hich they represented the six great
circles passing through the intersection of the meridian and horizon,
and dividing the equator into twelve equal parts. The spaces included
between these circles were styled the Twelve Houses, which referred to
the twelve triangles marked in their theme, placing six of these
houses above and six underneath the horizon. The first of the houses
under the horizon towards the east they named the Horoscope, or House
of Life; the second, the House of Wealth; the third, the House of
Brothers; the fourth, the House of Parents; and so on to the twelfth
house, each having reference to a particular subject. All matters
relating to issue, diseases, wedlock, death, religion, honour,
friendship, and woe could be foretold by astrologers.

In the time of the civil wars the royalists and the rebels had their
astrologers as well as their soldiers; and the predictions of the
former had great influence over the latter. By means of astrology,
lucky and unlucky days were discovered. Thursday was the unlucky day
of Henry VIII. He, his son Edward VI., Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth,
and many other illustrious persons, died on a Thursday, as had been
foretold; and we have already pointed out that the 3d of September was
a memorable day in the life of Cromwell.

The Highlanders of Scotland entertained many superstitions in regard
to the moon as well as in reference to the sun. A Highlander would not
willingly commence any serious undertaking in the waning of the
moon--such as marrying, flitting, or going on a far journey. When the
roth, rath, or circle of the moon was full, then was the lucky time
for beginning serious or important matters.

Astrologers have employed all the rules of their art to show that the
years of man's age, called climacterics, are dangerous, even
threatening death. The first climacteric is in the seventh year of
life, the rest are multiples of the first--as 21, 49, 56, 63, and 84,
which two last are called the grand climacterics. Marc Ficinus
accounts for the foundation of this opinion. He says there is a year
assigned for each planet to rule over the body of a man, each in his
turn; and that Saturn, being the most malignant planet of all, every
seventh year (which falls to its lot) becomes very dangerous,
especially those of 63 and 84, when the person is advanced in years.

There were those who pretended that the climacteric years were fatal
to political bodies as well as to individua