Thus then first you must know, that a Triplicity
is no more then three signs of the Zodiack, all of one nature,
making a perfect triangle; and of these Triplicities, amongst the
signs there are four, viz. the Fiery-Triplicity, the Aery-Triplicity,
the Watry-Triplicity, and the Earthy- Triplicity.
The Fiery-Triplicity, consisteth of Aries, Leo and Sagittary:
the Aery, of Gemini, Libra and Aquaries: the Watry, of Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces:
the Earthy, of Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn; and these signs behold one another
with a Trine; as a Planet in a fiery sign beholds another Planet in another
fiery sign (being in equal number of degrees) with a Trine; as also a Planet
in an Aery sign, another Planet in an Aery sign; one in a Watry sign, another in
a Watry sign; in an Earthy sign, a Planet in 'an Earthy sign. And this Trine
Aspect, consists of an hundred and twenty degrees, &c.
The Sun and Jupiter have dominion in
the Fiery-Triplicity,
the Sun by day, and Jupiter by night: the Sun, for that he is hot and fiery,
of the nature of these signs; and Jupiter , for that he is temperate, and
to moderate the extremity thereof, therefore he ruleth this Triplicity in the night:
yet some of the Ancients [e.g., Dorotheus of Sidon, whom I follow] have added
in government with them Saturn, that by his cold nature, he may temperate the
excess of heat. This is the Eastern Triplicity.
Saturn and Mercury have dominion in
the Aery-Triplicity, which is
Western, Mercury by night, and Saturn by day; Libra is his Exaltation
(and you have heard for what reasons) Aquaries is his house and sign
wherein he most doth joy; Gemini is Mercuries house; wherefore Saturn
hath chief Dominion in this Triplicity; yet some have joyned Jupiter in
signification with them, by reason of his temperancy.
Mars both night and day, hath assigned him chief
Dominion of the Watry Triplicity; this Triplicity is
Northern: certainly the reason why Mars
was assigned chief Rule of the Water, was to cool his courage and abate
his heat; for we see he is more powerfull to work his mischievous pranks
in Leo then in Cancer; for he having dominion and rule in Cancer, he worketh
not altogether so much mischief (yet is he in Fall in Cancer, but Peregrine in Leo)
wherefore a Planet Peregrine is worse then a Planet in Fall, if he be but in a term:
yet some of the Ancients have joyned Venus and the Moon with Mars, by reason Cancer
is the Moons house, and Pisces the Exaltation of Venus .
Venus and Luna are appointed chief Governesses of
the Earthy-Triplicity,
which is Feminine and Southern, cold and moyst, causing South-east winds,
cold and moyst Ayr; and therefore assigned to these Feminine Planets.
