William Lilly, the famed 17th century English astrologer,
wrote the most complete explication in English of medieval and Renaissance horary astrology,
Christian Astrology, first published in 1647. Here are excerpts from Lilly's rules for
judging legal questions from pages 372-376 of Christian Astrology reprinted
by Regulus Publishing, 1985.
Note: these sections headings do not appear in the original.
Behold the ascendant, his Lord and Moon, these signifie
the querent; the seventh house and his Lord are for the Adversary.
If the lord of the ascendant or the Moon be joyned to the lord of the seventh,
or be in Sextile or Trine aspect with mutuall Reception, the parties will easily
of themselves accord, and compose all difficulties without mediation of any,
or with a little entreaty.
But if one receive the other, and he that is received,
receive not the
other Significator, they shall agree without Suit of law, but not without
intermission of a third party or more; and those that intercede, for the most part
shall be his Friends or Acquaintance that did receive the other Planet.
If they, viz. the lord of the seventh and ascendant
are in a Square aspect,
or in Opposition, with mutuall Reception, or in a Sextile or Trine without Reception,
they will be reconciled, but first they will have one little combate at law: and
you must observe, that unity shall proceed from that party whose Significator
is lesse ponderous, and commits his disposition to the other; and this concord shall
be the more firme, if both Significators receive one another: If the lighter
Planet be joyned to the more weighty, and receive him not, but the superiour Planet
receive him, it argues, he that receive would accord whether his Adversary will or not.
Having considered the former significators,
now observe the significator of the Judge, who is ever the lord of the tenthth house, and whether he aspect either of the significators, viz-whether the lord of the ascendant or seventh, or be in Conjunction with either of them; see if the lord of the ascendant hastens to the Conjunction of the lord of the seventh, or the lord of the seventh to him, and that the lord of the tenth house doth frustrate their Conjunction, it's then an argument they shall not agree before they have been at law, and herein the Judge or Lawyer seems faulty, who will not permit the parties to compose their
differences: see if the Moon transferre light between the lord
of the ascendant and seventh; if she doe not, see, if any other Planet carry
their influence or light to each other; for if it be so, itis like some or other
interpose their paines, and reconcile the parties though they be in law.
See after this, whether the lord of the ascendant or
seventh be strongest, for he whose significator is most powerfull,
ought to have the victory; he is strongest, who is in an angle, and in
some of his essentiall Dignities; the greater his strength is, how much greater
the essential Dignity is wherein he is; and if he be also received by any other Planet,
it's an argument that party is able, and that he hath the more Friends to assist him:
if you doe find that they will compound, the first mover thereunto, will be on
the part of the lighter Planet, who commits his disposition to the other;
for is the lord of the ascendant be more light, and the lord of the seventh
more ponderous, the first motion of peace shall come from the querent,
and so e contrario:
A Planet in a cadent house is more weak, if not
received or assisted by the aspect of some other; if the lord of the
seventh house be in the ascendant, then the querent without doubt overcomes,
and the Adversary will yeeld; the like happens to the querent, viz.
that he shall be overcome: and this happens not onely in law Suits, and for more
Moneys, but also in Fights, Duels and Warre: see further if the Lord of the
ascendant be retrograde, it argues the weaknesse of the querent,
and that he will not stand to it stoutly, that he will deny the truth to
his Adversary nor will he beleeve that he hath any right to the thing
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in question; if the lord of the seventh be retrograde,
it argues the same things on the quesited's part.
Behold the significator of the Judge
who is to give sentence in the Cause, which is the lord of the tenth house,
whether he be direct, and behold them, for then he will proceed according to order
of law in the Cause, and will endeavour to shorten and determine it; but if he be
Retrograde, it's an argument the Judge will not goe on or proceed according to
order of lax,,, nor will he care to end it; nay it's rather probable he will prolong
it a longer time then he ought by law: judge the same if the Lord of the ascendant be
separated from the Lord of the seventh, or the Lord of the seventh from the Lord of the
ascendant.
See if the Lord of the ascendant be in aspect with the
Sun or Moon, or either of them joyned to him, so that no other Planet hinder
their aspect, beware it be not a corporall Conjunction, for that signifies an
impediment, unlesse the Planet were in the heart of the Sun, for then the Planet
was fortified thereby; so is he in like nature, if the Planet be in either of the
houses of the Luminaries, or if the Sun and Moon be in the ascendant,
these argue the potency of the Querent: if the Lord of the seventh be dignified or
qualified as before I mentioned of the Lord of the ascendant, you must judge in like
nature on the behalfe of the quesited: If the Lord of the ascendant be joyned
to the Lord of the tenth, he that is the querent will acquaint the Judge
himselfe, or make meanes to acquaint him with his Cause, and it may be he will endeavour
to bribe the Judge, that so he may judge on his side: , if the lord of the tenth
receive the lord of the second, the Judge will have Money for his paines; but
if the lord of the tenth receive the Lord of the ascendant, the Judge hears
the querent's importunities, otherwayes not.
If the lord of the tenth be more light then the lord of the
ascendant, and joyned unto him, he will doe the querent's businesse though
he never speak unto him;
if the lord of the second be joyned to the lord of the tenth,
then the Adversary makes meanes to the Judge; and
if the lord of the tenth receive the lord of the seventh, he will assist him;
but if he receive the Lord of the eighth, he will take his Money.
If the lord of the tenth receive both significators the Judge will
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compose the matter ere it doe come to a full Tryall.
If the Lord of the tenth be in the tenth, in his owne house,
the Judge will then doe justice, and judge the cause of his honour,
unlesse that Planet he Saturn: if the Lord of the tenth be onely in his owne Termes or
Triplicity, it's true the Judge will determine the Cause, but makes no matter
which way it goes, if a Planet be in the tenth house that hath no dignity, or is not
in Reception with the Lord of the tenth, it argues the parties will not be content, or
stand to that Sentence, they both feare that Judge, and had rather have
another Judge his Sentence, with which they would be content: If Saturn
be Judge, he will not judge as he ought; if at that time Jupiter, Venus,
Sun, Mercury or Moon be in any aspect to Saturn but Opposition, the Judge
will be ill reported of, but in a little time will be cleered, and the aspersion
taken off; but if any of those be in Opposition to Saturn, there will goe a hard
report on the Judge for that his Sentence, and it will continue long;
the Judges defamation will be great if Mars be in Opposition to Saturn,
unlesse Mars be with Saturn in Capricorn, then the scandall will be the lesse.
But to be short, in these like Judgments observe this method;
the Querent is signified by the Lord of the ascendant, the Adversary
by the Lord of the seventh, the Judge by the Lord of the tenth, the end of the
matter from the Lord of the fourth; consider well the Lords of the houses, their
Fortitudes, and whether they be in Angles, Succedants or Cadents, Fortunate or not
Fortunate; for the Planet that' is most strong, and best posited, is the best man,
and most likely to carry the victory, and hath the best Cause.
If more Planets be in the ascendant and second,
the Querent shall have most Friends & sic e contrario:
if both Significators give their vertue to one Planet, there
will be one who will intercede betwixt them: if the Signe ascending and
seventh be fixed, both querent and quesited are resolutely
bent to proceed in the Suit or Controversie; if movable Signes be there,
it's like they have no great stomack to the businesse but will end it very
shortly; if common Signes be there, they will continue the Suit long,
and have the Cause out of one Court into another; on whose part you
find the Infortunes, that party shall receive most prejudice,
sorrow and trouble by the Contention.
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You are to consider in this manner of Judgment the Moon from whom
she is separated, and the Planet to whom she applyes are equally significant,
as the ascendant and seventh houses, &c.