YA L E S T U D I E S I N EN G L I S H

A L B E RT S . C O OK , ED IT O R

T HE M E D IE V A L AT T I T UDE
T O W A R D A ST R O L O GY

PA R T I C U L A R L Y IN E N GL A N D

T HE O D O R E OTT O WE D E L
I n st ru ct o ri n E n g l i sh i n Y a l e U n i r i ty
ve s

A D i i
s s e rt at o n p re se nt e d t o th e F a cu l ty o f th e r
G a d u at e Sc h o ol

of Y al e Un iv e rs i ty i n i
C a n d d a cy f o r t h e D e g r e e of

D o c t or of P hil o so phy

NEW H A V EN : YA L E UN I VER S I T Y P R ES S
L ON D O N : HU M P H R E Y MI L F O R D
OX FO R D U N IV E R S I T Y P R E S S

M D C CC C X X
 P R E FA C E

M edi aeval astrology ha s lo ng su ff ered a n egle c t whi c h ,

j udged i n t r i n si cally it deserves ,

L ittle mo r e than a .

roma ntic i nterest n o w atta c he s to a c omplex divi n ato ry a r t

that fo r c e nturies ha s bee n looked upon a s on e o f the
aberratio n s o f the huma n mi n d Whe n viewed histori cally .
,

however a s t r o l ogy is see n to have o ccupied a pla c e i n art

,

a n d philosophy whi c h ma ny a later s c ie n c e might e nvy and ,

whi c h c o n seque n tly it is not well t o ign o r e

, ,
A nc ie n t .

a s t r ology i n deed ha s al r eady re c eived i n re c e n t years c lose

, ,

a n d app r e c iative study T he poem o f M a n ilius has n ever

.

lost its appeal for the c lassi c ist ; a n d the promi n e n c e o f

ast r ologi c al thought i n a nc ie n t philosophy a n d ethi c s has
f reque ntly arou s ed the c u r io sity o f s cholars A hist ory o f .

medi aeval astrology o n the other ha n d still remai n s to be

, ,

writte n .

Y et for the men o f the thirteenth c entury eve n more tha n ,

for t he poets a n d philoso phers o f Gree c e a n d R ome the ,

rule o f the s t ars over huma n desti n ie s was a n i n disputable

fa c t e nteri n g i nto t heir every c o nc eptio n o f the u n iver s e
, .

I n that sudde n revival o f A r istotelia n a n d A rabian learni n g

whi c h in the twelfth c e ntu r y heralded t he s c holasti c age
, , ,

ast r ology was hailed as the c hief o f the s c ie nc es A lthough .

a lo n g warfare with theology had to pre c ede its a c c epta n c e

by me d i aeval orthodoxy its fi nal triumph was c omplete , .

T heologia ns dared to credit the stars with a power se c o n d

o n ly to that o f God himsel f he n C hau c er in li n es . W ,

e choing D ante s I nfer n o ex c laims

’

O i nfl u en c e s of thi e h s e ven es hy e !
S ot h i s, t h at , u nd e r G d o , y e b en ou r hi er d e s,

he is expressi ng the c o nvictio n o f the best medi aeval

thi nkers A strology o ff eri ng as it did a reaso n ed expla na
.
, , ,
 M edicevo l A tti tu d e t ow ar d A s tr ol og y

tio n o f a n i nfi n ite dive r sity o f phy s i c al phe n ome n a a n d ,

i nc ludi ng i n its s c ope p syc hology a n d ethi cs made po ss ible ,

eve n in the Middle A ge s d r eam s o f a u n ive r sa l s c ie n c e .

I have e n deavo r ed i n this dis s e r tatio n to tra c e the devel

op m en t o f medi aeval thought c o n c er n i ng a s trology f r om

A ugusti n e to the fi ftee nth c e ntu r y a n d to i n terp r et refer

,

e nc e s to it i n medi aeval E n gli s h litera tu r e T he larger .

—
purpose w a s a dire c t outgrowth o f the s e c o n d a summa r y
o f as t r ologi cal passage s i n O ld a n d Middle E ngli sh provi n g
barre n without a n i nte r pretative ba c kg r ou n d It will be .

easily re c og ni z ed that the t r eatme n t o f medi aeval ast r ology

as a whole i s c u r so r y a n d i n c omplete A field so little
.

explored a s that o f A r abian a n d Je w i s h s c ie nc e o ff ers

c ou n tless di ffi c ultie s to the n ovi c e But the ge n e r al t r e n d
.

o f ast r ologi c al opi n io n i n the Middle A ges seemed n ot

impo s sible o f dis c overy a n d called fo r at leas t a te ntative
,

e xpla n atio n .

T he re c e n t i n vestigatio n s o f s everal s c holars have

e nc ouraged my i n te r e s t in t he p r e s e n t wo r k Pro f essor .

T a t lo ck s studies on the a s trology o f C h a u c er w ere r e s p on

-
’

s ible for my first i n tellige n t V iew o f the problem S ome .

twe nty page s o f i n c ide ntal expositio n i n hi s S cen e of the

F r a n kli n s T a l e Vi s i t ed co n stitute the most sugg es tive
’

mo n ograph of medi aeval astrology with whi c h I am

a cquai nted T he ea r lie r volume s o f D u hem s S ys tem e du
.
’

M on d e al s o aided me i n matte r s bibliog r aphi c al a n d i n out ,

li nin g the evolutio n o f s c ien tifi c ideas f r om A r i st otle to

mode r n time s A lthough my i n t r odu c to r y dis c u ss io n o f
.

a nc ie nt astrology i s based upo n B ou ch é L ecl er c q s A s tr ol

-
’

og i e Gr ec q u e I have e n deavored to i n te r p r et the early his

,

to r y o f the s c ie nc e i n the light o f i t s later developme n t T he .

pri nc ipa l c o ntr i butio n o f the prese n t study i n fact will be

, ,

fou n d to c o n s i s t in a n attempt t o explai n the medi aeval

attitude towa r d astrology a s the result o f a c ombat betwee n
a n e cc lesiasti c al hostility inherited from the a n c ie n t C hur c h
, ,

a nd the i n c reasi n gly i nsiste n t dema n d s o f A r abian s c ie n c e .

 P r efa ce

My thanks are due to the o ffic ials o f the L ibra r y o f Y ale

‘

U n iversity who se c ured f or me ma ny o f the b ooks here

,

c ited ; to Pro fe s sor J S P T atlo c k o f L ela n d S ta n f o r d

. . .
,

Un ivers ity a n d Pro fesso r T F C ra n e o f C or n ell U n iver

,
. .
,

s it y for c ourteous replies to queries ; and to Pro fe s sor C C

, . .

T orrey a n d Pro fes s or Willisto n Walker o f Y ale U n iver s ity , ,

fo r aid in s o lvi n g problems o f O rie ntal biblio graphy My .

gratitu d e to Pro fessor A lbert S t a nb u r r ou g h C ook u n der ,

whom this disserta t ion was wri t te n must be le ft largely ,

unexpressed Pro fessor C ook helpe d me everywhere

.
,

always u ng rudging o f his time a n d always ready with ,

sympatheti c c ou n sel .

A portio n o f the exp e n se o f pri n ti n g this thesis ha s b e e n

bor n e by the Moder n L angua g e Club o f Y ale U n iversity ,

f rom funds plac ed at its disposal by the ge n erosity o f the

late Mr George E D imock a gra d uate o f Y ale in the
. .
,

C lass o f 1 8 74 .

YAL E UN I VERS I TY ,

N ovem b er , 1 9 1 9.
 C O NT E N T S
C H A PTER P AGE
I A nc ient A stro logy
.

II . A strology i n the E arly M edi aeval C e n turies

III . As tro logy i n O ld E nglish L iterature

IV . A rabia n A strology

V . T he Medi aeval A cc epta n c e of A strology

VI . A strologers i n M edi aeval E ngland

VI I . A strology in the M edi aeval R oma n c es

VI I I . A strolo gy i n M iddle E n glish L iteratu r e

IX . A stro logy i n G ower and C hau c e r

B ibliography
I ndex
 C H A P TE R I

A N C I E N T AST R O L O G Y

L ittle
is definitely know n o f the history o f astrolo gy
be f o re its adve n t in the Greek worl d at the time o f the
A lexa n dria n empi re A ri si n g somewhere i n the C haldean.

E a st a n d spreadi ng early over E gypt it w on its first f oot

, ,

hold i n the West i n a s c hool o f astrologe r s fou n ded by

B erosu s o n the i sla n d o f Co s A strologi c al divi n ati on .

amo n g the Babylo n ians seems to have bee n o f a primitive

sort c o n fi n i n g itself to e c lipses a n d to ge n eral prophe c i es
, ,

c o n c e r ni n g ki n gs and realms It was in the han ds o f the .

Greeks that a strology developed into that i n tri c ate s c ien c e

o f divi n ation f ortified by the best philosophi cal thought o f
,

the time whi c h we e nc ou n ter i n the c lassi c texts o f Ma n ilius

,

a n d Ptolemy
1
.

T hough astrology e n tered the Greek worl d late it fou n d ,

a soil prepare d for its re c e p tion Popular superstitio n s .

regardi n g lu c ky an d u n lu c ky days have bee n c urre n t amo n g

all peoples ; Hesio d had su n g o f them i n his Wor ks a n d
D ays A strology fu r thermore won ready co nverts amo n g
.
, ,

the philosophers T hough the c ontempo raneous S toi c .

s chool was the fi rst openly to espouse its do ctrines astrology ,

di s c overed many poi nts o f c o nta c t in the systems that had

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

expressly made fo r the n e w s c ien c e T he f our elements o f .

E mpedo c les f ou n d here a new home A n d o f the utmost .

importan c e fo r its later history w ere the relatio n s whi c h

astrolo gy f o rmed with the philosophi c al systems o f Plato
1
T he au t h o ri t t iv ea st u dy o f Gr eek r
a s t o l og y i s B ou c hé -
Lecl e r cq
’
s
’
L A s t r o l og i e Gr e cq u e, Pari s ,
1 899 . Ch
di s a l d ea n r
a s t o l o gy is
c u s se d on pp .
3 5 72 -
. h r
T h e b e st s o t a ccou nt o f a n c e nt a st ol o gy i r
i s the a rti cle A s tr ol og i e b y R e s s, i nE i
aul
. Wi s sow a s R ea l
’
P y -

e n cy c l opad i e d er C lass i s ch en A l ter thu msw is s e ns chaf t ( S tu tt g a r t

'

1 896 ) 1 . 1 802 28 -
.
 M ed i m / a l A t ti tu de tow ar d A s tr ology

and A r istotle With Platonism ast r ology experien c ed little

.
,

di fficulty The Ti meouts Be c ame i n late r times a ve r itable

.

breviary n ot o nly f o r a strologe r s but f or te ac he r s of magi c

, ,

o f all sorts T he myth o f the D emiurge c reati n g the wo r ld

.
,

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

r elated to eve r y othe r p r ese n ted the very pri n c iple that with ,

the S t o i c s be c ame the c o rn e r ston e o f the an c ie n t f a ith i n -

divi n atio n M a n a s a mi c r o c o s m the S toi c s s a id merely

.
, , ,

refle c ted the great w o rld about an d above him M oreover .

,

the pi c ture i n the Ti mrou s o f the soul de sc e n di n g f r om the

uppe r he ave n s by w ay o f the p lan et a r y god s each e n dowi n g ,

it with i t s pr oper gi ft s was a d mi r ably fitted for a st r ologi c al ,

i n te r p r etatio n at the han d o f the c omme n tato r 1

T o be s ure .
,

whe n a strol o gy later allie d it s el f with a s t r on omy a n d took ,

o n a more sc ie n tifi c a s pe c t Plato n ism with i t s myth s w a s , , ,

foun d les s adaptable S o s im p le a n astro logi c al do c t r i n e as .

that c on c e rn i n g the evil i n flue n c e o f the p lanet S atu r n

baffled the philoso p her s Ho w c ould a b en efi c ent plan etary .

god be the sour c e o f evil ? T he N e oplato n i st Ploti nu s w m

, ,

t he staf s vi7é £ e n
k ’

solve d s u c h di ffic ulties by s ayi n g ot

u

c ause s o f a n ythi n g but sign s o n ly T his ea s y expla n atio n

, .

be c ame ge n eral amo n g Plato n i sts I t i s f o u n d a s late as .

the s cholasti c William o f A uvergn e a n d the R e n ai s san c e

, ,

philosopher M a r silio Fi c i n o ,
.

While astrology dis c overed a ready ally 1n Plato it fou n d ,

“
o nly a n i n di ff e r e n t o n e in A r i st otl e T oth os e familiar with
w

1
Bo u c hé -
L e cl e rc q , pp 9 25 T h
. mm-

. e co en t a ri es on t he T i mceu s
b y t h e N e o l a t o n s t s, o p a oc us ico n t a n m u cP rphyry n d Pr l
a st o ,
i h r
i
l og cal m a tt e r
B y w ay o f Ch al c id i u s a n d Ma c o b u s ( se e b el o
. r i w ,

p . h
t es e a st o l o g cal e r i
lan at o n s o f t h e T i m wu s b ec a m e a c c e s xp i
s i b le t o the ea r ly Mi d dle A g es . i v l p p l ri ty f th
T he m e d ae a o u a o e

Ti m ceu s it l f
w ll kn w n
se is e o . T h P l t n i m yt h
e a o f th d c t o e e s ce n

of th l t g t h r wi t h i t
e s ou ,
o e e s astr l g i l i n t rpr t t i n f
o o ca nd it s e e a o ,
ou

w y in th
a , t w l f th n t u ry
e int t h e ce , o e De M a n d i Un iver s i ta te of

B er n ar d S i lv t i s Ch r dr w p es r . au c e e u on t hi w rk
s o f or a z
s t an a

i n t he M an o f L aw s ’
T a le ( 99 S ee b el o w , p p .
3 3 5,
-
1 46 .
 A n ci en t A s tr olog y 3

m edi aeval astrology this seems stra nge indeed

,
I n the .

s c holasti c writer s o f the thirtee n th century the c osmolo gy ,

r i s t o t l e fur n i s hed the ve r y axioms o f the s c ie n c e ; it

.
s the authority o f A ristotle
. a more tha n a n ythi n g else , ,

t hat c aused i t s theoreti c al a c c epta n c e by the C hur c h T hus .

A r i s totle s theo r y o f the fi fth esse nc e tea c hi n g that the

’

s ubsta n c e o f the stars was o f a n obler order than that o f

the s ublu nary sphere w a s fou n d admirably fitted to f orm ,

t he is o f a s c ien c e as c ribing to the stars the arbitrament

huma n de s ti n ies T his V iew also fou n d support in.

Ari s totle s physi cs o f motion A ll the tra n s formations

’
.

u n de r go n e by phy s i c al bodies here on earth it taught trace , ,

their origi n to the lo c al motio n o f the imperishable beings

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

b y the heave n s f rom the Prime M ov e r hi m s el f a n d tra n s

‘

m i tt ed to the lower spheres that c auses all earthly growth ,

T he earth says A ristotle

‘ ’ ‘
a n d c hange is bou n d up in
1
.
, ,

some n e c essary way with the lo c al motio n s o f the heave n s ,

that all powe r that re s ides in thi s w o r ld is gove r n ed by

A n d i n the l o cu s class i cu s for medi aeval
’
t hat above
(

t r o log y—the te n th c hapter o f the se c o n d book o f the

.

D e Gen er a ti on e e t C or r u pti on e—A ristotle develops this

t heory eve n further T h e motio n o f the heave n s to whi c h
.
,

all c hange on ea r th is due is t w o fold a n d ha s a two fold , ,

e ff e c t o n sublu nary matter T he perfe c t diur nal motion .

o f the fixed sta r s f rom east to west c o n stitutes the pri nc iple
o f perma n e n c e a n d g r owth ; wherea s the motio n o f the
pla n ets ru n n i ng their a nnual c ourses at irregular pa c es
,

f rom west to east athwart the diu r nal motio n o f the fixe d
,

sta r s c onstitutes the p r i nc iple o f earthly cha nge When

, .

o nc e i nte r preted ast r ologi c ally A ri s totle s physi c s o f motio n ,

’

was all that was n eeded to faste n upo n the Middle A ges
that exaggerated belief i n the impo r ta n c e o f the stars whi c h
l ay at the basis o f the faith i n ast r ology .

1
M et eor o log i ca 1 . 2 .
4 M e di ceva l A t ti tu d e t ow ar d A s tr olog y

T he r e are sig n s that eve n i n the a nc ie nt world the pos

s ib i li t i es o f the A ristotelian c o s mology as a fu n dament a l

po s tulate fo r a n astrologi cal s c ie nc e had begu n to be r e c og

n iz e d . T he Peripateti c s A lexa n der A phrodi s ias a n d ,

A d r astus ba s ed upo n it t heir faith i n stella r i nflue nc e ;

,

a n d whe n C laudiu s Ptolem y i n the se c ond c e n tury o f our ,

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

, ,

employed several A r istotelia n do ctri n es It was A ri stotl e

who had formulated the theory o f the four eleme nts—the
.

hot the c old the dry a n d the moist—whi c h c o n stituted

, , ,

’
the basi s o f Ptolemy s physic s By pla c ing thes e four .

qualities u n der the sway o f the variou s pla n et s a n d c o n

s t ella t i on s Ptolemy c ould e xplai n s c ie n tifi cally the mani
,

f esta t i on s o f stella r i n flue n c e F r om the Peripateti c s too .

, ,

Ptolemy borrowed hi s masterly solutio n o f the problem o f

scientifi c determi n ism whi c h as we shall fi n d disarme d , , ,

ma ny c riti c s Ptolemy approa chi ng astrology from th e

.
,

side o f astro n omy a n d not from that o f mysti c ism and ,

religion c ould i n ge n eral c laim ki n ship with the spirit o f

,

A ristotelia n scie nc e B ut on e look s in vai n in Ptolemy s .

’

proo f o f the existe nc e o f stellar i nfl u enc e f or a me ntio n

1

o f A ristotle s theory o f motio n He speaks on the subj e c t

’
.

with n o su c h dogmati c s ure n es s a s did the s c holasti c

writers twelve c e nturies lat er 2
.

Ptolemy however c omes at the c lose n o t at the begin

, , ,

1
T e tr a bi b los 1 . 2 .

2
A st r o l o gy an d ea r ly A ri st o t el an s i im are d i scu ss d b y B oll, i n -

S tu di en il oer C lau di us P t o lenu i us pp 1 56 1 62 ( I ahr b ii cher f ur

’

-
.
,

P hi lo log i e u n d P ci dag og i k, S u lem ent

’

y d pp For t ol em s P
eb t t o
’

the P rip i
e p
at e t c s , s ee B o ll , 1 61 h é L cle cq pp 26 7
a n d B ou c .
,
-
e r , .
-
.

h
B ou c é L ecl er cq t ak es B oll t o t ask f o r t h e
-
t t m nt t h t A ri s a e e a s

i f f v r
t o t e l i an i s m w a s i n t s e l r y P l t n i m he ys
a o ab l e t o a s t o l o g . a o s , sa ,

h
w a s m u c m o e so r r p vi w f n i ent t r ol gy
F om the oi n t o f . e o a c as o ,

B ouc h é Le l c q i pr ob b ly ri g h t
-
c er B t th s hi to ry o f m ed i v l
a . u e s ae a

a s t r ol gy pr v
o I t hi nk t h t t he all i n
o es , f t r l gy wi t h A ri s
,
a a ce o as o o

t ot li n i m w
e a s th m r p r m n nt I t d i c r d d t h
as e t r ol og i
o e l e a e . s a e e as ca

m y t h o lo g y o f P l t o a n d u b t i t t d f ait r at i n l xp lanat i n
, s s u e or a o a e o

o f th e n iv r s
u whi ch c p t iv t d th b t i ent ifi c m i n ds d w n t o
e e a a e e es sc o
 A n ci en t A s tr olog y 5

ni ng o f the history o f Greek astrolo gy I n the earlier

,
.

centuries n o n e c essity ma n i fested itsel f o f basi ng astrology

,

upo n a s c ie n tifi c con c eptio n o f the u n iverse A strology .

looked for its fi r st support n ot to s c ie nc e but to philosophy , ,

a n d to r eligio n ; and the Chaldea n diviner found his first

frie n d s not amo ng the ast r onomers but the soothsayers
, ,

a n d ora c le mo ngers Ptolemy was the fir s t astro n omer o f

-

note to pay serious atte ntion to astrology T o the S to i c s .

the on e philo s ophi cal s c hool that be c ame its staun c h ally
ast r ology was merely a form o f divi natio n ac c epted and ,

de fe n ded alo n g with augury a n d ora c les I n that lo n g /

.

c o n troversy o f the s c hools o n the subj e c t o f divinatio n

whi ch is p r e s e r ved i n su c h writi ng s as C i c ero s D e D i vi na ’

ti on e little me n tio n is made o f c osmologi c al pri n c iples

,
.

T he physi c al i n flue nc e o f the star s it is t rue played a part , ,

in the argume nt C i c ero tried to deny the stars the power .

to i n flue n ce human li f e by sayi ng that all celestial bo d ies

above the sun a n d moon were too distant 1
A strology made .

answer that the s u n a n d moo n were distant too ; yet ,

their i n flue nce was mani fest T he power o f their rays .

di ff ered o nly i n degree f rom that exerted by the other

heave nly bodies Ptolemy preservi n g for us the arguments .
,

o f Posidonius the most importa n t S toic defen d er o f astrol

,

o gy points to the i nfluen c e of the moo n upo n the ocea n

, ,

a n d that o f the su n upo n the seasons a n d then leaves the ,

matter with the assertio n that the other heave n ly bo d ies

act in a similar ma nner 2
S ome i n flue n c e o f the stars upon .

human li fe was usually take n for gra nte d a n d the war was ,

fought out on other issues T he c entral pri nc iple wi th the .

S toi c s was that o f the solidarity o f the u n iverse the resem ,

the t m e i of K e le p r n d T ych o B r h e T h i n fl enc f the A ri s

a a . e u e o

t o te l i an c o s m o l og y p on the late r nt ri es i cl r ly t r ace d i n P

u ce u s ea .

D u h em
’
s L S y tem du M ond e : Hi t i e d
e s e D octr ine C o mol s o r es s s o

g i gu es d e P l ton d C op e ni c ( 5 v ols P ri 1 9 1 3
a r s e e esp e i lly
.
,
a s, c a

1 . 1 64 ; 2 . 2 77 , 300 , 334, 3 68 P
L, 3 89 ; 3 . 2 48, 342 , 3 51 .

1
D e D i vi n a ti o ne 2 .
43 .

2
T e tr a bi b los 1 . 2 .
6 M ediceval A tti tu d e t ow ar d A s tr olog y

bla n c e o f the pa r t to the whole the u n ity o f mi c ro c o s m a nd ,

ma c r o c o s m With this p r i nc iple they c ould defe nd n ot o nly

. ,

astrology but likewi s e augu r y f rom the flight o f birds and

,

the e n t r a il s o f a n imal s a n d the va r ious ki n ds o f ome n s ,

whi c h played s o large a pa r t i n the supe r stitious belief s

o f the a n c ie nt s .

T he d e fe n s e o f a s trology by the S toi cs therefore c on , ,

c er n ed itsel f n o t so mu c h with a s trology

,
the s c ie nc e as , ,

with a s t r ology the art T h e ir c hief oppo n e n t o n t he s u b

,
.

j c et o f divi natio n appeared i n the per s o n o f C ar n eades

( 9
2 1 1-
2 6 B a membe r . o f the N ew A c ademy Car .

mea des lau n c hed agai n s t a s trology a serie s o f arguments

whi ch remai n ed sta n dard for c e nturies T hese were .

repeated agai n a n d agai n by the S c epti c s were take n over ,

almost bodily by the C hu r ch a n d reappea r u n c ha nged i n ,

Pet r ar ch a n d Pi c o della Mi r a n dola T he atta c k c lever .

,

though it w a s c a n n ot be termed wholly s u cc ess ful an d the

, ,

follower s o f Car n eades w e re slo w to fa shio n new weapo n s .

A n able defe n de r o f ast r ology appeared with the S toi c _ ,

Po s idoniu s ( 1 3 5 50 B c ) a n d w he n Ptolemy had fi na lly

-

. .

u n de r take n i t s j ustifi c atio n i n the sa n e a n d mode r ate ope n

i ng c h a pte r s o f the T e tr a bi b l os ve r y f ew o f the a rguments ,

o f C a r n eade s remai n ed u n a n swered Philo s ophe r s a n d .

theologia ns o f the oppo s i ng s c hool however c o nte nt with , ,

the b r illia nt diale c ti c o f C ar n eades remai n ed oblivious o f ,

the s e n e w developme n t s T he work o f C ar n eade s himsel f .

i s n o lo n ger exta n t but h i s atta c k o n astrology ha s been ,

—
pre s e r ved by ma y late r writer s i n the s e c o n d book o f
n

C i c e r o s D e D i vi na ti on e in the fi fth book o f A ugusti n e s

’ ’
,

D e Ci vi ta t e D ei ( ba s ed upo n a lost po r tio n o f C i c e r o s

’

D e F a t o ) i n the w r iti n gs o f the late S c epti c philo s ophe r

, ,

S extu s E m p i r i c u s a n d i n the ex c e r pt s f r om the rheto r i c i a n

,

F a v o r inu s fou n d i n the N oc t es A m br os i a naz o f A ulu s

Gell iu s .
1

1
F o r t he at t it u de of Sto i imt
c s o r
a s t o log y e B o ch é L l cq
, se u -
ec er ,

pp . 29 -

3 4, 593 ff . T he S t o i c d f en e se of d ivi n t i on
a wh ole i s , as a ,
 A n ci en t A s tr olog y

T he oppo n ents o f the S toics were c o n c er n ed above all

w ith c ombati n g a s t r ologi c al fatalism T heir weapo n s were .

plai n assertio n a n d the di c tates o f c ommo n se n se T hey .

even we n t far i n admitti ng a rule o f the stars over exter n als ,

’
so lo n g as the i n n er c it adel o f ma n s f ree will remai n ed
i n violate F a vo r i nu s de c la r es it i n tolerable that a ny o n e
.

s hould dare to impute to the heave n s the power to i n terve n e

in the a cts o f our o w n f ree c hoi c e a n d to t r a n s f orm ,

m a n f rom a rea s oning bei n g i n to a ma r ionette C lose l y .

allied to the argume n t that a s trology was u n ethi c al was ,

the o n e that it w a s u s eless a s well I f says S extus E m p ir i ‘ ’

—
.
,

cu s huma n eve n t s are r uled by three thi ng s n e c e ss ity

,
‘
,

c ha nc e a n d f ree will — i t is u s ele ss t o fo r esee what mu s t

,

n e c es s arily happe n anyway a n d i mpossible to f oresee what ,

’
i s dep e n de n t upo n c ha n c e a n d the will o f m a n 1
B ut to .

a ss ert the usele s s ness a n d the impiety o f astrology w a s n ot

to di sc r edit it a s a sc ie n c e T he S toi c s i n fa c t fa c ed a s tro .
, ,

logi cal fatalism without fl i n chi ng a n d dismissed i n short ,

order the c o n te n tio n that astrology was useless A cc ordi n g .

to Posidonius—whose argument is preserved i n the third

c hapter o f Ptolemy s T e tr i l
ab b os —prophe cy is n aturally ’

wel c ome whe n the thi ng f oresee n is pleasurable ; whe n o n ,

the other ha n d the thi n g f o r esee n is pai n ful its predi c

, ,

2
tio n p repare s the s oul to bear mis f ortu n e with equa n imity .

d i scu sse d in t he s m e u th o r s His toi r e d e la D ivi n ti on ( 1 59

a a
’
a .

A s t u dy o f th e co n t r o v e r sy b e t w een t he S t o i c s a n d th e N ew A c a d
e m y o n t h e su b j t o f d ivi n a t i on h s b e en m d e b y A S chm ek el i n
ec a a .
,

D i P hi los ophi e d er M i t t l er e n S t oa ( B e r l i n
e S ex t u s E m p i i ,
r

c u s F a vo i n u s a n d C i ce r o a n d t h e ir j o i n t d ep e n d en ce o n C a r n ea d e s
,
r , , ,

a r e d i s c sse d o n pp P tol em y s d p en d ence on t he S to i c ’

u 32 1 3 e
-
. .

s ch oo l a n d o n P o s i d o n i u s i n p a r t i cu l a r
, ha s b e en pr o v e d b y B o ll ,

( op ci t pp 1 3 1
. .
,
.

B ou ch é L e cl e c q p 596 ; S chm ek e l pp 1 56 1 59
1
-
r ,
.
, .
,
.

m ed i t
2 ‘
S ed p aevi si o f t o m a n i m m c o m p n i t e t m o d e a t
r u ur ru u o r ur a

t i on e ab se n t iu m t a nq u m p se n t i m e t p aep a
a t a d exc ip i e n da
rae u ,
r ra

v en tu r a c m t nq u ili ta t e et con s tant i a ( T tr a bi blos 1 3 : Cla udii

u ra
’
e .

P t o lem cei O m n i a q co ex ta n t O p er a B a s el 1 551 p

u , , , .
8 M edi ceval A t ti tu d e t ow ar d A s tr olog y

Ptolemy himsel f adds a n other argume n t to the on e j ust

quoted i n whi c h the utility o f a s trology i s even better
,

defe n ded O nly the moveme nt s o f the sta r s them s elves

.
,

he says are u n de r the r ule o f n e c essity Happe n i ngs on

,
.

the earth are variable a n d subj e c t to other i n flue nc es i n , ,

additio n to tho s e exe r ted by the heave n s A great physi cal .

c atast r ophe su c h as a flood o r a n earthquake may upset

, ,

the predi ctio n s o f a thou sa n d ho r os c ope s Ptolemy draws a .

pa r allel betwee n t he a s t r ologer a n d the physi c ia n T he .

latter may i n c e r tai n ca ses be assured that a di s ea s e is

i nc urable ; i n other s he may admit the po s sibility o f improve
me n t i f medi c i n es are applied i n time T he magn et fur
, .

n i s he s a n other illustratio n T he law that a mag n et a lways .

~

at t r a cts iro n i s u n ive r sally a cc epted ; but it is n o n e the less

true that i f the magn et be rubbed with a p ie c e o f garli c ,

it will refuse to work Ptolemy argue s to be sure that i f .

, ,

the s c ie n c e were perfe c t a n d i f all fa ctor s i nvolved in huma n ,

a ff ai r s we r e k n ow n a predi c ted desti ny would be i n es ,

c apable I n more ge n eral prophe c ies i n deed s u c h c ertai n ty

.
, ,

i s already attai n able N o on e supposes that a predictio n o f

.

the approa c h o f summer o r wi n ter admits o f modifi c atio n .

B ut this does n ot preve nt m en eve n at the c omi ng o f c old ,

weathe r from prepari ng to mitigate its rigors A n d i f

,
.

su c h ge n eral predi c tio n s are so emi n e ntly useful why ,

should n ot minut e p r edi c tions be equally wel c ome ? D oes

the c ou ntryman or the sailor disdai n to regulate his daily
ta sks a cc ordi ng to the phases o f the moo n ? 1

1
C la u dn P t o l emcei pp 3 8 1 2 A sh o r t outl i n e o f the
O p er a ,
.
-
.

a s t r ol og i cal sy s t em o f Pt o l em y wi ll e rv e a s a co nv en i en t k ey t o s

t h e t ec h n i c l t e r m s u se d i n t he f o l lo wi ng p ag es
a A st r ol ogy i s .

d ivi de d b y P t ol em y i n t o t w o m a i n p a r t s : 1 T h a t whi c h d eal s .

wi th g en e r al pr ed i ct i ons x fi km é ) r eg a r d i ng w a r p est i lence a o v , ,

e a r t hq ua k e s fl o o d s s t o r m s h o t a n d c o l d w ea t h e r a n d f e r t i l i ty ; 2
, , , ,
.

T h a t whi ch d eal s wi t h pr e d i c t i on s r e g a r d i ng t he i nd ivi d u al ( b r

v dh h ym o ) h i s p a r en t s b r o t h e r s l en g t h o f l i f e h ealt h ri ch es
'
eve a o v , , , , , ,

pr o f ess i on m a rri ag e chi ld r en an d fri en ds F o r th e p u rp ose o f

,
-

, , .
I O M edi aaval A tti tu d e t ow ar d A s tr olog y

it was n ot s o su cc e s s ful with re spe c t to its p r a c ti c al details .

T h e i n here n t absu r dity o f ma n y o f its do c tri n es was i n ,

fa c t o n ly t c c evide n t
, What s a y s S e xtus E m p i r ic u s
-

.
‘
,
’
,

‘
h a ve the a r bitrary n ame s give n to the c o n stellatio ns o f the
z odia c to do with the a ctio ns a n d habit s o f m an ? What
po s sible c o nne c tio n ca n exist betwee n the c elestial L ion
a n d a war r ior s bravery o r bet w ee n the Vi r gi n a n d a white
’

s ki n ? Ca n a nythi n g be more absu r d tha n to make o f the

Bull a femi n i n e s ig n ? A s trology had to admit that the ’

n a me s o f the c o n s tellatio n s we r e a r bit r ary T he na me .

,

a strology c o n te n ded s erved as a metapho r to i n di c ate the ,

n ature o f a c onstellatio n s i n fl u en c e—a n d thi s i n tur n had

’

, ,

b ee n di sc ove r ed i n the c our s e o f lo ng expe r ie nc e 1

S uch .

a n a n s we r ho w eve r stumbled agai n st a n othe r embarra s si n g

, ,

questio : Wh t about the vau ted age o f the s c ie nc e

n a n ?

A s t r ologe r s c laimed for it c e nturie s o f c areful experime n t ,

th us mp co d f t w lv ti n
ose ll d t h t w lv
o l ti l h
e e sec o s, ca e e e e ce e s a o u s es ,

whi h f r m d t h b i f v ry t r l g i l l l t i n T h
c o e e as s o e e as o o ca ca c u a o . e

as t r ol g r i n r
o d i ng
e ,h r o p fir t d t rm i n d th p it i n f
ea a o s co e, s e e e e os o o

th e p l n t n d n t ll t i n t th x t m m nt f b ir th wi t h
a e s a co s e a o s a e e ac o e o
— t k f n l i gh t
,

r f n t th
e er e ce t w lv l ti l h
o e se e e c e es a ou se s a as o o s

d i ffi culty i n p l n t hif t fr m n h
,
s ce a t th a ee d i ng nes s o o e o u se o e s u cce o

in th p e s f tw h r E hh
a ce o r l d v r p r t i l r ph
o ou s . ac ou se u e o e a a cu a ase

f m n l if ; r pr n t d w lth n th r i kn n o th er
’
o a n s e o e e ese e ea ,
a o e s c ess , a

m rri g
a a nd e, n If fa in t n nso vi l p l n t ( S t r n
o .
, or s a c e, a e a e a u or

M r ) t d i n th h
a s s oo whi h r pr nt d w lt h t h t r l g r
e ou se c e ese e ea , e as o o e

w ld h v t pr d i t p v ty f hi l i nt
ou a e o e t l t
c dvi e o er or s c e ,
or a ea s a s

t hrif t If . b en fi c n t t r a h V n h pp en d t t n d i n th
e e s a , suc as e u s, a e o s a e

h o u se f m rri g o h m i g h t pr ph y t h t ri h
a a e, w l d m by
e o es a c es ou co e

w y a f od wry Th
a m p l x r l t i n w hi h p l n t
o . nd c n
e co e e a o s c a e s a o

t ll t i n
s e a w r o pp d t h old t w r d n n th e r t g iv n
s e e su ose o o a o e a o a a e

m m n t an d th e i n fi n i t v ri ty
o e ,
f i n t rpr t t i n t whi h ny e a e o e e a o s o c a

h r o o s co p ould b s b j t d rv ed d m ir b ly f m i nt i n i ng
e c e u ec e , se a a or a a

t h t j di i
a s v g en
u c ouh ct ri t i f ll t r l g i l pr di c
a u ess c ar a e s c o a as o o ca e

t i n whi h pr v n t d i t fr o m b i n g
o ,
c b m it t d t o
e e fin l p r gm t ic
e e su e a a a a
“
t es t .

1
B hé L ou c -
ec l e r c q , pp 57 9 80
.
-
. To ri di cu l e t he n a m e s g iv n t o th
e e

co n t ll t i n
s e a o s b ecam e t he as f hi on w i th the C hur h c Fa th e r s S ee .

b el ow p 20 , . .
 A n ci en t A s tr ology 1 1

S ome
‘
and amed as i t s fou n ders the gods themselves
n .

p rete nd says C i c e r o that t he C haldea n a s t r ologe r s have

,
’
,
‘

ve r ified the nativities o f c hildre n by c al c ulatio n s a n d exp e r i

me n t s over a pe r iod o f years T his he mai ntai n s .
’
, ,

is c learly impo ss ible Had they bee n i n the habit o f doi ng

.
‘

so they would n ever have give n up the pra c ti c e

,
B ut as .
,

a matte r o f fa c t n o aut hor remai n s who k n ows o f su c h

,

a thi ng bei n g do n e no w or eve r havi ng bee n do n e 1

S till
,
.
’
,

a s sertio n c ould be met by assertio n a n d the r e was n o dearth ,

o f a s t r ologers who we r e willi n g to c ite text s o f a ny des i r ed

mythologi c al age B efore the tribu nal o f a n u nc riti c al
.

publi c thei r wo r d was seldom que s tio n ed .

N owhere c ould the c riti c s fi n d a more alluri ng opp o r

t u n it y t o atta c k the do c tri n e s o f ast r ology tha n i n c o nn e c
tio n with j udi c ial a s trology it s el f A n a r t fou n ded upo n
2
.

wro ng axiom s must o f ne c e ss ity fail i n the exe cution ;

he nc e ast r ology whe n pra c tised c ommer c ially ha s always
, ,

tempted the satirist T he oppo n e n t s o f a strolo gy c on

.

f ro nted the reader o f ho roscopes with the bold as s ertion

that his art was impossible How it was a s ked c ould the .
, ,

astrologer as c e r tai n with su ffi c ie nt exa c t n ess the mome n t

o f birth o r the pre c ise poi n t o f the heave n ly sphere appear
,

i ng above the hori z on ? T o determi n e both o f these to the

minutest fra c tio n was surely nec essary : how else explai n
the u nlike fates o f twi n s ? I f the heave n s moved s o swi ftly
that twi ns c ould be bor n u n de r totally di ff ere n t horos c opes ,

was it not c learly impossible to c ast a ny nativity whatso

eve r ? A n d i f the mome n t o f c o nc eptio n as the astrologers ,

asserted had a n importance o nly se c o n d to that o f birth

,

the quest io n o f twi n s be came i n itsel f pu zz li ng 3

A gai n .
,

1
C i cer o, D e D i vi na ti on e 2 .
45 .

2
T he t e m r y pp li d t o t he p r t i l t f p r d i t i ng t h
u su a ll a e ac ca ar o e c e

f u t r fr om the onfi g r at i on o f th st r t b ir th
u e c u e a s a .

S c hm eke l p p 1 56 1 59 ff ; B ch é L pp 588 If T h
a
, .
,l q . ou -
ec e r c , . . e

a r g m e n t co n
u r n i ng t wi ns w s x ce d i ng ly p op l r I t i s f ound
ce a e e u a .
1 2 M edi ceval A tti tu d e t ow ar d A s tr olog y

why limit predi c tio ns by the stars to the huma n ra c e ? I f ‘

,
’

says C i c ero the aspe c t o f the stars i n flue nc es the birth o f

,
‘

every huma n bei n g it s hould by pa r ity o f reaso n i ng deter

, , ,

mi n e the fates o f beasts a s well ; yet what c an be more

ab surd ? S extus E m p i r i cu s pic ture s the d is co m fi t u r e o f
’

a n astrologer fa c ed by a m a n a n d a n ass b o t h bor n u n der

-

the same s ig n ; a n d F a vo r i nu s smile s at the c o n s iste nt

a s t r ologe r ca sti n g the ho r os c opes o f mi ce a n d fl i e s .
1

N o n e o f the s e obj e ctio n s however greatly embarrassed , ,

the defe n de r s o f ast r ology T he di ffic ulties o f observatio n .

,

n o o n e more willi ngly c o nc eded tha n the a s trologer him

s el f . He was t hereby a s s u r ed a n e s c ape whe n his predi c

tio n s failed a n d a double glo r y whe n he was su cc ess ful
,
.

Ptolemy f ra nkly admitted that the pra c ti c e o f j udi c ial

a s trology was di ffi c ult but c o n te n ded too that the mi s takes , , ,

o f Charlata n s should not b e laid at the door o f the s c ie nc e .

T he que s tio n o f twi n s furthe r more t r oubled o n ly the , ,

"
theorists For the popula r mi nd it was e n ough that a
.

double birth deserved a double horos c ope T he attempt .

,

fi n ally to ridi cule a strology by dema n di n g that it extend

,

i t s fu nc tio n s to i n c lude the a n imal ki ngdom was o n ly a ,

p r oo f o f the c riti c s ig n o r a n c e A
’
strology 1 n time exte n ded .

its sway not o n ly over the a n imal ki n gdom but over the
, ,

vegetable a n d mi n e r al a s well 2
.

On e c riti c ism dire c ted agai n st j udi c ial astrology by

C ar n eade s a n d his f ollowers remai n s to be c o n sidered It .

o cc upied a n importa nt pla c e i n the argume nt a n d was after ,

wards employed e ff e c tively by the C hur c h I t asked o f .

a strology this questio n : I f the destinie s o f all m en are

determi n ed by the sta r s how explai n the similar fates o f ,

large groups o f i n dividuals bor n i n the mo s t various cir

in C i er o
c ( D i vi n . 2 . i n F avo r i n u s ( A ul u s Gelli us 14 . 1 .

a nd x
i n S e t u s E m p i r i cu s We sh all fi n d i t ag a i n in . A u g u st i ne
( Ci t) D ei 5
. w h o p op u l a ri z e d i t f o r t h e M i d d le A g e s
. .

B ou h é L ec l e q pp 585 6 ; C i ce r o D i vi n 2 46
1
c -
rc , .
-

, . . .

B o u c h é Le cl e cq pp 586 59 1
2 -
r , .
, .
 A n ci en t A s tr olog y 1 3

c u m st a n c e s Were a ll tho s e who peri shed at the battle o f

?
‘

C a nnae dema n ds C i c ero

,
’
bor n u n der the same star ? ,
‘ ’

Were all the barbarians killed at Maratho n asks S extus

‘ ’
,

E mp i r ic u s bor n u n der the arrow o f S agittarius and all

,
‘
,

the heroes d r ow n ed at S alamis u n der the sign o f the ,

Water c arrier -
A gai n i f the c o n stellatio n Virgo bestows ,

upo n those born under its domai n a whit e ski n must one ,

c o n c lude that no E thiop ia n is bor n i n the mo n th o f A ugust ?

T hese que s tions were perplexi n g— astrology did not a n swer

some o f them su cc e ss fully u n til it had embodied i n it s
do c tri n e a system o f astrologi cal eth n ology su ch as is ,

f ou n d i n the se c o n d book o f Ptolemy s T e tr a bi b l os We ’

.

have already s ee n that in his i nt r odu c to r y defe n se o f ,

a s trology Ptolemy c laimed f or ge n e r al c ata s trophes a n

,

u n equivo c al pre c eden c e over all i ndividual desti n ies A n d .

i n the se c o n d book a solutio n is o ff ered o f the geographi c

,

problem as well Ptolemy pla c ed the various divisions o f

.

the globe under the domi n io n o f s eparate pla n ets a n d con

st ella t i o n s a n d these geographi c i n flue n c es he p r o n ou n c ed
,

o f greate r pote ncy than the horos c opes o f the i n dividual .

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

ski n o f the E thiopian a n d the white ski n o f the T euto n a n d ,

the Gaul 1
.

L ike Hy d ra or Proteus astrology remai n ed a fter each ,

a s sault stro nger tha n ever I n truth its fou n datio n s had .
,

bee n ha r dly shake n B elie f in astrology c ould be destroyed

o n ly by a n atta c k on its sour c e—either by p rovi n g that an
.

i nflue nc e o f the stars o n huma n li f e did n ot exist or by ,

demonstrati ng that su c h an i n fluen c e was u nk n owable T he .

oppo n e nts o f astrology by expendi ng their e n ergies in ,

a s saults on the outposts and failing to atta c k the c itadel , ,

only strengthened the belief that the latter was u nco n

q u e r a b l e .

1
B ou c hé -
Lec le r c q , pp .
s8 1 ff S c hm ek el ,
p . 1 57 ; C i r ce o, D iv i n .

2 44 ;
. C la u di i P t o lem cei Oper a ,
pp .
3 92 ff . On P t o l e my ,
see al s o

B ol l, pp 1 81
. ff .
1 4 M edi wva l A tti tu de t ow ar d A s tr olog y

the fi rst c e ntu r ie s o f ou r e r a while C hristianity s

’
D uri ng ,

atta ck upo n it was s till i n p r epa r atio n a s t r ology spread ,

everywhe r e th r ough the R oma n wo r ld !

E mpe r o r s from
A ugustu s to A lexa n der S everus c o n sulted the Chaldea n s ,

a n d amo n g the c ommo n people i t s vogue was u n ivers a l .

N o n e o f the a n c ie n t a r ts o f divi n atio n remai n ed f r ee f rom

i t s tai n t Po et s f r om Juve nal to A mmia n u s Mar c elli nu s
.

s ati r i z ed the ext r avaga n t wo r ship paid to it by the fa s hio n

able publi c A s trologi c al idea s we r e i n the ai r C i c ero

. .
,

who a s philo s ophe r fulmi n ated agai n s t a strology a s ,

rheto r i c ia n s ubs c r ibed to its p r i n c iple s Whe n i n the .

,

S o m ni u i n S ci pi oni s he c a ll s j upite r a star that b r i ng s ‘

health a n d p r o spe r ity to the ra c e o f m en a n d Mars a ,

’ ‘

pla net red a n d feared o n earth he a c c epts the ve r y axiom s

, ,
’

o f the s c ie n c e 2
S e n e c a bei n g a S toi c is n atu r ally a fi r m
, ,

believer i n astrology ; T a c itus though he satiri z e s the ,

astrologe r s o f the c ourt i s o n ly hal f c o nvi nc ed that astrol,

ogy itsel f is a de c eptio n A n d whe n i n the s e c o n d c e n tu r y

3
.
, ,

it w o n as a c o nvert the g r eatest astro n omer o f the a nc ie n t

world little w a s left for it to c o nquer ; with Ptolemy a n c ie nt
,

a strology fou n d i t s la s t a n d mo s t famous spoke s ma n T he .

late p r o s e writer Firmi c us Mat e r n u s though he has left

, ,

i n hi s Ma thes i s the lo ngest a n c ie n t treati s e o n ast r ology

a n d c o n t r ibutes —e spe c ially i n the fir s t a n d eighth books
,

to our k n owledge o f the philo s ophi cal defe n s e o f the s c ie nc e ,

really o ff er s n othi n g n ew .

With the almo s t u n ive r s al theo r eti c al a cc epta n c e o f

a s trology w a s j om e d howeve r a ge n eral distru s t o f the
, ,

astrologer him s el f T he c ommer c ial p r a c titio n er s tood low

.

i n the s o c ial s c ale a n d was o fte n a me r e c ha r lata n

, A s t r ol .

ogy i n p r a c ti c e f u r the r mo r e was s eldom di ss o c iated f rom

, ,

n e c r oma n c y a n d vulgar magi c a n d the astrologer i n time ,

1
B ou c hé L ecl er cq , pp . 1 46 80 .

2
S om n S cip
. . c h p a .
4 .

a
A nna les
 A n ci en t A s tr ol og y 1 5

bec ame a publi c n uisa nc e A s early a s A ugustus law s were .

,

e n a c ted agai ns t the C ha ldcei a n d the ma thema ti ci a n d suc ,

c ee d i ng rulers i s sued de c ree s o f i n c rea s i n g s everity An .

empe r or might him s elf w ish to make use o f the a s t r ologer ,

but feared him whe n in the emplo y o f n ew c a ndidate s for

the thro ne A t time s a disti nc tio n was made betwee n the
pra c ti c e a n d the s c ie nc e—pr of es s i on ei n e or u rn n on n o ti tia rn
.

l—
, ,

es s e pr o hi b i tu rn reads o n e e n a c t m e n t
,
but a fter t he c los e
o f the third c e ntu r y the absolute i nte r di c tio n o f astrology ,

fo rmulated by D io c letia n a n d embodied i n the T heodosian ,

c ode remai n ed perma n e n tly o n the statute books In the

2 -

.
,

eyes o f the publi c o f c our s e pers e c utio n o f the a strolo g er

, ,

o nly e nha nc ed t he value o f his a r t a n d i n itsel f implied ,

belief i n its e ffic a c y T he s tra n ge i nc o n siste n cy o f the .

a nc ie nt attitude s toward a s trologe r s is best p r eserved per ,

haps in the famou s s entenc e o f T a c itus in whi c h he c alls

, ,

‘
them da ngerous to pri nc e s a n d a f a lla c ious relia n c e to
ambitious subj e c ts—a ra c e o f m en whi c h i n our state will
,

’
ever be both s hu nn ed a n d retai n ed 3
.

So it was that when C hristia n ity at the c los e o f the ,

se c o n d c e ntury bega n to as s ume a positio n o f p r omi n ence

,

i n the so c ial a n d i n telle c tual li f e o f the R oma n E mpire it ,

fou n d astrology every w here batte n i n g o n the s upe r s titio n s ,

both o f popula c e a n d ki ngs T he C hur c h atta cked astrolo gy .

with all available weapo n s T he rea s o n s fo r its ho stility .

are fairly obvious A s a part o f paga n ism the pra c tice .

,

o f all divi natory a r ts was fo r bidde n the C h r i stia n ; a n d i n ,

the writings o f the earlier apologists astrology is hardl y ,

1
B ou c hé -
L ec l e r c q , p .
566 .

2
I bid .

8
i
T a c t u s, His t . 1 . 22 :
‘
Gen u s ho m i nu m p o t e n t ib u s i n fi d u m , s p e ra n

t ib u s f a lla x q , uod in c ivi t r

a t e n o st a e t ve t a b i t u r s e m p r
e e t r e t iu eb it u r .
’
1 6 M edi ceval A t ti tu d e t ow ar d A s tr olog y

diff ere ntiated from soothsaying ora c les a n d magi c In its , , .

philosophi cal dress a strology was eve n less ac c eptable T he

,
.

fatali s m implied in the belief that the stars are arbiters o f

huma n desti nies n ever fou n d more u nyieldi n g oppone nts
tha n the Chur c h Fathe r s T he method s o f atta ck varied .

somewhat through the c e nturies a nd the c o nclusio n s arrived ,

at by the Wester n C hur c h di ff ered co n siderably from tho s e

rea c hed by the write r s o f the more s c ie ntifi c E ast T he .

C hristia n apologists moreover seldom s ati s fied the dema n ds , ,

o f stri c t logi c itself ; the reade r i s o fte n s urp r i s ed to fi n d

astrology readmitted i nto orthodox do c tri n e by s ome
u nguarded c o nc essio n B ut the war though o ften waged .
,

with n ai ve a n d u n s c ie ntifi c argume nts was always per ,

s i s te n t ; a n d its su c c es s w a s s u c h that a fte r A ugu s ti n e in ,

h i s tre nc ha n t c o n dem natio n o f astrologi c al divi nation had ,

fi nally formulated the do ctri n e o f the Wester n Chur c h ,

ast r ology virtually di s appeared f r om the so c ial a n d i ntel

le c tual li fe o f we s tern E urope for eight c e n tu r ies 1
.

T he C hristians mai ntai n ed i n ge n eral that all divi natory , ,

a r ts a n d above all astrology were i nve n tio n s o f the devil

, , , , ,

a n d c ould be carried o n o n ly by the aid o f demo n s T his .

theory aros e early a n d remai n ed throughout the Middle ,

A ges the argume nt o f last resort A belief i n the power .

a n d prevale nc e o f demo n s was u n iversal i n primitive C hris

t i a ni t y Paul identifies the f allen angels ( 1 Co r 2 0

. .

with the heathen gods ; the O ld T estame n t s tories o f S aul

a n d the wit c h a n d o f the E gyptia n magi c ia n s were c ited as
, ,

proo f that they were c o n c e r n ed in o ccult arts It was a n .

easy savi n g o f argume nt therefo r e to admit at the outset , ,

the possibility o f astrologi cal predi c tio n a nd at the same , ,

fin l p g s hé ( pp
'

L A s tr olog i e Gr ec qu e
1
T he of L e c l e r cq
’ ’
a a e B ou c -
s .

609 27 ) cont i n a
-
a c onc s e i di scu s s o n i of t h e c o m b at of t her ly ea

C h r h wi t h
u c tr l as o o gy . On t h e a tt it u de of C hri st i an i t y t o w r d a

an i nt d ivi n t i n
c e a o as a wh o l e, c f . B ou c hé -
Le cle r cq , Hi s t oi r e d e la
D ivi n ti n 1 92 1 04
a o .
-
.

”
C f Lev
. . 17 .
7 ; D ent ; 3 2 . 17 ; 2 C hr on . 11 . 15 .
 1 8 M edi ceval A tti tu d e t ow ar d A s tr ol og y

T e r tullia n , did n ot de ny th a t it we nt far to w a r d sa nc tio n

i n g a s t r ology A c c ordi ng to their theory all divi n ato ry
.
,

a r ts had bee n pe r mitted by God u n til the c omi n g o f C hrist ,

whe n a n e n d w a s put to the r ule o f demo n s over the world .

I n the pe r so n s o f the Magi the r efo r e a s trology ha d c ome , ,

to abdi c ate at the c r adle o f the R edeemer ; the retur n o f

the Magi to t h e i r home by a di ff e r e n t route i n di cated that
he n c e fo r th i t s employme nt w a s fo r bidde n 1
.

But the o r thodo xy o f T er t u llia n s n ai ve admi ss io n be came ’

s u spe c t i n the late r c e n tu r ie s a n d more u n c ompromisi n g ,

a r gume n t s w e r e deemed n e c e s sa r y I n the Chur c h o f .

the E ast—e spe c ially i n the w r iti n gs o f B asil a n d Chryso s

tom—a n e w exege s is w a s put f orth i n whi c h it w a s a s s erted ,

th a t the sta r o f the Magi w a s n o ordi n ary s tar at all nor ,

eve n a pla n et o r c omet C h r y s ost o m c leverly tu r n s agai n st .

the a s trologers their o w fi fi ffc tf i neS

h ’
'

It is the task o f .

a s t r ology to predi c t the de s ti n ies o f the c hild a fte r it is

bor n n o t to p r ophesy the bi r th it s el f T he appe a ra n c e o f
, .

t he s ta r he s ay s w a s a mira c le a n d out s ide the n o r mal

, , ,

c ou r s e o f eve n t s Proo f that it was n o c ommo n star co n .

s isted i n the fa c t that it moved n o t f rom east to we s t but

—
, ,

f r om n o r th to south the way Palesti n e lies with regard

to Pe r s ia ”
.

1
I g nat i u s, Ep i s t . ad E ph es . 19 ; T e r t u ll i a n , D e I d o la tr ia , c h p a .
9
‘
S e d m ag i et a s t o l ogr i ab O ri en te v en e r u n t
-

. S c im u s m ag i ae et
a s t r o lo g iae int r e se s oc i e t a t em . Pri m i i g i t r u s t el l a r u m nte ete s i rpr
na t u m C hri t m s u
-
a n n u n t i av e r u n t , pri m i m n e u r av e r u n t .Q i d t n ? u ur

I d eo n u n c et m athem a t i c i s p at r o c i n ab i t u r i ll o r u
'

m m g m r lig i o ?
a oru e

De C hri t s o ii
sc l c e t es t m at e s s od e ; s t e l la s h i h i C hri t i n n S t r n i
s ,
o a u

et M r tia s et j
c u u sq u e ex eo d em o r d in e m or tu o r um o b s e r va t et

p r aed i ca t . At -
en im i
sc e n t a i i st a u s q ue ad E v a ng el u m i f itu c o n c e ss a,

ut , C hri st o ed i t o, n em o ex in de n a t i vi t a t em a li cu u s j -

de c ael o i nte r
( Mi g ne P f t hi
’

p r et a r e t u r , a tr . Lot . 1 . T h e l a st se n t e n c e o s

q u o t at on i c o n st i tut es a p or t o n i of i r d fini ti
I s do e s
’
e on of as t ro logy
( E ty m o l 8 . .
9 . I t w as r p
e e at e d m ny t i m
a t hr es ou g h t he M i ddl e
A g es . Cf . b el o w pp , . 27 -
8, 3 0 -
2 .

”
B a s l, i H om . 25 ; C hry
s o st o m , H o m in . M a t th 6 . . F or ot her
c i t t i on
a s , s ee B ou c hé -
L ecl e r cq , 6 1 3 , not e 1 p . .
 A n ci en t A s tr ol og y 1 9

T he E aster n ge n e r al f ormulated a mo r e
C hur ch ,
in ,

s c ie ntifi c do c t r i n e c o nc er n i ng a s trology tha n that c u r r e n t in

the West O rige n togethe r w ith the Gn o sti cs eve n eff e c ted
.
, ,

a c ompromi s e betwee n astrology a n d C h r istia n ity so that , ,

whe n purged o f fatali sti c do c t r i n e s it was allowed to exist ,

without i n terfere n c e O rige n s o n e c o nc e r n was to di sprove.

’

a determi n i s ti c i nflue n c e o f the star s ; eve n divi n e fo r e

k n owledge he mai n tai n ed did n o t abrogate f r ee w ill T hat
, ,
.

the s ta r s c a n n ot be the c au s e o f huma n desti n ie s O rige n ,

p r oved by a n i nge n ious a r gume n t It is the c ha r a cte r isti c .

o f eve r y c au s e that it p r e c ede s it s e ff e c t N ow i nasmu c h .

,

a s the c o n figuratio n o f the s tar s doe s n o t pre c ede but is ,

at be s t c o nc omita n t with the bi r th ove r whi c h it p r e s ide s , ,

how c a n the s tars be the cause o f the child s fortu n es ? ’

O rigen a c c epts with n o remo n stra n c e how eve r the N eo , ,

plato n ic do c t r i n e that the stars though n o t c ausi ng huma n ,

eve nt s co nst itute the sig n s by whi c h they can be fo r etold

, .

T his th eory developed fully by Ploti nu s goes ba c k through

, ,

Philo to a n astrologi c al i nterpretatio n o f the fourtee nth

ve r se o f the ope n i ng c hapter o f Ge n esis O ri g e n to be .
,

sure like the N eoplatonists was wise e n ough n o t to attempt

, ,

its p roo f 1
.

O rigen a n d the G n osti c s did n ot yield to a c ompromise

with astrology before they had exhausted the a nc ie nt store
o f argume nt s agai n st it We meet agai n the di spute c on .

c er n i n g twi n s the argume n t that ast r ologi c al ob s ervatio n

,

is impossible a n d the c o nte ntio n that the j udi c ial ast r ologer
,

takes n o a cc ou nt o f geographi c a n d ra c ial c o n s ide r atio n s .

T he la s t argume n t even re c eived a c lever e n largement

perhaps the o n e c o n tributio n o f Chri s tia n write r s to the

1
T he f u lle s tri tt i t d t w rd s t r l ogy i
s t a t e m e nt of O g en
’
s a u e o a a o s

f nd i n E b i P p ti E v ng li 6 1 1 ( Mi g n P t Gr
ou u se us
’
r a’ ar a o a e ca . e, a r. .

2 1 47 8
. P l t i n s m pr m i e wi t h t r log y ( B h é L cl cq
o u
’
co o s as o ou c -
e er ,

p 600 ; Z lle r P hil d r G i h n 3 567 ) t m p te d m ny Ch r h

. e , . e r ec e . e a u c

wri t r S b elow pp 22 3 8 57
e s. ee , .
, , .
20 M edi aeval A tti tu d e t ow ar d A s tr olog y

dis c u ss io n A strology had explai n ed similarities o f race

.

by mea n s o f a system o f ast r ologi c al geography pla c in g ,

ea ch c ou n try u n de r the s way o f s eparate pla nets a nd stars .

B ut said the C hristia n writers are ra c ial c hara c teristi c s

, ,

really depe nde n t upo n geography ? T he Jews c ir c umcise

o n the eighth day i n R ome as i n Palesti n e ; have they
c a r ried the Jud aea n s tars with them or have they been ,

f reed f r om thei r i nflue nc e ? A n d the C hristia n s are they ,

not sc attered over all the globe a n d yet s u ff er the same f or ,

tu nes ? It i s not worth while to a sk how astrology might

have r eplied to these n ew questio n s I n asmu c h as O rige n .

a n d the G n osti c s e n ded by virtually a cc epti n g astrology a ,

refutatio n w a s perhap s deeme d u nn e c essary ,

1
,
.

I n the Weste r n C hu r c h the o n e g r eat oppo n e n t o f astrol ,

ogy was A ugusti n e C omi ng i n c o nta c t with astrologers

m
.

early i n li e tell s us i n his C onfess i on s he w a s at ,

fi r st a ttra c ted to them p r efe r r i ng them to the s oothsayers , ,

be c ause they i nvoked n o spi r it s E ve n the war n i ng o f a .

physi c ia n who told him that a st r ology was a f r aud passe d

, ,

u nheeded O nly afte r a frie n d had set him to po n deri ng

.

ove r the astrologi c al problem c o nc e r n i ng twi ns did A ugus

ti n e too de c ide that a strologi c al divi n atio n was a mere
, ,

matter o f c ha nc e ”
He nc ef o r th a s trology had i n him a .
'

s wor n e n emy A gai n a n d agai n he atta c ked it in his writ

.

i n g s repeati ng the diale c ti c o f Carn eade s a n d adding the

,
3
,

1
T he d i sc u s s o n i of a st r o l og y b y th e Gn o st ic B ar d esanes ( E u se
b i u s, P r cep . Ev . 6 . 10 : M ig ne ,
P a tr . Gr . 21 .
467 ff .
) p rallels t h
a at

of O ri g en al m ost t hro g h u ou t . It is B a r d e s anes w ho a sk s t he

q u es t on i co nce n ng r i the J w e s ( M ig ne ,
P a tr . Gr . 21 . A t hir d
se ri es of s i m i l r rg a a u m en t s is fo und i n t h e R ec og ni ti o n es of Clem ent
(9 . 12 -
1 0. Cf . B ou c hé -
L ec le r c q , pp .
53 4 5, 6 1 5 6
- -

2
C o nf es s i o ns 4 3 , a n d 7 6 . . .

3
i p i r i y f p t t i ng f i t h i n t h rb i t r a ry
A u g u s t n e o n t s t o t h e ab s u d t o u a e a
n am e s g iv i
en t o t he con st el l a t on s
( D D t C h i t 2 2 1 —
) an e oc r . r s . .

arg m en t f nd i n oth r C hri st i n wri t er ; f T t i n O r ti o d

u ou e a s c . a a , a a
Gr o ch p 9 ; Hipp oly t
cec s, R f t ti o O m ni m e
a .
i m u s, e u a u es u

B a s i l H om i n H x 6 6
, A u g st i n
. l so q u est i on s t h ri g h t o f
e . . . u e a e
 A n ci en t A s tr olog y 21

veheme nc e o f his o w n rhetori c E spe c ially did he never .

ti r e o f illustrating the problem o f twi n s ; on e i s c ompelled

to smile at the s erious n e ss with whi c h b e employed this
medio c re argume nt He c on fronts the astrologer with the .

histori c case o f Ja c ob a n d E sau a n d asks him how the ,

heave n s c a n be held to a cc ou nt for the e n ormous di ff erenc e

in the desti n ie s alloted to two childre n bor n so n early at
the same time He ridi c ules the theory that the moveme n t
.

o f the spheres is swi ft e nough to make o f the on e a de s ert

wanderer a n d o f the other the father o f a mighty people
,
.

T wi n s aga i n are s i c k at the same time

, ,
T he fa c t is .

e xplai n ed by the physi c ia n Hippo c rates as due to a s imi ,

.
,

la r i ty o f temperame nt s a n d by the S toi c Posido n ius as , , ,

due to a n ide n tity o f ho r o s c ope s A ugusti n e sees here an .

o pportu n ity to c o n fute the astrologer w ith his o w n do c tri n e .

‘
‘
Why he asks were they both s i c k o f the same di s ease
,
’
, ,

a n d at the same time a n d not the o n e a fter the other in ,

the or d er o f their birth i n asmu c h as they c ould n o t have ,

bee n born s imulta n eously ? O r i f the fa c t o f their having ,

been bor n at diff ere n t times does n ot n e c essarily imply that

they must be si c k at diff ere n t times why do the astrologers ,

c o n te n d that the di ff e r e n c e in the time o f their births was

the c ause o f their di ff ere n c e in other thi ngs I t is n ot

n e c essa r y to exami n e the s c ore o f ways i n whi c h astrolo gy

m ight have a n swered A ugusti n e s questio n s

’
I n ge n eral .
,

it probably re fused to quarrel over su c h mi n uti ae a nd mi ght ,

have c onsidered it a su ffi c ie n t a n swer to ask A ugusti n e in ,

tur n whe nc e i f not f rom the stars themselves c ould come

, , ,

r
a s t o l og e s d eny h o r o scop es to an i m als ( Ci v D e i 5
r to He h as . .

s o m et hi ng t o s ay o n t h e s t a r o f t he Ma g i i n A d F a s tu m ( 2 u .

Ci v D ei 5 4 5 ( M i g n e P t
1
. . L t 41 -

cf D e Ge n i d
, a r. a . . . es a

L i t t er a m 2 1 7 ( M i g ne P tr L a t 3 4
. A S chm ekel ( D ie
, a . . . .

P hilos ophi e d er M i ttler en S t oa pp 1 62 ff ) has pr ov e d t h at the , . .

r e f ut at i on o f a st r ology f o u nd in t he fir s t c h ap te r s o f Au gu s ti n e s ’

D e Ci vi ta t e D e i i s b as e d o n a lo s t p o r t i o n o f C i c e r o s D e F a to whi ch
’

, ,

i n t u r n l i k e t h e D e D ivi na t i on e g o e s b ack t o Ca r n ea d es ; s ee
, ,

a b ov e p 6 , . .
22 M edi wval A tti t u d e tow ar d A s tr ol og y

that ge n eral s imilarity o f temperame n t w hi ch i n t he ,

alter native theory o f the phy s i c ia n he himsel f a cc epted , .

What e n d o ne m a y ask did A ugusti n e have i n view i n

, ,

h i s st r uggle agai n s t astrology ? Wa s it the same a s that

o f the paga S c eptin c s a n d n —
O r ige to defe n d the freedo m
o f the huma n w ill ? It may appe a r so at fi r st A ugusti n e .

too mai n tai n s that the a c tio n s o f m a n a r e free f r om t he

,

arbit r a ry r ule o f the s ta r s a n d prai s e s the paga n p hi lo s o ,

p h e r s fo r defe n di n g t he ethi c al re s po n s ibility o f m a n

1
B ut .

it soo n be c omes c lear that hi s purpo s e i s o n ly that o f r ep la c

i ng astrologi c al fatalism by a n eve n more s tri nge n t deter
—
m in i s t i c do c t r i n e the theo r y o f p r edesti n atio n a n d divi n e
forek n o w ledge T hose who like C i c ero de n y p r edi c tio n o f
.
, ,

the future altogether re c eive at the ha n d s o f A ugu s ti n e ,

a more viole nt c o n dem natio n tha n the a st r ologe r s them

selves ?
S o o c c upied i n truth i s A ugusti n e with c ombati ng
, ,

fatalism that he i s almost ready to a cc ept a strology whe n

, ,

i n the N eoplato n i c fo r m it r id s its el f o f thi s n oxious doc ,

t r i n e He obj e c ts to the theo r y o f Ploti n u s however on

.
, ,

the s c o r e that n o astrologer a c tually a c c ept s the sta r s as .

mere i n di c ato r s o f eve n t s a n d that it too does n ot , , ,

obviate the p r a c ti c al di fficulties i nvolved i n the matter o f

twi n s ?

I n sp ite o f his denu nc iatio n o f astrology as a fatalisti c

s c ie nc e a n d his c o n te ntio n that it i s impo s sible i n pra c ti c e
, ,

A ugusti n e n eve r se r iously defe n ds the sc epti c ism o nce

exp r e ss ed in the C onfess i ons A fter exhau s ti n g his dia .

l ec t ic powers 1n destroyi n g astrology as a legitimate a rt ,

5 ; D e Gen es i a d L i t ter a m 2 1 7 ; Ci v D ei 5 1
1
A d F au s tu m 2 . . . . .

”
i
A u g u s t n e ( Ci v D ei 5 9 ) m en t o ns C c e o b y n a m e He d et est e d
. . i r i . .

v
hi m e en m o e t a n t he S t o c s, s m l
.
r h i
b e cau se , i n d en ng th e i py yi
p oss i b i l i ty of d ivi i
n a t o n, he d n i d the xi e e e s t en c e of Go d : Mult o
‘

s u n t au t em t o l e r ab i l i o r e s q i v l id r
u e f t s e a a a co n s t it u u nt , q ua m i st e ,

q ui t o ll i t p raesc i e n t i a m f utu r or um . N am et c o n fi t er i e ss e D eu m ,
et n eg a e r p r aesc iu m f u t u r o r u m , a p i i
e r t ss m a in i
san a es t
’
( M ig n e , Pat r

La t 41 . .

C i v D ei 5 . . 1 ( Migne ,
P a tr . La t 4 1 . .
 A n ci en t A s tr o log y 2
3

he e n ds by a cc epti ng the possibility o f ast r ologi cal predi c

A ll thes e thi ngs
‘
tio n s i f made by the help o f demo n s
—
.

c o n s idered — so A ugu s ti n e c loses the di s u sio

’
c s n w e have
‘

good reaso n to believe th a t w he n the a s trologer s give ve r y ,

ma n y wo n derful a n swer s it is to be attributed to the o cc ult ,

i nspiratio n o f spirit s n o t o f the best ki n d whos e c are it is , ,

to c r eep i n to the mi n d s o f m en a n d to c o n firm in them false ,

a n d n oxiou s opi n io n s c o nc er n i n g the fatal i n flue n c e o f the

stars a nd that it i s no t due to their marki ng a n d i n spe c ti n g

,

o f horos c ope s a cc o r di n g to a ki n d o f art whi c h i n reality

,

has n o existe n c e 1
With A ugu s ti n e i n fa c t the dis c u ss ion
.
’
, ,

o f ast r ology in the early C hur c h r e tur n ed to its poi nt o f

d epa r ture For A ugusti n e a s fo r T ertullia n a n d La c ta n
.
,

tiu s a strology was merely o ne o f ma ny n efarious pra c ti c es

,

w ith whi c h the ho s ts o f falle n a ngels tried to cheat ma nkind .

—
I n a spe c ial t r e a tise the D e D i vi n a ti on e D wm on u m f

A ugusti n e c rystalli z ed the do c t r i n e o f the early C hur c h

regardi n g the powe r s o f demo n s a n d laid the f ou ndatio n ,

f or those medi aeval super s titio n s whi c h bore malig n a n t fruit

i n the magi c a n d wit c h c ra ft o f the fi ftee n th c e n tu r y .

A s t r ology refused the n ame o f a s c ie n c e was for c ed to

, ,

live u n der its ig n omi n ious stigma u n til i n the thirtee nth ,

c e n tury it f or c ed a revisio n o f the C hu r c h s verdi c t

? ’

A n observa n t eye however might have dis c overed eve n , ,

i n the D e C i vi ta te D ei the ge r ms o f that n e w c omp r omi s e

between C h r istia n ity a n d astrology whi c h w a s to fi n d
expre ss io n i n the S u m ma T he ol og i az o f T homa s A qui nas
a n d the D i v i na C o m m e di a o f D a n te I n his preo cc upation .

1
C i v D e i 5 7 ( M g ne ,
. a tr L a t 4 1
. i P . . .

h
B o u c é L ec le r cq L A s t r o l og i e Gr e c q u e
’
-

, ,
p . 623 ; B o u c é Lecl e r cq , h -

H is t oi r e d e la D i v i n a t i o n 1 .
99 1f . T he D e D i vi n a ti on e D cem on u m
( Mi g n e , P a tr . . wl
L a t 4cg 58 1 ) e xp i
la n s h o w t h e de m on s o bt a n i kno
e dg f th
e of r r e h ir p ri r piri t l p w r s
u tu e b y e a so n o f t e su e o s ua o e ,

a n d by p r m i s i o n f Go d h i m sel f
e O n t h i m p o r t nc f
s l t r
o . e a e or a e

wi t h r f t f t h C h r h doct ri n c n er n i ng d em ons s ee J H ns n
c c a o e u c -
e o c , . a e ,

Z b w hn I n q i i ti on u nd H x npr o s i m M i t t l lt er ( Mu n i ch
au er a ,
u s , e e z e s e a

a n d L ip z i ge ,
24 M edi ceval A tti tu d e t ow ar d A s tr ol og y

with the pra c ti c al details o f astrology as a divi n atory art ,

A ugu s ti n e failed to n ote his o w n u n c o n s c iou s c o nc essio n s

—
to it as a physi c al s c ie n c e c o nc essio n s whi c h c ould be made
the ba s is for a n almo s t c omplete r ehabilitation I nto the .

midst o f his dis c u s sio n o f the astrologi c al dilemma c on

cer n i n g twi ns he i ns e r ts thi s passage : It is n ot altogether
,
‘

absurd to say that c ertai n s idereal i n flue nc es have some

power to cau s e di ff ere nc es i n bodies alo n e We see for .
,

insta nc e that the seaso n s o f the year vary as the sun

,

approaches a nd re c edes a n d that c ertai n thi ngs are i nc reased

,

or dimi n ished i n si z e by the waxi ngs and wa n i n gs o f the

moo n su c h a s s ea ur c hi n s oysters a n d the wo n de r ful ocean
,
-

, ,

tides But it does n ot follow that the wills o f men are

.

subj e c t to the c o nfigu r atio n o f the stars ”1

T hough i n the .

form o f a n egative stateme nt this passage c o ntai n s in ,

embryo the solutio n o f the astro logi c al problem as it was

formulated by the theologians o f the thirtee nth ce ntury .

( Mi g n e P i i h at t h e
1
Ci v D ei 5 6
. .
, a tr . L a t 41. . An a dm s s o n t
s ta s r fl n e t he tm ph r
in ue c n
a q n t ly m y
os e e, an d co se ue a pr o d e uc

m o d ifi t i on i n t he phy i l on st it t i on n d h b i t o f m n i s m d
ca s s ca c u a a s a ,
a e

also b y S x t E mp i i c s ( B ou h é Lecle cq p 595 n t e

e us r u On
c -
r , .
,
o

the b i f s h
as s o co n cess i on
uc a l v r p sy ch ol g i t coul d r est o r e
, a c e e o s

alm s t t h
o n t ir e sc i en c
e e e .
26 M edi wval A tti tu d e t ow ar d A s tr ol og y

sta r o f the Magi or a se r mo n o n fatali s m eve n though the ,

write r s might e n tertain for astrology it s el f merely a n aca

demi c i ntere s t It is thus i n a homily on the Epipha ny that .

Gregory fi n d s o cca s io n to dis c uss astrology He dire cts .

his atta c k parti c ula r ly agai n s t the P r i sc illia n i s ts a Gnosti c

1
,

se c t o f S pai n a ccused o f magi c He r epeats the c lassic .

a r gume nt o f twi n s u s i ng A ugu s ti n e s illust r atio n o f Ja c ob ,

’

a n d E sau a n d poi n t s agai n to the impo ss ibility o f s quari ng

,

j udi c ial a st r ology with eth n ologi c al i n flue nc e s Y et o n e ?

feel s a t o nc e that with G r e go r y a st r ology i s n o longer a

livi ng i ssue E ve n P r i s c illia n i s m dated ba c k to the time o f
.

A ugusti n e a n d A mb r o s e A s trology had falle n o n evil day s .

,

a n d it w a s me ntio n ed o n ly by way o f literary remi n i s c e n c e .

Ca s s iodo r us speaks o f it briefly i n two passages c alli n g it ,

a slippery er r o r a n d c iti n g A ugusti n e a n d Ba s i l as proo f

‘ ’
,

that i t s doc t r i n e s lead to he r e sy ?

B o e thius i n who s e C on ,

s o la ti on of P hi l os op h n m ight expe t to fi n d a full d i

y o e c s

c u ssi o n o f a s trologi c al f a talism ho n o r s it w ith o n e s light ,

allu s io n 4
A n d Ma c robiu s exhibit s ve r itable emba r r assme nt
.

whe n he i s c alled upo n to explai n the pa s s a ge o f the

S om ni u m S ci pi oni s whe r e C i c ero de sc ribes the a s t r ologi ca l
c h a r a c te r i s ti c s o f the pla n et s He is able to di s cuss t he
5
.

1
v p 7
S ee ab o e, . 1 .

Gr g ry H om i li XX
”
e o I n Di
, Epiph ni ( Mi g n P tr L t a : e a a e, a . a .

76 . I n i ll t r t i ng hi nd rg m en t Gr eg ry sks t he
us a s s eco a u ,
o a

as tr l g r why i f A q ri u pr d
o o e s fi h rm n n hi ld r en
,
ua s o u ces s e e , o c ar e

b rno nd r t h t s ig n
u in G t l i
e n i nl n d u nt ry nd w hy
a e u a, a a co , a

th r m ny p p l
e e are wi th o t b nk r s i f L i b r i the on t llat i on
a eo es u a e ,
a s c s e

o f th m n y h ng re o e -
c a e s .

i d r E xp i ti i n P l t i m CX L VI I I ( Mi gn P t
'
3
C ass o o u s, os o sa er u e, a r.

La t .
70 . D e A r ti bu s ac D i s cip li ni s L i ber a li u m L i t t er ar i um ,

c h p a .
7 ( Mi g n e ,
P a tr .L a t 70 . .

1
B o et hi u s, C o ns . P hi l 4 6. . .

5
Mac r bi
o u s, S omn . S c ip . 1. 19 . 20 ( ed . J a nu s, L eip z i g ,
1 848,

p . M a c r ob i u s b e cam e i n t h e el e v en t h ry
c en t u an i mp o r t ant

aut h ri ty
o on a st r on o m c a l i q i
u e s t on s ( see b el o w p , . He an d

C halc i diu s, wh o se c omm en t a ry on t he T i m az u s w as b a s e d on on e

by P i d ni
os v o u s, e en pr ese rv d e t he A ri stot l i e an d o ct ri ne t h at t he
 A s tr ology i n t he E ar ly M edi ceval C en tu r i es 2 7

hilosophi c al a s pe c t o f a s trology at some le n gth a n d eve n

p ,

ives n outli n e o f the Plato n i c myth o f the c reatio n o f m a n

g a

by the pl a n eta r y god s ; but whe n he t r ie s to expou n d the

ast r ologi cal f a c t s them s elve s he is c lea r ly pu zz led H e c o n ,
.

f e ss e s that t he o nly t r eatise he ha s ever read o n the s ubj e c t

is Ptolemy s Ha r m o nia a n d he p r o c e e d s a c c ordi ngly to
’
, , ,

expl a i n the evil i nflue n c e o f S atur n a n d the be n evole n t

c hara c ter o f Jupiter by mea n s o f a c ompli c ated s ystem o f

n umbers .

N o writer did so mu c h to fa ste n upo n the Middle A ges

t he patristi c c o n dem n atio n o f a s trology as the e nc yc l o

p ae d i s t o f the s eve n th c e n tu r y I s idore o f S eville ; a n

, d the
s everal pa ss ages of the E tym o log i w and the D e N a tu r a
R er u m that bear o n a s trology deserve c areful s c r uti ny .

I mporta n t first o f all i s his defi n itio n o f a s trology itself

, , .

A strology he s ay s is partly n a tu r a lis a n d partly s u p er

, , ,

s ti ti os a . N atu r al astrology is o nly a n othe r name f or

astro n omy S u p er s t i t i o n s astrology o n the othe r h a n d
.
, ,

‘
is that sc ie nc e whi c h is pra c ti s ed by the m a the ma ti ci who ,

r ead prophe c ies i n the heave n s a n d who pla c e the twelve ,

co n stellatio n s a s rulers over the membe r s o f ma n s bo dy ’

a n d soul a n d who p r edi c t the nativities a n d dispositio n s o f

,

m e n by the c our s e s o f the s ta r s T h e m a t hem a ti ci a n d

’1
.

g e n e t h li a ci reappea r i n a later c hapter o f the E ty m ol og i w

i n c ompany with ma n y o the r represe ntatives o f magi c .

Here agai n I sido r e r efe r s to their art a s supe r stitiou s

a n d ide n tifies t hem with the Magi o f the Gosp el— c uius
,

a r tis s c ie n tia usque ad E va ngelium fuit c o n c e s sa u t C hristo , ,

e dito ,
n emo ex i n d e n a t iv i t a t e m a l icu iu s de caelo i n t e r p r e

T he last se nten c e o f this defi n itio n I s ido r e quoted

’
t a r et u r .

d ou b le m o v e m en t of t he h v
ea en s c au se s g en e r t i on
a and rr p t i on co u

on ea rth ( C o m i n en ta r i u s in T i m az u m , c h p 75
a . : d M ll h
e . u ac ,

F r ag m en t a P hi lo s op h o r u m , P ri a s, 1 88 1 , 2 . c f S wi t l k i D
. a s , es

C ha lci di u s C o m m en to r e u Pl t a os Ti m aeu s ,
Mun s te r 1 902 p p 28 if
, , . .

( in B au m ke r s B ei tr ag e 3
’ '

1
E tym ol .
3 . 27 ( Mi g n e ,
P a tr . L a t 82
. .
28 M edi ceval A tti tu d e t ow ar d A s tr olog y

from T ertullia n though with little u n dersta n di ng o f its ,

co ntext It r emai n ed thro ughout the Middle A ges a n

.

i ntegral pa r t o f the sto ck defi n itio n o f ast r ologers ?

B ut
Is idore s logi c i s hardly equal to his lea r n i ng
’
S everal .

c urious bit s o f astrologi c al lore smuggled themselves i n to

his writi ngs a n d be came the c ommo n property o f the su c

,

cee d ing c e n turie s A strologi c al medi c i n e for example .

, ,

whi c h I s ido r e c o n dem n s in hi s defi n itio n o f s uperstitiou s

astrology he a cc ept s in part at least i n a later c hapte r
,
?
, ,

T he good physi c ia n he says will study ast r onomy as well , ,

as his ow n art i n asmu ch a s it is well k n ow n that our bodie s

,

c ha nge with the varyi n g state o f the weather a n d the sta r s .

In the D e N a tu r a R er u m I s idore a sc ribes to the moo n a n ,

i nflue n c e over fruit s ove r the b r ai n s o f a n imals a n d over , ,

oysters a n d sea ur c hi n s He even refer s to it i n a phras e -

.
,

o f u n mistakable astrologi cal c olo r i ng as the du x hu m en ti u m ,

s u bs ta n ti ar u m T he dog star is said to be a c ause o f sick

3 -

n e ss
4
A s fo r c omet s I s idore a c c epts them without reserve
.
,

as the p r ogn osti c ators o f revolutio n war a n d pestile nc e ?

, ,

Isidore a n d the elder Pli ny a r e the pri nc ipal sources f or

the s c ie n tifi c wo r ks o f B ede a n d are seve r ally respo n sibl e ,

for two o f the slight a s trologi c al refere nc es dis c overable in

his w r iti n gs It is upo n Pli ny that B ede draws for a chapter
.

o n the planets i n the D e N a tu r a R er u m Probably with no .

1
E ty m o l. 8 9 . . 23 ( Mi g n e P a tr La t 82 , . . . Cf . ab o ve p , . 1 8.

4 ( M i gn e 82
”
E ty m o l 4 1 3 . . . .

D e N a t Her 1 9 2 ( M i g n e P a tr i re
3
. . 18 6 ; . .
, . L a t 83 . . I s do
rr w d
bo o e t he p a ssa g e fr om A mb r o se s
’
H exa em er on ( 4 7 . . 29 -

30
Mi g n e P , a tr . La t . 14 .

( Mi gn e P
4
D e N at . R er . 16 . 14 , a tr . La t . 83 .

5 ‘
Haec r g n i m t t i n m f t o t en d er e au t
c um n a sci t u r ,
’

au t e u a o e er u r s ,

b ll t p e t i lent i s r g er e ( D N t R r 26 1 3 Mi g n e P a tr
’
e a, au s as u e a . e . . : , .

L t 83
a . Th . t r ol og i c l i g n ifi n e o f m et s m to e as a s ca c co s ee s

h v b n
a e p t e d g n r ally in the ea rly Ch u r ch ; c f B o h é
ee a cce e e . uc

L e l c q p 623 ;
c er J H R ob i nson T h Gr t Com et of 1 680 : A
, . . .
, e ea

S t dy i n th Hi t or y
u f R ti on li m ( No thfi el d M i nn
e s o a a s r , .
,

pp 5 6
.
-
.
 A s tr ology i n the E ar ly M edi ceva l C en tu r i es 2
9

c o n s c ious n es s that he is trespassing upon the domain o f

astrology he follows his author i n c hara cteri z i ng S aturn
,

as c old Jupite r as temperate a n d Mars as glowi n g I t

, ,
.

is c urious to n ote howeve r that he stops here a n d omit s , , ,

Pli ny s astrologi cal des c riptio n o f Ve nus as the planet whi c h

’

nourishes all thi ngs o n ea r th 1

I s ido r e i n tur n is r e sp on .
, ,

sible fo r B ede s chapter o n c omet s T here is in fa c t evi

’
.
, ,

den c e i n s everal o f his wo r ks that he was a fi rm believer

i n their propheti c vi r tue I n the E cc les ia s ti ca l Hi s t or y for .
,

i n sta n c e the c omets o f 729 are c o nn e cted with the i n road

,

o f the S a r a c e n s i nto Gaul a n d with the d eaths o f ki n g O sri c ,

a n d the holy E gbe r t

?

O n e c o n dem n atio n o f astrology p r oper is fou n d i n B e d e s

’

works I t s sour c e I have n o t di sc overed It o cc urs in a

. .

passage o f the D e T em p or u m R a ti on e whi c h c omments on ,

the divisio n o f t ime i nto hours mi nute s a n d se c o n ds T he , ,

.

ma thema ti ci says B ede c o n ti n ue the divisio n to s till smaller

, ,

u n its S i nc e however their s c ie nc e is vai n a n d c o n trary

.
, , ,

to the C hristia n faith he will re f r ai n from using their ,

termi no logy ?

Isidore is agai n a sour c e for the e n cy c lop aedist o f the

n i nth c entury R a b a nu s M aurus B ishop o f Fulda The
m
.
, ,
’
latter s c hief sei e D e Uni ver s o co n tai n s a ,

c hapter o n magi c whi c h is a lite r al tra n s c ript o f that i n

A s tr ol og i and ma the ma ti ci a r e
’
I sidore s E tym olog i w .

c lassed a s i n the latter

, amo n g n e c roma n c ers a n d augurs ; ,

and R ab an u s subs c ribes to the T ertullianist do ctri n e that

1
Be de ,
D e Nat . R er .
, c h p a . 13 ( Mi g n e ,
P a tr . La t .
90 . cf.

P l i ny , N a t Hi s t . . 2 . 6 .

B ed e r ep t ea s I s do i r e s
’
d esc ri p t i o n o f c o m et s w rd o f or w or d ( D e

Na t R e. r h p
.
,
c a . 24 : Mi g n e ,
P a tr . La t 90. . Co m e ts are sp ok n e

of i n t h e His tor i a E ccles i as ti ca 4 . 1 2, a n d 5 23 , 2 4 ( e d

. . P lum m er ,

O xf o r d , 1 896 , 1 . 1 1 8, 349,
3
B ed e , D e T e mp h p 3 ( M i g n P t L t 90 . Ra t , Cf c a . e, a r. a . . .

t he m i l d r b k o f st r o l og y whi h i s f
e u e n d in l t t r f A l dh l m
a c ou a e e o e

( B i sh o p f S h er b o r n 640 o q ote d b y Wi lli m f M lm b ry e, u a o a es u

( A ng li a S a cr a 2 .
3 0 M ed i ceva l A tti tu d e t ow ar d A s tr olog y

ast r ology though permitted till the birth o f Christ was

, ,

the nc eforth a forbidde n s c ie n c e 1

I s ido r e s c hapter o n .
’

magi c was c opied i n a n other work o f R ab a nu s the D e ,

Mag i cis A r ti bu s the lo n ge s t t r eati s e on divi n atio n whi c h

,

had appeared si nc e A ugusti n e ?

R a b a nu s p rese nts the g en
e r a l view s o f the Chu r c h Fathe r s on the s ubj e c t o f demons ,

a n d the r ole they w e r e suppo s ed to play i n divi n atio n T his .

treatise i n fa ct w a s de sti n ed to exe r t a n importa n t i nflue nc e

, ,

o n the growi n g body o f C hu r c h law o n the subj e c t o f

s or c e r y a n d mag i c C hri s ti a n ity f r om the time o f its

?
,

i n t r odu c tio n amo ng the barbaria n people s o f the N orth ,

had pro c eeded to c ombat paga n magi c a n d wit c h c ra ft T he .

ea r ly Pe n ite ntial s a r e replete with refere nc es to o ccult

p r a c ti c e s It w a s probably in a n swer to a dema n d f or a
.

s y s t e mati z ed do c tri n e o n t he subj e c t that s u c h treatises

a s that o f R a b a n u s we r e writte n A n d whe n the great .

c a n o n ist s o f the s u c c eedi ng c e n tu r ies c ame to deal with the

s ubj e c ts o f s o r c e r y a n d magi c they follo w ed the lead o f ,

R ab a nu s Mau r us al s o basi n g thei r uttera n c e s o n the doc

,

t r i n e o f demo n ology f ormulated by the ea r ly Chu r c h T he .

D e cr e tu m o f Bu r c ha r d B i s hop o f Wo r m s i n the first quar

,

ter o f the eleve nth c e n tury qu o te s f reely f r o m the works

—
,

o f ugu sti e a d I s ido r e pa r ti c ularly f r om the fo r mer s

A n n
’

D e D i vi n a ti on e D wm on u m A st r ology is f ou n d again i n
.

the li s t o f magi c p r a c ti c e s bo r r owed f r om Isid o re 4

,

Bu r c ha r d s D ecr e tu m a s is well k n ow n w a s embodied with

’

, ,

little c h a n ge i n the c olle c tio n s o f C hur c h law o f Ivo o f

C hartre s a n d G r atia n O n the subj e c t o f a s trology all
.
,

th r ee a r e i n virtual ag r eeme n t G r at ia n it i s true adds an .

, ,

ex c erpt f r om A ugu sti n e s D e D oc tr i na Chr is ti a na and ’

,

quote s a C hu r c h la w agai n s t ob s ervi ng the stars f or the

purpos e o f pla n ti n g s eed or c o ntra c ti n g a mar r ia ge B ut .

1
D e Un i ver s o 15 4 ( M g n e,
. i P a tr . Lat . 111 .

”
De M a g i ci s A r tib u s ( M g n e , i P a tr . La t . 1 10 .

”
Ha n se n ,
Z a u b er w a hn im M i t t ela lt er ,
p 38 . .

r h rd 43 ( Mi g n e P t L
1
Bu D ecr e tu m
‘

c a ,
1 0. , a r. a t. 1 40 .
 A s tr olog y i n t he E ar ly M edi ceval C en tur i es 3 1

I sidore s chapter magic with its defi n itio n s o f the ma the

’
on ,

ma ti ci a n d g en e thlia ci still c o n stitutes the lo n gest r ef ere nc e ,

to astrology ?

It is very doubt ful whether a ny medi aeval writer thus

far c it ed had a nythi ng more tha n a literary a c quai nta nc e
with a s trology T he haruspi c es augur s a n d a s trologe r s
.
, , ,

so faith fully defi n ed i n eve r y t r eati s e o n sor c ery a n d magi c

f r om I s idore to Gratia n we r e p r obably as foreign to the ,

a c tual li fe o f the te nth a n d eleve n th c e nturies as the religio n

o f pagan R ome itsel f B ut c itatio n s f r om the Fathers that .

might apply to the simple so r c ery o f the n o r the r n peoples

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

with what lay ready to ha n d T he fa c t that the c a n o n law .

c lassed astrology amo n g the diaboli c arts or eve n discussed ,

the subj e c t at all was p r obably i n the first i n sta n c e a n , , ,

a cc ide n t It be c ame a matter o f c o n s eque n c e o n ly whe n

.

the C hur c h i n the c ourse o f the t w el fth c e ntury was again

, ,

c alled upo n to deal with astrologe r s i n the fle s h .

Even before the s udde n a r rival o f A rabia n s c ie nc e in

the s c hools o f Italy a n d Fra nc e had brought the C hur c h
on c e more fa c e to fa c e with a s trology the latter had begu n ,

to fi n d c ha n n el s o f literary tra n s mis s io n les s na r r ow tha n

tho s e leadi n g dow n through I sidore The eleve n th a n d .

twel fth c e ntu r ies wit nessed i n F r a n c e a ge n eral re n ai ssa n c e

o f Lati n literat ure a n d ma ny a glea n i ng o f s c ie ntifi c fa ct ,

was made i n the c our s e o f a p r omis c uous r eadi ng that did

n o t have to wait fo r the r edis c ove r y o f A r i s totle T hi s
-
?

n ewly awake n ed huma n ism f ou n d its best rep r e s e ntative s

1
I vo of C h rt r es
a ,
D e c r e tu m 10 . 68 ( M i g ne ,
P a tr . La t 1 6 1 . .

Gr a t i an D e cr e tu m
, 2 . 26 .
3 5
-

( Mi g ne P,
a tr . Lo t . 1 87 . 1 3 42 T he
i
l st of t he m ed i v
ae al w it rr e s w ho r p e ea t e d I si d o r e d fi ni ti n o f
’
s e o

a s t o lo g r y i s, of c ou r
xh t d I t i
se , not e au s e . s f o nd i n t h D
u e e

D ivi ni s Ofii cu s , r ib ed to A l i n ( M i g n P t
a sc cu e, a r . La t . 10 1 .

and ag a n i in a tw l fth
e n t ry t r ti
-

cem u ea se on cos o log y , a sc ri b ed to

Be de ( Mi g ne , P a trL a t 90
. . .

2
y r
T a lo , The M ed i ceva l M i n d ( Lond on ,
1 9 14 ) 2 . 1 44 .
3 2 M ediceval A t ti tu d e t ow ar d A s tr ol og y

in the famous s chool o f C hartres F r om the time o f Ful ?

bert to that o f Joh n o f S alisbury the Chartres s chool was a ,

leade r in liberal a n d s c ie n tifi c studie s a n d eve n astrology ,

w a s n ot omitted f rom the ra nge o f its i ntere s ts T he .

c urio s ity o f the medi aeval c la ss i c ist must have bee n aroused

by ma ny a n a s trologi c al allusio n i n Lu ca n Persius or the , ,

writi n g s o f the Fath e rs Joh n o f S alisbury i n repeati n g .

,

’
I sidore s traditio n al defi n itio n o f a strology takes evide n t
3
,

ple a su r e i n illu s t r ati n g it w ith c hoi c e bit s quoted f rom the

L ati n sati r i s t s I n additio n to su c h i n dire c t i n fo r matio n on
.

a st r ologi cal matters as they fou n d i n the L ati n c las s i c s the ,

w r iter s o f the tw e l fth c e n tu r y had i n their ha n ds two dire c t

sou r c e s for a nc ie n t astrology the Ma thes i s o f Fi rmi c us , ,

a n d the repo s itorie s o f a s trologi c al Plato n i s m C ha lc i d iu s ,

a n d Ma c r obiu s A dd to this the fa c t th a t the C hartres

.

s c hool i n the e a r ly hal f o f the c e ntu r y was already i n

, ,

po ss e ss io n o f t he first s c ie ntifi c treati s e s to rea c h n orthern

E urope from Mohammeda n S pai n a n d it i s n ot surprisi ng ,

that a s t r ologi c al dis c u ss io n s be c ame f r eque nt

A s early a s the yea r I ooo—if the c hro n i c les are to be
.

b e ev e d
l i — Pope S ylvester I I had s tudied Fi r mi c us i n S pain
l
.

A hu n dred yea r s later the r e a r e i n dubitable t r a c es o f his

pre s e n c e i n E ngla n d A n d at the ope n i n g o f the twelfth .
,

c e n tury F r
im s " n
i cu
,
M a t e r u s I S c ited by n ame i n a poem by

Ma r b o d u s
M

1 op o f R e nn e s was c o n n e c ted i n di ,

r ec t ly with the s c hool o f C hartres I n the poeti c dis c ussion .

o f a s trology whi c h c o n stitute s a portio n o f his L i ber D ecem

C api tu l or u m Ma r b o du s atta c ks Firmi c us Ma t er nu s vigor
,

o u sly repeati n g s ome o f the s to c k argume n ts o f the Fathers

, ,

a n d asse r ti n g parti c ularly that hi s fatalisti c do c tri n es destroy

all ethi c s a nd all so c ial order ?

T he i n flue nc e o f Firmi c us

1
Cl e rv a l, L es E coles d e C har tr es an M oy en Ag e ( Ch a r t r e s ,
2
P o li cr a ti cu s 1. 12 ( ed . Web b O xf o r d , ,
1 9 09 , 1 .

”
Hi g d en ,
P ly h
o c r on i c o n ( ed . Lu m b y ,
R olls S er .
) 7 . 68 ; Wi ll i am
of Ma lm es b ry D
u , e C es tis R eg u m A ng l or u m 2 . 1 67 ( M i g ne , P a tr .

Lat . 1 79 .

M a r b o d u s L i b er D ecem Capi tu lor u m c h a p

‘
, , . 6: De F a to et

Genes i ( M ig ne P a tr L o t 1 7 1 Cu ri ou sly
, . . . en oug h , Marb odu s
34 M e di ceval A tti tu d e t ow ar d A s tr o log y

T he last li n es o f this quotatio n lead the reader to suspe c t

that for B e r na r d S i lvest r i s Firmi c u s was n ot o nly a sour c e
, ,

o f i n formatio n on matters o f astrology but a sedu c er as ,

well A readi n g o f the whole o f the D e Mu n di Univers i ta te

.

co nfirm s this s uspi c io n I n the pe r so n o f B er nard S ilves .

tris i n fa ct astrology c ould boast on e o f its first medi aeval

, ,

c hampio n s Y et it is n ot the s c ie ntifi c astrology o f Ptolemy

.

a n d the A r abia n s that fi n ds expressio n i n his work I t is .

rathe r the philo s ophi cal ast r ology o f the N eoplato n i c c o m

m en t a t or s C halc i diu s and Ma c robius
, T he se c ond hal f o f .

the D e Mu ndi Uni vers i ta te is little more tha n a version o f

the Ti m aean myth o f the c r eatio n o f m a n T he goddess .

Ura n ia c ondu c ts the huma n soul dow n to earth by way o f

the pla n ets a n d di sc ou r s e s to her c ompa n io n goddesses on
,
-

the benign influen c es o f some a n d the evil powers o f others , .

With a complete aba n do n me nt o f the orthodox views on t he

subj e c t B e r nard breaks out i n to a pa n egyri c o f the won
,

der f u l sc ie nc e o f the stars :

P r aejac et i n s t elli s i o r tas se ri es q u am l on g ae

E xp l i t t sp t i i s t m p i s o r d
ce ,
c a i e or o su s

S c p t a P ho n i fr t ru m d i
e r ro r d ia T h bis
e , a sco e ,

Fl m m P h é t ont i s D euc li n i
a a a quae ,
a o s a ,

I n s t ll i s C d i p
e p e t s c pi C r e i
o r au r a ,
o a o s ,

I stu s P
u ce
-
i di Hipp oly t iq ar p dor s ue u .

I n t elli Pri m i p c i e
s s d ci T u n i
a s e s, a u a a r ,

S n e U li x e s He cul sq u vi g o r
su s u ,
r eu e .

I n t lli p g i l e t P ollu x et n a it a T yp hi
s e s u s y s,

E t C i c r rh et r e o t g om et r a T h l es
o , e e a .

I n t ll i s l epi d
s e d i ct t Ma c M i lo fi g u t
us a r ,
ra ,

F u lg u t i n L t i a n ob i l i t at N e r o
ra a e .

A s t ra n t t P r i E gy p tu p tu i t rt
o a e s s, s ar r a es,

G ci d oct l g i t p l i a R om a g e ri t
r ae a a e ,
r ae .

E x m p l r sp i m nq
e a D ei vi g n la Ch i s tu m
ec e ue r u cu r

P t it et v r m
1
ar ur ,
l nu m en h b nt
e u saecu a a e .

B ern ard S ilve st r i s is a u n ique figu r e i n the M iddle A g es .

—
T hough his work was very popular the passa g e j ust quote d
1
T he B en e d i ct i n e e d i t o r s of the Hi s t . Li tt . d e la F r an ce, who q uot e
 A s tr ol ogy i n t he E ar ly M edi ceval C en tur i es 35

the source o f a sta nz a i n C hau c er s M a n of L aw s

’ ’

is
l—
Ta le it i n no wise represe n ts the orthodox thought o f
his c e ntury T he D e M u ndi Uni vers i ta te is almost purely
.

pagan a nd might have bee n written by a huma n ist o f the

,

s ixtee n th c e ntury Possibly its glorifi c ation o f astrolo gy .

already shows the i n fluen c e o f the s c ie nce o f the Moors ?

B er nard is i nteresti n g as the principal representative o f

N eoplatoni c astrology i n the M iddle A ges E xcept for .

t h e us e ma d e o f it by po ets like D a n te N eoplato n ic astr olo gy ,

was to have n o future .

For an expression o f the orthodox attitu d e o f t hetwel fth

c e n tury toward astrology o n e must look to m e n like A b e ,

l ard Hugh o f S t Vi c tor a n d best o f all to John o f S alis

, .
, , ,

bu r y A belard the g r eat i n n ovator i n medi aeval thought

.
, ,

has o n ly a philosophi c i nterest in the scien c e H e dis c usses .

it at s ome length in his A na lyti cs i n c o n nection with the ,

p roblem o f free will his purpose bein g to disprove the ,

existen c e o f absolute ne c essity B elief in fatalism he calls .

i mpossible i n the face o f actual experien c e a n d common

sense E ve n N atu r e hersel f could not pre d ict future hap
.

p e n i n g s c o n tingent upon c han c e Hen c e it is surprisin g .

that a ny o n e should c laim for a s c ie n c e like that o f astrolo gy

t he power o f p r ophe c y
’
?
Hugh o f S t Vi c tor s s hort .

n oti c e o f ast r ology i n the D i das ca li c o n repeats the passage

thi s stanz a ( 1 2 .
g r eet th e i mp i ety of t h e l a s t l n es i wi th a c ry

o f h rr o r ;
o e se a lso t he ed i t i on of t he D e M u nd i Un i ver s i ta t e b y
B r h n d Wr
a ac a ob e l ( I nn s br k uc ,
p . 16 .

M a n of L aw s ke ( O xf o r d ed
1 ' ’
T a le 99 1 0 5 ; c f -
. S a t s n ot e
‘

.
5 .

”
Cf . t he i
sen t m en t o f t he ab o ve st a n a z wi t h the p assag e q uot ed
b el o w (p .
50 )
1
fr om A d e la d r of B at h .

”
A n a ly ti ca Pi IIIr or a : Mi r u m
‘
e st q uod d i cu nt p er a st r o n o m i a m

q u os da m h o r m q oq e
u u u f u tu r o r um p r aesc i o s es s e .
Q uo d en im
r
n a t u ae i ncog n it m q o m o d o p a r tem
i n 0 p i na t u m est at q ue u ,
u er

n at l em cog n os ci p s i t
u ra t q uo m o d ex a l iq ua o si n at r a cer ti
,
au o re u

esse p o ss im u s d e c c q o d n a t r quoq e i ncogn i tu m est ? ( Cousi n ’

u u a
e u ,

O v g e I n di ts d A b l d P ri 1 83 6 p ’
A b el r d h w
’

u ra s e e ar , a s, , . a , o

e v er s e em s t o h a v e a s s en te d t o t h e m e d i aev al v i ew o f m ag i c a s
,
3 6 M edia va l A tti tu de t ow ar d A s tr ol og y

o f Isido r e s E tym ol og ice whi ch distingui shes between astron

’

o my a n d astrology Hugh o f S t Vi c tor i ntrodu ces how . .

,

eve r a modifi catio n i n the phraseology o f I sidore which

,

will bear c lose s c rutiny i nasmu c h as it is propheti c o f that ,

new attitude whi ch was beginni n g to seek expressio n I si .

dore i n maki n g a di sti nc tion betwee n n atural a n d super

,

s t i t i o u s a s t r ology had give n to the fo r mer a defi n itio n

,

p ra c ti c ally ide n ti c al with that o f astronomy reservi ng fo r ,

t he latter the a c cusation that it was a diabolic art In Hugh .

o f S t Vi c t o r though s uper s titiou s a s trology s ta n ds c on

.
,

dem n ed as in Isido r e the definition o f natural astrology ,

reads a s follows : N atural astrology deals with the i n flue n ce

‘

o f the s tars upo n our bodily c omplexio n s whi ch vary ,

a cc ordi ng to the state o f the c elestial sphere as in health ,

a n d si c k n ess good a n d bad weathe r f ertility a n d drought

1 ’
.
, ,

T o admit the i n flue n c e o f the sta r s over s i c k n ess an d health

was a c o nc essio n o f great importa nc e A lthough implied in .

c ertai n st a teme nts o f Is idore a n d A ugusti n e it had rarely ,

bee n s o c learly a ck n owledged I n t r uth i f this modifi catio n .

,

is owi n g to Hugh o f S t Vi c tor himsel f it marks him as a .

,

pio n eer i n the development o f the s cholasti c doctrine con

c er n i n g s c ie n tifi c astrology .

Fo r the maturest express io n o f the orthodox attitude

toward astrology in the twel fth c e n tury on e must look t o ,

John o f S alisbury A n E nglishma n by birth edu c ated i n .

,

p os si ble wh en ca rri e d on by the ai d o f d em on s A n d wi th ch a r .

a ct e r i s t i c p e rv e r s i ty h e e v en d e f en d s t h e s tu dy o f n ec r o m a ncy a n d

ma g i c He i n ser t s a p l ea f o r it i nt o hi s d e f en se o f d i l ect i c K n ow l
.
-

a .

e d g e e v en o f e vi l s e rv e s som e g o o d ; o nly t h e pr a ct i c e i s t o b e

co n d em n e d Go d hi m sel f kn o w s wh at t he d evi l i s ab out ( A na ly ti a

. c

P os te i or a I : Cous i n p
r , .

( M i g n e P a tr L t 1 7 6 A st r
1 ‘
D i d as c li on 2 a 11c .
, . o . . o

log i a au t em q u ae a st r a con s i d e a t s ecun d um n at ivi t at i s et m o r t i s et

r ,

q u o u m l ib et al i o u m ev e n t uu m ob se vat i on em q u ae p a r t i m n atu r al i s
r r r ,

e st ,p a r t i m sup e s t itio s N atu ral i s i n c omp lex ib u s c orp o rum qu e

r a. , a

s ecu n d u m s up e ri o r u m c on t em p e ant i am va r i ant u r u t san it a s z ag ri

r , ,

t u d o t em p e st as se en it a s f e r t il it a s e t st e r il it a s
’
, ,
r , , .
 A s tr ology i n the E ar ly M edi wval C en tur i es 37

Franc e a n d livi ng in Paris Ca n terbury and C hartres Joh n

, , , ,

o f S alisbury is the best represe ntative o f that i n cipient

huma n ism whi c h had grown up i n the s chool o f C hart r es ,

a n d whi c h was soo n to give way befo r e a n age o f sc ie n ce

a n d theology T he philo s ophi c al problem s c o nn e c ted with

.

astrology a n d fatalism had for Joh n o f S alisbury a pe c ulia r

fas c i natio n a n d he dis c usses them at great le ngth i n the
,

P o li cr a ti cu s written about 1 1 59 ,
A lthough John o f S alis .

bury was u nusually sa n e an d e n lighte n ed in the matter o f

medi aeval superstitio n s ? he s ubs c r ibed fully to the pat r isti c
do c t r i n e o f demo n ology T he C hur c h Fathers he says
rightly de n ou nc ed all forms o f magi c—s p eci es ma the
.
, ,

ma ti cw—inasmu c h as all o f the s e pe s ti ferous arts spri n g

from a n illi c it pa c t with the devil ?
T he various ki n ds o f
divi nation he defi n es a s does I sidore reserving the usual ,

place for the as tr ol og i a n d m a them a ti ci ?

B ut the ki n ship between astrology a n d the diabolic art s

o f divi natio n is little emphasi z ed whe n John o f S alisbury ,

in the se c o n d book o f the P oli cr a ti cu s d eals with astrology ,

in its philosophi c al a n d s c ie ntifi c aspe c ts H e admit s at .

the outset that some power may reside in c elestial bodie s ,

s in c e God has c reated nothi n g without its p r oper use ?

A stro n omy i n deed is a glorious s c ie n c e ; o nly whe n i t

, ,

bursts its proper bou n ds does it be c ome impious A dis .

ti nc tion is to be made betwee n the le g itimate s c ie nc e

— —
m a thes is a n d the illegitimate divinato r y art ma thé s is 5
.

1
See p a r t i cu l r ly a hi s ch a pt e r s on om en s ( P ol . 2 . I ff .
) and on

d r eam s (2 . 14 if .
) cf. Ha n s en Z a u b erw a hn p
, , . 1 28 .

”
P ol . 1 .
9 : E0
‘
q u o d ! P at r es ! om n i a h aec a r t i fi ci a ve l p tin
o s

m a le fi c i a ex p es t if r a e q u a da m f a m il i a r it a t e daem o n u m et h o m i nu m
no v ri nt
e p r o fl u x i ss e
’
( ed . Webb 1 .

”
P ol . 2 . 12 ( ib i d . 1 . J h n o f S l i sb ry i n l d T t lli n
o a u c u es er u a
’

st a t em en t h at st r ol ogy
t a wa s p e r m i tt d sc i n e nt i l th t i m e wh n
a e e c u e e

the Ma g i w r hi p p d t o s e a Be thl h m ;
e e b v p 18 se e a o e, . .

‘
P ol . 2 . 19 ( i bi d . 1 .

”
J hn f
o o S a l sb u i ry pr o b ab l y f ou n d t hi s d i t i n ct i
s on in Hu g h of

St . Vi t r
c o ( D i das c . 24 : Mi g n e ,
P a tr . Lo t . 1 76 . It o ccu r s
3 8 M ed i ceval A tti tu d e t ow ar d A s tr olog y

The latter in attempti ng to foretell the future usurps t he

, ,

prerogatives o f the C r eato r o f t he s tars him s el f ?

Joh n
o f S alisbury pro c eeds to make mild f u n o f the astrologers ’

do c tri n es ?
D eparti n g from the ways o f true s c ie nc e he ,

says they divide the sig n s o f the z odiac i nto mas c uline an d
,

femi n i n e a n d would probably have the c onstellations con

,

tra c t marriages i n the sky were they not too far separate d ,

i n spa c e S aturn the astrologer s c hara c teri z e as cold an d

.

wicked ; he spares f rom harm s c arcely the astrologers

them s elves ?
Joh n o f S ali sbury howeve r quite forgets his , ,

sarcasm i n the portion o f his expositio n where he describes

the a st r ologi cal pow e r s o f the su n I f astrology I n fact .
, ,

were o nly c o nte n t w ith moderate c laims a n d o ccupied itsel f ,

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

B ut whe n the a s t r ologer s make b r oad thei r p hi lact e r i es a n d ,

e nl a r ge the bo r de r s o f their garme n ts i n a sc r ibi n g every

thi ng to the s tar s they do i n j u r y to God s s overeignty ,
? ’

T hey eve n te a ch that f eat s o f magi c ca n be pe r fo r med by

the aid o f the star s a n d that a huma n image c a n be b r ought ,

to li f e gifted with the power o f prophe cy With su c h

, .

nefari o u s art s the C hristia n ca n ha ve n othi ng to do 5

T he .

do c t r i n e o f Ploti nus to be sure whi c h holds that the stars , ,

are used by God himsel f t o give to m en s ig n s o f futu r e

eve nts is fairly plausible A r e not birds a n d other thi ngs
, .

the i n st r ume nt s t h r ough whi c h God tra n s mit s to men k n owl

edge o f w hat is to c ome ? 6
S till u n de r the ho n ey o f s u c h ,

a l so in Rog e r B aco n ( Opus M ajus 4 . 16 : ed . B ri dg es Lond on

, ,

1 900, 1 .

1
P ol . 2 . 19 ( ed . Web b 1 .

”
I bi d . Hi s in f rm ti
o a on se em s to c om e fr om F ir m i cu s M at e r n u s .

1”
O mnibu s e rg inim i
o cu s vix su si i
et a m s c o l ast i c i s p a r c i t ( i bi d
’
.

1.
4
P ol . 2 . 19 ( i bi d . 1 .

5
I bi d .

”
I bid . T he ed it r o of t h e P o li cr a ti cu s i s p zz l d
u e as to wh er J h n e o

of i ry g t h i i n f rm at i n b o
S al sb u o s o o a u t P lo t i nu s . I f one p u t s
t og t h e r a p ss g o f M c r b i u ( S m n S ip 1 1 9 8 )
e a a e a o s o . c . . . a n d o n e fr om

A g st i n e ( Ci v D i 5
u u I t hi nk t h e r i s n o n e d t o
. e . e e l ook f th e r ur .
 A s tr ology i n t he E ar ly M edi wva l C en tu r i es 39

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

,

reveren c e to Go d the philosophers impose a fatalisti c rule ,

upo n the course o f huma n eve n ts A n d fatalism other than .

,

that implied in the doctrine o f God s foreknowle dge is as ’

,

hateful to Joh n o f S alisbury as it was to A u gustine He .

expou n d s at g r eat le n gth the C hur c h do c tri n e c o n c e r n i n g -

p r edesti n atio n a n d free w ill ; a n d whe n he agai n retur n s

l

to astrology it is o n ly to atta c k it more fierc el y than ever

,

with theologi c al argume nts T aki ng his c u e f r om A bela r d . .

he de n ies that m a n ca n gain a ny kn owledge o f the future

what s oever Has t he astrologer obtained a cc ess to the
.

se c ret c ou n sels o f God himsel f ? D o e s n ot the s tory o f

2

ki n g He z ekiah prove that God c a n alter even his o w n

p rophe c ie s ? Joh n o f S ali sbury does n ot de ny that God
3

may at times indi c ate future events by the sun an d moon ;

but he is persuaded o n the authority o f reason a n d the ,

concu r re n t opi n io n s o f many other philosophers that a ,

s c ie nc e foretelli n g the future either does not exist or i s ,

u nk n ow n to men 4
.

C learly John o f S alisbury s attitu d e toward astrolo gy is

’
,

that o f the C hur c h Fathers in medi aeval dress L iving .

at a time whe n A rabia n s c ie nc e was alrea d y filteri n g into

western E urope by way o f L atin translatio n s he was still ,

oblivious o f its prese nc e His o w n c ou ntryman A de lard .

, w

o f B ath
_
had already made a j our n ey o f exp lo r a t fdfi i nto
,

Sara c en la n d s ; a n d i n his o w n sc hool o f Chartres tra c es ,

o f A rabian astrolo gy ca n be found i n the c osmologi c al

writi ngs o f William o f C o nches who died five years before ,

the P o li cr a ti cu s was writte n ?

B ut there are no p r oo f s
that Joh n o f S alisbury knew A delard o f B ath ; an d his
1
P ol . 2 . 2 0 24 -

( i bi d . 1 . 1 13
”
P ol . 2 . 24 ( i bi d . 1 .

1
! bi d ; . cf . 2 K i ng s 20 . 1 .

‘
P ol 2 . . 25 ( i bi d . 1 .

5
d ela r d o f B at h an d Wi lli am o f C onc h e s wi ll b e d i scu ss ed i n
A a

lat e r c h p t e r ( se e b el o w pp 49
a T he l a t t e r d i e d i n t h e y e a r
, .
,

1 1 54 ; the P o li cr a ti cu s w a s wri t t en 1 1 59 60 -
.
40 M edi e va l A tti tu de t ow ar d A s tr ol og y

interest i n the s c ie ntifi c studies for whi c h the Chartres

s chool o f the early hal f o f the c e ntu r y w a s famou s seems ,

to have been o f the slightest ?

Joh n o f S alisbury in e ff ect , ,

saw i n astrology little more tha n a dangerous philosophical

do c tri n e He is disti nc tly at a l oss in deali ng with it as a
.

s c ie nc e ?
He would probably have been u nable to d efine
exa c tly where he drew the li n e betwee n a legitimate s c ie nce
o f astrology useful i n p r edi c ti n g the weather a n d that
, ,

impious m a thes is whi c h he c o n dem n s with rhetori c as force

‘

ful as tha t u s ed by A ugusti n e His c o nc essio n s to astrology .

as a physi cal s c ie nc e are hardly i n adva nc e o f those fou n d

i n the D e Ci vi ta te D e i ?

Joh n o f S alisbu r y s tan d s at the c lose o f the first period

i n the hi s tory o f medi aeval ast r ology F r om the time o f .

I s ido r e to the middle o f the twel fth ce ntury astrology it , ,

m a y be s aid lived o nly i n the fo r m o f a n a c ademi c dis

,

c u s s io n E ven a s trologi c al texts other tha n Fi r mi c us

.
,

Ma t e r n u s w e r e u nk now n to the Latin world Joh n o f

, .

S ali s bu r y probably had little more a c quai n ta nc e with a c tual

astrologe r s tha n did Bur c hard o f Worms or R ab a nu s
“
,

Mau r u s 1
A c e n tu r y a n d a hal f was still to el a p s e befo r e
,

1
hi p o i nt i m d b y S h r h m i dt ( Joh nn S
T s s a b i ns is
e c aa sc a es a r es er e ,

L ip z i g 1 86 p
e , C l rv l ( L
2, E le d Ch r tr s p 3 1 7 )
. e a es co s e a e ,
.

f rn i h pr f f t h f t t h t q d rivi l t d i in th Ch r t r e
u s es oo o e ac a ua a s u es e a s

sc h l n l ng r
oo o pi d i n t h l tt r h l f o f th tw l f t h c ntu ry
o e o c cu e e a e a e e e

t he p i t i on f pr m i n n whi h t h y h d h ld in th fir t
os o o e ce c e a e e s .

I t i p e rh p i g n ifi n t t h t J h n o f S l i sb ry th o g h he b ase
”
-
s a s s ca a o a u u s
,

hi s t t m n t l r g ly u p o n A g
s a e e s . t in d oes n ot on e m k e u e o f
a e u us e, c a s

th e an i nt c e rg m nt o f C rn da u e s a ea es .

8
S m o l i g h t i sh d
e p n J h n f S l i b ry t t i t d t w r d
s e u o o o a s u
’
s a u e o a

as t r l g y b y hi
o o vi w r g r d i g i g n in g n r l H b l i v es
s e s e a n s s e e a . e e e

firm ly t h t G d m k a f i g n t f or e t i mp o r t nt v ent s
o a es u se o s s o ca s a e

( P ol I n fi d el i t a s n a m q u e s ig n o r u m a r g u m e nt i s e r ig i tu r ,
‘
. 2 . 1 et

fi d e s t en e r a ei s de m r ob o r at u r .
’
He g iv e s a l on g d es crip t i on of th e
s ign s t h at pr
f ll o f J r l em ( i bi d 2 4
ece d e d then d d o es a e u sa . . a

no t d b t t h pr ph t i vir t
ou f e m t ( i bi d 2 o e c ue o co e s . .

I t i p rh p g i g t h J h i b ry h d
1
s e f t a y t s t n f S
o nl n oo ar o sa a o o a s u a o

ac u a q i n t nce wi th st r ol g e r s p ar t i c lar ly i n vi ew o f hi s own state

a a o ,
u
 C HA PT ER III

AST RO L O G Y I N O LD E N GL I S H L I T ERAT U R E
A strologi c allear n i n g as we have see n was almost , ,

exti n c t i n E u r ope du r i ng the D a r k A ges ; he nc e we n eed

n o t expe c t to di s c ove r more tha n o ccasio n al sig n s o f its

exi s te nc e i n northe r n ver na c ular literature A ll astrological .

s c ie nc e amo ng the T euto n i c people s indeed must be termed

—
, ,

a foreig n importatio n eve n the popular a s trology o f the

a lma na c goe s ba c k to Gree c e a n d R ome C ert a i n p r imitive .

super s titio n s amo n g the T euto n s a n d Gaul s it is true , ,

off e r ed poi n t s o f c o nta c t f or simple astrological n otio n s .

C aes ar de sc r ibi ng the religio n o f the Germa n s says that

, ,

they wor s hipped as gods o nly tho s e who s e power they

c ould ea s ily re c og n i z e n amely the S u n Vul ca n a n d the , , ,

Moo n 1
T a c itus i n the Ger ma ni a i n forms us that the
.

T euto n i c tribes held their a s semblies o n stated days — either

, ,

at the n ew or the full moo n whi c h they a c c ount the most ,

auspi c iou s seaso n for begi nn i ng any e nterprise 2

In the .
’

E nglish law s o f Cn ut a s tatute i s i nc luded whi ch forbids ,

all heath e n ish practi c e s a n d i nc ide ntally the worship o f , , ,

s u n or moo n
3
T h e Pe n ite n ti a l o f the E n gli s h ar c hbi s hop
.
,

T heodore o f Canterbury ( died furthermore conta ins ,

s light r ef ere n c e s to s uper s titio n s rega r di n g the moon An

4
.

1
Caesa r , D e B e llo Ga lli c o 6 . 21 . S t u d en t s of m t yh o l o gy a r e p u zz l ed
o v r thi r f er n e ; f R M M y e r A ltg mams he R elig i ons
e s e e c c . . . e ,
er
'

g hi ch t e ( L ei p z i g
es c p 1 05 , . .

T ci t Ge m nia ch p 1 1
”
a u s, r a ,
a . .

l w r d H b n ip b y iS b t m n i d l w iSi g
” ’ ‘
C t
’

nu s a ea s : ae e sc e ae a o a eor e,

p t
ac i s b t m n w e ae
o iSi g e h h
a en e g o d s n d
r s u n n a n c h he m
‘

o
ae n a n f yr a , a ,

o iSiS fl od e S . Li b rm Di G t ee d A ng e l
-

o h ne ann , e es e z e er sac e

( H ll 1 9 3)
0
a e,1 3 1 2 ; o T h o rp A
. n i n t L w a n d rI n ti t t e s of e, c e a s s u

E ng l nd ( L n don a p 1 62 S im i l r t o t hi l w f Cn t i s a
o ,
. . a s a o u

p a sag in JE l f i s H omili ( ed Th o rp e 1
s e r c
’
es . .

T h d r e L i b r P ni t n ti li h p 27 ( T h rp e A n c L w s
”
eo o , e ce e a s, c a . o , . a ,

p .
 A s tr o log y i n Old E ng li s h Li t er a tur e 43

entire c hapte r in this work is d evoted to magi c a n d sor c ery

a n i n teresting c omme n tary o n the popular belief s o f the

time A ugury f rom the flight o f bir d s is fou n d in the list

.

o f malpra cti c es as are also n e c r oma nc y a n d the c o n sul t

1
, ,

i ng o f wit che s ?
O bserva n c e o f N ew Y ea r s D ay a cc ordi n g ’

to heathe n c ustom s is f o r bidde n ?

L a s t o f all the ar c h ,

bishop war n s agai n st the attempt to stop an e c lipse by

mea n s o f e ncha n tme nt a n d p r es c ribes a year s pe na nc e for
“
’
,

a ny o n e qui i n ho n ore lu nae p r o a l iqu a sa n itate j eju n a t

‘ 1
.

T he observa nc e o f lu cky and u n lu c ky days seem s to be

the neare s t approa c h to astrology i n the sup erstitio n s o f
the a n c ie n t C elt s S everal a cc ou n t s a r e on re c ord o f D r uid s
.

’
who predi c ted a c hild s future ac c ordi n g to the day o n whi c h
it was bor n ?
T here al s o exi s ted amo n g the D r uid s a fo r m
o f c loud divi natio n a n d the c orre spo n di n g Celti c word
-

, ,

n e la dor a ch t i s at times applie d to astrology a n d divi n atio n

’

i n ge n eral ?
C ertai n pu zz li ng ref e r e n c es t o astrology p r oper
whi c h appear i n the Christia literature o f Irela d one
n n —
passage for example relates how a divi n er sca n s the
, ,

heave n s a n d tells the foster father o f S t C o lu m ki lle that -

the time is propitious for his son to begi n his lesso n s—are
.
,

hardly su ffic ie n t to prove the existe n c e o f a n i n dige nou s

astrologi c al s c ie n c e ?

T he paga n worship o f sun and moon a n d the observ an c e ,

o f lu cky and u nlu c ky days though they c a nnot yet be c alle d ,

1
Li b er P cen . 27 .
7 .

”
I bi d . 27 . 1 3, 20 .

”
I bid . 27 . 24 .

‘
I bi d . 27 . 2 5, 26 .

”
J y o c e, S oci a l Hi s t or y o f A n ci en t I r e la nd ( 2 v ols L o n d on ,
1 9 03 )
1 . 23 3 .

”
N e la d é r a ch t g l o s s e s py r o m a n t i a ( d ivi n t i o a n by fi r e ) in an o ld

I ri sh t r ea t s e o ni Lati n d ecl e n s i on ( ib i d . 1 .

7
I bi d . 1 . 2 30 . A mo r e e la b o a t e r pr f oo of t he f ac t t h at t he i
a nc en t

Dr i d w r i g r
u s e e n o a n t o f a st r o lo g y i g iv
s en b y La V lle d e i Mi r m ont ,

i n L A s tr o l og i e
’
c h ea l es C a ll o R o m a i ns -

,
pp .
7 -
20 ( B ib l i o t heq u e
‘

d es
Univer s i té s d u M i di Vol , .
 44 M edi wval A t ti tu d e t ow ar d A s tr ol og y

astrology c o n stitute a fou n datio n upo n whi ch it ca n build

,
.

A cc ordi n gly we fi n d i n O ld E nglish a series o f treatises

, ,

tra n slated f r om La ti n or G r eek origi nals whi c h appealed ,

to su c h p r imitive beliefs S ome o f thes e t r eatises a — .

n umber o f them have been printed by C o ckay n e i n his col

l—
le c tion o f O ld E ngli s h L ee chd oms belo ng to the realm o f
medi c i n e a n d i n di c ate the days in ea c h mo nth which are
,

favorable or u n favorable for the letti ng o f blood ?

A n other
c onsists o f meteorologi c al prog n osti c atio n s a cc ordi n g to ,

‘
the day o f the week on whi c h C hristmas falls I f the mass .

‘
day o f midwinter is a S u n day on e p rophe cy reads the n ,
’
,

there shall be a good wi nter a n d a wi n dy spring and a dry , ,

s umme r a n d good vi n eyards ; a n d sheep shall thrive

,
and ,

ho n ey shall be su ffic ient and pea c e shall be kept well ,

S till a n other contai n s mis c ella n eous predictio n s

’
e n ough
3

for ea c h day o f the lu n ar month For the thirtee nth the .

,

treatise prophe s ie s : T he thi r tee n th day is perilous for ‘

b egi n n i n g thi ngs D ispute n ot this day w ith thy f rien d s

. .

T he fugitive will qui c kly be dis c overed A c hild born .

Co cka n e, L e echd oms , Wor t cu nni ng

y E ar ly
1
, a nd S tar cr af t f
o

E ng la n d ( R o lls S er ) 3 1 50 22 9 . .
-
.

”
I bid 3 . . 1 52, 1 82 .

”
I bi d 3 . . 1 62 ff . An a r t i cl e b y Ma x F o r s t e r , D i e K lei n li t er a tu r d es
A b er g lau b ens i m A l te ng li s che n d i scussing ( A r chiv 1 1 0 .
3 46 in
t h e se a s t r ol og i ca l t ext s pr o v e s t h at t h ey b el ong t o t h e le a rn e d n ot
, ,

t h e p o p u la r l i t e r a t u r e o f t h e t i m e F o r s t e r i s ab l e t o c i t e the .

Gr eek or t he L at i n sou r ces f o m os t o f t h em S ev e r al L at i n r .

p a r all el s a e f ou n d i n M ig n e s P tr olog i a L a ti na ( 90 9 51
’
r .
a .

a sc ri b e d t o B e d e T he P r og n o ti ca T emp o u m ( M i g n e p 9 51 )
. s r ,
.

c o rr e sp o n d s t o t h e t r ea t i se j u st r e f e rr ed t o in Co ck ay ne T he .

D e M i n ti on e S n g u i n i s ( M i g n
u ap 9 59 ) f r n i h es t h ou r ce f or e, . u s e s

p a r t o f an Old E ngl i sh m ed i cal t ext ( Cockayne 3 T he D e .

D i vi na ti on e M or tis t Vi t ( M i g n e p 963 ) i s a L t i n v u lg a ri z at i on
e ac , . a

o f a f a m u s Gr e k t r e a t i se o n d ivi n a t i o n
o e d t i ng fr om t h e A l ex an ,
a

d ri n p ri o d cu rr e nt u n de r the n am e o f N chep s o a n d P et o s i i s I n
a e , e r .

i t s m e d i v al f o r m i t s t i ll pr es e rv es m u ch o f th e Gr e ek t e r m i n ol ogy
ae , .

C f S u dh o ff I t om a th m a ti ker vo n ehm li h i m I 5 u n d 1 6 Jahr

.
,
a r e ,
r c . .

h u n d r t ( A bhan dl au r Ges ch d M ediz i n

e . pp 6 7 . .
, .
-
.
 A s tr olog y i n Old E ng li s h L i ter a tur e 45

this day will be plu cky having a mark about his eyes bol d , , ,

rapacious , arro g a n t sel f pleasi ng a n d will n ot live long ,

-

,
.

A maide n will have a mark o n the ba c k o f her n e c k or on

the thigh ; she will be sau cy spirited daring o f her bo dy , ,

with ma ny m en : she will die s oo n A man fallen sick on .

this moo n will qui ckly re c over o r be lo ng ill A dream will ,

.

be fulfilled within ni n e days From the s ixth hour it is a .

1 ’
good time for blood letti n g -

I t is o n ly by c ourte sy o f cou r se that c ompilations like , ,

these are allowed to c laim ki n ship w ith the scien c e o f

Ptolemy and Manilius Primitive as they are they belong .
,

to the learned literatu r e o f the day a n d tra c e their origin ,

to foreig n n ot to n ative sources I n the c ours e o f c en

, , .

f uries this lear n ed s uper s titio n be came the c ommo n property

,

o f the uncultured a n d the sto c k in trade o f the maker o f ,

alma na c s A popular so ng f ou n d i n a manus c ript o f the

.
,

fi ftee nth c e ntury predi c tin g the weather for the year i f,

Christmas falls on a S unday exhibits an exa c t cou n te r part ,

o f on e o f the texts printe d by C ockayne ?

T he homilies o f Z E l f r i c furnish evide n ce that even the

belief in lu c ky and u nlu c ky days met with the hostility o f
the E n glish Church T he observan c e o f so c alled Egyptian .
-
‘

days had bee n f orbidden as ea r ly as A ugusti n e ? a n d

’

ZE l f r i c was therefore o n orthodox grou n d whe n he atta c ked

su c h popular superstitio n s in a s ermo n for N ew Y ear s ’
.

A fter exhorting agai n st divi n atio n i n ge n eral he rebukes ,

those i n particular who regulate their j ourneys by the ‘

moon and their a c ts a cc ordi n g to days and who will not

,

undertake a n ythi ng o n M o n days .

“ ,

1
C o cka yn e 3 . 1 90 .

”
D en h am , A C o lle c ti on oP r ov b n d P op l r S yi ngs ( P r cy
f er s a u a a e

S oc i tye , p . 69 ; cf . C ock yn e 3 1 62 a . .

”
S up e r E pi t s . ad Ga la t os h p 4 T hi p
,
c a g w t k.
p i t . s a ssa e as a en u n o

the C h u r c h l aw ; cf . I vo o f Ch r t r e D r t m 9 1 5 ( Mig n
a P tr s, ec e u . e, a .

La t . 1 61 .

‘
T h orpe H m i li , o es o f AEIf r i c ( 2 v ols .
, L o n d on ,
1 844 ) 1 . 1 00 . A
s i m i l r d n n i t i on
a e u c a of t he b el i ef in u n lu c ky d ay s , as of a ugu ry
46 M edi e val A tti tu d e tow ar d A s tr ol og y

Probably the o n ly exte nded referen c e i n O ld E nglish to

a s trology proper i s to be f ou n d i n ZE l f r ic s homily o n the ’

E pipha ny ZE l f r ic follo w i n g the lead o f Gregory co nn e c ts

.
, ,

with the sto r y o f the Magi a dis c u s sio n o f desti ny a n d

1

f ree will We a r e al s o to k n ow ZE lf r ic s ays that there

.
‘
,
’
,
‘

were some he r eti c s who said that every m a n i s born a c c o r d

i ng to the po s itio n o f the stars a n d that by t heir course h i s ,

de sti ny befalls him T he ma nn er i n whi c h Z E l f r i c thu s

’
.

i n t r odu c es the subj e c t shows c lea r ly how fo r eign it mu s t

have bee n to his E n gli s h hearers ; the mere u s e o f the pa s t
te n s e is s ign ifi c a nt A n d whe n he c o n ti nues with a n .

elaboratio n o f the a n c ie n t argume n t o f twi n s utili z i ng ,

A ugusti n e s illustratio n o f Ja c ob a n d E sau his words ca n

’

have aroused i n his hearers little more than a histori ca l

i nterest ?

A lthough E n gla n d like the rest o f E urope had to c o n , ,

ten t itsel f duri n g the early medi aeval period with the mere
an d wi t h c r f t
c a i n g en e a l r ,
is f ou n d in Z
E lf r i c
’
s p oet i c L ives o f
S a i n ts ( N o . 17 : E
f w as not ltog eth r
B T S 82 . . Z
E l f r ic hi m s el a e

fr fr m th t r ol g i l up r st i t i on f th t i m e I n hi s v e rn
ee o e as o ca s e s o e . ac

u l r v r i on o f B d s D T emp o i b ( it a th nt i c i ty i s n o l ong r
’
a e s e e e r us s u e e

d bt d ;
ou f C L Whi t e Ai lf r i
e c B o t n 1 898 p
. . . he b ,
c, s o , , . su

s ri b b l i f in th m i n fl n c ov r g r owi ng thi ng ’
c t o th es n e e e e oo s ue e e s,

a n d in m t ( C k yn 3 269 2 7 3 ;
co e s f T h rp e H m ili s 1
oc a e .
,
c . o , o e .

On m y n t e h ow v r t h t ZE l f i c v r i on f A l in s I n t
a o e, e e ,
a r
’
s e s o cu
’
er

r og ti n a S i g lfi in whi ch B e d i t h
o es eu r e f o a d sc ript i n
,
e s e so u c r e o

f th p l n t m i t s B d s r e f r nc l dn s o f S t r n
’
t o t he
‘ ’
o e a e s, o e e e e es co es a u

a nd t h h t o f M r ( A ng li a 7 1 4
e
‘
ea
’
a s .

2E lf i t r n sl t th e L t i n m g i wi t h t h Ol d E ng l i h t ng l
1
r c a a es a a e s u o

w i ti g n ( T h rp 1
a o e .

A F i h r ( A b g l b u n t r d en A ng l S a h n M e i n i ng n
”
. sc e er au e e e -
c se , e ,

1 89 1 p 22 ) i
,
r ly wr ng wh n he t k s thi s h om i ly s w ell
. s su e o e a e ,
a as

th t xt pri t d b y C k yn s pr o f t h t st r l gy w s t i ll
‘ ’
e e s n e oc a e, a o a a o o as

c rr t m ng t h E ng l i h in t h t n t h cen t u ry I n r l i ty Z
’
u en a o e E lf i s s e e . ea ,
r c

r e f r n i n othi ng m r th n l i t er ry ll si n I n pp lyi ng i t
e e ce s o e a a a a u o . a

t o t h b l i f i n F at
e h h d hi h a r r
e e f co r s d ir e t ly i n m i n d
e, e a s e e s, o u e, c .

C f F i h e r ( p 2 ) f o r f er en c s i n O l d E ng l i h t Wyr d
. sc . 1 S ee r e e s o .

e p s i l ly A l fr ed B t hi 3 9 8 ( ed S edg efi eld Oxf o r d 1 899

ec a
’
s oe us . .
, , ,

p .
 A s tr ol og y i n Old E ng li s h L i ter a tu r e 47

rudiments o f a n astrologic al s c ie n ce it was d esti n e d to ,

play an importa nt r ole in the s c ie ntifi c moveme n t o f the

later c e nturie s E ve n before the days o f the new s c ien c e
.
,

the r e c an be fou n d in E ngla n d t r a c es o f that revived i nter

est i n astrology whi c h c ulmi nated i n the D e Mu n di Uni
ver s i ta t e o f B er n ard S i lves t r i s a n d the philosophi c al writ ,

i ngs o f John o f S alisbu r y A c urious story is told by .

William o f Malmesbu r y whi c h shows that Firmi c us ,

Ma t e r nu s dis c overed o n the c o nti n e n t d u r i ng the eleventh

,

c e n tury must have traveled to E n gla n d shortly a fter the

,

N orma n C o n quest T he chro n i c le r elates how Ge r a r d

.
,

A r c hbishop o f Y ork from 1 1 00 to 1 1 0 8 who was repute d ,

to have meddled with magic was refused burial by his ,

c a n ons be c ause a c opy o f Firmi c us was f ou n d under his

pillow at his death I n the first qua r te r o f the t w el fth

?

c entury we also meet with a refere nc e to astrology in

,

Geo ff rey o f Monmouth A t the c los e o f the s eve n th book .

o f the His t or ia R eg u m B r i ta nnie and as a part o f the ,

famous prophe c ies o f M erli n there o c c ur a series o f obs c ure ,

”—
astrologi c al allus io n s a pa s sage whi c h pu zz led Geo ff r ey s
‘
’

followers a n d di d not find an interpreter u ntil the fi ftee nth

,

c e n tury whe n the Fre n c h c hro n i c ler Wa n r in expla i n ed it

,

as refer r i ng to the day o f j udgme nt ?

A lthough the
prophe cy is probably little more than a j umble o f c lass ical
n c —
remi iscen es one o f its sour c es appare nt ly was Lu ca n s ’

4—
, ,

P hars a lia i t i n di c ates that astrologi c al ideas we r e alrea d y

Ges ta P on tifi cu m A ng l or u m 3 ( e d Ham i lt on R o ll s S e r pp

1
. 18 .
, .
, .

2 59 T he s to ry i s t ol d a l so by H g i d en i n his P oly chr oni c o n ( ed .

Lu mby ,
R o l l s S er
7 .
, .

”
Hi s t or i a R eg u m B r i tta n i e ( ed S c u lz , Ha lle OO . h ,
pp I
.
-
IOI .

3
W ri
a n n , A C o lle c ti o n o
f t he Chr o ni c les a nd A n ci e n t H i s t or i es of
Gr ea t B r i ta i n 2 57 ( e d Ha d R o l ls S er 1 2 50
. . r y , .
, .

‘
i r y r
V kt o R d b e g A s tr ol og i e n o ch M er li n S t ock o lm 1 88 1
, Mo st ,
h , .

ry
o f Geo ff e s a l lu s ons a r e onl
’
i
a g u el a s t ol og c al S uc yv a ses y r i .
h phr
as
‘
h
t e am be o f r
M e cu ’
a nd
‘
r ry
S t ilb on o f A ca d ’
m a m ea n r y y
an y thi ng or not hi ng ( S t ilb on , t he Gr e ek n am e f or Me r cu ry , is
f ou nd in M a r t i a nu s C ap e lla ) . T he m o s t d efi n i t e r i
a s t o l og c a l a ll u
48 M edi e val A t ti tu d e t ow ar d A s tr olog y

in the air A delar d o f B ath i ndeed was Geoff rey s own

.
, ,
’

co ntemporary With the se c o n d quarter o f the century i n

.
,

e ff ect we are on the thre shold o f that new age o f me d i aeval

,

scie nc e whi c h was to ho n or astrology as the chief o f the

s eve n art s a n d to make o f astrologe r s the co n fi da n t s o f
,

popes a n d ki ngs .

i
s on s occu r i n hi s r e f er ences
i i y o f S atu rn an d the t o t he
‘
m al g n t
’

h ou ses o f t he p l n et s T w o o th era i h r f er ence t o ast r ology

. sl g t e s

c r in Ge ff r ey s H i t I n the fir st ( 9 i t i s st t d t h at
’
oc u io s or a . . a e

m ny t r n om er s l iv e d a t A r t h u r s ou r t T he s econ d p assag e
’
a as o -

c .

( 1 2 4 ) r elat es t g r e t e r l ng th h w i n the r e i g n o f ki ng Ed wi n
. a a e o , ,

a S p n i a r d P ell t s c m e t o t h e E ng l i h o u r t a n d emp l oy e d th e
a ,
e u , a s c ,

a t s o f a t r ol ogy an d
r s u g ry t o g a r d t he r e l m fr o m f o re i g n i nv a
a u u a

s i on s B ot h W ce a n d L ayam on f ollo w Geo ff r y i n th es e t w o

. a e

n ot i ce s .
50 M edie val ’
A t ti tu d e t ow ar d A s tr olog y

their orbit s the positio n o f the sign s ; she tra c es parallels

,

a n d c olure s a n d measu r e s with su r e ha n d the twelve divi

,

s io n s o f the z odia c ; s he i s ig n ora n t neither o f t he mag n i

tude o f the sta r s no r o f the positio n o f the poles nor o f , ,

the exte n sio n o f the axes I f a m an a c quire this s c ie nce .

o f a st r o n omy he will obtai n k n owledge not o nly o f the

, ,

p r e s e n t c o n ditio n o f the world but o f the past a n d future ,

as well For the bei ngs o f the supe r ior world e n dowe d
.
,

w ith d ivi n e s ou ls are the pri n c iple a n d c ause o f the i n ferior

. ,

w o r ld he r e belo w S u c h w a s to be the nai ve faith o f the

'

.
’1

n ew age i n the s c ien c e o f the stars ! A strology a n d astron

omy ,
so c arefully c o nfi n ed to separate compartments by
I sidore o f S eville we r e again u n ited For several c en ,
.

t u r i es the latte r was de s ti n ed to be the mere serva n t o f the

,

former .

T he D e E od eni e t D i o ers o gives evide nc e that A d elar d

o f Bath was c o nn e cted i n some way with the school o f
C ha r t r e s ; it was amo n g i t s stude n ts that A d ela r d s voyage
z ’

o f dis c overy i nto the O rient f ound its first imitators Peter .

the Ve n erable A bbot o f C lu ny while traveling in S pain in

, ,

1 1 41 met Herma n o f D almatia a pupil o f T hierry o f

, ,

Chart re s an d R obe r t o f R eti n es an En glishman b oth

, , ,

e ngage d i n the study o f ast ro n omy ( ast rology ) 3

Peter .

the Ve n e r able persuaded them to turn aside for a time

from their mai n pursuit a n d to make a L atin versio n o f ,

the K o r a n But in 1 1 43 they were again o cc up ie d with their

.

a strologi c al tra n s latio n s A mo n g the several fruits o f their .

labors n ot the least i n imp ortan c e was the versio n made by

,

Herma n o f the I n tr odu c t or i n i n i n A s tr on om ia i n o f A lbu

masar 4
N 0 othe r ast ro logi c al text book a s we shall see did
.
-

, ,

M a le
1
D es A d e lar d v on
‘
B a th D e B a d e rn et D i ver s o . Zm n e r s t en

h er a u sg eg e b en a nd hi s t or i s ch kr i ti s c h
-
u n t er s u c h t o on Dr . Ha n s
Wi llner ,
M un s t e r ,
1 903 ( in B au m k er
’
B ei tr ci g e 4
s
'

. 1 .
31
2
S ee D u h om , L e S y s t em e d a M on d e 3 1 6 9 . .

Cl e rv al, L es E c o les d e Char tr es, p . 1 89 .

D u h em 3 . 1 74 .
 A r a bi an A s tr ology 5 1

more to make astrology ac c eptable to the C hurch o f the

su cc eeding c e ntury .

A t about the same time that Herman o f D almatia and his

frie n d R obert were devoti n g themselves t o the tra n s latio n
o f a s t r ologi cal texts i n S pai n others were e ngaged i n the ,

same task By the middle o f the twel fth c e ntu r y in fa c t

.
, ,

most o f the importa n t works on astrology had fou n d thei r

way i nto L ati n I n 1 1 38 Plato o f T ivoli tra n slated .

Ptolemy s T e tr a bi b l os ( he nc e forth to be k n ow n by its Lati n

’

name as the Q u a dr ipar ti tn rn ) 1

N ot mu ch late r appeared a .

versio n by Joh n o f S eville ( also k n ow n as Joha nnu s

Hi sp a nu s or Lu n en s i s ) o f the famous C en ti loqn iu m—a
,

serie s o f on e hu n dred astrologi c al aphorism s falsely a tt r ib

u t e d to Ptolemy T o John o f S eville are also due ve r sio n s .

o f A lb u m a sa r s L i ber C onjnn c ti onn rn S i d er a m a n d F l or es

’

A s tr olog ico a s well as astrologi c al texts o f the A rabia n

, ,

A lcha b i t i u s a n d the Jew M e ssa ha la ,

2
T he p r i n c e o f t r a n s , .

lators appeared fi nally in the person o f Gerar d o f C remo n a

( 1 1 14 to whom some s eve nty tra n slatio n s from the
A rabi c c an be as c ribed A mo n g these were the famou s .

ver s io n s o f Ptolemy s A lmag es t a n d o f two hitherto ’

u nk n ow n works o f A ristotle whi c h play a n importa n t r ole ,

i n the history o f a s trology— the M e t e or ol og i ca a n d the D e

Gen er a ti on e et C or r i qoti o n e .
3

What it may be asked was the nature o f this new astrol

, ,

ogy whi ch like the n ew A ri stotle had bee n made a c c essible

, , ,

to L ati n readers i n the spa c e o f a f ew de c ade s ? T o a n s we r

this questio n it is n e c e s sa r y to gla n c e at the histo r y o f
,

A rabia n astrology i n ge n eral—a history whi c h it is d if fi

cult to tra c e A st r ology had been i n trodu c ed i nto the
.

Mohammeda n wo r ld i n the eighth c e n tu r y at the time whe n ,

Caliph A l Ma n s ur c alli ng to his aid the le a r n ed Jew Ja c ob

-

, ,

1
W u s t en f eld p , .
40 .

2
I bi d .
, pp 25 ff . .

8
I bi d .
,
p 67 . .
5 2 M edi az val A t ti tu d e tow ar d A s tr ol og y

ben T arik fou n ded at Bagdad a s chool for the mathematical

,

s c ien c es It was i n this s chool that i n the n inth century

.
, ,

— “—
the greatest o f A rabian a strologers A lb u ma sa r re c eive d
" — “ a n u n -u g u v fl
,
. ~M
,

From its i n t r odu c tio n dow n to the time whe n

w
g p fi
-
w M n
f ‘

h1s t r a 1n i ng .
,

the West be came a c quai n ted with it in the S aracen s chools

o f T oledo a n d C ordova astrology w on the allegia nc e o f a ,

host o f A r abi c a n d Jewish s c ie ntists A mo ng the note d .

astro n omers whose names appear in the Latin literature o f

the Middle A ges were Me ss aha la A lbategn ius A lpetragius , , , ,

A lc hab i t i us , a nd A b enr ag el .
1

A rabo Jud aean astrology was a j umble o f systems an d

-

do c trines T he Jewish s c holars who introduced it into the

.

M oorish s chools were versed n ot o nly in the pure astrology ,

o f Ptolemy but also in that o f other Greek masters su c h as

, ,

V ett i u s Valens D o r o t heu s S i don eu s T eucer a n d A n tio c hus , , , ,

2
who themselves had amalgamated the mo st diver s e theories .

T his Greek astrology furthermore had been c ontaminate d , ,

with the demo n ology and magi c o f the Ta lmu d and the ,

mysti c ism o f the Ca ba la 3

T hroughout the Middle A ges .
,

1
Jew ish E n cy clopcedi a 2 . 24 4; Ca tho li c E ncy clope di a 2 . 21 .

2
E n cy c l opwd i a o f I s la m I . ri
4 9 5 ( a t c l e A s tr o l og y ,
by C . A .

N a llin o ) .

T he B oo k f E n och ( R H Ch a rles an d W R Mor fi ll The B ook

o . . . .
,

o f t he S ecr e ts of E n o c h t r fr o m t he S la v on i c O xf o r d , .
, ,

a p p ea ri ng ab out the t i me o f th e Chri st i an era i s t he b est evi d ence ,

t h at a st ro log i cal d oc t ri n es ha d rly f oun d t h eir w ay i nto J ewi sh ea

c ir l Ev en S t P au l s r e f r en e ( I Co 1 2 2 4 ) t o h is b ei ng
c es. .
’
e c r. .
-

c rri d t o t h e s ev ent h
a e h av en i s r em i ni s nc o f t hi w ork e a ce e s

( B o h é L ecle cq p
uc -
F r om th e t i m e o f t h e B ok f E n och
r , . o o

t o th pp a r an ce i n the thirt enth centu ry o f th e g r eat C b li st i c

e a e , e , a a

t ex t t h Z h
, t h e i n fl en ce o f a t r l g y
e o p on J ewi h myst i c i sm
ar , u s o o u s

w as on th i n r s ( s ee Jew E n 3 456 ; 2 244 ; Pi k The

e c ea e . c. . . c ,

C b l
a C hi c g o
a a, Th m ag i c o f Co r n el i
a A g rip p a an d
, e us ,

o f th J w o f the l t r nt ri es an b onv n i ntly s t d i d in

e e s a e ce u ,
c e c e e u e

th G r m n t r n sl t i n p b l i h d at S t u t tg a r t i n 1 855 ( H i n ri ch
e e a a a o u s e e

C o rn l i u A g ripp a M ag i che W r ke 5
e s Th e J e wi s h t r e t i se
, s e , a

of A b t l ( 5 9 5 ff ) i s ch r ac t e ri st i c
r a e T h e s ev en p l n t s
. re . a . a e a

i dent ifi d wi t h v en m st e r spiri ts a n d d ir ct i on a e g iv en f or
e se a -

,
e s r
 A r a bi an A s tr olog y 53

astrology c o n stitute d an integral part o f the necroman cy

a n d divi n atio n o f Jews an d M oors alike— a relatio n ship
whi c h prove d embarrassi ng when astrology trie d to w i n
c onverts i n C hristia n la n d s where inte r c ourse with demons ,

was not tolerated 1

Fortu nately this co ntaminate d astrol .
,

o gy was left largely to the pra c titioners o f ne c roman c y an d

magic proper T he sta n dar d astrologi c al text books writte n

.
-

usually by astro nomers remai n e d f ree from it ,

.

B ut the s c ien tifi c treatises o f A lb u ma sa r Ab enra g el an d , ,

A lchab i t i u s present a marked contra s t to the c lassi c astrol

ogy whi c h we have alrea dy e ncou ntered T he T etra bi bl os .

o f Ptolemy had c o n fi n ed itsel f almost ex c lusively to j u d i c ial

astrology —the predi c tion o f the future accor d in g to the
c o n figuratio n o f the stars at birth I n the astrologi c al texts .

o f the A rabians j udicial a s trology occup ied a positio n o f,

d isti nc tly minor importance Its pla c e was taken by two .

other systems c urre n t at the time o f Ptolemy which he ha d

—
, ,

deliberately ignored the so calle d i n ter r og a ti on es and elec -

ti ones The system o f i n ter r og a ti on es as its name implies

.
, ,

c ons isted o f a series o f rules by means o f which the astrol

the ut h eir p ow e r s ( 5
i l i z a t i on of t A b t el d i st i ngu i sh e s . r a

b t w en g oo d an d evi l spiri t s n d m a i nt i n s t hr ou g h ou t n o r t h o d o x
e e ,
a a a

t on e Cf. b ve . 17 a o , .

B el i e f i n the p o w e r o f j nn w as n ot f o rb i dd en by I slam ( E ncy

1
i s

c lop d i a of R e li g i on a n d E thi c
e 4 T hi s cco n t s f o th e s . a u r

f act th t the b lack ar ts fl ou ri sh d in Moslem co nt ri es s m uch

a e u a

as d i d p r e t r ol gy
u T h e t w o w e r e t g h t i d e b y s i d i n t he
as o . au s e

f m o s ch o ls o f T oled o a n d Co r d ov ( J W B r ow n L if e a nd
a u s o a . .
,

L g nd f M i ch el S co t E d i nb u rg h 1 897 p
e e o a F ew t ex t b ook s
, , , .
-

o f Ar bi n m g ic a a n d n ec r o m n y h v
a b e en pr e e rv e d s i n ce the
a a c a e s ,

e ccl s i
e ti l cen o r hip o f t he M i dd le A g
as ca s d ealt wi th th em m u ch
s es

m o r e sev r ly t h n wi th a s t r olog i c l t r t i es
e e a T h E n y l ope d i a ea s . e c c a

of R eli g i o n a n d E thi cs ( 4 8 1 7 ) g iv s n cc nt o f o ne t r e t i se
. e a a ou a

o n m g i c t he f m o s Go l
a , f th S g e o f t h
a ul v n th c n t y
a o e a e e e e e ur ,

a n d B r ow n L i f nd L eg nd of M i h l S co t ( pp 1 83 ff ) dis
’
s e a e c ae . .

c su ses in s m e d t i l t h o m g i c o f m di v l S p a i n
e a N tes o n m ny
e a e ae a . o a

b o oks con c r n i ng m g i c n o w l os t
e e f o n d i n t he S p
a l m A t o ar u ec u u s r

n om i a sc ri b d t o A lb e r t t h e Gr ea t ( e d J m m y 1 7 51
e , e 5 6 56 . a , , .
54 M e di e v a l A tti tu d e t ow ar d A s tr o l og y

oger a n swered que stio n s regardi ng the dis c overy o f a thief ,

a lost treasure the trustwo r thi n es s o f a frie n d or the wealth, ,

o f a prospe ctive bride 1

T he system o f e lec ti ones on the .
,

other ha n d determi n ed the p r opitious mome n t for u n der

,

taking a ny a ct o f daily li f e T he rules o f this system too .

, ,

were elaborated i n great detail eve n to the extent o f ,

nami n g the proper time for the c utti ng o f fi ng er nails the -

writi n g o f a letter o r the boa r di ng o f a ship 2

T he s y s tem ,
.

o f elec ti on es was parti cularly favorable to the developme n t

o f medi c al ast r ology a n d was i n ge n eral merely a s c ie ntifi c ,

elabo r atio n o f the c ommo n belief i n lu c ky and u n lu cky

1
An e xc x m p l f th y t m f i n t g ti
e llent e a i f e o e s s e o er r o a on es s ur

n i sh e d b y th t r l g i c l w o r k o f A b en g el t he m ost com p l t e
e as o o a ra ,
e

of the A r b i t x t whi h w e r
a c t r n l t d i n t o L t i n ( t h e c op y
e s c e a s a e a

i n the Y le L i b r ry i s en t i tle d : P l i s im us Li b e C mpletus

a a r e c ar s r
‘
o

i n Ju di ci i s A s tr or u m q u em ,
e d i ti t A lb ohaz en H a ly F i li u s A b en r a g el ,

V e n c e, i T he fir h l f o f t hi s w rk con s i st ing in all o f

st a o ,

eig h t b o k n d n m b ri ng so m e t hr ee h n d r d p g s i n t h e L at i n
o s, a u e u e a e

t r an sl t i on i s d ev ot ed t o n sw e ri ng su h m i nu t e ques t i n s as t h ose
a ,
a c o

e n m r t d
u b v
e a e ( f l 1 4
h
a 8h h
ss ) o A b n g l l iv d fr m
e see o s. ,
2 , . e ra e e o

1 1 1 6 52 -
n d t h e r f o r e c m es a t
, a p ri o d wh en A r ab i n a st r olog y
e o a e a

h d b e n f l ly d v l o p d
a e Hi w o r k w
u n ot t r n l t d
e e t i l 1 256 e . s as a s a e un

( cf S t r p
. u e n d di d n t i n fl
, . n W t r n wri t r a d i d t he o ue ce es e e s as

tr ea ti f A lb m
ses o Hi s t x t h w v r f r n i h b t t r op p o r
u a sa r . e , o e e ,
u s es e e

t n iti
u f t dy t h n t h e m
es or h sh rt e r I n t d t i m f A lbu
s u a uc o ro u c or u o

m a sa r ( N w Y r k P b li L i b r ry )
e th I g g
o f A l h b it i u c a or e sa o e o c a us

( Col mb i U n iv r i ty L ib r ry )
u a e s a .

2
Ab n g l f l e 1 3
ra 16 e M ny A r b i n
, o s t r l g er
. d pt d
1
a
,
1 a
. a a a as o o s a o e ,

as p r t o f t h a l ti n t h e I n d i an sy st m o f t w en ty e i g h t l n a r
e e ec o es , e -
u

m n i n s whi h ff r d d n opp o rt n i t y f
a s o ,
c m r e m in t
a o l l e a u or o u e ca cu a

ti on s th n th t f t h t w lv h
a a ( Ab g l f l
o ff ; e f e e ou s e s en r a e , o s. . c .

En c f I l m 1
. o T hi
s a y t m f l r m nsi n co ld as i ly
. s s s e o u na a o s u e

se rv f m g i l p rp
e or nd a m t h v e b n i n b d do r
ca u o ses , a s ee s o a ee a o

wi th Ch r h wri t r I n th S p l m A t n m i
u c e s ri b e d t o
. e ecu u s ro o e ,
a sc

A lb r t t h Gr t th t w en t y ig ht l n r m n i n
e e ea , xpr s ly
e -
e u a a s o s ar e e e s

co n n t d wi t h d i b l i
ec e art ( A lb ti M ag ni O p aed J am m y
o c s er er a, .
,

Th l rk o f Ch r F nkli n T l emp l ys ’ ’
1 7 51 5 , . e c e a u ce s ra s a e o

th l n r m n i ns S e T a t lo k s a r t i l e i n K i t t dg e A nn i
’
es e u a a s o . e c c re

v r e s ary P p r B t n 1 9 1 3 p 348
a e s, os o , , . .
 A r a bi an A s tr ol og y 55

days 1 I n truth the system o f e le cti ones e nj oye d a disti n ct

.
,

supe r iority over the rival doctri n es o f j udi c ial astrology .

C o nfi n i n g itsel f to a defi n itio n o f favorable or u n favorable

c onditio n s and n o t attempting to predi c t the future itsel f
,
,

it avoided the fatalism whi c h was a n i n evitable eleme n t

i n the astrology o f Ptolemy A s a part o f me d ical astrol .

ogy it had l ittle di ffi c ulty in fi n di n g a wel c ome at the han d s

,

o f the C hristia n s c ie ntists o f the thirtee nth c e n tury .

O n its philosophi c al n o less than on its practical s i d e , ,

ast r ology re c eived modifi c atio n s at the hands o f the

A rabia n s whi c h fa c ilitated i t s a cc epta nc e by C hristia n
theologians C on c omita n t with the i ntroductio n o f Ptolemy
.

into the M ohammeda n worl d had bee n that o f the s c ientific

works o f A ristotle ; a n d the c osmology o f the M e t e or olog
i ca and D e Ge n er a ti on e e t C or r u p ti on e had in c ou r se o f ,

time formed a n i n separable part o f astrolo g ical theo ry

,
.

When A ristotle there fore became for the L atin scholars

, ,

‘ ’
the master o f thos e that k n ow it was i n evitable that ,

astrology should likewise meet with a frie n dly receptio n .

O n e o f the first astrologi cal treatises to be c arrie d north

f rom Spai n a s we have see n was the tra n slatio n o f A lbu
, ,

m asa r s I n tr odu c t or i u m i n A s tr on om i a m made by Herma n

’

o f D almatia N o work was better suited to bri ng to the

.

k n owledge o f the Christia n s chools the philosophi cal prin

!

c ip le s o f A rabia n astrology .

A lb u m a sa r a fter divi d ing the s c ien c e o f the stars into

,

its two mai n divisio n s u n dertakes i n the s e c o n d chapter , , ,

a de fe n s e o f astrology He begi n s by e nu nc iati ng the .

A ristotelian do c tri n e o f the fi fth essence : T he substance

o f the astral bodies does not c ons ist o f one o f the four
eleme n ts o f this world nor o f a c ombination o f these ele ,

me nts I f it were formed o f the eleme n ts o f this world

.
,

it would s u ff er growth and de c ay dissolution a n d the other , ,

1
h é Le l cq pp 458 if T h y t m f
B ouc -

c er , . . e s s e o e le c t i o n e s was
l g i lly i n m p t i b l wi t h j d i i l
o ca co t r l gy
a Pt le u c a as o o . o em y a cc o r d i ng ly
m a d n o p l e f o r i t i n hi s sy st em
e ac .
56 M edi e val A tti tu d e t ow ar d A s tr o log y

changes to whi ch e a r thly thi ngs are subj e ct S ince all this .

is foreign to the c elestial world on e must co nclude that ,

the substa n c e o f the s ta r s c o n sists o f a c ertain fi fth essenc e .

T he sta r s a r e spheri c al bodies tra n spare n t a n d e n dowed , ,

with a pe r petual motio n T his motio n o f the s tars is .

circ ular the o n e motio n whi c h is perfe c t an d eter nal

,
1
.

C i r c ular motio n is fou n d also i n the sublu n ary sphere It .

is c ir c ular motio n that is see n i n the pro c esses o f growth

a n d de c ay—i n the c o n c omita n t ge n eratio n o f one substa n c e

a n d the destru c tio n o f a n other substa n c e N ow this pro c es s .

o f growth an d de cay is a c y c li c motion which de c omposes ,

o n e sub s tan c e and tra n smutes it i nto ano ther substa nc e

, ,

c ha n gi n g the latter i n tur n ba c k into t he former ,

Its , .

c au s e is n o n e other tha n the eternal c ir c ular motion o f the

star s T he motio n o f the upper sphere acts upon the world

.

below a n d b r i ngs about that mi n gling o f eleme n t with ele

,

me n t whi c h is n e c e ss ary for all ge n eration and c orruptio n .

He nc e the Philosopher de c lared that the i n ferior world

2

was i n some ne c essary way bou n d up with the superio r

world so that the sphere o f the stars in revolvi n g with a
, ,

natural motion c arried with it the world below ,

But .

generatio n a nd corruptio n are at the fou n datio n o f all

motio n a n d c hange on earth O n e may conc lude therefore .
, ,

that the c elestial esse nc e exerts an influence on everything

that take s pla c e o n the mu n da n e sphere 3
.

A ristotle i n a ffirmi n g the depende nc e o f the lower upon

,

the upper spheres had drawn a disti nc tion betwee n the ,

uniform motion o f the fixed stars a n d the irregular motio n

o f the pla nets and had made o f the first the pri nc iple o f
,

1
I n tr od u c t or i u m in A s tr o n o m i a m A lb u m asar i s A b a la chi , oc t o

C on ti n ens Li br os a r t i a les P
A u g sb u g , 1 489 , r ( c op y i n N ew Y o rk
P i
ub l c L b a i r ry
) , u n a g e d, b k I , c a 2 : s ig p . h p . . a 5b .

M et ( see ab ov e p
2
. 1 . 2 , .

3
I n tr o du c t or i u m ,
si g . a6 a
.
58 M edi e va l A t ti tu d e t ow ar d A s tr olog y

worth while to liste n with c are to A lb u m a sa r s solution o f ’

the p r oblem T he I n tr odu c t or i u m i n A s tr on omia m already

.

points the way to that c ompromise between Christianity a n d

ast r ology whi c h we shall soo n meet in the writi ngs o f A lbert
a n d T homa s A qui nas .

S ome there a r e s ay s A lb u m asar who s olve the problem

, ,

o f ast r ologi cal fatalism by denyi ng the exi s te nc e o f con

ti nge nt a c tio n s alt ogether admitting only the ne c essary and
,

the impossible B ut so c omplete a denial o f freedom runs

.

c ou n ter to the evide n c e o f experie n c e Co n ti nge n t thing s .

.

ca n be proved to exist The statement o f a necessary fa c t

.

holds good for the future as for the past or the present .

We k no w that fi re bur n s that it has burned and that it , ,

will burn ; that fire is n o t c old that it n ever was c old that , ,

it n ever will be c old C o nti ngent fa cts admit o f n o su c h

.

predi c tion We know that a m an is writi n g or has writte n

.
,

but we do not k n ow whether he will or will n ot write in

the future T he c o nti n ge n t can be proved to exist mo re
.
,

over by t he fa c t that we deliberat e about it N o delibera

, .

tio n ever takes pla c e c on c erning the ne c e s sary or the

impossible ?

A disproo f o f fatalism however does n ot i nvolve a denial

, ,

o f stellar i nflue nc e over c o n ti ngent thin g s A lb u ma sa r pro .

cee d s to show that the power o f the stars is seen in the

realms both o f the n e c essary a n d o f the c o nti ngent .

T he pro c e s s by whi c h the eleme n ts a n d the bodies whi c h ,

they c ompose resolve o n e i nto the other the growth a nd

, ,

diminutio n wh ic h even huma n bodies unde r go come under ,

the rule o f the n e c es s ary S i nc e it is certai n that the stars

.

gover n the alteratio n s o f sublu nary bodies it is seen that ,

all ne c essary thi ngs are domi nated by the c elestial sphere .

N ow man is c omposed o f a reaso n i ng soul an d an ele

me ntal body T he reaso n i ng s oul exer c i s es its powers i n
.

d eliberat ion an d choic e ; it rules o ver the body and t he ,

1
Cf A . ri stotle ’
s D e I n t er pr e ta ti on e, c h p
a . 1 .
 A r a bi an A s tr olog y 59

latter serves to c arry out the soul s comma n d s T he stars ’

.

have al s o acc ording to the tea chi n gs o f the Philosopher

, ,

a reaso n i n g soul and a n atural motion an d c onseque ntly ,

posses s the po wer to modify the harmony existi ng between

man s body an d his soul Hence the power o f the stars
’
’

direct s c o ntingent a cts as well as those whi c h fall within the ,

realm o f the ne c essary ?

T he theory o f A lb u ma sa r at this point is not eas y to

u n der s tand a n d is at best n ot c lea r T he lea n in g towar d
,
.

a determi n i sti c s c ie nc e indee d n oticeable throughout the , ,

t r eatise was as little to the liking o f the Churc h as the

,

fatalist i c philoso phy o f the A rabs i n ge n eral ?

B ut the ‘

linki ng up o f astrologi c al theory with A ristotelian cos

m olog y a n d the spe c ious reaso n ings on the subj ect o f
,

co n ti n ge n t a c tio n s could not fail to p r ove alluri n g to C hris

,

tia n s c ie ntists T he I n tr odu c t or i u m a d A s tr on omia m serve d

.

as o n e o f the agents o f c ompromise between the C hurch an d

the n ew astrology o f the Moors .

1
I n tr o du ct or iu m ,
s ig . a8b ff . T he Lat i n in thi s p o r t i on o f the
tr at i se i s v ery d iffi cult I h av e b e en
e .
g u i d d b y the p a r ap hr a se
e

g iv en by D h m ( 2 3 7 5 u e .

I t i s d oc t ri n e su ch s t h o o f Alb m sa r co n ce r n i ng th e s t ella r
2
s a se u a

s l th t a
ou s a r ep at ed ly i nv e i g h e d g a i n t in the di ct g ai nst
re e a s e a

h er e y p b l i sh e d by t he U n iv er s i ty f P a ri s i n 1 277 S ee D ni fl e
s u o . e

C h t el i n Ch t l r i m Univer i t tis P i i en i
a a ,
ar u a u ( P a ri s 1 889 )s a ar s s s ,

1 543 ff
. T h e s t ella r so l s
. e r e f e rr e d t o i n t h e p ass ag e q u ot ed
u ar

a b v e ( p 50 ) fr m A d e l r d o f B t h
o . o a a .
 CH A PT E R V
THE ME DIE VAL ACC E P TA N C E OF AST R O L O GY
By the middle o f the twel fth c e ntury pra c ti cally the entire ,

ra nge o f Greek a n d A rabian s c ie nc e had bee n thrown open

to the Latin world T he appropriation o f this treasure was
.

a slow pro c ess T he Chri stian s c holar s o f the twel fth cen
.

tury were too mu c h o ccupie d with the quarrel between

realism a n d n omi n alism to i nterest t hem s elves i n problems
o f A r istotelian c osmology ?
We have see n that John o f
S alisbu r y was quite oblivious o f the n e w lear n i n g whi c h
had al r eady c r ossed the border s o f S pai n N ot u n til the .

thirtee n th c e ntury did the s c i enc e o f A r istotle a c quire that ‘

positio n o f promi n e nc e whi ch it was desti n ed to mai ntai n

throughout the remai n der o f t he medi aeval era .

T he first s ign s o f the new i n terest in A rabian astrology

may b e fou n d i n the s c hool o f C ha r t r e s that c e nt r e o f lea r n ,

i ng with whi c h A dela r d o f Bath had fo r med c o nn e c tio n ,

a n d whi c h had se n t out the first explorers i n to M oham

meda n S pai n E vide nc e for this fact is fou n d i n a list

2—
.

give n by Cle r val o f the astro n omi c al books in p ossession

o f the Cha r tres s chool a fter Herman o f D almatia a n d his
fellow adve ntu r ers had retur n ed
-
A mo n g the n umbe r .

appear seve r al work s o f A delar d o f B ath a n d a treatise o n ,

j udi c ial astrology by A lcha b it i u s tra n slated by Joh n o f ,

S eville T r a c es o f A r abi a n astrology c a n also be found

.

i n the w r iti n g s o f Willi a m o f Co n c he s a membe r o f the

3
,

s chool o f C ha r tre s i n the middle o f the c entury .

I n the volume o f Mig ne s P a tr ol og ia L a ti na d evoted to

’

the writi ng s o f Hon or 1u s o f A utu n appea r two treati s e s

on medi aeval c osmology o f n either o f whi c h Ho n o r ius o f
,

A utu n is the author T he first entitled D e P hilos op hi a

.
,

1
J o r d in R h r he p p
u a , ec e c s, . 227 -
8 .

L es E l es d Ch r tr p
2
co e a es , . 239 .

3
S e b v
e a p p 33 39
o e, .
, .
 T he M e di e va l A ccep tan ce o f A s tr o logy 61

M u n di is a work o f William o f C o n ches ; the se c o nd

, ,

entitle d D e I mag i n e M u n di that o f an ob sc ure Ho n orius ,

I nc lusus who lived about the year 1 1 00

,
?
T he D e I ma g i n e
M u ndi is a typi c al en cy c lop aed ia o f the early me d i aeval cen
t u r i es like tho s e o f B ede a n d R a b a n u s M a u r u s c o n tai n i n g
, ,

n a i ve des c ription s o f the plan e ts a n d the c onstellations ,

with n o me n tion o f their a s trologi c al s ign ifica nc e It a ff or d s .

a n ex c elle n t c o ntrast to the later work o f William of

C on ches i n whi ch tra c es o f the new s c ience are plenti ful
,
.

S atu r n i s he r e des c ribed a s c old a n d Jupiter a s tem ,

perate ; Ma r s is n o ci va a n d the i n di cator o f war and ,

b l ood shed ?
Ve n u s i s the godde s s o f lu xu r y quia c on f e rt ,
‘

c a lo r e m e t hu m o r em e t i n c a l i d i s et hu m i di s v ig et luxuria
’
'
.
,

I n William o f C o nc hes we eve n fi n d a curious i nversio n o f

the Isidorean d efi n ition o f astro n omy a n d astrology—a n
inversion whi ch reappears in R oger B a c o n a n d which c e r ,

f ai n ly ca n be t ra c ed to a n A rabia n s ou r c e A s typi c al
3

—
.

representatives o f what he calls as tr on omi a the s c ie n ce

whi c h a cc ordi n g t o his inverted definition d eals with stella r
i nfl u enc es—William o f C on c hes names Firmi c us Ma t er nu s
, ,

a n d Ptolemy
4
.

O n e o f the fi rst me d i aeval L atin writers t o mention a n

1
M i g ne P tr L t 1 72 42 1 02 1 22 88 T he D e I m g i n M n d i
, a . a . .
-

,
-
. a e u

i s t h pri n ip l so r c f o t h e v r n l r L Im g d M nd o f ’
e c a u e r e a cu a a e u o e

Gau t i e r o f M tz ( c e n f t h m t p p l r n cy l p d i
a. o e o e os o u a e c o ae as

o f th e l t e r m e d i v l
a en t ri O n Ho no ri
ae a I n cl s
c see D h em
u es . us u u s, u

3 24 ff ; o n Wi l l i m o f C n ch es D h m 3 87 ff
. . a o , u e . .

Mi gn
2
P t L t 1 72 63 I n p li i d i it d m i n i q i
e, a r . o . . :
‘
r oe s c ur o ar , u a

ca lo em c o n f
r t t s i cc i t t em ex q i b s est a n i m o i t as
er e a Ca l i d i en i m
, u u s .

et s i cc i a n i m o s i s u nt
’
.

V i n nt f B v i ( S pe l m D t i n l 1 7 f t er q t i ng
3
ce o eau a s cu u oc r a e . a uo

t he d fi n i t i o n s o f a s t r o n om y a n d c o r d i ng t o I s i d o r
e

al s o g iv es t h m i nv e r sely t h at i
s t r o logy

d fi n i ng a t log i s t r on my— a a c e,

s t r o l og y—
e s, e s ro a a as o ,

an d a t o n m i s r s o a q uot i ng s o r f o th l tt r
a a a s u ce r e a e

d efi n i t i on the A r b i an A lp ho abius C f Rog er B con O pus Maj

a ,
r . . a ,
us

( ed B ri d g 1 LV1 11 )
. es . .

‘
Mi g n e P t L t 1 7 2 59, a r. o . . .
 M edi e val A t ti tu d e t ow ar d A s tr olog y

A rabia n astrologer by name was A lanu s de I n sulis In a .

des c riptio n o f the seve n liberal arts whi c h c o n stitutes a ,

portio n o f that c urious poeti cal c ompe n dium o f k nowle d ge

e ntitled the A n ti cla u di a nus astronomy is no longer di ff eren ,

t i a t e d f rom astrology A la n u s names A lb u ma sa r as one

.

o f the r ep r ese ntative s o f the double s c ie nc e 1

I ll i c a st ra p olos
, , coelum , sep t em q u e p lan eta s
C on sulit A lb u m asar , te r r i squ e r ep o r t at eoru m
ii rr
Co n s l u m , t e as a m an s, fi r m ansq u e c a uca r d
Cont r a c oel est es ir a s, s up e r u m q u e f u r o r em .

A la nu sde I n su li s the medi aeval D oc t or Uni versa lis

, ,

belo ngs to the c l o se o f the twelfth c e ntury O ne o f his con .

temporaries was the E n glishma n A lexa nder Necka m the , ,

r
author o f a pro s e t r eatise the D e N a tur is 132m T he , .

belief i n the astrologi c al i n flue nc e o f the pla n ets and con

s t ella t i o n s had by t he time o f A lexa n der N e cka m alrea d y
, ,

be c ome a fixed part o f s c ie ntifi c doctri n e B ut N ecka m

l still c o n siders it ne c e s sary to safeguard his ortho d ox b
.

y y
‘
mea n s o f a c aveat L et it not be supposed he says that
‘ ’ '

.
, ,

the pla n ets de c ide t hi n g s here below by any inevitable law

o f ne c essity either by their c onj u n ctions or b y their being
, ,

in this or that domi c ile For the divi n e will is the unalter .

able a n d primal c au s e o f thin g s to whi c h not only the -

pla n ets show obedie nc e b ut also c reate d nature as a whole ,

.

It mu s t be u n de r s tood that although superio r bodie s have ,

some i nflue nc e over i n f erior o nes yet the ar bi tr i u m ani me ,

is f ree a n d is n ot impelled by ne c essity either this w ay or

,

that It is pos s ible that A lexa n de r N ecka m i s paraphra s ing

.
’

the I n tr odu c t or i u m i n A s tr on om ia m o f A lb u m a sa r ?
T he
dis c ussion o f astrology in the D e N a tu r is R er u m i s c er
( M i g n e P a tr L a t 2 1 0
1
A n ti c la u d i a n u s 4 1 .
, . . .

8 ( e d Wri g h t R oll s S er pp 3 9
2
D e N a tu r i s R er u m 1 . .
,
.
, .

A l exa n d e r N e ckam s al leg o ri z i ng t en den c i es g et th e bet t e r o f hi m

’

e v en i n hi s d eal i ng s wi t h ast r o l ogy He i d en t ifi es the a st r ol og i cal

.

i nfl u en ces o f the s ev er al p lan et s wi th the s ev en g ift s o f the Holy

S piri t—wi s dom i nt , el l ect , cou n sel, b r av e ry , i
s c en ce, p i ety , an d f ea r
( pp 4 1.
 T he M e di e v a l A c cep t an ce o f A s tr o l og y 63

t a i n ly o n eo f the earliest at tempts to bri n g the n ew s c ie nc e

o f the stars i nto co n formity with C hristia n thought A lex .

a n der N ecka m c learly points the way to the s c holastic

d efinition o f orthodox ast rology formulated i n the thi r teenth
ce n tury .

T he de c iding factor i n the developme n t o f the s c holasti c

d o ctri n e on the subj e c t o f astrology was A ristotle himsel f .

T he c omplete A ristotelian c anon had been made a cc essible

?
in L ati n tra n slatio n s b etwee n the years 1 2 1 0 a n d 1 2 2 5
A lthough the treatises on natural scien c e were proscribe d
several times by Chur c h c oun c ils an d papal legates they ,

were gradually purged o f the noxious doct rines with whi c h

they had be c ome tai nted while i n the ha n ds o f N eoplatoni c
a n d A rabia n comme n tators a n d by 1 2 55 were a cc epte d as ,

a part o f the standard c urriculum o f the U n iversity at

Paris ?
A lbert the G r eat al r eady re fers to A ristotle as the
‘
regula v e r itat is i n qua n atura su m m a m i nt ellec t u s huma n i
,

e r f ec t i o n e m de m o n st r a v it
’3

p .

T his
general a c ceptance o f A ristotle as the arbiter o f
human k n owledge c oul d not fail to augur well for astrol
ogy N o s c holasti c theologia n d ared any longer questio n
.

the Peripateti c tea chi n g t hat the process es o f earthly growth

a n d c ha n ge depe n ded for their exi s te n c e upo n the stellar

spheres A ristotle s d o c tri n e o f the Prime M over e n d owi n g

.
’

the heave n s w ith a motio n whi ch they i n tur n impart to the

lower spheres and to the earthly element s fitted eas ily into ,

a C hri stian s cheme o f the un iverse A lthough diff ering .

c o n siderably i n detail ? a ll o f the medi aeval i nterpreters o f

A risto tle fro m A vi c e nna a n d A ve r roes to A lbert the

,
5 6

1
Ub er w eg , Ges c hi ch t e d er P hilo so phi e ( B e r l i n ,
19 15 ) 2 .
40 8 .

2
I bi d . 2 .
41 0 .

3
D e A ni m a 3 . 2 .
3 .

‘
T he a ou sv ri i
c o sm o lo g ca l ytm
s s e s ar e stud ed i i n D u he m
’
s Le
S ys tem e du M ond e ; s ee, in p a r t i c l r
u a , 3 3 42 , 3 51 ; 4
. . 226 , 233 , 494 .

‘
rr
C a a d e Vau , A vi ce x n n e ( P ri a s, pp . 2 51 ff .

Co mm en tu m i n D e Ge n er a ti o n e et C or r u p t i o n e 2 . 10 ( A r i s t o t e l is
64 M edie val A t ti tu de t ow ar d A s tr olog y

Great B a r tholom aeu s A ngli c us T homas A qui nas and

,
1
,
2
,
3

D a nte 4
a c c epted the A r i stotelia n theo r y o f motio n as a
,

fundame ntal postulate A n d astrologi cal theory had s inc e .

,

the days o f Ptolemy be c ome so inseparable a part o f A ris ,

t ot el ia n c osmology that the C hristia n theo l ogia n s in wel ,

c omi n g the one were i n evitably c ompelled to o ff er a ,

favo r able r e ceptio n to the other .

A modifi c atio n o f su c h importa nc e i n the traditional doc

tri n e o f the C hurc h c ould not take pla c e without a st r uggle .

S i n c e t h e days o f I sidore a n d A ugusti n e the m a them a ti ci ,

a n d r eaders o f ho r os c opes had bee n b r a n ded as serva n ts o f

the devil a n d their f a talisti c philo s ophy had been denou n ce d

,

with fie r y rheto r i c T he c asti ng o f n ativities had in fact .

, ,

bee n defi n ed a s a s up e r stitiou s a r t as late as the S u mma

T h e o l og i e o f A lex a n der o f Hales T he s c hola s ti c
writer s o f the thi r tee nth c e n tu r y themselves subs c ribed to
the tea c hi ng s o f the Fathe r s o n the subj e c t o f demo n s a n d
magi c 6
I n e ff e c ti n g a c omp r omi s e th e refo r e betwee n the
.
, ,

ve r di c t o f the ea r ly C hur ch a n d the n ew astrology A lbert ,

the G r eat a n d T homas A qui nas fa c ed a problem o f no

s light di ffi c ulty .

T he theologia n s o f the thirteenth c e n tu r y dis c overed t he

c lue f o r its s olutio n i n th a t pa s s a ge o f the D e Ci vi ta t e D ei
7

O p er a ,
e d. 1 550, 5. Ho r t en ,
D ie M etaphys i k d es A ver r oes
( Halle ,
p . 1 73 .

Gen er a t i o n e e t C or r u p t i on e 2 3 4 ( e d
1
De am m 2 . . . J y .

M e taphys i c or u m 1 1 2 2 5 ( e d am m 3 3 89 D e C e lo e t M u ndo
. . . J y .

2 3 5 ( ed
. . a mmy 2 1 1 3 ) c f We n e
. J D i e K os m o log i e d es R og er
. . r r ,

B ac o ( V i enna ,
p .
52 .

( B a t m an pp on B ar th ol om e
2
D e P r op r i e ta ti b u s R er u m 8 . 1 ff . u ,

L o n don ,
1 582 , f ol . 12 1
a
) .

3
D e Ce lo et M u nd o 2 . 19 ( O p er a O m ni a ,
R o m e, 1 888 1 9 06,
-

3 . 1 94, S u m m a T heo log i e 1. 1 1 1 5 3 ( i bid

. . .
5.

“
S mm u
C onvi t o
a
2 . 15 .

Un i ver s e Th e o l og i e , Q uaest o i 1 66 . 2 ( ed . 1 622 , 2 .

Ha n sen ,
Z a u b er w a hn pp , . 1 56 ff .

7
Ci v D ei 5 6 ( M g n e ,
. . i P a tr . La t 4 1 . . cf . ab o v p
e, . 24 .
66 M e d i e va l A t ti tu d e t ow ar d A s tr ol og y

T he huma n soul on the other ha n d is d ependent upon ele , ,

me ntal matter n ot di r e c tly but s ecu n du m qu od A gather , .

ing o f blood about the heart for example i n cli n es the soul , ,

to wrath but anger is not a ne c essary consequence Henc e

, .

’
the stars gover n the soul s actions only indire ctly a n d not
s i m p li ci t er T hey can i nfluence the human will but only
by way o f the body ?
.

A lbe r t c ite s i n s upport o f his defe n se

l ,

o f free will the same passage of A ristotle s D e I nter p r eta ’

ti on e whi c h A lb u m a sa r had employed in a simila r c o n ne c

2

tio n a n d he makes it c lear by mea n s o f refere nc es to the ,

Fathers that he doe s not wish to be a cc used o f lea n i ngs

,

towar d fatalism .

A lbert the Grea t s concessio n s to j udicial astrolo gy

’
,

guarded though they were su ffi c ed to c ha nge the traditional ,

hostility o f the C hu r ch i nto a n attitu d e o f toleranc e Con .

c rete evi d e n ce for this is furnishe d by A lbert s own com

’

menta r y on the se c on d chapter o f M atthew that story o f ,

the Magi which had served so ma ny o f the Fathers as a

text for a s ermon agai n st the astrolo g ers A lbert in .
,

defi n i n g the mea n i n g o f the word m ag us take s o cc a s io n

3
,

to dis cuss the magi c arts i n ge n eral When he c omes to the .

ma them a ti ci he d ivi d es them into tw o groups according

, ,

as they represe nt the pure s c ie n c e o f mathemati c s ( m a the

s is ) or , the more d ubious practical art o f astrolo gy

1
I bi d , f o l
. . 64h :
‘
Sic e rg
i m u h m i n i i n cl i n o , sec u n d u m q u od an s o s a

tu r, t d p n d t d n at
e e e t comp l exi on em
e a u a r m
i c e t i m h ab t i n ca e , s a e

vi m n st ll t i o vi d el i c t sec n d u m q
co e a d t non si mp li c i ter
, e u uo e .

Q u o d a u t m s p e ri o r m co rp o r u m virt s i mp on t n ecessita t em
e u u u a

l i b e r o a r b i t ri o ti m nt r p h iIO Op h m
,
e s t p on e r e n i s i p
a co h un c a S u e , er

m o d m : q o di ci m s i n clin a i t m u t a ri h om i n i an i m m
’
u u u r e s u .

b v e p 58
2
Se e a o , . .

T hi s d efi n i t i on i t el f n d s st r n g e t o c
3
cc st m d to sou a ar s a us o e

p at ri st i c ex eg esi s : Mag u s p r op ri e n i s i m gnus est qu i a sci nt iam

‘
a , e

h b n s de om ni b s ex n ece i i t eff e t ib s n tu a um conjec

a e u s s ar s, e c u a r r

t u a n s a li q u n do m ir ab i l i a n t rae p aeost en di t et e du ci t ( ed J am my
’
r , a a u r .

9 .
 The M ed ie v al A ccep tan ce f
o A s tr ol og y 67

( ma t hes iO n the latter he has this to say : I f a nyo n e

s )
? ‘

prognosti c ates by the stars concernin g those thin g s only

whi c h are subj e c t to natural c aus es and to that ,

primal order o f nature which exists in the c onfiguration o f

the stars an d heave n ly circles he d oes not commit a fault , ,

but rather serves a useful purpos e an d saves ma n y thin g s ,

from harm H e however who p redicts the futu re

.
, ,

arbitrarily ( n on c ons id era tis omni bus ) and co n cernin g ,

future thi n gs other than thos e defined above is a de c eiver , ,

a n d is to be shu nn ed
2
U n der n eath this c a r e fully worde d .
’

d efi n itio n on e can f eel a real enthus iasm fo r the science o f

,

Ptolemy an d A lb um a sa r .

T homas A quinas in crystalli z in g fi nally the orthodox , , ,

attitude towar d astrolo gy o f the later me d i aeval c enturies ,

follows the lea d o f A lbert the Great L ike his pre d ecessor .
,

h e a cc epts the c osmology o f A ristotle 3

a n d fi n ds equal ,

comfort i n the passage o f A ugustine whi c h a d mits a rule

o f the stars over corporeal bodies He does n ot hesitate .

to declare that the employme n t o f astrology f or meteoro

l ogi cal purposes a n d in medi c ine is e n tirely legitimate
,
?
,

A s with A lbert the real debate c e n tre d in j udicial astrology ;

,

a n d T homas A qui n as l ike his pre d e c esso r begi n s the dis , ,

cu ss i on with a psy c hologi c al a n alysis T he huma n i n telle c t .

1
T hi s d i st i n ct i n i t wi ll b e r em
o , em b e ed, r is f ou n d in J hno of

Sa li b ry
s u S e b ve p 3 7
. e a o , . .

E d J m m y 9 24
3
. a . .

z’
S u mm a T h e o l og i e 1 . 1 . 115 .
( O p er a O m n i a e d
3 , . R o m e, 5 .

‘
D e Ju d i cii s A s tr or u m ( O pu s cu la O m ni a P a ri s , ,
p .
3 92
‘
Et i d eo si al i q u i s iu di c i i s a st r o r u m u t a tu r ad p r aen os cen du m c or

p or a l e s p u ta t emp es tatem et ser en itat em a r is san it atem

e ff ec t u s, ,
''

e ,

vel i nfi r m i t at em c o rp o ri s vel u b e r t a t em e t s t e r i li t a t em f u g u m e t
,
r ,

s i m i l i a q u ae ex co p o ra lib u s e t n a t u a li b u s c a u si s d ep en d en t nu llu m
, r r ,

vi d etu r esse p eccat um N am om n es h om i nes c ir ca tales eff ectu s

.

a l iq u a ob se va t i o n e ru t u n tu r co r p o r u m coel est i u m s i eu t a g i co lae , r

sem in an t e t m et u n t ce r t o t em p o r e Me d i c i c ir ca aeg r i tu d in es .

cr it icos d i es ob se rv an t q u i d et e m i na n t u r s ecu n d u m cu r su m so l i s et
,
r

lunae ; ’
cf. S u mma 2. 2 .
95 5 .
(9 .
66 M edie val A t ti tu d e t ow ar d A s tr ol og y

T he huma n soul on the other ha n d is depe n dent upon ele, ,

me ntal matter n ot dire c tly but s ecu n du m qu od A gather , .

ing o f blood about the heart for example i n clines the soul , ,

to wrath but a nger is not a necessary consequence Henc e

, .

’
the stars gover n the soul s a c tions only indire c tly and not
s i m p li ci ter T hey can influenc e the human will but only
by way o f the body ?
.

A lbe r t c ite s i n s upport o f his defe n s e

l ,

o f free will the s ame passa g e o f A rist otle s D e I nter pr eta

’

ti on e whi c h A lb u m asa r had employed i n a s imilar c o nn e c

2

tio n ; a n d he makes it c lear by mean s o f refere nc es to the ,

Fathers that he does n ot wish to be a c cused o f leani ng s

,

toward fatalism .

A lbert the Great s con c essions to j udicial astrolo gy

’
,

guarded though they were su ffi c ed to c ha nge the tra d itiona l ,

hostility o f the C hur c h i nto a n attitu d e o f tolerance Con .

c rete evidence for this is fur n ishe d by A lbert s own com

’

menta r y on the se c o n d chapter o f M atthew that story o f ,

the Magi which had served so ma ny o f the Fathers as a

text for a sermon agai n st the astrolo g ers A lbert in .
,

defini ng the mea n i n g o f the word m ag u s take s o cca s io n

3
,

to dis c uss the magic arts in ge n eral When he c omes to the .

ma them a ti ci he d ivi d es the m into tw o gr oups a ccordin g

, ,

as they represe n t the pure s c ie n c e o f mathemati c s ( m a the

s is ) or, the more dubious practical art o f astrolo gy

1
I bi d .
,
f ol r g e n d m q d n i m h m i n i i n cli n
.
h
64 :
‘
Sic e o , s cu u uo a us o s a

tu et d ep en d et a d n t u r am
r, t c om p l ex i on em ai c e t i m h ab et i n eo
e , s a

vi m con t ll t i o vi d l i
s e at s cu n d u m qu o d et n on s i m p l i c i t e r
, e ce e .

Q u od u t m up e ri o r u m co rp or m virt s im p on t n ecessita t em
a e s u u a

l ib e r rb i t ri o et i m cont ra p hilo p h m st p on er e ni s i p r hunc

o a ,
a so u e , e

m o d um : q o di c i mu s i n cli na i e t m t a ri h om i n i s an i m m
’
u r u u .

b ov p 58
2
S ee a e, . .

T hi
3
d fin i t i n i t l f
s e nd t r an g e t
o ea r
se ac t m d to
s ou s s o s cu s o e

p at ri st i c ex eg es i s : Magu s p r op ri e n i s i magnu s est qu i a sci ent iam

‘
,

h b n d e o m n ib
a e s x n ec e s ii s e t ff ect ib us n at u a u m conjec
us e s ar , e r r

l i q uan do m ir ab i l i a n tu r p ost en di t et e du ci t ( e d J am m y
’
tu a n sr , a a ae r ae .

9 .
 The M edie val A ccep tan ce f
o A s tr ol ogy 67

O n the latter he has this to say : I f a nyone ‘

progn osti c ates by the stars concernin g those thin g s only

whi c h are subj e c t to natural c auses a n d t o t hat ,

primal order o f nature which exists in the c onfiguration o f

the stars a n d heavenly c ir c les he d oes not commit a fault , ,

but rather serves a useful purpos e an d saves many thin g s ,

f rom harm He however who pre d i c ts the futur e

.
, ,

arbitrarily ( n on c onsi der a tis omni bus ) an d co nc ernin g ,

future thi ngs other tha n those defined above is a deceiver , ,

a n d is to be shu nn ed
”
U n der n eath this c are fully worde d .

d efi n ition o ne can feel a real enthusia s m f or the science o f

,

Ptolemy and A lb u m asa r .

T homas A quinas in crystalli z in g fi nally the ortho d ox , , ,

a ttitude toward astrology o f the later medi aeval c e n turies ,

follows t he lead o f A lbert the Great L ike his pre d e c essor .

,

h e a cc epts the c osmology o f A ristotle ? and fi n ds equal

c om fort i n the passage o f A ugusti n e whi c h admits a rule

o f the stars over c orporeal bo d ies H e does n ot hesitate .

to de c lare that the employme n t o f astrology f or meteoro

lo g i cal purposes a n d in medi c ine is entirely legitimate
,
?
,

A s with A lbert the real debate c e n tre d in j udi c ial astrolo gy ;

,

a n d T homas A qui n as like his pre d e c esso r begi n s the dis , ,

c u ss i on with a psy c hologi c al a n alysis T he huma n i n telle c t .

1
T hi s d i t i n t i n i t wi ll b e r em
s c o , em b e e r d , is f ou n d in J hno of

Sa l i b ry
s u S e b v
. p 37
e a o e, . .

Ed J m m y 9 24
2
. a . .

8
S u mm a Th e o log i e 1 1 1 1 5 3 ( O per a O m ni a e d R o m e 5 . . .
, .
, .

‘
D e Ju d i cii s A s tr or u m ( O pu s cu la O m n i a a s p 3 92 ,
P ri , .

E t d eo s i a l iq u i s iu d i c i i s a st r o r u m u t a tu r a d p r aeno scen dum cor

i
‘

p o r al es e ff ec t u s , p u ta t em p es t a t em , et s e r en i t a t e m ac ri s , sa n i t a t em

v el in fi r m i tat em co rp ri s
o ,
ve l u b e r t a t e m et s t er i l i t a t em f rugum , et

si m i li qu a, ae e x co r p o r a lib u s e t n a t u ra li b u s c a u s i s d ep en d ent , n u ll u m

vi d etu r ss e e p e cca t u m . N am om n es h om i nes c ir ca t a l e s e ff ec tu s

a liq u a o b se r va t i o n e u t u n tu r co rp o r um coel e s t i u m , s ic u t ag r i co lae

s e m i n an t e t m et u n t ce r to t em p ore . Me d i c i c ir ca aeg r i t u d i n es

c r i t ico s d i es ob s e rvant , q u i d et e r m i nant ur s ecu n d um c u r su m so l s et i

lu nae ;
’
cf . S u mm a 2. 2 .
95 5 .
(9 .
68 M edie val A t ti tu d e t ow ar d A s tr ol og y

and will he says a r e n ot c o r pore a l ; c o n s equently they

, ,

es cape that i nflue nc e whi c h the stars n e c e ss arily exert over

matter I n dire ctly however a n d by a cc ide nt the influe nc e
.
, , ,

o f the heave nly bodies does a ff e c t intelle c t an d will i na s ,

mu c h as both i n telle c t a n d will are i ntimately c on n e c ted

with c orpo r eal orga n s T he i ntelle c t in truth i s ne c essarily
.
, ,

a ff e c ted whe n eve r man s physi c al pro c e s ses are distu r bed ’
.

T he will o n the other ha n d d oes n o t follow o f ne c essity

, ,

the i n c li n atio n o f i n ferior appetite although the ira sc ible ,

a n d the c o n c upis c e n t in man i n c li n e the will toward this

T he maj ority o f m en i n fa c t are gov

‘
o r that c hoi c e
?
, ,

er n ed by thei r passio n s whi c h are depe nde n t upo n bodily ,

appetites ; i n these the influe nc e o f the stars is c learly felt .

Few i n deed are the wise who are c apable o f resisti n g thei r
a n imal i n stin c ts A strologers c onseque n tly are able t o
.
, ,

foretell the truth in the maj ority o f c a s es espe c ially whe n ,

they u n dertake ge n eral predi c tio n s I n parti c ular predi c .

ti on s they do n ot attai n c ertai nty for n othi ng prevents a

, ,

man f rom r esisti ng the di c tate s o f his lower fa cultie s

“
.

Where fo r e the astrologers them s elves a r e wo nt to say that

the wi s e man rules the sta r s fo r asmu ch namely as he ,
”
, ,
’
rules his ow n passio n s 2
.

B ut T homas A qui nas i s not prepared to set asi d e e n tirely

the patristi c tea c hi n g that a s trology is a diabolic a r t o f
divi natio n He a cc epts j udicial astrology so lo n g as it can
.

prove it s el f a part o f n atu r al s c ie nc e a n d he goes j ust a s ,

far as he dares in freei ng it from the restri ctio n s with whi c h

it had be c ome e nc umbered i n earlier Chur c h do c tri n e .

N everthele s s there was still remai n i ng a n arrow margin

,

o f a s trologi cal theory whi c h coul d not be brought withi n -

the pale o f a reaso n ed c osmological s c ie nce T his portion .

1
S u mm a 1 1 1 1 5 4, R esp on deo ( 5
. . . .

2
S u mm a 1 1 1 1 5 4 A d T e t u m ( 5
. . . T he a se
‘
ri
s a i en s . phr p
ho m o d o m i n a tu r a s t s ecu s m a nri r r
t m es i n t h e a s t olog c al l t e a y i r i i r
r
tu e o f t he t hir
t eent and ou t een t h
cent u es ( se e b elo , pp
f r h ri w .

1 35
 T he M e di e va l A ccep ta n ce o f A s tr o log y 69

o f j udi c ial astrolo g y T homas A qui nas co n d emns i n the

‘ ’
la n guage o f the C hur c h Father s I f a ny o n e he s ay s .
, ,

‘
employs the o bservation o f the stars for predicting f o r tu i
tous eve nts o r su c h as happen by c han c e or even for pre
, ,

’ :
dicti n g with c ertai nty ( per c er ti tu di ne m ) a ma n s future
a c tio n s he does so falsely I n this s ort o f prophe c y the
,
.

A s fo r astrological
’
a c tivity o f demo n s is c alled i n to play 1
.

ma gic this finds no pla c e i n T homas A qui n as system

,
’
.

N ecromancers he admits i nvoke demons accor d ing to the

, ,

c onfiguratio n s o f the stars but not by reason o f a ny com ,

pulsio n whi c h the heavens exerc is e over the fallen a n gels .

T he demo n s c ome when thus called in order to lead m en , ,

into a belie f in the divine power o f the stars an d because ,

under c e r tai n co n stellatio n s c orp oreal matter is better d is

posed for the result for which they are summo n e d ?
A stro
logi c al images and c harms su c h as are employe d in me d i ,

c i n e are al s o u n der the c a r e o f demons

, A s a p r oo f o f thi s .
,

T homa s A quinas c ites the fa c t that su c h images are never

e ffic aciou s u n less i n s c riptio n s are written on them whi c h ,

ta c itly i nvoke the aid o f evil spirits ?

T he lo ng war fare o f s c ie nc e with theolo gy carried on ,

f r om the days o f T ertullia n a n d A ugusti n e had re sulted ,

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

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

2
S u mm a 1. 4, A d S ecu n u m ( 5
1 . 1 15 . d . T h om as A qu i nas
fir y m l b el e iv e s i n the o s s b l t y o f m a g c an d p i ii i r
n e c o m an c y .

8
S um m a 2 2 96 2 ( 9 T om a s A h q in h ru as e e b eg s t h e
i —R
. . . .

r ea l q
u es t o n i at i ssu e . O th e r i
sc en t s t s og e r B con f a , or e x am pl e

( s ee B r ew r e , O p er a Q ue d a m Ha c t enu s I n e di ta R o ll s S e r , 53 1 )
.
,
p .

did n ot t ak e i t f o r g an ted t r r h at i n rip t i

sc ons w r e e n ecessa y f o r

a s t r ol g i ol i ca m ag es I t i s a l so
t se . th R n i s nc i nt r ti ng
e es o e e e a sa e

co m m nt t r e f Aq in
a o C j t n ( hi
o o m m n t a ry cc m p n i e
u as , a e a s c e a o a s

t he t x t i n t h L
e ni n e d i t i on )e t k i ss e wi th h i s m
eo t r o n t hi
e ,
a e u as e s

p o i nt H i t c r t i n m rv lo s to ri s o f G i do B n t t i n d
. e c es e a a e us e u o a a

o th r e s t r l og r
a t pr ov t h t i f i m g s
o e s m d a t c r ta i n h o r s
o e a a e are a e e u ,

t h y c n b e s d t pr o d c f
e a u ets f m g i wi th o t t he i n t rv en t i n
o u e ea o a c u e o

of d em o n s .
 7o M e di e val A t ti tu d e tow ar d A s tr ol og y

divested itsel f o f the s tigma o f illegitimacy whi ch it ha d

bor n e for c e nturies A lthough c o n dem natio n s o f j udi c ial .

astrology c o nti nued to appear i n later writers they were ,

usually i n the n ature o f belated borrowi n g s from A ugustine

a n d I s idore T he defi n ition o f T homas A quinas also left
.

r oom for di ff eren c es o f opi n io n in parti cular cases It

’

might have bee n possible to level against almost any pro

f e s si on al a s t r ologer the a cc usati on that he was i n dul g in g
i n p r edi c ti on s per cer ti tu di nem but the burden o f proo f ,

woul d have been laid upon the accuser A s a matter o f f act .

,

a fte r the middle o f the thi r tee n th c e n tu r y a sane s c ie nc e

had n o longer a nything to f ear at the hands o f the Church .

I n dis c rimi n ate de nu nc iatio n s su c h as had found their way ,

i nto the c anon law o f Ivo a n d Gratian c eased to appear ,

.

A n i n di c ation o f orthodox opi n io n i n the last quarter o f the

c e n tury is fur n ished by a list o f pros c ribed wo r ks on the

o cc ult a r t s whi ch fo r med a part o f a de c r ee agai n st heresy

,

i ssued i n 1 2 77 by B ishop T empier o f Paris ?

A work on
n c —
geoma y a f o r m o f divi natio n by mea n s o f figures drawn
hapha z a r dly by the questio n er and inte r p r eted astro
—
,

logi cally is si ngled out f or c o n dem natio n and a general ,

p r ohibitio n is made o f all books deali ng with the i nvoca

tio n o f demo n s T he de c ree also takes issue with c ertain
.

A verroisti c doc tri n e s de nyi ng the f r eedom o f the will ?

B ut a sober astrology is not atta c ke d A similar pronounce .

me nt on superstitious arts ma d e a c entury later ( 1 398 ) by ,

the same U n iversity o f Pa r i s i s equally le n ient

‘
?
It ,

( P a ri s
1
D en i fl e Chat ela in , Char tu lar i u m Univers i ta tis P ar is i ens is
- -

1 889 ) 1 .
543 ff .

2
No . 1 62 .
‘

Q uod v olu n t a s r
n o st a j
s u b ace t p o t e st a t i co rp or um

c el es t i u m
’
.

No . 2 07 .
‘
Q uod in , h r
h m i n i i n rp r so a g en e r a t i o n i s o s co o e uo

et p er c n q n s i n an i m a q u
o se ue q i tu r o rp u s x o r d i ne ca s u m
, e se u c , e u ar

su p e ri o r m et i n f e ri o r m i n es t hom i n i d i p os i t i o i n l i n n s a d t al e s

v l ev nt u s —
u u s c a

ac t i on e s E rr o r n i s i in t ellig t de ventib u s n tu r l
e e . a ur e a a

ibu s, t p
e vi m d i p si t i ni
er a s o o s .
’

3
I b i d 4 3 2 ff
. . .
7 2 M edi e va l A tti t u d e t ow ar d A s tr olog y

for meteorologi cal predi c tions a n d i n c hemistry medi c ine , , ,

a n d ag r i c ulture He also dis c our s es at le ngth upo n the

?

ast r ologi cal sig n ifi c a nc e o f c omets ?

But o f j udi c ial a strol
ogy he say s no t a word R oger Ba c o n like his prede c essor .
, ,

sees i n the n ew astrology somethi ng more tha n a divi natory

a r t He s ays expressly that eve n i f j udi c ial astrology were
.

abolished altogether e n ough would be left to c o nstitute a ,

s c ie n c e o f imme n s e value ?
All the great masters from
A ristotle to A lb u ma sa r he asserts repudiated its vulgar
4
, ,

p r a c titio n ers e spe c ially those who c o ntami nated it with

,

n e c roma n c y
5
I n the matte r o f j udi c ial a s t r ology Ptolemy
.
,

himsel f made a disti n ctio n betwee n ge n e r al a nd particular

progn osti c atio n s O n ly in the former ca n c e r tai nty be
.

attai n ed I n pre d i cting the future the true astrologer does

.
,

not prophesy ne c essary events but merely indi c ates motives ,

and ten de n c ie s ?
P r o g n osti ca tio n s o f pa r ti c ula r huma n
a c tio n s to be su r e o fte n p r ove s u cc e ss ful s i nc e chara cter
, , ,

a n d moral s depe n d largely o n bodily health Ge n eral pre .

di c tio n s he suggests can be o f g r eat servi c e to the Chur ch

, ,

itsel f He cites as an exam p le o f a legitimate prophe cy the

.

horo sc opes o f the va r ious religio n s o f the world i n stitute d ,

1
D e A r ti b u s L ib er a libu s ( B au r ,
pp .
5 Gr oss et est e enu m e ra tes

t hr ee pr i
a ct ca l u s e s of r
a s t o n om y ( ast r ology ) : veg et ab ili u m
‘
p l an
m i n e r a li u m t r a n s m u t a t i o mg r i t u d i n u m
’
t at i o , , c u r at i o.

( B au r pp
2
D e C o m e ti s ,
.
36
O pu s M aju s P Q u ar ta ( e d B ri d g es L o n d on
3
, ar s .
, ,
1 900, 1 .

‘
B a co n a s su m e d h
t at A ri s t ot le w a s t he au t h r o of the S ecr e tu m
S ec r e t o r u m ( i bi d . 1 .

5
I bi d . 1 . 240 .Th e S p ecu lu m A s tr o n om ie , a s c b ed t o Alb e t the ri r
Gr e a t , bu t pr o b ab l y wri
t t en b y B a con ( s e e b el o , sa s w p . y
th a t m an y b ook s of m gi a c t ry t o a s s u m e a sc e i n t ifi i c a r by hi ng cl ot

t h e m s el v es in as tr l g i o o cal l a n g u ag e :
‘
S c in t illa t i o n i s g r tia
a s ib i ,
'

m it t u n t q u a s da m ob s e r va t i o n es m i ca s s ic r e d d an t al i
’

a s t r ono , ut se

qu a t en u s fi d e d g n o s ( A lb er t i i ’
M a g ni O p er a , ed . J am m y 5 .

O p u s M af u s 1 . 249 , 2 52 . B a co n a ss e rt t h s at it w a s onl y f t li t i
a a s c

as t ol og r y th at ha d b een r pr h n d d b y the Ch r ch F e e e e u a th r s a nd
e ,

c i t es p a s sag e s to pr ov t h t th y ep t d the t r e sci en e

e a e ac c e u c (1 .
 The M edi e va l A c cep t an ce o f A s tr olog y 73

by A lb u m a sa r A c c ordi n g to the latter a maj or c o nju n c

?
,

tion o f Jupiter with o n e o f the other pla n ets sig n ified the
rise o f a n ew religio n T he c o nj u n ctio n o f Jupiter with .

S atur n had brought about the Heb r ew religio n ; that w ith

Mar s the Chaldea n that with the S u n the E gyptia n ; that
, ,

with Ve nus the Mohammedan ; a n d t hat with M er c u r y

,

the C h r istian T he c o n j u nc tio n with the Moon signi fyi n g

.
,

the religio n o f A n ti christ was still i n p r ospe c t A c c ordi ng to ,

.

Ba c o n s slightly unortho d ox chro n ology the M ohammeda n

’

—
,

religio would soon have c ompleted t s c ourse a hope fo r

n i
whi c h he fi n ds additio nal warra n t in the mysti c n umber s o f
the A po calypse He therefore b r eaks out i n to a pa n egyri c .

o n the wo n der ful s c ie n c e whi c h thus c orrobo r ates the C h r is

tian faith a n d p redi cts the ove r throw o f its enemies

,

‘
Propte r quod la u da n du s est D eus qui p hilosop hi s dedit ,

lume n sapie nti ae per quod lex ve r it a t i s c on fi r m a t u r et,

r ob o r a t u r e t per quod p e r c ip i m u s i n i m i c o s fi de i destrui

,

R oger B a c o n i n dee d exhausts his eloque nc e i n

’
debere .
, ,

pra 1s e o f astrology emphas i z ing above all its utility i n ,

medi c i n e ?

R oger B acon probably overstepped the bou n d s o f con

s er vat i ve opinion on the su b j e c t of j udi c ial astrolo y o n ly
g
in the en thusiasm with whi ch he applied it to sa c red

1
I bi d . 1 . 2 53 -
66 .

2
I bi d . 1 . i t r o f t he O p M j s ( B ri dg es
266 . T he ed o c om us a u

m en t on B con b eli f i n as t r ol gy i n a p ss g e t h at i s w o r thy

’
s a s e o a a

o f q o t t i on T o a b l i ev e r in a l i m i t d an d sph e ri cal u n iv e r e
‘
u a : e e s ,

wi th a t rr est ri al c nt r n thi ng coul d se em m r e v li d a s a w o rk

e e e, o o a

i ng hyp o th e i f e xp l i n i ng p hy i c l cha ng es n t he e r t h s s u
’
s s or a s a o a r

f ace th an th at lterat i n s o f th e d ir ect i on s in whi ch the p l nets

a o a

w e re seen sh o l d b e f ollow ed by co rr sp on d i ng lte r at i on o f t e rre

u e a s s

t ri al ob j c t s T he co m b i nat i o ns o f p l n t a ry b o d i es a s se en i n
e . a e ,

co nj n t i o n
u c i n opp o s i t i on o i n in t e r m e d i a te p o i t i ons o ff e r e d a
, , r s ,

wi d e fi eld o f s p e l t i on whi ch b c m e pr ct i cally b ound less wh en

cu a , e a a

t o t h e ap p a r en t r l t i o n o f t h es e b o d i es t one a no th e r w e r e a d d e d o e a

t h e ir ap p a r e n t re la t i o n s ( lso ev e r v ry i ng ) wi th th e fix e d s ta r s
a a .

Hu m an an d t e rr es t ri al ev en t s com p l i cate d a s th ey m i g h t b e w e r , ,
e
74 M edi e va l A tti tu d e t ow ar d A s tr ol og y

thi ngs I n the matter o f astrologi cal magi c he u n d o

?
ubtedly ,

pro gre s se d bey ond the limits set by T homas A qui na s .

B a c on c o n dem n s magi c by th e ai d o f d emons hol d in g the ,

z
view that most o f it is fraud anyw ay ; but ma gic that
simply utili z es the marvelous i n flue n ces o f the stars fin d s
in him an e n thusiasti c supporter Images an d verbal .

charms i f made u n der the pr oper co n stellati ons ar e

, ,

e n dowe d with u n usual p owe r s be c ause they store up th e ,

mysterious en ergy of the stars an d o f the h u man s p irit ?

B a c o n quotes in all earnestness a story t old by Josephus , ,

in whi c h M oses escapes fr om a compr omising love a ff air -

with an E thi opia n pri n cess b y g1v1n g her a ring causing

f or g etful n ess 4
Ma ny o f the mira c les of sai n ts h e says
.
, ,

were p er f ormed by mean s o f magi c w ords spoken at the ,

proper a s trologi c al mome nt I n his S p e cu lu m A s tr on omie

5 6
.
,

and his E p is t ola d e S ecr e tis N a tu r e he eve n ven tures to

7
,

p a ra llele d by e qu
p l i cat i on i n t he p lay o f cele t i al f o rces I t
al co m s .

m y be
a i d on the wh ole t h at so f a fr om b el i e f in ast r ology
sa , , r

b e i ng r epr o ch t o B con an d h is cont emp o r ari es t o h av e dis

a a a ,

b el i ev d i n i t w o l d h av e b een i n the t hir t e nt h ent u ry a s i gn o f

e u e c

i nt ellectu l w eakn ess I t con f or me d t o the fir st l w o f Com te s

a . a
’

phi los ophi a p i m a as b e i ng th e b est h yp oth es i s o f whi ch t he as cer

r

t ain e d ph n om ena a d m i tte d

’
e .

1
He lm st n d r t ak es i n o ne p assag e t o wri te the h o r o scop e o f
a o u e , ,

C hri st hi m sel f ( i bid 1 . .

B r ew e r O pe I n edi ta p 523
2
,
ra , . .

3
O pu s M j a us 1 .
395 7
-
.

‘
I bi d . 1. 3 92 .

5
I bi d . 1 .
3 95 .

6
w ork nt i l r ecent ly s ri b d t A lb er t t he Gr t M n d nnet
A u a c e o ea . a o ,

i n an a r t i cl e i n t he R evu e N S c ol s ti q e ( 1 7 3 1 3 has fa i rly

’

eo a u
—
-
.

p r ov e d t t h t i f t i n o f r e nt c h l r D h m ( 3
st—
o e sa s ac o so ce a s o a as u e .

a t l ea t h at i t w a wri t t en by R og e r B c on p r ob b ly sh o r t ly a f t e r
s a ,
a

B i sh op T m pi e r o f P a ri ha d i s su e d h i s d ec r e e ag a i n st b ook s on
e s

m g i c n d g om an cy
a a T he S p ec l m i s f ou n d i n t he Op a o f
e . u u er

A l b e r t t h e Gr at ( d J m m y 5 656 ff ) e in p a r t al so i n Ca ta log us
e . a . .
, ,

C o di c m A t ol g r u m Gr or u m ( B r ssel s
u s r o o 1 906 ) 5 85 E e c u ,
-
. .

Cf .b v a o p 53 e, . .

B r ew e r p 53 2
7
. .
,
 T he M e di e v a l A ccep tan ce o f A s tr ol ogy 75

de fen d certain con d em n e d books on m agic mai n taini n g ,

that some of them are merely thought to be ba d but really ,

con ta i n use ful s c ie n tifi c fa c ts I n b ooks on geoman c y .

,

espe c ially he sees no harm si n c e h e fi n ds that thi s divi n a

—
, ,

tory art employs scien tifi c methods con fi di t S atur n o et ‘

I n utte r a n c e s like the s e B a c o n w as ger

’
domi n o hor ae 1
.

w m
m

Geom an cy was among the arts o f

’
t ain ly i n dis creet .

dv fi p n w hi ch the C hur c h permitte d no compro

w
i
m

1 n o
mise ?
It i s possible that B a c o n s o w n impri s o n me n t at ’
,

the han ds o f th e Mi n ister Ge n eral o f the Franciscan or d er

f oll owed as a d irect result o f the publicati on o f the
S p ecu lu m A s tr o n om i e ?

T he feari n g perhaps that it ha d d ealt t oo

Church ,
le n ie n tly with astrology i n theory gave evi d e n c e that it ,

c ould b e all the mo r e sev e r e with it w he n ever i n p r a c ti c e

it meddled with magi c or with fatal isti c do c tri n es It .

w a s oste n sibly o n t hes e two a cc ou n ts at a ny rate that , ,

the Inquisition con d emne d t o the stak e i t s first astrol ogical

heret ic C e cc o d A scoli pro fessor o f astrology at the U n i
’

W
, ,

versi ty O E the fi rst quarter o f the f ourtee n th

century The author o f a n encyclop aed ic poem th e A cer ba
.
, ,

o f an astronomi c al c ommentary on the S p he r a o f S a c ro

B os c o an d o f s everal mi n or astrol ogi cal texts Cecc o

, ,

d A sc o li has in re c e n t year s arous ed mu c h histori cal i n ter

’

?
est His exe c utio n at Flore nc e i n 1 3 2 7 followi n g upo n , ,

1
S p ec A s tr , c a
. . h p . 16 ( ed . J am m y 5.

2
q i
A u n a s, S u m m a 2 . 2 .
96 3. .

1B
M a n d on n et ,
p .
3 34 .

‘
Ac co d r i ng d t i ( L a P oes i a A s t ol og i ca n el Q u t t o cen t o
to S ol a r a r ,

F lo r ence 1 906 p , wh ose j u dg m ent o f the cont r ov er s i al lit e r a

, .

t u r e o n t he s u b j ec t i s r ec en t a n d m a t u r e t h e b e s t o f t h
e m a ny ,

b i og r ap hi e s o f Cecc o i s t h a t o f B a ri o la C e cc o d A s co li e I A c r ’ ’
e ba , ,
F lo r en ce 1 87 9 T w o e x ce ll ent sh o rt a r t i c les a r e t h o s e b B ofli to :
,
y
.

P e che f u C on d a nn a to l F oco l A t o log o C o d A s c o li ( S t d i

r a u
’
s r e cc
’
u
e D oc di S t or e D i i t t o 20
3 66 if ) a n d I l D e P r i n cipi i s A s tr olo
‘
. . . r .
,

g ie d i C ec c o d A s c oli ( Gi or n S t or di L e t t I t S u p p l I h av e
’ ’
. . . .
, .
76 M edi e val A tti tu d e t ow ar d A s tr ol ogy

a previous c o nd e mn atio n o f his tea chi n gs at B olo gna an d ,

i nvolvi n g the usual amount o f I talian i ntrigu e is still ,

somethi n g o f a myste r y A c c o rd ing to Giovanni Villan i .

,

our be s t autho r ity h e was f ou n d g uilty by the Fran ciscan

,

i n qui s itor o f three he r eti c al doctri n es : First that in the ,

ae r ial spheres there existed m ali g n spirits whi c h could be

c o n st r ai n ed by m ea n s o f e n chan tment s per f bm
'

uii d e r
’

ce rtai n c on stellatio n s to perform many marvel ous thin g s

,
.

S e c on dly that he had as c ribed a n e c essary i n flue n c e t o the

,

heave n s T hirdly that Christ s birt h poverty a nd death

.
,
’

,
uh M N ' ”
'
,

had bee n ac c or d i n g to th e rule of the stars ?

T here c an b e
n o dou bt that Ce c c o was guilty on the first c ount that —
of havi n g ha d deali n gs with the necroman cy o f the Jews
a n d Moo r s H e is i n fa c t a n ex c elle n t rep r e s e ntative o f
?
, ,

that s c ien tifi c ma g i c which was spreadi n g over E urope fr om

the O r i en t a n d whi ch was maki n g its fir s t impo r ta n t home
,

in Italy T he se c ond and third c oun ts upon which Cecc o

.

s tood a c c u se d a r e mo r e diffic ult to s ub s ta n tiate His .

w orks c o n tain a liberal sprink li n g o f pious phrases and a

l o n g dis c ussion of Pt ole my s the o ry o f free w ill ? ’
C ecco
i s c ar e ful t o quote the a pplicati o n o f astrolo gy t o Chri st
n ot s een i g r phy f C o by G C t ll i ( B l gna
the b o a o e cc . as e o o ,

n o t h e r c ent e d i t i o n o f t h e A ce ba b y P R o s ri o ( L a nc i ano
r e r . a ,
1
Gi ov ann i V i ll n i Cr ni he 1 0 40 ( ed F lo r enc e 1 823 5 55
a , o c . .
, , .

A s i m i la r ast r olog i c l i nt e r p r et at i on o f th l if e o f C hri st i s f oun d

a e

i n a w o rk o f t he I tal i an la wy er L i g nano ( d i ed 1 3 83 ) , see F ant i uz z ,

N o tiz i e d eg li S cr i t t or i B olog n es i ( B olog na 1 796 ) 5 3 9 C f a l so , . . .

t h e a r t i cl e o n L i g nano b y Pr o f e s so r A S Co ok, R om R ev 8 3 7 1 . . . . . .

2
B o fli t o,
‘
P er ché f u C ond a nn a t o ,
p .
375 ; Ba ri o la , p .
9 . I n t he
A cer ba i s fo nd um anu al o f t h e b lack a rt s ( 4 4 : e d Ven i ce,
a s m al l . .

1 820 p , 203 ; c f Go w e r , C onf A m 6 1 26 1

. . .whi ch c loses w ith
. .

t h e a dvi ce t o the l i st ene r t h a t he sh ou l d p r ove t h e ir effi cacy f o r

h i m s el f P ass ag e s in his pr ose wo rks a r e fr equ ent whi ch sh ow
.

t h a t C e cco n ot o nly b el i ev e d i n t h e p o ss i b i l i ty o f d i ab ol i c m ag i c
a t hi n g whi ch t h e C h u r c h n ev e r d e n i e d bu t a d vo cat ed it s p r act i ce —
“ Se e the p hi lo sophi c al d e f en se o f a st r ology i n h i s p r os e com
.

m ent a ry o f t he D e P r i n cipiis A s tr olog ie o f Alchab it iu s ( C i of u .

S t or S u p p l 6, p
.
,
. .
 The M e di e v a l A ccep tan ce o f A s tr olog y 77

at secon d han d B ut the ge n eral tone o f his writin g s

?
,

eve n as w e have the m c an be legitimately suspecte d o f ,

he r esy A strolo gy w as assumi n g in I taly a much bolder

.

to n e than in th e u n iversities of France an d En gla n d C ecco .

d A sc oli c ame t oo at a time when the Church u n d er the

’

, , ,

g ui d a n c e o f Pope J ohn X X I I was u n usually energeti c in ,

its pe r secutio n o f magical pra c ti c es ?

C e c c o d A scoli has
’

freque n tly been ranke d very high as a scientist He him .

sel f presumably believe d in his own teachi n gs an d the story ,

goes that he preserved at his trial a n d exe c uti on a mag

n i fi cent calm .

C e c co d A scol i ato n e d for the si n s o f man y ; his d eath

’

h ue- m l

forms an alm ost is olate d i n stan c e i n of the _

bold n es s o f his utterances his lack o f ,

of fi bi a
l patro n age an d th e fa c t that he w as expose d t o the
,

c alum n y o f p ower ful rivals su b j ecte d him t o da n gers from ,

whi ch lesser an d g reater men were exempt I taly in f act .

, ,

during the c ourse o f the thirteenth century h a d become the

great E uropea n ce ntre o f astrology outsi d e o f M oham
medan S pain A t the universities o f B olo gn a P a dua and
.
, ,

M ilan the list o f pro fessors o f astrology is c onti nuous from

,

the early thirteenth to the s ixtee nth c e ntury boasti n g the ,

of such famous s cientists a s Pietr o d Ab an o ’

n ames ,

Giorgio Pe u r b a ch a n d R egiomonta n us ?
,B ologna is
c re d ite d with the ossess ion f chair f strol as rl
p o a o a o gy ea y
as A t t he c ourts o f E mpero r Frederi c k I I an d
E cc eli no d a R omano Moorish a nd Jewish a strologe r s ,

P er ché i n C nd nn to p 3 80
B off 1t o, o a a , . .

S ee t h s e v e ra l p ap al l ett e r s whi ch P op e J o h n XX I I wr o te o n
2
e

t he sub j e c t o f m ag i c b et w e en t he y e a r s 1 3 1 3 a nd 1 33 1 p ubl i sh e d i n ,

J H nsen s Qu ellen a nd Unter s uchu ng en z r Ges chi chte d es Hexen

'
’
. a u

w ahns u nd d er H exenverf olg u ng ( B onn pp 2 7 , .

-
.

a
Gab ot t o
’
, L A s tr o log i a n el Q u a t t r oc e n t o ( R i v . di F i l . S ci e n t .

8 3 78
.

‘
Bu r ckh a r d t , D i e K u lt ur d er R enai ssa nce i n I t a li e n ( l ot h cd .
,

Le i p z i g , 1 908 ) 2 . 240.
7 8 M edi e val A t ti tu de t ow ar d A s tr ol og y

pra ctise d the most mer c en ary o f arts In the service o f .

th e fo r mer was a c ertai n T heo d orus an d Mi c hael S cot , ,

the tra n slator o f A ve rr oes B e s ides some astrologi c al .

texts Mi chael S c ot fur n ishe d the emperor with a work

,

on a n d he is also k n o w n a s the autho r o f a

treatise o n g e om a ncy ?
Whatever be the fi nal ve r di ct on
-

this man a s a philos opher or s c ientist he w as fame d in ,

his time as a vulgar magi c ia n ? a n d B o c c a cc io c all s him

‘
gra n m aest r o i n n igro m a n z ia Frederi ck s c o ntemporary “ ’

5—
,

—
.

E c c el i n o s o the c h r o n i c les tell u s s ur r ou n ded him s elf

with a host o f n ecromancers a strologers an d magi c ia n s , ,

‘
Master S alio a cano n from Padua R ip r an d in o o f Veron a
, , ,

Gui d o B onatti an d Paul a S aracen with a white bear d

, , ,

who c ame from B aldach i n the r emote O r ie n t a n d who by , ,

reaso n o f his ori gin aspect an d actions d eserve d the name , , ,

o f a seco n d B alaam
’
.

Pe r haps th e most famous pro fessi onal astrologer o f t he

thirteen th c e n tury was Guido B on at ti A lthough in the .

intellectual an d social scale he st ood above m ost o f hi s

—
fellow c raftsme n he is the author o f o ne o f the popular
-

medi aeval text b ooks on astrology—his science n ever the

-

less woul d har d ly have met with full approval on the part
,

of T homas A qui n as A s an exam ple o f the k i n d o f s er .

- 4

vi c es he re n dered his maste r s Filippo Villa n i relates that

6
,

while i n the empl oy o f Gui do de Mon te feltr o he w oul d ,

mou n t the c ampan ile to observ e the stars at the outb reak
o f any military expedition A t th e first striki n g o f the bell .
,

the c ou n t and his m en would put on their a r mo r ; at the

q st en f el d, p . 1 00 .

2
J W . . B r wno , Li f e a nd L eg end f M i cha el S c o t ( E di n b u r g h
o ,

p . 1 90 .

( L ei p z i g
3
S e e S ca r t a z z i n i , D i vi na Com m ed i a ,
1 874 ) 1 . 220 .

‘
D e ca m 8 9 . . .

“
Mu r at ori R er I ta l f S cr ip t 8
5
, . . .
7 05, 344 ; 1 4 93 0 . .

Q u ot e d b y B o n c om p a g n i i n ,
D ella Vi ta e d e lle O p er e di Gu i d o
B ona t ti ( R o m e p 6 , . .
8o M edi e val A tti tu d e tow ar d A s tr ol og y

Q u ell a lt r o che n e fi a nchi é c o si p o co

’
, ,

M i c h ele S cot to f u ch e v er am en t e
d é ll e m
,

a g i ch e fr o d e sepp e il g i oco
' '

Ve d i Gu i d o B on a t t i

B ut D an te c on d em n i n g astrology i n the I nf er n o in so far

,

as it is a diaboli c a r t resto r es it to i t s p r oper p la c e i n ,

'

C h r i s tia n c o s mology a n d ethi c s i n the P u r g a t or i o a n d

P ar a di s o For D an te the influence o f the stars up on
.
,

huma n li f e was i n dee d an awe i n spiri n g fa ct T he heaven s -

are the 1n st r u m en t s o f God ?

I t is to them that the First
Mover has d elegated th e power to mould the d esti n ies o f
the w orld ; they are the hammers ear th the m e t al ; they
3 f
,
‘

5
are the seals and earth the wax Were it n ot f or the
,
.

i n flue n c es of the stars childre n woul d be exactly like their ,

paren t s D an te i n e ff e c t revers es the A ugusti n ian ar gu

.
, ,

me n t c on c e r n i n g twins by poi n ti n g to the heavens as the ,

o nly po ss ible c au s e o f Ja c o b s di ff eri n g f r om E sau ?

T he
’

Platoni c myth of th e Ti me us is empl oye d in the s ymbolism

whi c h a ss ig n s the s ai nt s to their diff ere n t s phere s 7
His .

ow n arrival in th e c on stellati o n Gemini he explains on the

g r ou n d that it rules ove r h i s n ativity ?

Ca n G r a n de s n oble
’

character is due to the fa c t t hat he was stamped at hi s

birth by the stro n g s ta r o f M a rs ?
A c c ordi n g to B ru n etto

1
I bid . 20 . 1 15 -
8:
‘
T h at ot h e r w ho i s o s s m a l l ab ou t th efl ank s w as
M i c h a el S co t ; and of a t r u t h h kn e w e the pl y
a of m ag i c fr u d sa .

S ee Gu id o B on a t t i
2
De M ona r chia 2 . 2 :
‘
I ns t r um en t u m e usi ! D ei ! , qu o d coelu m

De M on . 2 . 2 ; 3 . 2 ; 3 . 16 ; Ep 5 . . 1 33 -

5 ; P ar . 2. 1 21 ; 8 97 9
.
-

C onv 3 . . 15 . 1 59 -
61 .

“
‘
P ar . 2 . 1 27 -

9 .

P ar . 2 . 1 30 2 -

; 1 3. 73 5 ; 8-
. 1 27 ; 1. 4 1 , 42 .

8
P ar . 8 .
5
1 30 -
.

hi y
7
T s s i m b o l sm i s n ot rri ed t hr ug h T he f act t h
ri g o r o ly us ca o . at

the u n f a i th f u l a in th e m oon has no! a st rolog i cal sign ifi cance

T

re .

ls
P ar . 22 . 1 12 ff .

P ar 1 7. 76 8
-
. .
 T he M e die val A c c ep t an c e o f A s tr o log y 81

L nati i’
s advi c e t o the poet obe d ien c e t o o n e s horoscope ,

be c omes a positive duty ?

T h e ethi c al problem i n volved i n
the belief i n a n ast r ologi cal c osmology D a n te solve s as doe s ,

T h omas A qui nas Marc o s spee ch to the poet in the six

.
’

t e en t h c a n to o f the P u r g a t or i o might be regarded as the

2

fi n al expression o f the ortho d ox d o c trine concerning

astrology
Vo i c he viv e t e og n i c ag i on r ecat e
p ur su s o a l c e l , c o s i i c o m e se t u tt o
mo ve s c d i n e i t t
sse e o ec ss a e.

S e cos i f o ss e i n v o i f r a d i s t r t t o
,
o u

l i b e r o r b i t ri o e n on f o r g i u st i z i a
a ,
a

p er b en l t i z i e p e m l v a,r l t t o er a e a e u .

Lo c i elo i v o t ri m ovi m nt i i n i z i
s e a

n on d i t tt i p t h i il dic ’
co m u : a, os o c o a,

l m e v e d to b n d m li z i a
’ ‘

u a a e e e a a ,

E li b er o v ol er che se f at i ca , ,

n el l e pri m e b at t ag l i e c o l c i el d u r a ,

p o i vi n c e tu t t o se b en s i nu t ri ca ,
.

A m agg o i r f r
o z a ed a m g l o n a tu a i i r r
l be i ri i
s ogg ac et e , e u ell a c a q ri
la m en t e i n voi , ch e il c el n on ha i n i -
su a cu ar .

P er o ,
se d o p r esent e d i svi a
i l m on ,

i n vo i e la c ag i on e i n vo i s i cheg g ia , ,

e d i o t e n e s a r o o r v e r a sp i a .

D ante s con d em n ation o f the astrol ogers an d d iviners in

’

the twentieth can t o o f the I nfer no i n d icates as yet no d is

belie f i n the e fficacy o f their art though in the case o f ,

1
I nf . 15 .
55 . M . A . E ar ly A s tr o nom e s
Or r , i n D a nte a nd t he r

( L on d on , p o i nts ou t th at D ant e nowh e r e m ent i ons su ch

d eta i ls o f p r act i cal a st r ology a s the h ou s es o r a sp ects o f p lanets ,

o r t he d ivi s i on o f s i g n s i nt o m a sc u l i n e a n d f em i n i ne m ob i le an d ,

S ee t hi s w o rk f o r a f u ll l i st o f D an t e s r e f er ences to
’
stab le .

a st r olo gy .

2
P ur g 1 6 67 84 ( ed Mo o r e Ox f or d 1 892 p
. .
-
.
, , , .
82 M edie va l A t ti tu d e t ow ar d A s tr olog y

Mi c hael S c ot s ome s c ep ti c ism is implied when he is accuse d

T he c rime o f t he diviners was one o f
‘
of magi c frauds .
’

impie t y n ot c harlatanism S i n ce the time o f the Church

,
.

Fathers in fa c t the prac titioners o f divi n ation ha d n ot

, ,

bee n refuted with ratio nalisti c argume nts It was e n ough .

f or D a n te a n d T homas A quinas as for A u g ustine an d ,

T ertullian that magic was w i c ked ; a fter d ecidi n g that i t

,

was w ro ng logi c had d one its d uty ?

With rare exc ep
,

tion s the write r s o f the Mi dd le A ges t ook astr ol ogy even ,

in the vul g ar mani festations which it classe d with n e c ro

man cy quite ser iously It was not because it mi gh t b e
, .

less succ es s ful that T homas A quinas con d em n e d a str o

logi c al predi c ti on per c er ti tu dinem but because it had t o ,

do with demo n s B e n ve nuto da I m ola expres ses the .

medi aeval view when he gives as a reason f or the truth

o f Mi chael S c ot s prophe c ies the very f ac t that he min gl ed
’

n e c roma n c y with astrology

?

I t remai n e d for the a rrival o f t he m od ern spirit a nd ,

espe ci ally o f its fi r st great represe ntative Petrar ch to j oi n , ,

to the sc o r n s how n to t he ne c ro ma n c er by medi aeval piety

the lau ghter o f the satirist Petrarch livin g at the court .
,

o f the Vi sco n ti at Mila n had i n deed an exc elle n t o pp o r , , ,

t u n i ty to obse r ve the pr o fessi onal a strol o g ers at their w o r st .

T he astrologer necromancer o f th e time was an i gn or an t -

fellow w ho kn ew little o f his ow n scien ce and n othin g

, ,

o f a stron omy pr oper w ho employe d si m ple tab le s f or hi s ,

c al c ulations a n d w ho w ould have been quite u n abl e t o

,

dis c ours e on th e phil os o phical problems involved i n hi s

pro fessio n ?
Pet r ar c h who w a s i n ge n eral qui ck to see ,

( The S c ene of the F r ankli n s Ta le Vi s i ted Ch au cer

1 ’
T at lock ,

S oc 1 9 1 4 p 3 4 ) c h a r a c t e ri z es t h e Mi d d le A g es s i m i la r ly
.
, , . .

Com m en tu m ( F l o r en c e 1 887 ) 2 88 : E t n ot a q u o d M i c h a e l
2 ‘
.
,

S cot tu s a dm i s cu i t n ig r om ant i am a st r ol og i ae ; i d eo c r e dit u s est d i ce re

mu l t a v e ra .
’

ld t i P e i A t ol g i nel Q tt o ( pp
3
So a , in La o s a s r o ca ua r c en t o . 1 09

g iv es a g o o d h r act e ri z a t i on o f th e a st r ol og e r s
c a of the f ou r teenth
 T he M edi e va l A c cep tan ce o f A s tr o log y 83

t hrou g h t h e pretenses o f the pseu d o learne d ma k es spor t -

,
1

o f his fellow c ourtiers I n a letter o n the subj e c t o f

-
.

a strolo gy w ritten t o B occaccio in the y ear 1 36 3 he relates

, ,

a number o f amusi n g stories regar d ing them ?

Gal ea zz o

II consulti n g his astrologers on the occasion o f a cam

,

p ga i n agai n st Pavia held ba c k his a r my for ma n y days ,

in order t o await the favorable astrol ogical moment When .

he was fi n ally permitted t o march ou t the w eather which , ,

ha d been dry d uring the time o f waiting turne d su d denl y , ,

an d a fier c e rai n spoile d the whole expe d ition ?

T he
astrologer s su ff ere d an other di s com fi tu r e in conn ecti o n
with the installation into office in 1 3 54 o f the three sons , ,

o f Giovan n i Vis c on ti Petrarch himsel f ha d bee n aske d .

t o d eliver an oratio n but was interrupte d b y the astrol ,

og e r s who were awaiti n g the exa c t poi n t o f time at whi c h

,

th e stars w ould be most pr opitious When this ha d finall y .

and fi f teen th ri es ; a nd Gab ott o s ch a rm i ng essay L As tr ologia

c ent u
’
,
’

n el Q t t o n t o ( r f rr e d t
ua r n p ce i t hi t ri l d m ent e e o o . c es s o ca o cu s

illust r at i ng t h e ir ch a r lat an ry C f also B u r ckh r d t D i e K u l tur d er . . a ,

R enai ssa n c e i n I ta li en 2 . 2 38 ff .

P e t r r ch s t r tm en t o f p hys i ci ans i s esp ec i ally i llu st r at ive o f

1
a
’
ea

hi s att i tu d e t ow a r d a st r ol og e r s T he m ed i c i ne o f h i s d y w as h at e . a

f u l t P t r a r c h b ec au se i t w as f ou n d e d u p on t he wri t i ng s o f t he
o e ,

A r ab s f o wh o e l i t e r t r e an d sc i en ce h h d a s m h d i s d a i n
, r s a u e a uc

a s f o r i t s u n chri s t i n phi l o sop h y e x e m p l ifi e d i n A v err o es ( c f

a , .

S eni les 1 2 1 2 : e d 1 58 1 p p 905 .

,
P et r a r ch wr ote n ent ir e
.
,
.
, a

tr e t i s
a t h e C on t a M e di co
e, ag i n s t th e phy s i c i n s o f h i s t i m e i n
r s, a a ,

whi h he i n d lg s in vir lent sat ir e o f th eir quacke ri s ( op ci t

c u e u e . .
,

pp 1 09 1 1 093
.
, He d m i t s t h t t he sc i en c i t sel f i s p oss i b l e
,
a a e ,

at l ea st i n t h m i n d o f Go d b u t t h at i n i t pr sen t f o r m i t i a
e , s e s

fr a d ( S n 1 2 2 : i bid p
u e . H ev n ob t a i ne d a co n f ess i on
. .
, . e e

fr om a phy s i c i an quo d m edicin not i t i a d el e tab ilis est u t r liq u um

‘
ae c , e ar

om n i u m q r t e et r egu l cont inen tu ; op

u ae a i t m sec n d um a r er a r au e u

m d i c i n m a cas u e st he s y s t o h i s fri n d D ona t s

’
e a I t n u nc . u, , a e u ,
‘
et c a i fi d m h be l ( S n 5 5 i b id p
su e a C f Hen h l
’
e . . : .
, . . sc e ,

P etr ar ca s Ur th il b er di e M edi ci n nd d i e Are te s i ner Z ei t

’

’
e u u e

( J nu Z i ts ch f r Ge ch u nd Li t d er M e d 1 1 83
a s, e r . u s . . . .

S en 3 1 ( i bi d pp 76 5
2
. . . .
,

I bi d p 769
°
. .
, .
84 M edie val A tti tu de t ow ar d A s tr olog y

a r rived the astrologers pre s ented the three brothers suc

,

c es s ively with a s c eptre but pau s ed so lo ng with the fi rst ,

two that when t hey fi n ally a p p roa ched the third the ,

origi n al happy c o n fi gurati on o f the stars must have long

si nc e g o n e by A yea r however ha d n ot passed says .
, , ,

Petrarch before Matteo Vis c onti the eldest o f the three

, , ,

the o n e who had r e c eived the s c eptre at the favorable

astrolo g i c al moment lost his rule and shortly after hi s , , , ,

li f e T he other two live d in prosperity ten years longer

.
?

Petrar c h in a c o n versati on with one o f the astrol ogers o f

,

the Milan ese c ourt o btaine d from him th e c on fession that ,

his a r t was vai n b ut that the n ecessity o f suppo r ting hi s ,

family f or c ed him to c on ti nue the frau d ?

S tra n ge to s ay whe n Pe trarch turns f rom satire t o ,

dialecti c and attempts to refute astr olo gy in theory he n o

, ,

longer employs ration alisti c a rgu ments but the an cient ,

theologi c al rhetori c o f A ugusti n e ?

Petrar c h s atta c k on ’

ast r olo gy as a whole i s divide d betwee n satirical comm ent

o n the qua cks who lead the po pulac e by the n o se an d ,

fier c e de nu n c iation o f th e astrologer s impiety L i k e J ohn ’

.

o f S alisbury he asserts that the f uture is kn ow n t o the

,

Creator alo n e A str o lo gy w o uld shi ft the b l am e f or

.

wron g d oing upo n God hi ms el f

-

Why he as k s the .
‘
,
’

astr olo ger do you thus mak e weary heave n an d earth

,
‘
,

an d vex man ki n d in vai n ? Why do you b ur d en the l u ci d

sta rs with your empty laws ? Why do you tu rn us who ,

were b or n free i nto slaves o f the i n sensible stellar spheres

,

A n d he sums up his a d vi ce t o B occ acc i o 1n t he w ord s :

C los e your eyes to tri cksters a n d your e a rs t o m agi c i an s ;
‘

1
I bid .

2
I bi d . Pi o R ajna ( Gi or n S tor . . 10 . 1 04 ff .
) id enti fi es thi s a st rolog er
wi th Mayno de Mayner i , w ho i s k now n to h av e l ived a t the cou r t
of t he V i scont i at t his t i m e .

( pp 6 1 1
3
P orn .
3 . 8 . D e R e m ed . u tr . F or tu n . 1. 1 12 ( pp .

94
‘
S en . 1. 7 ( p .
 T he M e die va l A ccep t an ce o f A s tr o l og y 85

s hu n physi c ia n s flee astrologers ; thos e d e stroy your life , ,

’
the s e your s oul 1
.

Pet r a r c h s eems to have k n own li ttle o f the astrologi cal

s c ie n c e o f his o w n day A s representatives o f astrol ogy h e .

does n ot n ame the A rabian masters nor the m ore modern ,

autho r itie s but Firmi c us Ma t er nu s a n d Ptol e my

,
?
He does
n o t atta c k astrolo gy as a c osmologi c al s c ien c e n o r does ,

he take n oti c e o f the scholasti c teachings on the subj ect .

He a d mits in pass i n g that there may be s ome power in

, ,

the c o n stellatio n s and a dvises the a s trologers to pre ,

dict the weather ?

A s a poet too he f reque n tly subs c ribes , ,

to a strologi cal do c tri n es ?

I n a letter to E mperor C ha r les
h e mentio n s with pri d e a pre d i c tion that he w oul d be upon
term s o f i ntima cy with almo st all o f the great pri nc es o f
his age ?
Pet r ar c h eve n has to a dmit that he is not
alt o gether free f ro m the po pular a strol ogi c al sup erstition
regardi ng the c lima c teri c years n i n e a n d seven O n the , .

o c casion o f his s ixty thir d birth d ay ( a multiple o f the two -

unlu cky numbers ) he writes to B occa cc io ? s c orning su c h ,

puerile beliefs A year later however ref errin g to the .

, ,

same subj ect h e con fesses that he wrote th e form er letter

,

more to stren gt hen the f aith o f his frien d than because he

himsel f was entirely w ith o ut a ppr ehensi on A curious .

i n sight into the mi n d o f this great human ist is a ff or d e d

(p C lau d e r i s vi t
1
7 70 )
‘
S en 3 . . 1 . o cu l o s p r aest i g i i s , au e s m ag ,
a m
m ed i c i s, r
a st olog o s f ug e : i l l i co r p ora hi , a ni m o s laedu nt .
’

(p
2
S en . 1. 7 . .

(p
3
S en 3 1 . . . .

( ed Ca r d u cc i rr ar i p
‘
R i me 7 5 6 .
-

. e Fe , .
9)
Et é si p ento
s og n ib enign o lu m e
D el vi ta i
c el, p er c u i s i n f o r m a u m ana
’
.

C f R ime 4 4 ( p
. i n whi ch he d esc ri b e s th e confi g u r at i on o f the
. .

s ta r s a t the b ir th o f h i s m i st r es s ; a n d 1 28 52
( p wh e re he . .

a t t ri bu t es the s a d s t a t e o f I t aly t o a ma l i nant s ta r

g .

‘
F am . 23 . 2 ( tr . F r aca s set t i 5 .

”
S en 8 . . 1 ( ed . 1 58 1 , p
829 : t r . . F r acas set t i 1 .
 86 M edie va l A tti tu d e t ow ar d A s tr olog y

by his stateme nt to B o cc a cc io : T o say the truth the ‘

,

security whi ch I exp r e s sed in my former letter spra n g no t ,

so mu ch f r om a feeli n g o f s corn for the threats o f the

astrologer s as from a de s ire t o c o nti nue my meditatio n s
,

on the n e c essity o f death an d the folly o f feari n g i t

1 ’

—
.

Petrar ch s attitu d e towa r d ast r olo gy on the on e han d

’

remi n is c e n t o f the co n servatism o f the earl y medi aeval

c e n turies and o n the othe r,
poi nti ng ahe a d to the time
, ,

whe n astrology would be un iversally laughe d t o sco r n

was f ou n de d i n the first instan ce upon i n d i ff eren c e t o
, ,

s c ie nc e a s a whole ?
I n his o w n a n d in su cc eedi n g c en
t u r i e s his religious abhorren c e o f astrology was shared
,

by numerous philosophers a n d theologia n s His own friend .

,

C oluc c i o S alutati although payi n g s ome r es p ect t o the ,

s c holasti c c osmology o f T homas A quinas follows Petrarch “

,

in den ounci n g astrology as an empty sci ence an d a vain

art ?
He eve n rehea r s es som e o f t he a n c ie n t a r gu m e nts o f
C ar n eade s su ch as that c o n c e r n i n g twi n s
,
?
Ge r a rd G r oote ,

the D ut ch reformer o f the fourteenth c entury c ondemns the ,

e n tire s c ie n c e o f astronomy as one that is hostile to God ,

a n d to the tea c hi n gs o f A ugu s ti n e T hi s revival o f the

?

‘
S en 8 8 . .
( ed . 1 58 1 , p . 843 : t r F r a ca s s ett i
. 1.
2
P et r ar ch s tt it d e t ow a r d ’
i ia u i llu st r at iv e m ed c ne i s ag a i n -

A M r t i n M i t t l l t li he Wel t nd L b n n h ng ( Mu n i c h
3
. a , e a er c u e e sa sc au u

an d B rl i n e p p 1 05 1 8
, .
-
.

‘
M r t i n pp 1 2 3 ; f b v pp 1 1
a , .
46
1 -

c . a o e, .
, .

Gr t e i wri t i n g t d i fri n d fr m b ri ng i g o t b ok
5
oo s d o s su a e a e o n u a o

whi h w oul d r e f t e t he h er es i es of Alb um sar and sub sti tu t e a

c u a ,

t ru ea s t r on m y Gr oot rgu es t h t th e wh ole c i nc e i s so b ad

o . e a a s e

t h t i t ha d b st b e l e f t a l on e alt g et h e r : A d eju s i g i t u r d st u c
‘
a e o e r

t i on m p l s p
e fi i t q u o d f l s i su nt l i b ri q u am q u d
u ro c c t ae a o a cu ra

ve i t a t i
r p p op i nq
a nt Q u i d m ihi p o f u i t m g i
r ua r e e di t i
. vel r a s, cr s,

A lb u m i s e t s i m i li u m e rr o r vel p all i a ta fr n s P t olem i a d

asa r ,
o ae

a st on om i m
r dim i t t n dam
a ( A cquoy Ger a di Mag ni Ep i tole
e , r s

X I V A m st r d m 1 857 p
, e T h e let t e r f u r n i sh
a , g o d vi denc e
, . es o e

o f t h e f c t t h t ast r o l g y i n t h e f o r t e ent h c nt u ry w as m u ch
a a o u e

co n tam i n a t d wit h m g i c ( s ee pp
e 1 18 a .
88 M edi e va l A tti tu d e t ow ar d A s tr ol og y

the time o f K epl e r da r ed to que stio n the reality o f ,

1

astrolo gy Most a stro n omers in fa ct c arrie d on th ei r

. , ,

studie s as an adj u n c t to the more lucrative trade o f rea d

i n g horo s c opes John o f S axo ny a Parisian astro n omer .
,

o f the fou r tee n th c en tu r y felt it n e c essary to defe n d the ,

publi c atio n o f a purely ast r o n omi c al w ork by emphasi z i n g

its utility fo r t he pra cti c al s c ie nc e o f j udgme n t s ?
In
time to be su re astro n omers ma d e more an d m ore o f a
, ,

di sti n c tion betwee n gen eral an d particular predicti o n s an d ,

be cam e s c epti cal about the latter ?

Fra nc is B a c o n i n the ,

sa n e a strology whi ch he c omme n d s i n his D e Au g m en tis

S ci en ti a r u m aboli s hed p r og n osti c atio n s o f s i n gle events
4
,

altogether But s c ie nc e n ever re fute d th e fu n d amen tal

.

pri nc iple s o f astrology Men o f lette r s too w ere o ften .

, ,

its en thu s iasti c supporters B o cc ac c io t o whom Petrarch .

,

had add r e ss ed ma n y o f his diatribes was a firm believer 1n ,

s tellar i n flue n c e
?
Whe n i n 1 4 1 0 Po ggio brought to light , ,

the fi r st manus c ript o f Manilius human ists vied with one ,

a no ther in p r odu c ing comme nt aries ?

Poggio himself was
1
Her z K epler ,
’
s A s tr o l og i e, V i en n a, 1 89 5 . E v en Gal i le o wr ot e

h or o sc o pe s at th e Me d i c ean c ou rt ( S ol d a t i ,
p . 1 1 7 , no t e ) .

2
D u h e m 4 84 . .

3
S o ld at , 1 16 i p . .

S p edd i n g and r
R ob e t s on, The P hi lo so phi ca l Wor ks o f F r an ci s
“
B a c on ( L on
B occ acc o i
d on
’
s
,

b el i f
e in
p .
464
a st o l ogyr
.

is d i sc u s s e d in som e d et a i l in
Ta t lo ck ( pp
’
T he S cene f the F r ankli n s T a le Vis i ted
’
s o . 24,
cf . A G . ra f , M i ti ,
L egg en d e , e S up er s tiz i om d el
’

M edi o E vo ( T u ri n ,

1 89 3 ) 2 . 1 69 -

95 . B occacc io es p ou ses suc h r i

a st o lo g cal d oct ri nes
as t Venu s pr o d uces a cu t e i nt ell ect s an d
h at l ib e r al d i sp os i t i ons ( D e
Genea log i i s D e or u m I t t r , V en i ce 1 580 f ol , . .
, , .
h
52 ) t h t Ma r s c au ses
a

wa r s an d f a i lu r es o f c r op s ( i bid f ol .
, . cf f l
. o s 53
.

t h a t th e a n c i en t b el i e f i n g o d s a r o se fr om
!
a dei fi cat i on of t he
p lan et s ( Vi ta di D a n te ed Mout i er , p 52 ; , . . cf . pp . 29 , and

h
t at o nl y t he xi st ence o f e s t e lla r i nfl uen ce c an accou nt f o r the
i nfi n i t e d iv er i t y f h um an s o t al e nt s ( Comm en t o so rap D a n te, e d .

M ti r 1 7 1
“ ou e 2 ; cf . 2 55
-
. .

S ld t i p
o a , . 1 30 ff .
 T he M edi e val A c cep tan ce o f A s tr o l ogy 89

a c o nvert to astrolo gy were T asso a n d Po n ta n o The

?
So 2
.

D e R e bu s Ce les ti bu s o f Ponta n o written in refutation o f ,

Pi c o della M i r a n dola s att a c k is j udged by a re c e nt c ritic

’ 3
,

to be a masterp iece o f logi c al rea s onin g I t constitutes .

,

perhaps the culmination o f that philos ophical d efens e of

,

C hristian astrolo gy whi c h ha d been i n the mak ing si n c e the

time whe n Al bert the Great boldly ac c epte d the new s c ie n ce
o f the Moors .

B ut to tra c e the history o f astrology through the fi fteenth

a n d sixtee n th ce n turies is not our task D uri n g the R enais .

san c e astrology e nj oyed o nc e more that u n iversal reign

,

which it ha d held i n the R oman E mpire I n th e long w ar .

fare between theolo gy an d the s c ie n ce o f the stars th e ,

latter had f airly c onquered The final disproo f o f astrol .

o gy was n ever writte n S o lo n g as the cosmolo gy o f .

A ristotle and the geo c e n tri c astronomy o f Ptolemy hel d

, ,

sway in medi aeval s chools a refutation was impossible , .

With the arrival o f the new astronomy o f Cop ernicus it was ,

n o lon g er necessary .

1
E pi st .
9 . 16 ( ed . T o n el l i ,
2
B ell on i ll , S ei c e n t o ( Mi l a n , no d at e ) p
, . 8 .

ti p
3
S o ld a , . 2 53 .
 C H A PT E R VI

AST R O L O G ER S I N ME DIE VAL E N GLA ND

Italy pe culiarly expose d by reas o n o f its ge ographical

,

positio n had ea r ly be c o me i n fe s ted with a ho s t o f a st r olo

,

gers an d ma g i c ia n s whi ch she i n turn tran smitte d t o her

, , ,

norther n n ei ghbors Fra nc e an d E n glan d T his proces s

, .

o f migratio n was however a slow on e In the study of

, , .

scie ntifi c astronomy indeed the u n iversities o f Pari s , ,

and O xford were in advanc e o f those o f Bologn a an d

Padua ?
B ut the so b er s cholars o f the N orth p rac tisin g ,

astrolo gy as a part o f th e a cc epted astrono m ical scie n ce

o f the day wer e still at a far remove from the p ro f e s
,

si on al n e c r oma n cers in the empl o y o f an Italian pri n ce .

It s eem s that n ot u n til the middle o f the fourtee n th c en

tury c ould the royal c ou r t o f Fran c e boast an astrologer
o f the typ e o f Guido B o n atti A n d i n E n glan d whi c h .
,

was separated by a further degree from c on tact with the

Moorish E ast astrol o gy n ever acqui r ed that position o f
,

promi n e n c e whi c h it o c cupied in southern E u r ope T he .

vern a c ular literatu r e o f E n glan d be fore 1 3 50 a ff o r d s few

refe r e n c e s t o it th a t do n ot go ba ck to literary sour c e s .

E ven after that date a st r olo gy p r ob ab ly remaine d a thing

m ore talke d ab out by the learn e d an d th e literary than seen
in pra cti c e .

A ll the greater intere s t therefore atta c hes to those f ew , ,

indi c atio n s whi c h d o exist o f the prese n ce in me d i aeval

E ngl a n d o f a c tual a strologe r s A t the Un ive r s ity o f O xfo r d . ,

o f c ou r s e the s c ie n c e was well k n own alth ou gh it d i d not

, ,

oc c upy nea r ly so exalted a plac e in the curri culum as at

the u n ivers ities o f B ologna a n d Padua ?
R obe r t Grosse
1
CfD uhem 4 1 82 5
. .
-
.

2
i
T he l st o f t e t b o ok s x -
on a st r l gy
o o at O xf o r d , g iv en by Ra s h
dall ( Uni ver si ties o f E u r op e, Oxf o r d ,
1 89 5, 2 . cont a ns i no
9 2 M edi e va l A t ti t u d e t ow ar d A s tr ol ogy

‘ ’
to be c ome u ni nhabitable L et ea c h person be assured .
,

says Cor um p hi r a that the c o nj unction about to take pla c e

,
‘
,

whatever othe r s may say sign ifies to me i f God so will s , , ,

the mutatio n o f ki n g doms the superiori ty o f the Frank s , ,

the destru c ti on o f the S arace n i c ra c e with the superior ,

blessed n ess o f the reli g i on o f Christ and its especial ,

exaltatio n together w ith longer li fe t o thos e w ho shall be

,

bor n he r eafter I n Hove den s c h r o n i cle the r e i s added

’ ’
.

anoth er p r ogn ostication by an E n g lish astrol oger William , ,

c lerk to Joh n the con s table o f C hester

, William is no mor e .

restrai n ed than his f ellow prophet i n p r edi c ti n g the dire st -

happe n i ngs on all s ide s His progn ostication bristles with .

te ch n i c al j argon ?
Inasmuch as M ars is bei n g scor che d ‘

by the orb o f the S u n William c o nc ludes his prophe cy ,

’
,

b ei n g thus impede d an d embarrassed b etween t w o e vils

‘
,

S atu r n and the T ail o f the D ra gon he be c omes i n fecte d

’

'
'
,

with their nature an d si gn ifies sorrows con ten tio n s alarms

, , , ,

catastrophes mur d ers an d spoliation of pr oper ty T he

, ,
.

T ail al s o s ign ifie s s ep a r a tion s lo s s e s da n ger s a n d d i m i nu , , ,

tio n o f possessio n s B e c ause M ars f or ms an evil con.

j u nc tio n with the T ail i n the asce n dan t I d o therefore ,

con tradi c t the j udgme n t pro n ou n ced b y A lbu m a sar upo n

“
thi s figu r e i n t h e C en ti l o q u i u m : T ur n you r eye s f ro m the
z

figure i n whi ch M ar s is at the greatest an gle whe n S corpi o

or the T ail i s i n the as c e n da n t A n d as it is evide n t
”
.

t o every astr ologer that S aturn rules over this climate ,

the Moo n pa r ti c ip ati n g with him I am o f opi n i on that ,

thi s la n d c a nn ot be c o n s idered exempt from the impe n di ng

evil Whe r e fore the o n ly rem edy remaining is for pri n c es
.
,

to be on their guard to serve God an d t o flee the d evil , , ,

’
that so the L ord may avert their immi n ent pu n i shme n t s .

2
C hr on i ca 2 292 3 .
-
.

2
T h e C e n ti l o q u i u m ,
of c ou se , r w as n ot ri b d t Alb m s
a sc e o u a ar ,

bu t to P
t o l em W ll
y . i i am i s i n g ene al r pr et n di ng t o m r l r n i ng
e o e ea

t h n h p oss se d
a e es . T he C en ti lo qui u m ,
as w e h v i t cont a i ns no a e ,

a ph o ri m s i m i la r t o h
s t at q
u ot e d .
 A s tr olog er s i n M e d i e va l E ng l a n d 93

Hoved en asserts that t error was widesp r ead at the

a pproa c h o f S eptember when the co n j unctio n w as expected ,

to take pla c e S ome c om fort was gaine d f ro m a more

.

reassuri ng predictio n made by a S ara c e n astrologe r Pha r a ,

mella whi c h he se n t to Joh n B ishop o f T oledo Phara

, ,
.

mella tak es his norther n collea gues t o task f or blu n d ering

in their c al c ulatio n s H e a ccuses th em i n particular o f .
, ,

leavi n g out o f ac c ount the respe ctive situati ons o f Mars

and Ve n us Mars he says on the day o f the conj unctio n
.
, , ,

will not be in L ibra but i n the thirteenth d egree o f Virgo ;,

while Ve nus i n S corpio whi c h is the house o f Mars will , ,

e nt irely n eutrali z e his evil influe n ce ?

T he fact that L ibra
is a win d y sign Phar am ella asserts means n othi n g
‘ ’

, ,
.

Gemini a n d A quarius are al s o wi n dy sign s an d yet the ‘ ’

,

re c e n t conj unc tio n s in thos e c onstellatio n s p rodu c ed n o

harm He advises the astrologers o f the N orth t o keep
.

abreast o f the times in the matter o f astrologi c al literature ,

an d to read the tables o f Hermes A stales a n d A lb u m as ar , ,

.

He calls upo n them t o stop their d ream ing an d t o reli n quish

their false Opi n io n s or else be c onverted to the religion o f
,

I shmael A n d he e n d s his letter with the words : A c cord

.
‘

i ng to the j udgme n t o f M essa ha la a n d A lki n d i u nless God ,

shall ordai n it otherwise there will be a scan ty vintage , ,

crops o f wheat o f m oderate average much slaughter by ,

the swor d an d many shipwrecks

, .
’

B e cause o f the positive tone employe d by the M oo rish

astrologer the editor o f Hove den suspe c t s that this letter
,
2

may have bee n written a fter th e d a n gerous d ay had passe d .

A t any rate very little out o f the or d i n ary happe n e d in

,

the year 1 1 86 T he Fre nc h c hro n i c ler R ig o r d says that

.

the p redi c tio n s o f the astrologer s we r e e n ti r ely di s c redited ?

a n d the author o f the A nn ales M ar ba ce ns es a dd s the c om

2
Chr oni ca 2 2 97 . .

2
Chr o ni ca 2 2 99 . .

2
Vi e d e P
hi lippe A u g u s t e ( i n Gu i z-
ot s
’
C o ll d es
. M em . R e la t if d
l Hi s t d e F r a n c e
’
. a s, 1 825 1 2 ,
P ri , .
94 M e d i e va l A tti tu d e t ow ar d A s tr olog y

men t : u t p r ob ar etu r sapie n tia mun d i huju s stultit iam esse

‘

apud D eum 1
O ther w r iters f ou n d some j us tifi c atio n for
.
’

the astrologers apprehensio n s in the vi c tories o f S ala d in

’

i n the Holy La n d i n 1 1 8 7 ?

Whether the a s trologi c al learn in g whi ch William the ,

c ler k o f C hester was s o eager t o exhibit represen te d a

, ,

wide sp r ead i nte r est i n the s c ienc e amo ng the E nglish o f

the time it we r e har d t o tell
, Certai n it is that othe r .

re fe r en c es to a strology i n th e chro n icles are few On e .

sh ort notice is to be foun d in the M i r acu la S Thome .

Ca n tu a r i ens i s w r itte n by a mo nk Willi a m toward the c lose

, , ,

o f th e twelfth century William relates how an Italian .

an d hi s s on w ho were afflicte d with the f alli n g sickn ess

, ,

an d who as c ribe d their malady t o the evil influe n ce o f t he

sta r s c ame f or c u r e to the s ai n t s t omb

,
?
William take s ’

o c casio n to preach a shor t s ermon agai n st astrol o gy ,

employi n g the well k n ow n argume nts o f the C hur c h -

Father s Man y diseases he a dmits vary in i n tensity

.
, ,

a cc ordi n g to the moon but this is n o excuse f or a c cusin g ,

the sta r s o f evil A ll things made by God are good Let . .

the lu n ati c rather a cc use the sp irits o f evil who observe ,

the phases o f the moo n to e n te r thei r vi c tim s ?

From t he
other histo r i c al re c or d s o f the time little indee d c an b e ,

glean ed ex c ept n otices o f comets an d falling stars A comet .

was said to have heralde d the a rriv a l o f William the

C o n que r or i n 1 0 66 5
an other the death o f Pop e Urba n in
1 2 54
?
I n the year 1 3 94 a n u n u s ually u nlu cky c o met ,

1
B en e d i ct o f P et e rb ro ou g h , op. c i t . 1. 3 24, n ot e .

2
I ti n er ar i u m P er eg r i n or u m et Ges ta R eg i s R i car di ( e d
’

. S t ub b s,
R oll s S e r .
) 1 . 6 .

3
M a t er i a ls f or t he Hi s t or y o f A r c hb i s h op Th o m as B ecke t ( ed .

r
R ob e t son , R o lls S e r .
) 1 . 1 65 .

4
T he p a s sa g e is an e x c e l l en t i n d i t i n t h t t h p t ri t i c vi w o f
ca o a e a s e

r
a st o l ogy w as f ar fro m d i s pp e i ng i mm e d i at ly a f t e r th e i nt r o
a ar e

i on o f th t r ology
“
d u ct
E l g i m Hi
u o u
e n ew as

s t or i ar u m
.

( ed Hay d on R o lls S er )
.
,
.
3 .
45 .

6
I bid . 1 .
391 .
9 6 M edi e val A t ti tu d e t ow ar d A s tr o log y

kin g spe c ifi cally to avoid an abominable superstitious

, ,

belief o f the E nglish who held he says that a man woul d , , ,

have bad lu c k all the week if some o ne made a fa c e at him

o n M o n day N i c ola s O r e sm e the g r eat Fre n ch e co nomist
?
,
!

a n d B i s hop o f Li s e u x wrote a series o f t r eatises agai nst ,

astrology the pu r po s e o f whi c h was to preve n t Charles V

,

from pla c i ng to o mu ch c o nfide nc e i n hi s Italia n advisers

-
?

But N i c olas O r e s m e though he represe nts o n the subj e c t o f ,

ast r ology the c o ns e r vative s cie ntifi c opi n ion o f his time an d ,

though he w a s quite s evere i n de n ou nc i ng magi c and the

ext r eme f orms o f j udi c ial a strology was himself c ompelle d ,

to a cc ept a strology in theory C o n seque ntly his polemic can .

have had little e ff e ct ?

S imo n de Phare s a c h r o n i c ler o f the late fi ftee nth c e n ,

tury ha s left us a li s t o f the promi n e nt astrologers livi ng i n

,

Fra nc e at the time o f C harle s V ?

T hi s do c ume n t b e s ides ,

i n di cati ng the exte n t to whi c h astrology was current at the

F r e nc h c ourts o f Paris a n d O rlea n s ? c o ntai n s a n umber o f
2
Leb eu f , op . c i t ., p .
3 99 .

2
Ch .
J
N i co la s Or es m e e t les A s tr o l og u es d e la Cour d e
ou r d a i n ,

Char l es V ( R ev d es Q u es t Hi s t or 1 0 1 3 6 . . . .

2
A sum m a of O r es m e s ry
e n ac u la t e a t se on d n a t on i s
’
v r r r i ivi i
iv
g en by Meu n e ( Es s a i s u r L a Vi e e t les O u vr ag es d e N i cole
i r
Or es m e a s , 1 857 ,
,
P ri
48 I t a ff o d s th e b es t os s b le p oo
p i pp r f. r
of t he f
ac t t a t h v
e e n t he m o st i ifi
enl g t e n e d sc ent i
c m n ds o f i h
Eu o e i n the M d dle A g es e e o e les s t o d t em sel es o f
r p i ri h v w r p w r
the b l i e f i n a s t r ol ogy
e O m an o f cou r se con d em n p r e d i ct i on s
. r es e c , ,

per c ti t d i n mer nd t h
u yst em f elec ti n s wh en u t i l i z e d f o r
e ,
a e s o o e ,

m g i c b y pp l i ng t o t h
a ,
a rr nt Ch u r h d oct ri n e on the s b j ect
ea e cu e c u .

B u t i f th tr l g rs e on fi n ast h em lv eo o t o pr d i c t i ng t h e i n d i
e c e se s e

vi d lsua i n lin t i n
’ ‘
nd cm p l xi on s
a O e m e ex m p t s th em
o s
’
a
‘
co e ,
’
r s e

fr om n s r O m b t rg m nt in g en r l i s th t the
ce u e . r es e s
’
es a u e , e a ,
a

sc i n e e f
c t r ol gy i s s t i ll t o u n d v l p e d t o b e w o r t h y o f mu ch
o as o o e e o

co n fi d en ce Ev en i n p red i ct i ng the w eath er ma ri n er s a e m or e

.
,
r

f l t h n t r l— g r
su c c e s s u a as o o e s .

P b li h d i n p r t b y L b f i h i r t i cl D L A t olog i e qui
4
u s e a e eu ,
n s a e, e
’
s r

ava i t C o Ch l V ( pp 400
u r s s ou s a r es .

Th n ti f d i n S i m n d Ph r t r l gy t O r le n s
t’
e o c es n
ou n o e a es o as o o a a

m y b e o f i n t r e t i n conn e t i on wi t h th e cle rk o f Cha u ce r s

’
a e s c
 A s tr olog ers i n M edi e val E ng l an d 97

dire c t re fere nc es to E ngla n d thus furnishing a valuabl e ,

histori c al background for that sudden interest in astrology

s how n by the E n glish w riters o f the latter hal f o f the four

t e en t h ce n tury T he almost c o n ti nuous wars between .

France and E n glan d find f requent me ntion i n S imon s ’

chroni c le T hus Maistre Mi c hel de Jalong u e s is sai d t o

.

have pre d i c ted the i n u n datio n s o f the R hone e t l eslevat i on ,

‘ ’

d es A ngloi s et B reto n s qui s e m i s d r ent sus pour expelle r

les barbares qui furent de sc onfi s devant l an Maistre ’

M arc d e Gen n es a n astrologer o f Paris prophesie d the , ,

out c ome o f the battle o f R os eb ecqu e a n d also predicted ,

the death o f E dward the B la c k Pri nc e 2

T he battle o f

F r an kli n s T a le
’
wi ll b e r em em b er e d w as a b ach elo r o f
,
w h o, it ,
‘

law e t O r l an s Th e hr on i cl e o f S i m n m ak es no m nt i on o f th e
’
a e . c o e

u ni v e r s i ty b t i n d i c t es t h t th e h ou se o f O r l e n s w a
,
u a a p at r on o f a a s

a st r ol og r s Thu f M i st r
e . Gi lb e r t d e Ch st e u du n ( Leb eu f
s o a e a a ,

p 40 1 ) i t i i d tha t h w a s m u lt p r ec i é n la m i son d O lé an s
. s sa -
e
‘
o a e a
’
r

p ou r la c i ence d esto illes A g a i n ( p

s es Mess ir e Pi e rr e d e la .
’
.
‘

B r u y r e f t en ce t e mp s a O r l é an s m o l t e t i m é d e s n ob l s e t du
e u u s e

fi st en son t m p s p lu s i e r s i n st ru m ens s rv ant a la t h é o ri e

’
c l e g ié r , e u e .

O f s t i ll t hir d a t r l og e r i t i
a i d t h t he r et ir e d to O rle ns at
s o s sa a a

t h e clo se o f h i s l if e : C est u i d e S a i nt M esm i n f t b i en so uffi sant

‘
-
u

a st ol g i en et c m p osa d e b e
r o ,
x t ict ie ; m i s n les vi els j ou r s
o au ra z a e

l a i ssa l a f é l i c it é m n d i n e t e r en d i t r e lu s a O r lé n s ( p
’
o a e s c a .

I t wo ld b i nt er est i ng t o know wh eth r O r l an s in a dd i t i on t o

u e e e ,

b e i ng g en r al h av en f or ast r ol og e r s
a e l so f s t e r e d th e o cc lt , a o u

sc i n ce t the n iv e rs i ty T h p o et D h m p s w s a cl r k o f ‘
e s a u . e esc a a e

O r le n s n d if t he i nt e rpr t at i on m d e b y o n e o f h i e d it o r s
’
a ,
a e a s

( G R yn au d e d i t o r o f t he l st f o r v ol m es o f Oe vr es C omplet es
. a , a u u u ,

1 882 ; ee 1 1 1 48 )
s f B l d e 2 5 ( op ci t 2 52 ) i s co rr c t hi m s el f
. o a a 2 . . . e ,

pr t i sed t r ol g y i n hi y t h H p ff
ac as o (E t h D h mp s ou . oe n er us ac e es c a s

L b n nd W k S t r b r g 1 904 p 28 ) d b t wh t h r ny
e e u er e, a ss u , , . ou s e e a

l i t e r al i n t e rpr e tat i o n o f t he b ll d e i j u t ifi e d T h se sl i g h t i n d i a a s s . e

ca t i o n s t h a t O r l ea n w s a c nt r e o f s t r o l o gy m y b e
s dd d t o
a e a a a e

t h o se m en t i on e d b y Pr o f o r T t l ck i n T h S cen e f the F r nkli n s

’
ess a o e o a

T l Vi i te d ( pp 4 1
a e s .

Leb e f p 40 1
1
u , . .

I bi d p 403 C t i i pr é di t l m r t d n b le E d d pri
2 ‘
.
, . : es u au ss a o u o oa r ,
n ce

d e G ll s q u i p i f t y d A ng l t e e e t d Hy b n i e q i t r esp as sa
’ ’
a e u s us ro e rr er ,
u
’
l an 1 3 7 6 .
9 8 M edi e val Atti tu d e t ow a r d A s tr ol og y

C o cherel between the E nglish a n d B ertra n d du

Gu e sc lin was f ore s ee n by Maistre J a c ques de S ai n t A n dr e
,
? -

O f two astrolo g ers it is said expressly that they visite d ,

E ngla n d on e o f them for the purpose o f amu s ing K i ng

,

Joh n then a captive at L ondon

,

Ma i s t r e Pi e rr e d e Va lo i s r é s i da n t a Cou cy h omm e de s ing u l i e r e

, ,

e st u d e e t m ou l t a p r ec i é d es A ng lo i s e t d ep u i s du r oy Ch a r l es l e ,

Q uint p ou r la sc i ence de s e st oilles Cest u i ala s ouv ent en Ang le .

t err e p ou r p lu s i eu r s d i ff é r ant s et p r é di st p lu s i eu r s ch o ses co m m e ,

e s t a s s i s p a r s e s p r o n o s t i ca t i on s su r l es r é v olu t i o n s d e l an 1 3 60
’
.

C est u i su r la r é v olu t i on d e Pan 1 3 58 p r o no st i ca de la J acq u e ri e , ,

q u i c omm e nca en B ea u v o i s i n p a r l es c omm u n es su r l es g en t i l s ,

h omm es le 28 j ou r de may ou dit an ce q u i advint car ils tu é r ent

, , ,
-

l es n ob les e t l es f emm e et l s en f an s
2
t ou s s e .

Ma i s t r e Gu i llaum e d e L o u ry r é s i d ent a B o u rg e s f ut env oy é , ,

q u erir p ou r son g r ant 5911 et s ingu l i er es ex p é ri ences de sa sc i ence

,

d es est oilles p ar le s A ng lo i s e t y a la vou l n t ie r s p ou r q u e c es t o i t

, , e ,

p ou r d esennuyer le b on r oy J eh an q u i f u t pri ns a P o i t i er s le , ,

l u n d y 1 9 de sep t em b r e 1 3 56 c om m e i l avo it pr é d i t E n s on t em p s
, .

p r onost i ca o u m o i s d a vri l 1 3 51 et de rechie f enco r e un e au t r e f o i s

’
, , ,

l an en su iv an t f u t enc o r e r e sc on fi t li A ng lo i s et Gasc ons

’
II .

a dver t i t au ss i m e ss ir e C h a r le s d E sp a ig n e co nn est ab l e d e F r a n c e
’
, ,

q u i n e l e v oul u t c r o ir e e t f u t t u é en u ne h o st ell e ri e en la vi ll e
, ,

d e L a i g l e en N o r m an d i e p ar les g en s et du con s en t em ent du r oy

,

de N av a rr e ; p r é di st au ss i l a de sc onfi tu r e de Mess ir e R ob e r t de
C le r m ont l i eu t enant du du c de N o r m an d i e et la m o r t d e m ess ir e
, ,

Ge ff r oy d e Har eco u t
8
r .

A part from the slight noti c es give n by S imon d e Phares ,

t he history o f pro f e s sio n al astrologers in medi aeval E nglan d

remains largely a matter o f c o nj e cture It is i n dee d diffi .

cult to dis cover further tra c es o f astrologers in the c on

temporary histori c al do c umen ts u n til the close o f t he
fi ftee nth century In the year 1 50 3 a follower o f E dmun d
.
,

de la Pole c o n fessed at a trial that previous to followin g

his master to the conti ne n t he had co n sulte d an astrologe r ,

regardi n g E dmu n d s probable future but that he ha d ’

,

1
I bi d .
,
p .
406 .

2
I bi d .
,
p .
405 .

3
I bi d , . p .
404 .
 CH A PT ER VI I

AST R O L O GY I N T HE ME DIE VAL R O MA N C E S

befo r e the astrology o f the A rabs found a home
L ong
in the u n iversities o f O xfor d a n d Paris it had become ,

the subj e c t o f song a n d story i n the han d s o f the gleeman .

T he C r us a de s a n d the wa r s with t he Moors o f S pai n had

early brought the West i n to c onta c t with the O ri ent a n d ,

stories o f the learned magi c o f the E ast must have been

c urre n t amo n g the people ma n y de c ades befo re A delar d o f

Bath a n d Herma n o f D almatia return ed with the first

A rabia n text books A lready i n the Cha ns on d e R ola nd
-

.
,

the S ara c e n s a re c redited with the pra c ti c e o f d iaboli c

arts : A r c hbishop T u rpi n in the battle o f R o nc esvalles kills , ,

the e ncha nter S ig lor el who o nc e had been in hell whither,

‘
,

Jupiter had led him 1

In the S panish epi c F er na n .
’
,

Gonga lez the Moors a r e repre s e n ted a s astrologers i n

,

league with the devil ?

T he roman c es o f the twel fth a nd
thirtee nth c e nturies habitually c o nn e c t astrology and
n e c roma n cy with the Moo r i s h E ast Chr é tie n s Cli g es i n
’ ’

.
,

describi n g F e nice s skil ful nurse T hes sala names T hessaly

’
, ,

as the home o f n e c roman cy a n d the land where the devil s ,

’

arts are taught a n d where c ha r ms are made

,
?
I n the
F l o oven t a story o f the wars betwee n C hristians a n d
,

1
Chans on d e R ola n d 1 3 90 -

3 ( ed Gau t i er
.
, P a ri s, 1 884, p . 1 26 )
lur oc i s t S ig lo r el,
‘ ’
Et l a r c ev es q u e

L
’
en ca n t eii r ki ia f ut e n en e f r;
P ar a r t i m al
’
li cu n d u i s t Ju p i t r e .
’

F er na n Gonga lez 47 3 ff ( Ma r d en P a lm a d e F er nan Gonga lez

2
.
, ,

i r
B al t m o e, 1 904, 69 cfp . . Co m f rto , Th e S ar a ce ns i n Chr i s ti a n
P o e tr y : D u b li n R ev: 1 49 .

C li g es 3 002 1 0 ( e d F o s t e , Hall e, 1 884,

3 ’
-
.1 20 r cf r pp . . E a st e r ,

A S tu dy of the M ag i c E
l em en ts i n th e R om ans d A ven tu r e
’
and the
R oma ns B r e t ons ( B alt i m o r e , p . 17 .
 A s tr o log y i n t he M e d i e va l R o m a n ces 10 1

M oor s a n old paga n do c to r Ja c ob pos s esses the power o f

, , ,

prophe c y by reason o f his astrologi c al k n owledge ?

T he
S ara c en maidens furthermore who appear so freque n tly , ,

in the chans ons d e g es te res c uing the c aptive C hristians , ,

are usually well versed i n the magic s c ie nc es ; a nd s i n c e

they employ their tale nts i n the service o f t r ue believers ,

are ra r ely c e n sured fo r their di a boli c lo r e F lo r de sp i ne .

,

the daughter o f the S ara c e n ki n g Machab r e although only , ,

fourtee n years old kn ow s how to speak Lati n a n d ,

‘
R oma n c e
’
to play at c hess and to read the c ourses o f the
, ,

stars a n d shi n i ng moo n ?

Gali enne the bet r othed o f the ,

C hristia n M a i n et is similarly e n dowed with lear n i n g ; it

,

is by f ores eei n g the future i n the stars that she is able

to save her lover f rom a trea cherous assault ?
I n the
I pom ed on—a Fre n c h roma n c e o f the last quarter o f the
twel fth c entury tra n slated several time s i nto E ngli s h a
,
—
ki ng A drastus c ome s to a tour nament from G r ee c e a n d ,

bri ngs with him his E aster n astrologer A mphiaraus who , ,

unfortu nately however gets his terms co n fused an d , ,

‘ ’
,

fails to fo r e s ee his ma s te r s defeat ? ’

1
F lo ove n t 7 3 9 ff ( e d Gu essar d . . et Mi chela nt -

,
1 859 , p . F 10 0
v en t d a t e s o m t he t el t fr
c e n tu w fh ry .

2
Gau f r ey 1 7 93 ff . .
( ed Gu es s a r d
. et Chab a ille, 1 8 59 , p . C onf r ey
is a ss i g ned t o the t hir teenth cen t u ry .

3
M a i n e t ( R om a n i a 4 .
3 0 5 ff ; c f . .
3 29 , d ate s fr om M oi n e t
t he ear ly tw l f th c en t ry e u . I n t he E n g l i s h C h a r l em ag n e r o m a n c e -
s

t he S r c n m i d n F l ip
a a e a e ,
or as , f e ed s t he cap t iv e Chri s t i ans wi th t he
aid of h m g i c g ir d le ; c f Ca xt o n Gr e t e ( E E TS
’
er a . s C har les t he .

E S 3 6 1 23 )
. T he S ow d on e of B a by l on e ( B T S E S 3 8
. E . . .

‘
I p o m ed o n 557 4 90 ( e d K olb n g u n d K o s c t z , B e s la u , 1 889
-
. i hwi r ,

p . T he ea l es t o f t h e t ee ng l sE ri
e s o n s ( a ll e d t e by i d hr ih v r i
K o lb i n g B r esla u , I p om a d on wri tt en ab o u t 1 3 50 ( We lls p
, , ,
.

a l t e r s t h e n a m es t o A r yn s a n d A n f e ra s ( 4 1 97 In ,

t he O F r o m a n c e P r t on op u s d e B lo i s ( d t e d ab ou t
.
, a E gyp t e a

i s r e f e rr e d t o ( 7220 : e d Gr a p el et 2 7 5) a s a h o m e o f ast r o no m y
. .

a n d m g i c ( t h e r e f e r en c e i s n o t f o u n d i n t h e M E v e r s i o n wri tt e n
a .
,

a b ou t T he la t e O F r o ma nc e C l eo m d es i nt r o d u ces t hr ee .
,
a ,

Ea ste r n ki ng s w ho a e v e r se d in a st r onom y a nd n ec r om ancy ( e d

,
r .

Hasselt B r u ssels 1 89 5 pp 52
, , , .
,
 102 M edi e val A tti tu d e t ow ar d A s tr o log y

o f the early tales o f the R oma n d e R enar t ( B ra n ch

O ne
X dati n g from the ea r ly thi r tee nth c e ntu r y ) is parti cularly
,

inte r esti n g i n that it alludes to the positio n held by astrol

ogy in the medi c al s chools o f c ontemporary Italy T he .

Fox wishi n g to regain favor with K i ng N oble appears at

, ,

c ourt in the r ole o f physi c ia n promi s i n g the si c k mo n arch ,

a sure re c overy He wins the c o nfide nc e o f his c lie nt b y

.

the prete nse that he has j ust returned f r om a period o f

study at the u n iversity o f S alerno and that he kn ows ,

ast r onomy ?
I n a later c onti nuation o f the R oman ( B ranch
X X I I I dated about ,
R e n art a c tually does ve n ture
abroad i n sear ch o f lear n i ng a n d be c omes a n a d ept in ,

necroma n cy at the famous s chool o f magi c at T ole d o by

se c retly wat c hi ng a pagan c o n j urer at his work in a hidde n
c ell
?

E ven more dire ctly tra c eable to an E astern source are

the astrologi c al refere nc es i n certain c ollectio n s o f O rie ntal
tales T he lege n d o f B ar laa m a nd J os a p ha t populari z ed f or
.
,

the We st by the L eg en da A u r ea o f Ja c obus a Voragi n e

( 3
1 2 0 a n d fou n d i n three Middle E n glish ve r s io n s ,

lead s us ba ck to a Greek text written probably in S yria ,

in the eighth c e ntu r y ?

Whe n in the c ourse o f the story
—
itsel f based upo n a lo ng O rie ntal traditio n it is related
how an astrologer prophesied the future o f the you ng
prin c e Josaphat a n evi d e nt attempt is made by the author
, ,

o f the Greek version to reco n cile the inciden t with the

belief s o f the C hristia n C hurc h T hus spake the astrol .
‘

R om a n d e R e n a r t ( e d Ma rt i n r as b u rg
1
10 . 1 524 ff . .
,
St s ,
1 882,

1.

( e d Ma r t i n
2
R om a n d e R enar t 23 . 1 1 72 ff . . 2 .

I
;
3
T he m o s t -
r e c e nt s u mm a ry
j of th e i nv es t i g at i on s on t he s u b ec t

o f t hi s l g en d ( i n t h e d i t i on o f J oh n o f D am asc s by W oo d w ar d
e e u

an d M t t i ng ly L oeb C l ss S e
a , L on d on 1 9 1 4 ) sc ri b es the o rig in al
_ _
a . r ., ,
a

B l m
ar aa nd J ph t ( p x ) wi t h
a os a m nfi d n
a t J h of
. 11 so e co e ce o o n

D amascus ( d i e d a m o ng wh ose w o rk s i t has o f t en b een p ri nt e d .

On th M E v e r i n s s e W ll p 806
e . s o , e e s, . .
104 M edi e va l A tti tu d e t ow ar d A s tr ol og y

By z a n ti n e empire E ve n i n this its earliest exta nt form .

, ,

the s to r y had embodied the lege n d o f A lexa n der s des c e n t ’

f rom the E gyptia n sor c erer N ec ta na b u s T hroughout the , .

early portio n o f the narrative i n whi c h is related the ,

arrival o f N ec ta na b u s at the Ma c edo n ia n c ourt and the ,

dec eits by mea n s o f whic h he be c ame the fathe r o f the

futu r e ki ng astrology play s a n importa nt part S u cc eed
, .

i ng reda c tors o f the lege n d dealt variously with these astro

logi c al detail s The C hri s tia n writers o n e a n d all took
.
, ,

delight i n the c losi ng episode o f the story o f N ec t a nab u s ,

i n whi c h the sor c e r er a fte r havi n g prophesied by the stars ,

that he would be killed by hi s own s on is throw n i nto a ,

ditc h by A lexa n der a n d tau nted fo r his impiou s belief s ,

?

I n the mo r e te ch n i c al details o f the story imitators o f ,

the P s eu d o Ca lli s then es we r e n ot always su c c e ss ful

-

O n e c urious misu n dersta n di n g o f t he astrologi c al terms

o f the Greek i s already to be fou n d in the L ati n lif e
o f A lexa n der writte n by A r c hp r esbyter L eo in the tenth
,

c e n tu r y a n d k n own by the n ame o f Hi s t or i a d e P r e lii s

, .

T he P s eu d o Ca lli s then es n amely i n de sc ribi n g a n a s t r olabe

-

, ,

o f N ec ta nab u s a n d p i c tu r i n g i t s va r iou s dis c s had spoke n

, ,

o f o n e c i r c le a s represe nti n g the astrologi cal deca n s ‘ ’

T he C h r i s tia n t r a n s lato r i n hi s ig n o r a n c e , ,

u n de r stood the G r eek to be 86m r oils a n d t r a n slated it with ,

‘
de c em i nt ellig en t ia s S ome o f L eo s f ollowers n otably the .
’ ’
,

author o f the War s of A lexa n d er repeated thi s c u r ious ,

mistake ?
T he F r e n c h ve r s io n s o f the lege n d are mo r e

1
A t a u nt whi ch in r eal i ty , o f cou se , r r ely d d d t the d r m at i c
me a e o a

ir ny o of th e s c en e . T he t hr ee E ng l i h v r i on s r l t e t hi p o r t i n
s e s e a s o

of t h e t al e ; cf . Wars o f A lexa n d er 708 ff .

( EE TS . ES .
47 .

A li s au n d er 1 07 2 ff .
( B E TS . ES . 1 . K y ng A li s au nd er 7 1 0 ff .

( We b e r , M e tr i ca l R om a n ces , E d i nb u rg h ,
1 8 1 0, 1 .cf el ls, . W
p .
98 ff .

2
D ivi i
s on s o f t he s g n s i i nt o t en e q u al p rt a s.
2
The War s o f A l e xa n d er p s e ak s o f t w lv
‘
e n di t ndi g
e u rs a n s
’

( 27 4
e d. S k ea t , E E T S E S 47 . . . S k ea t d e fi n s t h w o r d s i m p ly
e e as
‘
an

r
a st olo g cal t e m i’
r .
 A s tr olog y i n t he M e di e val R om an ces 10 5

e nlighte n ed on ma t ters astrological ; the author o f the

E nglish K yng A li s a u n d er imitati n g the Fre n c h R oma n d e ,

T ou t e Cheva ler i e is able to refer to the mysterious i n s t r u ,

me n t o f N ec t anab u s as a n ars t a ble 1

Whe n Gowe r ‘
-

.
’
,

fi nally retells the story o f N ect a n ab u s i n the C onfes s i o

,

A m a n ti s 2
the ast r ologi c al po ss ibilitie s o f the story are
,

fully exploited He des c ribes the astrolabe o f the sorc erer .

with scie ntifi c detail and airs his lea r ni n g as he pictures the ,

’
magicia n s co n j uri ngs .

T he astrology a n d magic o f the E ast fi n d i n g their way ,

i nto the popular literature o f Fra n c e a n d E n gla n d by

various c ha nn els soo n made them s elves at home in the ,

whole realm o f medi aeval roman c e T hey easily establishe d .

frie n dly r elatio n s with the C elti c magic o f the ma ti er e d e

B r e tag n e a n d it w a s n o t lo n g before t h e fairies a n d dwar f s
,

o f N orthe r n folk lore were as lear n ed a s the daughters o f -

the S ara c e ns ?
T he p r ec 1se poi n t o f time whe n the magi c
o f the E ast be c ame mi n gled with the i n dige nous magi c o f
the We s t is o f c ourse di ffi c ult to determi n e A work so
, ,
.

K y ng A li s a u n d er ( Web e r M e tr i ca l
1
287 ,
R o m a n c es 1. T he
Ky ng A li s au n d er w as wri tt en b e f o r e 1 330 nd s t ble i s p r ob ably ,
a
‘
ar -
a
’

t he fir t pp s r n c o f th w o r d t r olab in Engl i h T he ea rl i est

a ea a e e
‘
as
’
e
’
s .

c i t t i n i n t h N E D i n d r t h y e r 1 3 66
a o e . s u e e a .

C o f A m 6 1 7 90 ff ( d M l y O x f r d 1 90 1 3 2 1 5
2
n . . . . e . a c au a , o , , .

S v r l i t n f f iri ex p r t i n t h e i ne f
8
e e a ns a w ho ce s o a es ar e e sc e c s o

m g i c n d s t r ol g y wi ll p p e r i n the f oll owi ng p g es

a a a o A f ew a a a .

m o r m y b a dd e d h r T h e f iry o f t he whi te h n d s i n L
‘ ’
e a e e e. a a e

B el I n nn h co b een i n t r u c t d b y h
u as f th r in th sev en r t s s e er a e e a ,

a nd p ci lly in n cr om n y an d t r l gy ( 1 9 8 4846 e d Hip

es e a e a c as o o 1 ,
: .

p a 1 860 pp 68
e u, , I n t he s h o r t r E ng l i h i m i t t i n Lib a
.
, e s a o , e us

D con
es l th o g h so r e ry p l ay s
us, a p r t ( f 1 51 3 1 780 1 79 5 d
u c a a c .
, , : e .

K al z u L ip z i g 1 890 pp 84 99 1 00 ; f W ll pp 7 1
a, e , , .
, , c . e s, .
,

a s t r o l og y i n ot p ec ifi cally m nt i on ed M l i r the f ir y i n th
s s e . e o ,
a e

E ng li h P t n p f B l i ( b t 1 450 ; t h F r nch u r i
s ar o o e o o s a ou e e so ce s

d t d b t
a e a l e r n e d t he m rv l
ou r t o f t h E st fr om h e
a a e ou s a s e a r

f t h r t h E m p r r f C t nt i n p l ( 5933 B E T S E S 1 0 9
a e , e e o o on s a o e : . . .

C f als C h n n d A n ti o he ( e d P P a ri p 59 ; nd
’
. o a so c . . s, . a

D o lopa thos 9 27 5 .
1 06 M e di e val A t ti tu d e t ow ar d A s tr olog y

purely C elti c as the Ma bi n og i on is s till f ree from astrol

ogy S o al s o are the la is o f Marie de Fra nc e a n d for the
.
, ,

most part the A r thu r ian roma nc es o f C hr é tien d e T royes

, .

A refere nc e to ast r ology is fou n d i n the E r ec but ,

C h r é tie n is c areful to state that he is borrowing f rom

Ma c r obius T oward the c lose o f the poem E re c appears
.
,

i n a r obe made by four fairies who had portrayed thereon ,

geomet r y arithmeti c mu s i c a n d astronomy The last o f

, , , .

thes e is called the chie f o f all the arts an d is des c ribed in ,

wo r ds that remi n d us o f the similar pan egyri c o f A delard

o f B ath
La qua r t e , qu i a pre ovr s a,

A m o u t b u en e oevr e r ecovr a ;
C a r l a m ello r d i
es a r z i m i st .

D a s t r on o m i e s a n t r em i s t
’ ’

C e le q u i f et t ant e m er vo il le,
i
Q u i a s e sto les s e c o nso ill e
Et a l a lu ne et au s olo il.

An a ut e r leu ne p ra n t co n so i l

De ri en q u i
f ir e li soi t ;a e

Ci l la con so illen t b i en a d r o i t .

D e qu nq ue el e l s r equ i e rt
a e ,

E t q u anq u e f u e t q u anq u e i er t,
if
L ont c e r tainnem ent sa o v ir
S a nz m ant i r z dec evo i r 1
e t s an .

the roma nc es deali n g with the T rista n story astro l

In ,

o g y is al r eady a n i n tegral part o f the m a ti er e d e B r etag n e .

T he d war f F r oc i n who appears i n the Fre n ch version o f

,

B é r ou l ( 1 1 90 i s an expe r t a s trologer ?
When his
pla n s f or e ntici ng T ristan a n d I seu lt to betray themselv es -

b efore the king have go n e w r o n g he is able to foresee his ,

threatened disgra c e i n the stars T he Tr is tan o f T homas .

,

o n the other hand though it also takes note o f the traditio n

,

that the dwar f was an astrologer is sceptical about his ,

1
E r ec 6 7 77 67 90 -

( ed F oe r s te r , Hall e ,
1 896, p . cf. ab o ve
,

p .
50 .

2
B é r oul , R om a n d e T r i s ta n 3 20 ff .
( e d Mu r et
.
, P a ri s , 1 9 13, p .
1 08 M e d i e va l A t ti tu d e t ow ar d A s tr o log y

g rou n d that the s ky itsel f w as to blame fo r mi s leadi n g them

i n thei r predi c tio n s :
be sky ba t 3 0 11 s ch ew e d ba t
, ,

I t w a s be f a de r ba t m e b i 3 at ; ,

F o r h e m e h a dd e no u 3 t to his wi ll e,

bu r c h s ou he w ld
a do m e s pi ll e
1
;

A st r ology is a l s o me nti o n e d i n the roma n c e s o f Me r li n i n

c o n n e c tio n with the fay M o r g a i n L ike the M ohammeda n .

e nc ha n tres s e s o f the chans ons d e g es te she is versed in ,

a s t r o n omy a n d n e c r oma n cy ?

T he attitude o f the roma n c es toward astrology hardly

admit s o f logi c a l a n alysi s A n a r rator was as li t tle .

hampered i n the M iddle A ges by que s tio n s o f s c ie nc e or

o f ethi c s as he is to day It may be s aid i n general that -

.
, ,

a strology to the popular medi e val mi n d was a wonderful

, ,

s c ie n c e vaguely defi n ed a n d seldom c o n dem n ed whose

, , ,

om n ipote nc e w a s prove r bi a l It is s poke n o f everywhere .

a s the c hief o f the s eve n art s a n d was hardly distinguished ,

f rom n e c rom a nc y a n d magi c T he reality o f its powers .

w a s n ever doubted By rea s o n o f it s bei ng a learned f oreign

.
‘

importatio n a s yet s omewhat removed from the li f e o f the

,

u n edu c ated a n d n ot s ubj e c ted to the s atire whi c h it in evit

,

a bly e n c ou n te r ed i n pra c ti c e a s trology c ould a c quire a ,

fame i n popular lite r atu r e e ve n ex c e edi n g tha t whi c h it

held amo n g the astro n omers o f the s c hools T he c ommo n .

people who had n ot outgrow n their faith in the s imple

magi o f the
c T n n —
euto s a d C elts wit n e s s the serious
def e n se o f the belief i n fairies made by the author o f the ,

g—
M elu s i n e w e re n o t likely to be sc epti c al o f the s c ie n tifi c
M e r li n 1 583 6 ( e d K o lb i ng L e ip z i g 1 890 p
1
A r th ou r and -
.
, , , .

cf P r os e M er li n ( e d Wh eatley B E T S 1 0
.
.
-

, . .

P r os e M er li n ( B E TS 2 1 3 7 5) c f P at on S tu di es i n t he F ai r y
2
. . .
,

My th olog y of A r t hu r i a n R om an ce ( R a d c lifi’e C o ll M on og r aphs .

,

p .
46, no t e . T he wi t h c C a r m i l e, pp ri ng i n th
a ea e A r t ho u r a nd
M er li n ( K olb i n g p , . is an a de p t i n n r om n y ec a c .

M e lu s i n e c h a p
3
, . 1 ( ed . D on a l d, E E T S . ES . 68 . h r
T he aut o
15 Je an d A r r a s,
’
wri t i ng ab ou t 1 3 82 -

94 . I n the E ng l i h t r anslat i on
s ,
 A s tr olog y i n t he M e d i e va l R om a n c es 10
9

magi c newly arrived f rom the O rie n t A serious work like

,
.

the prose L ap i da i r e o f Philipp e de Valoi s c ould as s ert that

o n ly fools doubted the existe nc e o f magi c powers i n stone s ,

he r bs a n d spoke n words
,
?
A n d the author o f the famo us
I m ag e d u M on d e 2
whi c h retai n ed its popularit y dow n to ,

the time whe n C axto n t r a n slated it i nto E n glish u n de r take s ,

to def e n d both magi c a n d astrology f rom the atta cks o f

the i nc redulou s as well a s from those who as c r ibe all su c h
,

wo n drous thi n gs to the devil He i ntrodu c es the subj e c t .

3
i n c o nn ectio n with a des c riptio n o f Virgil as a magi c ia n :

V i r gy l e dy de a n d m a d e m a n y g r et e m v y ll w h i h t h h er a es , c e e e r er s

sho l d ol d e f o r l esy n g es y f t
h h ey h er d t h em r o nt e d ; ff o th ey e ec u r

w ol d not by lev t h t noth er co d doo

e eh e thyng s t heye a a u e su c e a

co u d e n t m d l e w y th o A n d wh n t h ey h r e p ek o f s ch e m at e r s
e . a e s e u

or o f o th e r t h at t h y e t t h ir ey en n d t h t t h y c n n t
e nd r
s e a e a a e a o u e

t nd
s o n kn o w e n o t t h r o f
e e n n t h ey s y e t h a t it i s b y t h elp e e e ,
a o a

o f t h e f n d e t h a t w e k et h i n su ch e m n e r
e a s t h ey t h t g l a d ly r a ,
a

m y ss y e o f p ep l e o f co m m en d ac i on s y e i t i s g oo d
‘

a A n d ls re . a o a

n t t o conn e such
o thy ng e B ut y f t h ey kn ew t he s c i n c
e nd s. e e e a

m n e r e t h y w ol d h l d e i t f o a m och e n ob l e an d ri g h t w e r k
a , e o r e

o f na t u r e n d wi t h ou t o ny o t h e r e sp e c e o f evy ll
, a A n d wh an t h ey .

know not n e u n de ton de th thing t h y s y m och e m o r e evy l rs e e, e a

t h n w ell
a .

C e t ay nly w ho t h at kn ew e w ell a st o no m y e t h e r i s n thy ng i n

r r , o

th e w o r ld o f wh i h h e c o d e en q uy e b y eson b t h e sh old h av e
c u r r u

ma de a c en t u ry r
wy s e t h t su ch
l at e , we r ad : e
‘
A n d he i s n ot a e

t hing es s up p o seth t o c m p eh en de i n h i s w i t a n d w en et h t h a t th e o r ,

m v y lles t h a t b en t h g h t h u n iv e r s l w o r l d m y n t b e t ru
er a ru e a , a a e,

a s it i s s a i d o f t he th i ng s t h t m n all e ff y ee s nd it i s o f e a e c a r ,
a as

m any ot h e r thi ng s wh e r eo f w m ay n ot h av t he kn o w l ech e o f

e , e e

ll t h e m
’
a e .

E t n s sag e h m s me d i t d ou t r q u e Di e x n i t m i s v e t
1 ‘ ’
u s o en o e a r uz

p i err t n h r b t n p r l
es e e t q i e n r i t t 11 d di t i l
es e e a o es , e u cc e c o e es ,

f i t q u e p e hi
a ( P an n i e r L es L pid i r e F r nc i s d u M oy n
c e r r es
’
, a a s a o e

Ag e,P ri 1 882 p
a s, , .

T he w o r k i d t d 1 266 T h e r i a d i sp te a t o wh th e r th e
2
s a e . e s u s e

th or s n m i G t i r f M et z o G i n f M e tz ; c f Pri o r s
’ ’
au a e s au e o r o sso u o .

d i t i n f C xt n t r n sl t i n ( M i r f th W ld d Pri o r
’
e o o a o s a a o r ou r o e or ,
e .
,

E E TS E S . 1 0 pp x x) . 1 , . 1 -

Mi of t h e W ld 3 1 3 ( d Pri r p
3 ’
C xt a on s r r ou r or . e . o , .
 1 10 M edi e val A tti tu de t ow ar d A s tr olog y

kn ow leche t e o h r f
A n d m any thy ng es shol d he doo t at shol de
. h
s em e m y r a cles t o t h e p ep l e w h i che t at u e e no thy ng e o f the h k w
i
sc enc e y
I s a e n o t b u t t e my ght b e w el don evy ll b y hym t at
. h r h
c ou d e i t ; ff o r t e i s n on e s o g oo h r s c enc e b u t t a t my g ht b e d i h
h ri
ent en d e d t e n s o m m e m a ly c e,
1
a n d t a t h e m y g h t u s e i t i n evy l l h
h w d
t at ol e s o ap p ly e b y m th e r t o Go d m a e n e e so g oo a g os el . d v r d p
r
b u t som m e my g ht e t o n e i t cont r a ry e t o t ro u the ; and i s no t h er
r
t hyng e s o t ue b u t som m e m y g ht s o g l os e t a t i t sh old b e t o h i s h
dam p nac ion, w ho t a t o l d e p a n e b y m t o do evy ll, how w el i t
h w y
i s n o m ay st ry e t o do y ll .

Asregards the ethical questio n i nvolved in the emplo y

me nt o f astrology a n d magic the view j ust expressed b y ,

the author o f the I mag e du M on de is also that o f the

medi e val roman c es C o n dem nations o f astrology are .

rare R emoved f rom e cc lesiasti c al influe n ce and not calle d

.
,

upo n to solve quest i o n s o f right an d wrong the writer o f ,

the tale s did not c ensu r e magic practi c es except whe n a

n —
condem n at i o n was dema de d by the story itsel f that is ,

whe n magic was used for ma n i fe s tly evil purposes T he .

dwarf i n B é r ou l s Tr i s tan i s not spa r ed a denu n c i at i o n ;

’ z

a n d the wi z ard Maugis i n the F ou r e S onn es of A ym on , ,

though he is willi ng to c ome to the aid o f his f riend

R en aud eve n a fter he has forsworn his a rt reali z es tha t ,

he may be dam n ed for thi s in the en d B ut despite the fa c t

?
,

that magi c is o fte n f elt to be on the defe n sive it is never ,

condem n ed outright In the Ai ol a Fren c h romanc e o f the .

,

1
T h e I m ag e d u wh er ( 2 24 : op i t p 1 1 6 ) d en o nc
M on d e e l se e c u es

n ec r o m n cy—
. . . .
,

whi ch it d fi nes p r op rl y as a conj u ring o f evi l

spiri t —
a e e

i n m o r e vi g o r ou s t r m s : T hi s i s t h t w h o t h at
‘
s s cy en c e a e a ,

g evy th hy m t h e t o t do vy l h it gy veth b y m t h e d et h ; fi o r y f
r o e ,

h e t k e t h n o h e d e th er f he h al b e d m p n e d b d y
a o ,n d so w l s a o a e.
’

B t n m y n o t e t h t h er
u o e a to it i a nly wh n s d fo evi l en d s
e, o, s o e u e r

t h t b l ck m g i
a a i on d m n d
a c T h e I m g e d M ond e h a m ny
s c e e . a a s a

oth r r f r n
e s to
e e e s t r o l ogy ;
ce cf 1 a1 3 ( p ci t p 2 33 ( p . . o . . . .

3 8 .

2
B é r o u l, T r i s t a n 643 ff ( e d M u et , . . r p .

2
T h e F ou r e S o nn es of A y m on, c a h p 24 .
( ed . R i h rd
c a s on, B E TS .

E S 44 . . Cf . Wac e s ’
R om an d e R ou 7 53 7 .
1 1 2 M e di e v a l A t ti tu d e t ow ar d A s tr ol ogy

imagi natio n due i n p a r t to the tempti ng o f the devil him

,

sel f partly to the pers i stence o f pagan c ustoms an d finally

, ,

t o the readi n g o f roman c es Gerso n defi n es romances as

.

‘
books w r itte n i n the F r e nch to ngue relati ng i n poeti c fo r m
—
,

the deeds o f milit ary heroes stories whi c h are fictitious

for the most part a n d whi c h serve rather to sati s fy a
,

hu nger for n ovelty and a d m iration tha n to foster a ,

”
knowledge o f the truth .

E x l e ct i on e q u o r u n dam R om an c i o r u m , i e , lib ro r u m com o

. . p
i
s i t o r u m i n Ga ll co q u as i q i
p o et i c o ru m d e g e st i s m i l it ar ib u s, i n u b u s
m axi m a p a r s f ab u lo sa e st , m ag i s a d i ng er en dam q u an dam novi tat em
e t a dm i ra t i o n em qu am ve r i t at is cog nit ion em ( Schw ab , p
’
.

I s th i s t h e ea r l i e st de fi n it i on o f t h e nov el ?
 C H A P TE R VI I I

AST R O L O GY I N M IDD L E E N GL I S H L I T ERAT U R E

However valuable the n a 1ve ref ere n ces to astrology i n
the Fre n c h romances o f t he twelfth and thirteenth c en
t u r ies may be f or defi n i n g the popular medi e val attitude

toward the magi c o f the E ast they are o f c omparatively ,

small service i n dete r mi n i n g the state o f f eeli ng i n E ng

land itself A ll the M iddle E n glish r oma nc es d eali n g
.

with astrolo gy were tra n slatio n s f rom the French o r L ati n ,

a n d ve r y f ew eve n o f thes e bear a date earlier than 1 3 50 .

For direct evidence c on c er n i n g the attitude towar d astrol

ogy in E n gla n d d uri n g the thirteenth a n d fourteenth c en
t u r i es one mu s t tur n to the more i n dige n ous litera r y
,

pro d uctions o f the time although thes e t oo a ff or d only a , , ,

scanty glea n ing It is sa f e to assume o f c ourse that the

vulgar astrology o f the almanac—whos e importation into
.
, ,

1—
E ngla n d d ates back to the time o f E 1f r i c was already
widely curre n t ?
B ut all evide n c e poi n ts toward the con
e lusion that a n i n terest in astrology prop er did not become

general i n the ver n a c ular literature o f E n gla n d befo re the

age o f Gower a n d Chau c er N ot u ntil the fi fteenth c en .

tury in e ff ect are ref ere nc es t o astrolo gy as frequent i n

, ,
-

E n gli s h as they were i n the literature o f Fra n c e o ne o r

t w o c enturies previous .

1
S ee v p p 44 if
ab o e, . .

T he b t p r oo f o f t hi s can b e f n d i n t he p o r t i ons o f
2
es ou a

p op ul r c len d r f o the y e r 1 349 p ub l i h d by A Hah n ( A chiv

a a a r a , s e . r

1 06 349
. I n th m nu c rip t whi h on t i n s
e m ng o t h r
a s , c c a , a o e

t hi ng s t h so r ce f o a p o r t i on o f R ol le s P i k
’
, e u r of C n ci n r c e o s e c e,

is f n d p m o f som e t hir ty n i n l i n s o n the i nfl nce f

ou a oe -
e e ue o

p lan t g ivi ng d vi
e s, n n d r t ak i ng
a ny e n t e rpri e wh n thi
ce o u e a s e s

o r th t p l n t r l
a at h e d y o th h o r
e u es T h e a t r l gy f t h p o m
a r e u . s o o o e e

i s n ot m h b v t h l v el o f t he O ld E ng l i h t r ea t i es whi ch w e
uc a o e e e s s

m t i n t h L ee hd o m ( s e b o v p
e e c s e a e, .
 1 1 4 M edi e val A tti t u d e t ow ar d A s tr ol ogy

It may seem stra nge i n view o f t his generali z atio n that , ,

o n e o f the mo s t e n lighte n ed dis c ussio n s o f astrology in

Middle E n gli sh is found i n a work dated as early as the

latter hal f o f the thi rtee nth c e n tury I t o c curs in a f ra g .

me n t o n popula r s c ie nc e part o f the L eg end of Mi cha el

‘

i n the S ou ther n L eg en dar y C ollec ti on ?

T he li n es which
bea r p a r ti c ularly upo n astrolo g y are fou n d near its begin
n i ng a n d c o n stitute a paraphrase o f the c urrent C hurch
,

do c t r i n e on the subj e c t o f stellar influe n ce A fter a ge n eral .

c o s mologi c al expla n atio n o f the u n iverse a n d an enumeration

o f the s eve n pla n ets the poet c onti nues ,

T h u r t g ret w it of cl e rg i e h e r e ! t he p lanets! nam e s we r e f u r st

i f ou n de .

F or ech o f r et v r t n u r the do
th e s oven e m ai g e u a ,

B o th o f w ed e r an d f u t
e s h e r e p o r i s th e t o ; r , a e r

A n d al o m en t h at b eot h i b r e u n d e r h er e m i 3 t e iwi s
s o

S h ull e h b b e d iv e r se m i st e an d ly f a f t e r t h at h er e v e r tu i s
c a , , ,

S um m e l h s nd ec m m e g l ot n s
ou r , n d su m m e o t h e r m ane r e ;
a su ou ,
a

N at h el s a m an o f g o d i nwi t o f all e thulk e h im m ai sk er e :

e

F o p lan et es me d o t h n o n o the r b o t e seveth i n m an es wi l le

r ,

T o b o l i t h r o t h r g d s h e r e v e r t w ol e t o t i l l e
e e e o a u ,

A n d 3 yv t h a lso q ual i t é t o do so ot h e r s o
e ,

A n d n st f o t h en b y h i s i nwi t ech m an m ay do
o r .

F or c h q al i t é h t h n m n t
su u b eo l hou o th e r sch ew e
a o a o ec r r ,

T h t n m i h i m wi f i t h r 3 n c n th l d th f w
2
a e a e e a e , a a e es s o o e e .

N 0 source fo r a ny portion o f this F r ag men t on P opu la r

1
T he p i m es r e f e rr ed t o by i ts op en ing l i ne a s The
a ss ag e is at t
‘

ri 3 te p tt e o f h elle T he ea rl i est m anuscri p t d ates ab out 1 280 9 0

u .
’
-

( c f Well p
. T he pi ec e h s b een p b l i h e d sev r al t i m es :
s, . a u s e

i n Wri g h t s P op l r T r e tis es on S ci nce ( L on d on 1 841 pp

’
u a a e , ,
.

1 3 2 40 )
-
in r epri nt o f the e rl i est m nuscri p t ( L a d 1 08 : E E TS
a a a u .

87 3 1 1 22 )
.
-
i n I h b f ii R om u nd E ng l L i t ( 1 3
a r . an d in
r . . . .

M t n s A lt ng li he S pr chpr b en ( 1 1 36 ff ) c f f u r t h r W ells
a z er
’
e sc a o . . . e , ,

83 5 .

2
Mat z n er s
’
A l t eng li s che S pr a c hpr ob en ( B e l n , 1 867 ) ri 1 . 1 38 . T he
p o e m c o nt nu es wth a
i e sc i
t on o f t h e ast ol og cal c d rip i r i h a racteri st i cs
o f the d y
a s o f the eek w
T u e s da a n d S a t u a a r e . y rd y p r on oun ed c

b ad f o r b eg i n n i ng t h ing s .
1 1 6 M e d i e va l A tti tu d e t ow ar d A s tr ol og y

c losi ng li n e with its c omme nt that f ew m en make u s e o f

,

thei r w ill powe r i n thei r s t r uggle agai n s t evil is the r e a hi n t

-

that the author was a c quai nted with the more re c e nt views
o n the subj e c t o f ast r ology fou n d i n su ch works as the ,

S u m ma T h eol og i e o f T homas A qui n a s

?
B ut whateve r
be the fi n al verdi c t a s to its s ourc e the pas sage must be ,

c o n s ide r ed o n e o f the earlie s t exp r es s io n s i n a E uropea n

verna c ular o f the s c holasti c do c tri n e c o nc er n i ng a s tro

logi cal fatali s m I n E n glish the subj e c t is n ot agai n so
.
,
’
fully d is c us s ed u ntil the time o f B arbour s B r u ce and
Gower s C onf es s i o A ma u tis ; a n d the somewhat similar
’

populari z ation o f the orthodox tea chi n g regardi ng astrolo gy

a n d f ree will f ou n d i n Jea n de M e u n s R om an d e la R os e
,
’

ca n at best have a n tedated the L eg en d of M i cha e l by o n ly

a few yea r s ?

While the refe r e nc e to astrology in the L eg end of Mi cha el

r eprese nt s the c o n tempora n eous tea chings o f the learned ,

other di s cu ss io n s o f the subj e c t i n M iddle E ngli s h lite r a

tu r e drew upon less moder n sour c es It is a c ommon sayi n g .

that the lear n ed s c ie nc e o f o n e c e n tu ry be c omes the popular

s c ie nc e o f the n ext T he more popular the scie nc e i n fa c t.
, ,

the farthe r behi n d the times will it be S ide by side with .

the most adva nc ed views regardi ng astrology there still ,

exi s ted the e c c lesiasti c al c onse r vatism o f the early medi e val
c e n turies T he passages i n Middle E nglish lite r atu r e
.
,

deali n g with astrology prese n t a cc or ding ly a c onside r able -

va r iety o f opi n io n s—a va r iety whi ch find s its expla n atio n

,

o n ly in the light o f the whole history o f me d i e val astrolo gy .

(p . 1 61 )
‘
E h th the p ow e r to d r aw e hy m sel f t o do w ell
v ry e m an a

o rto d evy l l w hi h e t h a t h e w y ll
o , a h e t h t h t h f e l ib e r t o f
c e, s a a r e

t h t ne an d f t h t oth er
’
a o o a .

1
C f S mm 1
. u 15 4 P i t m nt pi nt q i h i n m odi
a . 1 . :
‘
au c au e su sa e es, u u s

p i n ib
a ss o r e i t nt E t i deo ast r ol g i t in p l ri b s v e r p os
us s s a . o ,
u u u a

su n t p r d i ce r e
e t m xi m e i n c o m m n i
, e N on au t m i n sp ec i l i
a u . e a

q i n ihi l p hib t l iq m h m i n m p l i b r m b i t ri m p
u a ro e a ue o e er
’

e u ar u as

i n ib
s o r e i t er e
us s s .
’

On t h R m n d l R o b l w pp 1 3 8 ff
2
e o e a e a s e, s e e o , . .
 A s tr olog y i n Mi dd le E ng li s h Li t er a tu r e

It i s importa n t therefore in turni ng to the ver na cular

, ,

di s c u ss io n s themselve s to keep the early hi sto r y o f medi e val

,

astrology c lea r ly i n mind A s w e have see n this was . ,

divided c hro n ologi cally i n to two disti nc t period s I n the .

first exte n di n g to t he middle o f the twel fth ce ntury

,
,

astrology was k n ow n o n ly as a diaboli c art whi c h had ,

bee n c o n dem n ed by the Fathe r s o f the early C hur c h E ve n .

whe n it was treated a s a f o r midable philo s ophi c al theo ry

by Joh n o f S alisbu r y a n d A belard it was de n ou n c ed a s a ,

ma n i fe s tatio n o f paga n impiety T he arrival o f A ristotle .

a n d o f A rabia n s c ie n c e c ha n ged all this A strology was .

a cc epted by the s c ientists o f the C hur c h in theory and ,

virtually i n pra c ti c e T he champ io n s o f astrology however

. , ,

were n ot bold e nough to c o n fro n t the tradit io nal tea c hi n g

o f the C hur c h with o n e diametri c ally opposed He nc e .
,

i n stead o f attempti n g a substitutio n o f do c tri n es they con ,

te n ted t hemselves with a superpos it io n T he early C hurch .

had made n o disti n ction between a true and a false astrol

ogy T he C hurc h o f the thirteenth c e n tury by makin g
.
,

j ust this disti n c tio n was e nabled to entertain a n ent hu ,

s ia s m for t he moderate s c ie n c e o f Ptolemy a n d to preserve , ,

at the same time pious s c or n f or astrological magi c a n d

, ,

that ma n i f estat i on o f j udi c ial astrology whi c h it loosely

defi n ed as predi c tio n per c er ti tu di n em Th e vague n ess .

i nhe r e n t i n this defi n itio n o f o rthodox astrology gave rise ,

i n the later c e nturies as we have noted to ple n ti ful c on , ,

fusio n s E nthusiasts for the s c ie nc e like R oger B a c o n

.
,

and Pierre d A illy c oul d make their appeal under cover

1 ’
,

1
Pi rr e d A i lly ( 1 3 50 1 420 ) i s n ex cell nt ex am p l e f n i m p or tant
e
’
a e o a

C h r ch m an—d A il ly pr i d d t t he C u n i l f C n t n e ( 1 4 1 5)
-

’
u es e a o c o o s a c

wh w
o fi m b e l i e v e r i n a t r o l og y
as a r He v n s b c ri b d t o s . e e u s e

A lb m s h ro c p o f t h e v ri o s r l i g i o n whi h w e m t in
’
u a sa r o s o es a u e s, c e

t h wri t i ng s o f R og e r B co n Pi e rr e d A illy t o b e s r e m de an ’
e a .
, u , a

e x c p t i n in th
e o o f C hri s t i n i ty whi h h
e case s id w n t r l d a , c ,
e a ,
as o u e

o v e r by t h e s t r ( Gu ig neb e t D e I m g i n M ndi C e t i q
a s P ti
r ,
a e u er s ue e r

d A lli c G og phi is Op c li
e a o e ra P ri s 1 902 pp 1 6
c us u s, a , , .
1 1 8 M edi e val A t ti tu d e t ow ar d A s tr olog y

o f the same o r thod oxy that served Petrar ch O r esm e a nd , ,

Pi c o della M ira n dola as a n ex c use for their atta cks .

N ow in the di sc ussio n s o f a strology in ve r na c ular litera

,

ture this s ituatio n was still further c ompli cated

,
T he .

d ebate c o n c er n i ng astrology c ar r ied on by the lear n ed c ould

at least boast o f a c onti nuous developme nt A fter T homas .

A qui nas had embodied the A rabia n c osmology i n his sys

tem n o e cc lesiasti c al writer—u nless like Petrarch he
deliberately ign ored these n ewer adva n c es—dared agai n to
, , ,

lau nc h agai nst a s trology a n i n dis c rimi nate p olemi c B ut .

the popular writi n gs o f the thirtee n th and fourteen th cen

t u r i es we r e u n der n o obligatio n to keep abreast o f c o n
tempora n eous s c ie n tifi c lite r ature ?
I sidore and John o f
S alisbury did not c eas e to be read o n the subj e c t o f astrol
o gy eve n though their c on c lusions had bee n superseded b y
,

those o f A lbe r t the Grea t and T homas A quinas .

A n example o f the pers iste nc e i n the fourtee n th century

o f the hostility towa r d astrology c hara c te r isti c o f the ea r ly

M iddle A ges is fou n d i n the writi ngs o f Ro lle o f Hampole

, .

H imsel f a n edu cated m a n a n d at o n e time a sffidz fi t at

w

O xfo r d he was in all p robability a cquai nted with the astro

,

logical s c ie n c e o i the day A passage o f the P r i cke of .

C o ns ci en c e eve n sub s c ribe s vaguely though it be to the , ,

c urre n t c o s mology o f the sc hola s ti c s c ie n ti s t s

?
N ev e r t h e
1
A d i llu st r at i on o f thi s i s the p op ula r encyclop e d i a t he
g oo ,

I m ag e du M on d e A l t h ou g h i t w a s co n t em p o r a ry wi th su c h L at i n
.

e n cy c l op e d i a s a s t h o s e o f V i n c en t o f B eau v a i s a n d B a r t h ol o m u s e

A ng l i cu s i t a d op t e d a s i t s pri n c ip al s ou r c e th e I m ag o M u ndi o f
,

Hon o ri u s I n clu su s writ t en m o r e t h an a cen t r y a n d a h al f pr e vi ou s

, u

( s e b ov e pp 6 1
e a , .

2
P i ke f C on i en e 7 596 76 1 7 ( d M o rri s B r li n 1 863 p
r c o sc c -

e .
, e , , .

R o ll e c i t s B a r t h o l o m
e A ng l i cu s a s t he s ou r c e f o a p a ssag e on
e us r

t h e s t a rry a n d c ry s t a ll i n e h ea v en s Fo t h e f ollo wi ng l i n e s
. r in ,

whi ch h e d cla r es t h at the m o v em nt o f the h aven s i s n ec essa ry

e e e

f o l if e o n ea r th h e n m es n o u t h o ri ty b u t i t m ay w e ll b e t h at
r ,
a a ,

f o t hi s
r g i n th e o ri g i n a l i s t h e D e P r op i e ta tibu s R er u m ( c f
a a r .

B tman u pp on B tho l om e f o l s 1 2 1
a ar , N a sy n g t on ( R e li g i ou s
.
a
s
1 20 M edi wva l A tti tu d e t ow ar d A s tr ol ogy

fear o f t r a n sgre s si n g the bou n ds o f stri c t orthodoxy

T he
was also the probable c a u s e o f a n a r gume n t agai nst a st r o
logi c al fatalism whi c h T r evi sa i n se r ted i n to hi s translation
o f Higde n s P o lychr oni c on In the third book o f hi s
’
.

c hro n i c le Higde n i ntrodu c es the lege n d o f A lexa n der the

,

G r eat a n d repeats the story o f the E gyptia n astrologer

,

N ec t a n a b u s T he c lose o f the episode together with

.
,

T r evi sa s orthodox c omme n t ru n s a s f ollow s z

’ l
,

In a d ay wh an P helip w a s ab s en t , A l i sa u n d r e pr y ed a N ect anab u s

ba t he w ol d e t e ch e b y m h i s c r a f t a n d h e g r a u n t e de ; an d wh an ,

bey com e i n f e r e u nt o a d eep w at e r pi t t e A l i s aun dr e bre w t he ,

w i cch e i n be s am e pi t t e ; an d wh an he w a s i n ba t pi t t e a n d d ee d
w oun d e de , h e a x e de r ft of A l i s au n d r e why he d ed e so .
‘
T hy c a ,
’

q o d A li n d e i t b l m f h w a n d be not wh t sch lde

u sau r ,
‘
s o a e, or e r e e a u

b y f ll e : b r b
a l i st n v ly ng e
e e nd ch l d t t ll
ou f t r bese e e e ,
a s u es e e a e

by ng f h v n
es Th
o w hi h n w de
e nd
e i d e No m n
e .
’
e c e a s er e a se ,
‘
a

m y fl
a hi s w n de t y n
ee I kn w e w l by bi c r f t b t myn
o s a e . o e s a a

ow n e n h l de l m
so eT r vi a
sc N ect nab s se i d e bi s sa w
u s ee e .
’
e s . a u e,

and w as a w i cche , an d ber f o r e i t i s n ev e r e be b et t r e t o t ro wy ng e

b u t it w r e e a vi l e s c ha m e f or a C ri st en m an t o t r w
o e bi s f al se sa w e

of bi s w i cch e ; f or fr om e v ry
m y shap ba t m an i s i sch ap e i n bis
e

w o r lde t o f all e y nn e, Go d m ay b y m sa e si f i t i s h i s ll e v wi .

We have s ee n i n our ge n eral survey o f m edi aev a l astrol ,

ogy that the per s i s te nc e o f the early e cc lesia sti c al f ear o f

,

the pra cti c al s c ie nc e was f r eque n tly c oupled with a ge n e ro us

a c c epta nc e o f astrologi c al theory S u c h a j uxtaposition o f .

opi n io n s w a s already slightly noti c eable i n the writings o f

R olle o f Hampole It meets us fully in P i er s P l ow man . .

I n fa c t the c o n tradi c tio n s betwee n the s everal ref eren c e s

,

to a strology i n the poem have bee n employed as evide n c e f o r

h eld whi h t r l gy
the pl ac e pi ed i n the b l i f s f th m o r e
c as o o o c cu e e o e

l rn d
ea Th e f t t h t th H n d lyng S y nn whi h in thi con
. e ac a e a e, c s

n ti n d l
ec o v r ly wi t h f t l i t i p er t i t i n d n t m nt i n
ea s s e e e a a s c su s o s, o es o e o

ast r ol gy m i g h t b
o t k n , d d d pr o f t h t th l tt r h d n ot e a e as a e o a e a e a

p n t r t d t th o fi n n p eop l f Eng l n d i n th r ly f r t nth

e e a e o e c
‘

r r o
‘

e o a e ea ou ee

cent ry ( t h
u H n dlyng S y nn w wri t t n b o t
e a e as e a u

P ly h ni n 3 27 ( d wi t h T vi s t r n l t i n b y L m b y
1
o c ro co . c .
,
re sa
’
a s a o , u ,

R o ll s S e r .
, 3 .
 A s tr ol og y i n Mi dd le E ng li s h Li t er a tu r e 1 21

i ts multiple authorship T o determi n e the attitu d e towar d .

1

a strology o f the author o f P i ers P l ow m a n two passages ,

are o f particular importa n ce O ne o f the s e is found o n ly .

in the earlier two ver s io n s I n a spee ch o f D ame S tu dy .

the po et is wa r n ed n ot to meddle with sor c ery a n d magi c ,

a n d the al c hemy taught by A lbertus

2
A st r o n omy is name d .

amo n g the list o f evil pra c ti c es alo n gside o f g eometry an d ,

geoma nc y
A c ast r o n om y e is an ha r d e thy ng e and yv l f r to kn ow e
e o ,

Geom et ri e an d g eom e sy e i s gyn f u l of s p ech e ;

Wh o so t h e nk e t h w e r ch e wi t h t he t w o t h r yv et h f u l lat e .

F or so r ce r y e i s th e sover ey n e b ok e t h at t o t he s c i ence l ong et h .

T he astro n omy c o n dem n ed by the poet j udge d by the

‘ ’
,

c ompa n y it keeps c a n n o t have bee n o f a very high or d er

,
.

It is a n astrology o f quite a n obler ki n d that is ref erred to

by the author o f the last o f the three vers io n s i n a later ,

pa s sus o f the poem 3

T he i n flue n c e o f t h e s tars upo n m a n
.

a t birth i s here take n f or granted In illustrati n g the d i f .

feren c e betwee n lear n i ng ( cler g i e ) an d c ommo n s e n se

( y
k n d e w i t t ) the poet says ,

r i h
C l e g e c o m e t b o t e o f s i ht , a n d
‘

n e tt o f s t e r r es, ky d wi
r h r
A s t o b e b o e o t e b y g et e i n su c c o n s t el l ac io n h -

h h r
T at w it w exet h t e o f a n d o t e w y r d e s b ot e, h r h
Vu l t u s hu i u s s accu li s u n t s u bi e c ti vu l t i b u s cce l es t i b u s ‘
.

T he fa c t that i n the third versio n the earlier ref ere nc e to

ast r o n omy as a magi c art is omitted may suggest that the
—
p oet whether the s ame as the o ne who wrote the earlier
vers io n o r a di ff ere n t o n e—thought the c o n dem natio n too
s evere It may be too that the ge n eral e nthusiasti c i nter
.
, ,

1
Thi h s b n d one b y Pr o f s o r M nly ( M od P hi l 7
s a ee e s a . . .

V r i n A 1 1 1 52 ff ( B E TS 28 Ve r i n B
2
e s o . . . . s o 10 . 207

( B E TS 3 8 . .

V r i n C 1 5 2 8 ff ( B E T S 54
8
e s o . . . .

I n V r i n B th nt r t b tw
‘
e s o , n l gi
e co n d ky nd as e ee c er e a e w it is
g iv en q u i t e d iff r n t ly ( 1 2 69 7 0 : B E T S 3 8 1 96 )
e e .
-

. .

O f q od u i m s co m t h le gy e n d c nnyng e o f h eve n
sc u e c r a o e,

A n d o f q od vi di m u c m t h ky n d e wi tt ; o f
us i 3 te o f dy ve
o e s rse p e p le .
1 22 M edi ceval A tti tu d e t ow ar d A s tr ol og y

es t how n i n a strology at the tu r n o f the c e ntury by men

s

like Gowe r a nd C hau c er rea c ted upo n the author o f P i er s

P l ow ma n so as to c ause him to c ha n ge his views T he .

d enun c iatio n o f the mathemati cal s c ienc es in the f ormer o f

the two pas s ages is vague at best a n d may imply simply a ,

g e neral hostility to sor c e r y and magi c Eve n i f the li n es .

had bee n retai n ed in the last vers i o n or i f both had been ,

written at the same time the co ntradictio n between the ,

‘

two w ould have been no greate r tha n that fou n d in the '

works o f D a nte and ma ny another medi aeval writer 1

.

The dis c ussio n o f divi natio n fou n d in the fourth book ,

’
o f B arbour s B ru ce prese nts a n attitude toward astrology
,

somewhat similar t o that o f P i er s P low man although in ,

the B r u c e t he hostile point o f view is that o f a ratio n alist ,

rather than that o f a c onservative e cc lesiasti c Barbour .

introdu c es the subj e c t i n c on ne c tio n wit h a pro phe cy made

by a n old woma n to the S c ottish ki n g p romising him ulti ,

mate su cc ess in his fight agai n st the B ritish T he fa c t that .

the predi c tio n a c tually c ame t r ue pu zz le s Barbour a n d by , ,

way o f comme n t on the ge n eral problem o f prophe cy he ,

enters upo n a le ngthy ex c ursus o n astrology and ne c ro

ma n cy T he latter o f c our s e he den ou nc es as a wi cked art
.
, , ,

although he admits that demo n s c a n f oretell the futu r e. 2

1
E v en i n the ea rl i e r tw o v r s i on s a s tr ology i s in p a r t acc ep t e d
e ,
.

A ll t hr ee t ext s c ont a i n r e f e r ence to Sat u r n s a p r og nos t i cato r

a a

o f f am i n e a n d fl o o d ( A 7 3 1 1 ; B 6 3 27 ; C 9
. . a nd i n .

V e r s i o n s B a n d C ( B 1 5 3 52 6 4 ; C 1 8 94 1 06 ) i t i s s t at ed t h at
.
-
.
-

shi p m en an d sh eph e r d s f o r m e r ly pr e d i ct e d w eat h e r b y th e s t a r s ,

an d t h a t t h e pr es en t f a i lu r e o f th ir pr ed i ct i on s i s a s i g n o f
e

d eg en e r at e t i m es C f also C 1 0 1 07 8 ; A 1 0 1 42 Pr o f esso r
. . .
-
. .

T a t l ock ( T he S cene of th e F r a n kli n s T a le Vi s i t ed p 29 ) has

’
.
,

al r ea d y s u g g es t e d t h at t h e c o nt r a d i ct i on s i n P i er s P l owm a n a r e n o t

s o r eal a s t h ey a t fi rs t s i g ht pp ea ra .

B r u ce 748 74 ( B E T S E S 51 E a r l i e r i n t he f ou r t h b o ok
2 -

. . .

( 2 1 6 i n r el a t i ng t h e d ea t h o f K i n g Ed w a r d B a rb ou r c i t es a ,

l eg en d t o the e ff ect t h at the E ng l i sh m on a r c h hi m s el f ha d a d em o n

a s a f am i l i a r , w ho b y m e a n s o f a n a m b i g uou s p r e d i ct i on ha d
, ,
1 24 M edi wva l A tti tu d e t ow ar d A s tr olog y

Barbour was too well i n formed o n the subj e c t o f astrology

itsel f to atta c k mo r e tha n the extreme ma n i festatio n s o f
astrologi cal divi n atio n His max imum c laim is a fter all .
, ,

that the astrologer c a nno t predi c t what will befall in par

t i c u la r c ases
’
He admits that the c o ns tellatio n s c a n
.
‘

in c li n e a m a n to goo d or ill and that t he ast r ologer can ,

determi n e a ma n s n a tu r a l di spo s itio n 1 ’

With rega rd to .

su c h ge n eral p r og n o sti c at i o ns B arbour merely makes t he ,

’
familiar reservatio n that ma n s will remai n s free eve n her e
to c o nque r his evil te n de n c ies i f he so de s i r es He cites ,
.

A ri s totle as a notable example o f a strong m a n who over

c ame his i n c li natio n s towa r d lyi n g and c ovetous n ess He .

therefore c o nc ludes i n view o f so ma n i fest a proo f o f ,

’
ma n s p ower to shape his own desti ny t hat divi n ation by ,

the sta r s i s n a c e r t a n e thi ng 2 ‘

.
’

It may be s tat ed as a ge n e r al pri nc iple t hat the ent hu

s i a s m for a s t r ology show n by medi aeval write r s varies i n

di r e c t propo r tio n to th e i r k n owledge o f t h e subj e c t While .

ma ny a popula r religious writer might hold o ff from astrol

ogy as a thi ng i n it s el f evil n o s u ch ge n e r al distrust i s ,

n ot i c eable o n t he pa r t o f the more lear n ed A t the oppo s it e .

pole i n fa c t f rom t he attitude o f R i c ha r d R olle was that

, , ,

o f the g r eat E nglish theologia n o f the fou r tee nth c e ntury ,

B r a dw a r d i n e T he lat ter s D e Cau s a D ei although writ ten

’
.
,

i n L ati n be c ame widely k n o

,
wn a n d it s dis cussio n o f pre ,

destinatio n and free will c a n not well be overlooked in deal

i ng with astrology i n the E ngla n d o f the fourtee n th c e n tu r y 3
.

1
I bid .
7 o6
8, 7 1 6 2 8 - -

2
I b i d 74 6 T he e e
. . r f r ri
en c e t o A st ot le ( 7 3 6 42 ) i s cu ou s T he
-
ri .

e x pa m l e o f a m an c o n q ri ng hi vi
ue s e r
l n atu e u su all c t e d in t he
,
y i
l iter t ra u e of t he f o r t enth n t ry w a
u e ce u , s t h at of Hip p o r c a t es ( se e
b l w p
e o , .

3
T he i mp rt o ance - h
in t he t e o l o g ca l d i
ip t f th f rt ths u es o e ou e en

ry f th pr
c en t u o e o b l em c o nce n ng r i fr wi ll n d th r fl t i ns
ee ,
a e e ec o

of t hi s d i p u te i n M i ddl s eE ng l i s h l i t r t r e a e no t d b y C F
e a u ,
r e . .

B r o w n i n T h A u th r of
,
e o T he P e arl on id er ed i n th L i g h t of hi
,
c s e s
 A s tr ology i n M i d d le E ng li s h Li t er a tu r e 1 2 5

As i n di c atio n o f the view regardi n g the subj ect o f astrol

an

o gy c urre nt at O xford
’
B r a dw a r di n e s treatme n t o f the ,

subj e c t is i n itsel f valuable .

B r a d w a r d in e s o rthodoxy o n the question o f astrology i s

’

irreproa chable I nasmu c h as the purpose o f his c hief work

.

was a defense o f the A ugu s ti n ian do ctri n e o f pre d estination ,

a ny rival theory o f determinism found i n him a sto ut

oppo n e nt 1
Harking ba c k to the quarrel betwee n the early
.

C hur c h and the m a thema ti ci he rehearses the histo ric c o n ,

dem n a t i o n o f the a n c ie n t reade r s o f horos c ope s by the aid ,

o f ple nti ful quotatio n s f rom A mbrose A ugust ine a n d , ,

Gregory 2
T he questio n o f astrological fatalism o n c e
.

thoroughly dispose d o f however B r a dw a r din e shi fts f rom , ,

the atta c k to t he de fe n se He makes n o obj ect io n s to the .

scien c e o f his o w n day a cc epti n g in full t he mo d erate ,

ast rology o f Ptolemy a n d the scholasti c theologia n s E ve n .

into his exposition o f the patristi c do c tri n e he i n sert s a

c aveat to the e ff e c t that whe n the astrologer i n di c ates me r ely ,

ten de nc ies a n d m o tives hi s art is legit imate 3

T he action ,
.

o f t he st ars upon man s low er nature is explai n e d accor d i n g ’

to the familiar reaso n i ngs o f T homas A qui nas !

T he

T h e o log i ca l Opi ni ons ( P u b M od . . L ang A s s oc

. . 19 . 1 15 B rad
w a r din e i s d i s c u sse d a t so m e h ( pp 1 28 l e ngt .

1
B r a dw a r din e s h rp ly d i t i ng u i sh e a n e
a s s c es s i ta ti o p er cau s a m

s u p er i o r e m an d a n eces s i ta ti o p er ca u s a s i nf er i or es . He j
s u b ect s

t he h u m an wi ll t o t he fir st , but d e f en d s its fr ed m v er a g i n st
e o o a

t he sec o n d . T he r u le o f the s t a r s w ou l d , of co r s f all n d r t he

u e, u e

lat t e r ca t eg o ry ; cf . S Ha. hn , T h om as B r a d w a r di nu s u n d s ei n e L ehr e

vo n d er M e ns chli chen Wi llensf r ei hei t ( Mun st e r ,
1 90 5 : B au m k e r
’
s

B ei tr ci g e Vo l
'

.
,
2
D e Ca u sa D ei ( e d S avi le
.
,
p . 26 5 .

3
I bid . : f
S i t am em at u m s i d e r u m n eq u aq u am n ece ss i t a t em s ed
‘
,

q u a n d am d i sp os i t ion em , et i n c l i n a t i on em i n ho m in ib u s a d q u o s dam
a c tu s i m p o r t e t, n on vi d et r u p en itu s a b n eg a n du m .
’

‘
I bi d .
,
p .
466 :
‘
P r o i u d i c ii s au te m a st r o l og o r u m , p hi s i o g n o m o n i
r
co u m , e t caet e r o r u m s i m il iu m a dve r t e n d u m q od st ell u ae e t vi r t u te s

coel es t es m u lt u m d i sp onu n t ,
et v eh em e n t e r i n cl i n n t co rp a us hu m a n u m
1 26 M edia val '
A t ti tu d e t ow ar d A s tr olog y

p r e c ept s o f a sa n e a st r ology are themselves made to se r ve

‘ ’

agai nst the do c tri n e s o f fatalism It is our duty says .

,

B r a dw a r d in e to study the natural dispositio n s whi c h have

,

been impla n ted i n us by the heave ns an d to foster our ,

good traits so that they may in time c o n quer the ba d

,
.

B r a dw a r din e draws upo n Ptolemy s C en ti l oqu i u m f or the

’

advi c e that the wise m an like the shrewd husba n dman will , ,

suppleme nt the aid given by the st ars an d that by lookin g ,

i n to the future he will fortify him s el f agai n st a n inevitable

“
evil 1
. A s a n example o f will power c o n queri ng a n evil -

di spo s itio n B r a dw a r d i n e relate s a s to r y f r om personal

,

experienc e He o nc e met a rich mer c hant he says who

.
, ,

c onf essed that the as c e n da n t at his birth was in t he first

‘ ’
—
fa c e o f A ries a c o n stellatio n whi c h n ormally would
have predisposed him to a lif e o f homosexual lust B ra d .

w a r di ne o n expressi n g his surpris e that the man was

,

instead a r esp ect a b le mer chant learned that the latt er ha d

'

i n deed bee n c ompelled to struggle agai n st his inborn pas

sio ns ever s i nc e he was a boy 2
A n other i n stan c e o f a .

similar ki n d B r a dw a r din e borrows from the S ecr e tu m

S ecr e t or u m a work supposed to have bee n written b y
,

A rist o tle A c c o r di ng to the S ecr e tu m stude n ts o f t he

.
,

Greek phys i c ia n Hippo c rate s o n c e took a pi c ture o f their

master to a famous t ea c her o f physiognomy only to b e to l d ,

a d al iq u a co nv en i en t i a p r o s e q u en d a , et con t a r ri a f u g i en da ; et h aec
d i sp os i t i o est vir tu s seu vi t i u m natu r al e d e qu a m ult i p hilosop hi ,

n at u r al es m o r a l e s e t a s t r ol og i saep e t r a c ta nt ; c f pp 450 ff
’
. . .
, ,

I b i d p 467 N m ic t n d u m P t o l m u m i n C e n t i l og i o v e r b o
1 ‘

“
.
, . : a s u s ec u o ae

8 : A n i ma s a pi en s a di va t o p u s st ella u m q u em a dm o du m sem i nat or

u r ,

f o t i t u d in es n a t u r al s ; s i c se cu n d u m eu n d em su pr a eius dem v e rb o
”

“
r e

5 : A s t r o l o g u s o p t i m u s m u l t u m m a l u m p r o hi b er e p o t e i t q u o d r ,

e iu s n a t u r am p r aes civer i t
”
s ecu n du m s t e l l a s v en t u u m e st cu m r ,

s i c e n i m p r m u n i et eu m c u i m al u m f u t u r u m e s t u t p o s si t al iqu i d
ae ,

p at i sicu t et t est an tu r exp e ri m en t a su p e riu s r eci tata T h ese s ame

,
.
’

a p h o ri s m o f t h e C e n ti l o qu i u m a n d sev e r al o t h e r s a r e u s e d i n a
s

s l i g h t ly d iff e r e n t c on n ect i o n on p 450 . .

I b i d p 4 50
2
. . .
,
1 28 M e die va l A t ti tu d e t ow ar d A s tr olog y

opposed to t hat o f B r a dw a r d in e Wyclif s negative attitu d e .

’

was not so mu c h o n e o f hostility to ast rology itsel f as one ,

o f i n di ff e r e n c e to sc ie nc e as a whole T o the E ngli s h .

reformer as to the Fathers o f the early C hur c h an interest

, ,

i n a s t r o n omy seemed t r ivial c ompared with the eternal

issue s fo r whi c h he f elt th a t he was battli ng He alrea dy .

exhibit s that literal i n te r p r etatio n o f the S c riptures which

fou n d in the B ible a n all su ffi c ient guide i n matters se c ular -

as well as religious a n d whi c h proved in later c e nturies to ,

be emba r rassi n g to moder n s c ien c e 1

.

Wy c li f did n ot formulate his c on s ervative views on

astrology at the outset o f his c areer ; n or were they f ou n d ed
upon ig n oran c e o f the c o n temporary tea chi n gs on the sub
j ec t T here is evide nc e i n his writi ngs that he was well
.

a c quai n ted with the c urre nt astrolo gi c al t ext books in his -

earlier works he seems eve n t o have subs c ribed to astro

logi c al theory T here is exta nt a short treatise o f his .

o n c omets i n whi c h A r istotle A verroes Haly and other

, , , ,

A r abia n ma s te r s a r e f r eely c ited ?

A gai n i n a c uriou s ,

passage o f the D e E n t e P re di ca m en ta li whi c h attempts to ,

give a pho n ologi c al expla natio n o f o n omatop oeia the i nfl u ,

e n c e o f c elestial bodie s is ta c itly take n f or gra n ted ?

In
1
Wycl if ha s l t tl e i d i es wh at soev e r E ven
u se f or a ny s ecu l a r s tu .

l a w g r a m m a r a n d l og i c a r e t o b e sh u nn e d b ecau se t h ey a r e
, , ,

e m p loy e d f o r priv a t e g a i n ( P olem i ca l Wor ks e d B u d d en s i eg , .

,

L on do n 1 883 1 , I n hi s D e Ver i ta t e S a cr e S cr ip tu r e ( e d
, . .

B u dd en s i eg 1 906 2 he
,
xh o r t s pri est s n ot t o sp en d t h eir
, . e

t i m e i n w o r ldly s t u d i es : S i ig i t u r sc i en c i e secu l a r e s s i n t p ost

‘

p on en d e q u i a n on d ir ect,
du cu nt a d p i et a t em q u e e st cu lt u s D e i
e , ,

qu n t o m ag i s a r t es c on t en ci os e e t lu c r at iv e qu e i ndu cu nt cultum
a ,

secu l i e t f ac i a n t t h eo l og i a m con t em p n i ! ( c f also i bid 1 22 ; and

’
. . .

b el w p o , .

d i a m e n t li Q u aest i X I I ( e d B e r 1 89 1 p 2 97 )
2
D E nte P e re c a ,
o . e , , .

U t r u m co m et a s i t d e n atu r a c el i vel el em en t a ri T h e t r eat i s e

‘ ’
.

i t sel f whi ch i s a ch a r cte ri st i c sch olast i c d i sput at i on i s u n intel

, a ,

lig i ble t o m e .

1’
I bid p 1 7 Wy l i f r e f r t o c el st i l i n fl enc e i n sev er al ot h er
.
, . . c e s e a u

w o rks b t hi s l ngu ag e i s fr equ ently so c ryp t i c th at i t r e f uses t o

,
u a
 A s tr olog y i n Mi dd l e E ng li s h Li t er a tu r e 1 29

still another insta n c e however where the power exer c ised , ,

’
by the stars serves to illustrat e the relatio n between Go d s
forek n owledge a n d ma n s f ree will Wyc lif alrea dy sa f e ’
,

guards him s el f by stati ng t hat astrology is i n trodu c e d

merely by way o f example 1
.

Wy c li f s mature j udgme n t c o n cernin g ast rology was dis

’

t i n ct ly u n favorable He i nveighs agai n st it in his s ermo n s .

,

i n his E n glish tra c tates and espe c ially i n the Tr i a l og u s , ,

the treati s e whi ch he wrote at the c lose o f his li f e a n d ,

whi c h might be c alled his summa t heolog iae I n all these ‘

.
’

di sc ussio n s he emphasi z es the futility o f astrology

,
He .

a cc use s the f riars o f pra c tising sor c ery ? and o f studyi n g

v eyn s op hi st r e e a n d a st r o n o m y e
‘ 3 ’
instead o f the B ible .

Wy c li f would ba n ish appare ntly all astrology and astro n , ,

o m y f rom the s c hools a n d substitute the pure Word o f God ,

.

I n o n e o f his L ati n se r mo n s he a s s ert s that i n the ve r s e ,

o f the N ew T estame n t B r u n t s ig n a i n s o le e t lu n a is , ,

c o n tai n ed whatever o f truth ca n be f oun d i n Ptolemy s

’

Q u a dr i par ti tu m o r i n a ny other astronomical text book

4 -

.
,

Wy c li f eve n j oi n s to this religious co nservatism the scep

y i el d c l e a r s en s e . T h us i n hi s D e B lasp h em i a ( e d D z i e w i ck i
.
,
1 893 ,

p . it i s a pp r a en t l y a j
c o n u n c t on i of v r l u nt ow r d p l n et
se e a a a s

th at i s t a k en as a s ig n d i s sen s i on i n th e
of s a c a C hri t i n C h u r h In .

se r m on on Luke 12 . 2 5 ( B r u n t s i g n a i n s ol e et l u na et
‘
th e
m u t u al d e p e n d e n ce o f e a r t h a n d h ea v e n i s q u i t e c l ea r ly a c c ep t e d

( S er m on es e d Lo ser th 1 887 1 , .
, , .

Q u o d p o n a t u r g r a c i a e x em p l i
1 ‘
E n te 2 7 : e d D i ew icki
’

(D e . . z

1 90 9 , p Wycli f is t ryi ng t o a n s w e r t h e q u e s t i o n wh e th e r
d eny hi s L o r d—a t hi ng pr ed i c t ed b e f o r e
.

P te r h d b en fr e n t t o
e a e e o

h n d by Chri t hi m el f
a s s .

“ c h p 2 ( e d D i ew i p
2
D Ap t i e os a s a , a . . z cki , 1 889 , .

T h E ng li h W k of Wy lif (
e s or s c ed . Ma t t h e w ,
B E TS .
74 .

‘
S er m o X I I ( S er m o n es 1 84 ) Et .
‘
sic i n t ellig i p ot est A u g us t in u s,

d i cen s q od u i n f er t i li ta te s cr iptu r e q u e li b e t ver i ta s es t i n c lu s o .

N am i n i llo L uc . XX I , 25 : B r u nt s ig na in s o le e t Inna i n t ellig itu r

q u i d q u i d v e r i t a t i s q u a d r ip a r t i t u m P t o l e m e i i
vel a l a a s t o n o m a r i int el
’
l ig i t .
1 3 0 M edi e val A tti tu d e t ow ar d A s tr olog y

t i c i sm o f the ratio nali s t A s in the c ase o f A ugustine the .

,

co nvi c tion that astrology was useless tempt ed him to atta c k

it with s c ie ntifi c argume nts A n e ntire c hap ter is devote d

to astro n omy a n d astrology—the two are n ever clearly dis
.

t i ng u i she d by Wy c li f — in the Tr ia l og u s 1
A fter a not .

u nsympatheti c exposition o f the do ctri n es o f t he double

s c ie nc e Wy c li f pro c eeds to find fault with them
,
He .

obj e c ts for on e thing to the A verroisti c tea chi ng that i f

, ,

a s i ngle star we r e adde d to t he sky the whole u n iverse ,

would c ea s e movi n g ?
Joshua s c ausi ng the su n to stan d ’

still says Wy c li f would alo n e refute su c h a theory

, , .

A gai n st j udi c ial astrology it self he employs among othe r s , ,

the patristi c argume n t c o nc ern i n g twi n s T he astrologer .

T he r e
‘
at least c a nn ot predi c t the future ce r t itu dinalit e r .
’

are ma ny fa c tors beside stellar i n fluence whi c h d etermine a

c hild s fate—heredity nutrit io n a n d exerc ise ; yet what
’

, ,

astrologer takes a c c ount o f thes e ? I t is clear that astrol

o g e r s like physi c ia n s speak fi c tio n as o fte n as truth
,
3
A fter , .

Wyc lif has agai n att a cked astronomy proper by poi n tin g out ,

that it is u n able to explai n eve n the simplest d iffi cu lt i e s

whether f o r example a ngels regulate the motio n s o f the
planets—Wy c li f passes j udgment upon the whole s c ienc e
, ,

“
as f ollows : E x multis t al ib u s videtur mihi quod peri c u ‘

losu m est n imis i n som n i i s i st iu s sc i ent i ae i mm o ra r i ,

sp ec ia li t e r cu m f u n d a t i o illi n s sc i ent i ae s it i n c erta et fi deli s ,

posset longe melius i n ali i s exer c it i i s a n im ae o ccu p a r i Nec .

h p ( ed L ec h ler Oxf o r d
1
T r ia log u s ,
c a . 15: D e C e lo et A s tr i s .
, ,

1 879 ) pp . 1 23 -

7 .

2
T r i a l og u s ,
p . 1 25 . Wy cl if s i ng les ou t R ob e t G r r o s s et e s t e f or
c en su e r ; cf .
, on the r
a st o no m y of A v erroe s, R ena n, A ver r o es et

l A ver r oi s m e ( P a ri s p
’

, . 12 1 .
.
3
Tr i a l og u s , p . 126 :
‘
Et p at e t , q uod si c u t m edi i i et t r l g i
c s c as o o

fi ng u nt see e p s en t en t a s i q u as i g no r an t ; et t al i s f allac i a es t in a r t e
alc hi m i c a et i n m u lt i s s i m i l ib u s s op h i sm a t i s f alla cit er a t r u t a nn i s .
’

I bi d .
,
p . 1 27 .
 CHA PT ER I X

AST R O L O G Y I N G O WER A ND C H A U C ER
T he lite r a r y i nterest i n a strology whi c h had bee n on the ,

i nc rea s e i n E ngla n d throughout the fourt eenth c entury ,

c ulmi n ated i n the works o f Gower a n d C hau c er A lthough .

refe r e nc es to a strology were already freque nt i n the

roma nc es o f the fourt ee nth c e ntury t hese s till retai n ed ,

the sig ns o f bei ng foreign importat io n s It was only i n .

the fi ftee n th c e n tury that a s trologi c al s imile s a n d embel

l i shm en t s be c ame a matter o f c our s e in the literature o f
E n gla n d .

S u ch i n n ovatio n s o n e mu st c o n fe ss were due far more

, ,

to Chau c er tha n to Gowe r A lthough Gow e r too sa w .

, ,

artisti c possibiliti es in the n ew astrologi c al l e ar n i n g a n d ,

made p r ompt u se o f these i n his retelli ng of the A lexa n de r

lege n d he c o n fi n ed himself for the most part to a bald
1
, , ,

rehear s al of f a ct s a n d theories It is a cc o r dingly as a p art .

, ,

o f the lo n g en cyc lop aedia o f natu r al s c ie n c e whi ch he i n

s e rt e d i n to his C o nf ess i o A m au ti s a n d i n c ertai n dida c ti c ,

pa ss ages o f the Vox Cla m an ti s a n d the Mi r our d e l Omm e ’

that astrology figu r e s most largely i n his works By rea s on .

o f this ve r y fa c t o f c ours e ; i t be c omes all the easie r to

,

dete r mi n e Gower s pe r s o nal attitude toward a s t r ology

’
.

Gower s sour c es on the s ubj e c t o f a strology i n so far

’
,

as these are at prese n t k n ow n were A lb u m a sa r s I n tr odu c ,

’

t or i u m i n A s tr on om i a m t he Pseudo A ristotelia n S e cr e tu m
,
-

S ecr e t or u m B ru n etto Lat i n i s Tr és or a n d the S p e cu lu m

’
, ,

A s tr on om ie as c r ibed to A lbert the Great ?

It i s la r gely
upo n Alb u m a sa r an d B ru n etto Latini that the C onf ess i o
A m a n ti s d r aws for the expo s itio n o f astrology whi c h forms

1
S ee v ab o e, p . 1 05 .

2
W h ve a e se en ( ab o v p
e, .
74 ) t h at t hi s w as pr o b ab l y wri tt en by
Ro g r B
e n aco .
 A s tr olog y i n Gow er an d C hau c er 1
33

a part o f the s eve nth book ( 6 3 3 T he pas s age

des c ribes at le ngth the astrologi c al i n flue nc es o f the various
pla n ets and c o n s tellatio ns n ami n g the c limates whi c h they ,

seve r ally gover n a n d the va r ious huma n di spos itio n s whi c h ,

they produ c e i n those bor n u n de r their rule T he passage .

r eads i n fa ct like the su m m a r y o f a n astrologi c al text

, ,
~

book e n live n ed here a n d there by b its o f poeti c des c r iptio n

, .

O f espe c ial sign ifica nc e is the defi n itio n o f astro n omy a n d

astrology with whi ch Gower ope n s the a c c ou t a defi n in —
tion for whi c h he was largely i n debted to the S ecr e tu m
S ecr e t or u m ?
Ever s i n c e the i n trodu c tio n o f A ra bian s c i
Ma ca u lay ( Co m p le t e Wor ks of Gow e r O xf o r d
1
, ,
1 90 1 , 522 ,
3 .

524 6 ) ha s p o i n t e d ou t m o s t o f th e p a r a ll el s b e t w ee n
-
t he C onf es s i o
an d Lat i ni s ’ ’

T r es or . T h ese h v a e b een su pp l em en t e d b y Ha m lt o n i
in r r t i cl
( S om e S ou r c es of the S even th B oo k of Gow er s )
’
a e c en t a e

C onf es s i o A m an ti s : M o d P hi l 9 34 1 Go w e r m en t i on s
. . .

A lb u m a sa r b y n am e Ham i lt o n p o i n t s o u t ( p 20 ) t h at hi s .

e x a ct in d eb t e d n es s rt in d
t o t h e I n tr o d u c t or i u m can o nl y be a sc e a e

by s t u dya f t he com p l et t x t s i t i s f o n d i n m n u s rip t i n t e d

o e e a u a c , s a

o f t he b ri d g d t x t o f t h e i n cu n b l
a e A p r ll l b t w n t hi s
e a u a . a a e e ee

p r t i n f th C onf i n d M n d vi ll s T vel has I b el i v

o o o e ess o a a e e
’
ra s ,
e e,

n ev e r b een n o t e d I n g ivi ng th t r ol og i c l c h r c t ri st i s o f t h e
. e as a a a e c

m n oo G w r y th t h r l
,
o v r m n w h r o m fr m p l c
e sa s a s e u es o e e o a o a e

to p l e n d t h t sh
ac n s q en t ly h
,
a d m i n i n ov r E n g l n d
a e co e u as o o e a ,

s i n e t he E ng li sh e g r t t r v le r ( C nf A m 7 749 54 )
c ar ea a e s o . . .
-

A n d s o f t hi s n d i ci n a co o

T he M n s di p i t i n o e s os o

U p n t h e l o n d o f A le m i g n e o a

I set nd k p o n B t ig n s ,
a e u re a e,

Whi ch n ou i l p ed E ng lon d ; s c e
,
e

F o t h e i t v i le i n v ry l n d r ra a e e o .

T h E ng l i h i m i l r ly p l c d n d e r the r le o f th m oon by ‘

e s ar e s a a e u u e

M n d vi lle ( T v l
a e h p 1 5 d L y r d Lon do n 1 89 5 p
ra e s, c a . : e . a a , , , .

H m i lt ( M od P hil 9 3 26 if ) h
a on h wn th t G w r mp l y d
. . . . as s o a o e e o e

n t o n ly a L t i n t x t o f t h
o S t m b t l o
a eF r n h t r n l t i on e e cr e u ,
u a s a e c a s a

b y Jo f i d e W t f o d ro M i d dl E ng l i h t r n l t i o n
a re f b th h v e
r . e s a s a s o o a

b n p b l i h ed i n S t l P ’
Th V i n f th tn m
‘
ee u s S ee e s r ee r os e e rs o s o e e cr e

S m ( B E TS E S T h t r n l t i n fr m th e L t i n ( pp
’
to
e cr e
'

ru . . e a s a o o a .

4 1 18) d t
1 -

fr m the t i m e f Gow r ; th t fr om the F r en h f

a es o o e a c o
1 34 M edie val A t ti tu d e tow ar d A s tr olog y

e nc e the disti nc tio n betwee n astrology and astronomy had

,

be c ome hopelessly c o n fused ; William o f C on ches and

R oger Baco n had eve n i nverted the a cc epted usa g e It .

is intere s ti n g therefore to fi nd the old I s idorea n de fi n i

, ,

tions reappeari n g i n Gower Probably for the first time

!
1
.

in E n gli s h astro n omy a n d astrology are defi n ed a cc ording

,

to the de n otatio ns whi c h the wo r ds bear to day j -

T he passage o n ast r ology i n the seve nth book o f the

C onfess i o A ma u ti s seem s to i n di cate that Gower a cc epted
i n full the scie nc e o f A lb u m asa r Y et he i s at o n ce hostile .

to astrolo gy whe n it as sumes the r ole o f a fatalistic

philosophy He prefa c es his expo s itio n o f astrolo g i cal
.

theory with some thirty li n es ( 6 33 6 3 ) i n whi c h he expou n d s -

the orthodox do c tri n e o f f r ee will T o the assertio n o f .

’
t he n a t u r i en s that all thi ngs are gover n ed by the stars
‘
,

Gower opposes the belief in an o verruli ng Providenc e

B ot the d ivi n e i t h th erwi s o se,

T h at if m en w r n g oo de an d wi e e e s

A nd p l nt nt o th g o dh e de
es a u e ,

T h e i sh l den n g ht th ote s d r e de ; o e s r re

F or 0 m n if h im w l b f l l e
a ,
e i e a ,

I m o r e w o r t h t h n b en t h e i lle
s a a

T w a d e h i m t h t w l d t h al
o r s a e e .

B t y t t he law e ri g i n l
o e o a ,
"
Whi h h e h th s et in t h n t u r es
c a e a ,

M t w o h n i n th e c r e t r
o rc e a u es,

T h at th r o f m i b n on ob st cl
e a e a e,

B ot if i t t on d p on m ir cl s e u a e

T h g h p e i e o f s om h oly m an
’
ur r er .

J o f r oi ( pp 1.1 —
9 248 ) w a s m d e i n 1 422 b y J am e s Y ng e Th e a o .

t r an l t i on fr m t he L at i n pr e e rv s t h e n mb ri ng o f c h p t e r s
s a o s e u e a

f o n d in th rig i n l
A m 7 6 7 0—
u e o a .

. 84 ( M . l ay 3 T h e F r enc h v r i o n a c au . e s

S c t m c it s I i d r e i n
_

o f th e e re u p s g e whi ch emph i z es t h
e s o a a sa as e

u t i l i ty o f t r ol og y i n m d i i n
as ( St l p e c e e e e, .

A v ry i m i l r t h g h t i s t h at xp r essed
2
C nf A m 7 6 51 63
o . . .
-
. e s a ou e

i n th e M i d l Om m e 48 ( M c lay 1
’
r ou r e -
a au .
1 36 M edi e val A tti tu d e t ow ar d A s tr ol og y

the sayi ng a r e two o f the p re c epts o f the C en ti loqu i u m ,

1

whi c h p r aise t he utility o f ast r ology Potest qui s c ie n s .

‘

est so r u n s o n e o f t hem ( N o
,
’
m u lt o s s t ella r u m eff e c tu s .
‘

ave r te r e qua n do n atu r am ea r u m n ov e r it a c se ip su m a n te

, ,

i llo ru m even t u m p raep a r a r e T he se c o n d ( N o 8 ) reads :

’
. .

S a pie n s a n ima con f e r t coel est i op e r at i o n i q u em a dm o du m

‘
,

optimu s ag r i c ola ara n do exp u r g a n doqu e c on f e r t natur ae 2

.
’

Whateve r be the ultimate so urc e o f the phrase whet her ,

it goe s ba c k to a c omme ntary o n the C en ti l oqu i u m or was ,

arbit r arily a s c ribed to Ptolemy be cause o f its similarity to

h i s tea c hings there c a n be n o doubt that it be c ame k n own
,

early i n its p r ese n t form We have already met it i n the .

S u mm a T he ol og i e o f T homa s A qui n a s 3
who employ s it ,

i n a n a r gume n t agai n s t predi c tio n s per c er ti tu di n em : N ih il

‘

p r o h i b e t a l i q u e m homi n em per liberum arbitrium p ass i o n ib u s

resis tere U n de et ip s i ast r ologi d i cu nt quod s ap i ens hom o

.

d om i n a bi tu r as tr i s i n qu a n t u m s c ili c et dom ina t u r suis pas

,

s i o n ib u s John o f S axo ny a Pa r i s ia n astronomer o f the

.
’
,

f ou r tee nth c e ntury defi n itely c ites Ptolemy s A lmag es t as ,

’

the sou r c e fo r the s ayi ng a n d i n te r p r et s it by t h e aid o f the , ,

s imilar se n time n t expressed i n the fi fth aphorism o f the

C en ti l o qu i u m as implyi n g that f o r ewar n ed i s forea r med

,
.

The good a strologer he says is able to preve n t ma ny an , ,

evil by kn owi ng the future beforeha n d a nd ca n fortify hi s ,

c lie n t to bear a n i n evitable mis fortu n e with c alm n e s s o f

C e c c o d A sc ol i i n his A cer b a e nla r ges i n like

’

mi n d 4
.
’

, ,

1
S ee v p
ab o e, .
51 .

th f th h v r y q v
2
Bo o ese ( Nos 5 an d 8 )
. a e a l ea d b e en u o t e d a b o e ,

p . 1 2 6, n ot e . S ee C la u d i i P t o lem e i O m ni a q u e ex t a n t O p er a ( e d .

p .
438 .

3
S ee ab o v p e, . 68 .

4
T he p a s sa g e c on st it ut es t he o p i ng pa r g r ph
en a J hn f
a of o o

Sa x ny co m m en t a ry Al h b i t iu s : Vi s p i en s
’
t he I s ag og e
‘
o s on of c a r a

do m i n ab i t u r a st ri s : D i it
c P t o l em e u s i n p i nt i i
sa e A lm g e st i
s Et a .

p o t est d ecla r a r i s ic . I ll e d o m i n a b i t u r a st ri s qu i e ff ect u s p r ovent i ent e s

ex ip s i s a s t s ri p o t es t i m p dir e e v el pr hi b r
o e e z s ed ho c p o t es t f er e
ac

ui s a pi en s . Min r p o r ob a t u r au ct o r i t at e P t ol e m ei i n q i nt
u a
 A s tr ol og y i n Gow er an d Chau cer 1 37

ma nn er upo n the a dva ntages o f astrologi c al lear n i n g The ?

—
S e cr e tu m S e cr e t or u m a t least the Fre nc h version whi c h
Gower k n ew—has a c urious r ef ere nc e to the sayi n g i n c o n ,

n ec t i o n with an expositio n o f physiog n omy and astrology .

I n the Middle E n glish tra n slatio n made f rom the Fren c h ,

by James Y o nge the passage reads as follows : A n d ‘

t her f o r every m a n o f the b eg ynnyn g e o f his be r th by the , ,

vertu o f the st e r r i s wy c h tha n have r ew a r d e to hym is ,

d i sp o s i d dyver s e ly to vertues a n d to vi c es B ut soth hit is .

,

that every wyse man have vertu a n d will ; by whi c h he may

kepe hym a n e n t ky n de a n d ve r tues o f s t er i s as sayth ,

B u g u sa r u s the P hi loso f r e i n the b eg ynnyn g o f the C en t i log e ,

o f T holom ew e .

I n the c ours e o f time Ptolemy s doct ri n e o f the wis e

’
,

m a n ruli n g the stars gathered about itsel f a whole litera

ture 3
It fou n d i t s chief popula r embodime n t i n Jea n de
.

p r op o si t i one C en t i l o q u n , ub i d icit : O p t imus a s t r ol o g u s m u lt um

m alu m p r oh ib er e p o t es t q uod s e cu n d u m s t el l a s ven t u r u m e st cum

i
e u s n a t u a m p r e sc i v e r i tr . S ic en im p r e m un iet eu m cu i m a lu m
ve n t u r u m est ut cu m v en e r i t p o ssi t illu d p at i .
’
T he py o f
co

Alchab i t i u s whi ch I h v d i i n t h e Co l m b i a e u se s u a U n iv e r s i ty
L i b r a ry I t s f ll t i tle r e d s : Li b ellus Ys g og i cu s A bdi laz i
. u a a i d es t ,

S er vi Gl or i os i D ei q u i d i ci tu r A lcha b i t i u s , , a d M a g i s t er i u m I u di ti

or u m A s tr or u m i n t er pr e ta tu s a o ha nn e
,
J H i s p a l e n s i s cr i p t u m q u e
in J ohann e S a xoni e Ven i ce 1 485 T hi s i s evi d ent ly the
e u n de m a , , .

co mm e n t a ry o f J o h n o f S a x o ny o f whi c h a s h o r t e x c e rp t i s g iv en

b y L D el i s le i n B i bli o theq u e N ti o n le : M n u s c ip t s L ti n s e t
.
, a a a r a

F r n c i s ( P a ri s 1 89 1 ) 1 27 ; c f Ha m i lto n p 3 44
a o , . .
, . .

b 2 2 ( e d V e n i c e 1 820 p
1
A c er a . .
, , .

S t ee le T hr ee P os e Ver s i ons p 2 1 6 T hi s p u zz l i ng a sc ri p t i on
2
,
r , . .

o f au t h o r s hip i s n o t f o u n d i n t h e L a t i n t e x t a t l e a s t n o t i n th e on e ,

p u b li sh ed at B onn 1 50 1 ( cop y in Ha rv a r d U n iv er s i ty L i b r a ry
, ,

f ol . 18 a
) .

3
I ts p p o u la ri ty
hr g h t t h l t r m di v l
,
in f ac t , c ont nu ed i t ou ou e a e e e a

c en t u ri es a n d t h e R en i s n ce B en v n u t o d a I m ola q u otes i t i n
a sa . e

hi s com m ent ry ( C omm n t m F lo r en c a 1 887 1 I n t he e u ,

e, , .

l ett e r s f R ob e r t G g in ( 1 42 5
o i t i s c i t e d i n n a r gu m n t
a u a e

ag i n t
a sst r o l og r sa( e d b y T h sn P ri 1 903 3
e T he
. ua e, a s, , .
1 3 8 M edi e val A tti tu d e t ow ar d A s tr ol og y

M eu n s R oma n d e la R os e Jean de M eu n does n ot c ite

’
.

Ptolemy by n ame a n d it s eem s probable that he ob tai n ed his ,

knowledge f rom a s e condary source su ch as the S u mma ,

T heol og ie o f A qui n as with whose discussio n o f astrology ,

the cor r espo n di ng passage o f the R oma n d e la R os e shows

ge n eral s imilarities ?
I n the c ourse o f a lo n g expositio n o f
stellar i n flue nc e p r edesti na tion a n d free will Jea n de
2
, , ,

M eu n re c urs several times to the wise man who braves the

power o f the stars by wi nn i ng the vi c tory over his own
passio n s I n eac h c ase his t hought resemble s that o f the
.

S u m ma T he ol og i e T o over c ome the evil i n flue nc e o f the .

constellation s Jean de M eu n de clares ,

Il su ffi t qu e s ag es s e t i ennent

E t l eu r s moeu r s n at iv es r e f r en en t .
3

I t al i an Lu d ovi c o Mo r o y
h a d t he s a i ng i n sc b e on a c oss ri d r ( B u r ck
h r dt
a I t w as
e fig
ev n r ib u t ed b y o n e w r
it i o
e t V i r gi l ( i bi d
V i llon ( c odrcm
.

P a ri 1 842 p 1 1 5 ; c f
w

fi xy
”
‘

and -
s, , . .

Ham i lt on p 344 ) n am es S ol om on a s th
,
. th o r T h e pr ecep t w a s e au .

p op u la r as a con v en i n t rg m ent f o n r t h dox a t r ology as e a u r a o o s

l at e a th close o f t h s v en t een t h centu ry ; c f K i t t r e d g e Th e Ol d

s e e e .
,

F m er n d his A lm n k ( B o st on
ar a p 50 a ac , . .

l wi t h t he S m m a Th l g i ( e b v e pp 67
. u i n a dd i eo o e se a o , .

t i on t o t he l i n e t o b q ot d h o r tly J e n d e Meun s s sert i on o f

s e u e s , a
’
a

t h e fr ee d om o f t h e wi ll d M rt Or lean 1 87 9 4 7 9 ) e . a eau , s, , .

Ma i s l a f at l i t é je n i e a .

T ou t ce q e p eut f a ir e l o c i l u e ,

C s t l e r d nn e r m oeu r s t coeu r t l
’
e u o e e

Q u i ls so i n t n l i n s a f a ir e ch ose
’
e e c

Q i de l eu r t r é p s so i t la c au se
u a ,

P l m t i er d m i n é ar a a e o s

D on t l es coe r son t e lav es n é s u s sc .

L ang l o i s ( O ig i n es e t S o r d R om n d e l R os e P a ri s 1 890 ) u r c es u a a , ,

n am es n o o ri g i nal s f o r ny f t he a st r l g i cal p ssag s o f the p o em

a o o o a e .

Th p whi h b r p
2
R om n d l R a e a os e
g e a s sa es c ea ar

t i cu la ly p on st lla r i n fl ence a e
r u e 8 82 ( e d Ma r t eau
u r -

,
-
.

4 67.
, J n de Me n t tem nt t h at i n t he o r d i na ry cou r se
ea u
’
s s a e

o f e v ent s t he t r g v er n
, v eryt hi ng
s a s h o w s s om e
o e s

“
r e emb l n t t he li n f G w r q t d b ve ( p
s a

R om n 1 8 000 2 ( d M r t e
a
ce

, 4
o
-
e
es o

. a
o

au
e

.
uo e a o .
1 40 M edi e va l A t ti tu d e t ow ar d A s tr olog y

c hampion o f free will A gai n a n d agai n i n his ballade s a n d

.
,

i n his long poem L a F i c ti on d u L y on he g l o r i fi es fra n c

‘
, ,

vouloir It is n ot su r prisi ng therefore that D es champs

.
’
, ,

al s o follows T homas A qui nas i n i nterp r eti ng the Ptolemai c

phrase as implyi ng the possessio n on the part o f the vir ,
‘

’
sapie n s n ot so mu ch o f mere astrologi c al wisdom as o f
the power o f will to c o nquer his lowe r n atu r e—that part
, ,

o f m a n whi c h alo n e i s subj e c t to c ele stial i nflue nc e ?

T he origi n al meaning o f the Ptolemai c precept was

obviou sly quite di f fere n t f rom that whi c h i s give n to it i n
the R om a n d e la R os e a nd the ballades o f D es champ s A s .

John o f S axo ny a n d C e c c o d A sco li well u nderstood the ’

vi r s a p i e ns de s ig n ated i n the first i n sta n c e n o on e but the

, ,

s c ie ntifi c astrologer who c ould employ his superior k nowl

,

edge for hi s o w n e n ds With T homas A qui nas who w a s .

,

followed by Jea n de Meun a nd D e sc hamps the ph r ase ,

a c quired a n ethi cal i n te r pretatio n T he wise m a n was .

‘ ’

n o lo n ger the lear n ed astro n omer but the m a n o f c hara c ter , ,

who had i n dir ectly gai n ed c o ntrol o ver the i nflue nc es o f the
stars by masteri ng the i nc li n atio n s i n spired by them Now .

whe n we tur n to Gowe r we fi n d that a n eve n more religious ,

tur n is give n to the sayi ng I t is n ot so mu c h the man o f .

1
On e quot at i on ( Ch ngons R a oy a u lx 3 72 , s t an a z 4: p
o . ci t .
3 . 1 24 )
m ay su ffi c a e n i ll t r t i on :
s a us a

M i s li aig ce sa e, no u s di t T hol om é e,
Les e s t o ill e s s e ig n eu r i t d e ca ju s .

i
R es st e r p u e t, e t e s t n ob l e e t u s, v r
A l eu r e ff e c t , e t n e n
’
f ita es d ou b t an c e ;
p i q u i l d ll 1
Ca r u s
’
a
’
e es a c o n g n o i ssan c e,

I l p u t f u ir l r m l e ent nci on
e eu a e ,

E t con v e r t ir n b i en l u r m v i ll n e e e au eu a c

P a F r an c V oulo ir selon m opp in i on

’
r , .

A no th er p oem i n whi h P t l m y i s m n t i o n e d b g i n s wi t h t he l i ne
c o e e e
‘
L h m m e t l pr pr
’
o e s d
a m xo nd d
e c au sel s wi t h x t ly e s es au ,
’
a ea e ac

th sam e i d a t h t G w e r
e e xp o nd at l ng th in his Mir our d e
a o e u s e

l Om m e ( M i r ou r
’
 A s tr ol ogy i n Gow er an d C hau cer 1 4 1

chara cter as the man o f prayer who rules the sta r s I t is

, ,
.

o n ly i n vi r tu t e D ei and m e d i a n t e D e o that t h e w i s e man is

f reed from the power exercised by the heave n s
In vir t ut e D ei sa p i en s d om i n a b i t u r a s t a , r
T o t aq u e c on s e q u i t u r vi s o r i z o nt i s eu m

C ir c u l u s e t c i cl u s , o m n i s q oq e sp r a s pr em
u u e u a

Sub p ed e su n t h om i n i s q m i uv t i p se d eu s
ue a
1
.

B oth i n the Vor Cla man tis a n d the M i r ou r d e l Om m e many

’

illustratio n s are give n where God ha d set aside the laws o f

’
n ature i n answer to a holy man s supplication Joshua .
,

biddi ng the su n stand still i n the vale o f Gibeo n D a n iel ,

i n the lio n s d en the mira c le o f the fiery cloud and that o f

’
, ,

Pharaoh s destru c tio n i n the R e d S ea all go to prove says

’
, ,

?
Gower that the eleme nts are obedie n t to the God f eari ng
,
-

Gower was p robably n ot su fficiently i nterested in the

legal s ide o f the questio n to tell us j ust where he drew the
line between a legitimate an d an illegitimate j udicial astrol
ogy He n owhere refers to the usual s cholasti c discrimina
.

Vox C la m a n tis 2 . 23 9 ( e d M a ca u l a y
1 -

42 .
4 .

2
Vox C la m an ti s 2 96 ( i bid 1 299
. 2 3 8 80 ;-

M i r ou r -
. .

N ot e t he e mph a s i s on pr ay e r i n t h e p a s sa g e q u o t ed ab o v e ( p 1 3 4 ) .

fr om the C onf essi o A mau tis Only the pr ay er o f som h oly m an .

‘ ’

( 7 663 ) can ch a ng e th e o t h e rwi se i m m u t ab le i n fl u en ce o f th e

.

h eav en s I t i s p r ob ab ly the S ecr etu m whi ch i n du ce d Gow e r t o

.

p lace su ch emp h asi s u p on p r aye r in connect i on wi th a st r ology A t .

t he c l ose d e f en se o f t he u t i li ty o f a st r ology t he a u th or
of a l o ng ,

of t he S ecr e tu m say s ( S t eel e Thr e e P r os e Ve r s i ons p 65) , , .

‘
Wh e f o e y t y s m eky l w o r t h t o kn ow e bi ngy s b e f o r e if o r m en
r r ,

m o w e b etty r t h ol e h em a n d esch ew e hem w h enn e bey kn o w e h em

,

t o co m e Whe r f o e m en og ht e wy th by se p r y er s bys ek be h eg h e
. r a

d es ty n our ba t h e b y h i s m e r cy t o r n e be evy l s ba t e r t o com e an d

, ,

bat h e wi lle ober w y se o r dey n e a n d f o r ba t m en a w e t o p r ay e t o ,

g o d dy s p i t ee i n o ry s ou n s d evoc i ou n s p r ay e r s f a s tyn g e s e rvi c es

, , , , ,

a n d a lm e s s e a n d o be r g oo d e d e dy s b y s eka n d f o r gy f n e s se o f hir ,

t r esp a s a n d b e r ep en da n t o f hir sy n n e s T h e F r e n c h v e r s i on
’
, .

( S t eele p p 1 96 20 7 ) ha s a long a dd e d ch ap t e r o n t he sub j ect o f

, .
-

pra ye r in whi ch many o f Gow e r s ow n ex am p les a r e u se d ( J osh u a

,
’

D avi d J on ah )
, .
1 42 M edi e val A t ti tu d e t ow ar d A s tr ology

tio n agai nst predi ctions per cer ti tu di n em O n the subj ect .

’
o f magi c he i s more e xpli c it I n the C o n fessor s sermon .

against sor c ery as a mea n s to w in illi c it f ruits o f love full ,

note i s take n o f the fa c t that ast ro logy formed a n integral

part o f the c o nj u r er s ritual ?
D espite his ge n e r al hostility
’

to the o cc ult arts however Gower steps beyond the limit s

, ,

set by o rthodox do c tri n e in c o n do n i ng the pra c ti c e o f magic

whe n employed for a good pu rpo s e :
F or t h e se c r a f t es a s I fi n d e,
A m a n m a i do b e w e ie of kin d e,
2
Be so i t b e t o g oo d e n t en t e .

T hi s ema nc ip a ted view o f magi c whi ch had n ever bee n ,

sa n c tio n ed by the C hur ch and whi c h was among the te n ets ,

disti nctly c o n dem n ed i n the importa nt edict o f Paris in

1 39 8 ? Gowe r probably owed to hi s sour c e the Latin ,

S p ecu lu m A s tr on om i e It was for j ust su c h a c o n do na ?

tion o f magi c it will be remembered that R oger Ba c on

, , ,

the po ss ible author o f the S p ecu lu m A s tr on omie very ,

likely w a s c o ndem n ed to impriso n me n t at the ha n ds o f his

e cc le s ia s ti cal s upe r ior s 5
.

I n tur n i n g to C hau c er it is ref r e s hi n g to fi n d the dida c ti c ,

a n d c o n t r over s ial attitude toward astrolo gy repla c ed b y

th a t o f the artist A strology f or most medi e val poets w a s
.

still too n ovel a n d da ngerous a s ubj e ct to be treated as a

M a c au l a y
1
C onf . Am . 6 . 1 33 8 -

50 ( ed .
3 . 203 -

4)
He m akt h w r i t ing e he m ak th fi g u r e , ,

He m akt h hi s calcu la c io n s ,

H e m a k t h h i s d e m on s t r a c i o n s ;
Hi s h o n r es o f A s t r on om i e
He k ep e th a s f o r t h a t p a r t i e
Whi ch l o ng e t h t o t h i n sp e cc i on
O f lo ve an d hi s a ff e cc i o n ( 1 344
2
C on f A m 6
. . . 1 3 03 -

5 ( i bi d .
3 .

3
S ee ab o ve p 7 1
, . .

M a c au l y 3 5
‘
Cf . a . 1 5.
5
S ee ab o v p 75
e, . .
1 44 M ed i e va l A t ti tu d e t ow ar d A s tr ol ogy

o f the pla n et Mar s with the heathen god o f war i n the

de sc riptio n o f the T hra c ia n temple in the K n ig ht s Ta le is ’

e n ti r ely due to C hau c e r T he c o r re spo n di n g passages o f .

the T h e ba id o f S tatius a n d the T es ei d e o f B o cc a cc io c on

t a i n n o hi n ts o f a strology ?
E nglish literatu r e al s o owes
to C h a u c e r the i n trodu c tio n o f s u c h a s tro nomi c al pe r i
ph r a s es a s th a t o f t he familiar li n e s o f the P r olog u e ( 7

t he y o ng e so nn e

Ha t h i n t h e R a m h i s -
h lfa e c ou r s y r o nn e ,

a type o f poeti c embellishme n t whi c h be c ame a c ommo npla c e

i n t he fi f t ee n th c e n tury
?

Y et the v e ry fa c t that C hau c er is fir s t a n d foremost

t h e litera r y a r ti s t m a kes it u n u s u a lly di ffi c ult to as c ertain
his ow n p e r s o n a l view s o n the subj e c t o f a s trology T here .

c a n be n o d o ubt o f his c o n ti n u e d i n tere s t i n the philo

sophi ca l p r oblem o f f r ee will a n d prede sti natio n I n view .

o f the impo r ta n c e whi c h w a s give n to the que s tion in the

T a t l o ck i n T h e S c e n e o f t he F r a n kli n
’
s T a le Vi s i t ed, pp . 19 ff ; c f . .

the sa m e au t h r o
’
s A s tr o l og y and M ag i c i n C h au cer
'
s F r a n kli n s
’

T a le ( K i t tr e dg e A n niv er s ar y P ap er s ,
B o st o n, 1 9 1 3, pp .
339
O n t h e F i lo co l o as the s ou c e r of t h e F r a n kli n
’
s T a le, s ee R a j na
( R om a nia 31 .
40
—
7; 32 . 20 4 S ch o fi eld ( P u bl . M od . L a ng .

T at lo ck, T he S c e n e f
’
A ss oc . 16 .
40 5 o t he F r an kli n s T a le
Vi s i t e d ,
pp .
55 ff .

K n i g ht
1
T es ei d e 7 3 1 ff ; Th e b a i d 7 3 4 if ;
’
s T a le 1 1 17 -

92 ; cf . . . .

H i n c k l e y N o t es , on C ha u c er 84 p
A s m la m ng l ng o f
. . i i r i i
m t yh o l og y wi t h r
a s t o l og is y f ou n d i n t h e l n es o f t he T r oi lus i
(3 1 2 02 4)
-

B ut T r il
o u s, al h o ol o f r
ca e s c old e

Gan t hank en th o th e b li s f u l g o dde s sev en e ;

T h u s so n dry p ey n es b ri ng e n f o lk t o h even e .

P r
a a ll e l s f or t hi fi g r t iv m t h d
s u a e e o o f i n di c a t ng i t mei m ay b e
fo u nd i n D ant e a nd P tr r h ; f D e a c c . ant e s
’
I nf . 11 . 1 13, 24 . 1 2
-

;
P urg . 1 56 . 21, 2 . P ar . 27 . 68, 28 . 1 1 7 , 29 . 2 ; an d P tr r h e a c
’
s

Ca nz o n e 1 3 5 88 ( ed Ca r d u cc i e F e rr a ri F lo r e n c e, 1 899 p
1 4—
. . .
, ,

T r i onfi d A m or e
’
.
7 ( e d A pp e l Ha l le .
, ,
1 90 1 , p .
 A s tr o logy i n Gow er an d Chau cer 1 45

theologi c al c o ntrove r s ies o f the time thi s is n o t su r prisi ng ,

?

C hau c er re c u r s to the subj ect o f fate agai n a n d agai n in

his writi n gs a n d even goes out o f hi s way to i n sert refe r
,

e mees to it whe r e thes e are not c alled for i n the least by

-

hi s origi nals ?
A lthough he seems n ever to have quite made
up his mind o n the relation between foreordi n atio n a n d f ree
will the referen c es i n whi c h astrology is parti c ularly m en
,

t i on e d point to the c o n c lusio n that he fa vo r ed a ki n d o f

determi n ism A passage i n the M a n of L aw s Ta le bor
.
— '

rowed i n part from the D e Mu n di Uni vers i ta te o f B ernard

S i lve st r i s— expresses a n outspoke n ast r ologi cal fatali s m ,

although it doubts that a ny science is able actually to

d e c ipher the language o f t he heaven s
1
S ee t h e a rti c le b y Ca l et on F B r . r wn o in P u b l. M od L a ng . . A s s oc .

( 19 . 1 28 T a t lo ck d i cu e s ss s t he s u b ec t j of C au c e s h r ’
i nt e r e st

i n t he q u t i on o f es in h i le e Wy clif
f or or d in t i n a o s a rt i c Chau cer a nd
( M od P hi l 1 4 265 ; f al so M d P hi l 3 3 70
. . . c . o . . .

T h ex cu r u s i n t h T i l
e ( 4 9 58 1 07 8 ) i t h m t n spi
s e ro us .
-

s e os co cu ou s

e x mp le T hi s p as ge ob ed i nt t o the d r m t i r q ir em ent o f
a . sa ,
e a a c e u s

t he st o ry a rg u es ag i n s t fr e ch o i c e
, nd f b l t e n ec
a i ty e a or a so u ess .

Pr o f esso r K i tt r dg e h s r em rk d ( Ch e P d n : A t l n ti c
a a e a u c er s
’
ar o er a

M on th ly 72 829 ) t h t the i d ea o f f t e xpr e se d i n thi l ng xp ia a e s s o e os

i s s b tly i n s i t en t t hr o g h o t t h e p m —
.

t i on i t i p e rh p ve n
‘
u s u u oe s a s e

the k y t o C r es i d s c h r a t e r A n d Pr o f s s r C r l et on F B r w n
’ ’
e s a a c . e o a . o

a d d s ( P b M d L ng A 1 9 1 28 ) t h t it m y b t th s me
‘
u . o . a . ss oc . . a a e a e a

t im e key t o Ch c r s ch r ct e r o th e r d i i n s in Ch ce r
’ ’
a F au e a a . or s c u ss o au

o f th p r oblem o f f t s N n s P i e t T l 4 1 4 30 51 8 ; C m
e a e, ee u
’
r s
’
s a e -

,
o

plai n t o f M ar s 2 1 8 26 -

; Tr oi lu s 2 . 62 1 -

3; 5 . 1 550 2, -

1 54 1 -

5; L eg end
o f Good Wom en 9 52 ; K n ig ht s T a le ’
2 50 1 -

; 44 5 54, -
2 1 29 ff .
( thi s
last i s f ound i n B o c cacc i o ) . T h es e r f r en c
e e es in clu de o nl y t h ose
whi ch iare A ss g e i n t h e N u
n ot r
P r i e t T le
a s t o l o g ca l . p a a n s
’
s
’
s a

( 420 3 ) h o w t h t C h a c r w
-
s at l s t s p rfi i l ly
a q i nt ed u e as ea s u e c a ac ua

wi t h som e o f t he nam whi ch fi g r ed i n th e cont r v er i s r g r d i nges u o s e e a

fr e wi ll
e

B t I me c n n o t b l te i t t o th b r en u a
‘

u e ,

As n t h h o ly d c t o A g t yn ca e o ur u us ,

O B oec o t he b i h op B dw dy n r e, r s ra ar .
1 46 M edi e va l A tti tu d e t ow ar d A s tr ology

F or in th e s t e r r es, cl er er t h an i s g l a s,
Is wri t en , Go d w o t , wh o so c ou d e i t ede, r
T h e d ee t h of e v e ry m an, wi th ou t en d r ede
1
.

In the K n ig ht s T a le the advi c e o f A r c ite to Pa la m on

’
,

’
a cc epts the rule o f the stars over man s destinies as an
u navoidable fa c t a n d merely c ounsels S toi c resign ation ,

F o r Go dde s l o ve , t ak a l i n p ac i en ce
Ou r p r i sou n , f o r i t m ay non o t e b e ; h r
F o tu ne rat h h
y e en u s t s a dver s i t ee v hi .

S om w ikke a s ec t o r d i sp o s i c i ou n p
rn e by m on t ell i n
O f S atu , su c s ac o u ,

H t h y v en u s t hi s l t h o g h w h dde i t w o r n ;
a e ,
a u e a s

S st o d t he h ev en wh n t h at w w er e b o rn ;
o o a e

We m ost e en du r it : t hi s i s the h o r t n d p leyn e s a

”
.

s f reque n t use o f su c h d eliberate references

C hau c er
’

‘ ’ ‘ ’
aventure or desti n ee as
Wer e it b y a v ent re o d est in ee
u r ,

( As ,
wh an a t hi ng i s sh p n i t sh al a e , b e, )
a

Were it by d est i n ee o r av entu r e ,

We r e it by i n fl u en c e o r b y n at u r e ,

Or c o n st e l la c i on ,
‘

is also s ign ifi c a n t I n fa c t it is di ffic ult to fi n d anywhere

.
,

in Chau c er s works a n appre c iable so fte n i ng o f this extreme

’

fatalisti c philosophy T he clearest attempt to harmoni z e .

astrologi c al determi n ism with the belief in an overruling

Provide nc e o cc urs in a passage i n whi ch C hau c er was
1
M an o f L aw s
’
rr ow ed fr om B ernar d
T a le 96 8 -
. T he l i n es bo
S i lve t r i
s s b v (cf p 34 ) . f d i n t h t n z i mm di t ly
a o e, . ar e oun e s a a e a e

f ollowi ng I t i w o r thy o f n ot t h t t h
( 99 usp i c i on s r eg r ds e a e s a

ing t he p s i b i l i ty o f r ea d i ng t he f u t u r i n t h s t r s a e a dd i t i on s
os e e a r

o n t he p r t o f C h au ce r ( c f 9 7 1 04
a .
,
”
K n i g h t s T a le
’
22 6 -

33 .

3
I bi d 607 9
.
-
.

M er ch a n t s T a le 723 5 ;
‘ ’ -
cf. P r ol . 844 ; F r a n kli n
’
s T a le 7 80 . T at
l ock ( M o d P hi l 3 3 72 ) . . . p i nt
o s to D an t e ( I nf er n o 15 .
46, 47 ;
3 2 7 6 8 ) f o r p a r a ll els
-
. .
1 48 M e d i e va l A t ti tu d e tow ar d A s tr ology

ign ori ng all this ! T hat he should have la cked i n formation

o n the subj e c t seems u n likely Ptolemy an d Alchabit iu s .
,

1
it i s true are the only promi n e nt astrologers whom he
,

me ntio n s by n ame ; a n d the only origi nals that he is

defi n itely k n ow n to have used for his stateme nts regarding
astrologi c al fatalism are D ante a n d B ernard S ilvest r i s It .

i s stra n ge too that the lo n g di sc u ss io n o f the problem o f

, ,

fo r ek n owledge and p r e dest ina t i on in the Tr oi lu s shoul d -

have limited itsel f to a paraphrase o f B oethius a n d should ,

have passe d by e ntirely the more recent theories on the

s ubj e c t B ut the s e fa c ts do not quite make plau s ible the
?

’
s uppositio n that C hau c er s failure to me n tion the s c holasti c

views regardi ng free will was due to ign ora nc e T he .

D i vi na C omm edi a o f D a n te a n d the R oma n d e la R os e o f

Jea n de Meu n would alone have suffic ed t o give him full
i n formatio n I s C hau c er s emphasis upo n astrologi c al
.
’

determi n ism therefore to be explai n ed o n the grou n d that

, ,

hi s matu r e j udgme nt de c ided i n favor o f a fatalisti c

philo s ophy ? O r may it be a fte r all that his i ntere s t i n the , ,

problem was di c tated largely by arti st i c consideratio n s and ,

that whe n he had employed it for dramatic a n d narrative

purposes he n o longer c a r ed t o bulte it to the b r e n nor
,
‘
,
’

to argue it out to a fair c o n c lusio n ?

How di ffi cult it i s t o generali z e c o n c er n i n g Chau c er s
-
’

attit ude toward astrology f r o m the evide nc e fur n i s hed by

s cattered passages in his tales is plainly see n in c o nnection ,

with his beliefs regardi n g j udic ial astrology a n d astro

logi c al magi c We are n amely able to c he ck up these latter
.
, ,

by means o f a work in whi c h C hau c er u n questio nably speaks

i n his o w n perso n— his T r ea tis e on the A s tr ola b e .

"
Judging f rom the refere n c es t o a strology apart from -

i gn r t he l i t o f p hy i ci ans c it e d
I o e s s i n t he P r olog ue ( 430 ff ) in .

c nn ct i n wi t h t h e D oc t o r
o e o .

J n d M
”
ea whe l em p l y
eu n , o a so o s B oet hi us i s, i n
g en e r l m u h m r e m o d e r n
a , c o .
 A s tr o log y i n Gow er and Chau cer 1 49

thos e i n his T r ea tis e on the A s tr ola be C hau c er sub sc ribed ,

to all the do c tri n es o f the s c ien c e as it w a s taught i n h i s

day Judi c ial astrology in so far at least as it undertook
.
,

to defi n e the i n divi dual s i n clinatio n s acc ording to the c on ’

figuratio n o f the stars at birth is n owhere c o n dem n ed T he ,

.

Wi f e o f B ath as c ribes her amorous disposition to her

horos c op e
My n a s cen d an t w a s T au r ,
and Ma r s th er i nn e .
1

Hyp e r m en es t r a s imilarly derived her beauty a n d her char

a c ter f rom Venus and Jupiter ? and owed her death i n
pri s o n to S aturn C riseyde lame nti n g her fated departure ?
,

f rom T roy accuses t he c o r s ed c on st ella ci ou n under

,
‘ ’

whi c h she was bor n 4

T he astrological system o f ele c ‘
.

tio n s i s also take n for gra nted T he lusty c hild r e n o f

5 ’
.

Ve n us a r e said i n the S qu i r e s T a le to da n ce whe n that ’

pla n et is i n he r exaltatio n 6
T ro ilus speeds well i n love .

be c ause Ve nus is i n her s eve n th hous e 7

Pa n da r us c hoo s es .

a momen t for d eliveri ng a message to C risey d e when the

moo n the patro n o f travelers i s i n good p lyt
,
8
T he ,
‘
.
’

mis f ortu n es o f C o n stan c e in the M a n of L aw s Ta le are ’

partly due to the fact that the voya g e was un d ertake n u n d er

O n the subj e c t o f magi c too
9 ’
i n f o r t u na t as c e n da n t
‘
an .
, ,

Chau c er s c hara c ters hold opi n io n s such as o n e mi g ht

’

1
Wif e o f B a th s
’
P r olog ue 613 .

”
L eg . o f Good Wom en 2 584 -
8 .

8
I bi d . 2 597 .

Tr oi lu s 4 7 45 . .

“
S i
S ee a b o e
qu r e s
53
’
v p ,

T a le
. .

2 64 -

6; cf. wh er t h m ak er
1 2 1 2, -

e e of t he h r
o se
of r
b a ss i s sa id to h av e aw a i te d the p r op e r st r olog i a ca l m om ent .

7
T r oi lu s 2 . 680 6 -

5
T r oi l u s 2 .
74 P a l a m on
.
( K nig ht s
’
T a le 1 3 59 ) g oes t o t he t e m le p
of V enus i n
‘
he r ou
’
h r . D am an i is succes s u l f i n hi s lov e a fl a i-
’
r,
b ecau s e t he h e v ens s too d
a in a f or t u na t e
‘
con st ell ac i o n
’

( M er cha n t s
’

T a l e 7 25 6 ; cf F r a nkli n s T a l e
’
-
.

”
M a n of L a w ’
s T a le 2 04 .
1
5 0 M ed i e v a l A tti t u d e tow ar d A s tr ol ogy

expe c t o f medi e val folk T he Parson d e nou nc es geoma ncy .

and divi nation with the usual orthodox vehemen c e althou gh ,

he is willi n g to mode r ate his c o n dem natio n i n the c ase

o f medi c i n a l charms i f they r eally a cc omplish c ure s ?
,

C hau c er s Frankli n is likewise c areful to guar d himsel f

’

agai n st the possible c harge that he would co u nte na nc e

o c cult pra c ti c es I n c ommenti n g upon the astrological
.

magi c o f the O r lea n s c lerk he seeks shelter with the ortho

d ox do c tri n es o f M other Chur c h although he also s c off s ,

at su c h things as perhaps not to be taken quite seriously i n

these more e nlighte n ed days
s wi ch f oly e,
A s in ou r d ay e s is nat w o r th a fly e ;
F or h oly chi r ch es f e i t h in our i
b l ev e
Ne s u ff r et h n o o n i ll i nus o us to gr v e e.
”

is nothin g truly i n any o f thes e ref eren c es to

T here , ,

practi c al astrology that is striki ng l y diverge nt f rom the

ge n eral te n or o f enlighte n ed opi n io n in the fourtee nth c en
tury A lthough in the perso n s o f the Parson and Franklin
.
, ,

C hau c er paid his dues to the e c c lesiasti c al hostility toward

magi c he a c cepts a mode r ate j udicial astrology an d the
, ,
‘ ’
system o f ele ctions without protest It is therefore sur , .
, ,

prisi ng i n turning to the Tr ea tis e on the As tr ola b e t o fin d

, ,

1
P a r s on s
’
T a le 60 0 -

10 . I m ag e s m ade u nde r f rt n t h v
o u a e ea en l y
p ect f o rm
as s a l so a p rt
a of th e D oc t o r ’
s st o c k i n t r d ( P ola e r .

Th ref r n m agy k e n a t u el r i n t h e H ou s f F am e ( 1 265 ff )

‘ ’
e e e ce to o .

is non c om m
-
i tt rig h t a n d wr ong
al o n the q u es t on o fi .

F
2
k li T l 403 6
r an Th
n s
’
F r kl i n h
a e j t b e n sp e k i n g
-

. e an as us e a

o f th m p l oym n t b y t h O r l e n s cl e rk o f th t w nty i g h t m an s i on s
e e e e a e e -
e

o f t h e m oon Pr f so r T tl k ( K i ttr edg A nniv r y P per s

. o es a oc e e s ar a ,

p 3 48 ff ) h sh ow n t h at t h se t o d in b d o d r wi th th Ch r ch
. . as e s o a o e u .

I n m h s th y b l ong d t o t he y t em
as uc a e f l ti ones ( f
e b ve e s s o e ec c . a o ,

p . th y l d wi t h e b p t t i ll g i t i m t
c ou Th l rk
ea se e u o e a e u ses . e c e

c n p r ob b ly b
a cc ad o f d b b l i ng i n th e b l ck a r t s on o t h e r
e a u se a a

gr w ll ; it p f Ch c r
’
ndou s T tl k ( p
as e s ee nd a oc o c a c au e s
j
. . .
, .

ow n r f r n l rk p n d w h dn e ’ ‘ ’
t th
e e e t ce s e ss
o e c e s ar as a es a r e cc
e
illu s i ou n s
’ ‘
an d s u p e r st i c io u s cu r se dn e s s e
’ ’
1 5 2 M e di e v a l A tti tu d e t ow ar d A s tr ol og y

did no t i nte n d that he should thus be put to a logi cal test .

B ut the passage sho w s u n mistakably that ma n y o f the

astrologi c al do c t r i n e s whi c h he freely a c c epted in the r ole
o f poeti c na r r ato r he w a s fo r c ed to c all impiou s whe n
,

w r iti n g i n c old p r ose ?

Pe r h aps he was parti cula r ly ca re
ful to dis c laim a belief in the more doubtful portio ns o f the
‘ ’
s c ie nc e be cause he w a s writi ng to ly t e Low ys my so n e
,
.

I n a ny c a s e it i s i n tere s ti n g to observe that all o f

,

’
n —
C hau c e r s c riti c isms o f magi c a d astrolo g y i n the F ra n k
li n s Ta le the P ars on s Ta le and the Tr ea tis e on the
’ ’

, ,

A s tr ola b e— obj e c t to it o n religious grou n d s T he state .

me n t o f the Ma n o f La w that me n s wits are too dull to ’

r ead the la nguage o f the stars a n d the Fra nkli n s s c o ff ,

’

at a s trology as somethi n g whi c h might have been well

‘
e n ough in paga n time s but whi c h in our day is nat worth ,

’ ’
a flye do imply a c ertain s c ept i c i s m o f the a strologer s
,

arts Y e t the main argume nt is still a religiou s one T he

. .

a strologe r s n otio n s are c alled rites o f pagans in the Tr ea tis e

’

o n th e A s tr o la b e Holy Chur c h not the s c epti c al s c ie ntist

.
, ,

is app ealed to in t he F r an kli n s Ta le i n oppositio n to the ’

magi c ia n s pra c tic es T he c on c lusio n i n deed seem s i nevi t

’
.
, ,

able that C hau c er was s till u n der the spell o f the con
s e r va t iv e attitude towa r d a s trology whi c h was c ha r a c te r isti c

o f the early M iddle A ge s a n d which in E ngland as we , ,

"
have s ee n was still fully a live as late as the fourtee nth
,

c e n tury .

A ny attempt therefore to c ite C hau c er s c o n dem nation

’
, ,

o f a s trology as proo f that he was o f a sc epti c al tur n o f

mi n d must be viewed with s uspi c io n
2
T he te n de ncy .
,

i n deed to c o n s ider early oppo n e nt s o f astrology as fore

,

run n e r s o f modern e nlighte nmen t has lo n g foste r ed a mis

u n dersta n di ng o f medi e val s c ien c e From our poi n t o f .

1
We h a v e n ot e d im il r
a str t b tw a n th
c on pi i
as e ee e o n on of t he
a r t i st an d t h at o f t he p hi losoph e r i n C i c er o an d P t a r ch e r .

S ee L ou n sb u ry Ch ’
s ( N ew Y r k 1 892 )
a u cer 49 7 8 o , 2. -

.
 A s tr o l og y i n Gow er an d Chau cer 1 53

V iew o f c ourse c riti c s o f ast r olo g y su c h as C i c ero

, , , ,

Petrar ch a n d Pico della Mi r a n dola appear ema n cipated i n

, ,

a n age o f g r oss s uperstitio n s From the poi nt o f vie w .

o f the Middle A ges ho w ever before the d a ys o f t h e

, ,

C operni c a n astro n omy these j udgme n ts dese r ve i n ma n y

,

c ases to be reve r sed C i c ero a n d S extus E mp iri on s opposed

.

a s trology n ot be cau s e they wished to r epla c e it with a more

,

pl a usible theory o f the u n iverse but be c aus e they happe ned ,

to be followers o f t he N ew A c ademy a n d we r e s c epti cal ,

o f all sc ie nc e ? —
Petrar c h s atta c k upo n astrology though
’

it deserves all prais e for its c lever satire o f the Italia n

c n —
ne roma c ers c o n sists o f little mor e tha n pious argume n ts
c ulled f rom A ugusti n e O n its s c ientific side it ca n not
.
,

e n dure c ompariso n with a def e n se o f astrology s u ch as that !

o f R oger B a c on From the poi n t o f view o f traditio n a n d
.

e cclesiasti c al di sc ipli n e the c hampio n s o f astrology rather

, ,

tha n i t s oppo n e n t s deserve to be c alled moder n T he sp irit

, .

that e nabled C e cc o d A scol i to fa c e exe cutio n was far more

’

ema n c ipate d tha n that whi c h a n imated his i nquisitors .

C hau c er was a bol d er s c epti c whe n he espoused astrologi c al

fatalism tha n whe n he de n ou n c ed the s c ie nc e o f j udgme n ts
as rites o f paga n s L ike mo s t i n tellige nt m en o f his time
.
,

Chau c er probably had his doubts regardi n g the ability o f

the p ro fessio nal astrologer to a cc omplish all that his s c ienc e
boasted B ut he was c o nc er n ed chiefly about the questio n
.

whether its p ra c ti c e was right o r whether it was w r o n g .

T his fa c t alo n e would prove that C hau c e r i n h i s pe r s o n al ,

attitude towar d astrology was still a m a n o f the M iddle ,

A ges .

T he re fere nc es t o astrology i n the literature o f the

fi ftee nth c e ntury are o f mi nor i nte r est T he poeti c possi .

b ili t i e s o f astrology had bee n la r gely exhausted by Gower

a n d C hau c er a n d the writer s o f the
,
f ollowi ng de cades

1
C f F B o l l, i n S i tz
. . u ng s b e r . d er P hi l os .
-
P hil o l. C la s s e d cr K a is er
li che n B ay er i s che n A ka d em i e d er Wi ss ens chaf ten ,
1 899 , p . 1 03 .
 M e d i e va l A tti tu d e t ow ar d A s tr ol og y

me r ely imitated their masters In fact the allusio ns to .

,

ast r ology i n the literature o f the fi fteenth c entury are

importa n t for little more tha n their freque ncy T hey i ndi .

c ate that the populari z atio n o f A rabia n s c ie n c e which had ,

begu n with A delard o f Bath was after three c enturies , , ,

virtually c ompleted .

T he dis s emi n ation o f ast r ologi c al learni ng was aided at ,

the turn o f the c e ntury by su c h works as T r evi sa s tra n s

,
’

latio n o f the D e P r opr i e ta tibu s R er u m o f Bartholom e u s

A ngli c us a n d b y the seve r al verna c ular versions o f the
'

1
,

S ecr e tu m S e cr et or u m ?
A strologi c al not i o n s were at times
still take n quite seriously P ecock s R ep r ess or cites the fa c t
.
’

that the stars produ c e varieties o f tale nts i n the cl er gy a s

'

well as in layme n as a n argume n t for a n e cc lesiasti c al

hierarc hy c orrespondi ng to that o f a se c ular gover n me nt ?

I n the R a ti s R a vi ng a youth is a dvised to c o n sult a master

,

o f astrology regardi ng hi s i nborn abilities a n d incli nations ?

R obert He n ryson the S c ot c h poet s till harks ba c k to the

, ,

ea r ly prej udi c e agai n st astrology as a divi n atory art but ,

his stri c tures are plai n ly mea n t o n ly for that astrology

whi c h prophe s ies with a definite yea or nay regarding con
ti n ge nt a c tio n s 5
A lthough Lydgate in d ealing with the
.
,

stories o f A mphiaraus a n d M edea also i n dulges i n a ,

1
T he Eng l i sh v e r s i on w as comp lete d in 1 398 ( c f Wells p .
,
.

The e i g h t h b ook o f t he en cyc lop e d i a c on t a i n s a n o u tl i n e o f a st r o l

ogy a n d i s b a se d u p on Me ss ah l a
, A lb u m a s a an d o t h e r s
a A,
r, .

con v en i en t s u m m a ry i s g iv en by L ang l o i s i n L a C onnaiss a n ce d e ,

la N a tu r e e t d u M on d e ou M oy en A g e ( P a ri s pp 1 42 8 ; , .
-

see B a tm a n u pp o n B ar t ho l om e L o n d on 1 582 f o l s 1 1 8 41
b a
-
. .
, , ,

B es i d es th e t hr e e pr o s e v e r s i ons p ri nt e d b y S t e ele ( B E T S E S
”
. .

t h e r e i s e x t a n t Ly d g a t e a n d B u rg h s S ecr ees of Ol d P hilos o

’

fi r s ( e d St eele B E T S E S
e .
, . .

3
T he R pr s or ( e d B ab i n g t on R oll s
e e s . p 450 , . .

"
R a tis R avi ng I 8 99 ( E E TS 43
4 “

M
. . .

w
e nda
E u ryd i ce 57 1 ff ( d G S m i t h S c o tt.i s h T e xet . .
,

m
“

fi
l

S oci e ty,
 1 56 M edi e val A t ti tu d e t ow ar d A s tr olog y

de sc r ibi ng the s easo n s o f the year Li n de say Henryso n ? ? 2

—
,

a n d the late roma n c e r s the author o f the S c ot ch La n cel o t

f—
of the L a i k is pa r ti c ularly c ha r a c t e r i st i c exhibit a n
abu n da n c e o f mea n i n gless astrologi cal lear n i ng Lydgate .

ve r itably revel s in a s t r ologi cal d e s c riptio n s borrowi ng f r om ,

C hau c er su c h tri cks as the mi ngli n g o f astrology with

mythology i n his ref e r e n c e s to the paga n gods 5
.

A s we approa c h the E n glish R enais s an c e the b elles ,

l e t tr es c ease more and more to fur n ish eviden c e regardi n g

what m en a c tually thought o n the subj e c t o f s tellar i nfl u
e nc e A lthough astrology still fou n d c hampio n s i n ple nty
.

amo n g the lear n ed o f the s ixtee nth a n d seve ntee nth c en

t u r i e s it w a s already begi nn i n g its des c e n t i n the i n telle c tual
,

sc ale a n d was be c omi n g the mo n opoly o f the maker o f

,

alma na c s I n polite literatu r e at any rate the questio n o f

.
, ,

stellar influe nc e w a s s eldom se r iou s ly debated For S hake .

spea r e a n d t he othe r E li z abetha n dramatists astrology was ,

pri nc ipally a c o nve n ie n t s ou r c e for figu r e s o f spee c h .

S ee K i ng i s Q u ai r s t a nz a 1 ( e d L a
1
,
. w s o n, 1 9 10, p . F low er
a n d th e L eaf 1 ff ( Cha u cer ia n a n d o ther . Pi eces , ed . Sk ea t , O xf o r d ,

) p .
36 1 f C Hen ry s o n
r es s ei d 5 ff ( ed G Sm it h, T es t a m e n t o . . .

3 . Ly dg at e T e mp le of Glas s 4 ff ( e d S c hi ck B E TS E S
, . .
, . .

60 I ) S ay i ng of t h e N i g h ti n g a l e 1 ff ( M ac Cr a ck en M i n or P oem s :
. .
,

B E TS E S 1 07 2 2 1 ) . Li n d e sa y T es t a m en t of t he P apy n g o 1 22 3 5
. .
,
-

( B E TS 1 9 L a n ce lo t of t he L a i k 247 1 ( B E T S 6
. . cf . . .

S c hi ck ( p c xx1 1 ) f o r f u r t h e r r e f e r en c e s
. .

Li n d e say P r o log t o the B u ke of the M on ar che 1 53 ff ( B E T S

”
. .
,

11 . T hi r d B u k e of t h e M on ar c h e 3 582 ff ( pp 1 1 7 D r em e . .

3 86 ff ( E E T S 1 9 . . .

8
Hen ry s o n T es ta m en t of Cr ess e id 1 48 ff ( ed G S m i t h 3
, . . . .

‘
L a n c e lo t of the L ai k 33 5 ff 445 ff ( a p a ssag e r em i n i scent .
,
.

a pp a r en t ly o f Go w e r ; cf C on f A m 7 1 450 51 7 ff ( B E T S . . . . . .

6 . 1 1, 1 4,
5
E x am pl es c an be f ou n d in a b u n d an c e i n t h e T e mp le o f Glas s
( 3 26 , 3 2 8, 449 , 7 1 5, 7 1 8, 83 5. 885, 1 09 7 , 1 2 3 6, 1 33 0, 1 3 41 , 1 348,

cf . a ls o A ve Ma r i a 9 ff ( Ma c C r a ck en, M i n or
. P o em s : B E TS . ES .

1 07 S i eg e of T h eb es 2553 ( EE T S E S 10 8
‘

. . . .
 P HY B I B L I O GR A

T he m i n p rp e o f t hi b i b l i og r phy i t o g iv
a u r pr esent t iv e
os s a s e a e a

li t o f
s ch b k su nd rti l s d l d ir e t ly wi t h m e d i v l
oo s a a c e as -
ea c e a

a st r l g y
o o M ny f t h s a
. f g n r l n t r
a n d h v e n ot o e e re o a e e a a u e a a

b een c i t d i n t h n t s
e e o e .

T EX T S

ANC I ENT
F I R MI C U S M A NUS JU LIU S J lii F i m i i Mat r n i M th os
TER , ,
u r c e a es e

L i b ri V I I I E di d u nt W K r oll t F S k t ch 2 v l L eip z i g
. er . e . u s . o s. ,

1 897 1 9 1 3
-
.

PTOLE M ZE U S , C L A U D IU S Clau d ,
u P t ol em e i Om n i a que e xt an t O p rae .

E d i ta ab E r a sm o O s w a l d o S chr ek en f u chs i o . B asel, 1 551 .

M ED I E VA L
A
‘
B DE L A ‘
z iz B EN ‘
OT M AN B EN A i ( A C H ‘
L L A B I TI U S ) , L i b el lu s Y s a g o g i
cu s A b d ila z i , i d est S rvi Gl ri i D e o os ei, q u i d i c i t u r Al chab i t iu s ,
ad Mag i st eri u m I u d i t i o r u m A s t r o r u m , i n t e r p r et a t u s a J oh ann e
Hi sp al en s i sc r ip t u m q u e i n eu n d em a J oh a nn e S ax o n i e . V ni e c e,

1 485 ( S e e Ha i n C o p i n g e r N o
.
-

, .

B O NATT I , GU I Do D ecem C o n t in e n s T r a c t a t u s A s t r o n om i e
,
. V en i c e,

1 506 .

A Li B EN A BI -
I L
R J A A B fJ L HA S AN ( A LB OH A ZE N
‘
-
H A LY FI LIU S A B EN
RAG E L ) ,
P re cla r i ss i m u s L b e C o m l e t u s i n i r p Ju di c ii s A st r o r u m .

Ven i ce , 1 485 .
( S e e Ha in -
C Op i ng e r , N o 83 49 ; . Wa lt e r s p , .

J A FAR B EN
‘
M UH A M M ED E L B AL C H i AB fI M A SAR ( A LB U M A S AR ) D e -
’

Mag n i s C onju n ct i o n ib u s A n n o r u m R evolu t i on ib u s ac co ru m

P r o f ec t i o n ib u s A u g sb u r g 1 489 ( S ee Ha i n Cop i n g er N o
.
, .
-

, .

I nt r o d u c t o r i u m i n A s t r o n o m i a m A lb u m a s a r i s A b a l a c h i . Aug s
bu g r , 1 489 ( S e e Ha n C o p i n g er N o
. i -

, .

C UM O NT , F .
, Ca tal o g u s C o dic u m A st r olog o r u m Gr e co r u m . 11 v ol s.

B r u ssel s ,
1 898 1 9 1 2 -
.

HI S T O R Y OF A S T R O L O GY
ANCI ENT
B OLL , F .
, S tu di en u be r C la u d i us P t o l em e us : E in Be t ir g a z ur

Geschi ch t e d e r Gri echi sch en Phi10 5 0 p h i e u nd A st r o lo g i e ( J hr a

b ii che r f ii r Phi lolog i e und P ad ag og ik , S u pp l e m en t 21 .

49
L eip z i g 1 894 , .

B O U C H E LEC LERC Q
-

,
A Hi sto ir e de l a D ivi n t i on da an s l A n t iq u i té
’
.

4 v ol s P a ri s .
, 1 87 9 -
82 .
1
5 8 M e di e val A t ti tu d e t ow ar d A s tr ol og y

B O U C H E LECLERCQ A L A st rolog i e Gr ecqu e P a ri s 1 89 9

-

,
.
,
’
.
,
.

i n P a ly Wi s sow a s R eal E ncy cIOp adi e de r C la ssi schen

’
R 1E s s E , .
,
u - -

Al t e r thu m sw i ss en ch f t 2 1 80 2 2 1 S tu tt g a r t 1 896 s
-

a .
-
.
, .

S C H M E K E L A D i e P hi 10 5 0 p h i e d e r M i ttl e r en S t oa i n ihr em Ge
,

s chi cht l i ch en Z sa m m enh ang e B e r l i n 1 892 u .

,
.

G ENERAL M ED I E VA L
B OF F I TO G P er c h é f u C o n d a nnat o al F uoco l A st r ologo Cecc o
’
.
, ,

d A sco l i ? ( S t u d i e D ocu m e nt i d i S t o ri a e D iri t t o 20 3 70

’
.

B O NER E G La P o es i a d el C i elo d a Gu i t t on e al P et r a r ca Me ss i na
, . .
,
.
,

1 904.

B UR CK H A RDT J D i , .
, e K u lt u r d e r R en a i s sa n ce i n I t al i en . l ot h e d iti on .

L eip z i g 1 908 , .

D I ETERI CI , F D ie ran sch a ng nd Na tu p hilos Op hie der

N at u uu u r

A r ab e r im 10 . J ahrh n d r t 2 d d i t i on L eip z i g 1 876

u e . e .
, .

D I ETERI CI , F D ie N t rphi l
a u phi d A r b r im 10 J h hunde t
o so e er a e . a r r .

P o sen , 1 864 .

D U HEM , P .
,
Le S y s t em e du Mon d e : Hi st o ir e d es D oc t ri n es Co s
m olog i q ues d e P l a t on a Co p er n i c .
5 v ols p . ub l s i h ed . P a ri s ,

1 913 -

7 .

GA B OTTO Q u a t t r o c en t o ( R ivi st a d i F i lo s o fi a
’

, F .
, L A s t r o l og i a n el

S c i en t i fi ca 8 3 7 8 .

F
GRA , A La F a t a l t a n elle C i r ed nz ee d el M ed i o E vo ( Nu ov a A nto
lo g i a. hir d S ri 28
T e es . 20 1

GRAF A ,
.
, Mi t i L egg n d , e e, e Su p er s t i z i on i d el Me d i o E vo . 2 v ol s .

Tu ri n , 1 892 -

3 .

HAN SEN J , .
, Zau b erw ah n
q i i t i on u n d Hex enpr oz e s i m Mi t ,
In u s ,
s

t l lt e aM n i ch an d L e i p z i g 1 900
er . u , .

LAN GLO I S C H V L C nn i ss nce d l N atu r et du Mon d e au

, . .
,
a o a a e a e

M oy n A g P a ri 1 9 1 1 e e . s, .

L V I LLE DE M M N HEN RI DE L A t l g i h ez le G ll ’
A IR O T, , s ro o e c s a o

R m i ( B i b l i th eq
o d U n iv r i t é d M i d i V l
a ns B o ue es e s s u ,
o . or

d x 1 904
e au ,
.

LEA H C Hi t o ry o f the I n q i i t i on o f th e M i dd le A g es 3 4 1 9 549

, . .
,
s u s .
-
.

N ew Y r k 1 888 o , .

LE U J D l A st ol g i e q i v i t Cou r s sou s Ch r le V t d s
’
BE F, .
, e r o u a a a s , e e

p l F m e x As t r ol g es d e T m p s ( L eb e r J M C C ol
us a u o u e c e , . . .
,

l ti n d ec Di rt ti n V l
o P ri s 1 83 8 es ss e a o s, o . a , .

MA U RY A C r y n c s et Lé g en d s du Moy n A g e P ri s 1 896
, .
, o a e e e . a , .

MA U R Y A La M g i e et l A t l g i d n s l A nt i q i té et u Moy en ’ ’
'

, .
, a s ro o e a u a

Ag e n Et de s l e S p r st i t i on P ai nn s q u i se sont P er
, o u ur s u e s e e

p et u é s j q a n o s J r s 3 d ed i t i on P ri 1 864 ’
e us ou . . a s, .

ME YER C D Ab r g l ub e d
, Mi t t l lt r s u n d d
.
,
N chs t f ol
er e a es e a e er a

g n d en J hrh n d r t
e B l 1 884 a u e e . a se , .
1 60 M edi e val A t ti tu d e t ow ar d A s tr olog y

R U D I GER , G, . Za u b e r u nd r
Ab e g laub e i n den Eng li sch -
Sc h o t t i h en sc

Vo lk sb alla d en Halle 1 907 .

, .

S c H R onER R , Gl a u b e u n d A b e g la u b e in d en A l t f r anz o s i sch en

, . r
i h
D c t u n g e n : e i n B e t ag z u r K u lt u g esc c t e d eS M tt e la lt e s ir r hi h i r .

Got t i g n n e , 1 886 .

S TEE LE R i n i E n g l an d L o n d on
’

, .
,
T r a i ll s S oc al 2 .
74 82 ;
-

3 .
33 0 1 -
.
,

1 894 -

5 .

T AT L O CK J ,
. S . P .
,
A st r o l ogy an d Mag i c in C h a u ce rs ’
F r a nk l n si ’

T a le ( K i tt r e dg e A n n iv e r s a ry P p r pp
a e s, .
33 9 B o s t on , 1 91 3 .

T AT LOCK , J . S . P .
, T he S c en e of t he F r ank l n s i ’
T al e V i sited .

( C h au c e r S o c i et y P u b l cat on s .i i S econ d S e ri es , V ol . Lon

do n , 1 9 14 .

ZENDER R Di e Mag i e i m E ng l i sc h en
, .
, D r am a d es El i sab etha ni sch en
Z eit al t er s Halle 1 907 .
, .

WOR K S E Q U E N T LY BY S HOR T T I T L E S
CI T ED FR

A RC H 1v r c hiv f ii r d as S t u d i u m d er N eu er en S pr ach en u n d
L i t e r at u r en e d Herri g E b er f el d un d I ser lo h n 1 846 B r au n
, . .
,

sc hw e i g 1 849 ,

B O U C H E LECLERC Q A L A st olog i e Gr ec q u e P a ri s 1 899 ’

-

, . r .
,
.

D U H E M P L e S y st e m e du Mo n d e : Hi st o ir e d es D o ct ri n e s Co s
, .
,

m l g iq
o o de Pl t n a C p rn i u es 5 v ls p b li h d P ri a o o e c. o . u s e . a s,

1913 -

7 .

EET S . : Ea l ry
i h T x t S oci ety O ri g i n al S ri E ng l s e . e es .

E ET S E S . E ly E ng l i h T x t S oc i ty
. E x t r S ri e
: ar s e e . a e s .

M I G NE J P P t r G . C r s C mp l t s
.
,
a . r . u su o e u . Se ri es
Gr 1 66 v l
e ca P ri 1 857 6 6
. o s . a s, -
.

M I G NE J P P t r L t
, . P t l gi C r C mpl t
.
, a . a . : a ro o e u su s o e u s. Se ri es

L t i n 22 1 v l P ri s 1 844 65
a a . o s . a ,
-
.

WE LL S J E A M n l o f the Wri t i ng in M i dd l E ng l i h
, . .
,
a ua s e s . N ew
Hav n 1 9 1 6 e ,
.
 I ND E X

A v
B en e n u t o d a I m o la , 82 , 87 .

r
A b e l a d , 3 5, 1 1 7 .
r r
B e n a d S i lv e s t r i s 33 5, 4 7 , 1 45, ,
-

A b en r a g e l, 52 , 54, n o t e , 9 5 1 47 8 -
.

i
.

r
A d e la d o f B a t , 3 9 , 49 50 , 60, 9 1 , h - B o c c a c c o , 7 8, 83 4 86, 88, 1 43 4 -

,
-

1 54 hi
B o et u s 2 6, 46, 1 48 , .

i i
.

A el fric, 4 5 6 , 1 1 3 , 1 1 9 -

.
B o n a tt , Gu d o , 7 8 9 , 90 , 9 5 -

A l a nu s d e I n s u li s , 62 .
B r a d w a r d i n e , 9 1 , 1 24 8 -

r
A lb e t t he G e a t , 58, 63 7 , 89 , 1 1 8 , r -

121, 1 32 .

C a b a la 52 87
A lb u m a sa r , 4 1 , 55 9 , 62 , 65 7 1 , , .
- -

C a n o n la w 3 0 1
7 2 3 92 ) 1 3 2 , 1 3 4
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A l cha b i t i u s , 51 2 , 1 48 -
.
C a n ea d e s , 6 20 40 n ot e 2 86 , , , , .

h y C ec c o d A s c o l i 7 5 7 , 7 9 1 3 6 7 1 40
’

A lc em , 9 9 , 1 2 1 , 1 3 0 , n o t e 3
- -

. , , , ,

x
A le a n d e r r
o m a n c e s , 1 03 5, 1 2 0 - I 47 , 1 53
pri i iv r y
.

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A l m a n a c , a s t o l og o f , 42 , 1 1 3 1 56 y C e lt s m t e a st o log
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i
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r i r
A ab a n a st o l o g , 4 9 59 , 7 6 , 7 9 , 89 y - m ag c o f 10 5 8 ,
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r P y
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1 54 ; acce t e d b y C p st a n s c i e n hri i Ce n t i l o q u i u m a t t i b u t e d t o t o l e m , ,

t i st s , 60 3 ; c a ac t e -

st c s of h r ri i 51 9 2 9 5 1 26
, 7 , , ,
-

51 9 ; c o n t a m n a t e d
-
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,

h r
C a le s V K n g o f F a n c e 9 5 , i r , .

52 3 , 1 7 , n o t e 2 ;
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a t a l s m o f , 59 f i
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.
h r
C a u c e , 2 3 5 54 n o t e 2 9 6 n o t e , , , , ,

ri
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5 1 1 3 1 22 1 3 2 1 42 53 1 56
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hr i r y
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r
A st o l o gy , C a ld e a n , h I C é t e n d e T o e s 1 00 1 0 6
; et h n o l o g , , .

i r
ca l a s t o l o g , 1 3 , 2 0 , 1 3 3 ; y
c on C hri s t , e m l o e d a st o l o g 7 9 n ot ep y r y , ,

d e mme d i n c an o n la w , 30 1 ;
- n ot e 3 ; o o sc o e o f 74 h r p , ,

c o nn ec t e d t wi h d
e m on s , 1 6, 2 3 , 6 9 7
7 0, 8 1 2 , 1 22 ; i n D a k A g e s 2 5
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42 ; i n R en a s s a n ce 87 9 ; i gn o i ,
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ranc e o f , i n n g la n , 46, a n d n o t e E d C o m et s 2 8 9 94 ,
-

. .

2 , 1 1 3 , 1 1 9 , 1 3 2 , 1 43 , 1 54 ; l e a n e d r ,
p r i
C o e n cu s 89 , .

n ot o u la p p sc e n c e , 25 42 , 4 5 r i , ,

1 08 , 1 18 ; m ed e a l a t t t u d e t o i v i D
w ra d, su mm a z e d 8 1’ 2 87 9 ri .
-

,
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P y y , , , , , .

1 16 8 -

1 52 3 ; , t o l e m s s st em -

D ee , D r , 99
i j
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o u t l ned, 8, n o t e ; s u b e ct of D e m o n s , c o n n ec t e d t a s t o log wi h r y
sa t e, ir I I
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h
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pas s i m .
r i
D u d s , 43 .

B
E
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B a c on , R o g e 49 6 1 7 1 5 9 1 r , , ,
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n ot e 2 , 1 54 . i
F a t a l s m 7 , 1 9 22 3 5 3 7 3 9 . 55 59 ,
, . . , . .

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9 , 44, 46 . 66 , 7 6 , 1 1 5 re s 7 1 3 4 ft , 1 45 8 ,
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1 62 M ed ie va l A tti tu d e t ow ar d A s tr o l og y

F a vo r i n u s 6 , 7 , 1 2 , . L eg en da A u r ea 1 02 , .

F i m i cu s M at e r n u s, 3 2 3 , 40, 47 , 6 1 , L e g e n d of M i c h a e l 1 1 4 6
g
- -

.
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5 . Li n d e sa y , 1 56 .

r
F ee W111 7 , 1 9 , 22 , 3 5 39 , 62 , 66, , , y
L dg a t e, 1 54 6 -

68, 7 9: 84; 1 1 5, 1 24) 1 3 5 Hs '

M
G M a c r ob i u s ,
26
7 , 3 2, 34
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Gen e r al p r e d i ct i on s 8 68 7 2 88
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.
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13 42 I 47 1 53
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os e , o , ,
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n ot e 5.
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3, 91, 1 1 5,
.
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1 47 .

N ec r o m an cy 53 69 7 2 7 8 8 2 , , , , , , 1 2 2,
n ot e
I g n at u s , 1 7 i .
1 3 1, .

I m ag e d u M ond e, 6 1 , 1 09 1 0, -
1 1 5,
0
1 1 8, n o t e 1
i
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I m a g es, a st ol og c al, 69 , 7 4, r i 1 50 , O r e s m e, N c o la s , 9 6, 1 18 .

n ot e 1
O ri g en 1 9 2 0 ,
-

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.

i
I n d an a st ol ogy , 54, n ot e 2 r , ,
n ot e 5, 9 9 , 1 50 .

O vi d 1 43
.

q iii
I n u s t on , 7 5 7 -

.
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I n t er r og a ti on es , a st ol og cal s st em r i y
O f , 53 4 -
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i r
.

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P t r r h 6 4 82 7 1 8 1 3 1 1 53
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Jo h n o f S a l i sb u ry 3 2 3 5 3 6 4 1 Pi rr d A i lly 1 1 7 ’

47 , e e
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o n o f S a o n , 88, 1 3 6 x y . P l t 1 2 34 80
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u d c a l a st o l o gy , 1 1 , 53 , 6 5 68 r , ,
1 3 0, P l i n y t h E ld r 2 8
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