Britannia Baconica: or, The natural rarities of England, Scotland, & Wales. According as they are to be found in every shire. Historically related, according to the precepts of the Lord Bacon; methodically digested; and the causes of may of them philosophically attempted. With observations upon them, and deductions from them, whereby divers secrets in nature are discovered, and some things hitherto reckoned prodigies, are fain to confess the cause whence they proceed. Usefull for all ingenious men of what profession of quality soever. / By J. Childrey.

An occasionall Advertisement to the READER.

THe READER is desired to take notice, that while this Book was in the Press, on Thursday being All Saints day, November the first, 1660. between ten of the Clock that night, and five of the Clock the next morning happen∣ed an unusuall shifting of the Tides in the Thames at London, ebbing and flowing three times(as it is reported) in that space. Which how it agrees with the time of my conje∣cture (not to say prediction) pag. 97. of this Book, I shall leave him to judge.

Further, it happened upon a Northwest∣erly-wind, sometimes blowing pretty fresh, and sometimes remitting in a manner to a Calme (as my Diary of observations of the weather hath it for that day and night) and the Tides were at the Neapest; both which are according to my Hypothesis. In∣deed

the Moon was not in Apogaeo but al∣most in the very place of her Perigaeum; Which makes me begin to think the Apo∣gaeosis is not altogether so necessary to con∣cur in the business, but that the Neapness of the Tides and the wind are able to do it of themselves (assisted I mean with a private cause) so the alternate intensions and remis∣sions of the wind bee but proportionably greater to supply the wantof the Apogaeosis. I know many will hardly believe that that sentence of my conjecture at the time of this supposed Prodigy came fairly into the Book, but that it was foisted in out of a design of the Authours to make himself talked of, (because it is the first prediction that was ever ventured at in this nature) But I can aflure them he is not so light a regarder of his reputation, as to endanger it by a forge∣ry easily to be detected. If this profession be not of power to perswade the Authours integrity, let doubters know, he can (if it be required of him) tell when the like prodigy will happen again; and give a pre-ac∣count of some other Prodigies shortly to come. But (as in duty bound) he confesses, that (Secundum Deum) he ows all this new knowledge to the Lord Bacon.

Some busie Scriptorculi may perhaps go

about to amuse the people with strange mat∣ters portended in the State, by this pretend∣ed wonder; and the rather because it hap∣pened but the night before the arrivall of his Majesties Royall Mother at London. And it is probable (to affright you the more) they wil erect a figure for the beginning of it, and tell you that Saturn and Mars the two Ma∣levolents with Sol and Mercury, are altoge∣ther in the fift house in Scorpio, the worst sign of the twelve, and the house of Mars; But that they hope Venus applying to a Con∣junction of Jupiter in her own house in the 3 not far from an Angle, will much allay the venome of their influence. But I must tell them that this strange marvell, signifies no∣thing at all; and that whatever follows it, hath no relation to it. I believe had the thing fallen out about Midsummer last, the death of three English Dukes within less then three months space could not but have been thought the correspondent of that pre∣sage: whereas now (it falling just after) we are to seek for a Portent to bewaile the imi∣nence of so signall a mortality.