Ruth
Nedham
Lilly's third
marriage took place on 16 October of 1654 OS
(recorded by Elias Ashmole as was her birth
date), of which he writes in his autobiography:
"In
October 1654 I married the third wife, who is
signified in my Nativity by Jupiter in Libra:
and shee is so totally in her condition, to my
great Comfort."
At
MS Ashmole 394 is found Ashmole's transcription
of Coley's delineation of Ruth's nativity:
"Nativity
of Ruth 3d wife of Mr. Wm. Lilly,
with Mr. Hen: Coley's Judgmt. thereon. Nata
29. Ap: 1629 [OS] 11h.28. p.m. Moon from
sextile Saturn, to trine Mercury and square
Mars sub Lat. 51°32'. Here follows Coley's
figure."
Here
we find a perennial problem: the time given,
when recalculated by Harvey from modern tables,
does not correspond with Coley's delineation.
Harvey notes that the tables used by Coley
"presumably the Rudolphine one based on
Kepler...the difference [of the] Moon must be
due to some error by Coley." Coley was an
accomplished mathematician and, although error
is possible, there are other possibilities. It
should be remembered that both Lilly and Ashmole
were experienced astrologers, it is unlikely
that Coley, the younger man, would have produced
careless work to them.
The
following is the chart of the above data, but
calculated using modern astrological software:
Harvey
calculates the Ascendant as 6° Capricorn and,
taking rounding into account, is at least half a
degree different to that produced by the
software. He has used Campanus houses while the
above chart uses the system of Regiomontanus,
the commonly-used system of the period. A
further difference is that Harvey calculates
Jupiter's position as 6.8° Aquarius, in the
decimal notation the software calculates its
position as 6.6° Aquarius. There are other
variances, but this is not to criticise Harvey
or the tables he has used, but to point out that
there are always difficulties where the
algorithm used modernly is at variance with that
used anciently. Each presents a perspective
which cannot be classified as either right or
wrong as easily as might be thought.
The
following is Coley's calculation of the nativity
(Harvey has transcribed neither Part of Fortune,
nor the Lunar Nodes, it is almost certain that
both, particularly the latter, would have been
included):
The
following delineation made by Coley and
transcribed by Ashmole, has been edited
slightly; abbreviations have been extended and
spelling brought to the (British) English
standard.
"It
is very probable this may be the true position
of the Heavens at the birth of the native (or
near it), I shall not be positive in regard that
the days is not exactly given. The native is
moderately well described by the sign Capricorn
and Saturn in Libra with the Virgins Spike [Spica],
in sextile to the Moon. To which may be added
the position of Jupiter in Aquarius in the
Ascendant, which never fails (in a natural
sense) to give a very obliging temper,
disposition and deportment: and further I add
that Mercury in Aries in perfect trine to the
Moon, adorns the intellect and gives the native
a most serene understanding above the generality
of her sex (which is excellently verified in the
native and this I may boldly affirm without
flattery.) Now, that she may be of a crazy
constitution the opposition of Saturn and
Mercury may very well intimate, as the one being
Lord of the Ascendant and the other of the sixth
house, very aptly denote the same. And for the
strictness of her judgement in point of religion
[Ruth was a Quaker] the aforesaid configuration
also the position of Saturn in the 9th house in
his exaltation, near so benevolent a fixed star
[Spica] and retrograde, in my judgement
(according to the rule of second causes)
eminently promotes the same.
"This
being premised concerning the face of Heaven in
general, the fate of the native (considering her
quality and capacity of birth) should be very
propitious and happy; for here is no less than
three planets in their essential dignities, also
Jupiter (partly Lord of the second) in the
Ascendant and Saturn who has great dignities in
the Ascendant and second house, is not only in
sextile to the Moon, but in trine to the very
cusp of the second house, with many other
arguments which might be viewed very
considerable. Hence the native need not doubt by
(during life) to live much above the frowns of
fortune, very comfortable and in much
tranquility, and here it must be understood,
that a woman's fate is partly included in her
husband.
"Now
since there appears so great sympathy between
the native's geniture and her husband's (as I am
well acquainted with) there is no doubt but the
native may continue to the end of her days in as
great splendour as she will desire as to the
concerns of this world, therefore this may be
something of encouragement to her that her fate
is naturally so happy.
"11
April 1680
It
is to be observed that Saturn is now near in
opposition to the Ascendant by transit, and will
within a few months come to the quartile
[square] of his opposite place, which advises
the native to be exceedingly careful to preserve
her health and jeep from cold. Saturn in Cancer
may afflict the stomach and consequently the
head, but when he is once passed out of Cancer
into Leo, I hope she will be more healthful, yet
rarely so strong in body as might be wished, yet
moderately cheerful and pleasant to her own
great content, and the satisfaction of her
tender husband, and thus I commit you both to
God's protection, most heartily wishing you both
health and long life, and finally eternal
felicity hereafter.
"H.C."
Harvey
notes that in MS. Ashmole 698, amongst other
things, Lilly writes that he married Ruth when
the Moon was in 11° Aries, and that he
"married her for love not for money".
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