These houses were twelve in number; in one or other of which, according to the hour and season of the person’s birth, did he take his position, as pointed out in the horoscope. An outline of a general horoscope is annexed, and, in explanation of it, Mr. William Lilly is pleased to say, “When I speak of the tenth house, I intend somewhat of kings or persons represented by that house, which is also called _medium cœli_, the mid-heaven; when mention is made of the first house, ascendant or horoscope, I intend the commonalty in general. Dic et eris mihi magnus Apollo.” [Illustration: PLAN OF A HOROSCOPE. THE SIGNIFICATION OF THE TWELVE HOUSES OF HEAVEN, IN AN ANNUAL REVOLUTION, BY WHICH EVERY ONE IS DIRECTED TO THE KEY OF THE BOOK. 1 Ascendant. Commonalty. Vulgar Life of every Man. 2 Wealth. Riches. Estate. Moveable Goods. 3 Kindred. Neighbours. Small Journeys. 4 Fathers. Towns. Castles. King’s Wives. 5 Children. Ambassadors. Commissioners. 6 Servants. Small Cattle. Sickness. 7 Women. Wars. Lawsuits. Suitors. 8 Death. Inheritance. 9 Clergymen Long Journeys. Religion. 10 Kings. Emperors. Princes. Generals. Commanders of Armies. 11 Friends in general. Servants in particular; their aid or service. 12 Whispering. Great Cattle. Envy. Sorcery. ] Mr. Gadbury, also, in the nativity cast for the illustrious Prince Frederick of Denmark, informs us, that “It is an aphorism nearly as old as astrology itself, that if the lord of the ascendant of a revolution be essentially well placed, it declares the _native_ to be pleasant, healthful, and of a sound constitution of body, and rich in quiet of mind all that year; and that he shall be free from cares, perturbations, and troubles. The nativity of Frederick Prince of Denmark, astrologically performed by John Gadbury, 1660.” It often happened, with regard to the responses given by the oracles, that they in some measure corresponded with the subsequent events; in like manner did the astrological casters of nativities seem to have their presumptuous pretensions verified by after circumstances. Caracalla lost his life by seeking to preserve it from supposed treachery; for, while in Mesopotamia, being jealous of a plot against him, he sent to the Roman astrologers for the particulars of it. They accused Macrinus, his faithful prefect, of a conspiracy, which nothing but his death could frustrate. This answer coming while the emperor was intent on some sport, he gave it to Macrinus to read; who, finding his innocent life in danger by this trick of the astrologers, secured it by the murder of Caracalla, of which, even in thought, he had before been innocent; though the result proved the apparent truth of the prediction of the astrologers. CHAPTER XIX. MEDICAL DELUSIONS AND FRAUDS.