Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Astrology, Prognostication, Charlatanry, Commerce, Crime

    Responds to news that an astrologer named Sidrophel (an allusion to the astrologer Robert C Smith, known as Raphael) has published a 'Prophetic Almanac' predicting a series of calamities to affect the earth. Offers to cast the author's horoscope based on his own book. The horoscope implies that astrologers are cheats and impelled by mercenary rewards. Thinks that the author is 'under the Sun', and 'one of the greatest humbugs beneath it', and from the positions of the moon and planets, predicts how the astrologer told a maidservant that her solider lover would 'ultimately marry her'. Consequently the maid steals food from her master to feed her lover and has to pawn her clothes 'to meet the Astrologer's demands'. Finally, the astrologer is convicted for receiving money 'under false pretences'. Declares, 'May common sense preserve all simple folks from quacks and impostors!'.