I just happened upon the following short tract while working on a new book, and it seemed worth posting here in English. The identity of Bethen, or Bethen of Babylon as he is called in one place, is apparently unknown; but our source text appears in a collection of tracts entitled Abraham Avenezra, a Jewish Astrologer Most Expert in Judicial Works, Translated into Latin by the Most Excellent Peter of Abano after Careful Correction (Venice: Petri Liechtenstein, 1507), ff. 95v–96r.

Bethen de Horis Planetarum

On the Hour of Saturn

When it be the hour of Saturn, it is good to buy things of a heavy nature, such as iron, tin, lead and all metals, and stone, and black clothes; to begin digging gardens; and to devise any frauds against enemies. It is not good to let blood; nor to take medicine; nor to speak to one in authority, to a prelate, a monk or a hypocrite, to a fisherman, or to a hunter; nor to speak to any friend; nor to construct or build any wall. Nor is it good to make a start with any man, nor again to make any partnership, nor to take a wife; for these will never be concordant. Nor is it good to cut clothes or to put on new ones.

On the Hour of Jupiter

During the hour of Jupiter, it is good to buy and exchange silver, and to deal with all business that pertains to silver; and to do traffic in blue-colored clothes, as well as bridges and houses for the sake of prayer. It is good to begin a journey for the sake of the Lord, and it is good withal to begin a journey for business or sea-travel. It is good to take medicine, and to let blood; and to speak of concord, peace, friendship and power. It is good to buy horses of a chestnut color and weapons of steel; to weave cloth; to plough a field; to sow; to dig a well; to construct and build a wall. What is more, thou mightest relate: it is good to begin all good works in the hour of Jupiter.

On the Hour of Mars

During the hour of Mars, it is good to buy weapons, horses serrandos and all horses fit for war; to put on helmets; to begin a journey for the sake of war, either by land or by sea; to buy all clothes of a red color. But it is not good to take medicine, to let blood or to begin a journey for the sake of business. Moreover, it is good for all works that pertain to fire, such as those of smiths, cooks, bakers and tile-makers. And as we said concerning the hour of Saturn, it not good to begin a partnership, nor to secure or take a wife.

On the Hour of the Sun

During the hour of the Sun, it is good to buy gold and all things of a golden color, and golden horses. It is best in this hour to speak to a king and to all powerful men. It is good for powerful men to begin a journey for the sake of war, and to begin a war. And it is good to trade in clothes of a golden-yellow color. But it is neither good nor bad to take medicine, to let blood or to begin a journey for the sake of business; nor to take a wife; nor to take on, make or contract on a partnership.

On the Hour of Venus

During the hour of Venus, it is good to buy females, pearls and all the adornments of women, and golden rings. It is most perfect to approach all women, and to betroth and take a wife. It is good to buy white horses and white clothes; to take medicine; to let blood; and to speak to queens and noblewomen.

On the Hour of Mercury

During the hour of Mercury, it is good to buy all painted and written things, grain, millet and panic-grass, and all clothes of various colors which pertain to the use of men of all sorts. It is good to buy cotton, silk and silken cloth; to begin to make an agreement; and also to take a wife or make a partnership. It is the best for taking medicine and letting blood, as well as for making a journey for the sake of business. It is good withal to buy horses balejanos, weapons of two colors, golden-yellow and gold, as well as cloths of a green color; and to weave cloth.

On the Hour of the Moon

During the hour of the Moon, it is good to buy honey, oil, figs, chestnuts, walnuts, almonds, wool, linen, hemp, barley, pork and all animals save sheep. It is good to buy birds pertaining to trade and all beasts that pertain to the meat-market. It is good to swear, as well as to carry out deceptions, betrayals, frauds and stratagems. However, it is not good to begin works in which thou desirest stability; but it is good to begin those whereof thou desirest speed.

On the Rising of the Triplicities, and First on the Rising of the First Triplicity

If Aries, Leo or Sagittarius should be at rising, because these signs are fiery, it is good under their rising to begin what pertains to fire, such as lighting a furnace; coloring gold, silver, lead, tin and brass; aught in relation to smithing; every work of which thou desirest speed; navigating; making horses run; sending messages; setting sails; digging wells; finding treasures; and many things which it were impossible to enumerate.

On the Rising of the Second Triplicity

If Taurus, Virgo or Capricorn should be at rising, because these signs are earthy, it is good under their rising to carry out all works which pertain to the earth, such as ploughing the land; buying land and houses; measuring the land; dividing garments; buying the wood from which thou wouldst make ships and all buildings; and performing all works from which wouldst have stability, permanence and durability.

On the Rising of the Third Triplicity

Now if Gemini, Libra or Aquarius be rising, because these signs are airy, it is good under their rising to do that which pertains to the air, such as placing a mast in a ship and raising it up, preparing and extending sail-yards and sails, and all works which pertain to a ship. It is good for the running of horses and the rowing of oarsmen, and to begin a journey.

On the Rising of the Fourth Triplicity

But if Cancer, Scorpio or Pisces be rising, because these signs are watery, it is good under their rising to carry out all things which pertain to the water, such as casting nets into the water; practicing all types of fishing; bathing; constructing baths; making locks for a mill; directing water-courses; and many things which it were impossible to enumerate.

On the Hour and the Sign of Saturn, and the Rising of the Same

This is to be attended to all the more carefully: that if it be the hour of Saturn and the sign of Saturn be rising, it is wonderful to do all the things which have been told of the hours of Saturn. Do thou understand the same concerning the other hours and signs; and if thou canst, make the hours agree with the signs, for this is best. And what we have said of Saturn, thus understand concerning all the other planets.