Catastrophe magnatum, or, The fall of monarchie a caveat to magistrates, deduced from the eclipse of the sunne, March 29, 1652, with a probable conjecture of the determination of the effects / by Nich. Culpeper, Gent. ...

PART. 3.

The next that cometh in order is the ☌ of ♄ and ♂ in ♌ 5. August 9. 1652. the effects of which I tremble to think of, and willingly would have past them by if I durst; the punish∣ment will be great, and I pray God the desart be not as great; and that I may be methodical in the handling of it, I will bring to your memory,

First, what hath formerly succeeded such a ☌, and yet within our age.

Secondly, what Authors say of such a conjunction.

Thirdly, my own judgement on it.

To the first of these I shall quote but onely one Example, which ushered the late King Charles to the Crown: 1622. in Iuly happened a conjunction of ♄ and ♂ in ♋, which though it be a little out of my road, maketh not a little to my purpose: during the effects of this conjunction, London was afflicted with an Epidemical disease in the belly; the ve∣ry same disease, which lately puzled all our pittiful Col∣ledge to finde out what it was, and caused by the very same aspect, namely, a ☌ of ♄ and ♂ in ♋. I cannot conceive it can appear a wonder to any real Physitian, that knoweth up∣on what foundation the ground of his Art is built; but that so great affliction of Saturne in a moist sign, should marre the attentive faculty in man; but though they had not wit enough to finde out the cause of the disease; yet they had

wit enough to invent a hideous name for it. viz. the plague in the guts; I had not mentioned this, had it not been to have done a little good to my Country-men; if ever it be their hard hap to be troubled with such a Colledge puzling disease, tis but onely strengthening the retentive faculty, and the cure is done, that so you need not puzle nature to encounter with a virulent disease and preposterous physick at the same time, but enough of this. To proceed,

Under the effects of this conjunction of ♄ and ♂ Anno 1623. the Sea broak in at Amsterdam, as I have been cre∣dibly informed by those that lived there at that time, and now in the very same place it brake in the last time: I would not say this is a strong confirmation of the truth in Astrolo∣gy, for fear the Priests should rail at it; yet this I say, what is here written is truth, and if that truth which is most de∣monstrative is most excellent; take this into that number; and now wherefore do you think I have quoted all this, tru∣ly to make way for what followes.

If the effects of the ☌ of ♄ and ♂ in ♋. 1622. jumpe so exactly with the effects of the ☌ of ♄ and ♂ in ♋. 1650. as they did as near as the men of Benjamin could sling a stone; Why should not the effects of the ☌ of ♄ and ♂ in ♌ 1652: answer as exactly to the ☌ of ♄ and ♂ in ♌ 1624. The sum∣mer 1624, was exceeding dry, and was it not so 1651. the summer 1625. was exceeding pestilential, and if the Eter∣nal God do not prevent, the influence of the heavens threa∣tens no less in 1653. let such as question the truth of Astro∣logy consider of this, and indeed for their sakes I quoted it, I am confident many moderate souls are possest with a PRIEST RIDDEN HUMOUR, that they suppose whatever a Priest prates in a Pulpit must needs be true, and for truth they entertaine it without any examination, it is a hundred pitties the men of BEREA are dead, and none of their generation living in England, whom the Ho∣ly Ghost commends for searching the Scriptures to see whe∣ther what the Apostle Paul taught were true or not, but our Ministers Ipse dixit serves the turns of most of their

hearers, though their spirits comes as far short of Paul's, as the spirit of a Hare doth from the spirit of a Lion: and thus you have the first thing propounded. viz What hath succeeded such a ☌ in our age, and also the reasons, why I did it.

Proceed we now to the second: What the opinions of Authors is of such a malevolent ☌ as this is, and I care not greatly if I begin with Haly; the ☌ of ♄ and ♂ causeth impediment to Kings, diseases amongst men, and it hap∣ning in a fiery sign, they must needs proceed from heat of blood; men first of all deceive one another, and afterwards fall out and fight (and so let such creatures do, till I part them) men are subject to hot Rhumes in their eyes, accor∣ding to Guido; especially their right eyes; fire and sword, and sudden death, and another inconvenience from their Geniu's, their heads are not set fast enough upon their shoul∣ders: besides, the ☌ happening in ♌, a fixed signe, the mischief is like to be durable, ah, and violent too, both the stars being violent, and the sign no less, the malice must needs be much increased, unless Jupiter help, and the poor soul is so weak he cannot. The hast of the Printer, or something else, hinders me from quoting more Authors.

Come we now to the third thing proposed, and that is my own judgement; and herein I might well say as the Priest did in the Pulpit, I know not where to begin, nor where to end, but I must begin somewhere, or else I shall shame my self, and confound my Auditors; if this do not argue simplicity in me to recite in a book, I am sure it did in the Priest to recite it in a Pulpit; well then, I will let it stand for a jest: and thus I'll begin.

First, Never yet happened a ☌ in Saturne and Mars in ♌, but it punished London with a Pestilence the next year fol∣lowing, and now they make two ☌ in ♌, one in 1652. ano∣ther in 1654. what harm is it, if I bid London beware of a Pestilence, in 1653. and 1655. though it should never come to pass, is the City ever the worse? Or the Citizens

e'er the poorer; I am confident it hath held true, as may ap∣pear by Chronicle, these five hundred years: The merciful God whose tender mercy is over all his works, grant in mercy to his poor and almost undone Nation, that it may take away our Op∣pressors only, and spare such as mind and intend really the good of the Commonalty: And if I might make an Allegory of one place of Scripture, which though it were really in the letter once verified, it followes not in the least, but it may in a mistical sense be performed once again, it follows not, be∣cause God said, Genesis 3.15. I will put enmity between thee and the serpent, and between thy seed and her seed, &c. That all the Enmity between them, should be onely be∣tween men and serpents, greater enmity then which is not between two creatures, for men though they keep beasts for their profit, and birds for their pleasure, and dormice for their ease, as to make themselves sleep, or the like: yet a man when he meets with an Adder, gives him no quarter, but is sure to die for it; and where tis said in the foregoing Scripture: I will put enmity between thee and the woman: and it is quoted in Plinies Natural History; and I am much mistaken if the same thing be not in Gesners History of Beasts, that if a serpent be put into a room where there is forty men, and but one woman, the serpent will single out that woman amongst all them men, to do her a mis∣chief: I say doth it follow because this Scripture holds so true in a litteral sense, may it not hold as true in a mistical sense, and produce a real war.

First, in the Microcosm, or body of man, between the spirit of man and his own corruptions, look into your selves you shall finde it as I tell you.

Secondly, in the habitable world between the saints and the men whose portions is in this world; which Cain and Abel first began: but the contest shall never be ended till the dissolution.

Thirdly, in the intelligible world between good and bad Angels; for Michael and his Angels shall fight against

the Dragon, and the Dragon shall fight and his Angels: but here is our comfort, and the comfort of all saints, our Christ is a Conquering Christ, and is preparing to ride out Conquering and to Conquer, and if this be so, as is appa∣rently true, why may not another Scripture? 1 Kings 19. 15, 16, 17. And the Lord said unto him go, and return on thy way to the Wilderness of Damascus, and when thou co∣mest there, anoint Hazael to be King over Syria, and Jehu the son of Nimshy, shalt thou anoint to be King over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah shalt thou a∣noint to be Prophet in thy room; and it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael, shall Jehu slay, and him that escapeth the swood of Jehu shall Elisha slay, and I care not greatly if I ad the next verse; yet have I left me seven thousand in Israel, that have not bowed the knee to Baal; I will not stand much in the interpretation of this Scripture, but leave every one to be his own interpreter: yet this I say, that Tyranical brain who hath escaped the sword in this Nation, may dye by the pestilence; and he who escapeth the pestilence, may dye by the hand of that Angel who is noted to come, Revelations 14. 6, 7. And I saw an Angel fly in the midst of Heaven having the EVERLASTING GOSPEL to preach to them that dwel on the Earth, and to every Nation, and tongue, and people; saying with a loud voice, fear God and give glory to him, for the hour of his judgment is come, and worship him that made the Heaven and Earth, and the Sea; which Angel I assure you is coming, and will be heard, not in your ears, but in your hearts; I mean the hearts of such as have not bowed THEIR KNEE TO BAAL: And this gives me some hope the Lord will preserve you in this terrible pestilential time 1653. in the mean season make use of Paul's advice which he preach∣ed at Lystra: Turn from vanity, and worship the living God which made the Earth and the Sea and all that there∣in is.

Secondly, Kings and Magistrates cannot agree with one another, but only in one thing, and that is oppressing the peo∣ple,

and that they are old dogs at, and the poor groan under it, Arise O God and help them!

Thirdly, the Soldiery canot agree with one another, let them score their valor on the heads of their enemies in Gods name, and not fall out with one another for that is pity.

Fourthly, many Clergymen and Lawyers are displaced and imprisoned, and some made shorter by the head.

Fifthly, a new sect of Hereticks arise, and yet I should admire how wors can be invented then are already, did I not know the Devils invention is very quick in what is nought.

Sixthly, a wofull mortality is threatned both to man and beast, pestilence amongst men, diseases of the heart and stomack, murrain among cattell, violent hot and blasting East winds.

Seventhly, I could almost be afraid of some treacherous ac∣tion, either hatching or acting by those that are in authority in Scotland: I hope our State will have a vigilant eye over them, they have warning of it long enough before hand.

Eightly, Cholar perplexes the bodies of men, to which if I adde a little discontent, as I may doe very well, both di∣stilled through the Limbick of an idle Brain, may bring forth such an untoward chymicall preparation, as may produce contempt of Authority, to the great prejudice both of supe∣riours in the Nation, and also in the Nation it self.

Ninthly, private Murthers and poisonings are like to bee very rife, I desire all men in authority to have a care of them∣selves, lest some of them be sent to take a supper apud inferos, before they are aware of it; it is a scurvy fashion, I doe not like it, and yet to tell you the truth I fear it.

Tenthly, the Land is not like to beare all the evill influ∣ence of this conjunction, the Sea must have his share also; there is like to be old knocking there, our Frigots I hope are like to get good prizes, let the Hollander beware how hee meddles with us, untill such time as he longs to be beaten, I am of opinion that most of the Merchants of Europe will com off losers in the effects of this conjunction.

11. Religion is much controverted and that by such as know neither what it is, nor what they would have: God grant they make not a Deformation instead of a Reformation, and the common People love the Law and the Hang-man much alike; neither can they forbear quarelling even with Magna Charta it self.

12. France is as full of tumults as an egg is full of meat, od conceited tumults without either sense or reason: Cardinall Mazarine his brains are like to bee knockt out in an uproar or else poysoned: and if the King himself scape, 'tis more then I look for: Many parts in Italy are like to speed no better: you may know what the evill effects of such disordered Tu∣mults are, by the late sufferings of Naples.

13. English brains are very discontented; neither are they all troubled with one discontent: happy is that man, that findes another man of his own judgement. The Souldier stands stoutly to his principles; 'tis pitty there is not a School to teach men Patience, such a pannick fear possesses the hearts of the Vulgar, and such multitudes of Ghostly thoughts they con∣jure up, that at last they runne away pursued by nothing but by their own fears: The Winter following, men and women will bee mighty subject to quartane Agues. And thus much for this Conjunction, and also for this part.