ﬂinchin and in logi al fatalism without g , dismissed short n n n A cc n order the co te tio that astrology was useless . ordi g — to Posidonius whose argument is preserved in the third ’ — chapter of Ptolemy s T etr a biblos prophecy is naturally

c n n n n on wel ome whe the thi g foresee is pleasurable ; whe , n n n n c the other ha d , the thi g foresee is pai ful , its predi 2 tion prepares the soul to bear misfortune with equanimity .

’ scussed in the sam e aut o s His toir e de la D ivina ti on 1 di h r ( . 59 A stu dy o f the controversy betw een the Sto i cs and the New A cad em on the sub ect o f d na n ha en m a hm ek l in t o s b e e b A . Sc e y j ivi i d y , D ie hilos o hie der Mi ttler en S toa B e l n S e tu s Em ir i P p ( r i , x p cus F avo r inu s and C ce o and t e o nt e en ence on Ca nea es , , i r , h ir j i d p d r d , ’ r u d 2 - l m e n en h o a e sc sse on 1 . to e s d c n c di pp . 3 3 P y p e d e o t e St i sc ool and on os don us in a t cula has b een o ed b B o ll h , P i i p r i r , pr v y i t 1 1 o . c . . ( p , pp 3 1 B - L hm k l ouc ler . 6 c 6 1 . e c Sc e e . 1 hé q , p 59 ; , pp 5 , 59 2 ‘ S ed p raevi sio f u tu r or u m anim u m comp onit et m oder atu r m edit a t one ab sentium tan uam raesentium et rae a rat a d exci ienda i q p , p p p ’ entu a cum t ran u ilitate et constant a Te trabiblos 1 : Claudii v r q i ( . 3 P tolemcei mnia u co extant er a B asel 1 1 O q Op , , 55 , p . 8 Medi ceval A ttitude tow ar d A str ology

Ptolemy himself adds another argument to the one j ust in c s is quoted , whi h the utility of a trology even better

n n s s s defe ded . Only the moveme t of the star them elves ,

n n c . n n he says , are u der the rule of e essity Happe i gs on and c n nc in the earth are variable , subj e t to other i ﬂue es , n A addition to tho se exerted by the heave s . great physical c c an atastrophe , su h as a ﬂood or earthquake , may upset

n s n c the predictio s of a thou a d horos opes . Ptolemy draws a n t he s and n Th parallel betwee a trologer the physicia . e latter may in certain ca ses be assured that a disea se is incurable ; in others he may admit the possibility of improve n c n in The n me t , if medi i es are applied time . mag et fur n s s n n ~ The n a i he a other illustratio . law that a mag et lways at tracts iron is universally accepted ; but it is none the less

n c c true that if the mag et be rubbed with a pie e of garli ,

s it will refuse to work . Ptolemy argue , to be sure , that if

c nc c and c s n n the s ie e were perfe t , if all fa tor i volved in huma ff n n c n n a airs were k ow , a predi ted desti y would be i es I n c . n c n s c c n apable more ge eral prophe ies , i deed , u h ertai ty n one n is already attai able . No supposes that a predictio of

c n n the approa h of summer or wi ter admits of modiﬁcatio . not n m en n c n c But this does preve t , eve at the omi g of old n An . d weather , from prepari g to mitigate its rigors if c n c n n n su h ge eral predi tio s are so emi e tly useful , why should not minute predictions be equally welcome ? Does the countryman or the sailor disdain to regulate his daily 1 ta sks acc ording to the phases of the moon ?

1 - A l n f he Clau dn P tolemcei er a . 8 1 2. s o t out e o t Op , pp 3 h r i astrolog ical system o f Pt olemy will serve as a conveni ent key to in th ll A st olo s the t echni cal t erm s u sed e fo owing p ag es . r gy i d d d olem nt t o m a n a ts 1 T at c eals ivi e by Pt y i o w i p r : . h whi h d

t ene al ed ct ons xa ﬁokmé v e a n w ar est lence wi h g r pr i i ) r g rdi g , p i , ea t uakes oo s sto m s hot and cold eat e and e t l t 2. r hq , ﬂ d , r , w h r, f r i i y ; Th at which deals with predictions regarding the individual ( r b

evedh a ho' mov his a ents b ot e s len t o f l e ealt c es v y ) , p r , r h r , g h if , h h , ri h ,

- o ess on m a a e c ld en and ends . F or the u ose o f pr f i , rri g , hi r , fri p rp

I O M ediaaval A ttitu de tow ar d A s tr ology

it was not so successful with respect to its practical details . Th n n n c n in e i here t absurdity of ma y of its do tri es was , ‘ ’ - S x Em ir icus c n tc c n . sa s fa t , o ly evide t What , y e tus p , ‘ have the arbitrary names given to the constellatio ns of the zodiac to do with the actio ns and habits of man ? What po ssible connection can exist between the celestial Lion ’ a nd s w n n and a warrior bravery , or bet ee the Virgi a white skin ? Can anything be more absurd than to make of the ’ Bull a feminine sign ? A strology had to admit that the na s c ns n a The na me of the o tellatio s were rbitrary . me , a c n n s n c strology o te ded , erved as a metaphor to i di ate the ’ n c n s inﬂu ence—and s in n ature of a onstellatio thi , tur , had 1 b n sc in c s n n c ee di overed the our e of lo g experie ce . Su h an ns w nst n s n a wer , ho ever , stumbled agai a other embarra si g question : Wha t about the vaunted age of the sc ience ?

A s s c c n s c n trologer laimed for it e turie of areful experime t , t u s com osed o f t el e sect ons called the t el e celest al ou ses h p w v i , w v i h , o m ed t he b a s s o f e e as t olo ca l l Th whi ch f r i v ry r g i l ca cu ati on . e ast olo e in ea d n a o osco e st dete m ned the os t on o f r g r, r i g h r p , ﬁr r i p i i the lanets and constellat ons at the e act mom ent o f b t t p i x ir h , wi h — r e f er ence t o the se t welv e celest i al h ou se s a t ask o f no slight d fﬁ cult s nce a la net s ts om one ou se t o t he succeed n on e i y, i p hif fr h i g in h s a e o f t o ou s E ac ou se uled o e a a t cula as t e p c w h r . h h r v r p r i r ph e ’ o f m an s l e o ne e esented ealt anot e s ckness anot e if ; r pr w h , h r i , h r

m a a e and so on . I f f or nstance an e l lanet Satu n or rri g , , i , vi p ( r Ma s stood in the ou se c e esented ealt the a st olo e r ) h whi h r pr w h , r g r ould a e t o ed ct o er t f o r his cl ent o r at least ad se w h v pr i p v y i , vi I f a b enefi cent sta suc as enu s a ened to stand in the t t. V hrif r , h , h pp ou se o f m a a e he m t o es t a t c es ould come b h rri g , igh pr ph y h ri h w y The com le la on l n n w ay o f a dowry. p x r e ti s which p a ets a d con stellat i ons w ere supp osed to h old towa rd one anoth er at a g iven m oment and the n n te a et o f nte etat ons to c an , i fi i v ri y i rpr i whi h y h o o sco e could b e sub ected se ed a m abl f or m a nta n n r p j , rv d ir y i i i g that j u diciou s va g u eness ch aracteri st ic o f all astrolog ical predic t on c e ented it om b e n subm t ted to a nal p a m at c i , whi h pr v fr i g i fi r g i “ test .

1 - - B ou c Leclerc . 80 . T o d cule the names en to the hé q , pp 579 ri i g iv ellat ons b ecam e the as on w t the C u c Fat e s S ee const i f hi i h h r h h r .

lo . 20. b e w , p Anci en t A s tr ology 1 1

‘ and named as its founders the gods themselves . Some ’ ‘ n C c t he C n s prete d , says i ero , that haldea a trologers have veriﬁed the nativities of children by calculatio ns and exp eri ’ T n ns n s . me t over a period of years his , he mai tai , ‘ n in n is clearly impo ssible . Had they bee the habit of doi g

so n n c c . , they would ever have give up the pra ti e But , as

c no h n n c a matter of fa t , aut or remai s who k ows of su h ’ n n n 1 S n n o ow n n . a thi g bei g d e , or ever havi g bee do e till ,

s n c n and no a sertio ould be met by assertio , there was dearth of a strologers who were willing to c ite texts of any desired

n a n nc c mythological age . Before the tribu al o f u riti al

c s n publi their word was seldom que tio ed . Nowhere could the c ritics ﬁ nd a more alluring opp or tunity t o attack the doctrine s of astrology than in co nnec n 2 A n n tio with judicial a strology itself . art founded upo wro ng axiom s must of necessity fail in the execution ;

nc n c c c ha s he e astrology , whe pra tised ommer ially , always

The n n s s tempted the satirist . oppo e t of a trology con fro nted the reader of horoscopes with the bold as sertion

s c that his art was impossible . How , it was a ked , ould the astrologer as certain with sufﬁc ient exactness the moment c n n of birth , or the pre ise poi t of the heave ly sphere appear ing above the horizon ? T o determine both o f these to the minutest fraction was surely nec essary : how else explain the unlike fates of twins ? I f the heavens moved so swiftly

ns c n n ff n c that twi ould be bor u der totally di ere t horos opes , was it not clearly impossible to cast any nativity whatso ? A nd n c nce n ever if the mome t of o ptio , as the astrologers

a n n c n asserted , had importance o ly se o d to that of birth 3 t n n c in n A n the ques io of twi s be ame itself puzzli g . gai ,

1 C ce o D e Divina ti one 2 i r , . 45. 2 The t erm u su ally appli ed t o the pr acti cal ar t o f predicti ng the utu e om the con u at on o f the sta s at t f r fr ﬁg r i r bir h . a Schm ekel 1 6 1 ff - . . B ouc Leclerc 88 If T he , pp 5 , 59 ; hé q , pp . 5 . a gument conce n n t ns w as e cee n l o ula I i nd r r i g wi x di g y p p r . t s fou 1 2 M ediceval A ttitude tow ar d As tr ology

‘ ’ n n c ? why limit predictio s by the stars to the huma ra e I f , ‘ c c n nc says Ci ero , the aspe t of the stars i ﬂue es the birth of n n s n n every huma bei g , it hould , by parity of reaso i g , deter mine the fates of beasts a s well ; yet what can be more

’ ab surd ? Sextus Empiricus pic tures the discomﬁ ture of

c man a nd an b o-th n n an astrologer fa ed by a ass , bor u der the same sign ; and Favorinu s smiles at the consistent 1 c c n ﬂie a strologer casting the horos opes of mi e a d s .

n s c n No e of the e obj e tio s , however , greatly embarrassed Th f c n n s . e the defe der of astrology di ﬁ ulties of observatio , no one more willingly conceded than the astrologer him

t a s an sc n c self . He was hereby s ured e ape whe his predi

n and n cc . tio s failed , a double glory whe he was su essful Ptolemy frankly admitted that the practice of judicial a s f c c n n s trology was di ﬁ ult , but o te ded , too , that the mi takes of Charlatans should not be laid at the door of the science .

The s n n n que tio of twi s , furthermore , troubled o ly the " n n theorists . For the popular mi d it was e ough that a Th c . e double birth deserved a double horos ope attempt ,

n c s n n ﬁ ally , to ridi ule a trology by dema di g that it extend its nc n nc n n n fu tio s to i lude the a imal ki gdom , was o ly a ’ n n A 1n n p roof of the critic s ig ora ce . strology time exte ded n n n its sway , not o ly over the a imal ki gdom , but over the n n 2 vegetable a d mi eral a s well . One criticism directed against judicial astrology by

C n s and n c n ar eade his followers remai s to be o sidered . It

cc an n c in n and o upied importa t pla e the argume t , was after ff c I t wards employed e e tively by the Church . asked of a strology this question : I f the destinies of all m en are n s n f determi ed by the star , how explai the similar fates o large groups of individuals born in the mo st various cir

D i 2 in F r i n C ce o vin . . avo inu A lu lli 1 s u s Ge us . 1 i r ( ( 4 . n tu s Em ir i s e all a nd i Sex p cu . W sh ﬁ nd it again in A ugustine h ula Cit) . D ei . w o o ed it f or the M d le A e ( 5 p p riz i d g s. 1 - - B ou c Lecler c . 8 6 C ce o D i i v n . 2 . 6 hé q , pp 5 5 ; i r , 4 . 2 - l r B ouc Lec e c . 86 1 hé q , pp 5 , 59 . A nci ent As tr ology 1 3

‘ c umstances ? Were a ll tho se who perished at the battle of

’ ‘ ’ nn n C c n n ? Ca ae, dema ds i ero , bor u der the same star ’ ‘ M n S Were all the barbarians killed at aratho , asks extus ‘ Em ir icu s n n S p , bor u der the arrow of agittarius , and all n n the heroes drowned at Salamis , u der the sig of the

- A n c n n Water carrier gai , if the o stellatio Virgo bestows n t n upon those born under its domai a whi e ski , must one c onclude that no Ethiopian is born in the month of August ? — These questions were perplexing astrology did not answer some of them success fully until it had embodied in it s c n c do ctrine a system of astrologi al eth ology , su h as is ’ l found in the second book of Ptolemy s Tetr a bib os . We n in n c n have already see that , his i trodu tory defe se of c n c s a n a strology , Ptolemy laimed for ge eral ata trophes n n And u equivocal precedence over all i ndividual desti ies . in c n n ff c the se o d book , a solutio is o ered of the geographi

c problem as well . Ptolemy pla ed the various divisions o f the globe under the dominion of separate planets and con st ellations and c n nc n nc , these geographi i ﬂue es he pro ou ed n of greater potency than the horoscopes of the i dividual .

I n c c c favor of his system , Ptolemy ited pre isely the bla k

n and n T n and ski of the Ethiopian , the white ski of the euto 1 the Gaul . L n ike Hydra or Proteus , astrology remai ed after each s n n I n n n a sault stro ger tha ever . truth , its fou datio s had n n bee hardly shake . Belief in astrology could be destroyed — o nly by a n attack on its source either by proving that an

n nc on n not i ﬂue e o f the stars huma life did exist , or by

n c n c n n The demonstrati g that su h an i ﬂuen e was u k owable . n n n n oppo e ts of astrology , by expendi g their e ergies in

s c c a saults on the outposts , and failing to atta k the itadel , only strengthened the belief that the latter was uncon uerable q .

1 B o - L l r uc ec e c . 8 1 ff hm k l 1 D in Sc e e C ce o iv . hé q , pp s , p . 57 ; i r ,

2 . Clau dii P to emcei l O era . 2 ff . On tolem see also 44 ; p , pp 39 P y , B ll o . 1 81 , pp ff . 1 4 Mediwval A ttitu de tow ar d As tr ology

’ n s C Duri ng the ﬁrst ce turie of our era , while hristianity s in n s s attack upo n it was still preparatio , a trology pread everywhere through the Roman world ! Emperors from n S c n C n Augustus to Alexa der everus o sulted the haldea s , n a a nd among the common people its vogue was u ivers l . None of the ancient arts of divination remained f ree from

n o s n A n s c n s its tai t . P et from Juve al to mmia u Mar elli u satirized the extravagant worship paid to it by the fa shion in C c A s c s . able public . trologi al idea were the air i ero ,

s n ns s a s who as philo opher fulmi ated agai t a trology , in c nc s . n rhetorician subs ribed to its pri iple Whe , the ‘ iu i n ci i onis ca s n s S omn S p , he ll jupiter a star that bri g ’ ‘ and s c m en and M health pro perity to the ra e of , ars a ’ n and on cc s pla et red , feared earth , he a epts the very axiom 2 sc nc S n c n S c n of the ie e e e a , bei g a toi , is aturally a ﬁrm

in T c s believer astrology ; a itus , though he satirize the

s c is n c n nc astrologer of the ourt , o ly half o vi ed that astrol 3 A n in s c n c n c n . d n ogy itself is a de eptio whe , the e o d e tury , it w on as a convert the greatest astronomer of the anc ient

w a s c n nc n world , little left for it to o quer ; with Ptolemy a ie t

n t n s n T he a strology fou d i s last a d mo t famous spokesma . s c Maternus late pro e writer , Firmi us , though he has left in his a thesis n nc n s on M the lo gest a ie t treati e astrology , — and contributes especially in the ﬁrst a nd eighth books

n s c ns c nc to our k owledge of the philo ophi al defe e of the s ie e ,

ff s n n n ew really o er othi g . With the almost un iver sal theoretical acceptance of

s w a s om ed n s a trology j , however , a ge eral distru t of the

s The c c c n astrologer him elf . ommer ial pra titio er stood low in s c sc and n c n A s the o ial ale , was ofte a mere harlata . trol

in c c f s ss c ogy pra ti e , urthermore , was eldom di o iated from n c nc and c and in e roma y vulgar magi , the astrologer time

1 B ou Le l 6 c c erc 1 80. hé q , pp . 4 2 mn ci c S o S a . . p. h p . 4 a A nna les A nci ent As tr ology 1 5

A a s A s c n nc . s became a publi uisa e early ugustus , law were

n c ns Chaldcei a nd ma thema ti ci and suc e a ted agai t the the , n An ceeding rulers issued decrees of increa si g severity .

s s emperor might him elf wish to make use o f the a trologer , but feared him when in the emplo y of new ca ndidates for

At s nc n n the thro ne . time a disti tio was made betwee the

c c and c nc — r o essi onein eor u rn n on n oti tia rn pra ti e the s ie e p f , , l ess e r ohibitu rn one enactm ent — the c p , reads but after lose

c n n c n of the third e tury the absolute i terdi tio of astrology , o D c n and in T f rmulated by io letia , embodied the heodosian 2 - c n n n on . ode , remai ed perma e tly the statute books In the

c c s c n s eyes of the publi , of our e , perse utio of the a trologer

n n nc t he and in o ly e ha ed value of his art , itself implied

f Th s n n n n belief in its e ﬁcacy . e tra ge i co siste cy of the

nc n s s a ie t attitude toward a trologers is best preserved , per

in s s c T c c c haps , the famou enten e of a itus , in whi h he alls ‘ n nc s and a c nc them da gerous —to pri e , a f lla ious relia e to ambitious subj ects a rac e of m en which in our state will ’ nn n n 3 ever be both s hu ed a d retai ed .

So C n c it was that when hristia ity , at the lose of the

c n c n n s n n se o d e tury , bega to as ume a positio of promi ence in c and n c R n the so ial i telle tual life of the oma Empire , it

n w n n on s s ns fou d astrology every here , batte i g the uper titio n n The c both of populac e a d ki gs . Chur h attacked astrology n T h n with all available weapo s . e rea so s for its ho stility A . s n c are fairly obvious a part of paga ism , the pra tice

n n C s n and in o f all divi atory arts was forbidde the hri tia ; , the writings of the earlier apologists , astrology is hardly

1 B ouc - Leclerc 66 hé q , p . 5 . 2

I bid .

8 ‘ T a c us His t 22 t . 1 . : Genu s hominum otent ib u s inﬁ dum s era n i , p , p ’ tibus alla uod in c tate nost a et ve abitu r m iu i u r f x , q ivi r t se p er et r et eb t . 1 6 M ediceval A ttitu de tow ar d As tr ology

nd c f n c a . dif ere tiated from soothsaying , ora les , magi In its Th c s n c . e philosophi al dress , a trology was eve less ac eptable fatalism implied in the belief that the stars are arbiters of human destinies never found more unyielding opponents The s c than the Church Fathers . method of atta k varied c n and c nc n somewhat through the e turies , the o lusio s arrived at by the Western Church diff ered considerably from those s c n c The reached by the writer of the more s ie tiﬁ East .

n s s n Christia apologists , moreover , seldom ati ﬁed the dema ds of strict logic itself ; the reader is often surpri sed to ﬁ nd astrology readmitted into orthodox doctrine by some

n c nc n . u guarded o essio But the war , though often waged

n i and n c n c n with a ve u s ie tiﬁ argume ts , was always per

s n a nd cc s w a s s c a r A s n in s i te t ; its su es u h that fte ugu ti e , his nc n c n n n c n tre ha t o dem atio of astrologi al divi ation , had n c n n C c ﬁ ally formulated the do tri e of the Wester hur h , astrology virtually disappeared f rom the social and intel 1 s c n lectual life of we tern Europe for eight e turies .

The C n n in n n hristians mai tai ed , ge eral , that all divi atory

and n n n arts , , above all , astrology , were i ve tio s of the devil , and c n n n T ould be carried o o ly by the aid of demo s . his

and n theory arose early , remai ed throughout the Middle A n A in ges the argume t of last resort . belief the power and prevalence of demons was universal in primitive Chris i it 1 r 2 t an . Co 0 y Paul identiﬁes the fallen angels ( . with the heathen gods ; the Old T estament stories of Saul and c and n c n c the wit h , of the Egyptia magi ia s , were ited as c nc n in cc an proof that they were o er ed o ult arts . It was n n easy savi g of argume t , therefore , to admit at the outset c c n and the possibility of astrologi al predi tio , , at the same

' 1 ’ ’ Th nal a e o f B ou - Le l r L e ﬁ p g s ché c e cq s A s tr ologie Gr ecqu e ( pp .

609 - 27 ) contain a conci se di scussion o f the combat o f the early C u c t ast olo On the att tu de o f C st an t o a d h r h wi h r gy . i hri i i y t w r anc ent d nat on a ol f B - L l r Hi toi de a s a e c . ouc ec e c s r e l i ivi i wh , hé q,

i i 1 2- v na tion . 1 0 D 9 4. ” L 1 D 2 1 2 Cf . ev. . ent; . C on 1 1 1 7 7 ; 3 7 ; hr . . 5.

1 8 Mediceval A ttitu de tow ar d As tr ology

T n not n a n w a nc n ertullia , did de y th t it we t far to rd sa tio

Acc n n in s . g a trology ordi g to their theory , all divi atory n c n C arts had been permitted by God u til the omi g of hrist , when an end w as put to the rule of demons over the world .

ns s ha d c I n the perso of the Magi , therefore , a trology ome to abdicate at the c radle of the R edeemer ; the return of the Magi to t heir home by a diff erent route indicated that n n 1 henceforth its employme t w as forbidde . ’ But the orthodoxy of T ertullian s naive admission became

in c n s a nd nc n suspect the later e turie , more u ompromisi g n c s I n c arguments w ere deemed e e sary . the Chur h of — the East especially in the writings of Basil and Chrysos

—a new s w a s in c w a s ss tom exege is put forth, whi h it a erted a o f w a s no n s nor th t the star the Magi ordi ary tar at all ,

n n c C s o c ns n eve a pla et or omet . hry ost m leverly tur agai st

' h ’ s ﬁ tf in the a trologers their ow ﬁ ffc eS . It is the task of a strology to predict the destinies o f the child after it is

n n Th a n ot s . e c bor , to prophesy the birth it elf appe ra e of the s s s w as c a nd s n tar , he ay , a mira le , out ide the ormal n n n cour s e of eve ts . Proof that it was o common star co s in c not s isted the fa t that it moved , from east to we t , but — f rom north to south the way Palestine lies with regard ” to Per sia .

1 I nat u s i s t ad E hes . 1 T er tullian D g , Ep . p 9 ; e I dola tr ia c a . i , , h p 9 ‘ Se d m a et ast olo ab ent ven- run cimu m i g i r g i Ori e e t . S s ag ae et a str olo iae nte se s i ta m g i r oc e tem . Pri i ig itu r stellar um interpr etes na tum C s-tum annuntiaverunt m m uner averu nt u d tu rn ? hri , pri i . Q i

I ' deo nu nc et m athem aticis p atrocinabitu r illorum m agorum religi o ? D e C sto sc l cet est m at es s od e stella s C st non Satu n hri i i h i h i ; hri i , r i e t Marti s et cuju squ e ex eodem o rdine m or tuo rum ob serva t et

r i - aed cat . A t en m sc ent a sta u s u e ad E an el u m u t con e p i i i i q v g i f i c ssa,

t C sto ed to n emo exinde nativitatem ali - u , hri i , cuju s de caelo inter ’ r et ar etur M n L e a tr . o t . 1 . T h la s p ( ig , P e t sent ence o f thi s ’ quotat i on constitut es a p or t ion o f I sidor e s deﬁnition o f astrology E t m l o 8 . . I t ( y . 9 w as r ep eated many t imes through the Middle

A - - es . Cf . b elo 2 8 0 2 g w , pp . 7 , 3 . ” B l as Hom . 2 C so stom H M , om . in atth 6 F r i 5 ; hry , . . o other c tat ons s ee B ouc - L ler ec c . 6 1 no i i , hé q, p 3 , te 1 . A ncient As tr ology 1 9

Th E n C c in n e aster hur h , ge eral , formulated a more s cientiﬁ c doctrine co ncerning astrology than that current in n w n s cs n f c the West . Orige , together ith the G o ti , eve ef e ted n and C n a compromise betwee astrology hristia ity , so that ,

n s c c n s whe purged of fatali ti do tri e , it was allowed to exist ’ n n n s one c nc n s without i terfere ce . Orige o er was to di prove a determini stic inﬂuence of the stars ; even divine fore T n n n n ot w . k owledge , he mai tai ed , did abrogate f ree ill hat

s s c nno c s n n s n the tar a t be the au e of huma desti ie , Orige

n c c c proved by an ingenious argume t . It is the hara teristi

its ff c n c c s c s . of every au e that it pre ede e e t Now , i asmu h a s c n n s s s not c the o ﬁguratio of the tar doe pre ede , but is

s c nc n c s s at be t o omita t with , the birth over whi h it pre ide , ’ how can the stars be the cause of the child s fortunes ?

cc no n nc Origen a epts with remo stra e , however , the Neo

n c n not c n n plato ic do tri e that the stars , though ausi g huma

n s n t n c can eve t , co s itute the sig s by whi h they be foretold .

T e n s c his th ory , developed fully by Ploti u , goes ba k through Philo to an astrological interpretation of the fourteenth n n c n n verse of the ope i g hapter of Ge esis . Orige , to be

n not sure , like the Neoplatonists , was wise e ough to attempt 1 its proof . Origen and the Gnostics did not yield to a compromise with astrology before they had exhausted the ancient store n s n of argume t agai st it . We meet again the dispute con c n n n n er i g twi s , the argume t that astrological observation

a nd c n n n is impossible , the o te tio that the judicial astrologer

no cc n c a nd c c ns n takes a ou t of geographi ra ial o ideratio s . The last argument even received a clever enlargement perhaps the one contributio n o f Chri stian writers to the

1 ’ The u ll t ta m f es s te ent o f Orig en s attit u de towa rd astrology is ’ ound in u seb us P r a’ ar a ti o n p va eli ca 6 . 1 1 M ne a tr Gr E E . . f i g ( ig , P 2 ’ 1 8 l n - . 47 P o ti us co mpromi se with a strology ( B ouché Leclerc q ,

. 600 elle hil. der Gr iechen 6 t m p ; Z r, P 3 . 5 7 ) e p te d many Chu rch

t e s See belo . 22 8 wri r . w , pp , 3 , 57 . 20 M ediaeval A ttitu de tow ar d Astr ology

n A n discussio . strology had explai ed similarities of race n c c by mea s of a system of astrologi al geography , pla ing n each country under the sway of separate pla ets and stars . C n c c c c But , said the hristia writers , are ra ial hara teristi s really dependent upon geography ? The Jews c ircumcise on the eighth day in Rome as in Palestine ; have they

a n s carried the Jud ea tars with them , or have they been

n nc ? A nd C ns freed f rom their i ﬂue e the hristia , are they

and s ff not scattered over all the globe , yet u er the same for tunes ? It is not worth while to ask how astrology might n n n n have replied to these ew questio s . I asmuch as Orige and n cs n cc n the G osti e ded by virtually a epti g astrology , a 1 n w a s s nn c . refutatio , perhap , deemed u e essary I n n C c one n n the Wester hur h , the great oppo e t of astrol A n C n in c n c ogy was ugusti e . omi g o ta t with astrologers in m s in C onfessi ons w as early li e tell us his , he at

a c n s ﬁrst ttra ted to them , preferri g them to the oothsayers , n n E n n n because they i voked o spirits . ve the war i g of a

c n a physi ia , who told him that strology was a f raud , passed n n n n n u heeded . O ly after a frie d had set him to po deri g over the astrological problem concerning twins did Augus n c s c n n ti e , too , de ide that a trologi al divi atio was a mere ” n ' matter o f chance . He c eforth a strology had in him a s n n A n a nd n wor e emy . gai agai he attacked it in his writ 3 n s a n c c C n s a nd i g , repe ti g the diale ti of ar eade , adding the

1 The discu ssion o f a st rology by the Gnostic B ar desanes ( Eu se bius P ce E 6 r . v. 10 M . : ne a tr . Gr . 2 1 6 ff a l , p ig , P . 4 7 . ) p ral els th at o f en almost t ou u I Orig hr gh o t . t i s B ar desanes who a sks the u est on conce n n the e s M ne t a r Gr . 2 1 . q i r i g J w ( ig , P . A third seri es o f similar a rg uments is found in the R ecogniti ones o f Clement

- - 12 1 - - ( 9 . 0. Cf . B ouc Lecler c 6 1 6 hé q , pp . 534 5, 5 . 2 Con i n ess o s . an f 4 3 , d 7 . 6 . 3 A ug u st ine p oi nt s to the ab su rdity o f putting faith in the arbitrary names en t o the constellat ons D e D t hr i — g oc r . C s t. 2 2 1 iv i ( . ) an a ument ound in ot e C t a g s n t e s c f . T at an r a ti r f h r hri i wri r ; i , O o ad Grcec os c a . H ol tu s R e u ta ti o mnium e e i , h p 9 ; ipp y , f O s um B as l Hom i H . n ex 6 A . 6. u u i , . g stine also questions the right o f Anci ent Astr ology 2 1

c E c vehemenc e of his ow n rhetori . spe ially did he never tire of illustrating the problem of twins ; one is compelled to smile at the serious ness with which b e employed this c mediocre argument . He onfronts the astrologer with the

and and historic case of Jacob Esau , asks him how the ff c heavens can be held to account for the enormous di eren e in the destinies alloted to two children born so n early at

c n the same time . He ridi ules the theory that the moveme t of the spheres is swift enough to make of the one a desert

a nd . wanderer , of the other the father of a mighty people The c T n a n s c . wi s , ag i , are i k at the same time fa t is x n c s n c . e plai ed by the physi ia , Hippo rates , as due to a imi la rit n s and S c n y of temperame t , by the toi , Posido ius , as s A n due to an identity of horo scope . ugusti e sees here an o pportunity to con fute the astrologer with his ow n doctrine . ‘ ’ ‘ s c s Why , he asks , were they both i k of the same di ease , a nd a nd one at the same time , not the after the other in

n c c not the order of their birth , i asmu h as they ould have

n n ? c bee born simulta eously Or , if the fa t of their having been born at diff erent times does not necessarily imply that

c f n they must be si k at dif ere t times , why do the astrologers c ontend that the diff erence in the time of their births was the cause of their diff erenc e in other things It is not necessary to examine the score of ways in which astrology ’ m n A n n n ight have a swered ugusti e s questio s . In ge eral ,

c n a and it probably refused to quarrel over su h mi uti e , might c f c n n A n have onsidered it a su ﬁ ie t a swer to ask ugusti e , in

n nc c tur , whe e , if not from the stars themselves , ould come

lo e s t o en o o sco e to an mal i D a st o s s v ei . He has r g r d y h r p i ( C . 5 somet n to sa o n the sta o f the Ma in A d F aus u 2 hi g y r g i t m ( . 1 i D i - M n C v. e . e a tr . La t . 1 . c f D n i 5 4 5 ( ig , P 4 . e Ge es ad M n it am 2 . 1 e a tr L t ter a . A . h L 7 ( ig , P . . 34 Sc m ekel ( D ie hilos o hi e der Mittler en S toa 2 ha . 1 6 ff . s o e t he P p , pp ) pr v d h at t ’ r efut ati on o f astrology found in the ﬁrst ch ap ters o f Au gu stine s ’ D e Civi tate D ei is b ased on a lo st o t on o f C ce o s D e F a to c p r i i r , whi h , in tu n l ke the D e D ivinatione oes bac to Ca nea es see r , i , g k r d ;

a b o e 6 . v , p . 2 2 Mediwval A ttitude tow ar d Astr ology

n s n w c in the that ge eral imilarity of temperame t hi h , n s c n cc alter ative theory of the phy i ia , he himself a epted .

end one ma A n in in What , y ask , did ugusti e have view his struggle against astrology ? Wa s it the same a s that — of the pagan S ceptics a nd Origen to defend the freedom

n w ? a A n of the huma ill It may appe r so at ﬁrst . ugusti e

n n c ns man the too , mai tai s that the a tio of are free from

a s and s s an hiloso arbitr ry rule of the tars , prai e the pag p 1 h r n n the c s ns m n p e s for defe di g ethi al re po ibility of a . But it soon becomes clear that his purpo se is only that of replac ing astrological fatalism by an even more stringent deter — m inistic doctrine the theory of predestination and divine

n w T C c n c n forek o ledge . hose who , like i ero , de y predi tio of

c n s A s n the future altogether , re eive at the ha d of ugu ti e a more violent co ndemnation than the astrologers them ? S o cc in is A n c n selves o upied , truth , ugusti e with ombati g

is cc s n fatalism , that he almost ready to a ept a trology whe , in n c s s n the Neoplato i form , it rid itself of thi oxious doc

n c n s on tri e . He obj e ts to the theory of Ploti u , however , the score that no astrologer actually accepts the stars as .

n c s n s and not mere i di ator of eve t , that it , too , does obviate the practical difﬁculties involved in the matter of twins ? I n spite of his denunciation of astrology as a fatalistic

c nc a nd c n n n is s in c c s ie e , his o te tio that it impo sible pra ti e , Augustine never seriously defends the scepticism once

n n e i ns A s n expressed i the Co f ss o . fter exhau ti g his dia lectic 1n n powers destroyi g astrology as a legitimate art ,

A d F au 2 D e i d i t e 2 1 i 1 . s tum . e G nes a t r am . v D ei . 5 ; L 7 ; C . 5 ” A u u st n m n n c n m H e e iv D ei . e t o s C e o b a e. e d test ed. g i ( C . 5 9 ) i i r y him . e en m o e t an the Sto cs s m l b ecau se in den n the v r h i , i p y , yi g ‘ oss b l t o f d nat on he den ed the e stence o f God : Multo p i i i y ivi i , i xi sunt autem toler abilio r es u i vel s de a ata constitu unt ua m st e q i r f , q i , ll r r m ﬁ r D q ui to it p raescientiam f utu o u . Nam et con te i esse eum, ’ et ne a e raescium f u tu r orum a er t ss m a nsan a est M ne a tr g r p , p i i i i ( ig , P

La t . 41 . D M n L 1 i ei . 1 e a tr a t C v. . 5 ( ig , P . 4 . A nci ent As tr ology 2 3 he ends by accepting the possibility of astrological predic ‘ All n tions if made by the help of demons . these thi gs ’— —‘ c onsidered so Augustine closes the di scu ssion w e have

a w n s s good reason to believe th t , he the a trologer give very

n s cc many wo nderful a swer , it is to be attributed to the o ult

s not n c i nspiratio n of spirit , of the best ki d , whose are it is

n s m en and c n in to c reep into the mi d of , to o ﬁrm them false a nd noxious opinions co ncerning the fatal inﬂuenc e of the

a nd is not n and n c n stars , that it due to their marki g i spe ti g

s cc n n c in o f horoscope , a ordi g to a ki d of art whi h reality ’ n 1 A s n in c c ss has no existe ce . With ugu ti e , fa t , the dis u ion of astrology in the early Church r eturned to its point of

A n a s T n a nd L c n d eparture . For ugusti e , for ertullia a ta

s s one n n c c tiu , a trology was merely of ma y efarious pra ti es

with which the ho sts of fallen angels tried to cheat mankind . — I n a special trea tise the D e D ivina ti one D wm onu mf Augustine crystallized the do ctri ne of the early Church

n s ns and n n regardi g the power of demo , laid the fou datio for those mediaeval superstitio ns which bore malignant fruit n n in the magic and witchcraft of the ﬁftee th ce tury .

A s n c nc c trology , refused the ame of a s ie e , was for ed to n n n n in n live u der its ig omi ious stigma u til , the thirtee th ’ ? c n c n C c c e tury , it for ed a revisio of the hur h s verdi t

A n n c n observa t eye , however , might have dis overed eve in the D e Civita te D ei the germs of that new compromise between Christianity and astrology which w as to ﬁ nd expressio n in the S u mma Theologiaz of Thoma s Aquinas

and D ivina Commedia D n I n cc the of a te . his preo upation

1 i D i M n C v. e . e a tr La t 1 5 7 ( ig , P . . 4 . ’ - B o u c Lecler c L A s tr olo i e Gr ec u e 62 B ou - L l r . c ec e c hé q , g q , p 3 ; hé q , H is toir e d e la D i in ti v a on 1 . 99 1f . The D e D ivina ti one D cemonum

M ne a tr La t cg 8 1 la n . . e s ho h dem n ( ig , P 4 5 ) xp i w t e o s obt a in knowl e d e o f the u tu e b eason o f t e su e o s tual o e g f r y r h ir p ri r piri p w rs, and b e m ss on o f God h m l n th m y p r i i i se f . O e i p ortance f o r later

tc c a t o f the C u c - doct ne conc n n m e g de ons see . Hansen wi h r f h r h ri r i , J , Zau berw a hn I n uis iti on und Hexen r oz ess im Mi ttel , q , p alter ( Muni ch a nd e L ipzig , 24 Mediceval A ttitu de tow ar d Astr ology

n with the practical details of astrology as a divi atory art , Augustine failed to note—his ow n unconscious concessions to it as a physical s cience concessio ns which could be made n the basis for a n almo st complete rehabilitation . I to the midst of his discussion of the astrological dilemma con ‘ n n n ns s : not cer i g twi s , he i erts thi passage It is altogether absurd to say that certain s idereal inﬂuences have some ff nc in n c s . see power to au e di ere es bodies alo e We , for

nc n insta e , that the seaso s of the year vary as the sun

and c and c n n nc approaches re edes , that ertai thi gs are i reased or diminished in size by the waxings and wanings of the

n c as sea - c n a nd n moo , su h ur hi s , oysters , the wo derful ocean not tides . But it does follow that the wills of men are ”1 c c n n T in subj e t to the o ﬁguratio of the stars . hough the n n c n n form of a egative stateme t , this passage o tai s in embryo the solution of the astro logical problem as it was n n formulated by the theologians of the thirtee th ce tury .

1 D M ne tr La 1 Civ. ei . 6 a t. . An adm ss on t at he 5 ( ig , P . 4 i i h t sta s i n uence the atmos e e and conse uentl m a oduce r ﬂ ph r , q y y pr m od cat ons in the s cal const t ut on and ab ts o f m an i s made iﬁ i phy i i i h i , also b Se tu s Em iricu s B ouc - L l r ec e c . note n y x p ( hé q , p 595, O the bas s o f suc a concess on a cle e s c olo st could esto e i h i , v r p y h g i r r almost he ent n t ire sci e ce .

26 M ediwval A ttitu de tow ard As tr ology

o n on s n star of the Magi or a serm fatali m , eve though the writers might entertain for astrology itself merely a n aca in on n demic interest . It is thus a homily the Epipha y that

Gregory ﬁ nds occa sion to discuss astrology . He directs 1 c c ns sc n s c his atta k parti ularly agai t the Pri illia i ts , a Gnosti c sect of Spain accused of magic . He repeats the lassic ’ n ns s n A s n s n c argume t of twi , u i g ugu ti e illustratio of Ja ob and and n s n ss s n Esau , poi t agai to the impo ibility of quari g ? judicial a strology with ethnological inﬂuenc es Y et one feel s at once that with Gr egory astrology is no longer a

n n sc n s c livi g i ssue . Eve Pri illia i m dated ba k to the time of d A s A s A n a n . s n on ugusti e mbro e trology had falle evil day ,

n n n e and it w as me tio ed o ly by way of literary reminiscenc .

C ss in c n a iodorus speaks of it brieﬂy two passages , alli g it ‘ ’ and c n A n and s a slippery error , iti g ugusti e Ba il as proof ? its c n s s e i n s C on that do tri e lead to here y Bo thius , who e s ola ti on of P hilos ophy one m ight expect to ﬁ nd a full dis cu ssi on as c a n s w one s of trologi al f talism , ho or it ith light 4 n A n nt allusio . d Ma crobius exhibits veritable embarrassme when he is called upon to explain the pa ssage of the S omniu m S cipi onis where C icero describes the astrologica l 5 c a c s c n t sc the h ra teri ti s of the pla ets . He is able o di uss

1 S ee ab o e 1 v , p . 7 . ” G e o H mil XX I M ne a t La o ia : n D i e i hania r . t r g ry, Ep p ( ig , P .

6. I n llu st at n his second a u m ent G e o asks the 7 i r i g rg , r g ry a st olo e s A u a us oduces s e m en no c ld en ar e r g r why, if q ri pr ﬁ h r , hi r b o n u nde t at s n in Getu l a an nland count and wh r r h ig i , i ry, y t e e ar e m an eo les t out b anke s b a i s the constellat on h r y p p wi h r , if Li r i o f th e mone - c an e y h g r s. ' 3 M n tr Cas s odo u s E x osi ti o i n s alter iu m CX VI I I e a . i r , p P L ( ig , P

La t . 0. D e A r tibus a c D is ci linis i ber alium Li tter arium 7 p L , a Mi n L c . e a tr . a t . 0 h p 7 ( g , P 7 . 1 B oet u s n hil 6 Co s . . . hi , P . 4 5 Mac b u s i 1 1 2 d anu s e 1 8 8 o S omn S c 0 e . r i , . p. . 9 . ( J , L ipzig , 4 , M p . acrobius b ecam e in the elev enth centu ry an imp ortant aut o t on m cal u st n lo H and a st ono e o s see b e . e h ri y r i q i ( w , p Chalc idiu s ose comm enta on t he Timaz us w as b ase on one , wh ry d b os don u s e en ese ed the A stotel an doct ne t at the y P i i , v pr rv ri i ri h As tr ology in the E ar ly M ediceval Centuri es 2 7

c s c s n and n p hilosophi al a pe t of a trology at some le gth , eve g ives an outline of the Platonic myth of the creatio n of m an by the pla netary gods ; but when he tries to expoun d the

c ac s s s c . con astrologi al f t them elve , he is learly puzzled He fesses that t he only treatise he has ever read on the subj ect ’ Har m onia and c e s cc n is Ptolemy s , he pro e d , a ordi gly , to expla in the evil inﬂuenc e of Saturn a nd the ben evolent character o f Jupiter by means of a complicated system of n umbers . No writer did so much to fasten upo n the Middle Ages t he patristic co ndemnatio n of a strology as the encyclo aedist s n c n s S a nd p of the eve th e tury , I idore of eville ; the several passages of the E tymologiw and the D e N a tu ra

R er u m on s c sc n that bear a trology deserve areful ruti y .

n is n n a s . Importa t , ﬁrst of all , his deﬁ itio of trology itself

A s s na tu r alis a nd s u er strology , he ay , is partly , partly p s titi osa n n n . Natural astrology is o ly a other ame for

iti n an n . Su erst o s on astro omy p astrology , the other h d , ‘ sc nc c c s ma thema ti ci is that ie e whi h is pra ti ed by the , who r c in n and c ead prophe ies the heave s , who pla e the twelve ’ constellations a s rulers over the member s of man s body a nd and c n and n soul , who predi t the ativities dispositio s of ’ 1 m en Th t m ti and by the courses of the star s . e ma he a ci g enethlia ci reappear in a later chapter of the E tym ologiw in c n ompany with ma y o ther representatives of magic .

n s a s s Here agai Isidore refer to their art superstitiou , —‘ a nd identiﬁes t hem with the Magi of the Gospel cuius

c n n c nc s u t C artis s ie tia usque ad Eva gelium fuit o e sa , , hristo e n exinde nativitatem alicu iu s caelo inter r e dito , emo de p ’ t r t r T h n a e u . e last se tence of this deﬁ nitio n Isidore quoted d ouble m ovement o f the h eavens cau ses g enerati on and corru p tion on ea t Com i n en tar iu s i n Ti maz u c a l m . : d M ac e . u l r h ( , h p 75 h , F r a m enta P hilos o hor u m a s 1 88 1 2 c f talsk D . S es g p , P ri , , . wi i , Cha lcidius Commentor e u l Mun 1 2 a tos Timaeus ste 0 28 if . P , r, 9 , pp . ’ ' in Bau mker B ( s ei tr ag e 3 . 1 t m l 2 . M n o . L e a tr a t. 82 E y 3 7 ( ig , P . . 2 8 Mediceval A ttitude tow ar d Astr ology

T n n n n from ertullia , though with little u dersta di g of its

n o A an context . It remai ed thr ughout the Middle ges ? integral part of the stock deﬁn itio n of astrologers But ’ c is n n Isidore s logi hardly equal to his lear i g . Several curious bits of astrological lore smuggled themselves into

n and c c n o f suc his writi gs , be ame the ommo property the A ceedin c n s . c c n g e turie strologi al medi i e , for example , which I sidore condemns in his deﬁnition of superstitious ? cc s in c astrology , he a ept , in part at least , a later hapter The c n good physi ia , he says , will study astronomy as well

ow n n c a s n n s as his art , i asmu h it is well k ow that our bodie c n n n ha ge with the varyi g state of the weather a d the stars .

D e N a tu r a R eru m s sc n a n In the , I idore a ribes to the moo n nc s n n and i ﬂue e over fruit , over the brai s of a imals , over

and - c n n s in oysters sea ur hi s . He eve refer to it , a phrase

n c c n dux hu mentiu m of u mistakable astrologi al olori g , as the 3 su s tantiar u m The - c b . dog star is said to be a ause of sick 4 A n ss . s c s s cc e for omet , I idore a epts them without reserve ? r n c n and nc as the p og osti ators of revolutio , war , pestile e Isidore and the elder Pliny are the principal sources f or

c n c and n e the s ie tiﬁ works of Bede , are severally respo sibl for two of the slight astrological references discoverable in n n n his writi gs . It is upo Pli y that Bede draws for a chapter on in D N tu a R eru m the planets the e a r . Probably with no

1 t m o 2 M n 2 1 8 l 8 . tr La t f ab o . . e a . . 8 C e E y . . 9 3 ( ig , P . . v , p ” E t mol 1 M 2 n e . y . 4. 3 . 4 ( ig 8 3 D N t H 1 M n L I do e e a er 1 8 6 . 2 e a tr . at. 8 . s . . . ; 9 ( ig , P 3 i r ’ b o o d h A H 2 - 0 rr we t e p assage fr om mbr ose s exaemer on ( 4. 7 . 9 3 M n L t 1 e a tr . a . . ig , P 4 4 D N R 1 1 M n L t e at . er . 6 . e a tr . a . 8 . 4 ( ig , P 3

5 ‘ ’ Haec cum nascitur aut e n mut ationem f er t u r ost en e e aut , r g i d r , ’ b ella au il n i u D R 1 : M ne t t s N a t er 26 . a r e t e t as s e e e . . . , p rg r ( 3 ig , P L m m a t 8 . Th t l a n f co e s ee s o . 3 e as r o og ic l sig iﬁcance o t s t a e b een acce t d ne all in th l u c cf B ouc h v p e g e r y e ea r y Ch r h ; . hé Leclerc 2 H Rob n on T r eat Comet o 1 680 : A . 6 . . he G q , p 3 ; J i s , f u d i i r hﬁ ld M nn S t n the His tor o R a t onalism No t e . y y f ( , i ,

- 6. pp . 5 A s tr ology in the E ar ly M ediceval Centur i es 2 9 consciousnes s that he is trespassing upon the domain of in c c n S astrology , he follows his author hara terizi g aturn

c and M n . as old , Jupiter as temperate , ars as glowi g It n and s is curious to ote , however , that he stops here , omit ’ Pliny s astrological description of Venus as the planet which 1 in n r es on n on . s nourishes all thi gs earth I idore , tur , is p ’ T c on c s . sible for Bede s chapter omet here is , in fa t , evi dence in s everal of his works that he was a ﬁrm believer in I n E le ias ti cal His tor c . cc s their propheti virtue the y, for

n nc c 2 c nn c n i sta e , the omets of 7 9 are o e ted with the i road

S c n n and e n c of the ara e s i to Gaul , with the d aths of ki g Osri ? and the holy Egbert ’ One condemnation o f astrology proper is found in Bede s I . ts cc works source I have not di scovered . It o urs in a

D e Tem or u m R a ti one c c passage of the p , whi h omments on n Th t n n s and c n . e the divisio of ime i to hours , mi ute , se o ds

athema tici c n n n s m , says Bede , o ti ue the divisio to till smaller

n . S nc c nc n a nd c n u its i e , however , their s ie e is vai , o trary C n n to the hristia faith , he will refrai from using their ? termino logy Isidore is again a sourc e for the encyclop aedist of the n n c R ban Th a us M . e i th entury , aurus , Bishop of Fulda ’ c m D e Univers o n n latter s hief sei e , co tai s a chapter on magic which is a literal trans cript of that in ’ E t m olo iw As tr olo i th ti ci Isidore s y g . g and ma ema are c a s in n n c nc and lassed , the latter , amo g e roma ers augurs ; and Rabanus subscribes to the Tertullianist doctrine that

1 B D N R a M f e e e a t. er . c . 1 ne a tr La t 0 c . d , , h p 3 ( i g , P . . 9 . l n a t Hi t 2 6 N s . . P i y, . . ’ Bede r ep eats I sidor e s descri p ti on o f comet s w ord f or w ord ( D e a t R e c a 2 n t m r en N . r . . : M e a r La o et a e s o . t 0 . C s , h p 4 ig , P . 9 p k of in h H cl i ti 2 nd 2 2 ed lumme t e is toria c es as ca . 1 a E 4 , 5. 3 , 4 ( . P r, O o d 1 8 6 1 1 1 8 xf r , 9 , . , 349, 3 B D R a M n L t Cf . de T m a c e a tr a . 0 e e e . t . . . , p , h p 3 ( ig , P 9 the mild r ebuke o f a strology whi ch is f ou nd in a letter o f Aldh elm B s o o f S e bo ne 6 0 uoted b W ll am o f Malm esbu ( i h p h r r , 4 q y i i ry A n i ( gl a S acr a 2 . 3 0 M ediceval A ttitu de tow ar d A s tr ology

C astrology , though permitted till the birth of hrist , was 1 ’ n s s c o n thenceforth a forbidden s cie ce . I idore hapter

c c in n Rabanus D e magi was opied a other work of , the

Ma i cis A r tibus n s s on n n c g , the lo ge t treati e divi atio whi h ? had appeared sinc e Augustine Rabanus presents the gen a s C c on s c er l view of the hur h Fathers the ubje t of demons , n n n n T a d the role they w ere suppo sed to play i divi atio . his

in c w a s s n an n n nc treatise , fa t , de ti ed to exert importa t i ﬂue e on the growing body of Church law on the subj ect of ? s ce and ic C s an r or ry mag hri ti ity , f om the time of its n c n n n s i trodu tio amo g the barbaria people of the North , n The had pro ceeded to combat pagan magic a d witchcraft . early Penitential s a re replete with references to occult

w as n n practices . It probably in a swer to a dema d for a systematized doctrine on t he subj ect that such treatises a s R b n n An n that of a a u s were writte . d whe the great canonist s of the succeeding centuries came to deal with the s c s c and c w ubj e ts of or ery magi , they follo ed the lead of

R abanus s n nc s on doc Maurus , al o basi g their uttera e the

n n c T he tri e of demo ology formulated by the early Chur h .

D ecr etu m c s s in of Bur hard , Bi hop of Worm the ﬁrst quar

n c n o s o ter of the eleve th e tury , qu te freely f r m the works — ’ of Augustine and I sidore particularly from the former s D D in ti D m n A n in e iv a one w o u m . strology is fou d again 4 s c c c s r o the li t of magi pra ti e bor owed f rom Isid re , ’ c s D ecr etu m as n n w as Bur hard , is well k ow , embodied with little change in the collections o f Church law of Ivo of

C s an n n c s d . O hartre Gratia the subj e t of a trology , all

in n t n is three are virtual agreeme t . Gra ia , it true , adds an ’ c A s n s D e D octrina Chris tiana ex erpt f rom ugu ti e , and quotes a Chur ch law against observing the stars for the purpos e of planting seed or co ntracting a marria ge . But

1 D Uni M n L 1 1 1 e ver s o 1 . e a tr . at . 5 4 ( ig , P . ” D M M n t L 1 1 0 e a i cis A r tibus e a r . a t. . g ( ig , P ” H n i Mi a se a u ber w ahn m ttela lter . 8. n, Z , p 3 1‘ M Bu c a d D ecr etu m 1 0 ne atr . La t. 1 0 . r h r , . 43 ( ig , P 4 A s tr ology in the E ar ly M ediceval Centur i es 3 1

’ c on n ns ma the Isidore s hapter magic , with its deﬁ itio of the ma ti ci and enethlia ci c n n nc g , still o stitutes the lo gest refere e to astrology ? It is very doubtful whether any mediaeval writer thus far c it ed had anything more than a literary acquaintance

s The c s a nd s with a trology . haruspi es , augur , a trologers , so faithfully deﬁ ned in every treati se on sorcery and magic

s n n f rom I idore to Gratia , were probably as foreig to the actual life o f the tenth and eleventh centuries as the religion

R c ns o f pagan ome itself . But itatio from the Fathers that might apply to the simple sorcery of the norther n peoples

ﬁ nd and c n n c n n were hard to , the a o ists o te ted themselves

The c c n n with what lay ready to hand . fa t that the a o law c n c n lassed astrology amo g the diaboli arts , or eve discussed

c in n nc a n the subj e t at all , was probably , the ﬁrst i sta e ,

n c c n nc n n accide t . It be ame a matter of o seque e o ly whe

C c in c w c n the hur h , the ourse of the t elfth e tury , was again c n in s alled upo to deal with astrologers the ﬂe h . Even before the sudden arrival of Arabian scienc e in the schools of Italy a nd France had brought the Church

c c c s n on e more fa e to fa e with a trology , the latter had begu to ﬁ nd channel s of literary transmis sion les s narrow than

s n n The n an tho e leadi g dow through Isidore . eleve th d twelfth centuries witnessed in France a general renai ssanc e

L n t a nd n n n c n c c of ati litera ure , ma y a glea i g of s ie tiﬁ fa t was made in the course of a promiscuous reading that did ? n-ot have to wait fo r the redis covery of A ri stotle Thi s newly awakened human ism found its best repre sentatives

1 I vo o f C a t es D ecr etu m 1 8 M n L t 0 . 6 e a tr a 6 1 h r r , ( ig , P . . 1 .

G at an D e r u m 2 2 - c e t . 6 . M ne a L 1 8 1 2 tr . o t . The r i , 3 5 ( ig , P 7 . 34 ’ li st o f the m ediaeval w r iter s who rep eated I si do re s deﬁniti on o f ast olo is o f cou se not e au sted I t is ou nd in h r gy , r , xh . f t e D e ivi nis O i cu s asc ib ed t Al M o cu n ne a tr . La t 10 1 D ﬁ , r i ( ig , P . . and a a n in a t el t - centu t eat se o n c o sm olo a t o g i w f h ry r i gy, scrib ed B e e M n L e a tr . a t . 0 . d ( ig , P 9 2 T a lo The Mediceva l Mind ondon 1 1 2 1 y r , ( L , 9 4) . 44 . 3 2 Mediceval A ttitude tow ar d A str ology

? in the famous school of Chartres Fr om the time of Ful n S C c bert to that of Joh of alisbury , the hartres s hool was a

in a nd c n c s and n leader liberal s ie tiﬁ studie , eve astrology w as n n n s T he ot omitted from the ra ge of its i tere ts . curio sity of the mediaeval classicist must have been aroused n an s c n in L c n by ma y a trologi al allusio u a , Persius , or the

n e in n s . n S writi g of the Fath rs Joh of alisbury , repeati g ’ 3 n n n s n Isidore s traditio al deﬁ itio of a trology , takes evide t plea sure in illustrating it w ith choice bits quoted from the L n I n n n n n ati satirists . additio to such i direct i formatio on

s c n in L n c s c a trologi al matters as they fou d the ati las i s , the writers of the tw elfth century had in their hands two direct

c s a nc n a thesis c sour e for ie t astrology , the M of Firmi us , and s s s c n s Chalcidiu s the repo itorie of a trologi al Plato i m ,

n c Add c a a d Ma robius . to this the fa t th t the Chartres s c in a c n in hool , the e rly half of the e tury , was already po ssession of the ﬁrst s cientiﬁc treatises to reach northern

n S n and is not n Europe from Mohammeda pai , it surprisi g

s c c n that a trologi al dis ussio s became frequent . — A s early a s the year I ooo if the chronicles are to be l b elieved — in Pope Sylvester II had studied Firmicus Spain . A hundred year s later there are indubitable traces of his A n s nc in n n . d n n pre e e E gla d , at the ope i g of the twelfth c n c Mater u s I S c n in e tury , Firmi us " n ited by ame a poem by M Ma rb odu s 1 R nn s c nn c n op of e e , was o e ted i di r ectl c I n c c y with the s hool of Chartres . the poeti dis ussion of a strology which constitutes a portio n of his Liber D ecem

Ca i tu lor u m Ma rbodu s c c Maternus p , atta ks Firmi us vigor ousl n s s c n y, repeati g ome of the to k argume ts of the Fathers , a nd asserting particularly that his fatalistic doctrines destroy ? all ethics a nd all social order The inﬂuenc e of Firmicus

1 Cle al Les coles de Char tr es an M o en A e C a t es rv , E y g ( h r r , 2 i 1 P ol r i u 1 Webb o d 1 0 . c a t c s 12 ed . . ( , Oxf r , 9 9 , ” H R l 68 W ll am den ol chr oni con ed u mb ol s S er . . ig , P y ( . L y, ) 7 ; i i f Malm u A m 2 1 6 M ne atr o esbu D e C es tis R e m n loru . . ry, g g 7 ( ig , P L at. 1 79 . ‘ M D i a 6 : D e F a to et arb odus iber ecem Ca tu lor u m c . , L p , h p M n t Lot 1 1 Cu ou sl enou Marb odus Genesi e a r . . . ( ig , P 7 ri y gh ,

3 4 M ediceval A ttitude tow ar d A str ology

The last lines of this quotation lead the reader to suspect

na Silvestr is c s n ot n c that , for Ber rd , Firmi u was o ly a sour e n n c of i formatio on matters of astrology , but a sedu er as

A n D e undi Univ it t well . readi g of the whole of the M ers a e

n c n I n n n co ﬁrms this suspi io . the perso of Ber ard Silves

in c c one ae tris , fa t , astrology ould boast of its first medi val n not c n c champio s . Yet it is the s ie tifi astrology of Ptolemy A n n n in is and the rabia s that fi ds expressio his work . It rather the philo sophical astrology of the Neoplatonic com mentat r Chalcidiu M c The c o s s . , and a robius se ond half of the D e Mu ndi Universita te is little more than a version of Tim n n Th the aea myth of the c reation of ma . e goddess Urania conducts the human soul down to earth by way of

n and sc s s c n n - the pla ets , di our e to her ompa io goddesses on

c and . the benign inﬂuen es of some , the evil powers of others With a complete abandonment of the orthodox views on the c n n n c subje t , Ber ard breaks out i to a pa egyri of the won der f ul science of the stars :

Praejacet in stelli s seri es quam longio r aetas Ex licet ct s atiis tem or is o o su s p , p p rd i Sce tra Phoronei at u m sco d a Thebis p , fr r di r i , Fl amm a Phaé tont is D eucalionis a uae , q , I n stellis Co dri au er tas co a C oes p p , pi r i ,

- i i l i u I u cestus Par dis H pp o yt que p dor . I n stellis am s ec es au dac a T u rn Pri i p i , i i , ix H r l u s u o Sensu s Ul eu s e cu e e . , q vig r I n stellis u l est ollu et nay t a T his p g i P x i yp ,

Et C ce o eto et eomet a T ales. i r rh r, g r h I n st ellis le u s dictat Marc M lo ﬁ urat pid , i g , l r n a a n o l tat N Fu gu at i L t i bi i e ero. A st a notat e s s E tu s arturit a t es r P r i , gy p p r ,

Graecia octa le t raelia Roma e t . d g i , p g ri Exempla r sp ecim enque D ei virg unc u la Chr istum 1 Par tur it et e um saecula num en hab ent . , v r

n n M A Bernard Silvestr is is a u ique ﬁgure i the iddle ges . Though his work was very popular—the passage just quoted

1 Hi i n ho uote Th B ne ct ne ed t o s o f the s t . tt . de la F ra ce w e e di i i r L , q A s tr ology in the E ar ly M edi ceval Centuri es 3 5

’ ’ is the source of a stanza in Chaucer s Man of Law s l — Tale it in no wise represents the orthodox thought of

n The D e Mu ndi Universi ta te his ce tury . is almost purely

and n n pagan , might have bee written by a huma ist of the c sixteenth century . Possibly its gloriﬁ ation of astrology ? already shows the inﬂuenc e of the s c ience of the Moors Bernard is interesting as the principal representative of E Neoplatonic astrology in the Middle Ages . xcept for h D n n o t e use made of it by poets like a te , Neoplato ic astr logy was to have no future . For an expression o f the orthodox attitude of thetwelfth c n one m en Ab e e tury toward astrology , must look to like l nd S St . c a ard , Hugh of Vi tor , , best of all , to John of alis

A nn in a bury . belard , the great i ovator medi eval thought , n c has o ly a philosophic interest in the science . He dis usses

s A nal tics in c n it at ome length in his y , o nection with the p roblem o f free will , his purpose being to disprove the

c c existen e of absolute ne essity . B elief in fatalism he calls i mpossible in the face of actual experienc e and common E n sense . ve Nature herself could not predict future hap

enin s c n c c c p g o tingent upon han e . Hen e it is surprising that any one should claim for a science like that of astrology ? ’ the r c s power of p ophecy Hugh of St . Vi tor s hort notice of astrology in the Didas ca li con repeats the passage

t s stan a 12 h hi z ( . g reet t e impi ety o f the last lines with a cry o f h orr or ; see also the editi on o f the D e Mu ndi Univer s ita te by Ba ac and W obel I nnsb uck 1 6 r h r ( r , p . . 1 ' ’ ‘ M an o aw s Ta le - 10 f a d c S e t s not e O o e . . f L 99 5 ; . k ( xf rd 5 ” Cf the sent men o h a an t the assa uot . i t f t e bov e st z a wi h p ge q ed

1 b elo . 0 om Adela d o f B at w ( p 5 ) fr r h . ” ‘ A nalyti ca P r i or a I I I : Mir um est quod dicunt p er astr onomiam uosdam o um u o u e f u tu rorum raescios esse uo n m q h r q q p . Q d e i natu ae in0 inatum est at ue nco n t um uo m o o e r a tem r p q i g i , q d p r n atu ralem co nosci o ssit au t uo mo o ex ali ua r ei natu a ce ti g p , q d q r r ’ esse ossimus de cc u o natu ae uo ue nco n tu m est ? Cous n p q d r q q i g i ( i , ’ ’ uvr a I i A belar d a s 1 6 A la h es ned ts d 8 . b e d ow O g , P ri , 3 , p r , e e seems t o a e assente to the m e ae al e o f m a c as v r, h v d di v vi w gi 3 6 Media val A ttitu de tow ar d As tr ology

’ of Isidore s E tym ologice which distinguishes between astron

St . c n c om and . y astrology Hugh of Vi tor i trodu es , how

r a c n in eve , modiﬁ atio the phraseology of Isidore which

c c n c c will bear lose s rutiny , i asmu h as it is propheti of that n n new attitude which was beginni g to seek expressio . Isi

in n s nc n n and dore , maki g a di ti tion betwee atural super stitiou s s n n n a trology , had give to the former a deﬁ itio c c n c n pra ti ally ide ti al with that of astronomy , reservi g for h c t e latter the ac usation that it was a diabolic art . In Hugh

St . c o s s s s s n con of Vi t r , though uper titiou a trology ta ds demned as in Isidore , the deﬁnition of natural astrology ‘ reads a s follows : Natural astrology deals with the inﬂuence

s n c n c of the tars upo our bodily omplexio s , whi h vary

cc n c in a ordi g to the state of the elestial sphere , as health ’ 1 and c n and and . si k ess , good bad weather , fertility drought T o admit the inﬂuenc e of the stars over sickness and health

c nc n nc A was a o essio of great importa e . lthough implied in c n a n a nd A n ertai st teme ts of Isidore ugusti e , it had rarely I n n n c c n . c bee so learly a k owledged truth , if this modiﬁ atio

n St . c is owi g to Hugh of Vi tor himself , it marks him as a pioneer in the development of the s cholastic doctrine con c n n c n c er i g s ie tiﬁ astrology . For the maturest expression of the orthodox attitude

c n one t o toward astrology in the twelfth e tury , must look An n h in S . c John of alisbury Englishma by birt , edu ated

n a ed n the aid f mon And t c a p ossible wh e c rri o by o de s . wi h h r act er istic p erversity he even d ef ends the stu dy o f necrom ancy and

a H n a l a fo r i int - hi d n Kn l m c. se ts e t o s e e se f d ale t c o gi e i r p f o i c i . w edg e even of evil serves som e g ood ; only the pract ice is to b e nd mn od m sel kno s at th l i ab out Anal t ca co e ed . G hi f w wh e devi s ( y i

os ter ior a I : Cous n . P i , p 1 ‘ D idas ca li con 2 1 1 M ne a tr Lot 1 6 A st o . ( ig , P . . 7 . r lo a au tem uae ast a considerat secun um nativitatis et m o t s et g i q r d r i , uorumlib et aliorum eventuum ob servationem uae a t m natu al s q , q p r i r i

est a t m su erstitiosa . N atu al s in com lexibus co o um uae , p r i p r i p rp r , q secundum su e o um contem er antiam variantur ut sanitas z a p ri r p , , gri ’ tu o t m r i i i d , e p estas se en t as f ert l tas et sterilitas. , , , A s tr ology in the E ar ly M ediwval Centur i es 3 7

n and n in C n C , France , livi g Paris , a terbury , and hartres Joh of Salisbury is the best representative o f that incipient sc C humanism which had grown up in the hool of hartres , and which was soon to give way before an age of science

The s c s c nn c and theology . philo ophi al problem o e ted with astrology and fatalism had for John of Salisbury a peculiar

c n n and c n in fas i atio , he dis usses them at great le gth the

P oli cra tic s 1 1 A S u . , written about 59 lthough John of alis bury was unusually sane and enlightened in the matter of mediaeval superstitio ns? he subsc ribed fully to the patristic c n n The C c do tri e of demo ology . hur h Fathers , he says , — rightly denounced all forms of magic sp ecies ma the — ma ti cw inasmuch as all of these pestiferous arts spring ? from an illicit pact with the devil The various kinds of

n n a s divi ation he deﬁ es does Isidore , reserving the usual ? place for the as tr ologi and ma thema ti ci But the kinship between astrology a nd the diabolic art s n n n S of divi atio is little emphasized whe John of alisbury ,

c n P oli cr a ti cus in the se o d book of the , deals with astrology

c a n n s in its philosophi al d s cie tiﬁc aspects . He admit at

c s the outset that some power may reside in elestial bodie , ? s ince God has created nothing without its proper use

A n n c nc n n it stro omy , i deed , is a glorious s ie e ; o ly whe n A bursts its proper bou ds does it become impious . dis tinction is to be made between the legitimate science 5 m — n — i a thesis a d the illegitimate divinatory art ma thé s s .

1 a la l hi a e n m n P 2 I ff and on See p rti cu r y s ch pt rs o o e s ( ol. . . ) m 2 1 if c f an n u hn 1 28 ea s H se a berw a . . dr ( . 4 . ) . , Z , p ” ‘ P l 1 : E uo a e om n a aec ar tifi cia vel ot ns o . 0 t s . 9 q d ! P r ! i h p i malefi cia ex p estifera qu adam f am iliar it ate daem onum et hominu m ’ fl xi e 1 n n u ebb . ov eri t p ro ss ( ed. W ” ’ 2 2 i 1 o f l bu nclu des T er tullian s P l 1 ib d . n o Sa s o . . ( . J h i ry i statement th at astrology w as a p ermitted sci ence u ntil the tim e wh en

the Ma o s ed a t Bet le em see ab o e . 1 8. gi w r hipp h h ; v , p ‘ P l 2 1 ibid 1 o . . 9 ( . . ” J ohn o f Sali sb ury pr obably f ou nd thi s di st i ncti on in Hugh o f D 2 M n L t 1 6 I t occu s i : e a tr o . . V ct o das c . . St . i r ( 4 i g , P 7 r 3 8 M ediceval A ttitude tow ard As tr ology

The n the latter , in attempti g to foretell the future , usurps ? prerogatives of the Creator of t he stars himself John ’ of Salisbury proceeds to make mild f un of the astrologers ? c n D n o f c nc do tri es eparti g from the ways true s ie e , he n n c says , they divide the sig s of the zodiac i to mas uline and

n n and c femi i e , would probably have the onstellations con

c in tra t marriages the sky , were they not too far separated in S s c c space . aturn the astrologer hara terize as cold and wicked ; he spares from harm scarcely the astrologers ? s n S s them elves Joh of ali bury , however , quite forgets his sarcasm in the portion of his exposition where he describes

st c e sun . the a rologi al pow rs of the I f astrology , In fact ,

n c n n c and cc were o ly o te t with moderate laims , o upied itself

c n with sober predi tio s of the weather , all would be well .

n s s hilacteries and But whe the a trologer make broad their p , enla rge the borders of their garments in asc ribing every ’ ? n s s n s n thi g to the tar , they do i jury to God s overeig ty They even tea ch that feats of magic can be performed by

s and n can the aid of the star , that a huma image be brought

c c to life , gifted with the power of prophe y . With su h 5 The nefarious arts the Christian can ha ve nothing to do .

c n n c do tri e of Ploti us , to be sure , whi h holds that the stars are used by God himself t o give to m en signs of future n A r e and n eve ts , is fairly plausible . not birds other thi gs the instruments t hrough which God transmits to men knowl 6 o f w c ? S n n s c edge hat is to ome till , u der the ho ey of u h

Ma u 1 : ed B n also in Ro e B acon O us s . 6 . es o on g r ( p j 4 ridg , L d , 1 1 900, . 1 P l 2 1 d Webb 1 . o . . 9 ( e . ” M ernu s I bid Hi s n o m at on seem s t o com e om F m cu s at . . i f r i fr ir i 1” ’ l i is ar cit i i Omnibu s erg o inimicu s vix su i s eti am sco ast c p ( b d .

1 . 4 P 2 1 i i 1 ol. . 9 ( b d . . 5 I i b d .

” I bid The ed to o f the P o li cr a ti cus i s u le a s t o e e o n . i r p zz d wh r J h n I f on ut o f Sali sbu ry got his in fo rm ati on ab out Ploti u s . e p s m Ma ob us omn ci 1 . 1 . 8 a nd one o et a a f S . t og h er a p ss g e o cr i ( S . p 9 ) fr

look u r e . Au u st ne iv D ei . I t nk t e e i s no nee to t g i ( C . 5 hi h r d f h r A s tr ology in the E ar ly M ediwval C en tur i es 3 9

n n a theory poison lurks . For , u der pretext o f showi g

c c reveren e to God , the philosophers impose a fatalisti rule n n And upon the course of huma eve ts . fatalism , other than ’ that implied in the doctrine of God s foreknowledge , is as hateful to John of Salisbury as it was to Augustine . He

expounds at great length the Church - doctrine concer ning l p redestination a nd free w ill ; a nd when he again returns

n c c to astrology , it is o ly to atta k it more ﬁer ely than ever

c n T n cue A with theologi al argume ts . aki g his f rom belard . he denies that man can gain a ny knowledge of the future s th cc what oever . Has e astrologer obtained a ess to the 2 secret counsels of God himself ? Does not the story of kin g Hezekiah prove that God can alter even his ow n 3 prophecies ? John of Sali sbury does not deny that God may at times indicate future events by the sun and moon ;

on and but he is persuaded , the authority of reason the

n n n a concurre t opi io s of many other philosophers , that

c nc n is s ie e foretelli g the future either does not exist , or n n n 4 u k ow to men . C S ’ learly , John of alisbury s attitude toward astrology is C c L that of the hur h Fathers in mediaeval dress . iving at a time when Arabian science was already ﬁltering into n L n wester Europe by way of atin translatio s , he was still

nc ow n c n A oblivious of its prese e . His ou tryman , delard w o f n ex loratfdﬁ n Bath , had already made a j our ey of p i to _ S c n s and in ow n sc C c ara en la d ; his hool of hartres , tra es of Arabian astrology can be found in the cosmological n C nc writi gs of William of o hes , who died ﬁve years before ? the P oli cr a ti cu s was written But there are no proofs that John o f Salisbury knew Adelard o f Bath ; and his

1 P l 2 2 - 2 i o . . 0 4 ( bid . 1 . 1 13 ” P l 2 2 i i o . . 4 ( b d . 1 . 1 ! bid f 2 K n 2 1 c s 0 . . . ; . i g ‘ P 2 2 i ol. . 5 ( ib d . 1 . 5 Adelard o f Bath and Wi lli am o f Conch es wi ll be di scu ssed in a la latt d ed in the ea te c a t e see b elo . T he e r h p r ( w , pp 49 , r i y r

1 1 the P oli cra ticus as tten 1 1 - 60 54 ; w wri 59 . 40 Medie val A ttitu de tow ar d Astr ology interest in the sc ientiﬁc studies for which the Chartres

c n w as s s chool of the early half of the e tury famou , seems ? n S ff to have been of the slightest Joh of alisbury , in e ect , saw in astrology little more than a dangerous philosophical n nc l n doctri e . He is disti tly at a oss in deali g with it as a ? science He would probably have been unable to deﬁne exactly where he drew the line between a legitimate science

in c n and of astrology , useful predi ti g the weather , that

‘ impious ma thesis which he condemns with rhetoric as force

A n c n n ful as tha t u sed by ugusti e . His o cessio s to astrology as a physical science are hardly in advance of those found ? in the D e Civi ta te D ei John of Salisbury stan ds at the close of the ﬁrst period in s a the hi tory of medi eval astrology . From the time of s n I idore to the middle of the twelfth ce tury , astrology , it ma s n in an c y be aid , lived o ly the form of a ademic dis

cu ssion . n s c n Eve a trologi al texts , other tha Firmicus

Maternu s e n n n L , w re u k ow to the atin world . John of Salisbury probably had little more acquaintance with actual n c R astrologers tha did Bur hard of Worms , or abanus “1 A c n and Maurus , e tury a half was still to el ap se before

1 T s o n hannes S ar es ber i ensis hi p i t is m ade by Schaarschmidt ( Jo ,

e 1862 l al L de Char tr es . 1 . C e es coles 7 L ipzig , , p rv ( E , p 3 ) f u rni sh es proo f o f the f act th at quadrivi al stu dies in the Ch artr es sch ool n o longer occupied in the latter h al f o f the tw elfth centu ry h t the p ositi on o f prominence which t h ey had h eld in t e firs . ” I -t is e a s s n cant t at o n o f Sal sbu t ou he b ases p rh p ig ifi h J h i ry, h gh m a e u se of his statements. la el u on Au u st ne does not once rg y p g i , k the anc en a um nt f a n ea des i t rg e s o C r . 8 ’ S om e ligh t is shed up on J oh n o f Salisbu ry s at titu de toward l He b el e es astrology by his vi ew s r eg arding signs in genera . i v firmly th at God m akes u se o f signs t o f or ecast imp ortant ev ents ‘ P 2 1 I nfi lita nam u e i n rum ar um entis eri itu r et ( ol. . de s q s g o g g , ’ fi des tene a eisdem r ob or atu r He es a lon esc t on o f the r . g iv g d rip i l 2 and oes n a h all f u a m bid . sig s th t pr eceded t e f o J er s e ( i . 4 d

n d u t h c tu e o f com et s i bid 2 . ot o b t e pr oph eti vir ( . 1 I t i s p erh ap s g oi ng t oo f a r t o say th at J ohn o f Sali sbury had no ac u a ntance t ast olo e s a t cula l in e o f his own state q i wi h r g r , p r i r y vi w

CHAPTER III

ASTROLOGY IN OLD ENGLISH LITERATU RE

c n n n Astrologi al lear i g , as we have see , was almost extinct in Europe during the Dark Ages ; hence we need not expect to discover more than o ccasional signs of its n n All existence in norther ver acular literature . astrological n T n c s sc ienc e amo g the euto i people , indeed , must be termed — a foreign importation even the popular astrology of the

c nd R a n a lma nac goes back to Gree e a ome . Cert i primitive s n n T ns a nd s super titio s amo g the euto Gaul , it is true , f n s c n c n n of ered poi t of o ta t for simple astrological otio s .

Ca s sc n n n e ar , de ribi g the religio of the Germa s , says that they worshipped as gods only those whose power they c s c n n Sun c n a nd ould ea ily re og ize , amely the , Vul a , the n 1 T in i n . c Ger man a Moo a itus , the , i forms us that the —‘ T eutonic tribes held their a ssemblies on stated days either

new n c cc at the or the full moo , whi h they a ount the most ’2 c s n nn n n auspi iou seaso for begi i g any e terprise . In the n s Cn s is nc E glish law of ut , a tatute i luded which forbids

en ac c s and nc n all heath ish pr ti e , , i ide tally , the worship of 3 sun n . The n n a o f n s c s or moo Pe ite ti l the E gli h ar hbi hop , T C heodore of anterbury ( died furthermore , conta ins 4 s nc s s s n n n light refere e to uper titio s regardi g the moon . A

1 m t olo are u le Caesa D e B ello Galli co 6. 2 1 . Stu dents o f r, y h gy p zz d ' o R M A l er mams che R eli i ons e f M. e e t t s e e ence c . . v r hi r f r ; y r, g g

es chichte e . 1 0 . g ( L ipzig , p 5 ” T ac tu s Germania c a . 1 1 . i , , h p ” ’ ‘ ’ H n i ae man i dola w eor iSi e Cnut s law r eads : aebe sc p e byiS b t g ,

‘ i haeh n nnan c hhe monan f r p act is baet man w eoriS g e e e godas, and su , y oiSiSe ﬂ od S ee -ob e m ann D ie Ges e tz e der A n els achen . Li r , g Halle 1 0 1 1 2 or Tho e A ncient aws and I ns ti tu tes o ( , 9 3 ) . 3 ; rp , L f 2 m l s la o f Cnut is a En land ondon . 1 6 . S a to t w g ( L , p i i r hi ’ lf r i i e ed Tho e 1 p assag e in JE ic s Hom l s ( . rp . ” A T eodo e iber P ceni tenti alis c a . 2 T o e nc. aw s h r , L , h p 7 ( h rp , L , p . As tr ology in Old E nglish Li ter a tur e 4 3

entire chapter in this work is devoted to magic and sorcery an interesting commentary on the popular beliefs of the A n in time . ugury from the ﬂight of birds is fou d the list 1 c n c nc a nd c ns t of malpracti es , as are also e roma y , the o ul ? ’ ing o f witches Observa nce of New Year s Day according ? n L s c to heathen custom s is forbidde a t of all , the ar h bishop warns against the attempt to stop an eclipse by ’ nc n n and c n nc means of e ha tme t , pres ribes a year s pe a e for ‘ “1 n li u n e u n any one qui in honore lu ae pro a q a sa itate j j at . The observance of lucky and unlucky days seems to be the nearest approach to astrology in the superstitions of

cc n s on c D s the ancient Celts . Several a ou t are re ord of ruid ’ who predicted a child s future according to the day on which ? it was born T here also existed among the D ruids a form

c - n n and c s n n C c of loud divi atio , the orre po di g elti word ,

’ neladora cht is and n n , at times applied to astrology divi atio ? in general Certain puzzling references to astrology proper — which appear in the Christian literature of Ireland one n n passage , for example , relates how a divi er sca s the

n and - t Columkill S . e heave s , tells the foster father of that — the time is propitious for his son to begin his lessons are hardly sufﬁc ient to prove the existence of a n indigenou s ? astrological science

The n and v c paga worship of sun and moon , the obser an e

c n c c nn c d of lu ky and u lu ky days , though they a ot yet be alle

1 Lib P cen 2 er . 7 . 7 . ” I i 2 1 2 b d . 7 . 3 , 0 . ” I i 2 2 b d . 7 . 4. ‘ I i 2 2 2 b d . 7 . 5, 6. ” o ce S ocia l Hi s tor o Anci ent I r eland 2 ols ondon 1 0 J y , y f ( v L , 9 3 ) 1 2 . 33 . ” N eladé r a cht glosses pyr omantia ( divi nat i on by ﬁ r e ) in an old I s t eat se on at n declens on ibid 1 ri h r i L i i ( . . 7

I bid . 1 . 2 0 A m o e elab o ate oo o f the act t at he anc ent 3 . r r pr f f h t i u ds e e n o ant o f a st olo i s en b La V lle de Mi r m ont Dr i w r i g r r gy g iv y i , ’ ‘ in L A s tr olo i e chea les C a llo- R omai n - 20 B i li the u d es s . b o e g , pp 7 ( q Univer sité du M i l s id , Vo . 44 Mediwval A ttitude tow ar d Astr ology

c n n n n c can . astrology , o stitute a fou datio upo whi h it build

A cc n ﬁ nd in n ordi gly , we Old E glish a series of treatises ,

La n n c translated f rom ti or Greek origi als , whi h appealed S — to such primitive beliefs . ome of these treatises a number of them have been printed by Co ckayne in his col l — lection of Old English L eechdoms belong to the realm of

c n and n c c n medi i e , i di ate the days in ea h mo th which are ? favorable or un favorable for the letting of blood Another

c n c ns cc n c onsists of meteorologi al prog osti atio , a ordi g to ‘ the day of the week on which Christmas falls . If the mass ’ ‘ S n one c n day of midwinter is a u day , prophe y reads , the n and n there shall be a good wi ter , a wi dy spring , and a dry

and n and s ummer , good vi eyards ; sheep shall thrive , and f c c honey shall be su ﬁ ient , and pea e shall be kept well ’ 3 e nough Still another contains miscellaneous predictions

n . n for each day of the lu ar month For the thirtee th , the ‘ treatise prophesies : The thirteenth day is perilous for b nn n n D not . egi i g thi gs . ispute this day with thy friends The A c fugitive will quickly be discovered . hild born

1 Cocka ne eechdoms Wor tcunnin and S tar cr a t o arl y , L , g , f f E y

E n land Roll r - 22 g ( s S e . ) 3 . 1 50 9. ” i 2 2 I b d . 3 . 1 5 , 1 8 . ” I id 1 2 f An l M x F e K i b . . 6 f . a t c e b a o st Di e leinl ter a tur d es 3 r i y r r , A ber lau ben m A lt li h i 1 1 6 in in g s i eng s c en ( Ar ch v 0. 34 di scuss g t ese ast olo cal text s o es t at t e b elon to the lea ne not h r g i , pr v h h y g r d, the o ula l te atu e o f the t me F o ste is able to c e th p p r i r r i . r r it e G ee or the at n sou ces f or m o t o f m e al at n r k L i r s th e . Sev r L i ’ a allel s ar e oun in . Mi ne s a tr olo ia a tina 1 p r f d g P g L ( 90. 95 asc b ed to B e e The r o nos tica T em or u m M ne 1 ri d . P g p ( ig , p . 95 ) c o es onds to the t ea t se u st e e ed t in ocka n The rr p r i j r f rr o C y e. D Mi nu ti n i i M n e one S a u n s e . u n s es the s ou ce f or g ( ig , p 959 ) f r i h r a t o f an Old n l s m e cal t e oc a n Th p r E g i h di xt ( C k y e 3 . e D e D i i i n M i i ac M v nat o e or t s et V t ne . 6 is a at n ul a at on ( ig , p 9 3 ) L i v g riz i o f a am ou s G eek t eat se on d nat on dat n om the Ale an f r r i ivi i , i g fr x d an e od cu ent u nde the nam e o f N eche so and P etosir is I n ri p ri , rr r p . m d its e ae al o m it st ll ese es m uc o f the G eek t e m nolo . i v f r , i pr rv h r r i gy

Cf . Su d of I a tr oma thema tiker vor nehmlich im I u nd 1 6 ahr h f , , 5. . J h under t Abhandl aur es ch d Mediz i - ( . G . . n, pp . 6 7 . As tr ology in Old E nglish Li tera tur e 4 5

c this day will be plu ky , having a mark about his eyes , bold ,

- n n and not . rapacious , arroga t , self pleasi g , will live long A maiden will have a mark on the back of her n eck or on

c the thigh ; she will be sau y , spirited , daring of her body n A on with many m en : she will die s oo . man fallen sick A c c n . this moon will qui kly re over , or be lo g ill dream will n be fulﬁlled within ni e days . From the sixth hour it is a ’ 1 - n good time for blood letti g . n c s c It is o ly by ourte y , of course , that ompilations like these are allowed to claim kinship with the science of M Ptolemy and anilius . Primitive as they are , they belong and c to the learned literature of the day , tra e their origin

n not n . c cen to foreig , to ative , sources In the ourse of f n s s n c c n uries , this lear ed uper titio be ame the ommo property and c of the uncultured , the sto k in trade of the maker of n n in n c . A c alma a s popular so g , fou d a manus ript of the

n c n c ﬁ ftee th e tury , predi ting the weather for the year if S c n Christmas falls on a unday , exhibits an exa t cou terpart ? of one of the texts printed by Cockayne The homilies of ZElf r ic furnish evidence that even the belief in lucky and unlucky days met with the hostility of ‘ The c - the English Church . observan e of so called Egyptian ’ days had been forbidden as early as Augustine? a nd ZElf ric was therefore on orthodox ground when he atta cked c n n Y ’ su h popular superstitio s in a sermo for New ear s . A n n n in n fter exhorting agai st divi atio ge eral , he rebukes ‘ those in particular who regulate their j ourneys by the c cc n moon , and their a ts a ordi g t“o days , and who will not n n o n M n undertake a ythi g o days .

1 k Coc a ne . 1 0 y 3 9 . ” D en am A Collecti on o r over bs and u la a in s e c h , f P P op r S y g ( P r y Soc et 6 . c f . Cocka ne 162 i y, p 9 ; y 3 . . ” S u e is t ad Ga la t . os c a . . T s assa e a s t aken u nt o p r Ep , h p 4 hi p g w p i h t e C u c law c f . I vo o f C a e D e um M ne tr t s cr et . 1 a . h r h ; h r r , 9 5 ( ig , P La t 61 . 1 . ‘ T o Homili es o AEI i l e r c 2 o s . ondon 1 8 1 1 00 A h rp , f f ( v , L , 44) . . s m la d enunc at on o f the bel e in u nluc a s as o f au u i i r i i i f ky d y , g ry 4 6 M edie val A ttitu de tow ar d As tr ology

Probably the only extended reference in Old English to ’ a strology proper is to be found in ZElf r ic s homily on the

n ZE lf r ic w n c nn c Epipha y . , follo i g the lead of Gregory , o e ts 1 with the story of the Magi a discussio n of destiny and ‘ ’ ‘ s n ZElf ric s free will . We are al o to k ow , ays , that there were some heretics who said that every man is born accord in s n and t his g to the po itio of the stars , that by heir course ’ The nn in c ZElf ric s destiny befalls him . ma er whi h thu introduces the subj ect shows clearly how foreign it must have been to his English hearers ; the mere u se of the pa st

n n A nd n c n n an tense is sig iﬁca t . whe he o ti ues with n nc n n n n elaboratio of the a ie t argume t of twi s , utilizi g ’ A n n c and can ugusti e s illustratio of Ja ob Esau , his words have aroused in his hearers little more than a historica l interest ?

A n n con lthough E gla d , like the rest of Europe , had to tent itself during the early mediaeval period with the mere

’ and tc c a t in ene a l is oun in ZElf r ic s oet c ives o wi h r f g r , f d p i L f t N 1 : B T 82 ZElf r ic m sel l e i . . a not a to et S a n s ( o 7 E S . hi f w s g h r ee om the ast olo cal su e st t ons o f the m I n hi nac fr fr r gi p r i i ti e. s ver ’ ular v ersion of B ede s D e Tempor ibus ( it s auth ent icity is no long er d u ted c f C W e Ai l r ic B oston 1 8 8 u o b . . . t . he s b ; L hi , f , , 9 , p ’ sc b es to the bel e in the m oon s n u ence o e o n t n s ri i f i ﬂ v r g r wi g hi g , n n m ka n 26 2 H a d i co ets Coc e . c f . T o e omilies 1 . ( y 3 9, 73 ; h rp , ’ ’ One m a not e o e e t at ZElf ric s e s on o f Alcu in s I nter y , h w v r, h v r i r o a ti ones S i eu l in c B e e is the sou ce f or a esc t on g g ﬁ , whi h d r d rip i ’ ‘ ’ o f the lanets om ts B ede s e e ences to the coldness o f atu n p , i r f r S r ‘ ’ and the eat o f Ma s An lia 1 h r ( g 7 . 4 1 2Elf r ic t ranslates the Latin magi with the Old English tung ol i ti n T o 1 w g a ( h rp e . ” A F e A r u t n - M . sc be la be u n er den A el S achs en e n n en i h r ( g g , i i g ,

1 8 1 . 22 is su el on en he takes t s om l as ell as 9 , p ) r y wr g wh hi h i y, w ‘ ’ the te ts nted b Cocka ne as oo t at ast olo w as st ll x pri y y , pr f h r gy i ’ cu r ent am on the n l s in the tent centu I n eal t ZElf r ic s r g E g i h h ry. r i y, e e ence is not n m o e t an a l te a allu on I n a l n i r f r hi g r h i r ry si . pp yi g t to the b el e in Fate he had his ea e s o f cou se d ectl in m n i f , h r r , r , ir y i d .

F . 2 1 f r n in l l Cf . sc e o e e e ces O d n s to W S ee i h r (p ) r f r E g i h yrd . ’ es ec all Al ed s B o et u s 8 ed Sed eﬁ eld O o 1 8 p i y fr hi 39 . ( . g , xf rd, 99 , p . A str ology in Old E nglish Li ter a tur e 4 7

c c n n rudiments of an astrologi al s ie ce , it was desti ed to play an important role in the s cientiﬁc movement of the E n c c later centuries . ve before the days of the new s ien e , there can be found in England traces of that revived inter est in astrology which culminated in the D e Mu ndi Uni t n Silvestris and c versita e of Ber ard , the philosophi al writ A c ings of John of Salisbury . urious story is told by M c c William of almesbury , whi h shows that Firmi us

Maternu s c on c n n n n , dis overed the o ti e t duri g the eleventh

c n n n e tury , must have traveled to E gla d shortly after the

Th n c n C n . e c Norma o quest hro i le relates how Gerard ,

A c 1 1 00 1 1 08 r hbishop of York from to , who was reputed

to have meddled with magic , was refused burial by his canons because a c opy of Firmicus was found under his pillow at his death ? I n the ﬁrst quarter of the tw elfth c nc entury , we also meet with a refere e to astrology in ff At Geo rey of Monmouth . the close of the seventh book

His tor ia R e u m B r itannie of the g , and as a part of the

c M n cc famous prophe ies of erli , there o ur a series o f obs cure ”— ’ astrological n a passage which puzzled Geoff rey s ‘ allusio s and followers , did not ﬁnd an interpreter until the ﬁ fteenth

c n n nc c n c e tury , whe the Fre h hro i ler Wanrin explained it as referri ng to the day of j udgment ? A lthough the

prophecy is probably little more than a j umble of classical — n c one c nt ’ remi iscen es o f its sour es , appare ly , was Lucan s 4— P harsalia it indicates that astrological ideas were already

1 Ges ta P onti cu m A n lor u m 1 . H n ﬁ 8 ed . am lt o R ll r o s S e . g 3 ( i , ., pp 2 59 The sto is tol also b H en in his ol chr ry d y ig d P y onicon ( ed. umb Rolls S er L y, . , 7 . ” Hi stor i a R e u m B r i ttanie ed H l OO - . Sc u l al g ( e pp . O . h z , , I I I 3 an n A Collec ti on o th W ri , f e Chr onicles a nd A nci ent His tor ies of Gr ea t B i in r ta 2 . ed H . a d R ll o s S er . 1 2 57 . 0 ( r y, , 5 ‘ V kt o R dbe A g , s tr olo i en och M er li n Stock olm 1 1 M t i r y r g , h , 88 . os ’ of Geoff e s allus ons are onl a u el ast olo l r y i y v g y r gi ca . S uch phrases ‘ ’ as the ambe f M ‘ ’ r o ercu ry a nd Stilbon o f Ar ca dy m ay m ean an t ng or not n Stilbon the e k y hi hi g ( , Gr e nam e f or Mercu ry is , ound in Ma t anu s Ca ella T f r i p ) . he m ost d eﬁ nite astrolog ical allu 4 8 M edie val A ttitu de tow ar d Astr ology

’ A n f in the air . delard of Bath , i deed , was Geof rey s own n c n in co temporary . With the se o d quarter of the century , ff on s ae e ect , we are the thre hold of that new age of medi val science which was to honor astrology as the chief of the

n s and conﬁ dants seve art , to make of astrologers the of an n popes d ki gs .

‘ ’ s ions occu r in his r ef erences to the malignity o f Satu rn and the ou f h lan T o e l n es t ast olo h ses o t e p ets . w o th r s ight re f ere c o r gy ’ occu in eoff e H I n h is state t at G s is tor ia . t e s it r r y ﬁr t ( 9 . d h ’ man ast onome s l e-d a A t u cou t The second assa e y r r iv t r h r s r . p g

1 2 . elates at eate len t how in the e n o f n n ( 4) r g r r g h , r ig ki g Edwi , a S an a Pelletus cam e to the n l s cou t and em lo e the p i rd , , E g i h r , p y d art s o f astrology an d a ugu ry to gu ard the r ealm from f ore ign inva s ons B ot ace and a am n oll f e o i . h W L y o f ow Geof r y i n these tw no e tic s.

50 Medie’ val A ttitude tow ard As tr ology

s n n c their orbit , the positio of the sig s ; she tra es parallels and c s a nd s n olure , measure with sure ha d the twelve divi sions of the zodiac ; she is ignorant neither of the magni

nor n tude of the stars , of the positio of the poles , nor of man c c n the extension of the axes . I f a a quire this s ie ce

s n n n n of a tro omy , he will obtai k owledge , not o ly of the

n c n n o f and prese t o ditio the world , but of the past future n n as well . For the bei gs of the superior world , e dowed

divine sou ls nc a nd c n w ith , are the pri iple ause of the i ferior . ’ 1 ' c w a s i w o rld here below . Su h to be the na ve faith of the new age in the sc ience of the stars ! Astrology and astron om c c n n y, so arefully o ﬁ ed to separate compartments by

S n . cen Isidore of eville , were again u ited For several tu ries s n n , the latter was de ti ed to be the mere serva t of the former . The D e E odeni et Dio ers o gives evidenc e that Adelard of Bath was connected in some way with the school of z ’ Cha rtr es ; it was among its students that Adelard s voyage c n of dis overy i to the Orient found its ﬁrst imitators . Peter n A C n in the Ve erable , bbot of lu y , while traveling Spain in 1 1 1 n D T f 4 , met Herma of almatia , a pupil of hierry o C t s and R R n an n n b har re , obert of eti es , E glishma , oth 3 n e in o n e gag d the study of astr omy (astrology) . Peter the Venerable persuaded them to turn aside for a time n and L n from their mai pursuit , to make a atin versio of n in 1 1 the Kora . But 43 they were again occupied with their ns ns A n astrological tra latio . mo g the several fruits of their not in nc n labors , the least imp orta e was the versio made by Herman o f the I ntr odu ctor inin in As tr on omiain of Albu 4 - . N0 o c a s masar other astr logi al text book , we shall see , did

1 D A ‘ B D es delar d von a th e B adern et Diver s o. Zmn er s ten Male her aus e eben a nd his tor is ch- kr i tis ch u n ter su cht n D H g g o o r . ans

’ ' Willner Munste 1 0 in Baumker B e t ci s i r . 1 1 , r, 9 3 ( g e 4 . 3 2 S ee D u om L e S s tem e da M nd 1 6 o e . h , y 3 9. Cle al L es E cole de Char tr e 1 s s . 8 rv , , p 9 . D h 1 u em 3 . 74. Ar abi an As tr ology 5 1

more to make astrology acceptable to the Church o f the n succeeding ce tury . At about the same time that Herman of Dalmatia and his friend Robert were devoting themselves to the translatio n

s c in S n n in of a trologi al texts pai , others were e gaged the c n c same task . By the middle of the twelfth e tury , in fa t , most of the important works on astrology had found their n L n I n 1 1 8 T n way i to ati . 3 Plato of ivoli tra slated ’ Ptolemy s Tetr a biblos (henceforth to be known by its Latin 1 c a name as the Qu adripar ti tnrn) . Not mu h later appeared versio n by John of Seville (also known as Johannu s

His anu s Lunensis Centilo niu m—a p , or ) of the famous q series of one hundred astrological aphorisms falsely attrib uted T o to Ptolemy . John of Seville are also due versio ns ’ of Albumasar s Liber Conjnncti onnrn S idera m and F lor es As tr olo ico as c A n g , well as astrologi al texts of the rabia , 2 Al h bitiu s an d M h l Th c a essa a a . e nc a ns , the Jew , pri e of tr lators appeared ﬁ nally in the person of Gerard of Cremona ( 1 1 1 4 to whom some seventy translations from the A c can c A rabi be as ribed . mong these were the famou s ’ s n A lma es t a nd ver io s of Ptolemy s g , of two hitherto n n n A c n u k ow works of ristotle , whi h play a important role in — the history of astrology the M eteor ologica a nd the D e 3 Genera ti one et Corr i oti one q . n What , it may be asked , was the ature o f this new astrol

, c new A s ogy whi h , like the ri totle , had been made accessible L ? to atin readers in the space o f a few decades T o answer

n n c s this questio , it is e e sary to glance at the history o f A n in — rabia astrology general a history which it is dif ﬁ c A cult to tra e . strology had been introduced into the

M n in c n ohammeda world the eighth e tury , at the time whe n

C Al- M ns c n aliph a ur , alli g to his aid the lea r ned Jew Jacob ,

1 u sten ld e . 0 W f , p 4 . 2 I bid . . 2 ff , pp 5 . 8 I b id . 6 , p . 7 . 52 Mediaz val A ttitude tow ar d As tr ology

T n c ben arik , fou ded at Bagdad a s hool for the mathematical n in c in n scie ces . It was this s hool that , the inth century, A n s Albuma sar c the greatest of rabia a trologers , , re eived — ﬂ“ .“ u —~ a n n u —v - u g M - w "n p ﬁ w M g f ‘ Fr n c n n n h1 t r 1ni n . s a g om its i trodu tio , dow to the time whe the West became acquainted with it in the Saracen s chools

T and C w on nc of oledo ordova , astrology the allegia e of a n c n A n host of A rabic a d Jewish s ie tists . mo g the noted astronomers whose names appear in the Latin literature of

A Messahala A n A the Middle ges , were , lbateg ius , lpetragius , l 1 Alchabitius and Ab enra e . , g

A rabo - Judaean astrology was a jumble of systems and The c doctrines . Jewish s holars who introduced it into the

c not n in Moorish s hools were versed , o ly the pure astrology c of Ptolemy , but also in that of other Greek masters , su h as

Vettius D orotheus Sidoneu s T c and An c Valens , , eu er , tio hus , 2 who themselves had amalgamated the mo st diverse theories . T c his Greek astrology , furthermore , had been ontaminated n c Talmud with the demo ology and magi of the , and the 3 c l T A Ca ba a . mysti ism of the hroughout the Middle ges ,

1 e i h E nc 2 2 t 2 1 J w s yclopcedia . 44; Ca holi c E ncyclope dia 2. . 2 E n lo w i I a a l A r A c c d a o s l m t c e s t olo b C . y p f I . 495 ( r i gy, y .

Nallin o ) . The B ook o E n ch R H a l an R Morﬁ ll T B k o . C es d he oo f ( . h r W . . , o the S ecr ets o E noch t r om the Sla on c o d f f , . fr v i , Oxf r , a ea n about the t me o f the C st an era is the b est e ence pp ri g i hri i , vid th at astro logical doctrines had early foun d th eir w ay into J ewi sh ’ l - c c es . en St . aul s e e ence I Cor 12 . 2 to his b e n ir Ev P r f r ( . 4) i g carri ed to the sev enth heav en i s a reminiscence o f this work

- B ouc Leclerc . F om the t m e o f the B ook o E n ch ( hé q, p r i f o to the a ea an ce in the t teent centu o f the eat Cabal st pp r , hir h ry, g r i ic te t the ohar the n u ence o f ast olo u on e s m st c sm x , Z , i ﬂ r gy p J wi h y i i h n w as o n t e c ease s ee Jew . E nc. . 6 2 . 2 i ck The i r ( 3 45 ; 44 ; P , Ca bala C ca o The m a c o f Co nel us A a and , hi g , g i r i gripp , o f th e e s o f the late centu es can b e con en entl stu ed in J w r ri , v i y di the German t ranslation p ubli sh ed at Stuttgart in 1 855 ( Heinrich Co n el us A a Ma ische Wer ke The e s t eat se r i g ripp , g , 5 J wi h r i f A rbatel ff i a o . s c acte st c. Th se en lanet ar ( 5. 95 ) h r ri i e v p s e

dent ed t se en maste - s ts and ect ons ar e en f or i iﬁ wi h v r piri , dir i g iv Ar abian As tr ology 53 astrology constituted an integral part of the necromancy — and divinatio n of Jews and Moors alike a relationship which proved embarrassing when astrology tried to w in n n c converts in Christia la ds , where inter ourse with demons 1 n n was not tolerated . Fortu ately , this co taminated astrol ogy was left largely to the practitioners of necromancy and

The n c - n magic proper . sta dard astrologi al text books , writte

n n . usually by astro omers , remai ed free from it n Albuma sar Ab enra el But the scie tiﬁ c treatises of , g , and Alchabitius present a marked contra st to the classic astrol

n The Tetra biblos ogy which we have already encou tered . of Ptolemy had c onﬁned itself almost exclusively to j udicial — astrology the prediction of the future according to the I n c c onﬁguration of the stars at birth . the astrologi al texts

A s n of the rabians , j udicial a trology occupied a positio of n c disti ctly minor importance . Its pla e was taken by two

c n other systems , urre t at the time of Ptolemy , which he had

— - deliberately ignored the so called in terr og ati ones and elec i o s The interr o ati ones t ne . system of g , as its name implies , consisted of a series of rules by means of which the astrol

h u t l a n o f t e o e s A rbatel st n u s es t e i iz tio h ir p w r ( 5. di i g i h b et een ood and e l s ts and m a nta ns t ou out an o t o o w g vi piri , i i hr gh r h d x f t one . C . abo 1 . ve, 7 1 B elie f i n the p ower o f j i nns w as not forbidd en by I slam ( Ency clo e dia o R eli i and thic T s accounts f or e p f g on E s 4. hi th fact th at the black arts ﬂ ou ri sh ed in Moslem countri es a s much as u e ast olo The t o e e tau s d in h did p r r gy . w w r ght id e by si e t e am u l f T l n o s sc oo s o o e o a d Co o a . W B o n i e and f h d rd v ( J . r w , L f

e d o Mi - en chael S cot d nbu 1 8 . F ew te t books L g f , E i rgh , 97 , p x o f A ab an m a c and nec omanc a e b een ese e s nce the r i g i r y h v pr rv d , i ecclesia st i cal censorship o f the Middle Ages d ealt with th em much mo e se e el t an t a l a The nc l dia r v r y h wi h stro og ical tr e ti ses. E yc ope o R eli i on and E thi 8 1 e an a oun n f g cs ( 4. 7 ) g iv s cc t o f o e treati se on m a c t he amous Goal o the S a e o f the ele ent centu r g i , f f g v h y , ’ and B o n s i e a nd e nd Mi cha el cot 1 di e o 8 ff . s r w L f L g f S ( pp . 3 ) cu sses in som e eta l the m a c f m ed ae al a n No t n m n d i gi o i v Sp i . es o a y b ooks concerning m ag i c now lost a re f ound in the Specu lum As tr o nomie asc be to Albe t the G eat ed amm 1 1 6 6 , ri d r r ( . J y, 75 , 5. 5 54 Medie val A ttitu de tow ar d Astr ology

ns n c oger answered questio regardi g the dis overy of a thief ,

n s n a lost treasure , the trustworthi es of a frie d , or the wealth 1 T he electi ones on of a prospective bride . system of , the n n n n other ha d , determi ed the propitious mome t for u der

an act o f . The taking y daily life rules of this system , too , in n were elaborated great detail , eve to the extent of

c n ﬁ n er - naming the proper time for the utti g of g nails , the n f 2 Th o a . e s s writing of a letter , or the boardi g ship y tem of electi ones was particularly favorable to the development

c and in n c n c of medi al astrology , was ge eral merely a s ie tiﬁ elaboration of the common belief in lucky and unlucky

1 An excellent example o f the system o f i n ter r og a ti on es i s f ur nished b the ast olo cal o k o f Ab enr a el the m ost com let e y r g i w r g , p o f the Arab ic texts which w ere translat ed into Latin (the copy in the Yale Library is entitled : P r e clar issimus Liber Completus ‘ i n Ju di ciis A s tr or u m u em edi ti t A lb ohaz en Hal F ilius A b enr a el , q y g ,

en ce The st al of t s o cons st n in all o f V i , ﬁr h f hi w rk, i i g e t b ooks and numb e n som e t ee un e a es in the at n igh , ri g hr h dr d p g L i t anslat on is de ot ed to ans e n suc m nute uest ons as t ose r i , v w ri g h i q i h h 2 h h m enum e ated ab o e see ols. 1 8 . Ab enr a el l e o r v ( f 4 , , ss ) g iv d fr

1 1 16 - 2 and t e e o e com es at a e o en A ab an ast olo 5 , h r f r p ri d wh r i r gy had en ull de elo e His o k as no t anslated u n l 1 2 6 be f y v p d . w r w t r ti 5 cf Su te and did not n u ence Weste n te s as the ( . r , p . i ﬂ r wri r did m Hi t e e t eat ses o f Albu asa r . s t o e u n s es b ette o or r i x , h w v r , f r i h r p p tunities f o r stu dy than the mu ch sh o rt er I ntr odu ctorium o f Albu m a sar ( N ew York Publi c Libr ary) or the I s ag og e o f Alchabitiu s olumb a U n e s t b a ( C i iv r i y Li r ry) . 2 A r l ls 1 1 a 1 a M A b en a e o . 1 6 an ab an a st olo e s a o t ed g , f 3 , . y r i r g r d p , as a t o f the electi ones the I nd an s stem o f t ent - e t luna p r , i y w y igh r m ans ons c a f o ded an o o t u n t f or m o e m nute calcula i , whi h f r pp r i y r i t on s t an t at o f th t l e Ab en r a l ls ff f e e e ou s s e o c . i h h w v h ( g , f . . ;

E nc. o I s lam 1 T s st m n f . hi sy e o f lu a r m ansi ons could easily se e f or m a cal u oses and seem s t o a e b een in b ad odo rv g i p rp , h v r

t C u c te s . I n the S ecu lu m A s tr onomie asc be to wi h h r h wri r p , ri d

Alb e t the G eat the t ent - e ht luna mans ons ar e e l r r , w y ig r i xpr ess y connected t d abol c a ts A lb r ti M r m e a ni e a ed. am wi h i i r ( g Op , J y, ’ ’

1 1 . The cle k o f C au ce s F r ankli n Tal m o 75 , 5 r h r s e e pl ys ’ t ese lu na m ans ons S ee T atlock s a t cl in Ki ttr ed A n h r i . r i e g e n i ers ar a B v ers oston 1 1 . 8 y P p , , 9 3 , p 34 . A r abian As tr ology 55

1 s electi ones n e n t days . In truth , the ystem of e j oy d a disti c superiority over the rival doctrines of judicial astrology . n Conﬁ ning itself to a deﬁnition of favorable or u favorable

ns not c , c onditio , and attempting to predi t the future itself it avoided the fatalism which was an inevitable element A s in the astrology of Ptolemy . a part of medical astrol

f c in n n c ogy , it had little di fi ulty fi di g a wel ome at the hands of the Christian sc ientists of the thirteenth c entury. c no On its philosophi al , less than on its practical side , astrology received modifications at the hands of the Arabians which fa cilitated its acceptanc e by Christian

c n n n theologians . Con omita t with the i troductio of Ptolemy into the Mohammedan world had been that of the s cientiﬁc works of Aristotle ; and the cosmology of the Meteor olog i ca D e en r ti one et C or r u ti one c s and G e a p had , in our e of

a n n o . time , formed i separable part of astrological the ry A L When ristotle , therefore , became for the atin scholars ‘ ’ n n the master of those that k ow , it was i evitable that n n astrology should likewise meet with a frie dly receptio . One of the ﬁrst astrological treatises to be carried north

S n as n n n A from pai , we have see , was the tra slatio of lbu ’ m asar s I n tr odu ctoriu m in As tr onomia m n , made by Herma D n of almatia . No work was better suited to bri g to the knowledge of the ! Christian s chools the philosophical prin c i les A n p of rabia astrology .

Albumasar c c , after dividing the s ien e of the stars into

n n n in c n c its two mai divisio s , u dertakes , the se o d hapter , n a defe se of astrology . He begins by enunc iating the Aristotelian doctrine of the ﬁ fth essence : The substance of the astral bodies does not c onsist of one of the four

n c eleme ts o f this world , nor of a ombination of these ele

n . n me ts I f it were formed of the eleme ts o f this world , s ff c n it would u er growth and de ay , dissolution , a d the other

1 B - ouc Leclerc . 8 if The s hé q , pp 45 . yst em o f electiones w a s lo call ncom at ble t u d c al a st ol l gi y i p i wi h j i i r ogy . Pt o emy a cc o rdi ngly made no lace f or it in his s stem p y . 56 M edie val A ttitude tow ar d Astr ology

changes to which ea rthly things are subj ect . Since all this

n c one n is foreig to the elestial world , must co clude that n the substance of the star s co sists of a certain ﬁfth essence .

The c n n and n stars are spheri al bodies , tra spare t , e dowed n T n with a perpetual motio . his motio of the stars is 1 c one n c c n . cir ular , the motio whi h is perfe t and eter al n n in n Cir cular motio is fou d also the sublu ary sphere . It in c is c ircular—motion that is seen the pro esses of growth and decay in the concomitant generation of one substance and c n n nc c s the destru tio of a other substa e . Now this pro es and c c c c c of growth de ay is a y li motion , which de omposes one s c n n o nc sub tan e , and tra smutes it i to an ther substa e , n n in n c th c e . ha gi g the latter , tur , ba k into former Its cause is none other than the eternal circular motion of the The n stars . motio of the upper sphere acts upon the world and n n n below , bri gs about that mi gling of eleme t with ele n n n me t which is necessary for all ge eration and corruptio . 2 Hence the Philosopher declared that the inferior world was in some necessary way bound up with the superior n world , so that the sphere of the stars , in revolvi g with a c natural motion , arried with it the world below . But generatio n and corruptio n are at the foundation of all

n and c on . One c motio hange earth may con lude , therefore , that the celestial essenc e exerts an influence on everything n n n 3 that takes pla ce o the mu da e sphere . A in f n nc ristotle , a firmi g the depende e of the lower upon nc n the upper spheres , had drawn a disti tion betwee the uniform motion of the fixed stars and the irregular motion

a nc of the pl nets , and had made of the ﬁrst the pri iple of

1 I ntr odu ctor i u m i n A s tr onomi am A lbu masar is A ba l chi t a , oc o

Conti nens Libr os ar tiales Au sbu 1 8 co in Ne o P , g rg , 4 9 ( py w Y rk bl c b a un a ed bk I a 2 i b u . c : s a . P i Li r ry) , p g , , h p . g . 5 2 M et . 1 . 2 see ab o e . ( v , p 3 I u ctor iu m si a6a ntr od , g . .

58 Medie val A ttitu de tow ar d As tr ology

’ worth while to listen with care to Albumasar s solution of

T he I ntr odu ctoriu m in As tr onomiam the problem . already points the way to that compromise between Christianity and astrology which we shall soon meet in the writings of Albert T A n and homas qui as . S s Album asar ome there are , say , who solve the problem of astrological fatalism by denying the existence of con

n n c n t c ti ge t a tio s al ogether , admitting only the ne essary and c the impossible . But so omplete a denial of freedom runs

c n nc nc . Co n n n s ou ter to the evide e of experie e ti ge t thing . n The c ca be proved to exist . statement of a necessary fa t holds good for the future as for the past or the present . no n We k w that ﬁre bur s , that it has burned , and that it not c n c will burn ; that ﬁre is old , that it ever was old , that n c C n n nt c no c it ever will be old . o ti ge fa ts admit of su h c man n n predi tion . We know that a is writi g or has writte , but we do not know whether he will or will not write in The c n n n can o the future . o ti ge t be proved to exist , m re h t e c t . over , by fa t that we delibera e about it No delibera tion ever takes place concerning the necessary or the impossible ? A not n disproof of fatalism , however , does i volve a denial

n nc c n n Albumasar of stellar i ﬂue e over o ti gent things . pro ceeds to show that the power of the stars is seen in the n c and c n n realms both of the e essary of the o ti gent . The c s c n a nd c pro e s by whi h the eleme ts , the bodies whi h c one n and they ompose , resolve i to the other , the growth n ic n diminutio wh h even huma bodies undergo , come under n c s nc n the rule of the e es ary . Si e it is certai that the stars n n n gover the alteratio s of sublu ary bodies , it is seen that n n l all necessary thi gs are domi ated by the ce estial sphere . Now man is composed of a reasoning soul and an ele

n The n n s c s in me tal body . reaso i g oul exer i es its powers t and c c o the delibera ion hoi e ; it rules ver the body , and

1 f A l ’ i C . stot e s D e I nter r etat one c a . 1 . ri p , h p Ar abian As tr ology 59

’ n T he latter serves to carry out the soul s comma ds . stars

s c c n have al o , ac ording to the tea hi gs of the Philosopher , n n n c n a reaso i g soul and a atural motion , and onseque tly posses s the po wer to modify the harmony existing between ’ ’ man s body and his soul . Hence the power of the stars

s c n c c direct o tingent a ts , as well as those whi h fall within the ? realm of the necessary The theory of Albuma sar at this point is not easy to n n n Th n s a d ot c a . e u der tand , is at best le r lea ing toward

n s c c nc n a determi i ti s ie e , indeed , oticeable throughout the C c treatise , was as little to the liking of the hur h as the

‘ ? fatalist ic philosophy of the Arabs in general But the linking up of astrological theory with Aristotelian cos molo a nd c n f gy , the spe ious reaso ings on the subj ect o n n n c ns n C co ti ge t a tio , could not fail to prove alluri g to hris n c n Th I ntr u ct A tia s ie tists . e od oriu m a d s tr onomiam served as one of the agents of compromise between the Church and new the astrology of the Moors .

1 b I ntr odu ctor ium si . a8 ff . The at n i n t s o t on o f the , g L i hi p r i t eat se is e ffi cult I a e b een u e b the a a ase r i v ry di . h v g id d y p r phr en Duh m 2 g iv by e ( . 375 2 I t is doctrines such as th ose o f Albumasar concerning the stellar souls t h at a r e rep eatedly inveigh ed a gainst in the edi ct against e es ubl s e b the Un e s t o f a s in 1 2 See D eniﬂe h r y p i h d y iv r i y P ri 77 . C atela n Char tu lar iu m Univers ita tis P ar isi ens is a s 1 88 h i , ( P ri , 9) 1 ff The stella souls ar e e e e to in the assa e uo e . 543 . r r f rr d p g q t d ab o 0 om A ela o f Bat ve ( p . 5 ) fr d rd h . CHA PTER V

T H E M EDIE VAL ACCEPTANCE OF ASTROLOGY

c n c c By the middle of the twelfth e tury , pra ti ally the entire range of Greek a nd Arabian scienc e had been thrown open L The to the atin world . appropriation of this treasure was

c The s c a slow pro ess . Chri tian s holars of the twelfth cen tury were too much occupied with the quarrel between realism and nominalism to interest t hemselves in problems ? of A ristotelian cosmology We have seen that John of Salisbury was quite oblivious of the new learning which

c s n n had already rossed the border of Spai . Not u til the thirteenth century did the science ‘ of A ristotle acquire that position of prominence which it was destined to maintain throughout the remainder of the mediaeval era . The ﬁrst signs of the new interest in Arabian astrology

b e n in c C s c n a n may fou d the s hool of hartre , that e tre of le r in c A c nn c n g with whi h delard of Bath had formed o e tio , and which had sent out the ﬁrst explorers into Moham n n nc n in meda Spai . Evide e for this fact is fou d a list 2— given by Clerval of the astronomical books in possession of the Chartres school after Herman of Dalmatia and his

- A n n fellow adventurers had returned . mo g the umber

s A and on appear several work of delard of Bath , a treatise

c Alchabit iu s n n judi ial astrology by , tra slated by Joh of

T r c f A an n Seville . a es o rabi astrology ca also be found 3 in n s a Co nc s the writi g of Willi m of he , a member of the

c in s hool of Chartres the middle of the century . ’ In the volume of Migne s P a tr ologia La tina devoted to the writings of Honor 1u s of Autun appear two treatises on a c n c n medi eval osmology, of either of whi h Ho orius of A n The D e P hilos o hia utu is the author . ﬁrst , entitled p

1 2 - ou da n R echer ches p . 2 8. J r i , , p 7 2 L e cole d e 2 s E s Char tr es, p . 39 . 3

See ab o e . . v , pp 33 , 39 The M edie val A ccep tance of A s tr ology 6 1

n i C n c n Mu d , is a work of William of o ches ; the se o d ,

I ine Mundi sc n entitled D e mag , that of an ob ure Ho orius ? 1 1 00 The D e I ma ine Inclusus , who lived about the year g Mundi is a typical encyclopaedia of the early mediaeval cen

ries s a nd R ab anu s a s c n n n tu , like tho e of Bede M uru , o tai i g n i e and c a ve descriptions of the plan ts the onstellations , n ff with no mention of their a strological signiﬁca ce . It a ords an excellent co ntrast to the later work of William of

C c in c c c . on hes , whi h tra es of the new s ience are plentiful

S n is c a s c and a s atur here des ribed old , Jupiter tem

n ociva and n c perate ; Mars is , the i di ator of war and ? ‘ l s n s is s x con f ert b ood hed Ve u the godde s of lu ury , quia ’ l ' ca or em et humor em et in calidis et humidis vi et . , g luxuria

I n C nc n ﬁ nd n n William o f o hes we eve a curious i versio—o f the Isidorean deﬁnition o f astronomy and astrology an

c R c n and cer inversion whi h reappears in oger Ba o , which 3 n n n n A s c fai ly ca be t raced to a Arabia sourc e . typi al — representatives of what he calls as tr onomia the s cience

c cc n t o whi h , a —ordi g his inverted definition , deals with stellar influ ences William of Conches names Firmicus Maternus and 4 Ptolemy . One of the first mediaeval Latin writers t o mention an

1 M ne a tr La t 1 2 2 - 1 2 22 - Th D I ma ine Mu ndi . . . 0 1 88 . e e ig , P 7 4 , g ’ is the pri ncip al sou r ce f or the v ernacular L I mag e du M onde o f Gaut e o f Met ca one o f the m o st o ula enc clo ae as i r z ( . p p r y p di o f h lat m l c n u es n H n u I n u u D uhem t e e e ae a e t . O o o s cl s s see r di v ri ri , 2 ff n ll m f n D h m . . o W a o o c es u e ff . C . 8 3 4 ; i i h , 3 7 2 ‘ M n L 1 2 6 : I n roelii s i itu r minar i u a e a tr o t . . d c do i g , P . 7 3 p , q i calor em conf ert e icci a m x u u nimositas Cal en m t s t te e b s est a . , q i idi i ’ et s cc an mos sun i i i i t . 3 V ncen f B a a u i na 1 a te u ot n i t o e uv i s ( Specu l m D octr le 7 . f r q i g the e n t ons o f ast onom and ast olo acco d n to I s o e d fi i i r —y r gy r i g id r , als em n l i n n t l ia a ast onom o g es t e se t at s d e as r o og s , iv h i v r y h —, fi i g r y and as tr onomia a s astrology quoting as sou rce f or the latter h Al h r R e B ac n Ma us e n t on t e A ab an o abius. Cf . o o us d fi i i r i , p g r , Op j d B 1 e d es 1 LV1 1 . ( . ri g . ) ‘ M 1 2 ne a tr Lot . . ig , P . . 7 59 M edie val A tti tu de tow ar d As tr ology

l I n li a Arabian astrologer by name was A anus de su s . In n n c c n descriptio of the seve liberal arts , whi h o stitutes a portion of that curious poetical compendium of knowledge

A n ti clau dianus ff e entitled the , astronomy is no longer di er n Alanus Albumasar one tiated from astrology . names as 1 of the representatives o f the double s cienc e

I llic ast a olos coelum se tem ue lanetas r , p , , p q p n li Al uma ar rris u r or at eorum Co su t b s , te q e ep t Cons l um te as a m ans ﬁ rmans ue ca uca i i , rr r , q d

Cont a c oelest es as su erum u e u o em . r ir , p q f r r

Alanu s I n sulis a D octor Universalis de , the medi eval , n One con belongs to the close of the twelfth ce tury . of his

n n A n Ne ka m temporaries was the E glishma , lexa der c , the i 1 2m The s t D e N atur s . author of a pro e reatise , the 3 r belief in the astrological inﬂuence of the planets and con

stellations t he A n Neckam had , by time of lexa der , already n Neckam become a ﬁxed part of s cientiﬁc doctri e . But l still considers it necessary to safeguard his orthodoxy by

‘ ’ ' ‘ n c Let he a mea s of a aveat . it not be supposed , says , th t the planets decide t hings here below by any inevitable law

c c n b of ne essity , either by their onj u ctions , or y their being n in this or that domicile . For the divi e will is the unalter

and c s of - c able primal au e things , to whi h not only the

n nc but c as . pla ets show obedie e , also reated nature a whole

s n s s It mu t be u der tood that , although superior bodie have n nc n o ar bitrium anime some i ﬂue e over i ferior nes , yet the and not c w a or is free , is impelled by ne essity either this y ’ A n k m s that . It is possible that lexa der Nec a is paraphra ing ? the I ntr odu ctoriu m in As tr on omia m of Album asar The discussion of astrology in the D e Na turis R erum is cer

1 A nti cl u i n 1 M n 2 1 La t 0 . a d a us e atr . . 4 . ( ig , P 2 D R ll r N u i R 1 s e . m 8 ed t o S . e a t r s er u . W ( . righ , , pp 39 ’ Alexa nder Neckam s allegorizing t endencies g et the better o f him e en in his d al n t ast olo He ent es the ast olo cal v e i g s wi h r gy . id ifi r gi influ ences o f the several planet s with the seven g ift s of the Holy S t— sdom ntellect counsel b a e sc ence et and ea piri wi , i , , r v ry , i , pi y , f r 1 ( pp . 4 The M edi e val A ccep tance of A s tr ology 6 3 tainly one of the earliest at tempts to bring the new science n A o f the stars into conformity with Christia thought . lex ander Neckam clearly points the way to the scholastic definition of orthodox astrology formulated in the thirteenth n ce tury . The dec iding factor in the development of the scholastic

doctrine on the subj ect of astrology was Aristotle himself . The complete Aristotelian canon had been made acc essible ? in Latin translatio ns b etween the years 1 2 1 0 an d 1 22 5 Although the treatises on natural scienc e were proscribed

C c c c and several times by hur h oun ils papal legates , they were gradually purged of the noxious doct rines with which they had become tainted while in the hands of Neoplatonic and A n n a nd 1 2 cc rabia comme tators , by 55 were a epted as a part of the standard curriculum of the University at ? Paris Albert the Great al r eady refers to Aristotle as the ‘ veritatis in n su mmam intellectu s n regula , qua atura huma i ’ er f ecti n 3 p o em demonstravit . This general acceptance of A ristotle as the arbiter of human knowledge could not fail to augur well for astrol ogy . No scholastic theologian dared any longer question the Peripatetic teaching t hat the process es of earthly growth a nd change depended for their existenc e upon the stellar ’ A n n n . c of M spheres ristotle s do tri e the Prime over , e dowi g the heavens with a motio n which they in turn impart to the

and s lower spheres to the earthly element , ﬁtted easily into

C s c un A f a hri tian s heme of the iverse . lthough dif ering co nsiderably in detail? a ll of the mediaeval i nterpreters of 5 6 A o A c nn and A A rist tle , from vi e a verroes to lbert the

1 Uber i n 1 8 w e Gesch cht d il hi B l 1 2 . 0 e er h os o e e . g , P p ( r i , 9 5) 4 2 I i 2 1 b d . . 4 0. 3 D A i 2 e n m a 3 . . 3 . ‘ ’ The vari ou s co sm ologi ca l system s ar e s tu di ed in D uhem s Le S s tem e du M de in a ula 2 1 22 2 on see t c . 6 y ; , p r i r, 3 . 34 , 35 ; 4 , 33 , 494. ‘ Ca de Vau A icenn a s 2 1 ff a v e . . rr x , ( P ri , pp 5 Commentum i n D Gen r a ti on t u i n 1 A t lis e e e e C or r pt o e 2 . 0 ( r is o te 64 Medie val A ttitu de tow ar d As tr ology

1 2 3 a a s An c T A n Great , B rtholom eu gli us , homas qui as , and 4 D n cc A s n o f n a te , a epted the ri totelia theory motio as a n And c . e fundame tal postulate astrologi al theory had , sinc c A the days of Ptolemy , be ome so inseparable a part of ris totelian c C n l n osmology that the hristia theo ogia s , in wel c n n c ff omi g the one , were i evitably ompelled to o er a c n favorable re eptio to the other . A modiﬁ cation of such importanc e in the traditional doc n c tri e of the Chur h could not take place without a struggle .

S nc the and A n mathema tici i e days of Isidore ugusti e , the a nd readers of horoscopes had been branded as servants of

and a c s n the devil , their f talisti philo ophy had been denou ced

Th c n n c . e with fiery rhetori asti g of ativities had , in fact, been defi ned as a sup e rstitious art as late as the S u mma Theologie of Alexa nder of Hales T he s cholastic writers of the thirteenth century themselves subs cribed to the teachings of the Fathers on the subj ect of demons and 6 I n ff n e n c . c a c s magi e e ti g ompromi e , th refore , betwee the c C c a nd new A verdi t of the early hur h the astrology , lbert the Great and Thomas Aquinas faced a problem of no s f c light di fi ulty . The theologians of the thirteenth century discovered the 7 clue f or its solution i n tha t pa ssa ge of the D e Civita te D ei

H ten D ie M eta h sik des Averr oes er a ed. 1 0 . o Op , 55 , 5 r , p y ll 1 Ha e . ( , p . 73 1 d mm 2 u ti n 2 . e . a . D e Gen er a tione et Cor r p o e 3 . 4 ( J y m D e Ce lo et Mu ndo d a m . 8 M ta h i c u m 1 1 2 2 e . e p ys or . . 5 ( J y 3 3 9 2 a mm 2 1 c f We ne D i e K os m olo i e des R o er ed. . 1 . . 3 . 5 ( J y 3 ) r r, g g

B aco V enna . 2. ( i , p 5 2 ff B tm n u on B ar tholome D R u 8 . 1 a a e P r opr i eta tibus er m . ( pp , nd n 1 2 f 12 1 a o o 8 ol. . L , 5 , ) 3 D M 2 1 er a mni a R om e 1 888- 1 06 e Ce lo t u nd o . e 9 ( Op O , , 9 ,

ibid. . 1 ie 1 1 1 1 . 3 . 94, S u mma Theolog . . 5 3 ( 5 n i t 2 1 “Co v o . 5. 22 S u mm a Univer s e Theolo i e uaest o 166. 2 ed . 1 6 2 . g , Q i ( , H n n hn 1 6 a se au ber w a . . , Z , pp 5 ff 7 M L t 1 c f . ab o e . 2 . i D ei . 6 ne a tr . a . . C v. 5 ( ig , P 4 v , p 4

6 6 M edie val A ttitu de tow ar d A str ology

The n on n huma soul , the other ha d , is dependent upon ele

t c s ecu ndu m u n no od . A me tal matter dire tly , but q gather n n ing of blood about the heart , for example , i cli es the soul

c . e to wrath , but anger is not a ne essary consequence Henc ’ the stars govern the soul s actions only indirectly and not T n sim li citer . p hey can i ﬂuence the human will , but only l ? by way of the body Albert c ites in support of his defense ’ of free will the same passage of Aristotle s D e I nterp r eta 2 ti one which Albu masar had employed in a similar c onnec

n a nd c n nc tio he makes it lear , by mea s of refere es to the

s cc n n Fathers , that he doe not wish to be a used of lea i gs toward fatalism . ’ A a n lbert the Gre t s concessio s to judicial astrology, f c c n guarded though they were , su ﬁ ed to ha ge the traditional C n an c Con hostility of the hurch i to attitude of toleran e . ’ c rete evidence for this is furnished by Albert s own com on c M of mentary the se ond chapter of atthew , that story the Magi which had served so many of the Fathers as a n A text for a sermon agai st the astrologers . lbert , in 3 n n n n o f ma us s o cc s n deﬁ i g the mea i g the word g , take a io c c in n c the to dis uss the magi arts ge eral . When he omes to mathematici t tw o , he divides hem into groups , according as they represent the pure sc ience of mathematics ( ma the sis or ) , the more dubious practical art of astrology

1 h ‘ I i f ol 6 : ic o undum u d an mus om n s ncl na b d . . S e sec o , 4 rg , q i h i i i i tur et de endet a d natu am et com lexionem sic et am abet in ca , p r p , i h

vim constellatio el cet secun um u o et non s m l c te . , vid i d q d i p i i r Quod a utem sup eri orum corp orum virt u s imp onat necessitatem l b e o a b t o et am cont a hiIOSO hum est one e n s er hunc i r r i ri , i r p p p r , i i p ’ modum i m n in m m n s animu m : quo d ci u s i cl ari et utari h o i i . 2 See ab o e 8 v , p . 5 . 3 Thi s deﬁniti on it self sounds strange t o car s accu st om ed t o ‘ at st c e e es s : Ma us o e n s ma nus est u a scientiam p ri i x g i g pr pri i i g , q i ab ens de omn bu s ex necessariis et eff ectibus naturarum con ec h i , j ’ turans ali uando m ab l a natu ae raeostendit et educit ed. amm , q ir i i r p ( J y

9. The M edie val A ccep tance of As tr ology 6 7

? ‘ ( mathes is ) On the latter he has this to say : I f a nyone prognosticates by the stars concerning those things only

c c c whi h are subj e t to natural auses , and to that primal order of nature which exists in the c onﬁguration of n the stars and heave ly circles , he does not commit a fault , n but rather serves a useful purpose , and saves ma y things

. u from harm He , however , who predicts the fut re non considera tis omnibus n arbitrarily ( ) , and co cerning

n c future thi gs other than those defined above , is a de eiver , ’ 2 n n and is to be shunn ed . U der eath this carefully worded n n one of defi itio , can feel a real enthusiasm for the science Albumasar Ptolemy and . T A homas quinas , in crystallizing, finally, the orthodox o f a c attitude toward astrology the later medi eval enturies , A L follows the lead of lbert the Great . ike his predecessor , 3 he cc c A and n a epts the osmology of ristotle , fi ds equal comfort in the passage of Augustine which admits a rule not of the stars over corporeal bodies . He does hesitate to declare that the employment of astrology for meteoro ? l c and c n ogi al purposes , in medi ine , is e tirely legitimate

As A c n with lbert , the real debate e tred in judicial astrology ; and T A n c n homas qui as , like his prede essor , begi s the dis cussion c c n The n n c with a psy hologi al a alysis . huma i telle t

1 T s st nct on it ll b e em embe ed i s oun in o n o f hi di i i , wi r r , f d J h S al sbu . S ee ab o e . i ry v , p . 37 3

Ed. amm 2 J y 9 . 4. z’ S u mm T i 1 1 1 1 ni Rom a heolo e er a m a ed. e . g . . 5. 3 ( Op O , , 5 ‘ D Ju di cii A i s 2 e s s tr or u m us cu la m n a a . ( Op O , P ri , p 39 ‘ Et ideo si aliqu is iu diciis astrorum u tatu r ad p raenoscendum cor

'' orales eff ectu ut m a m r ni at m ae r i sanita m p s, p a t e p est te , et se e t e s, te vel inﬁ rmitat em co o s vel ub er tatem et ster ilitatem f r u um et rp ri , g , s m l a uae ex cor oralib us et natu ralibus cau sis e en ent nullum i i i , q p d p d , etu Nam mn m n ca tal ff t vid r esse p eccatum . o es h o i es cir es e ec u s ali ua ob servatione u tuntu r co o um coelestium s eut a r icolae q rp r , i g seminant et m etunt ce to t em o e Me c c ca ae ritu dines r p r . di i ir g criticos es ob se ant ui determinantur secun um cur sum sol s et di rv , q d i ’ lunae c f 2 2 ; . S umma . . 95. 5 (9 . 6 6 M edie val A ttitude tow ar d A str ology

The n n n huma soul , on the other ha d , is depe dent upon ele A n not c s ecu ndu m u od . me tal matter dire tly , but q gather n ing of blood about the heart , for example , i clines the soul n e to wrath , but a ger is not a necessary consequence . Henc ’ the stars govern the soul s actions only indirectly and not T l sim li citer . e on p hey can inﬂuenc the human will , but y l ? by way of the body Albert c ites in support of his defense ’ of free will the same passage of Aristotle s D e I nterpr eta 2 ti one which Albumasa r had employed in a similar connec

n a nd c n nc tio ; he makes it lear , by mea s of refere es to the not c n s Fathers , that he does wish to be a cused of leani g toward fatalism . ’ A c lbert the Great s con essions to judicial astrology, f c c n l guarded though they were , su ﬁ ed to ha ge the traditiona n n on hostility of the Church i to a attitude of tolerance . C ’ c rete evidence for this is furnished by Albert s own com on c n M of mentary the se o d chapter of atthew , that story the Magi which had served so many of the Fathers as a n A text for a sermon agai st the astrologers . lbert , in 3 n n n ma us s o cc s n deﬁni g the mea i g of the word g , take a io c n c the to dis uss the magic arts in ge eral . When he omes to mathematici m tw o o a , he divides the into gr ups , ccording as they represent the pure s cience of mathematics ( ma the sis or ) , the more dubious practical art of astrology

1 h ‘ I f l i nd m u od an m us om n s ncl na bid . o 6 : S c e o secu u , . 4 rg , q i h i i i i tur et de endet ad natu am et com lexionem sic et am abet in eo , p r p , i h

vim constellatio el cet secun um uo et non s m l c te . , vid i d q d i p i i r Quod a utem sup eriorum corp orum virt us imp onat necessitatem l b e o a b t o et am cont a hiloso hum est one e n s er hunc i r r i ri , i r p p p r , i i p ’ m o um u i im n linar mu a om n s animu m d : q o d c u s i c i et t ri h i i . 2 See ab o e 8 v , p . 5 . 3 Thi s d eﬁniti on it self sound s strang e t o ear s accu st om ed t o ‘ at st c e e es s : Ma us o e n s ma nu s est u a scientiam p ri i x g i g pr pri i i g , q i ab ens de omnib us ex necessa riis et eff ectibus naturarum con ec h , j ’ turan s ali uando m ab l a natu ae raeost endit et educit ed. amm , q ir i i r p ( J y

9 . The Medie val A ccep tance of A s tr ology 6 7

‘ On the latter he has this to say : I f anyone prognosticates by the stars concerning those things only

c c c and to h whi h are subj e t to natural auses , t at primal order of nature which exists in the conﬁguration of

and c c the stars heavenly ir les , he does not commit a fault , but rather serves a useful purpose , and saves many things c e from harm . He , however , who predi ts the futur

non consideratis omnibus nc arbitrarily ( ) , and co erning n n future thi gs other tha those deﬁned above , is a deceiver , ” n n n n c a d is to be shun ed . U der eath this arefully worded n one can s of deﬁ ition , feel a real enthusia m for the science

Alb m r Ptolemy and u asa . T A n homas quinas , in crystallizing, ﬁ ally , the orthodox a a c n ttitude toward astrology of the later medi eval e turies , h A L c t e . follows lead of lbert the Great ike his prede essor , h e a ccepts the cosmology o f Aristotle? and ﬁ nds equal c omfort in the passage of Augustine which admits a rule

c not of the stars over orporeal bodies . He does hesitate to declare that the employment of astrology for meteoro ? c and c logi al purposes , in medi ine , is entirely legitimate

A s A c n c with lbert , the real debate e tred in j udi ial astrology ; and T A n c n homas qui as , like his prede essor , begi s the dis c ussion c c n The n n c with a psy hologi al a alysis . huma i telle t

1 T s st nct on it ll b e em embe e is oun in o n o f hi di i i , wi r r d, f d J h l S a sbu . S ee ab o e i ry v , p . 37 . 2 Ed amm 2 . J y 9 . 4. 8 S u mma Theolo i e 1 1 1 1 m nia d R m . . . er a e . o e g 5 3 ( Op O , , 5. ‘ D e Ju di ciis A s tr or u m us cu la mnia a s 2 ( Op O , P ri , p . 39 ‘ Et ideo si aliqu is iu diciis astrorum u tatu r ad p raenoscendum cor or ales eff ectu s uta tem estatem et ser enitatem ac s sanitat m p , p p , ri , e vel inﬁ rmitat em co o s vel ub er tatem et ster ilitatem f ru um et rp ri , g , s m l a uae ex cor oralibu s et natu ralibus cau sis e en ent nullum i i i , q p d p d , etu e e e um Nam m n vid r ss p ccat . o es h omines circa tales eff ectu s ali ua ob servatione u tuntur co o um coelestium sicut a r i ol q rp r , g c ae seminant et metu nt ce to tem o e Me c c r p r . di i irca aeg r itu dines cr iticos es obse ant ui det erminantur secun um ur um l e di rv , q d c s so i s t ’ lunae cf . u mm 2 2 ; S a . . 95. 5 ( 9 . 6 8 M edie val A ttitu de tow ar d A str ology

n not c a c ns a d will , he says , are orpore l ; o equently they escape that inﬂuence which the stars necessarily exert over

n c and cc n nc matter . I dire tly , however , by a ide t , the inﬂue e n ff c c and n s of the heave ly bodies does a e t intelle t will , i a much as both intellect and will are intimately connected n The n c in i s c with corporeal orga s . i telle t , truth , ne essarily ’ aff ected whenever man s physical processes are disturbed .

The on n not c will , the other ha d , does follow of ne essity

nc n n n sc the i li atio of i ferior appetite , although the ira ible and the concupiscent in man inclin e the will toward this ? ‘ or c c The men in c that hoi e maj ority of , fa t , are gov n n c n n n er ed by their passio s , whi h are depe de t upo bodily appetites ; in these the inﬂuence of the stars is clearly felt . Few indeed are the wise who are capable of resisting their

n n A c n o c . t a imal i stin ts strologers , onseque tly , are able

c s c n foretell the truth in the maj ority of a es , espe ially whe n n n I n c c they u dertake ge eral predictio s . parti ular predi

on not n c n n n a ti s , they do attai ertai ty , for othi g prevents man from resisting the dictates of his lower facu“lties . Wherefore the astrologers thems elves are wo nt to say that ” s s c n the wi e man rules the star , forasmu h , amely , as he ’ n 2 rules his ow n passio s . But Thomas Aquinas is not prepared to set aside entirely the patristic teaching that astrology is a diabolic art of

n n cc n divi atio . He a epts judicial astrology so lo g as it can

s n c nc and a s prove it elf a part of atural s ie e , he goes just far as he dares in freeing it from the restrictions with which c nc in c c n it had be ome e umbered earlier Chur h do tri e .

s n n n Neverthele s , there was still remai i g a arrow margin of astrological theory which - could not be brought within

n c c n T the pale of a reaso ed osmological s ie ce . his portion

1 u mm 1 1 R e n S a 1 . . 1 5. 4, sp o deo ( 5. 2 ‘ u mm a 1 1 1 1 Ad T e t um The ase sa ens S . . 5. 4 r i ( 5. phr pi h om o dominatu r astri s recu rs m any times in the astrologi cal litera tu e of t he t t eent and ou teent centu es see b elo . r hir h f r h ri ( w, pp 1 35 The Medie val A ccep tance of A s tr ology 6 9 of judicial astrology Thomas Aquinas condemns in the ‘ ’

n C c s . a n one s s la guage of the hur h Father I f y , he ay , ‘ employs the observation of the stars for predicting f ortui

n c c c tous eve ts , or su h as happen by han e , or even for pre ’ : dicting with certainty (per cer ti tu dinem) a man s future

c n I n s c a tio s , he does so falsely . this ort of prophe y the ’ 1 c n n A s a tivity of demo s is called i to play . for astrological ’

c in T A n . magic , this ﬁnds no pla e homas qui as system n Necromancers , he admits , i voke demons according to the c n an onﬁguratio s of the stars , but not by reason of y com pulsion which the heavens exerc ise over the fallen angels .

The n c m en demo s ome , when thus called , in order to lead into a belief in the divine power of the stars , and because under certain constellations corporeal matter is better dis posed for the result for which they are summoned ? Astro c c c logi al images and harms , su h as are employed in medi c n s n c A s s i e , are al o u der the are of demons . a proof of thi , Thoma s Aquinas c ites the fact that such images are never

f c s n n c n c e ﬁ aciou u less i s riptio s are written on them , whi h tacitly invoke the aid of evil spirits ?

The n c nc lo g warfare of s ie e with theology , carried on

T n and A n s f rom the days of ertullia ugusti e , had re ulted

nc c c c A in a disti t vi tory for s ien e . strology had successfully

1 mm 2 2 S u a . . 95. 5 ( 9 . 2

S u mma 1 . 1 . 1 1 Ad m T n . ecun u m S . o as A u as 5 4, d ( 5 h q i ml b el e es in the oss b l t f ma an m ﬁr y i v p i i i y o gic d necro ancy . 8 mm 2 2 S u a . 2 . 6. T m a A u na h 9 ( 9 . h o s q i s h ere b eg s t e — eal u est on at ssue. t e sc ent sts Ro e B acon f o r e am le r q i i O h r i i g r , x p see B e e er a ue dam H c t I ne i ta R ll r 1 a enus d o s Se . . ( r w r , Op Q , , p 53 ) did not take it f o r g ranted th at inscrip ti ons w er e necessa ry f or ast olo cal ma es It is al nt r g i i g . so i eresti ng to see the R enai ssance comm entato o f A u nas Ca etan his comm enta a m r q i , j ( ry cco p ani es the t e t in the eon ne ed t on take ssu e t his m aste s x L i i i ) , i wi h r on thi o n He c te p i t . i s certai n m a rvelou s stori es o f Gu ido B onatti and ot e a st olo e s to o e t at m a es are m ade at ce ta h r r g r pr v h if i g r in h ou rs, th ey can be u sed to produce f eats o f m agi c wi th out the i nterv ention f d m o e ons. 7 o Medie val A ttitu de tow ard As tr ology divested itself of the stigma of illegitimacy which it had n A c n n n c borne for ce turies . lthough o dem atio s of judi ial n n in astrology co ti ued to appear later writers , they were usually in the nature of belated borrowings from Augustine The n T A and I sidore . deﬁ ition of homas quinas also left

’ ff c n n in c c room for di eren es of opi io parti ular ases . It might have been possible to level against almost any pro f essional astrologer the accusation that he was indulging in c on er cer titu dinem of f predi ti s p , but the burden proo n A s of would have bee laid upon the accuser . a matter fact, after the middle of the thirteenth c entury a sane scienc e had no longer anything to fear at the hands of the Church . n c n n nc n c I dis rimi ate de u iatio s , su h as had found their way

n c and c . i to the anon law of Ivo Gratian , eased to appear An indication of orthodox opinion in the last quarter of the century is furnished by a list of proscribed works on the

cc s c c n s o ult art , whi h formed a part of a de ree agai t heresy i ssued in 1 277 by B ishop T empier of Paris ? A work on — geomancy a form of divination by means of ﬁgures drawn n haphazardly by the questio er , and interpreted astro c — n c n n n logi ally is si gled out for o dem atio , and a general prohibition is made of all books dealing with the invoca n n The c c tio of demo s . de ree also takes issue with ertain ? Averroistic doctrines denying the f reedom o f the will c A But a sober astrology is not atta ked . similar pronounce n s c 1 8 b me t on uperstitious arts , made a entury later ( 39 ) y ‘ ? n s is n the same U iversity of Pari , equally le ient It

1 D eniﬂe- Cha-telain Char tular ium Universita tis P arisiensis a s , ( P ri , 1 88 1 9) . 543 ff . 2 ‘ N 1 o . 62 lunt a n o s ti m . Q uod v o s tr a subjacet p ot est a corp or u l i m ’ c e est u . N ‘ o . 20 . uod in o a ener ationi s om n s in co o e su o 7 Q , h r g h i i rp r et er conse u ens in an m a ue se u tu co us ex o ne cau sarum p q i , q q i r rp , rdi sup eri orum et in ferio—rum inest homini di sp ositio inclinans ad tales act ones ve en o n int lli a r n i i l ev tus. Err r isi e g tu de eve t bus natural ’ b u s et er am dis i i ni os t o s. i , p vi p 3 2 ff I bid . 4. 3 .

7 2 Medie val A tti tu de tow ar d As tr ology

c c and in c c for meteorologi al predi tions , hemistry , medi ine , ? and agriculture He also discourses at length upon the ? astrological signiﬁ cance of comets But of judicial a strol R n s not . c c ogy he say a word oger Ba o , like his prede essor , sees in the new astrology something more than a divinatory

s n c art . He ays expressly that eve if judi ial astrology were n c n abolished altogether , e ough would be left to o stitute a ? s cience of immense value All the great masters from 4 A Albuma sa r ristotle to , he asserts , repudiated its vulgar c n s c c n n pra titio ers , e pe ially those who o tami ated it with 5 n c nc I n c s e roma y . the matter of judi ial a trology , Ptolemy himself made a distinction between general and particular

n c ns n in can c n prog osti atio . O ly the former ertai ty be n I n c attai ed . predi ting the future , the true astrologer does

c c not prophesy ne essary events , but merely indi ates motives ? a nd tendencies Prognostications of pa rticular human

c n n s cc ss nc c c a tio s , to be sure , ofte prove u e ful , si e hara ter and s n n n moral depe d largely o bodily health . Ge eral pre c ns c C c di tio , he suggests , can be of great servi e to the hur h an c itself . He cites as example of a legitimate prophe y the sc n n horo opes of the various religio s o f the world , i stituted

1 D e A r tibus Liber alibu s B au G ossetest e enumerates ( r , pp . 5 r ‘ three practical u ses o f astronomy ( astrology ) : veg etabilium plan ’ t ati o m iner a lium t r an sm ut ati o m ritu dinum cu r a i o , , g t . 2 D m eti B a e Co s u . 6 ( r , pp 3 3 u M u r u r t d B es ondon 1 1 s a s a s a a e . 00 . Op j , P Q ( ridg , L , 9 , ‘ B acon assum ed tha t A ri stotle w as t he au th or o f the S ecr etum ecr e or u m ibid 1 S t ( . . 5 i 1 2 lum A s tr nomie asc bed to Alb e t the I b d . . 0 . The S ecu o 4 p , ri r

G eat bu t ob abl tt en b B acon s ee b elo . sa s r , pr y wri y ( w , p y that m any b ooks o f m ag ic t ry to assum e a sci entiﬁc air by clot hing ‘ m sel e l al lan ua e : cintillationis at a s 'b t h e v s in astr o og i c g g S g r i , i i

’ m i n i n a st r n mica t ic se r eddant ali ttu t quasdam ob servat o es o o s, u s ’ M d amm u at en u s ﬁ de d no s A lber ti a ni er a e . . q ig ( g Op , J y 5 M 2 2 2 Bacon a sse t s t at it w a s onl atal st c us a us 1 . . Op f 49 , 5 r h y f i i ast olo t at had b een e e ende b the C u c F at e s and r gy h r pr h d y h r h h r , nc 1 cites p assag es to pr ov e th at th ey accep ted the tru e sci e e ( . The M edie val A ccep tance of A str ology 73

? A c n con unc by Albuma sa r cordi g to the latter , a maj or j tion of Jupiter with one o f the other planets signiﬁed the n The c n n n rise of a new religio . o j u ctio of Jupiter with Saturn had brought about the Hebrew religio n ; that with

M s C n Sun n ar , the haldea that with the , the Egyptia ; that n and t M c with Ve us , the Mohammedan ; hat with er ury Th n n n n C . e c c the hristian o j u tio with the Moon , signifyi g

n in c A cc n n o f A c . the religio ti hrist , was still prospe t ordi g to ’ c n n M n Ba o s slightly unorthodox chro ology , the ohammeda — religio n would soon have completed its course a hope for which he ﬁ nds additio nal warrant in the mystic numbers of

A n n c the po calypse . He therefore breaks out i to a pa egyri on the wo nderful s cience which thus c orroborates the Chris

and c tian faith , predi ts the overthrow of its enemies ‘ lau dandu s D hiloso his Propter quod est eus , qui p p dedit n n a verit atis conﬁ rmatu r et lume sapie ti e, per quod lex roboratu r et erci imu s i nimicos ﬁ dei , per quod p p destrui ’ R n n in . c nc debere oger Ba o , i deed , exhausts his eloque e

1s in pra e of astrology , emphasizing above all its utility ? medicine Roger Bacon probably overstepped the bounds of con servative opinion on the subj ect of j udi cial astrology only in the enthusiasm with whi ch he applied it to sac red

1 I bid 1 2 - . . 53 66 . 2 I bid . 1 . 266 The ed to f h M . i r o t e Opus ajus ( Bridges com ’ ments on B acon s b eli e f in astrology in a p assag e th at is worthy ‘ o f u otat on : To a b el e e in a l m ted and s e cal un e s q i i v r i i ph ri iv r e, t a te est al cent e not n coul seem m o l wi h rr ri r , hi g d re va id as a work in ’ g hyp oth esi s f o r explaining physi cal cha ng es on the earth s su r face th an th at alteratio ns o f the directi ons in which the planets were seen sh ould b e follow ed by corr esp ondi ng alterations o f terres t al ob ects . The comb nat ons o f laneta bo es as se ri j i i p ry di , en in con u nct on in o os t on r i , , o n nte m ed ate p os t ons o f e ed a j i pp i i i r i i i , f r e eld o f s ecu lat on c b ecam e a wid ﬁ p i , whi h pr ctically boundless wh en to t he a l pp arent r e ation o f th ese bodies to one another w ere add ed t e a a ent elat ons also e e a n t the h ir pp r r i ( v r v ryi g ) wi h ﬁx ed stars. Human and t e est al e ents com , pl cated as t e m t be e e rr ri v i h y igh , w r 74 Medie val A ttitu de tow ar d As tr ology

? n I n o f c c n o thi gs the matter astrologi al magi , he u d ubtedly A progressed beyond the limits set by Thomas quinas .

c c n n c of Ba on o dem s magi by the aid demons , holding the z view that most of it is fraud anyway ; but magic that simply utilizes the marvelous inﬂuences of the stars ﬁnds n and in him an e thusiastic supporter . Images verbal n o n o are charms , i f made u der the pr per co stellati ns ,

n n r c e dowed with u usual p owe s , be ause they store up the ? mysterious energy of the stars and of the human spirit

c n o Ba o quotes in all earnestness a story, t ld by Josephus , in whi ch Moses escapes from a compromising love - aff air with an Ethi opian princess by g1v1ng her a ring causing 4 n M n of c of n forgetful ess . a y the mira les sai ts , he says ,

r o n of c were pe f rmed by mea s magi words , spoken at the 5 6 c n I n l m As tr nomie s . S ecu u o proper a trologi al mome t his p , 7 E is tola de S ecr etis N a tur e n n and his p , he eve ve tures to

a a llele b e u al com l ca on in t h la o f celest al o ces I t p r d y q p i ti e p y i f r . m a b e sa d on the ole t at so f ar om bel e in ast olo y i , wh , h fr i f r gy b e n a e oac to Bacon and his cont em o a es to a e dis i g r pr h p r ri , h v b eli eved in it would have b een in the thirteenth centu ry a sign o f ’ nt ll al a n It con o me the st la o f Com i e ectu w e k ess. f r d to ﬁr w te s philos ophia pr ima as b eing the b est hyp othesis o f which the ascer ’ n en m n m t t ai ed ph o e a a d i ted . 1 He alm ost un e takes in one assa e to te the o osco e o f d r , p g , wri h r p m l i id 1 Chri st hi se f ( b . . 2 B e e er a I nedi ta . 2 . r w r , Op , p 5 3 3 1 - Opus Majus . 395 7 . ‘ i 2 I b d . 1 . 39 . 5 I bid . 1 . 395. 6 A k n l ntl asc b ed t o Albe t th eat Mandonn t o u t ece e G . e w r i r y ri r r , ’ i h R u e N eo- c a ti u 1 1 ha ai l in an article n t e ev S ol s q e ( 7. 3 3 s f r y o ed—t o the sat s act on o f so ecent a sc ola as D uhem pr v i f i r h r ( 3 . at least—t at it w as tten b Ro e B acon ob abl s o tl a te h wri y g r , pr y h r y f r B i shop T empi er o f Pari s had i ssued his decree against b ooks on m a and m n The S ecu lum i o nd in h g ic g eo a cy. p s f u t e Oper a o f mm Albe t the G eat ed. a . 6 6 ff . in a t also in Catalo us r r ( J y 5 5 ) p r , , g

i r l or Gre corum B u l - Cod cum A s t o o um sse s 1 06 . 8 E g ( r , 9 ) 5 5 .

f ab o e . . C . v , p 53 7 e . 2 . Br ew r , p 53 The Medie val A ccep tance of As tr ology 75

n n on n n defend certain co dem ed books magic , mai taini g that some of them are merely thought to be bad , but really

n I n b nc n i n c c c . co ta useful s ie tiﬁ fa ts ooks on geoma y ,

c nc n t s n espe ially , he sees no harm , si e he fi ds hat thi divi a —‘ tory art employs scientific methods confi dit Saturn o et ’ 1 I n n n ae. c s s c n w er domi o hor uttera e like the e Ba o asm g w m ’ ainl n Geomanc t y i discreet . y was among the arts of

m w d1v n ﬁ poin w hich the Church permitted no compro ? ’ is c n s ow n s n n mise It possible that Ba o impri o me t , at the hands of the Minister General o f the Franciscan order followed as a direct result of the publication o f the ? S p ecu lu m As tr on omie

The C n s hurch , feari g perhap that it had dealt too n n in n le ie tly with astrology theory , gave evide ce that it could b e all the more seve re with it w henever in practice

c c n it meddled with magi or with fatalisti doctri es . It w as n on t cc n an oste sibly hese two a ou ts , at y rate , that the Inquisition condemned to the stake its ﬁrst astrological ’ c C cc d A scoli ni hereti , e o , professor of astrology at the U versity OW E the ﬁrst quarter o f the fourteenth

. The of an a the A a century author encyclop edic poem , cer b , f o an astronomi cal commentary on the Sphe r a of Sacro c and n l Bos o , of several mi or astro ogical texts , Cecco ’A l d sco i has in recent years aroused much historical inter ? c n nc in 1 2 n est His exe utio at Flore e , 3 7 , followi g upo n

1 S ec A . s tr . c a . 1 6 ed amm p , h p ( . J y 5. 2 A u nas S u mma 2 2 6 q i , . . 9 . 3 . 1B Mandon net , p . 334. ‘ Acco d n t o Sol at L r i g d i ( a P oesia A s tr ologi ca nel ua ttr ocento Q , Flo n e ce 1 06 . ose u m r , 9 , p wh j dg ent o f the controv ersial lit era tu e on the sub ect is ecent and m atu e h r j r r , t e best o f the m any ’ b og a es of Cecco is t at o f B a ola ’ i r phi h ri , Cecco d A scoli e I A cer ba , Flo en ce 1 8 . Tw o e cellent r , 79 x short a rticles are th ose by B oﬂi to : ’ er che f u Condanna to a l F u oco A ’ P l s tr olog o Cecc o d A s coli ( S tudi ‘ e D oc. di S t . or . e D ir i t 2 to 0. 66 if a nd I l D 3 ) , e P r incipiis A s tr olo ’ ’ gie di Cecco d A scoli Gi or n . S tor . di et I ( t . t. u L S ppl. I h ave , 76 Medie val A ttitude tow ar d A s tr ology

n n c n o a previous c ondem atio of his tea hi gs at B logna, and n u involving the usual amount of Italian i trig e, is still

A cc n n something of a mystery . ording to Giova ni Villa i ,

s n n n our be t authority, he was fou d guilty by the Fra cisca c n : inqui sitor of three hereti al doctri es First , that in the aerial spheres there existed malign spirits which could be ’ ' n n n nch n s er f bm uiider c o strai ed , by mea s of e a tment p

n on n s n o . certai c stellatio , to perform ma y marvel us things

c n c n c n nc to Se o dly, that he had as ribed a e essary i flue e the ’ n T C t heave s . hirdly , that hrist s bir h , ove ty, and death r' '” p N uh M ? had been according to the rule of the stars There can be — no doubt that Cecc o was guilty on the first count that of having had dealings with the necroman cy of the Jews ? n in c an c n s n a d Moors He is , fa t , ex elle t repre e tative of that s cientifi c magi c which was spreading over Europe from

en a nd c n s n the Ori t , whi h was maki g its ﬁr t importa t home Th n n in Italy . e sec ond a d third cou ts upon which Cecco s cc se f c s s n tood a u d are more di ﬁ ult to ub ta tiate . His works c ontain a liberal sprinkling of pious phrases and a ’ ? long discussion of Ptolemy s theory of free will Cecco is car e ful to quote the application of astrology to Christ not seen the b o a o f C ecc b Castell B olo a o G. n i g r phy y i ( g ,

nor the ecent e t on o f the A cer ba b . Rosa o anc ano r di i y P ri ( L i , 1 G o ann V llan Cr oniche 1 0. ed Flo c 2 0 . en e 1 8 i v i i i, 4 ( r , 3 , 5. 55 A similar astrolog ical interpr etation o f the lif e o f Chri st is found in a o k o f the I tal an la e nano e 1 8 see Fantuz z i w r i wy r, Lig ( di d 3 3 ) , N tiz i e de li S cri ttori B olo nesi B lo na 1 o g g ( o g , 796) 5. 39. Cf . also

t he a t cle on nano b o esso A . S . Cook R om R 1 ev . r i Lig y Pr f r , . . 8 37 . 2 ‘ B ﬂi é u on ann to o t o er ch C d a . B a ola I n the , P f , p 375 ; ri , p . 9 . mal manual f l A cer ba is oun a s l o the b ack art s . : ed. Ven ce f d ( 4 4 i ,

1 820 . 20 c f . o e on Am 6 1 2 G C . . . 61 c los , p 3 ; w r, f whi h c es with the advice to the listener that he should prove their efﬁcacy f or h m el assa es in his ose o k r i s f . P g pr w r s a e frequent which show that Cecco not only b elieved in the p o—ssibility o f diabolic magic a t n c the C u c ne e en ed but a ocated it s a e “hi g whi h h r h v r d i dv pr ctic . Se e the philosophical de fense o f a strology in his prose com m enta o f the D e rinci iis A s tr olo ie o f Alchabitiu s i ry P p g ( C of u .

l 6 . tor . Su . S , pp , p The M edie val A ccep tance of A s tr ology 7 7

n ? n of at second ha d But the ge eral tone his writings , n m can eve as we have the , be legitimately suspected of A n heresy . strology was assumi g in Italy a much bolder En n tone than in the un iversities of France and gla d . Cecco ’ d A scoli c too C n ame , , at a time when the hurch , u der the

n c n XX n guida e of Pope Joh II , was u usually energetic in ? ’ its persecution of magical practices Cecco d A scoli has n freque tly been ranked very high as a scientist . He him d n sel f presumably believe in his own teachi gs , and the story goes that he preserved at his trial and execution a mag niﬁ n ce t calm . ’ Cecco d A scoli aton ed for the sin s of many ; his death h ue- m l forms an almost isolated instanc e in o f the _ n o f o f bold ess his utterances , his lack offibial a n and c to p tro age , the fa t that he was exposed the c n b to n alum y of powerful rivals , su j ected him da gers from

c whi h lesser and greater men were exempt . Italy, in fact, during the course of the thirteenth century had become the great European centre of astrology outside o f Moham

S . At of n a and medan pain the universities B olog a, P dua,

M c n ilan , the list of professors of astrology is onti uous from n c n n the early thirteenth to the sixtee th e tury , boasti g the ’ n of s as o d Ab no ames such famous cientists Pietr a , ? o Peurbach and R n Giorgi , egiomonta us Bologna is c redited with the possession of a chair of astrology as early as At t he c ourts of Empero r Frederick II and Eccelino R Mo an da omano, orish d Jewish a strologers

B off 1to er ché n Condanna to 0 , P i , p . 38 . 2 See the s evera l papal letters whi ch P op e Joh n XXI I wrote on the sub ect o f ma c b et een the ea s 1 1 and 1 1 j gi w y r 3 3 33 , p ublish ed in ’ ' Ha n n J . se s Quellen a nd Untersuchung en z ur Geschichte des Hexen wahns u nd der Hexenver ol un Bonn 2 - f g g ( , pp . 7. a ’ Gabotto L As tr olo ia nel uattr ocento Ri , g Q ( v. di F il. S cient.

8. 378 ‘ Bu ck a t Di e Kultur der R enaissance i n I d , talien l oth cd. r h r ( , Le 1 08 2 2 ipzig , 9 ) . 40. 7 8 Medie val A tti tu de tow ar d As tr ology

of practised the most mer cenary of arts . In the service

c n T M c S the former was a ertai heodorus , and i hael cot,

s c the translator of Averroes . Be ides some astrologi al

M c Sc n d a texts , i hael ot fur ishe the emperor with work on and he is also know n a s the author of a ? treatise on ge-omancy Whatever be the ﬁ nal verdict on a o or c this man s a philos pher s ientist, he was famed in his time as a vulgar magician? and Boccacc io calls him ‘ “ ’ m n n n in n . c c gra maestro igro a zia Frederi k s o temporary , — 5— E ccelino so the chronicles tell u s surrounded himself of n a and c n with a host ecromancers , strologers , magi ia s ‘ M S n Ri r andino of n aster alio , a cano from Padua, p Vero a , a S a Guido Bonatti , and Paul , aracen with white beard,

c B aldach in n a nd who ame from the remote Orie t , who , by n and reaso of his origin , aspect, actions , deserved the name ’ of n a seco d Balaam . Perhaps the most famous professional astrologer of the

n c n on A the thirtee th e tury was Guido B atti. lthough in intellectual and social scale he stood above most of his

- — fellow craftsmen he is the author of one of the popular

a - o on — n everthe medi eval text b oks astrology his science, on rt less , would hardly have met with full approval the pa

T A n A s an e m n f er - 4 of homas qui as . xa ple of the ki d o s vc n n 6 i es he re dered his masters , Filippo Villa i relates that in o of o Mon o o while the empl y Guid de tefeltr , he w uld mount the campanile to observe the stars at the outbreak f n o a . At the n of y military expedition ﬁrst striki g the bell , the count and his m en would put on their armor ; at the

q sten f l e d, p . 100. 2 W B n . . o Li e and e end o Mi chael S cot d nbu J r w , f L g f ( E i rgh , 1 p . 90. 3 S ee Scar taz z ini D ivina Comm edia e 1 8 1 220 , ( L ipzig , 74) . . ‘ D ecam . 8. 9 . 5 Mu ato R er I t f r i t . al S c . 8. 0 1 0 “ r ri , p 7 5, 344 ; 4. 93 . u oted b B oncom a ni in D ella Vi t Q y p g , a e delle Oper e di Guido B ona tti Rome ( , p . 6.

8 o Medi e val A ttitu de tow ar d Astr ology

’ uell alt o che ne ﬁ anchi é cos oco Q r , i p , M c ele Scotto f u che e amente i h , v r ' '

dé lle mag iche frode sepp e il gioco . Vedi Gu ido B onatti

D n c n n n in I n erno But a te, o dem i g astrology the f in so far

c its lace ' in as it is a diaboli art , restores it to proper p Chri stian co smology a nd ethics in the P urga tori o and

P aradis o D n of o . For a te, the inﬂuence the stars up n

n n - n n The s huma life was i deed an awe i spiri g fact . heaven ? are the 1nstrum ents o f God It is to them that the First Mover has delegated the power to mould the destinies of

3 f‘ o t metal the w rld ; they are the hammers , ear h the ; they 5 not are the seals , and earth the wax . Were it for the

n nc c n i ﬂue es of the stars , hildre would be exactly like their

n s D n in ff c A n pare t . a te , e e t , reverses the ugusti ian argu

n conc n n n n as me t er i g twins , by poi ti g to the heavens the ’ ? only poss ible cause o f Jacob s diff ering from Esau The Platoni c myth of the Time us is employed in the symbolism n f 7 which a ssig s the saints to their dif erent s pheres . His own arrival in the constellation Gemini he explains on the ? ’ ground that it rules over his nativity Can Grande s noble character is due to the fact t hat he was stamped at his ? birth by the strong star of Ma rs Ac cording to Brunetto

1 ‘ I bid 20 1 1 - 8 : T a o e h m l . . 5 h t th r w o is so s a l about the ﬂanks was M c ael Scot and o f a t ut he kne th la o f m i h ; r h w e p y agic frauds. See Guido B onatti 2 ‘ D e M ona r chia 2 2 : I nst um entum e us D ei uo coelum . r i ! ! , q d

D M n 2 2 2 E - 2 2 - e o . . 1 P r 1 1 . ; 3 ; 3 . 16 ; p. 5. 33 5 ; a . . ; 8. 97 9

nv 1 1 - 1 Co . 3 . 5. 59 6 . ‘ - P ar 2 12 . “ . . 7 9 - - P ar 2. 1 0 2 1 8 . 12 1 1 2 . 3 ; 3 . 73 5 ; 7 ; . 4 , 4 . 8 - P ar . 8. 130 5. 7 T s s mb ol sm is not o ou sl ca The a t t at hi y i rig r y rri ed thr ough . f c h

T the un a t ul are n t e moon has no ast olo cal s n canc f i hf i h r gi ig iﬁ e. ! ls ff P ar . 22 . 1 12 .

- P ar . 1 7 . 76 8. As tr olo 8 1 The Medie val A ccep tance of gy

’ ’ nc to n Latini s advi ce to the poet, obedie e o e s horoscope ? n in becomes a positive duty The ethical problem i volved

c D n s s the belief in an astrological osmology , a te solve as doe ’ M c Thomas Aquinas . arco s spee h to the poet in the six 2 teenth canto of the P u rg a tor i o might be regarded as the ﬁnal expression of the orthodox doctrine concerning astrology

Voi che viv ete ogni cagion r ecate ur su so al c el cos com e se tutt o p i , i ss t at e m ovesse seco di nece i .

cos osse in voi o a st utto Se i f , f r di r l e o a b t o e non o a ust a ib r r i ri , f r g i izi

er b en let a e er m ale a e lutt o . p izi , p v r

Lo ci elo i vostri m oviment i inizi a ’ n on d co t utt : m a o st o c o il d ca i i , p h i i ,

’ ‘ lum dato a b ene ed a m al a e v e izi ,

l be o ole che se at ca E i r v r , , f i nelle m e b atta l e col c el u a pri g i i d r ,

oi nce tutto se b en si nut ca . p vi , ri

A magg ior forza ed a m iglio r natu ra l be so acete e u ella c a i ri gg i , q ri

- la m ente in voi che il c el non ha in sua cu a . , i r

e o se il m on o esente s a P r , d pr di vi , in voi e la ca one in voi si che ia g i , gg , n a o or e a s a ed io te e s r v r pi .

’ Dante s condemnation of the astrologers and diviners in the twentieth canto of the I nfer no in dicates as yet no dis in f of o f belief the e ﬁcacy their art , though in the case

1 I n 1 M A Or r in nt a n th A t n mer s . . . . . a e d e ar l s r o o f 5 55 , D E y on on o nts ou t t at ante no e e m ent ons suc ( L d , p i h D wh r i h eta ls o f act cal ast olo a s the ouses o r as ects o f lanets d i pr i r gy h p p , or t he s on of s ns nto mascul ne and em n ne mob l and divi i ig i i f i i , i e ’ l See t s o f or a ull l st o f an e stab e. hi w rk f i D t s r eferences to lo astro gy . 2 - M ur 1 6 6 8 ed . oo e O o 1 8 2 P g . . 7 4 ( r , xf rd, 9 , p . 8 2 Medie val A ttitu de tow ar d A str ology

Michael Scot some s cep tic ism is implied when he is accused ‘ ’ The c of the one o f of magic frauds . rime diviners was

t not c . S n of C impie y, harlatanism i ce the time the hurch

c c of n not Fathers , in fa t, the pra titioners divi ation had n c n n been refuted with ratio alisti argume ts . It was e ough f or D n and T A A and a te homas quinas , as for ugustine

T n c a n it ertullia , that magic was wi ked ; fter decidi g that ? n c d exce was wro g, logi had one its duty With rare p

n the r M A oo o o tio s write s of the iddle ges t k astr l gy, even in the vulgar manifestations which it classed with necro

nc r . t be ma y , quite se iously It was not because it migh less successful that Thomas Aquinas condemned astro i c c o er cer titu dinem to log al predi ti n p , but because it had n n n m do with demo s . Be ve uto da I ola expresses the mediaeval view when he gives as a reason for the truth ’ of Michael S cot s prophe cies the very fact that he mingled ? necromancy with astrology n a of the o and It remai ed for the rrival m dern spirit,

ci n c n espe ally of its ﬁrst great represe tative , Petrar h , to j oi to the scorn shown to the nec ro mancer by mediaeval piety h . at t e ourt the laughter of the satirist Petrarch , living c sco n n n an c n o or of the Vi ti at Mila , had , i deed , ex elle t pp tunit r o o a o o t y to obse ve the pr fessi nal strol gers at their w rs .

The astrologer - necromancer of the time was an ignorant who n of own n and o fellow , k ew little his scie ce , n thing a n o w ho m b s f or his of stro omy pr per , employed si ple ta le c c and ho o n to al ulations , w w uld have been quite u able discourse on the philosophical problems involved in his ? n c w as in n c professio Petrar h , who ge eral qui k to see

1 ’ T at lock The S cene o the F ranklin s Ta le Visited C aucer ( f , h S oc 1 1 h M l A m la l . . c a acte es t e dd e es s . , 9 4, p 34) h r riz i g i i r y 2 ‘ mm n l n 2 88 : Et nota u od M c ael Co e tu m F o e ce 1 88 . ( r , 7 ) q i h Scottu s admiscuit nig romantiam astrologiae ; ideo creditus est dicere ’ multa e a v r . 3

S ol at in La oesi a A s tr olo i ca nel uattr ocento . 10 d i , P g Q ( pp 9 g ives a good cha racterization o f the ast rolog ers o f the fou rteenth 8 The M edie val A ccep tance of A s tr ology 3

1 o- t through the pretenses of the pseud learned , makes spor

- I n on c of his fellow courtiers . a letter the subj e t of 1 6 a to , strology, written Boccaccio in the year 3 3 he relates ? a number of amusing stories regarding them Galeazz o n on of II , consulti g his astrologers the occasion a cam

n n c n p aig agai st Pavia , held ba k his army for ma y days

in order to await the favorable astrological moment . When to out r he was ﬁnally permitted march , the weathe , which

r of had been d y during the time waiting, turned suddenly, ? and a fierce rain spoiled the whole expedition The astrologer s suff ered an other discomfi tur e in conn ection of 1 of with the installation into fice , in 354, the three sons n n n of Giovan i Visco ti . Petrarch himself had bee asked n b to deliver an oratio , but was interrupted y the astrol

o ers n c n c g , who were awaiti g the exa t poi t of time at whi h

the stars would be most propitious . When this had ﬁnally

’ ’ and teent c n u n a otto c a m n essa L As tr olo ia ﬁf h e t ries ; a d G b s h r i g y, g nel u a ttr ocento e e e t o on c t es st o cal d ocu m ent s Q ( r f rr d p . i hi ri

illust at n t e c a latan . Cf . also Bu c a t D ie Kultur der r i g h ir h r ry r kh rd , R en i 2 a ssance in I tali en 2. 38 ff . 1 ’ Petrarch s t reatm ent o f physici ans i s esp ecially illustrative of his att tu e to a a t lo Th m c n o his da w as ate i d w rd s ro gers. e edi i e f y h f ul to et a c b ecause it w as oun e u on the t n s o f the P r r h , f d d p wri i g A abs f or ose l te atu e and sc ence he had as mu c s a n r , wh i r r i h di d i

as f or its u nc st an loso e em l e in A e oes c f . hri i phi phy, x p iﬁ d v rr (

S eniles 12. 1 2 : ed. 1 81 . 0 et a c ote an ent e , 5 , pp 9 5, P r r h wr ir t eat se the Contr a M edicos a a nst the s c ans o f his t me in r i , , g i phy i i i ,

c he n ul es in u lent sat e o f t e uacke es o . cit . whi h i d g vir ir h ir q ri ( p , H a m h n . 1 0 1 10 e ts t at t e sc e ce tsel is oss ble pp 9 , 93 , d i h i i f p i , at least in the m n o f God b ut t at in its esent o m it is a i d , h pr f r u 12 2 : i id H en o n a S en. . b . . e e bta e a con ess on fr d ( , p v i d f i ‘ om a s c an uo m edicinae not t a delectabilis est u t r eli uarum fr phy i i q d i i , q omnium quae arte et r egula continentu r ; op erar i au tem secundum ’ med c nam a casu est . I tu nunc he sa s to his en onatu s i i , , y fri d D , ‘ ’ et casu ﬁ dem abe l en : ibi H nsc el S . . d . Cf e i h ( 5 5 , p . . h ,

’ ’ P etr arca s Ur theil u ber di e M edicin u nd die Are te s einer Z eit anus Zei h h tsc r . ur Ges c . und Li t de M 1 1 r ed . 8 ( J , f . . 3 2 S en 1 i i . 3 . ( b d., pp . 765 ° I bid ., p . 769. 8 4 M edie val A ttitude towar d Astr ology

s arrived , the astrologers pre ented the three brothers suc c sivel c s n es y with a s eptre , but pau ed so lo g with the first t n a c two that when hey fi ally pproa hed the third , the original happy configuration of the stars must have long A n nc n . ot si e go e by year , however, had passed , says M c o f Petrarch , before atteo Vis onti , the eldest the three , the one who had received the s ceptre at the favorable c and his astrologi al moment , lost his rule , , shortly after, ? The life . other two lived in prosperity ten years longer

c in c n n of o o of Petrar h , a o versatio with one the astr l gers M n c o c the ila ese ourt, btained from him the onfession that

art n but the n of or his his was vai , that ecessity supp ting ? family forc ed him to c ontinue the fraud S n n e to tra ge to say, whe P trarch turns from satire

c o no dialecti , and attempts to refute astr logy in theory, he

n c a u n longer employs ratio alisti rg ments , but the a cient ? ’ theological rhetoric o f Augustine Petrarch s attack on astrology as a whole is divided between satirical comm ent on c o the o and the qua ks who lead the p pulace by n se, ’ c n nc L e oh ﬁer e de u iation of the astrologer s impiety . ik J n S f o n to the of alisbury, he asserts that the uture is kn w n A o o b am f or Creator alo e . str logy w uld shift the l e ‘ ’ - o n hi h h God . W e wrong d ing upo mself y, asks the ‘ o do ou e n and ea h astr loger , y thus mak weary heave rt , and vex mankind in vain ? Why do you burden the lucid a ? Wh do ou tu ho st rs with your empty laws y y rn us , w b n n slaves o f n were or free , i to the i sensible stellar spheres A nd he sums up his advice to B occacci o 1n the w ords : ‘ C e c and o a to ma c a s los your eyes to tri ksters , y ur e rs gi i n ;

1 I bid.

2 I bid Pio Ra na Giorn tor 1 1 ff a lo . . S 0. 0 . i enti e s st o er j ( . 4 ) d ﬁ s thi r g t Ma no de Ma neri who is no n to a e l e at the cou t wi h y y , k w h v iv d r o f th s n i m e Vi co t at this ti e. 3 Porn . 8 61 1 D R med u tr F or tun 1 1 . . e e . . 12 . 3 ( pp . . ( pp 94 ‘ S en. 1 . 7 ( p . The Medie val A ccep tance of A str ology 8 5

n c n s s shu physi ia s , ﬂee astrologers ; tho e de troy your life , ’ 1 the se your soul . Petrarch seems to have known little of the astrological n A s of o s c ience of his ow day. representatives astrol gy he

not n A n o does ame the rabia masters , nor the m re modern ? s c Maternu s and e authoritie , but Firmi us Ptol my He does not c c c c c nor atta k astrology as a osmologi al s ien e , does

he take noti ce of the scholastic teachings on the subj ect . n o He admits , in passi g, that there may be s me power in

c ns n s the o tellatio s , and advises the a trologers to pre ? A s a n c dict the weather poet , too , he freque tly subs ribes ? to a strological doctrines I n a letter to Emperor Charles he mentions with pride a prediction that he would be upon terms of i ntimacy with almo st all of the great princes of ? his age Petrarch even has to a dmit that he is not altogether free from the popular a strologic al superstition

n c c c n n and . regardi g the lima teri years , i e seven On the

occasion of his sixty - third birthday ( a multiple of the two

c n cc c c unlu ky umbers ) , he writes to Bocca io? s orning su h A puerile beliefs . year later , however , referring to the m same subj ect, he confesses that he wrote the for er letter more to strengt hen the faith o f his friend than because he o a e o A himsel f was entirely with ut ppr hensi n . curious insight into the mind of this great humanist is aff orded

1 ‘ n 1 S e . 3 . ( p . 770) Clau de oculos r aesti ii s au es ma s tam p g , r g i , vi ’ me c s ast olo os u e : ll co o a animo laedun di i , r g f g i i rp r , hi s t. 2

S en. 1 . 7 . ( p . 3 S en . 3 . 1 . ( p . ‘ Rim - e . 6 ed. Ca ucc e Fe a i 7 5 ( rd i rr r , p . 9)

Et é si sp ento ogni b enigno lu me ’ D el c el er cui s i nf orma umana t i , p vi a.

Cf . Rime . in h 4 4 ( p . which e d escribes the conﬁguration o f the sta s at the b t o f his m st ess and 1 28 2 r ir h i r ; . 5 ( p . wh ere he att butes the sad state o f I tal t o a ma l nant ri y ig star. ‘ F am 2 r F r . . 2 t a ass tt 3 ( . c e i 5. ”

S en . 8. 1 ed. 1 81 82 r ( 5 , p . 9 : t . F racassetti 1 . 8 6 Medie val A ttitu de tow ar d A s tr ology

‘ n cc cc : T o by his stateme t to Bo a io say the truth , the

c s n not security whi h I expre sed in my former letter spra g , so mu ch from a feeling of scorn for the threats of the

s s to c n n ns astrologer , as from a de ire o ti ue my meditatio ’ n n and n i 1 o the ec essity of death the folly of feari g t . ’ — Petrar ch s attitude toward astr ology on the one hand reminisc en t of the conservatism of the early mediaeval c n and on n n a e turies , , the other , poi ti g ahe d to the time when astrology would be universally laughed to scorn n in n n ff n e to was fou ded , the ﬁrst insta ce , upon i di ere c ? s cience a s a whole I n his o w n and in succeeding cen t uries c of , his religious abhorren e astrology was shared

n a nd n . by umerous philosophers theologia s His own friend ,

C c o S n o r to the oluc i alutati , although payi g s me espect

c c c T A s holasti osmology of homas quinas , follows Petrarch “ in denouncing astrology as an empty science and a vain ? art He even rehear ses some of the ancient argum ents of ? C n s c c nc n n n s a ar eade , su h as that o er i g twi Ger rd Groote ,

D c c c the ut h reformer of the fourteenth entury, ondemns the

n c nc one e tire s ie e of astronomy , as that is hostile to God ? and to the teachings of Augustin e T his revival of the

‘ d 1 81 8 : tr Fr acassetti 1 . 8. 8 e . . . S en . ( 5 , p 43 2 ’ m n a a-in llu a e P etrarch s attit u de toward edici e i s g i str tiv . 3 A Ma t n Mi ttelalter li che Welt und ebensanschauun Mun c . r i , L g ( i h

- 8 and B e l n . 1 0 1 . r i , pp 5 ‘ M - f 1 1 6 a t n 1 12 c ab o e . . r i , pp . 3 ; . v , pp , 4 5 Gr oot e i s writi ng t o di s suade a fri end fr om bring ing out a b ook c oul e u te the e es es of Albumasar and sub stitute a whi h w d r f h r i , t ue a t on om oot e a ues t at the ole sc ence is so bad r s r y . Gr rg h wh i ‘ th at it had b est b e left alone altog eth er : Ad ejus ig itu r dest ruc tionem plu s p r oﬁ cit quo d falsi sunt libri quam quo d accuratae ri r d m ro f ui ma s cr editis vel ve tati a r o in ua ent . u t pp p q Q i ihi p gi , , Albumasar is et similium e o vel all ata ons Ptolemaei ad rr r, p i fr ast ronomiam dimittendam A c uo Gerar di Ma ni is tole ( q y, g Ep

XI V Am ste dam 1 8 . The lette u n s es ood e dence , r , 57, p r f r i h g vi o f the f act th at astrology in the f ou rteenth centu ry w as much contam nated ma 1 18 i with gic ( see pp .

8 8 Medie val A tti tu de tow ar d As tr ology

1 K er s n the time of epl , dared to que tio the reality of M s n c c on t astrology . ost a tro omers , in fa t , arried heir studies as an adj un ct to the more lucrative trade of read n S n n no n sc . i g horo opes Joh of axo y , a Parisia astro mer n c n n c n the of the fourtee th e tury, felt it e essary to defe d publi cation of a purely astronomic al w ork by emphasizing ? its utility fo r t he practical scienc e o f judgments In n and o time, to be sure , astro omers made more m re of a n n n n and n disti ctio betwee ge eral particular predictio s , and ? e sc c nc c n in becam epti al about the latter Fra is Ba o , the sane a strology which he commends in his D e Augmentis 4 S ci entiaru m s n c ns s n n , aboli hed prog osti atio of i gle eve ts nc n n n altogether . But s cie e ever refuted the fu dame tal

nc s Men pri iple of astrology . of letters , too , were often

n s c . o cc c c to its e thu iasti supporters B a io , whom Petrarch

ss n 1n had addre ed ma y of his diatribes , was a firm believer ? s n nc n in 1 1 0 to tellar i flue e Whe , 4 , Poggio brought light n c Ma n one the first ma us ript of nilius , huma ists vied with another in produc ing comment aries ? Poggio himself was

1 ’ He K e ler s A s tr olo i e V enna 1 8 E en Gal leo ote rz , p g , i , 95. v i wr o osco es at th M d cean ou l e e c t So at . 1 1 note h r p i r ( d i , p 7 , ) . 2 D uh m e 4. 84. 3 ldat 1 1 6 So . i , p .

S eddin and R ob e t son The hilos o hi ca p g r , P p l Wor ks of F r ancis B acon on on 6 ( L d , p . 4 4. “ ’ B occacci o s beli e f in a str ology i s di scu ssed in some detail in ’ ’ Ta tlock s The S cene o the F r anklin T t f s ale Vis i ed p . 2 (p 4,

’ cf . A . G a Mi ti L e ende e S u ers tiz i om del Medi o Evo T r f , , gg , p ( urin,

18 2 - . 1 6 B occacc o 93 ) 9 95. i esp ou ses such astrologi cal doctrines a s that Venu s produces acute intellects and lib eral disp ositions ( D e Geneal ii D e I r h o um t . en s or . t V ce 1 80 f ol . 2 t at Ma s cau e g , , i , 5 , 5 ) h r s s nd a lu f a s a es o c o s ibid . f ol c f ols w r f i r r p ( , . . f . 53 th at the a! nci ent b eli ef in god s arose fr om a deifi cation of the lanet s Vi ta di D ante ed Mout . e . 2 c f 2 p ( , i r , p 5 ; . pp . 9, and tha t only the existence o f s tella r influen ce can account f or the n n te e s t o f uman t alents o d C mmento s o r a D an te ed. i fi i iv r i y h ( p ,

M 1 - 2 ou t e . 1 c f 2 “i r 7 ; . . 55

Sol at . 1 0 ff d i , p 3 . The Medie val A ccep tance of A str ology 8 9

? 2 n n The a convert to astrolo gy So were Tasso and Po ta o . D e R ebus Ce les tibus of a o of Pont n , written in refutation ’ 3 c Mirandola s ac c n c Pi o della att k , is j udged by a re e t ritic

c s . to be a masterpiece of logi al rea oning It constitutes , n o f of perhaps , the culminatio that philosophical defense Christian astrology which had been in the making since the time when Albert the Great boldly accepted the new s cience of M the oors . But to trac e the history of astrology through the ﬁfteenth and n n D n R sixtee th ce turies is not our task . uri g the enais

nc n nc n sa e , astrology e j oyed o e more that u iversal reign in R E I n th ar which it had held the oman mpire . e long w

and c n of fare between theology the s ie ce the stars , the Th latter had fairly conquered . e ﬁnal disproof of astrol o n n So n of gy was ever writte . lo g as the cosmology A c n c o f ristotle , and the geo e tri astronomy Ptolemy , held

a c . sway in medi eval s hools , a refutation was impossible o f o f C With the arrival the new astronomy opernicus , it was no longer necessary .

1 i 1 6 d T n ll s t . e o e Ep . 9 ( . i , 2 B ll n l i n M lan l S e ce to n t . e o o a e . 8 i , ( i , d ) , p 3 ldat 2 S o . . i , p 53 CHA PT ER VI

ASTROLOGERS IN M EDIE VAL ENGLAND

c s n of o Italy, pe uliarly exposed by rea o its ge graphical

n co n s s a str olo positio , had early be me i fe ted with a ho t of and c n c in n n to gers magi ia s , whi h she , tur , tra smitted her n n T s nc and n n . norther eighbors , Fra e E gla d his proces

n one of migratio was , however , a slow . In the study of

n c n s scie tiﬁ astronomy , indeed , the u iversities of Pari and Oxford were in advanc e of those of Bologna and ? b c of c Padua But the so er s holars the North , pra tising astrology as a part of the accepted astronom ical science of ro f es the day , were still at a far remove from the p ion l n n n s a ec roma cers in the employ of an Italian pri ce . It seems that not until the middle of the fourteenth cen tury could the royal c ourt of France boast an astrologer of n An d in En n c the type of Guido B o atti . gla d , whi h was separated by a further degree from contact with the

M o n of oorish East , astrol gy ever acquired that position

n n r The promi e ce which it occupied in southern Eu ope . vernacular literature of England before 1 350 aff ords few references t o it tha t do not go back to literary sources . Even after that date astr ology p robably remained a thing more talked about by the learn ed and the literary than seen

c c in pra ti e .

A ll s c the greater intere t , therefore , atta hes to those few indi cations which do exist of the presence in mediaeval

n an At n s E gl d of actual astrologers . the U iver ity of Oxford , of c s c nc n o our e , the s ie e was well k own , alth ugh it did not occupy near ly so exalted a plac e in the curriculum as at ? the universities o f B ologna and Padua Robert Grosse

1 - Cf . Duhem 4. 1 82 5. 2 - k s on ast olo at o en b Ra s The li st o f t ext b oo r gy Oxf rd, g iv y h

i E ur o e O o 1 8 2. conta ns no dall ( Un versi ties of p , xf rd, 95, i

9 2 Medie val A ttitude tow ar d A str ology

‘ ’ Le to c n n . t c be ome u i habitable ea h person be assured , ‘ Corum hira c n c says p , that the o j unction about to take pla e ,

n s whatever others may say , sig iﬁes to me , if God so will , n n t n s the mutatio of ki gdoms , the superiori y of the Fra k ,

c n S n c c the destru tio of the arace i ra e, with the superior n on C blessed ess of the religi of hrist , and its especial n e to e who exaltatio , together with long r life thos shall be ’ ’ I n Hoveden s c n born hereafter . hro icle there is added n n an En o another prog osticatio by glish astrol ger , William ,

c n s C . e lerk to Joh , the con table of hester William is no mor restrained than his fellow - prophet in predicting the direst

n n s n happe i gs on all side . His prog ostication bristles with ? ‘ technical jargon Inasmuch as Mars is being scorched ’ Sun c nc e by the orb of the , William o ludes his proph cy, ‘ b n b n tw o e ei g thus impeded and embarrassed etwee vils ,

’

' S n T D ra on ' he c n atur and the ail of the g , be omes i fected and n n n n with their nature , sig iﬁes sorrows , co te tio s , alarms ,

d and The o t . catastrophes , mur ers , spoliation of pr per y

T s s n s s a a s ss s n s a nd diminu ail al o ig iﬁe ep r tion , lo e , da ger ,

n n c M r an on tio of possessio s . Be ause ars fo ms evil c

nc n T in n n j u tio with the ail the asce da t , I do therefore contradict the j udgment pronoun“ced by Albumasar upon z this ﬁgure in t he Cen tiloqu iu m : Turn your eyes f ro m the ﬁgure in whi ch Mar s is at the greatest angle when Scorpio ” T i in n n An n or the ail s the as ce da t . d as it is evide t to o S every astr loger that aturn rules over this climate,

M n c n n on the oo parti ipati g with him , I am of opi i that this lan d cannot be c onsidered exempt from the impending n m nc evil . Wherefore , the o ly re edy remaining is for pri es

on and to to be their guard , to serve God , ﬂee the devil , ’ n that so the Lord may avert their imminent punishme t s .

2 i 2 - Chr on ca 2. 2 9 3 . 2 n e t o Albumas r The Centilo uium o f cou se was ot asc b d a , q , r , ri bu t to tolem W ll am is in ene al etend n to mo e lea n n P y. i i g r pr i g r r i g t an he ossesse The Centilo uiu m as w e a e it conta ns no h p d . q , h v , i m u t d aph orism si ilar to th at q o e . As tr olog ers in M edie val E ngland 93

Hoveden asserts that t error was widespread at the n n approach of September , when the co j unctio was expected S c o to take place . ome omfort was gained fr m a more n S c n reassuring predictio made by a ara e astrologer , Phara

c n n T . mella , whi h he se t to Joh , B ishop of oledo Phara mella takes his northern colleagues to task f or blundering

c c n cc in r of in their al ulatio s . He a uses them , particula , leaving out of acc ount the respective situations of Mars n M n and Ve us . ars , he says , on the day of the conjunctio , L in will not be in ibra , but the thirteenth degree of Virgo ;

n in S c M while Ve us corpio , whi h is the house of ars , will ? ent irely neutralize his evil inﬂuence The fact that Libra ‘ ’ a Pharamella n n . is windy sign , asserts , means othi g ‘ ’ and A s n n et Gemini quarius are al o wi dy sig s , and y the recent conjunctio ns in those constellatio ns produced no harm . He advises the astrologers o f the North to keep

of c abreast of the times in the matter astrologi al literature ,

and of A and Albumasar . to read the tables Hermes , stales , He calls upon them to stop their dreaming and to relinquish

n n c their false Opi io s , or else be onverted to the religion of ‘ And n : A c Ishmael . he e ds his letter with the words cord in n Messahala and Alkindi n g to the j udgme t of , u less God n n shall ordai it otherwise , there will be a sca ty vintage, crops of wheat of moderate average , much slaughter by ’ and n the sword , ma y shipwrecks . Be cause o f the positive tone employed by the Moo rish 2 Hoveden c s astrologer , the editor of suspe t that this letter n n n may have bee writte after the da gerous day had passed . At n n any rate , very little out of the ordi ary happe ed in

1 1 T he n h n Ri r the year 86 . Fre c chro icler go d says that the predictio ns of the astrologers were entirely di scredited? and the author of the Annales Mar ba censes adds the com

2 h 2 2 C r oni ca . 97 . 2 Chr oni 2 2 ca . 99 . 2 ’ Vi e d e hili e- A u us te in Gu iz ot s oll des M R l ti em . a d P pp g ( C . e f l’Hi s t. de F r ance a s 182 12 , P ri , 5, . 94 Medie val A ttitude towar d As tr ology

‘ ment : ut p robar etur sapientia mundi hujus stultitiam esse ’ D 1 n s c n apud eum . Other writers fou d some ju tiﬁ atio for ’ the astrologers apprehensions in the victories of Saladin in the Holy Land in 1 1 87 ? s c n c th Whether the a trologi al lear ing whi h William , e c C to n a lerk of hester , was so eager exhibit, represe ted widespread interest in the s cience among the English of

to . C n o r the time , it were hard tell ertai it is that the

n c a in c n ne refere es to strology the hro icles are few . O o Mir acula Thome sh rt notice is to be found in the S .

Ca n tuari ensis n n a c , writte by a mo k , Willi m , toward the lose the of twelfth century . William relates how an Italian and son who f f n n his , were a ﬂicted with the alli g sick ess , and who as cribed their malady to the evil inﬂuence of the ’ ? c c s n t s stars , ame for ure to the ai t s omb William take c n c a r t n o o casio to prea h sho sermon agai st astrol gy, employing the well - known arguments of the Church

r . M n n Fathe s a y diseases , he admits , vary in i tensity cc n no f or ac n a ordi g to the moon , but this is excuse cusi g ll Let A . the stars of evil . things made by God are good

n c cc the lu ati rather a use the spirits of evil , who observe ? the phases of the moon to enter their victims From the

c c r d can be other histori al re o s of the time , little indeed A o t gleaned except notices of comets and falling stars . c me was said to have heralded the arrival o f William the 5 Conqueror in 1 066 another the death o f Pope Urban in ? 1 2 I n 1 a n n s n c c m 54 the year 394, u u ually u lu ky o et

1 B ened ct o f ete b o ou o . ci t . 1 . 2 note. i P r r gh , p 3 4, 2 ’ i r i d Stubb s I ti ner ar iu m P er egr i n or u m et Ges ta R egis R ca d ( e . ,

R ll r o s S e . ) 1 . 6. 3 d M a ter i als f or the Hi s tor y of Ar chbis hop Thomas B ecket ( e .

Rob e tson Rolls Ser . 1 . 1 6 . r , ) 5 4 T he p as sag e i s an excellent i ndicati on t hat the patri stic vi ew o f astrology w as f ar fro m disapp ear ing immediately a fter the intro du“cti on o f the new astrology . Ha don R olls Ser . . . Hi i u ed. E u logiu m s tor ar m ( y , ) 3 45 6 1 1 I bid . . 39 .

96 Medie val A ttitude tow ar d Astr ology

c c king, spe iﬁ ally , to avoid an abominable superstitious belief of the English , who held , he says , that a man would have bad luck all the week if some one made a face at him n M n ? c a Or esm e nc co o o day Ni ol s , the great Fre h e nomist ! n s Liseux n a d Bi hop of , wrote a series of treatises agai st s c n C astrology , the purpo e of whi h was to preve t harles V ? from placing to-o much conﬁdence in his Italian advisers

c O resme n on c But Ni olas , though he represe ts the subj e t of c ns s n c n astrology the o ervative cie tiﬁ opi ion of his time , and though he w as quite severe in denouncing magic and the

r c s c ext eme forms of judi ial a trology , was himself ompelled

cc s n n to a ept a trology in theory . Co seque tly his polemic can ? have had little eff ect S n s c n c n cen imo de Phare , a hro i ler of the late ﬁftee th

has s n n n in tury , left us a li t of the promi e t astrologers livi g ? a nce C s T s c n b s Fr at the time of harle V hi do ume t , e ides indicating the extent to which astrology was current at the French courts of Paris and Orleans? contains a number of

2 Leb eu f o ci t , p. ., p . 399 . 2 Ch . ou r dain Ni colas Or esm e et les A s tr olo ues de la Cour de J , g Char les V R ev de u t Hi t 1 1 ( . s Q es . s or . 0. 36 2 ’ A summ ary o f O r esm e s vernacular tr eat i se on divinati on i s g iv en by Meuni er ( Essai sur La Vi e et les Ouvr ag es de Ni cole Or es me a s 1 8 8 I t aff o s the b est oss ble oo , P ri , 57 , pp . 4 rd p i pr f o f the f act that even the m ost enlightened sci entiﬁc m inds of Eu rop e in the Middle Ag es w er e p ow erles s t o rid th em selves of the bel e in ast olo Or esm e can o f cou se con emn ed ct ons i f r gy . , r , d pr i i er cer ti tu dinem and the s stem o f electi ones en ut l e f or p , y , wh i iz d

m a c b a eal n to the cu ent C u c oct ne on the sub ect . g i , y pp i g rr h r h d ri j Bu t if the astr olog ers conﬁne t h em selv es to pr edicting the indi ’ ‘ ’ ‘ ’ vidu al s ncl nat ons and c om le ons Or esme e em t s t em i i i p xi , x p h ’ m n r m b est a um en in ne al is t at the o ce su e. O es e s t e fr r rg , g r , h sci ence o f astrology is still too undev elop ed to b e w orthy o f mu ch n d n n r n ma ne s ar e mo e co e ce. e in e ct the eat e ﬁ Ev p di i g w h r, ri r r l n a t lo e s uc e s u t a s o . s c s f h r — g r 4 ’ ubl s ed in a t b Leb eu f in his a t cle D e L A s tr olo i e ui P i h p r y , r i , g q 00 avait Cours s ous Char les V (pp . 4 t’ The not ices f ound in Sim on de Ph ar es on a str ology at Orleans ’ m ay b e of i nterest in connection with the clerk o f Chaucer s A s tr olog ers in M edie val E ngland 9 7

nc n n direct refere es to E gla d , thus furnishing a valuable historical background for that sudden interest in astrology shown by the English writers of the latter half of the four

n n The c n n t ee th ce tury . almost o ti uous wars between ’ France and England ﬁnd frequent mention in Simon s

c T M c alon ues to chroni le . hus aistre Mi hel de J g is said ‘ ’ c n n n R et l eslevation have predi ted the i u datio s of the hone , des A nglois et Bretons qui se misdrent sus pour expeller ’ les barbares qui furent desconﬁ s devant l an Maistre

M n an arc de Gen es , astrologer of Paris , prophesied the

c R oseb ec u e and out ome of the battle of q , also predicted 2 the death of Edward the Black Princ e T he battle of

’ ‘ F k m a a a l o f ran lin s Tale who it ll be e emb e ed , w s b c e o , , wi r r h r ’ la e a lean Th e c on cle o f S mon m akes no ment on o f the w t Or s. hr i i i uni e s t but nd cates t at the ouse o f O leans w as a at on of v r i y, i i h h r p r l f Ma l d Chasteau dun Lebeu f ast o o e s . T us o st e G be t e r g r h i r i r ( , ‘ ’ 01 it is sa t at h-e w as moult a ec en la m a son d Orlé ans p . 4 ) id h pr ié i ’ ‘M ou la sc ence des estoilles A a n . ess e e e de la p r i . g i (p ir Pi rr B ruyer e f u t en ce temp s a Orléans m oult estimé des nobles et du ’ cler ié ﬁ st en son t em s lus eu s instrum ens se ant a la t o e g , p p i r rv hé ri . Of still a third astrolog er it is sa id tha t he retired to Orleans at ‘ the close o f his lif e : Cestui de Saint - Mesmin f ut bi en soufﬁ sant ast rolo ien et com osa de b eau traictiez ma s en les els ou s g , p x ; i vi j r ’ la ssa la l t m on a n et s en eclu a l an i fé ici é d i e e r dit r s Or é s ( p . I t oul b e nte est n to kno et e O leans in a t on to w d i r i g w wh h r r , ddi i b e n a ene al a en f or ast olo e s also oste e the occult i g g r h v r g r , f r d ‘ sc ences at the un e t The oet esc am s as a cle k o f i iv rs i y . p D h p w r ’ leans and the nte etat on m ade b one o f his e t o s O r , if i rpr i y di r

G. Ra naud ed to o f the last ou olumes o f Oeuvr es Com letes ( y , i r f r v p ,

1 882 see 1 1 . 1 8 o f B a lade 22 o ci t 2 2 is co ect m sel ; 4 ) 5 ( p. . . 5 ) rr , hi f

act se a st olo in his out Hoe ff n er E u s ta ch D s cha m s pr i d r gy y h . p ( e e p eben u nd Wer ke St a ssbu 1 0 28 doubt s et e an L , r rg , 9 4, p . ) wh h r y l te al nte etat on o f the balla e is u st T ese sl t n i r i rpr i d j iﬁed . h igh i di cations that O rleans w as a centre o f astrology may b e a dded to ’ those m enti oned by Pro f essor T atlock in The S cene of the F r anklin s Tale isi t 1 V ed ( pp . 4 1 Leb eu f 0 1 , p . 4 . 2 ‘

I bid . . 0 : Ce stu au s s d t la m o t du noble Edoar d n ce , p 4 3 i i pré i r , pri ’ ’ de Galles ui u s u st ro d An leter re et d H b ernie u i t es assa q p i f y g y , q r p ’ l an 1 376 . 9 8 M edie val Attitu de tow ar d A s tr ology

Cocherel between the English and Bertrand du ? Gu esclin s n ac S n - A n e , was fore ee by Maistre J ques de ai t dr

Of two astrologers , it is said expressly that they visited

n n one s K n E gla d , of them for the purpose of amu ing i g n L Joh , then a captive at ondon

Ma st e e e de Valo s s dant a Couc omm e de sin ulier e i r Pi rr i , ré i y, h g est u e et m oult a ec des An lois et e u s du r o C a les le d pr ié g , d p i y h r n u l n de t ll stu al ou ent n An le Q ui t p o r a sci e ce s es oi es . Ce i a s v e g t e e ou lu s eu s ff ant s et ré dist lus eu s c oses comm e rr p r p i r di ér , p p i r h ’ est ass s ar ses ronostications sur les olut ons de l an 1 60 i p p rév i 3 . Cestu sur la olu t on de Pan 1 8 onost ca de la ac ue e i rév i 35 , pr i J q ri , u i commen a en B eau o s n a r les communes su r les ent ls q c v i i , p g i

ommes le 28 ou de ma ou dit an ce u i adv-int car ils tu é rent h , j r y , , q , 2 s l n l l l n f n t ou es ob es et es f emmes et e s e a s . Ma st e Gu llaume de ou s ent a B ou es f ut en o i r i L ry, ré id rg , v yé ue ou son ant 5 11 et sin ulier es e ences de sa sc ence q rir , p r g r 9 g xpéri i des estoilles ar les An lois et ala voulentiers ou u e cestoit , p g , y , p r q ou desennu er le b on ro e an u i fu t ns a o t e s le p r y y J h , q pri P i i r , lun 1 d e m 1 6 mm il oi d t En son m s e s te b e co e av t . te dy 9 p r 35 , pré i p ’ onost ca ou m o s d a l 1 1 et derechief enco e une aut e o s pr i i vri 35 , , r r f i , ’ l an ensu an f u nco r esconﬁ t li An l i asc n I I iv t t e r e g o s et G o s. ’ advertit auss m ess e C a les d E s ai ne connestable de F ance i ir h r p g , r , u i ne le oulut c o e et fu t tué en une ostelle e en la lle q v r ir , h ri , vi de a le en No m an e ar les ens et du consentem ent du r o L ig r di , p g y de Nava rre ; p ré dist au ssi la desconﬁ tu r e de Messire Robert de Cle mont l eu tenant du duc de No m an e et la mo t de mess e r , i r di , r ir 8 ff H r r t Ge r oy de a ecou .

A c n S part from the slight noti es give by imon de Phares , the history of professional astrologers in mediaeval England

c n c n difﬁ remains largely a matter of o j e ture . It is i deed cult to discover further traces of astrologers in the con temporary historical documents until the close of the n 1 0 E ﬁftee th century . In the year 5 3 , a follower of dmund de la Pole con fessed at a trial that previous to following n n n an r his master to the conti e t , he had co sulted astrologe ’ n E n regardi g dmu d s probable future , but that he had

1 I i b d . 06 , p . 4 . 2 I i 0 b d., p . 4 5. 3 I i b d ., p . 404.

CHA PT ER VII

ASTROLOGY IN T HE M EDIE VAL RO MANCES

Long before the astrology of the Arabs found a home n and in the u iversities of Oxford Paris , it had become the subj ect of song and story in the hands of the gleeman . The Crusa des and the wars with t he Moors of Spain had n o c c en and early brought the West i t onta t with the Ori t , stories of the learned magic of the East must have been current among the people many decades before Adelard of Bath and Herman of Dalmatia returned with the ﬁrst

n - A in h s n R l n A . C an o de o a d rabia text books lready the , the Saracens are credited with the practice of diabolic

: A c T r n R nc arts r hbishop u pi , in the battle of o esvalles , kills ‘ nc n Si lorel nc the e ha ter g , who o e had been in hell , whither ’ 1 F n . S c erna Jupiter had led him In the panish epi ,

Gon alez s n as in g , the Moors are repre e ted astrologers ? league with the devil The romances of the twelfth and thirteenth c enturies habitually connect astrology and ’ ’ n n é n li es in c c s . C C e roma y with the Moori h East hr tie s g , ’ n enice s Thessala T describi g F skilful nurse , , names hessaly ’ n c c and s as the home of e roman y , the land where the devil ? and c I n arts are taught , where harms are made the F loovent n C and , a story of the wars betwee hristians

- Chans on de R oland 1 0 ed. Gau t e a s 1 88 . 1 26 39 3 ( i r , P ri , 4, p )

‘ ’ E r e r i i l r l t l a c vesque lu oc st S g o e , ’ L encanteii r ki i a f ut en en f e r ; im ’ ’ P ar ar t al l i cundu ist Jupiter .

2 F r ff M lm de F er nan Gon alez e nan Gon alez . a en a a g 473 ( rd , P g , B alt mo e 1 0 6 c f Com o t The S ar acens in Chr is tia n i r , 9 4, p . 9 . f r , oetr : D u bli R P y n ev: 149 . 3 ’ - H ll 1 2 cf as e Cli es 002 1 0 ed F o ste a e 188 0 . t g 3 ( . r r, , 4, pp . E r, ’ A S tudy of the M agi c Elements in the R omans d Aventur e and the

R omans B r etons B alt mo e . 1 . ( i r , p 7 As tr ology in the Medie val R om ances 1 0 1

M s an n c c s oor , old paga do tor , Ja ob , pos esses the power of ? prophecy by reason of his astrological knowledge The n Saracen maidens , furthermore , who appear so freque tly

hans ons de es te c c C in the c g , res uing the aptive hristians , are usually well versed in the magic s ciences ; and since n in they employ their tale ts the service of true believers ,

Fl r des ine n a c . o are rarely c e sured for their di boli lore p , S c n n Machab re the daughter of the ara e ki g , , although only

n n s L n and fourtee years old , k ow how to speak ati ‘ ’ R nc c c oma e , to play at hess , and to read the ourses of the ? and n n n Galienne stars shi i g moo , the betrothed of the

C n Mainet n n n hristia , is similarly e dowed with lear i g ; it is by foreseeing the future in the stars that she is able ? to save her lover from a treacherous assault In the — I pomedon a French romance of the last quarter of the

c n n E s —a twelfth entury , tra slated several times i to ngli h

n A c s n c and ki g drastus ome to a tour ament from Gree e , n n A bri gs with him his Easter astrologer , mphiaraus , who ‘ ’ n n and unfortu ately , however , gets his terms co fused , ’ ? fails to foresee his master s defeat

1 F loovent ff d u ar -i h l n 1 F 739 . ( e . G ess d et M c e a t 85 , p . 10 0 , 9 vent dates om the t el t centu fr w f h ry . 2 au 1 ff G r e . ed u e sar h a ll 1 8 f y 793 . . G s d et C ab i e p . Con r e ( , 59, f y i s ass ned to the t teent centu ig hir h ry . 3 Mainet R m a ff f 2 i t o nia . 0 Mo net a e om . c s ( 4 3 5 ; . 3 9 , d fr the ea l t el t c n u I n the n l lem a n - mances r y w f h e t ry . E g i sh Ch ar g e ro the Sa acen m a en Flor i as eeds the ca t e C st ans t the r id , p , f p iv hri i wi h ’ id o f her ma l a c e c f . Caxton h r l t EE T g i g ird ; s C a es he Gr ete ( S .

E S . 6. 1 2 Th d ne B a B T 3 3 ) e S ow o of bylone ( E S . ES . 38. ‘ I om d on - K l n n K t B sla 1 88 e 0 ed . o b u d o sc e u p 5574 9 ( i g hwi z , r , 9 , Th p . e earli est o f th e thr ee Engli sh ver sions ( all edit ed by Kolb n B la I 1 es u omad n tten a ou t Wells . g , o b 0 p i r , p , wri 35 ( , alte s the nam es to A ns and An f eras 1 I n r ry ( 4 97 , the OF . omance P ar tono eus de B lois date about t r , p ( d Egyp is e e ed o 22 l 2 t 0 : ed . G a e et as a ome o f ast onom r f rr ( 7 r p . 75) h r y and m a c the e nc i n h ME e n t n e e e s ot ound in t e . s o t e gi ( r f r f v r i , wri about The late OF . omance Cleoma des nt o uces t ee r , , i r d hr aste n k n s ho a re e in a onom and n m ed w e s st ec o anc . E r i g , v r d r y r y ( Hasselt B u ssels 1 8 2 , r , 95, pp . 5 , 1 0 2 M edie val A ttitu de tow ar d As tr ology

One of the early tales of the R oman de R enar t ( Branch X n n c n c , dati g from the early thirtee th e tury) is parti ularly interesting in that it alludes to the position held by astrol The ogy in the medical s chools of contemporary Italy . n K n Fox , wishi g to regain favor with i g Noble , appears at

o c n s n c n c ourt in the r le of physi ia , promi i g the si k mo arch

c n nc c n b a sure recovery . He wins the o ﬁde e of his lie t y the pretense that he has just returned from a period of n S n study at the u iversity of alerno , and that he k ows ? astronomy In a later continuation of the R oman (Branch XX R n c n III , dated about e art a tually does ve ture in c n n and c an abroad sear h of lear i g , be omes adept in necromancy at the famous s chool of magic at Toledo by secretly watching a pagan conjurer at his work in a hidden ? cell Even more directly traceable to an Eastern source are the astrological referenc es in certain collections of Oriental

The n B ar laam and Josa ha t tales . lege d of p , popularized for the West by the Leg enda A ur ea of Jacobus a Voragine

1 2 0 and n in n s ns ( 3 fou d three Middle E glish ver io , s c in S lead us ba k to a Greek text , written probably yria ? in the eighth century When in the course of the story — itself based upon a long Oriental tradition it is related how an astrologer prophesied the future of the young

c an n prin e , Josaphat , evide t attempt is made by the author of the Greek version to reconcile the incident with the ‘ n T beliefs of the Christia Church . hus spake the astrol

1 R m an R a 10 1 2 M 1 2 o de en r t . ff ed a t n St assb u 88 5 4 . ( . r i , r rg , ,

1 . 2 R om 2 1 1 2 ff t 2 an de R e ar t . . ed Ma n n 3 7 ( . r i . 3 I; The m -ost recent summary o f the investigations on the subj ect o f thi s leg en d ( in the e diti on o f J ohn o f D am ascu s by Woodward

and Matt n l Loeb Class. S er . on on 1 1 asc b es the o g nal g _ d 9 4) i y, _ , L , ri ri i B ar laam an x11 t som con dence t o o n o f d Jos apha t ( p . ) wi h e ﬁ J h amascus e amon ose o s it has o ten been nte D ( di d g wh w rk f pri d . h ME ells On t e . e s ons s ee . 806. v r i , W , p

1 0 4 M edie val A ttitu de tow ar d A s tr ology

n n n in n Byza ti e empire . Eve this , its earliest exta t form , ’ the story had embodied the legend of Alexander s descent t n b T n c ec a a u s . from the Egyptia sor erer , N hroughout the n in c early portio of the narrative , whi h is related the

Nectanabus c n n c arrival of at the Ma edo ia ourt , and the dec eits by means of whic h he became the father of the

n s an n S cc future ki g , astrology play importa t part . u eed ing redactors of the legend dealt variously with these astro Th n n c s . e C s one a d logi al detail hri tia writers , all , took

in c n ectanabus delight the losi g episode of the story of N , in c c n whi h the sor erer , after havi g prophesied by the stars

his son n n that he would be killed by own , is throw i to a ? c A n a nd n s s dit h by lexa der , tau ted for his impiou belief I n c n c the more te h i al details of the story , imitators of

P - n the s eu d o Callis thenes were ot always successful . One curious misunderstanding of t he astrological terms of the Greek is already to be found in the Latin life

A n n A c Leo in of lexa der , writte by r hpresbyter the tenth

n n n n Hi tor i P liis c a d s a de re . e tury , k own by the ame of

The P s eu do - Ca llis thenes n in sc n an s , amely , de ribi g a trolabe

Nectanabu s and c n its s c n of , pi turi g variou dis s , had spoke ‘ ’ of one c ircle a s representing the astrological decans

The C s n ns in his n nc hri tia tra lator , ig ora e ,

n s 86m r oils and n s u der tood the Greek to be , tra lated it with ‘ ’ ’ intelli nti s S L n c e a . de em g ome of eo s followers , otably the

o f Wars o A lexander s c author the f , repeated thi urious ? mistake The French ver sions of the legen d are more

1 A taunt c in eal t o f cou se m e el a de t o the am at c whi h r i y, r , r y d d dr i on o f h n The ee En l s e s ons elat t s o t on ir y t e sce e . thr g i h v r i r e hi p r i o f the tale f A exand ff EE T E ; c . Wars of l er 708 . ( S . S . 47 .

A i au n d 1 2 ff B E 1 K A i u e 1 ff . l s er 07 . ( E TS . S . . yng l sa nd r 7 0

M i e d n u 1 1 1 c f ll Web e etr cal R om anc s b 8 0 . e s ( r, , E i rgh , , . W , 8 ff p . 9 . 2 D s ons f th n s nt t en e u al a t s ivi i o e sig i o q p r . 2 ‘ ’ The War s of A lexa nder sp eaks o f tw elve undir standing s ( 274 ‘ d Skeat EE T Skeat de ne the o s m l as an e . S ES . . s , . 47 ﬁ w rd i p y l t ’ astro o gi cal erm . A s tr ology in the M edie val R omances 1 0 5 enlightened on matters astrological ; the author of the

E n K n Alisau nder n nc R oman de glish y g , imitati g the Fre h aleri e in stru T ou te Chev , is able to refer to the mysterious ‘ ’ 1 - n a . n ment of Nectanabus as a ars t ble Whe Gower , n Nect anabus in Confessi o ﬁ ally , retells the story of the 2 A m ntis c ss s a , the astrologi al po ibilitie of the story are

c c fully exploited . He des ribes the astrolabe of the sor erer

n c n with scie tiﬁ detail , and airs his learni g as he pictures the ’ n n magician s co juri gs .

Th and n n e astrology magic of the East , ﬁ di g their way into the popular literature of Franc e and England by

c nn n s various ha els , soo made them elves at home in the T whole realm of mediaeval romance . hey easily established friendly relations with the Celtic magic of the matier e de

B r eta ne a nd w a s not n the and g , it lo g before fairies dwarfs

o f Northern folk - lore were as learned as the daughters of ? the Saracens The p r ec1se point of time when the magic of the East became mingled with the indigenous magic of A s c f c n . the We t is , of ourse , di ﬁ ult to determi e work so

1 K n A li u n 2 We e M tr i ca l R om ances 1 The sa der 8 b e . y g 7 ( r , ‘ ’ K n A lisaunder w as tten be o e 1 0 and a rs - table is ob abl y g wri f r 33 , pr y ‘ ’ the st a ea ance o f the o ast ola’b e in n l s The ea l est ﬁr pp r w rd r E g i h . r i tat n in h NED i n h a 1 6 c o t e s u de t e e 6. i i . r y r 3 2 Con A m 6 1 ff d Ma a la d 1 1 2 1 0 . e c u o 0 f . . . 79 ( . y, Oxf r , 9 , 3 . 5 8 Sever al i n stances o f fairi es w ho ar e exp ert in the sci ences o f ma c and ast olo ll a a n h ll n a A f g i r gy wi pp e r i t e fo owi g p ges . ew ‘ ’ mo e m a be a e e e The a o f the te an s in Le r y dd d h r . f iry whi h d B el I nconnu has b een nst ucte b her at e in the se en a ts i r d y f h r v r , and es ec all in n man nd ast olo 1 1 8 6 : d Hi ec o c a 8 e . p i y r y r gy ( 9 , 4 4 p

eau 1 860 . 68 I n the s o te n l s m tat on Libeaus p , , pp , h r r E g i h i i i , D e u al u l f 1 s con s t o so ce a s a a t c . 1 1 80 1 : ed , h gh r ry p y p r ( 5 3 , 7 , 795 . K lu a 8 a e 1 0 . 8 1 00 c f Wells 1 z , L ipzig , 9 , pp 4, 99 , ; . , pp . 7 , ast olo is not s ec call m ent on ed Mel o the a in the r gy p iﬁ y i . i r , f iry Engli sh P ar tonope of B lois ( abou t 1 450 ; the Fr ench so urce is dated abou t lea rned the m arv elou s a rts o f the East from her at e the m e o o f Con stant no le : B E T E 1 0 S . . f h r , E p r r i p ( 5933 S . 9 ’ f al o ha n n A C . s C s o d nti ch and o e ed. a s . ( P . P ri , p 59 ; D olo a th 2 p os 9 75. 1 0 6 Medie val A ttitu de tow ar d Astr ology purely Celtic as the Ma binogi on is still free from astrol l i n nd . So s a s c a ogy al o are the of Marie de Fra e , , for the

A nc é T C . most part , the rthurian roma es of hr tien de royes A nc n in E r ec refere e to astrology is fou d the , but Chré tien is careful to state that he is borrowing from

M c c . T c a robius oward the lose of the poem , Ere appears in a robe made by four fairies , who had portrayed thereon n Th c s c a d . e geometry , arithmeti , mu i , astronomy last of and c these is called the chief of all the arts , is des ribed in words that remind us of the similar panegyric of Adelard o f Bath La ua te u i a es o a q r , q pr vr , A mou t b u ene oevr e r ecovra ;

Car la m ello i es a rz m st r d i i . ’ ’ D astr onomie s antremist

l r o ll Ce e qui f et tante m e v i e, Q u i a s estoiles se consoille

Et a la lune et au soloil. An autre leu ne p rant consoil D e ri en qui a f eire li soit ; il la consoillen b en a C t i droit . De uan ue ele les e u e t q q r q i r , E uan u f t q q e u et quanque iert, Li f ont certainnement savoir 1 an mant ir e san de oir S z t z cev .

n nc n T n l I the roma es deali g with the rista story , astro

an n ma tier B t o gy is already i tegral part of the e de r e agne . he F rocin in n of T dwarf , who appears the Fre ch version ? B é roul ( 1 1 90 is an exper t astrologer When his plans for enticing T ristan and I -seult to betray themselves b n n efore the king have go e wro g , he is able to foresee his in T T c . e Tris tan threatened disgra e the stars h of homas , on n the other hand , though it also takes note of the traditio that the dwarf was an astrologer , is sceptical about his

“ 1 r ec 6 - 6 ed F oe ste Halle 1 8 6 0 . c f abo e E 777 79 ( r r, , 9 , p . v , p . 50 . 2 Bé r oul R oman de Tr is tan 20 ff ed Mu et a s 1 1 , 3 . ( . r , P ri , 9 3 , p .

1 0 8 Medie val A tti tu de tow ar d A s tr ology g round that the sky itself w as to blame for misleading them in their predictions :

k at 0 11 schew ed at be s y, b 3 b ,

I t w a s e ade at me b at b f r, b i3 ; F or he m e hadde nou t to his lle 3 wi , 1 bu rch sou he wald do m e spille ; A strology is a l so mention ed in the romances of Merlin in L M n c onnection with the fay Morga in . ike the ohammeda

nc n s s chans ons de es te e ha tres e of the g , she is versed in ? a str onomy a nd nec romancy The attitude of the romances toward astrology hardly A n t admits o f logica l analysis . arrator was as li tle hampered in the Middle Ages by questions of science or

- in c . s of ethi s as he is to day It may be aid , general , that a e n strology , to the popular medi val mi d , was a wonderful sc nc n and c n n ie e , vaguely deﬁ ed , seldom o dem ed , whose

n nc s a s n om ipote e w a proverbi l . It is poke of everywhere a s c s n s and the hief of the eve art , was hardly distinguished n The from n ecromancy a d magic . reality of its powers

s n it s ‘ n w as never doubted . By rea o of bei g a learned foreign

n a s s o f importatio , yet omewhat removed from the life the

n c and not s c s c inev t u edu ated , ubj e ted to the atire whi h it i

nc n in c c s c c ably e ou tered pra ti e , a trology ould a quire a fame in popular literature even exceeding tha t which it

n n c T h held amo g the astro omers of the s hools . e common people who had not outgrown their faith in the simple — magic of the T eutons and Celts witness the serious n in defe se of the belief fairies , made by the author of the g— Melu sine w ere not likely to be sceptical o f the sc ientiﬁc

1 A r thour and M e in 1 8 - 6 l r l ed. Ko b n e 18 0 5 3 ( i g , L ipzig , 9 , p . c f . r M - os e er lin e d. W eatle B TS 10 P ( h y, E . . 2 r os e M er lin B E 2 TS . 1 . c f . at on S tudi es i n the F air P ( 375) P , y ’ M tholo o A r thur ian R om ance R dcli M y gy f a e Coll. ono r a h ( ﬁ g p s,

. 6 not e. The tc Car mile a ea n i p 4 , wi h , pp ri g n the Ar thour and M er lin K l n ob . is an ade t in n ec m n ( i g , p p r o a cy . 3 M elu si n e c a . 1 ed . D onald E E T E S . S 68 , h p ( , . . The auth or ’ 1 5 ean d A r r as t n ab out 1 82- I J , wri i g 3 94. n the En l s t anslat on g i h r i , A s tr ology in the Medi e val R oman ces 1 0 9

c n . A magi , newly arrived from the Orie t serious work like the prose Lapidair e of Philippe de Valois could as sert that

nc c in s only fools doubted the existe e of magi powers stone , ? a nd n A nd o herbs , spoke words the author of the fam us 2 I ma e du onde c n t n g M , whi h retai ed its populari y dow to n C n ns n n n s the time whe axto tra lated it i to E glish , u dertake to defend both magic and astrology from the attacks of

nc s as c c the i redulou , as well from those who as ribe all su h

n n c c wondrous thi gs to the devil . He i trodu es the subj e t 3 in c o nnection with a desc ription of Virgil as a magician :

Vir le d de and ma e m an ete m erva lles whiche the her er s gy y d y g r y , shold h olde f or lesyng es y f t hey h erd e th em recounted ; ff or th ey w old e not byleve th at anoth er cou d e doo such e thynge as theye cou e not m edl th And han t e e e s eke o f suc e m ate s d e wy . w h y h r p h r or o f oth er th at th ey see at th eir eyen and th at th ey can not u nde r ston de ne kno e not t e eo anon t e sa e t at it i s b thel e w h r f , h y y h y p o f the ende t at w erketh in suc e m ane as t e t at la l f h h r, h y h g d y

‘ m ssa o f e le o f r e omm endaci n And also sa e it is oo y ye p p c o . y g d not to conne suc e th n es B ut f t e knewe the s c ence and h y g . y h y i m ane e t e ol ol e it f or a m oc e noble and t e ke r , h y w d h d h righ w r f o natu e and t out on ot e es ece of ev ll. And an t e r , wi h y h r p y wh h y no not n e under stonde the thin e t e sa m oc m o e e l k w g , h y y h e r vy t an ell h w .

Cer ta nl who t at knew e ell astronom e t e is noth n in y y h w y , h r y g the w orld o f which he cou d e enquy r e by r eson b u t he shold h ave

‘ m a e a centu lat e w e ea : And he is not s t a u e d ry r, r d wy e h t s ch thin es su oseth to com r ehende in his w it and enet t at the g pp p , w h h m erva lles t at b en thru h the u n e sal o l m a nat b e t u e y h g iv r w r d , y r , as it is sa o f the thin es t at m en calle ff a r ees a nd a s i is o f id g h y , t man ot e thin es e eo w e m a not a e h kn y h r g , wh r f y h v t e owleche o f ’ alle t m h e . 1 ‘ ’ Et nu s sages h om s me d o it douter qu e Di ex n a it mis ver tuz en e es et en e b es et e n a o les e t u i cc n e c o t e t 11 desdit il pi rr h r p r , q r i , ’ a t u e echier r es ann e L es a idair es F r an i f i q p ( P i r, L p co s du Moyen A e a s 1882 g , P ri , , p . 2 The o k is dated 1 266 T e e is a u t w r . h r di sp te as o wh eth er the ’ ’ aut o s nam e i s Gau t e o f Met o r Go ssouin o f Met c f o s h r i r z z ; . Pri r ’ e t on o f Caxton s t anslat on Mir r our o the Wor ld ed o di i r i ( f , . Pri r ,

- EE TS . E S . 1 1 0 . 1x x . , pp ) 3 ’ x n s Mir r our o th Wor l 1 d Ca to e d . e o f 3 3 ( . Pri r , p . 1 1 0 Medie val A tti tude tow ar d As tr ology

kn l h And m an th n es shold he doo t at sholde ow ec e th ero f . y y g h seme my r acles to the p eple whiche th at ku ew e nothyng e of the ence I sa e not bu t t e m ht b e w el don ev ll b h m t at sci . y h r yg y y y h cou de it ; ff or t h er is none s o g oo d sci ence but that myght b e 1 n nd d t n somm e m al ce and t at he m ht u se it in ev ll e t e e heri y , h yg y b m rt od ma e ne e so oo a os el th at w old e so applye y the o. G d v r g d g p bu t somm e myghte torne it contrarye to trou the ; and th er is no thynge so true b ut somm e myght so glose that it shold b e to his dam nacion who t a t ol e a ne b m to do ev ll how wel it p , h w d p y y y ,

is no maystrye to do yll.

A s regards the ethical question involved in the employ n and b me t of astrology magic , the view just expressed y the author of the I mag e du M onde is also that of the C n n medie val romances . o dem ations of astrology are R cc c n rare . emoved from e lesiasti al inﬂue ce , and not called n i n upo to solve quest o s of right and wrong , the writer of the tales did not c ensure magic practices except when a n i n n — condem at o was dema ded by the story itself that is , n s Th when magic was used for ma ife tly evil purposes . e ’ z dwarf in B é roul s Tris tan is not spared a denunciation ;

and in F our e S onnes o A mon the wizard Maugis , the f y , though he is willing to come to the aid of his friend R n n e aud eve after he has forsworn his art , realizes that ? n s in end But c he may be dam ed for thi the , despite the fa t c n n that magi is ofte felt to be on the defe sive , it is never

n Ai l c . o f he condem ed outright In the , a Fren h romance o t

1 The I m a u M n l 2 n g e d o de e se e e ( . 24 : o . ci t . . 1 1 6 denou ces — wh r p , p ) necromancy which it deﬁnes prop erly as a conj u ring of evil — ‘ s ts in m o e o ous te m s : T i s is a sc ence t at ho at piri r vig r r h y h , w th ev th h m ther to t o do ev l hit veth b m the t g y y y , gy y d e h ; fi o r y f ’ he taket no ede t e o he s al be dam ned b o and so le h h h r f , h p dy w . B ut one m a note t at e e too it is onl en u sed f or e l n s y h h r , , y wh vi e d t at black m a c is condemn d Th h g i e . e I mag e da M onde has many

ot e e e ences to ast olo c f . 1 1 o it 2 h r r f r r gy ; . 3 ( p. c p . . 33 ( p .

3 . 8 2 Bé r ou Tr i t n 6 M l s a ff . ed u et , 43 ( . r , p . 2 The F our e S onnes o A m on c a 2 R . ds n ed . c a o B T f y , h p 4 ( i h r , E S . ’ ES . . Cf Wac R . e s oman d R 44 e ou 7537.

1 1 2 M edie val A ttitu de tow ar d A s tr ology

n n in a n imagi atio , due p rt to the tempti g of the devil him

s c self , partly to the persi tence of pagan ustoms , and finally c n n to the reading of roman es . Gerso defi es romances as ‘ n in nc n n in c books writte the Fre h to gue , relati g poeti form — the deeds of military heroes stories which are fictitious

and c s for the most part , whi h serve rather to sati fy a n n m n hu ger for ovelty and ad iration , tha to foster a ” knowledge of the truth .

i n rundam R man i r m l r r m Ex lect o e u o o c o u e . ib o u com o q , i . , p sitorum in Gall co u as oeticoru m de estis milit aribu s in u bu s i q i p g , q i ma ma a s abulosa est ma s ad in er endam uandam novitatem xi p r f , gi g q ’ et a dmirationem uam veritatis co nitionem Sc ab q g ( hw , p . I s thi s the earliest deﬁnition o f the novel ? CHAPTER VIII

ASTROLOGY IN M IDDLE ENGLISH LITERATU RE

in However valuable the na1ve references to astrology cen the French romances of t he twelfth and thirteenth e tu ries may be for deﬁning the popular medi val attitude c toward the magic of the East , they are of omparatively small service in determining the state of feeling in E ng All M n nc n land itself . the iddle E glish roma es deali g n n L n with astrology were tra slatio s from the French or ati , 0 and very few even of these bear a date earlier than 1 35 . For direct evidence concerning the attitude toward astrol ogy in England during the thirteenth and fourteenth cen

tu ries s n n n , one mu t tur to the more i dige ous literary too ff productions o f the time , although these , , a ord only a n c scanty glea ing . It is safe to assume , of ourse , that the vulgar astrology o f the almanac—whose importation into 1— England dates back to the time of E 1f r ic was already ? widely current But all evidenc e points toward the con elusion that an interest in astrology proper did not become general in the vernacular literature of E ngland before the an c n n age of Gower d Chau er . Not u til the ﬁfteenth ce

ff nc t-o in tury , in e ect , are refere es astrology as frequent English as they were in the literature of Franc e one or c tw o enturies previous .

1 See ab o e if v , pp . 44 . 2 The best proo f o f thi s can b e f ound in the p ortions o f a o ula calen a f or the ea 1 u l A H b s e b . a n A i p p r d r y r 349, p i h d y h ( r ch v

106 . I n the manusc t c conta ns am on o 349 rip , whi h i , g th er ’ t n s the sou ce f or a t g , p o on o f R olle s r i cke o Cons cience hi r r i P f ,

is f ound a p oem o f som e thirty - nine lines o n the i nﬂu ence o f lanets n a ce on u n e tak n an n p , givi g dvi d r i g y e terpri se wh en thi s or t at lanet ules the da or the ou T he ast ol h p r y h r . r ogy o f the p oem is not m uch ab ov e the lev el o f the Old Engli sh treati ses whi ch w e chd oms se abo e m et in the ee e . L ( v , p 1 1 4 Medie val A tti tude tow ar d Astr ology

n in t n It may seem stra ge , view of his generalizatio , that one of the mo st enlightened discussions of astrology in Middle E nglish is found in a work dated as early as the r n c n c latter half of the thi tee th e tury . It o curs in a frag

‘ n on c nc L e end o Mi chael me t popular s ie e , part of the g f ? in the S ou ther n Leg endary Collecti on The lines which bea r pa rticularly upon astrology are found near its begin

n n and c n c C i g , o stitute a paraphrase of the urrent hurch

n n c n A n doctri e o the subj e t of stellar inﬂue ce . fter a ge eral cosmological explanation o f the universe and an enumeration n n c n of the seve pla ets , the poet onti ues

Thu r t g ret wit o f clerg ie h ere !t he planets! names were fu rst d if oun e.

F or ech o f the sovene m ai et e tu an u rthe do g r v r , Bot e o f e e and f r ut as e e o e is therto h w d r , h r p r ; And also m en that b eoth ibo re under h ere mi3 te iwi s Sc ulle abb e d e se m te and l f a te t at e e e tu is h h iv r is , y , f r h h r v r , Summ e lechou rs and summe lotou ns and summ e ot e m ane e , g , h r r ; Natheles a man o f god inwit o f alle thulke him mai skere : For lanetes me ot non othe b ote eveth in manes lle p d h r s wi , To b eo l t e ot e o d as e e e tu ole to t lle i h r h r g h r v r w i , And veth also ual t to do so ot e so 3 y q i é h r , f r n his n t ech man m And nost o th e by i wi ay do. F or su c ual t at nom an to b eo lechou r ot e schrewe h q i é h h h r , 2 m n na h l ai hi f e t e a e ac t e es s o dot f e e . T hat ne m wi i h r 3 , h w

N 0 source fo r any portion of this F ragment on P opular

1 ‘ The p assag e is at times r eferred t o by its op ening line as The ’ t u tte o f ll The ea l est m anusc a e u 12 - ri3 e p he e. r i ript d t s abo t 80 90

c f Wells . The ec has b een u l s l m . e b e se e a t es : ( , p pi p i h d v r i ’

in t s o u lar Tr ea tis es on S cience on on 1 8 1 . Wrigh P p ( L d , 4 , pp

1 2 - 0 in a e nt o f the ea l est m anusc t au d 108 : EE T 3 4 ) r pri r i rip ( L S .

8 1 1 - 22 in ii m n Li t 1 n in . ahr b . r R 7 3 ) I f o . u d Engl. . ( 3 . a d ’ Matz ner s A lten lis che S r ach r oben 1 1 ff cf u e ll 6 . . t e s g p p ( . 3 ) f r h r, W ,

835. 2 ’ Matz n r A i ch B n 1 1 The e s lten l s e S r a ch r oben e l 86 1 . 8. g p p ( r i , 7) 3 p oem continu es with a descrip tion o f the astrological characteri stics o f the a s f h k Tu esda and atu a are on d y o t e w ee . y S rd y pr ounced b ad f or b e nn n in s gi i g th g .

1 1 6 Medie val A ttitu de tow ar d A str ology

n c n men u se closing li e , with its omme t that few make of

- s ns n their w ill power in their truggle agai t evil , is there a hi t that the author was acquainted with the more rec ent views n n in c o the subj ect of astrology , fou d su h works as the ? S u mma Theologi e of Thomas Aquinas But whatever n c a s s c s be the ﬁ al verdi t to its our e , the pas age must be co nsidered one of the earliest expressio ns in a European vernacular of the scholastic doctrine conc erning a stro I n n not n c s . c logi al fatali m E glish , the subj e t is agai so ’ fully d is cus sed u ntil the time o f Barbour s B r u ce and ’ Gower s C onf essi o Amau tis ; and the somewhat similar popularization of the orthodox teaching regarding astrology ’ and n in n Meun s R oman de la R os e free will , fou d Jea de , can at best have antedated the L eg end of Mi cha el by only ? a few year s While the reference to astrology in the L eg end of Michael

n s c n n c n represe t the o tempora eous tea hi gs of the learned , other discu ssions of the subj ect in Middle English litera n c n ture drew upon less moder sources . It is a ommon sayi g that the learned sc ience of one century becomes the popular

f Th nc in c c nc o n . e s ie e the ext more popular the scie e , fa t , n the farther behi d the times will it be . Side by side with nc n the most adva ed views regardi g astrology , there still existed the ecclesiastical conservatism of the early medie val Th i n c n . e e turies passages Middle English literature ,

n n acc-or din l c deali g with astrology , prese t g y a onsiderable — variety of opinions a variety which ﬁnds its explanation n o ly in the light of the whole history o f medie val astrology .

‘ 1 1 E a ( p . 6 ) v ery m n h ath the p ow er to drawe hym self to do w ell or to do ev ll whiche t at he w lle as he t at at f r e l b e te o f y , h y , h h h i r ’ t at one and o f a h t h t oth er . 1 ‘

Cf . S u mma 1 . 1 1 . : auc aut em sunt sa ent es u i u ns m od 5 4 P i pi , q h i i

assionibu s es stant. Et deo ast olo ut in lu bu s e a os p r i i r gi , p ri v r p sunt e d ce e et m a m e in c omm n N n m u . o aute in l pr i r , xi i sp ecia i

’ qu ia n ihil p r ohib et aliqu em h ominem p er liberum a rbitriu m p as ’ ionibu s es st s r i ere . 2 he R oman de la R os e s b elo 1 ff On t ee . 8 , w , pp 3 . li h Li ter atur e As tr ology in Middle E ng s

in n n c It is important , therefore , turni g to the ver a ular

s s e discussions themselve , to keep the early hi tory of medi val

A s n astrology clearly in mind . we have see , this was I n divided chronologically into two distinct periods . the n n n the , ﬁrst , exte di g to middle of the twelfth ce tury c c astrology was known only as a diaboli art , whi h had n been condemned by the Father s of the early Church . Eve when it was treated a s a formidable philo sophical theory

a nd A n nc a s by John of Salisbury belard , it was de ou ed a n The o f A ma ifestatio n of pagan impiety . arrival ristotle A a nd of Arabian science changed all this . strology was

cc C c a epted by the sc ientists of the hur h in theory , and

in c c The c n virtually pra ti e . hampio s of astrology , however , were not bold enough to con front the traditio nal teaching

C c n c . nc o f the hur h with o e diametri ally opposed He e ,

n o f n n c n con i stead attempti g a substitutio of do tri es , they

n n The C te ted t hemselves with a superpositio . early hurch had made no distinction between a true and a false astrol

The C c c n ogy . hur h of the thirteenth e tury , by making

nc o n an enthu j ust this disti ti n , was e abled to entertain

siasm t he c nc a nd for moderate s ie e of Ptolemy , to preserve , c n c and at the same time , pious s or for astrological magi , that manifestation of j udic ial astrology which it loosely

n c n c r titu in The n deﬁ ed as predi tio per e d em . vague ess

n n in n n o i here t this deﬁ itio of rthodox astrology gave rise ,

in c n n con the later e turies , as we have noted , to ple tiful n n n R n . c c c fusio s E thusiasts for the s ie e , like oger Ba o ’ 1 d Aill c and Pierre y , ould make their appeal under cover

1 ’ Pi err e d Ailly ( 1 350- 1 420 ) is an ex cellent example o f an imp ortant — ’ Ch u rchman d A illy presided at the Council o f Constance ( 1 41 5) who w a s a ﬁ rm b el e e in ast olo He e en u i v r r gy . v s b scrib ed to ’ Albu masar s o osco es o f the a ou s el ons c w e m et in h r p v ri r ig i , whi h ’ the n o f R B a on t s o e c . e e d Aill t o b e su e m a de an wri i g g r Pi rr y, r , e ce t on in the case o f C st an t c he sa d w a s not uled x p i hri i i y, whi h , i , r o e b the sta s Gu i neb er t D e I ma ine Mu ndi Ceter is ue etr i v r y r ( g , g q P de A llia co Geo r a hi cis O us cu lis a s 1 02 16 g p p , P ri , 9 , pp . 1 1 8 M edie val A ttitu de tow ar d As tr ology

o c Oresme and of the same orthod xy that served Petrar h , , c Pico della Mirandola as an excuse for their atta ks .

in sc n s in n c Now , the di ussio s of a trology ver a ular litera Th n c c . e ture , this situatio was still further ompli ated debate concerning astrology carried on by the learned could n A T at least boast of a continuous developme t . fter homas Aquinas had embodied the Arabian cosmology in his sys

no cc c — n he tem , e lesiasti al writer u less , lik—e Petrarch , deliberately ignored these newer advances dared again to n launch against astrology an i discriminate polemic . But the popular writings of the thirteenth and fourteenth cen turies were under no obligation to keep abreast of con ? temporaneous s cientific literature Isidore and John of Salisbury did not cease to be read o n the subj ect of astrol o n c c n b gy, eve though their on lusions had bee superseded y A a T A those o f lbert the Gre t and homas quinas . An example of the persistence in the fourteenth century o f the hostility toward astrology characteristic of the early M A n in n Ro iddle ges , is fou d the writi gs of lle of Hampole . w an c man and one sffidz fit at Himself edu ated , at time a c n Oxford , he was in all probability a quai ted with the astro

c nc i A logical s ie e o the day . passage of the P r i cke of

Cons ci ence n sc s eve sub ribe , vaguely though it be , to the ? current cosmology of the scholastic s cientists N everthe

1 A goo d llust at on o f t s is the p op ula enc clope d a the i r i hi r y i , I ma e du M onde Alt ou i n g . h gh t w as co temp orary with such Latin encyclop e dias as th ose o f Vincent o f B eauvais and B arth olome u s A n l cu s it ado ted as its nc al sou ce the I g i , p pri ip r mag o Mu ndi o f Hono u s I nclusu s t ten mo e t an a centu an ri , wri r h ry d a h alf previ ou s

see ab o e . 6 1 ( v , pp 2 r i cke o Cons ci en ce 6 - 6 1 d M e . o s B e l n 1 86 P f 759 7 7 ( rri , r i , 3 , p . R olle c ites B arth olom e u s Angli cus as the sou rce f or a p assage on th e sta and c stall ne ea ens . F or the ollo n l n i rry ry i h v f wi g i es, n whi ch he declar es t h at the m ovem ent o f the h eavens is necessa ry f or l e on ea t he n ames no au t o t but it m a if r h , h ri y, y well be th at f or t s a a n the o nal is the D e P r o r i eta tibus R er um f hi g i rig i p ( c . a a tman u on B ar tholom e ols . 12 1 N B pp , f assyngt on ( R eligi ous

1 20 Mediwval A ttitu de tow ar d A s tr ology

The fear o f tran sgressing the bounds of strict orthodoxy was also the probable cause of an argument against a stro logical fatalism which T r evisa inserted into his translation ’ his of Higden s P olychr oni con . In the third book of c n c n n c n A n hro i le , Higde i trodu es the lege d of lexa der the

and a Great , repeats the story of the Egypti n astrologer The c ctanabu s . Ne lose of the episode , together with ’ l T r visa s c n ns a s f ollow s z e orthodox omme t , ru

I n a da an Pheli w as ab sent Alisaundr e a e Nectanabu s y wh p , pr y d at he olde tec e b m his c a t and he r auntede an d an b w h y r f , g ; wh e come i n e e unto a ee at e tte Alisaun dr e e the b y f r d p w r pi , br w wicche in be sam e pitte ; and wh an he w as in bat pitte and deed ‘ ’ w oundede he axede f Ali ndr e h Th c a o sau e e e so . t , why d d y r f , ‘ u od Alisaundr e is to blam e f o r he w arnede e not at sc ulde q , , b wh h b f alle : e e ou l est nevel n e and s c uldest t elle a te ese y b r b i y g , h f r b ’ ‘ n o f h ene Th hi h n r d an se e N man es ev . e w c e a sw e e e d o by g id , ma ﬂ e hi n d ta ne I kno e el b is c a at m n y e s ow es y . w w y b r ft b y ’ ld l m e Tr i N tan u d i e owne sone sc u e s ee . ev sa. ec ab s se e s sa h i b w , i h n er f r i i n r r r and w as a w cc e, a d b o e t s eve e be b ett e t o t o wyng e b u t it were a vile s cham e f or a Cri sten man t o t rowe bis f alse saw e o f bis w icche ; f or from every myshap bat m an i s ischap e in bis m b m if i i i lle w orlde to alle nn e Go d a sa e t s h s . f y , y y v s wi

s n in n e ae a We have ee , our ge eral survey of m di v l astrol

s s nc cc s c ogy , that the per i te e of the early e lesia ti al fear of the practical s cienc e was f requently coupled with a generous

c S c acceptance of astrologi al theory . u h a juxtaposition of opinions w as already slightly noticeable in the writings of

R . in P i ers P lowm n olle of Hampole It meets us fully a .

I n c c n c n n s nc s fa t , the o tradi tio s betwee the everal refere e to a strology in the poem have been employed as evidence for h eld the place whi ch astr ology occupi ed in the b eli ef s o f the m ore lea n ed Th h H d . e act t at t e an l n S nne c in t s con r f h y g y , whi h hi n ection deals se e el t atal st c su e st t ons does not m ent on v r y wi h f i i p r i i , i ast olo m t b e t aken as a de oo t at the latte had not r gy , igh d d pr f h r

‘ ‘ p enetrated to the corﬁ rnon p eople o f England in the early f ou rteenth centu ry ( the Handlyng Synne w as written ab out 1 ’

ol chr oni con . 2 c d. t T r evisa s t anslat on b u mb P y 3 7 ( , wi h r i , y L y, R ll r o s Se . , 3 . As tr ology i n Middle E nglish Li ter atur e 1 2 1

1 T o n i ts multiple authorship . determi e the attitude toward

P i ers P low man a strology of the author of , two passages n s n are of particular importa ce . One of the e is found o ly

n I n c D S in the earlier two versio s . a spee h of ame tudy

n not c a nd c the po et is war ed to meddle with sor ery magi , A 2 A n and the al chemy taught by lbertus . stro omy is named

n c c n amo g the list of evil pra ti es , alo gside of geometry and geomancy

A c astr onom e is an ha e th n e and el o to no e y rd y g yv f r k w , Geom etri e and g eom esy e is gyn f ul o f sp ech e ; h nk h r he t the t o hr veth f ul late Whoso t e et w e c wi h w t y .

F or sor cerye is the sover eyne b oke th at to the sci ence longeth .

‘ ’ T he n c n n astro omy o dem ed by the poet , judged by the

c n can not n . ompa y it keeps , have bee of a very high order It is an astrology of quite a nobler kind that is referred to n in by the author of the last of the three versio s , a later 3 Th n nc h n m an passus of the poem . e i ﬂue e of t e stars upo a t is n n birth here take for granted . In illustrati g the dif ference between learning ( clergi e ) and common sense k nde w itt ( y ) , the poet says

Cle e com et ‘bote of siht and n e tt o f ster r es rg i h , ky d wi , A s to b e b ore oth er byg ete in su ch cons-tellacion T at w it w exeth t e o f and ot e w r des b ot e h h r h r y h , ‘ Vu ltu huiu accu li u n t u bi ecti vu ltibu cce l tibu s s s s s s es s .

T he fa ct that in the third version the earlier reference to astro—nomy as a magic art is omitted may suggest that the poet whether the same as the one who wrote the earlier — versio n or a diff erent one thought the co ndemnation too

. n n c n severe It may be , too , that the ge eral e thusiasti i ter

1 T s has b een one b o e s Manl i M d h . s o l. hi d y Pr f r y ( o . P 7 2 Ve s on A 1 1 1 2 2 . ff . B TS . 8. Ve s on B 1 0 20 r i 5 ( E r i . 7 B T ( E S . 38. 8 Ve s on 1 28 ff B C . . T S . r i 5 ( E . 54 ‘ I n Ve s on B the cont ast b et een cler i e and k nde w it i s r i , r w g y

en u e f en l 1 2 - 8 1 t e t . 0 : B T 6 giv q i dif r y ( 69 7 E S . 3 . 9 )

Of u od s cimus com et cler e and conn n e o f hevene q h gy y g , And f o qu od vi dimus com eth kynde wi tt ; o f s i3 te o f dyverse p ep le . 1 2 2 Mediceval A ttitu de tow ar d A str ology est shown in a strology at the tur n of the century by men like Gower and Chaucer reacted upon the author of Pi ers P low Th man so as to cause him to change his views . e denunciation of the mathematical sciences in the former of

s and the two pas ages is vague at best , may imply simply a

n c c n n ge eral hostility to sor ery and magi . Eve if the li es n n i n had bee retai ed in the last vers o , or if both had been the n n ‘ written at the same time , co tradictio between the

' two w ould have been no greater than that found in the D n n 1 works of a te and ma y another mediaeval writer .

The c n n n n dis ussio of divi atio , fou d in the fourth book ’ B ru ce n an of Barbour s , prese ts attitude toward astrology

t o Pi ers P low man somewhat similar that of , although in

B r u c the o n the e hostile point f view is that of a ratio alist , c cc c rather than that of a onservative e lesiasti . Barbour introduces the subj ect in connection wit h a prophecy made

an n Sc n by old woma to the ottish ki g , promising him ulti

cc in n The c mate su ess his ﬁght agai st the British . fa t that

c n c c s and the predi tio a tually ame true puzzle Barbour , , by n n c way of comme t on the ge eral problem of prophe y , he enters upon a lengthy excursus on astrology and necro

Th s n nc c nc . e c ma y latter , of our e , he de ou es as a wi ked art , 2 although he admits that demon s can foretell the future.

1 en in the ea l e tw o e s ons ast olo is in a t acce te . Ev r i r v r i , r gy p r p d All three text s contain a r ef er ence to Satu rn as a pr ognosticato r d in 1 1 B 2 . an n A 6. C o f f amine a d ﬂoo d ( 7 . 3 ; 3 7 ; 9

2 - 1 - 106 it is sta e t at n B 1 6 C 8. t Ver sions B a d C ( 5. 35 4 ; 94 ) d h m e l e cted eat e b the sta s shipmen and sh eph erds for r y pr di w h r y r , and that the present f ailu re o f th eir pr edicti ons is a sign o f

- n t m e Cf . also C 10 . 1 0 8 A 10 . 1 2. o esso d ege erate i s. 7 ; 4 Pr f r ’ k the F r anklin s Tale Visited . 2 has Tatloc ( The S cene of , p 9 ) already suggested that the contradictions in Pi ers P lowman ar e not i h a ea so r eal a s th ey at ﬁ r st s g t pp r . 2 - l in the ou t b ook B T E S . 1 . E a e B r u ce 748 74 ( E S . 5 r i r f r h t o f K n a B a b ou c tes a ( 216 in r elating the dea h i g Edw rd , r r i m leg end to the eff ect th at the Engli sh m onarch himself had a de on as a am l a who b means o f an amb uous e ct on ha d f i i r , , y ig pr di i ,

1 24 M ediwval A ttitu de tow ar d A s tr ology

Barbour was too well informed on the subj ect o f astrology itself to attack more than the extreme manifestations of

c n n . x c astrologi al divi atio His ma imum laim is , after all , that the astrologer canno t predict what will befall in par ‘ ’ ticula r c c ns n can ases . He admits that the o tellatio s

c n man o the can in li e a to go d or ill , and that astrologer ’ 1 n n s na a s n a determi e a ma tur l dispo itio . With reg rd to c n n s c i n the su h ge eral p rog o ti at o s , Barbour merely makes ’ familiar reservation that man s will remain s free even here

c n n nc s . to o quer his evil te de ies , if he so de ires He cites Aristotle as a notable example of a strong man who over c nc n ns n c n He ame his i li atio toward lyi g and ovetous ess .

c nc in so n therefore o ludes , view of ma ifest a proof of ’ n s o n t n ma p wer to shape his own desti y , hat divi ation by ‘ ’ 2 i n r n the stars s a ce ta e thing . It may be stat ed as a general principle that the enthu siasm for astrology shown by mediaeval writers varies in

c n e n h dire t proportio to th ir k owledge of t e subj ect . While many a popular religious writer might hold off from astrol

n in s no s c n is ogy as a thi g it elf evil , u h ge eral distrust n t n h n At s e o iceable o t e pa rt of the more lear ed . the oppo it

in c t he R c R pole , fa t , from attitude of i hard olle , was that

n n n c n of the great E glish theologia of the fourtee th e tury , ’ B ra w ar dine Th t D D ei t n d . e e Causa la ter s , although wri te in L n c nown and its c n ati , be ame widely k , dis ussio of pre destination and free will cannot well be overlooked in deal 3 ing with astrology in the England of the fourteenth century .

1 I bid o6- 8 16- 2 . 7 , 7 8. 2 - he I bi 6 The e e ence t o A st otle 6 2 i s cu ou s. T d . 74 . r f r ri ( 73 4 ) ri e am le o f a m an con u e n his e l natu e u su all c ted in the x p q ri g vi r , y i l te atu e o f the ou teent centu w as t at o f H oc ates see i r r f r h ry, h ipp r ( l b e o . w , p 3 Th m the t eolo cal d s u t es o f the ou t eent e i po rtance - in h g i i p f r h centu o f th oblem conce n n ee ll and the e ect ons ry e pr r i g fr wi , r ﬂ i o f t s d s ute in M ddle n l s l te atu e ar e noted b C . F . hi i p i E g i h i r r , y B o n in The A u thor o The ear l consider ed in the i ht o his r w , f P , L g f As tr ology in Middle E nglish Li ter atur e 1 2 5

A s an indication o f the view regarding the subj ect of astrol ’ c n B radw ar dine s n ogy urre t at Oxford , treatme t of the subj ect is in itself valuable . ’ B ra dw ardine s o rthodoxy o n the question of astrology is

n c c irreproachable . I asmu h as the purpose of his hief work

A s n c n was a defense of the ugu ti ian do tri e of predestination , any rival theory of determinism found in him a sto ut 1 n n c n oppo e t . Harking ba k to the quarrel betwee the early

ma thema ti ci con Church and the , he rehearses the historic

n i n nc n c s dem at o of the a ie t readers of horos ope , by the aid n n A A and o f ple tiful quotatio s from mbrose , ugustine , 2 Th n nc Gregory . e questio of astrological fatalism o e

B radw ar dine thoroughly disposed of , however , shifts from

c h n no t n the atta k to t e defe se . He makes obj ec io s to the

c o w n cc n the scien e of his day , a epti g in full moderate n n n ast rology of Ptolemy a d the scholastic theologia s . Eve

“ into his exposition of the patristic doctrine he inserts a c ff c n n c aveat to the e e t that , whe the astrologer i di ates merely n nc 3 Th and o his t . e te de ies m tives , art is legi imate action ’ of the st ars upon man s lower nature is explained according ! to the familiar reasonings of Thomas Aquinas The

Theol i ca M L 1 1 1 B a o l O inions P u b d an Ass oc . o . . . g p ( . g 9 5 r d w ar din is d scu ssed a som e len t 1 28 e i t g h ( pp . 1 B radwar dine sh arply di stingu i sh es a necessitati o per caus am s u er i or em and a neces i ta ti u a H sub ects p s o per ca s s inf er i or es . e j the uman ll to the st but e ends its ee om o e a a nst h wi ﬁr , d f fr d v r g i he c n t se o . The u le o f the sta s oul o f cou se all un e the d r r w d , r , f d r latte cate o c f S Ha n Th ma B r ad ar dinus u nd s eine ehr e . . o s w r g ry ; h , L ’ von der M ens chlichen Willens r eiheit Munst e 1 0 : Baumker s f ( r , 9 5

' trci l B ei g e, Vo . 2 D au l e C sa D ei ed. Sa e 26 . ( vi , p . 5 3 ‘ I bid : Si tam em atu m siderum ne u a u am necessitatem sed . f q q , uan am i iti nem n l n i m n h min a u dam q d d sp os o , et i c i at one i o ibu s d q os im m ’ actu s ortet non etu enitus abne andu . p , vid r p g ‘ ‘ I bi 66 : Pr i i ii r l m i n m oni d . . o ud c s au tem ast o o or u h sio o , p 4 g , p g co u m et caeter o ru m similium adver tendum uod stellae et virtu tes r , q coelestes multum dis onunt et e em ente ncl nant co u s humanu m p , v h r i i rp 1 26 Media'val A tti tu de tow ar d As tr ology

‘ ’ precepts of a sane a strology are themselves made to serve

n c n s . agai st the do tri e of fatalism It is our duty , says

B ra dw a r dine n c , to study the natural dispositio s whi h have n in n and to been impla ted us by the heave s , foster our

so in c n . good traits , that they may time o quer the bad ’ B ra dwa r dine draws upon Ptolemy s Centiloquium for the

c man n advi e that the wise , like the shrewd husba dman , will n t and suppleme t the aid given by the s ars , that by looking n s n an i to the future he will fortify him elf agai st in“evitable 1 A s an - c n n an evil . example of will power o queri g evil

s s n B ra dw a r dine s s di po itio , relate a tory f rom personal

c . nc c experien e He o e met a rich mer hant , he says , who confessed that the ascendant at his birth was in the ﬁrst ‘ ’ — face of Aries a constellation which normally would have predisposed him to a life of homosexual lust . Brad w ar dine o n n , expressi g his surprise that the man was

' a r es ectable c t instead p mer hant , learned that the lat er had indeed been c ompelled to struggle against his inborn pas 2 n n A n n c sio s ever si ce he was a boy . other i stan e of a similar kind B ra dw ar dine borrows from the S ecr etu m

S ecr etor u m n b , a work supposed to have bee written y

A o A cc n tu m n the . S ecr e rist tle ordi g to the , stude ts of Greek physician Hippocrates once took a picture of their t c be to master to a famous ea her of physiognomy , only to ld

a d ali ua convenientia rose u enda et cont a a f u ienda et aec q p q , r ri g ; h s os t o est tu s seu t um natu ale de ua mult hiloso hi di p i i vir vi i r , q i p p ’ nat u ales m o ales et ast olo sae e t actant cf . . 0 ff . r , r , r g i p r ; pp 45 1 ‘ N i m Pt lomaeum in Cen ilo io e b o I bid . . 6 : am s cu t secundu o t g “ , p 4 7 v r 8 : An ma sa ens a diuvat o u s stellar um u emadmodum seminator i pi p , q ” f orti“tu dines natu rales ; sic secundum eund em supra eiusdem verbo l m u multum malu rohib er e oter it uod 5 : A stro ogu s op ti s m p p , q ” secundu m stellas ventu rum est cum e u s natu am raesciverit , i r p

i n m raemuni eum cui m alum utu um est ut ossit al u s c e i p et f r , p iq id ’ at sicut et t estantur e e m enta su e u s ec tata. T ese same p i , xp ri p ri r i h aph o rism s o f the Centiloquium and several o th ers ar e u sed in a

0. slightly different connection on p . 45 2 I i 0 b d . . . , p 45

1 2 8 M edie val A ttitu de tow ar d As tr ology

’ r r in opposed to that of B adw a d e . Wyclif s negative attitude

not c o ne was so mu h of hostility to astrology itself , as one

n ff nc sc nc T o n s of i di ere e to ie e as a whole . the E gli h C c reformer , as to the Fathers of the early hur h , an interest in a stronomy seemed trivial compared with the eternal

s c a n issue for whi h he felt th t he was battli g . He already exhibits that literal interpretation of the Scriptures which found in the Bible an all - sufﬁ cient guide in matters secular

and c c n as well as religious , whi h proved in later e turies to n n n 1 be embarrassi g to moder scie ce . Wyclif did not formulate his conservative views on astrology at the outset o f his career ; nor were they founded upon ignorance o f the contemporary teachings on the sub T n n n ject . here is evide c e i his writi gs that he was well acquainted with the current astrolo gical t ext - books in his earlier works he seems even t o have subscribed to astro

T n a logical theory . here is exta t short treatise of his on c in c A A omets , whi h ristotle , verroes , Haly , and other ? A n s s c A n in c s rabia ma ter are f reely ited gai , a uriou

D e E nte P re di camentali c to passage of the , whi h attempts

n c n n n o inﬂu give a pho ologi al expla atio of o omatop eia , the ? ence of celestial bodies is tacitly taken for granted In

1 W cl has l ttle u s f or an ecula s u es atsoe e e y if i e y s r t di wh v r . Ev n law amm a and lo c are t o b e s u nned because t e ar e , g r r, g i h , h y m e lo ed f or ate a n olemi cal Wor ks ed. B uddensie p y priv g i ( P , g , on n 1 88 1 I n hi D er ita t acr e cr i tur e ed o . s e V e S S . L d , 3 , p ( B u ddensie 1 06 2 he e o ts ests not t o s en t e g , 9 , . xh r pri p d h ir ‘ tim e in w orldly stu di es : Si ig itu r sciencie seculares s int p ost onen de u a non d ecte du cu nt ad ietatem ue e st cultus Dei p , q i ir p , q , uanto m a s a tes contenciose et luc at e u e inducu nt cultum q gi r r iv , q ’ m n m ni ! l i 1 22 and seculi et ac a n heolo ia co te cf a so bid . f i t t g p ( . . ; b elo w , p . 2

D X I I 1 8 1 . 2 e E n te P r e di cam enta li uaest o ed . B ee , Q i ( r , 9 , p 97 ) ‘ ’ m l m n a The t eat se Utru com eta sit de natu ra celi vel e e e t ri . r i tsel c is a c a a cte st c sc olast c s ut at on is u nintel i f , whi h h r ri i h i di p i , l ble to m e igi . 1’ I i 1 W cl e s t o celest al n u ence in se e al ot e b d . . e , p 7 . y if r f r i i ﬂ v r h r o ks bu t his lan u a e i s e u entl so c t c t at it e uses to w r , g g fr q y ryp i h r f Astr ology i n Middle E nglish Li ter atur e 1 2 9

nc c still another insta e , however , where the power exer ised ’ by the stars serves to illustrate the relation between God s ’ n a nd n s c forek owledge ma free will , Wy lif already safe guards himself by stating t hat astrology is introduced f 1 merely by way o example . ’ Wyclif s mature j udgment concerning ast rology was dis tinctl n n a n s n y u favorable . He i veighs ag i st it in his ermo s , in n c c in Trialo us his E glish tra tates , and espe ially the g ,

s c c and the treati e whi h he wrote at the lose of his life , ‘ ’ c th l iae I n whi h might be called his summa eo og . all these

sc ns . di ussio , he emphasizes the futility of astrology He a ccuses the friars of practising sorcery? and of studying ‘ ’ 3 v n hi r n r n m ey sop st ee a d ast o o ye instead of the B ible . c n n n Wy lif would ba ish , appare tly , all astrology and astro m o c and . y from the s hools , substitute the pure Word of God

I n one L n ns ss s in s of his ati sermo , he a ert that the ver e o f T n B r u nt si na in s ole et lu na the New estame t , g , is ’ c ontained whatever of truth can be found in Ptolemy s 4 u d i r ti tu r n n - a r a m o i a . Q p , y other astronomical text book Wyclif even j oins to this religious co nservatism the scep

eld clea sense T u in hi D B a h i d Dz ie icki 1 8 . s s e l s em a e . w y i r h p ( , 93 , i i l n l n p . t s app ar ent y a co j uncti on o f several u ntow ard p a ets t at i taken as a n f n n h a I n a h s sig o di sse si on i t e Chri sti n Ch ur ch . ‘ se m on on uke 1 2 2 B u nt s na in sole et luna et the r L . 5 ( r ig m u tu al dep endence o f earth an d h eaven i s qu ite clearly accep ted S er m one e d Lo r h 1 1 ( s, . se t , 887, . 1 ‘ ’ uod onatur ac a em l D d D z i icki e e nte 2 . : ew Q p g r i x p i ( E 7 e . 1 0 W cl is t n to ans e he u st on . t e et e 9 9, p y if ryi g —w r q i wh h r P eter had b een free not to d eny his Lord a thing pr edicted b e for e an b st m s l h d y Chri hi e f . 2 D a 2 e A os tasia c . ed. Dz iew icki 1 88 p . p , ( , 9 “ h p , The n li h o k i s l ed . Matt e B T W r s o W c S . E g f y f ( h w , E . 74 ‘ XI ‘ S er m o I S er m ones 1 . 8 Et sic intelli i otest Au ust nu s ( 4) g p g i , dicens uo in er tili ta te s cr i tur e uelibe t ver i tas es t i ncluso q d f p q . Nam in llo Lu c XXI 2 : B r u nt s i na in s ole et Inna intelli itu r i . , 5 g g qu idqu id ver itatis quad r ip a r titum Ptolem ei vel ali a astronom i a intel ’ ligit . 1 3 0 Medie val A ttitu de tow ard Astr ology

A in A ticism n s . s c of the ratio ali t the ase of ugustine , the co nviction that astrology was useless tempt ed him to attack

n An n c it with scientiﬁc argume ts . e tire hapter is devoted — to astronomy and astrology the two are never clearly dis 1 h c —in Tr ia lo u A not tinguis ed by Wy lif the g s . fter a unsympathetic exposition of the doctrines of t he double

c nc c c . s ie e , Wy lif pro eeds to ﬁnd fault with them He

c one A c c n obj e ts , for thing , to the verroisti tea hi g that if n the n a si gle star were added to sky , the whole u iverse ? ’ would c ease moving Joshua s causing the sun to stand c n c still , says Wy lif , would alo e refute su h a theory . A n c t gai st judi ial astrology i self he employs , among others ,

n c nc n n n The the patristic argume t o er i g twi s . astrologer ‘ ’ c nn c certitudin liter T at least a ot predi t the future a . here are many factors beside stellar influence which determine a ’ c — n and c hild s fate heredity , nutritio , exer ise ; yet what astrologer takes account of these ? It is clear that astrol n 3 A o ers c c n n . g , like physi ia s , speak fi tio as ofte as truth fter c n t c n Wy lif has agai at a ked astronomy proper , by poi ting out that it is unable to explain even the simplest diffi culties fo r n n whethe—r , example , a gels regulate the motio s of the planets Wyclif passes judgment upon the whole science “‘ : talibu s c as follows Ex multis videtur mihi , quod peri u losum n in somniis istiu s scientiae immora r i est imis , s ecialiter cum f undatio n scientiae nc a et fi elis p illi s sit i ert , d

in aliis exercitiis animae occu ari N c posset longe melius p . e

1 a 1 D e Tria lo us c . : e C lo et As tr is ed. ec le O o d g , h p 5 ( L h r , xf r ,

1 8 12 - 79 ) pp . 3 7 . 2 i 2 W cl n l ut R o r Tr alo us . 1 . s es o be t G osseteste f o g , p 5 y if i g r r n m ce su e c f . on the ast ono o f A e oes Renan Averr oes et r ; , r y v rr , , ’ l Aver r oisme a s 12 1 ( P ri , p . . 3 ‘

. Tr i alo us . 126 : Et atet uod sicut m ed c sic et ast olo g , p p , q i i r gi ﬁ ngunt seep e sententias quas ignorant ; et talis fallacia est in arte ’ alc m ca e t in mult s s m libus so hism ati allaci er a t rutannis hi i i i i p s f t . I i 2 b d. 1 , p . 7 .

CHA PTER I X

ASTROLOGY IN GOWER AND CHAU CER

The n in s c n on literary i terest a trology , whi h had bee the nc s in n n t c i rea e E gla d throughout the four eenth entury , c n in n c A ulmi ated the works of Gower a d Chau er . lthough references to astrology were already frequent in the

nc t n c n t s n roma es o f the four ee th e tury , hese till retai ed

ns n n t ns in the sig of bei g foreig importa io . It was only the ﬁfteenth c entury that astrological similes and embel lishm ents became a matter of cours e in the literature of E n n gla d .

S c nn ns one s c n ss u h i ovatio , mu t o fe , were due far more

C c n A e saw to hau er tha to Gower . lthough Gow r , too ,

c new c e n n and artisti possibilities in the astrologi al l ar i g, made prompt u se of these in his retelling of the Alexande r 1 n c n n lege d , he o ﬁ ed himself , for the most part , to a bald a c s and . cc rehearsal of fa t theories It is , a ordingly , as a p rt of the long encyclop aedia of natural science whi ch he in

rt d n Con essi o A mau tis and in c n c c se e i to his f , ertai dida ti ’ ox Clam an tis and ir our de l Omme passages of the V the M , in s that astrology ﬁgures most largely his works . By rea on

c c i t c of this very fa t , of ourse; be omes all the easier to ’ determine Gower s per sonal attitude toward astrology . ’ c on s c s in Gower s sour es the ubj e t of a trology , so far ’ n n n Albumasar s I n tr odu c as these are at prese t k ow , were tor iu m in As tr on omiam t he - A n S ecr etum , Pseudo ristotelia ’ S ecr etor u m n L t n Tr és or and S ecu lum , Bru etto a i i s , the p ? A s tr on omie asc ribed to Albert the Great It is largely upo n Albuma sar and Brunetto Latini that the Conf essi o A mantis draws for the expo sition of astrology which forms

1 b o 1 See a e . 0 v , p 5. 2 W a obabl tt en b e e seen ab o e . t at t s w as h v ( v , p 74) h hi pr y wri y R o e B acon g r . A s tr ology in Gow er and Chau cer 1 3 3 a part of the s eventh book ( 633 The pas sage describes at length the astrological inﬂuences of the various

n c ns ns n n c c pla ets and o tellatio , ami g the limates whi h they

n and n s n c severally gover , the various huma di positio s whi h

c in n n The they produ e those bor u der their rule . passage

in c su mmar ~o f an c reads , fa t , like the y astrologi al text

n n and c c n . book , e live ed here there by bits of poeti des riptio Of especial significance is the definition of astronomy and — astrology with which Gower opens the account a defi ni tion for which he was largely indebted to the S ecr etu m ? S ecr etor u m Ever s ince the introduction of Arabian sci

1 M l 1 22 acau a Co m lete Wor ks o Gow er o d 1 0 . y ( p f , Oxf r , 9 , 3 5 ,

524- 6) has p ointed out m ost o f the p arallels b etw een the Conf essi o ’ ’ and at n s Tr e r T ese a e b een su lem ented b Ham lton L i i s o . h h v pp y i ’ in a recent a rti cle ( S om e S our ces of the S even th B ook of Gow er s ) i M d hil 1 o e ment on i A n t s : o . . G s Conf ess o ma . P 9 34 w r i m 20 t at his Albumasar by nam e Ha ilton p oints out ( p . ) h exact in debtedness t o the I ntr odu ctor iu m can only b e ascertained b a stud o f the com lete t e t a s it is ound in m anusc t nstead y y p x f rip , i h n na ula A a allel b et een t s o f the abridg ed text o f t e i cu b . p r w hi ’ o t on o f the Con essi o and Mandeville s Tr avels has I b el e e p r i f , i v , n b n n d I n n the ast olo cal c a acte st cs o f the ever ee ote . g ivi g r g i h r ri i m oon Go e sa s t at she u les o e m en who oam om lace , w r y h r v r r fr p to lace and t at she conse u entl has dom n on o e n lan d p , h q y i i v r E g ,

- s nce the n l s a r e eat t a ele s Con . A m . i E g i h g r r v r ( f . 7 749 54) And as o f thi s condici on The Mones di sp ositi on Up on the lon d o f Alem aigne I s set and ek u on B reta i ne , p g , W c nou is cle e E n elond hi h , p d g ; F r t t ra ail in lond o h ei v e ev ery .

‘ The Engli sh ar e similarly placed u nder the rule o f the m oon by Mande ll Tr el c a 1 : a n e av s . ed a d ondo 1 8 vi ( , h p 5 . L y r , L , 95, p . H m l n M 2 if a t o od . hil . 6 . ha s s o n t at Go e em lo e i ( P . 9 3 ) h w h w r p y d not onl a at n te t o f the S ecr e tu m b ut also a F enc t anslat on y L i x , r h r i b o f r o i de a r ef r M dl n y J W t o d . id e E gli sh translati ons o f b o th h av e ’ ‘ b een p ub li sh ed in Steele s Thr ee P r os e Vers ions of the S e cr e tnm ’ S ecr e't or u m B TS . E S . T he t anslat on om th a n ( E r i fr e L ti (pp .

1 - 1 1 8 4 ) dates from the time o f Gow er ; th at from the French o f 1 3 4 M edie val A ttitu de tow ar d Astr ology

nc nc n n e e , the disti tio betwee astrology and astronomy had become hopelessly c onfused ; William of Conches and

R n n n cc oger Baco had eve i verted the a epted usage . It

s n fi nd s n defi ni is intere ti g , therefore , to the old I idorea n in 1 tions reappeari g Gower . Probably for the first time! n s n and n cc in E gli h , astro omy astrology are defi ed a ording j n ns c - to the de otatio whi h the words bear to day . The passage on astrology in the seventh book of the Confessi o A ma u tis seems to indicate that Gower accepted in nc Al m r Y t is at n full the scie e of bu asa . e he o ce hostile to astrolo gy when it as sumes the role o f a fatalistic

c s n c philosophy . He prefa es his expo itio of astrologi al theory with some thirty lines ( 633 - 63 ) in which he expounds f T n the orthodox doctrine o free will . o the assertio of ‘ ’ the natu riens n n that all thi gs are gover ed by the stars , Gower opposes the belief in an o verruling Providence

B ot the d n se t ot e se ivi i h h rwi , Th at if m en wer en goode and wi se n l n n h dh A d p esa t u to t e go ede, Thei sh olden noght the ster res drede ; F or 0 m an him w el ib ef alle , if , I s m ore w orth t h an b en th ei alle l h l T ow ar des him tha t w e det a . B ot et the la e o nal y w rig i , " c he at s et in the natu es Whi h h h r , M t o rchen in the c eatu es o w r r , T at t e o m ai b e non ob stacle h h r f , B ot if it stonde u p on m iracle ’ m l man Thu rgh p r eiere o f so h o y . — o f r oi 1 1 2 8 w as m ade in 1 22 b ames on e. The J (pp . 9 4 ) 4 y J Y g translation from the Latin preserves the nu mb ering o f ch apters und in th o nal f o e rig i . — Macaul The F enc e s on a . Am. 7 . 670 84 ( 3 _ y r h v r i o f the S ecr etum cites I sidor e in a p assage which emph asizes the l u t l t o f ast olo in med c ne Stee e . i i y r gy i i ( , p 2 - A e s m la t ou t is t at e esse Am 6 1 6 . on . . C f 7 . 5 3 v ry i i r h gh h xpr d ’ - Macaula 1 in the Mir our de l Omm e 48 ( y .

1 3 6 Medie val A ttitu de tow ar d As tr ology

1 n c Centilo u iu m the sayi g are two of the pre epts of the q , ‘ c n which praise the utility of astrology . Potest qui s ie s ’ ‘ multos stellarum eff ectu s n one t . est , so ru s of hem ( No n n ear um nover it ac sei sum n avertere , qua do aturam , p a te ’ 8 : r r The c n . illoru m eventum p raep a a e . se o d ( No ) reads ‘ a n n con f ert coelesti o erationi u emadmodu m S pie s a ima p , q ’ 2 x r n n f er n optimus agricola ara ndo e pu ga doqu e co t aturae . so c t Whatever be the ultimate ur e of the phrase , whe her

s c c n on Centilo uiu m it goe ba k to a omme tary the q , or was arbitrarily ascribed to Ptolemy because of its similarity to his c can no c n tea hings , there be doubt that it be ame k own in n in early its prese t form . We have already met it the 3 S u mma Theolo i e T s A n s s g of homa qui a , who employ it ‘ in an argument against predictio ns per cer titu dinem : Nihil p r ohib et aliquem hominem per liberum arbitrium p assionibu s

n et s dicunt s ie m resis tere . U de ip i astrologi quod ap ns ho o d omina bitur as tr is in uantu m c c dominatu r , q s ili et suis pas ’ i ni n s o bus . S s n John of axo y , a Pari ia astronomer of the ’ n c n n c Alma es t fourtee th e tury , deﬁ itely ites Ptolemy s g as

c s n and n s the the sour e for the ayi g , i terpret it , by aid of the s imilar sentiment expressed in the ﬁfth aphorism of the

Centilo u iu m n n is . q , as implyi g that forewar ed forearmed

The a n n good strologer , he says , is able to preve t ma y an

n n n and can his evil by k owi g the future beforeha d , fortify client to bear a n inevitable misfortune with calmness of ’ ’ n 4 A l hi . C cc d sco i in s A cer ba n in mi d e o , , e larges like

1 S ee ab o e 1 v , p . 5 . 2 B ot o f t ese Nos an d 8 a e al ead b een u oted ab o e h h ( . 5 ) h v r y q v ,

. 1 26 note. See Clau dii P tolem e i mni a ue extant er a ed . p , O q Op (

p . 438. 3 S ee ab o e 68. v , p . 4 T he p a ssag e con st itut es the op en ing pa ragr aph o f J ohn o f ’ ‘ Saxony s comm entary on the I sag og e o f Alchabitius : Vir sapiens dominabitur a t s: D c t Ptolemeu in sa ientiis Alma E s ri i i s p g esti . t otest declara ri ic I lle dominab itur ast s ui eff ectu s r oventiente p s . ri q p s ex ip sis astri s p otest imp edir e vel prohib ere z sed hoc p otest facere u i s a en r u r P l m pi s . Mino r p obat au cto ritate to e ei in qu inta A s tr ology in Gow er and Chaucer 1 3 7

? n c n n The manner upon the adva—tages of astrologi al lear i g S ecr etu m S ecr etoru m at least the French version which

n — a c nc n in con Gower k ew has urious refere e to the sayi g , nection with an expositio n of physiognomy and astrology . I n n n n c the Middle E glish tra slatio , made from the Fren h ‘ by James Y o nge the passage reads as follows : And ther f or man b e nn n e r every , of the gy y g of his be th , by the

ster ris c n r ew a r de h m vertu of the wy h tha have to y , is dis o id d ver sel nd c s a . p y y to vertues to vi es But soth hit is , that every wyse man have vertu and will ; by which he may

h m n n n and ster is kepe y a e t ky de , vertues of as sayth B u usaru s Philoso f re in be nn n Centilo e g the , the gy y g of the g

Thol m ew of o e . ’ I n c o f t n the ourse time , Ptolemy s doc ri e o f the wise man ruling the stars gathered about itself a whole litera 3 n it n ture . It fou d s chief popular embodime t in Jean de

ro o sitione Centilo un ub i c t : t mu s astr olo us m ultum p p q , di i Op i g m alum p r ohibere p otest qu o d secundum stellas ventu rum est cum e u s natu am re sciver it Sic en m re m unie eum m l m i r p . i p t cu i a u ’ ventu rum est u t cum vener it ossit illu d a The c f p p ti . opy o Alchabitiu s whi ch I h ave u sed is in the Columbia University

b a . I ts ull t tle ea s : Libellus Ysa o i cus A bdilaz i id es t Li r ry f i r d g g , S er vi Glor i osi D ei u i di ci tur A lcha bitius M i , q , ad ag s ter iu m I u di ti or u m A s tr or u m in ter r eta tus a ohanne His a lens i cr i tu , p J p s p mqu e

in eundem a ohanne S axonie Ven ce 1 8 . T s is e entl the J , i , 4 5 hi vid y commentary o f John o f Saxony o f which a sh ort excerpt is g iven D M b . el sle in B ibli othe u e N a ti ona le : anuscr i ts a ti ns et y L i , q p L F r an oi 1 8 1 2 f Ham l n s a s 1 c to . . c ( P ri , 9 ) . 7 ; . i , p 344 1 A ce 2 2 2 r ba ed. Ven c e 1 8 0 . . ( i , , p 2 Steele Th r e i 2 1 6 T u l n a V rs ons . s sc t r ee os e . on , P , p hi p zz i g rip i o f au t o s i s not ound in the at n te t at least not in the one h r hip f L i x , ubl s ed at B onn 1 0 1 co in Ha a Un e s t b a p i h , 5 ( py rv rd iv r i y Li r ry , a f ol. 1 8 ) . 3 I t s o u la t in act cont nu ed t ou ou t the late m ed e a l p p ri y, f , i hr gh r i v centu es a nd th R ena ssance B en enuto da I m ola uotes i n ri e i . v q t i

his comm enta Comm entu m Flo ence 1 88 1 . I n the ry ( , r , 7 , letters o f R ob ert Gagu in ( 1425 it is ci ted in an argum ent a a nst a l d Thua n a s 1 0 Th st o o e s e . b s e e g i r g r ( y , P ri , 9 3 , 3 . 1 3 8 M edie val A ttitu de tow ar d A str ology

’ l R os M n not c Meun s R oman de a e . Jean de eu does ite

n and s s b n Ptolemy by ame , it eem probable that he o tai ed his

s c c S u mma knowledge from a e ondary source , su h as the

olo ie A n n The g of qui as , with whose discussio of astrology the corresponding passage of the R oman de la R os e shows ? general similarities I n the course of a long exposition of 2 n nc na a nd n stellar i ﬂue e , predesti tion , free will , Jea de Meun recurs several times to the wise man who braves the power of the stars by winning the victory over his own n I n c c t s passio s . ea h ase his hought resemble that of the

heolo ie T o c n nc S u mma T g . over ome the evil i ﬂue e of the

s M n c constellation , Jean de eu de lares I l sufﬁ t que sages se ti ennent 3 Et leu s moeu s nat es r e f r en nt r r iv e .

I talian Lu dovico Moro had the sayi ng i nscribed on a c ross ( B u rck a dt I t w as ev n r ib ut ed b one w r e t Vir il ibi h r y it i g ( d. e ﬁ g ” ow ‘

d llon x- 1 2 an V codrcm a s 8 . 1 1 cf i ( ﬁ y P ri , 4 , p 5 ; . H m l n m l m h a to . na es So o on as t e au t o The ece t w as i , p 344 ) h r . pr p p op ular as a conveni ent a rg ument f or an o rtho dox a strology as

late as the close o f the se enteent centu c f . K tt e e The Old v h ry ; i r dg , F a and hi A lmanack B oston r mer s ( , p . 50.

h u mm Th olo ie se a o l . t t e S a e e b e . 6 in a wi h g ( v , pp 7 ddi ’ t on to the l nes to b e uote s o tl ean de Meun s as s n f i i q d h r y, J ertio o the ee om o f the ll d Ma u l ns e . tea O ea 1 8 fr d wi r , r , 79, 4. 79)

Ma s la atal t e n ie i f i é j . T out ce ue eut a e lo c el q p f ir i , ’ C est leu r donner m oeu rs e t coeu r t el ’ Q u ils soi ent enclins a faire chose u i de leu t as so t la cause Q r rép i , Par la m at ier e d omi né s D ont les coeu s sont escla es né s r v .

an lo s Or i ines et S our ces du R oman de la R os e a s 18 0 L g i ( g , P ri , 9 ) nam es no o nals f or an o f the ast olo cal assa es o f th o m rig i y r gi p g e p e . 2 R oman de la R os e T he p assag es which b ear p ar

t icularl u on stella n u ence ar e - 8 - 2 M 8 ed. a teau y p r i ﬂ , ( r ’ n Meun s tat m . 6 ea de s e e t t at in h n 4 7, J n h t e ordi ary course o f e ent s the sta s o e n e e t n v , r g v r v ry hi g sh ow s some esemblance t o the l nes o f Go e uote ab o e r “ i w r q d v (p . R an 1 8 000- 2 ed Ma tea om . u . , ( r 4

1 40 Medie val A tti tude tow ar d Astr ology

A n n in c . a d n s a nd hampion of free will gai agai his ballade , ‘ in La F i cti on du L on lor iﬁ es nc his long poem , y , he g fra ’ not n D c vouloir . It is surprisi g , therefore , that es hamps al so follows Thomas Aquinas in interpreting the Ptolemaic ‘ n n on phrase as implyi g the possessio , the part of the vir ’ n not c c sapie s , so mu h of mere astrologi al wisdom , as of — the power of will to conquer his lower nature that part ? of man which alone is subj ect to c elestial inﬂuence The original meaning of the Ptolemaic precept was obviou sly quite different from that which is given to it in

R m n la R os a nd D c s A s the o a de e the ballades of es hamp . ’ S n and C cc d A scoli n John of axo y e o well u derstood , the vir sa i ens s n in n nc no one p de ig ated , the ﬁrst i sta e , but the

c n c c n s ie tiﬁ astrologer , who ould employ his superior k owl n n T A n his ow . w a s edge for e ds With homas qui as , who

n and D sc followed by Jea de Meun e hamps , the phrase ‘ ’ n n The acquired an ethical i terpretatio . wise man was n n n n man c c o lo ger the lear ed astro omer , but the of hara ter, who had indirectly gained control o ver the inﬂuences of the n nc n n n stars by masteri g the i li atio s i spired by them . Now n n r ﬁ nd an n whe we tur to Gowe , we that eve more religious n not turn is given to the sayi g . It is so much the man of

1 n uotat on Chan ons R o aulx 2 stan a : o i 2 O e . c t . 1 q i ( g y 37 , z 4 p . 3 4) may sufﬁce as an illu stration :

Ma s li sa e ce nou s dit Tholomé e i ig , , illes s i n u ri d Les esto e g e t e ca jus .

R es ste u et et e st noble e tu s i r p , v r , ’ A leu eff ect et n en a t es doubtance r , f i ; ’ ’ Car u s u l a d elles 1a con noissance p i q i g , I l uet u leu m ale entencion p f ir r , Et convertir en b ien leu r m auveu illance ’ Par F anc Voulo selon m o inion r ir, pp .

Anoth er p oem in which Ptolemy is mentioned begins with the line ‘ ’ ’ omme est la o e cau se de ses mau an d dea ls t e actl L h pr pr x , wi h x y the sam e ide a t ha t Gower exp ounds at length in his Mir our de ’ l Omme (Mir ou r A s tr ology in Gow er and Chau cer 1 4 1

. character as the man of prayer , who rules the stars It is , only in vir tu te D ei and m ediante D eo that the wise man is freed from the power exercised by the heavens

D i a ens dominabitur a st a I n virtute e s pi r , T otaqu e consequ itu r vis o r iz ontis eum ulu s et ciclu s omnis u o ue s e a su ema Cir c , q q p r pr 1 Sub p ede sunt h omini s qu em iuvat ip se deu s.

’ m ntis and Mir our de l Omm e Both in the Vor Cla a the , many illustrations are given where God had set aside the laws of ’ nature in answer to a holy man s supplication . Joshua , n in n D n bidding the su stand still the vale of Gibeo , a iel ’ n den c in the lio s , the mira le of the ﬁery cloud , and that of ’ c n in R ed S ea Pharaoh s destru tio the , all go to prove , says ? n n - n Gower , that the eleme ts are obedie t to the God feari g Gower was probably not sufﬁciently interested in the legal side of the question to tell us j ust where he drew the line between a legitimate and an illegitimate j udicial astrol n c c ogy . He owhere refers to the usual s holasti discrimina

1 2 2 - 2 Ma aula Vox Clamantis . 39 4 ( ed. c y 4. 2 i 2 2 - - i 1 2 Vox Clamant s . 38 80 ; Mir our 96 ( bid. . 99

N h n i h as a a o e 1 ote t e emphasi s o pr ayer n t e p s ge qu oted b v ( p . 34) ‘ ’ om the Con e i Amau ti Onl the a e o f som ol man fr f ss o s . y pr y r h y 66 can chan e the ot e se mm utable n u ence o f the ( 7 . 3) g h rwi i i ﬂ ea n I t i a l h ndu d o h ve s. s prob b y t e S ecr etum which i ce G w er t o lace suc em as u on a e in onne t n t a t olo At p h ph i s p pr y r c c io wi h s r gy . the close o f a lon e ense o f t he u t l t o f a st olo the aut o g d f i i y r gy, h r o f the S ecr etum sa s eel Thr e r er i St e e os e V s ons . 6 y ( , P , p 5) ‘ Wher f or e t s m ek l o t to kno e n s b e o e if o m en y y y w r h w bi gy f r , r m o e b ett r t ole hem and esch ew e hem whenne e no e hem w y h , b y k w to com e Wher f ore m en o h h a k . g te wyt byse pr yer s bys e be h egh e dest nour at he b his m e c to ne e ev ls at er to come and y , b y r y r b y b , at he lle o erw se or de ne and f or at m en awe t o a e t o b wi b y y , b pr y odd s itee in o r souns devociouns a e s f ast n e se ces g y p y , , pr y r , y g , rvi , and almesse and o e oo e ded s b sekand f o r f nesse o f b r g d y , y gy hir ’ t r es as and b e n h n n e e ant o f s nnes . T e F e c e s o p , r p d hir y r h v r i

- Steele . 1 6 20 has a lon a ed c a te on th sub ect o f ( , pp 9 7 ) g dd h p r e j ’ a e in c man o f Go e s o n e am les are u se os ua pr y r, whi h y w r w x p d ( J h , a d ona D vi , J h ) . 1 4 2 Medie val A ttitu de tow ar d A s tr ology

t tion against predictions per cer ti udinem . On the subj ect ’ x I n n of magic he is more e plicit . the Co fessor s sermon n w in c against sorcery as a mea s to illi it fruits of love , full note is taken of the fact that astro logy formed an integral ’ ? part of the conjurer s ritual Despite his general hostility

cc s to the o ult arts , however , Gower steps beyond the limit set by orthodox doctrine in condoning the practice of magic when employed for a good purpo se :

F or t ese cra f tes as I ﬁ nde h , A man m ai do b e w eie o f n e ki d , 2 B e so it b e t o g oo d entent e.

T s nc a c c n n hi ema ip ted view of magi , whi h had ever bee

nc n C c c n sa tio ed by the hur h , and whi h was among the te ets distinctly condemned in the important edict of Paris in

1 8 his c L 39 ? Gower probably owed to sour e , the atin ? S p ecu lu m A s tr on omie It was for just such a condona c R c tion of magi , it will be remembered , that oger Ba on ,

ss S ecu lu m As tr onomie the po ible author of the p , very likely w a s co ndemned to impriso nment at the hands of his 5 eccles ia stical superiors .

I n n n C c s n ﬁ nd c c tur i g to hau er , it is refre hi g to the dida ti a nd controversial attitude toward astrology replaced by A that of the artist . strology for most medie val poets was still too novel and dangerous a subj ect to be treated as a

C n - - o . A m 6. 1 Ma . 8 0 ed. caula 20 f 33 5 ( y 3 . 3 4)

He m akth w r itin e he makth u e g , ﬁg r , He m akth his calculacions , He m akth his demonstr acions ; His h onres o f A str onomi e He kep eth as f or that p a rtie Which longeth to thinsp eccion Of love and his aff eccion ( 1 344 2 n Am 1 - Co . 6 . 0 i i f . 3 3 5 ( b d . 3 . 3 b o 1 See a e . v , p 7 . ‘ Cf Macau la 1 . y 3 . 5 5. 5

See ab o e . v , p 75.

1 44 Medie val A ttitu de tow ar d As tr ology of the planet Mars with the heathen god o f war in the ’ desc ription of the T hracian temple in the K night s Ta le is ” n c The c s n n e tirely due to Chau er . orre po di g passages of the Theba id of Statius and the T es eide of Boccacc io con ? ta in no hints of a strology English literature al so owes to Chaucer the introduction of such astronomical peri phra ses a s tha t of the familiar lines of the P r olog u e ( 7

the yo ng e sonne

Hat in t-he R am his al e cou s ronne h h f r y , a type of poetic embellishment which became a commonplace ? in the fif teenth century Y et the v ery fact that Chaucer is first and foremost the literary artist makes it unusua lly difficult to ascertain

ow n e s na s on c his p r o l view the subj e t of astrology . There can be no doubt of his continued interest in the philo

ca and s n n I n sophi l problem of free will prede ti atio . view of the importanc e which w as given to the question in the

’ T a lo ck in The ene o th F r nklin T le i i t S c e a s a V s ted 1 ff . c f f , pp . 9 ; . ’ ' ’ the sam e autho r s A s tr ology and M agi c i n Chau cer s F ranklin s Tale Ki ttr ed e A nniver sar a er s B oston 1 1 ( g y P p , , 9 3 , pp . 339 ’ On the F ilocolo as the sou ce o f the F r anklin s Tale see R a na r , j 1 — 2 20 S choﬁ eld b M R m a nia 0 . u l od an o . . ( 3 4 7 ; 3 4 ( P . L g . ’ 0 T atlock The S cene o the F r nk in T A ss oc. 1 6 . 4 5 , f a l s ale ff Visi ted . . , pp 55 1 ’ - 2 f i 1 ff i K ni T 1 1 1 c T es e de . T i f g ht s a le 7 9 ; . 7 3 . ; heba d 7 . 34 ; m m l o H n kle te on hau cer 8 . A s la n n c N o s C . f i y, p 4 i i r i g i g myth ology with astrology is f ound in the lines o f the Tr oilus

1 202 - ( 3 . 4)

B ut T o lu s al ool o f ca es c olde r i , h r Gan thanken tho the blis f ul g o dde s sevene ; T u son r e nes b n en lk he ene h s d y p y ri g fo t o v .

Par allels f or thi s ﬁg ur at ive m eth od o f indi cat ing tim e may b e ’ f D n 1 1 2 - 2 D d et a c c . a t e s I n 1 1 1 n in ant e an . . u d . f o P r r h ; f 3 , 4 ; ’ 2 1 2 6 P ar 2 68 28 1 1 2 2 and et a c s ur 1 ...... P g . , 5 7 , 7 , 9 ; P r r h

anz on e 1 . 88 ed . Ca ducc e F e a F lo ence 1 8 . C 35 ( r i rr ri , r , 99, p ’ A 1 — d A el H ll 1 m or . e a e 1 i n d e . 0 . Tr o ﬁ 4 7 ( pp , , 9 , p A s tr ology in Gow er and Chau cer 1 4 5

? n s s not n theological co trover ies of the time , thi is surprisi g Chaucer recurs to the subj ect of fate again and again in

n and his n his writi gs , even goes out of way to i sert refer emees -to it where these are not called for in the least by ? his originals Although he seems n ever to have quite made up his mind on the relation between foreordinatio n and free

c in c c m en will , the referen es whi h astrology is parti ularly tioned point to the conclusion that he favo red a kind of

' n A in Ma n L T l — determi ism . passage the of aw s a e bor rowed in part from the D e Mu ndi Universita te of Bernard

Silvestr is— an n c s expresses outspoke astrologi al fatali m , although it doubts that any science is able actually to decipher the language of t he heavens

1 S ee he a t cle a l t on F B o n in u l M n A oc t b C e . b od a . ss . r i y r r w P . . L g ’ 1 128 T a l k d h f u c nt ( 9. t oc i scu sses t e subj ect o Ch a er s i erest in the qu esti on o f f or eordinati on in his arti cle Chau cer and Wyclif

M d hil 1 . 26 c f l M d hil . 0 o . a so o ( . P . 4 5 ; . P . 3 37

The in h i u 8- 10 8 i s the m s con cu u s excu r su s t e Tr o l s ( 4. 95 7 ) o t spi o

e am le. T s assa e obe ent to the amat c e u em ents o f x p hi p g , di dr i r q ir h t e sto a ues a a nst ee c o ce and f o r ab solute necess t . ry , rg g i fr h i i y ’ Pro fessor Kittr edge has r em arked ( Chau cer s P ar d oner : A tlanti c t 2 2 a a in M on hly 7 . 8 9) th t the idea o f f te expr essed thi s long exp osi ‘ — tion is subtly insistent t hrough ou t the p oem it is p erh ap s even ’ ’ he ke to C ess a c a act And o e so a le F B t s C on . o n y r id s h r er . Pr f r r t r w ‘ d P u M A 1 12 m a a h m a s b od. an ss oc. . 8 t at it b e t t e sa e d ( . L g . 9 ) h y ’ ’ m a k t au e a a F o r ot e d scu ss on in au ce t i e ey o Ch c r s ch r cter . h r i i s Ch r ’ ’ o f the oblem o f ate see N un s r ies t s Ta le 1 - 0 1 8 Com pr f , P 4 4 3 , 5 ;

- 2 i 2 2 1 - - 2 - lain t o Mar 2 1 8 Tr lu . 1 1 e e s 6 o s 6 . 0 1 nd p f ; 3 ; 5 55 , 54 5 ; L g ’ o Good Wom en 2 Kni ht s Tale 2 0- 1 - 2 1 2 ff t s f 95 ; g 5 ; 445 54, 9 . ( hi last i s ound in B occacc o T ese e e ences nclu de o nl t ose f i ) . h r f r i y h ’ ’ c ar n as olo cal A assa e in the Nu n s r i es t s Tale whi h e ot tr g i . p g P

(420- 3 ) shows th at Ch aucer was at least sup erﬁci ally acquainted with some o f the names whi ch ﬁg u r ed in the controver si es r egarding fr ee will

B u t I me can not ‘bu lte it to the b en r , A s can the ol doctou r Au u st n h y g y ,

Or B oece or the b s o B radwar d n . , i h p y 1 46 M edie val A ttitude tow ar d As tr ology

F or in the ster r es cler er t an is las , h g , I s t en God w ot o so cou de it ede wri , , wh r , 1 Th de t o f e e man t outen drede. e e h v ry , wi h

’ K ni ht s Tale c A c Palamon I n the g , the advi e of r ite to ’ accepts the rule of the stars over man s destinies as an

n c and c S c n u avoidable fa t , merely ounsels toi resig ation

F or Goddes lo e t ak al in acience v , p Ou r r isoun f or it ma non o t e b e p , y h r ; n t ad r itee F o rtune hath yeve u s hi s ve s . S om wikke asp ect or disp osicioun Of Satu ne b sum c onstellacioun r , y , Hat e en u s t s alt ou w e hadde it s o n h y v hi , h gh w r ; S o stood the h ev en whan th at w e w er e b orn ; ” i h and l n We m oste endur e it : thi s s t e sh ort p ey .

’ Chaucer s frequent use of such deliberate references ‘ ’ ‘ ’ aventure or destinee as

We e it b a entu e or est n ee r y v r d i , a A s an a t n is s a en it s al be ( , wh hi g h p , h , )

We e it b est nee o r a entu e r y d i v r , We e it b n uence o r b n atu e r y i ﬂ y r , ‘ con stellacion Or ,

n c n I n c f c fi nd is also sig ifi a t . fa t , it is di fi ult to anywhere ’ in Chaucer s works a n appreciable softening o f this extreme c Th fatalisti philosophy . e clearest attempt to harmonize astrological determinism with the belief in an overruling Providence occurs in a passage in which Chaucer was

1 ’ M n o aw s Tal - The l ne b o o B a f L e 96 8. i s rr w ed from ernard il S vest is c f . ab o e . a r e oun d in the stan a mm ed atel r ( v , p 34) f z i i y f ollowing ( 99 I t is worthy o f note tha t the suspi cions regard ing the p ossibility of r ea ding the future in the stars ar e additions h on t e a t o f C au ce c f . 1 0 p r h r ( 97, 4 ” ’ K ni h 22 - g t s Tale 6 33 . 3 I bid 60 - . 7 9 . ‘ ’ ’ M er chant T le 2 - c f l s a . r o . 8 F r anklin s Tale 80 T at 7 3 5 ; P 44 ; 7 . loc M d hi 2 n o . l . o ts to D ante I n er no 1 . 6 k ( P . 3 37 ) p i ( f 5 4 , 47 ;

- 2. 6 8 f or a all l 3 7 ) p r e s.

1 48 Medie val A ttitude tow ard A s tr ology

ignoring all this ! That he should have lacked information n Al h bi i c n . a d c a t u s on the subj e t seems u likely Ptolemy , n n 1 it is true , are the only promi e t astrologers whom he mentio ns by name ; and the only originals that he is deﬁnitely known to have used for his statements regarding D an ilv stris astrological fatalism are ante d Bernard S e . It

n n sc ss n is stra ge , too , that the lo g di u io of the problem of

foreknowledge and p redestinatio-n in the Tr oilus should and have limited itself to a paraphrase of Boethius , should have passed by entirely the more recent theories on the ? subj ect But these facts do not quite make plausible the ’ supposition that Chaucer s failure to mention the s cholastic n n Th views regarding free will was due to ig ora ce . e Divina Commedia of Dante and the R oma n de la R os e of Jean de Meun would alone have sufﬁc ed t o give him full ’ n C c s n c in formatio . Is hau er emphasis upo astrologi al n n on n determi ism , therefore , to be explai ed the grou d that his mature j udgment dec ided in favor o f a fatalistic

n s in philo sophy ? Or may it be , after all , that his i tere t the

c st c n problem was di tated largely by arti i consideratio s , and that when he had employed it for dramatic and narrative ‘ ’ no c to r n nor purposes , he longer ared bulte it to the b e , to argue it out to a fair conclusion ? ’ H-ow difﬁcult it is t o generalize concerning Chaucer s attit ude toward astrology f rom the evidenc e furnished by

n in c n scattered passages in his tales , is plainly see o nection with his beliefs regarding judic ial astrology and astro

c c . n c c logi al magi We are , amely , able to he k up these latter by means of a work in which Chaucer unquestionably speaks — in ow n n Tr ea tise on the As tr olab his perso his e . "Judging from the references t-o a strology apart from I no e the l st o f s c ans c t e in the ol u ig r i phy i i i d P r og e ( 430 ff . ) in connect on t the oct i wi h D or . ” ean de Meun who also em lo s B oet u s i s in J , p y hi , n al m m m e e uc o e o e n. g r , h r d r A s tr ology in Gow er and Chau cer 1 49

in T tis e on th A s tr ola be C c sc those his r ea e , hau er sub ribed to all the doctrines of the science as it w as taught in his

c day . Judi ial astrology , in so far at least as it undertook ’ to deﬁ ne the individual s inclinations according to the con

f n c n n Th n o . e ﬁguratio the stars at birth , is owhere o dem ed Wife of Bath ascribes her amorous disposition to her horoscope

1 M n ascen ant w as T au and Ma s ther inne y d r , r .

Hyp erm enestra similarly derived her beauty and her char acter from Venus and Jupiter? and owed her death in ? s n S n C n n pri o to atur riseyde , lame ti g her fated departure ‘ ’ T t he corsed constellacioun from roy , accuses under 4 ‘ c n Th whi h she was bor . e astrological system of elec ’ 5 n is n n The tio s also take for gra ted . lusty children of ’ Venus are said in the S qu ir e s Tale to dance when that n in n 6 T pla et is her exaltatio . roilus speeds well in love 7 c n in s n n be ause Ve us is her eve th house . Pa darus choo ses a momen t for delivering a message to Criseyde when the ‘ ’ n is in l 8 h n t . T e moo , the patro of travelers , good p y ’ misfortunes of Constanc e in the M an of Law s Tale are partly due to the fact that the voyage was undertaken under ‘ ’ 9 an inf ortunat c n n . On c c as e da t the subj e t of magi , too , ’ Chaucer s characters hold opinions such as one might

1 ’ Wi e o B ath s r olo u 61 f f P g e 3 . ” Le Good om en 2 8 - . o W 8 g f 5 4 . 8 2 I bid . 597 .

T lu . r oi s 4 745. b o See a e . . v , p 53 “ ’ u i 2 - - S r e s Ta le 6 6 c f . 12 1 2 e e the m ake o f h q 4 ; , wh r r t e h or se o f b ass is sa d to a e a a ted the p o e ast olo cal m om ent r i h v w i r p r r gi . 7 Tr oilu 2 680 - 6 s . .

5 ’ Tr oilu s 2. Pala 74. m on ( Knig ht s Ta le 1 359 ) g oes t o the t emple ‘ ’ o f n ’ Ve us in her ou - h r . D amian is success ful in his love aﬂ air , b ecause the ea en too i ‘ ’ ’ h v s s d n a f ortunate constellacion (M er chant s ’ Tal 2 - e 7 5 6 ; c f . F r anklin s Tale ” ’ Ma n o aw s Tale 20 f L 4. 1 50 Medie val A ttitude tow ar d Astr ology

The n nc nc expect of medie val folk . Parson de ou es geoma y n c and divi ation with the usual orthodox vehemen e , although he is willing to moderate his condemnation in the case ? c na c cc c s of medi i l harms , if they really a omplish ure ’ Chaucer s Franklin is likewise careful to guard himself against the possible charge that he would co untenance

c c c I n c n o cult pra ti es . ommenti g upon the astrological magic of the Orleans clerk he seeks shelter with the ortho dox c n M C c c f do tri es of other hur h , although he also s of s at such things as perhaps not to be taken quite seriously in these more enlightened days

s c f ol e wi h y , A s in ou r dayes is nat w orth a ﬂy e ; F or h oly chirches f eith in our bileve ” Ne su ff r eth n o on llu s on u s t o e e i i gr v .

T in e c here is nothing, truly , any of thes referen es to practical astrology that is strikingly divergent from the general tenor of enlightened opinion in the fourteenth cen A n tury . lthough , in the perso s of the Parson and Franklin , Chaucer paid his dues to the ecclesiastical hostility toward c c a magi , he a cepts a moderate judicial strology , and the ‘ ’ c system of ele tions , without protest . It is , therefore , sur

n in Tr eatis e on the As tr ola be t o prisi g, turning to the , ﬁnd

1 ’ ar s on Tale 600- 1 0 I ma es m ade u nde o tunat e ea enl P s . g r f r h v y ’ as ects o m a ls a a t o f D to o k in ade l p f r o p r the oc r s st c t r ( P r o . ‘ ’ Th n m k na h 1 26 ff e ref ere ce to agy e tu rel in t e Hous of F am e ( 5 . ) is non- comm ttal on th u t n f n n i e q es i o o right a d wro g . 2 ’ F r anklin s Ta l 0 - 6 The F ankl n ha s u st b een s eak n e 4 3 . r i j p i g o f the employm ent by the Orleans clerk o f the tw enty - eight mansions o f th m n T l Ki tt d A iv ar a e oo . o esso at ock r e e nn ers ers Pr f r ( g y P p ,

8 ff . has s o n t at t ese st oo in b ad o do t the C u c . p . 34 ) h w h h d r wi h h r h I nasmu c a e el n d h m f a o s t b o e to t e s ste o f electi ones c . e h h y g y ( b v ,

. t e cou ld t ea se b e ut t o lle t m ate u ses The cle k p h y wi h p i gi i . r can prob ably b e accu sed o f dabbling in the black arts on other ’ ounds a s ll T atlo k i n f au e s e see c o c t . a d c C c g r w ; ( p . ., p . h r ’ ‘j ’ own r e f er en ces t o the clerk s ar t as ap es and w r ecchednesse ’ ‘ ’ ’ illusiou ns and sup er sticio u s cursednesse

1 52 M edie val A ttitu de tow ar d A str ology

did not intend that he should thus be put to a logical test . But the passage show s u nmistakably that many of the astrological doctrines which he freely accepted in the role

c n w a s o c c s n of poeti arrator , he f r ed to all impiou whe ? writing in cold prose Perhaps he was particularly ca re ful to disclaim a belief in the more doubtful portio ns of the ‘ ’ L n c nc c w a s n t ow s . s ie e , be ause he writi g to ly e y my so e I n an c s is n s n y a e , it i tere ti g to observe that all of ’ — Chaucer s criticisms of magic and astrology in the F rank ’ ’ lin s Tale P ars on s Ta le Tr eatis e on the , the , and the

— c on n s The As tr ola be obj e t to it religious grou d . state ’ ment o f the Man of Law that men s wits are too dull to ’ n and n n c ff read the la guage of the stars , the Fra kli s s o at astrology as something which might have been well ‘ n n s c in e ough in paga time , but whi h our day is nat worth ’ ’ c c c s s s a ﬂye , do imply a ertain s epti i m of the a trologer

Y t n s one The e . arts . the main argume t is still a religiou ’ astrologer s notions are called rites of pagans in the Tr ea tise

h As tr ola C c c c c n on t e be . Holy hur h , not the s epti al s ie tist , ’ is appealed to in t he F ranklin s Tale in opposition to the ’ Th c n n in i c n c c . e c s ev t magi ia s pra ti es on lusio , i deed , seem able that Chaucer was still under the spell of the con servative attitude toward astrology which was characteristic M A s and in of the early iddle ge , which England , as we " s n alive as n have ee , was still fully late as the fourtee th n ce tury . ’ An c C c s c n n y attempt , therefore , to ite hau er o dem ation of astrology as proof that he was of a sceptical turn of 2 Th n s c n . e n nc mi d must be viewed with uspi io te de y , n c ns n nt i deed , to o ider early oppo e s of astrology as fore runners o f modern enlightenment has long fostered a mis n n n o f e c c u dersta di g medi val s ien e . From our point of

1 We h ave not ed a simila r c ontr ast b etw een the op i ni on o f the a t st and t at o f the loso e in C ce o and etra c r i h phi ph r i r P r h . ’ See oun sbu s Chau cer New o k 1 8 2 2 - 8 L ry ( Y r , 9 ) . 497 . A s tr ology i n Gow er and Chaucer 1 53

V o f c c c c C c iew , ourse , riti s of astrology , su h as i ero ,

c and n n in Petrar h , Pico della Mira dola , appear ema cipated n n w an age of gross superstitio s . From the poi t of vie A w a the of the Middle ges , ho ever , before the d ys of C c n n n r v in n operni a astro omy , these judgme ts dese e ma y

c and E on cases to be reversed . Ci ero Sextus mpiri s opposed

s not c s c a trology , be au e they wished to repla e it with a more

a n c n pl usible theory of the u iverse , but be ause they happe ed

th A c and c c to be followers of e New ademy , were s epti al ? ’ — of all science Petrarch s attack upon astrology though it deserves all praise for its clever satire of the Italian — necromancers consists of little more than pious arguments c A n c can ulled from ugusti e . On its s ientiﬁc side , it not endure comparison with a defense of astrology such as that ! R n n a nd of oger Bacon . From the poi t of view of traditio

cc c sc n c n e lesiasti al di ipli e , the hampio s of astrology , rather

n its n n s c n The tha oppo e t , deserve to be alled moder . spirit ’ that enabled Cecco d A scoli to face execution was far more n n c n n ema cipated tha that whi h a imated his i quisitors . Chaucer was a bolder s ceptic when he espoused astrological fatalism than when he denounced the science of j udgments m n ns . L s n n e as rites of paga ike mo t i tellige t of his time , Chaucer probably had his doubts regarding the ability of the professional astrologer to accomplish all that his s cience n n n boasted . But he was co cer ed chieﬂy about the questio n whether its practice was right or whether it was wro g .

T c n C c in his s n his fa t alo e would prove that hau er , per o al

man M attitude toward astrology , was still a of the iddle A ges . The references t o astrology in the literature of the n c n n n T he c ﬁftee th e tury are of mi or i terest . poeti possi bilities of astrology had been largely exhausted by Gower and C c and s n c hau er , the writer of the followi g de ades

1 Cf F B oll in S i tz u n s ber d r hilo - hilo l lass d r Ka is er e s . C e c . . , g . P P . lichen B i A k d mi d r i t 1 8 1 0 a er s chen a e e e W ss ens cha en . . y f , 99 , p 3 Medie val A ttitu de tow ar d As tr ology

. n merely imitated their masters In fact , the allusio s to astrology in the literature of the ﬁfteenth century are

n n nc T n importa t for little more tha their freque y . hey i di c n A n c nc ate that the popularizatio of rabia s ie e , which had n A c begu with delard o f Bath , was , after three enturies , virtually completed . The s n c n dis emi ation of astrologi al learni g was aided , at ’ n c n c T revisa s ns the tur of the e tury , by su h works as tra lation of the D e P r opri eta tibus R eru m of Bartholome us 1 ' A c and b c ngli us , y the several verna ular versions of the ? S ecr etu m S ecr etorum Astrological notions were at times ’ n Pecock s R c still take quite seriously . ep r ess or cites the fa t

' that the stars produce varieties of talents in the clergy as well as in laymen as an argument for an ecclesiastical ? hierarchy corresponding to that of a secular government I n R a tis Ravin c n the g , a youth is advised to o sult a master ? of astrology regarding his inborn abilities and inclinations

R n Sc c s c obert He ryson , the ot h poet , till harks ba k to the

r c n n ea ly prejudi e agai st astrology as a divi atory art , but his strictures are plainly meant only for that astrology which prophesies with a deﬁnite yea or nay regarding con 5 n n c n A L ti ge t a tio s . lthough ydgate , in dealing with the

o f A and M n in stories mphiaraus edea , also i dulges a

1 Th n l m l e e l W l . s s on w as co ete in 1 8 cf . e s E g i h v r i p d 39 ( , p The eighth book o f the encyclope dia contains an outline o f astrol A o and is b ase u on Mess ahala Album asar and ot e s. gy , d p , , h r con en ent summ a is en b an lo s in La Connaissance de v i ry g iv y L g i , la N atur e t u M onde ou Mo en A 1 2 - 8 e d e a s . y g ( P ri , pp 4 ; a b - see B a tman u on B ar tholom e on on 1 82 ols 1 1 8 1 . pp , L d , 5 , f . 4 ”

B l T ES . esides the thr ee prose v er sions printed by Stee e ( B E S . ’ th ere is extant Lydgate a nd Bu rgh s S ecr ees of Old Philos o e ﬁ r s ( ed. St eele, B E TS . ES . 3 The R e r ess or ed B ab n ton Rolls 0 p ( . i g , p . 45 . 4 “ "

R a tis R avin 8 EE TS . . g I . 99 ( 43 i xt ew a nd r d i ce 1 . ed . G. Sm t S cott sh Te “Eu y 57 ff ( i h, M l oci et S y, m fi

1 56 Medie val A ttitu de tow ar d As tr ology

? 2 n s ns Lindesa n desc ribi g the easo of the year y, Henryso ? — and the late romancer s the author of the Scotch Lancelot f — of the Laik is particularly character istic exhibit an n n n L abundance of meani gless astrological lear i g . ydgate

s in s c e c ns n veritably revel a trologi al d s riptio , borrowi g from Chaucer such tricks as the mingling of astrology with 5 n n mythology in his refere ces to the paga gods . A s c n R s c belles we approa h the E glish enais an e , the lettr es c ease more and more to furnish evidence regarding what m en actually thought on the subj ect of stellar inﬂu

n A n c n in n e ce . lthough astrology still fou d hampio s ple ty among the learned of the s ixteenth a nd seventeenth cen tu ries w as nn n c n in n c , it already begi i g its des e t the i telle tual sc a nd c n n ale , was be omi g the mo opoly of the maker of n I n n c . an alma a s polite literature , at y rate , the questio of

nc stellar inﬂue e w a s seldom seriously debated . For Shake

r and the n spea e other Elizabetha dramatists , astrology was

nc c n n n c pri ipally a o ve ie t sourc e for ﬁgures of spee h .

1 See Kin i s u air stan a 1 d a n 1 1 F low er e . so 0 . g Q , z ( L w , 9 , p and the ea 1 ff u e k at o d . Cha c r ia n and other i eces ed . S e L f ( P , , Oxf r , 6 1 H ff d Sm t . n n T tam n t i e . G. e so es e o Cr ess e d . p 3 ) ry , f 5 ( i h

. d at e T m l l ff d Sc ck B E TS . E S . e e o G ass e . 3 Ly g , p f 4 . ( hi , 6 I M 0. S a i n o th Ni htin a l 1 ff Mac r ack en in or oems : e e . C ) y g f g g ( , P

B E T 1 22 - S . E S 0 22 1 Lindesa t m n t th P a n o 1 . 7 . ) y , Tes a e of e py g 35 B E T 1 2 c f S . . n t ik 1 B T 6 . a celo o the a . ( 9 L f L 47 ( E S . Sc ck xx11 f u t e e ences hi ( p . c ) or f r h r r f er . ” Linde a k M nar che 1 ff B T s r olo to the B u e o the o . S y, P g f 53 ( E . 1 1 T i ff 1 1 D m M n ch 82 . r e e . h r d B u ke o the o ar e f 35 ( pp . 7 6 ff 8 . EE T 1 3 ( S . 9 . 8 H n ff m t e s n n 1 S . o T s ta m t o r i 8 d G. e e C ess e d . e . ry , f 4 ( i h 3 ‘ ancelot o the aik ff ff a assa e em n scent L f L 335 . , 445 . ( p g r i i a a en l f o f n 1 1 ff B T t o G e c . o Am . . 0 S . pp r y w r ; C f . 7 45 5 7 . ( E 6 1 1 1 . , 4, 5 Examples can b e f ound in abundance in the T emple of Glass 26 28 1 1 8 8 88 1 0 1 2 6 1 0 1 1 1 8 ( 3 , 3 , 449, 7 5, 7 , 35. 5, 97, 3 , 33 , 34 , 34 , cf also A M r ff Ma r ck n : B E T E . e Min r oems S v a ia . c C a e o S . . 9 ( , P ‘ 10 i 2 7 . S eg e of Thebes 553 ( EE TS . ES . 108. B I BLI O GRAPHY

The m ain p u rp ose o f thi s bibli ogr aphy i s to g iv e a r epresentativ e li st o f such b ooks and articles a -s deal dir ectly with medie val a st olo Man o f t e r r gy . y h se a e o f a g en eral natu re and h av e not b een c ted in th n ote i e s . T EXT S ANCIENT

F MATERN U S ulii Fi rmici Mate n Matheseos IRMICUS , JULIUS , J r i I I I E i K ll F k b V . d derunt . o et . S utsc 2 ols e Li ri W r h . v . L ipzig ,

1 - 1 1 897 9 3 .

PTOLE M ZE U S C Clau du Ptoleme i Omn a ue e tant e a , LAUDIUS , i q x Op r . d ta ab asmo Os aldo Schr eken f u h i B l 1 c s o . ase 1 E i Er w , 55 .

MEDIE VAL

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ A z i z O A ALi ALCH A BI TI U S Lib ellu s Y sa o i BDEL A BEN TM N BEN ( ) , g g cu s Abdilaz i id est S e Glo os D ei u i dicitu r Alchab itiu s , rvi ri i , q , ad Ma ste um I u ditior um A str orum inter r etatus a o anne gi ri , p J h l i m i nd m ann x ni e His a ensi scr tu u e n eu e a o e S a o e . V en c p p q J h i ,

1 8 H - in r N See a n Co e o . 4 5. ( i p g , B m n in n a a n m e n c O GU I Do D ece C o t e s T ct tu s Ast o o . Ve e NATTI , , r r i i ,

1 506. ‘ ALi BEN ABI - RIJ AL ABfJ L - HA SAN ( ALBOHAZEN HALY FILIUS ABEN

P re clar issim u s b e Com letu s in u diciis A strorum . RAGEL) , Li r p J

- in r N al e Ha n e o W t s . Ven ce 1 8 . See CO . 8 i , 4 5 ( i p g , 349 ; r , p ‘ ’ M EL- B ALC H i AB fI M ALB U M A SAR D e JA FAR BEN UHAM MED A SAR ( ) , Magnis Conjunctionib u s A nnoru m R evolu tionibu s ac coru m

Ha n - o in er No 8 C . Pr f ectionibu s A u sbu 1 . See o . g rg , 4 9 ( i p g , i A I nt r oductor ium in A str onomiam Albu m asar i s Abalach . u g s

Ha n - in r N o bu 1 8 See Co e . rg , 4 9 . ( i p g ,

O l m A r l or um Gre corum . 1 1 ols . C F . Cata o u s Co dicu st o o UM NT, , g g v

B ussels 1 8 8 - 1 12 r , 9 9 .

HI STORY OF A ST ROLOGY ANCIENT

B F . Stu en u b e Clau us Ptolem e u s : Ein B e t a z u r OLL, , di r di i r g Geschi chte der Gri echi sch en Phi10 50phie u nd A strologie ( J ahr

b ii cher f ii r lolo e und Pada o ik Su lem ent 2 1 . Phi g i g g , pp 49 e 18 L ipzig , 94. ’ - BO E LECLERC A H sto e de la D nat on ans l Anti u ité . UCH Q, i ir ivi i d q

l 8 - 82 o s a s 1 . 4 v . P ri , 79 1 58 Medie val A ttitu de tow ar d A s tr ology

’ - l i u a s 1 8 . A tro o e G ec e. B E LECLERC A . L s OUCH Q , , g r q P ri , 99 ’ R1E in aul - Wissow a s R eal - E nc cIO adie der Classischen ss E . , , P y y p

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R . Die Ma e im E n l sc en D am a des l sab et a n sc en ZENDER, , gi g i h r E i h i h alt H ll 1 e t e s. a e 0 Z i r , 9 7 .

WORKS CI T ED FREQU ENT LY BY SHORT TI TLES

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l a 1 8 - G e ca 1 66 o s s 66. r . v . P ri , 57

M P Lat : Pat r olo ie Cu su s Com letu s . Se es at . IGNE , J . . , P r . g r p ri

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