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194 so the star of 1572 is the forerunner of vast changes, not only in politics, but also in religious affairs, for the star was situated close to the equinoctial colure, which by astrologers is supposed to have something to do with religious matters. And as the star first shone with Jovial and clear light, and afterwards with Martial and ruddy light, the effect will first be peaceful and favourable, but afterwards become violent and tumultuous. And the religions which are full of "Jovial" splendour and pomp, after having for a long time dazzled ignorant people by their external magnificence and more than Pharisaic formalism, will, like that pseudo-star, fade and disappear. Though the star was so near the equinoctial colure that it nearly touched it with its rays, it was quite within the vernal quadrant, and it announces that some great light is at hand, just as the sun when past the vernal equinox conquers the darkness of night. And as the star was visible over most of the earth, so the effects of it will be felt over the greater part of the globe, though the northern hemisphere will be especially affected. With regard to the time when the influence of the star will begin to be felt, this will be nine years after the great conjunction of planets in April 1583, in the 21st degree of Pisces (because the direction of this and the star along the equator is 9°), or in other words, in 1592, and those who were born when the star appeared will about that time enter man's estate, and be ready for the great enterprise for which they are ordained. But if we take the direction along the zodiac, we find forty-eight years, after the lapse of which period the effect of the star will become strongest, and will last for some years, until 1632 or about that time, when the effect of the fiery trigon (which the star announced) will also be felt. The conjunction of 1583 concluded a cycle of planetary conjunctions, the seventh since the