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. ...

A Discourse of the terrible Eclipse of the Sun, March 29, 1652.

CHAP. I.

What an Eclipse is.

AN Eclipse is properly the deficiency of light in a Star, if it be defined in a critical sence: and although any Star upon the E∣cliptick may suffer an Eclipse, when they are diametrically opposed to the Sun; and although a part of the body of the Sun may be Eclipsed by Venus or Mer∣cury, in an inferiour conjunction, when they have no latitude (and for ought I know, it carries significa∣tion too, though little heeded) yet if we reason of an Eclipse in a vulgar sence, take the Philosophical description of it thus.

An Eclipse, is the prohibition of the light either of the Sun or Moon from our eye.

And as it is necessary, before we reason of an Eclipse, to tell you what an Eclipse is; so it is as necessary, to tell you what the Lumi∣naries Eclipsed are; and to what intent the eternal, and only wise

God, placed them in the heavens: and that this may be done me∣thodically, I will tell you

• 1. What the Sun is.
• 2. What an Eclipse of the Sun is.
• 3. What the Moon is.
• 4. What an Eclipse of the Moon is.

First, know this, that the Sun is the light and governor of the world; a creature which gives life, light, and motion to the crea∣tion: by moving about his own body upon his Axis, he moves the whole creation: by him is time limited; by him the Planets become Oriental, and Occidental: he hides them, and he gives them their lustre: whatsoever in the creation hath motion (and there are but few things without it, if any) they have it all from the Sun: in a word, he is the primum mobile of the creation; it is he that makes the Trees to spring, and the Birds to sing, and brings forth the fruits of the earth in due season; he quickens and enlivens all things; and every signe is exalted above its fellows, when he is in it: he adds life, and light, and strength, and heat and vertue, to the earth; and therefore his Eclipse is the more dis∣mal to it: he is indeed the life of the creation, perhaps anima mundi: when the Sun leaves a signe, that signe remaines like a dead body without a spirit and motion; and other signes avoyd that signe, as a living body avoyds a dead body: it is the Sun that causeth the motions of winde, inundation of water; the cir∣culation in the creation, is caused by the Sun: it is he that draws the waters out of the sea, and returns them upon the earth, that so it may bring forth fruit in due season, the truth is he is a great and famous Planet, of mighty power, nobility, magnanimity, and command; and yet not like the Commanders of our times; for he loves not mony. His corporal Conjunction, infortunates more then the conjunction of any Planet; but his Trine, and Sextile Aspects, fortunate more then the Trines and Sextiles of any Planet: And if you will know the reason why his Conjunction is so unfortunate, he gives to all the Planets their light and moti∣on; and when they are with his body, he takes it away againe. Life and death, principalities and powers, vanquishing and victo∣rie, are known by the Sun: beware his Eclipse upon his exal∣tation.

As he is in the heavens, so are Magistrates in a Commonwealth: if the one be afflicted, why may not the other? the motion of the Sun is natural; the motion of terrestrial creatures, artificial: when Nature suffers, beware Art. In the body of man, he represents the head, because he is exalted in Aries: mock not, if you finde him represent the same in a Nation. All Kings, quatenus Kings, are represented by the Sun; do not admire if they be Eclipsed: the truth of it is, he is Lord Paramount in the creation; and to prove this, I will send you to school, whither Iob sent his companions, Iob 12. 7, 8. Ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowles of the aire; and they shall tell thee: or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee; and the fishes of the sea shall declare to thee. To which I might add, The trees themselves will do it; the birds in the spring declare it to the whole Nation, (I wish I could call it a Commonwealth.) The mines in the earth, yea the flint-stones, will tell you what the power of the Sun is; and yet he is Eclipsed: we will not deny the influences of the other Planets together with that Sun; for as the stomach first concocts the meat, and sends, or should send, the chyle well concocted to the Liver; and the Liver having concocted it againe, nourisheth the body by the Veines, and every Veine receives a part of the blood from the Liver, according to its own capacity, even so the Sun administers of his own power, to the rest of the Planets, and to the earth it self: every one receives its part according to its ca∣pacity: an Apple-tree bears an Apple; a Crab-tree but a Crab, because it is capable of no more: a good Plum-tree bears a Plum; and a Sloe-tree, but a Sloe, because it is capable of no better; So that the nature of the Sun, operates in all natures, according to their capacitie. The house of the Sun, is the best and most noble house in all the heavens: his exaltation is the best and most noble exaltation in all the heavens: his triplicity is the best and most regal triplicity in all the heavens. As a wise Ruler should be in the midst of the Gommonwealth, so hath ••he eter∣nal and only wise God placed the Sun in the middest of the crea∣tion, and all the rest of the Planets, like Serving-men, attend him. He hath made Saturne his counsellor, by whose sober advice the

violent motions of the other Planets are retarded. He hath made Iupiter his Judge, by whose equal temperature, honesty, and serenity, things should be ordered, I cannot say they are; yet I am of Iulius Cesars opinion.

Tarpeio, quondam, cons••dit culmine, cornix, Est bene, non potuit dicere, dixit, erit.

On the Tarpeian Steeples top, the Crow Cryed out, All is not well; but 'twill, I trow. And so hope I.

He hath made Mars his Commander; he is the Generall of his Army, and he retaines that office in this Eclipse; and I have some hopes he will use it well. Venus buyes and sels his commo∣dities; and that is her office in the habitable world. Mercury is his Accomptant, and takes notice what is done, and tels him of it once in two months. The Moon is his Ambassador, and tels fraile flesh what he intends to do, and when he will do it: Oh that they would be so wise to hear her!

And having now told you what the office was, which the great First-being of all things placed the Sun in the firmament for,

(Sensibus haec imis, res non est parva repone.

Afford these lines a place amidst your sences, And be not gull'd by flattering pretences.)

I come now to shew you, what an Eclipse of the Sun is: but before we come to that, take an Aphorisme or two.

1. An Eclipse is either total, or partial.

2. A totall Eclipse is, when the whole Star is darkened; a partial Eclipse is, when but part of the Star is darkened.

3. No Eclipse can happen but at or neer one of the Nodes, the Head or taile of the Dragon: if I had been minded to have frighted the multitude with uncouth words, I would have said, Anabibazon, and Catabibazon.

4. The Sun, seeing he is the Author of light, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the light of the world proceeds from him, it is imposs〈…〉〈…〉 should be darkened really; but only his beams are hindered by the body of the Moon, from some particular place of the earth: nay, it is impossible the Sun should be darkened every where in the same Hemisphear: it is not universaliter, but secundum quid: for the Moon being made of the same metal the earth is (namely, a lump of dirt rolled up together, and by an All-powerful God hung in the Aire, the foundations of it fixed upon nothing) the opacous body of the Moon, takes away the light of the Sun from some particular people; whereas, by reason of the different Paralax of the Moon, other Nations in the same Hemisphear can behold the body of the Sun, not in the least darkned. From these things thus joyned together, take this definition of an Eclipse of the Sun.

An Eclipse of the Sun, is a taking away both light and vertue of the Sun from a particular people, by the interposition of the body of the Moon.

And if so, who, but Doctor SELF, and Doctor CONCEIT knowing, as I told you before, wherefore God Created the Sun can deny but that dismal effects must follow the interposition between a Nation and such a real, such an all-friend. A word is enough to a wise man.

In the third place, I come to tell you wherefore the Moon was created; and though she be but a lump of dirt, she was not created for nothing; had she been so, man had been created for less. She is called in the Scripture, a great light, who, as Iehovah Elohim saith, was made to RULE, as well the Sun: and because she was to rule the night, she cannot be Eclipsed but in the night.

I wonder in my heart, what the Priests would say, if a man should ask them the question, What rule the Moon hath in the night? Or whether a prohibition of light, be not a prohibition of rule? Or whether a prohibition of rule bring not confusion? Or whether the corruption of one thing, be not the generation of ano∣ther? Haply my argument may appear to be truth ere long and they may feel it to their cost: when God sets them to rule, and they deprive one another of their power, caveant mortales.

Well, but what effects was the Moon created for? that is the question, and to that now turn I. She is the lesser Luminary; she is the Governess of the world: she changes all bodies, and causeth vicissitude of times: pray God the effects of this Eclipse turn them to the best.

Yet this I will say by the rules of natural Philosophy, All things between the terminus a quo, and the terminus ad quem, require order and good method; and according as the method is in the medium, so shall the end prove.

If the new River-water had been brought from Ware to Lon∣don in lead, it had come clear; but being brought in earth, it is muddy. I will leave this Nation to pick English out of it.

The Moon, about which our discourse is, is most appropriated to man; and not only to man, but also to beasts, and birds, and fishes: she carries the vertue of the Sun to the creation, and causes man to change from childe-hood to youth; from youth, to Man-hood, from Man-hood, to Age; from Age, to decrepid∣ness: she helps man to live, she helps man to dye: her one light (if you note it) doth the like. A body may gather the whole world is maintained by light: and as various as the light of the Moon is, so various is the life of man. She receives her light from the Sun: she increaseth, she comes to the full, she wanes, and at last returnes to the place from whence she came; and so must man.

The Eclipse of the Moon is no way to be despised, neither is the Eclipse of the Sun by the Moon: for this one judgement I will give you now (although it be out of course) when the Moon is Lady of the Ascendant, and Eclipseth the Sun in the Tenth; Such, as the Magnates for want of better breeding, or more know∣ledge of God, or humble-wort growing in their gardens) call vile, Plebeian, and evil men; such as they could crush to peices (if they knew but how) will rise up, both against Magistrates, and a∣gainst their Rulers, and handle them without Mittens, as they have handled them before; Kingdomes will be changed, and Beggars will get on horse-back; let them have a care how they ride. I hope I have not transgressed.

The Moon is to the Sun, as an Ambassador is to a Prince: the Sun gives her power and governs her, and supplies her both with light and strength, from the time of the Conjunction to the Opposition: in her Opposition, she is so proud, she thwarts him; then he diminisheth her light, and takes away from her, what she borrowed of him before; just as when a King sends out an Am∣bassador to some people or Nation, the Ambassador grows proud, and looks upon himself as an absolute King; The King quickly knows how to make him know himself: even so the Sun with∣draws his light againe, brings her to nothing at all, and bids her look to the rock from whence she was hewen.

But I pray you now, when the Moon is in her full power, and then Eclipsed, must this Eclipse signifie nothing? We will take her signification to be a Queen, the governess of the night, and a governess both over sea and land.

There remaines but one thing more, which is to shew you what what an Eclipse of the Moon is; for which, take this defini∣tion.

An Eclipse of the Moon, is a diametrical interposition of the body of the earth, between the Sun and Moon, whereby the light of the Sun, is hindered from the body of the Moon.

I have done with this Chapter, if you will be pleased but to take notice, that the Moon may be totally obscured in the same Hemisphear, because the magnitude of the body of the earth, is greater then the magnitude of the Moon; only take notice, that the farther Eastward people in the same Hemisphear live, the sooner to them will the Eclipse appear.

CHAP. II.

Of the Attendants of the Eclipse.

AS great men have many and great attendants, so hath this great Eclipse of the Sun: And as some of the attendants of great men run before them, others follow after; so do the atten∣dants also of this Eclipse: and all must be heeded, in this our present Judgement.

Before this Eclipse, was the Conjunction of Saturn and Iupiter, in Pisces, Feb. 15. 1642/3. which Master Lilly so learnedly treat∣ed of in his Prophetical Merlin: and to see how the circumfe∣rental lines of Gods providence fix all in the same centre: Saturn and Iupiter make three Oppositions, within the time of the ope∣ration of this present Eclipse: a most strange thing, and not to be contemned. Besides, there is an Eclipse of the Moon March 14. 1651/2 together with the position of the heavens at the Suns in∣gress into Aries. The Conjunction of Iupiter and Mars in Sep∣tember, 1651. is not to be despised: nor yet the Square of Iu∣piter and Mars in February, 1651/2.

As followers of this Eclipse, we have another Eclipse of the Moon in September, 1652. a Conjunction of the Sun and Mars in May, 1652. of the Sun and Saturn in Iuly, 1652. of Saturn and Mars in August, 1652. an Eclipse of the Moon in March, 1653. a Conjunction of Saturn and Mars, 1654. And the real truth is, all the Planets by all aspects, conduce toge∣ther to further the operation of this Eclipse: therefore the Eclipse must needs be great, not onely because so great a part of the Sun is darkened, and that upon the very degree of his exaltation; but also, because of the multitude and formidableness of its atten∣dants; which having now shewed you what they are, I shall proceed to shew you what they signifie, in this Chapter in the ge∣neral, and afterwards in particular.

In the general, consider, that Saturn is an old worn-out Pla∣net, weary, and of little estimation in this world: he causeth long and tedious sicknesses, abundance of sadness, and a Cart∣load of doubts and fears: his nature is cold, and dry, and me∣lancholy. And take special notice of this, that when Saturn is Lord of an Eclipse (as he is one of the Lords of this) he governs all the rest of the Planets, but none can govern him: Melancho∣ly is made of all the humors in the body of man, but no hu∣mour of melancholy. He is envious, and keeps his anger long, and speaks but few words; but when he speaks, he speaks to pur∣pose. A man of deeep cogitations; he will plot mischief when men are asleep: he hath an admirable memory, and remembers to this day how William the Bastard abused him: he cannot en∣dure to be a slave: he is poor with the poor, fearful with the fear∣ful: he plots mischief against the Superiours, with them that plot mischief against them: have a care of him, KINGS and MAGISTRATES of Europe; he will shew you what he can do, in the effects of this Eclipse: he is old, and therefore hath large experience, and will give perilous counsel: he moves but slowly, and therefore he doth the more mischief: all the Planets contribute their natures and strength to him; and when he sets on doing mischief, he will do it to purpose: he doth not regard the company of the rest of the Planets, neither do any of the rest of the Planets regard his: he is a barren Planet, and therefore de∣lights not in women: he brings the Pestilence: he is destructive to the fruits of the earth: he receives his light from the Sun, and yet he hates the Sun that gives it him: he partakes with Mercury to do mischief but nothing else: he will be obedient to no Planet; neither will he be servant to any: once more, Look to it Magi∣strates: he abhors Iupiter, by reason of his benevolence. And pray take notice then, Saturn being Lord of the Eclipse, what the effects of the three Oppositions of Saturn and Iupiter may produce.

Post nubula Soles. Having considered the nature of Saturn, let us a little consider the nature of Iupiter, that so we may make a firm foundation, to build our following Discourse upon. Oh that men would be so wise us to consider that they would

but in this their day, consider the things that belong to their peace, before it be hid from their eyes.

The effects of this Eclipse will spare none it lights upon, neither will it play or dally with them, but, Torrent-like, sweep them a∣way with a mighty ruine. I hope those that preach so fiercely against Astrologie, when they feel the effects of this Eclipse, will probably learn wit, when they are beaten to it. And though I quote here the good nature of Iupiter, I do not think the effects of the Eclipse will be good, as the nature of Iupiter shews, because Iupiter hath little or no signification in the E∣clipse: but I hope such times may come after, and so people may live in hopes of what benefit they or their children may live to enjoy. I have a reason for this my hope too: for, to believe a thing without a reason, is (in my opinion) foolery, and not faith.

It was the opinion of M.Lilly, in that MASTER-PIECE of his, his PROPHETICAL MERLIN, that in the late Con∣junction of Saturn and Iupiter, Saturn was the strongest Pla∣net: I can scarce believe it; neither was it ever my fancie to pre∣fer accidental dignities, before essential. But I shall talk more of this hereafter: onely thus much of the Conjunction, which, ac∣cording to the vulgar course of providence, should have happened in a Kingly Signe; by the Almighty providence of God at this time, and but at this time, since the Creation of the world, hap∣pened in a Plebeian Signe, nay in the weakest Signe of the Zodi∣ack: but the Scripture must be verified; the Lord will pull down the mighty, and exalt the humble and meek. Enough of this: I come now to the nature of Iupiter.

Iupiter delights in equality, and so do I: he delights in com∣munity and goodness: and the reason why he doth so, is, because he is a Planet temperate, in respect of heat, driness, coldness, and moisture. He is a just, upright-dealing creature: he will not give All to some, and None at all to the rest. He signifies much good to the people, correction of Laws, single-heartedness, chastity. He will correct men, but he will not undo them, neither destroy them. He abhors the nature of Saturn, and keeps him from doing that mischief which the poor old soul would willingly do. He is very

milde, and shews goodness in his forehead, and not coveteousness: if he had a thousand a yeer, he would bestow it all upon the poor: he alwayes speaks truth in his words, and carries himself truly in his actions; and then to be sure he is neither Priest nor Lawyer: You will be confident of it as well as I, if you do but consider he hates coveteousness: the truth is, he mindes publique, and not private good: he is fortunate in all his deeds, by the equality of his temper: the heat of the Summer, and cold of Winter, is tem∣perated by him: the truth of it is, by the salubrious beams of Iu∣piter, an equality is made in the creation. And now there comes in my head an odd passage of Doctor Gell, in his last Sermon preached before the learned Society of Astrologers; God (said he) set the bounds of the people according to the number of the Angels of God: therefore there ought to be no communi∣ty. But, by Doctor Gell's leave, who desires a Community? we desire but our own birth-rights, and the heavy yoak William the Bastard laid upon us, taken off; and should be glad if we could ob∣tain that: only this I desire of Doctor Gell (whom I honor both for his learning and piety) when God did divide Nations accord∣ing to the number of the Angels, whether he gave All to some, and None at all to the rest? whether he left any poor in the land un∣provided for? whether he made them not All Free-holders? and leave him to be answered by his own conscience.

Thus much for Iupiter: I come now to Mars, and I shall be the more large in him, because he is the chief significator of the effects of this Eclipse.

This world, as it stands in statu quo, makes a difference be∣tween rich and poor men; and when a man hath pickt up a great deal of well-concocted earth, I am a better man then thou, quoth he; though perhaps the birth and breeding of the other, be ten times better then this: but as the Grave equals all men, so do Celestial influences: nay I will tell you more then this, Magistrates are grown to such a terrible hight of Pride, that this Eclipse will teach them, that the Lord knows the proud afar off. Miserable and sad are the effects of the Eclipse like to be, when the two infortunes are Lords of it; and so they are in this: but what their operation will be, I am now to speak of only in the general; and

I will prefix this Scripture in the front of it, Psal. 28. 5. If they regard not the works of the Lord, nor the operations of his hand, he will pull them down, and not build them up. Mars is the chief Lord of the Eclipse; and you shall see what a kinde of creature he is: he is a hot and dry, firy burning Planet; an angry conquering creature, destructive to nature: he is so angry, that he will hear no reason: the Priest with his Rhetorick in the Pulpit, cannot move him; neither doth he regard the Lawyer that pleads at the bar: all the Sophistry in Oxford and Cam∣bridge will not be able to qualifie his anger in the effects of this Eclipse, but are all like to feel his fury: he layes out all his strength in what he doth, or in what he delighteth to do: his na∣tural disposition is to set people together by the ears: I may say of him, as Virgil said of Alecto,

Tu potes unanime is armare in praelia fratres, Atque odiis versare domos: tu verberatect is, Funereasque inferre faces, tibi nomina mille, Mille nocendi artes, faecundum concute pect us Disjice compositam pacem: sere crimina belli: Arma velit, poscatque simul, rapiatque juventus.

The dearest knots of friendship he unties, And utterly subverts whole families With dismal funerals, and bitter wrath: A thousand names, a thousand arts he hath To break sweet peace: by his impetuous charmes, The Youth desire, and crave, and handle armes.

Look you here now, what a master the eternal God of heaven and earth hath appointed you over this Eclipse; one that delights in nothing in the world but killing and murdering, setting people together by the ears, quarrelling, folly, and impatience, vehement anger: one that neither fear nor entreaty is able to hold or retard from sowing the seed of sedition and war, when he sets up∣on it.

Saturne, I told you before, was another Lord of the Eclipse; and

Mars is exalted in the house of Saturne, as though both the male∣volents were conjoyned to execute the will of God in the destroy∣ing effects of this Eclipse. Mars is of that nature, that he will run on, right or wrong, and never regard what the end will be. He causes infirmities and sicknesses, diminution of substance, madness, and revenge, thunder and lightening; and what else can terrific the mindes of the giddy-headed multitude.

But in this Eclipse, because Venus is neer him, she will somewhat qualifie his malice: I shall shew you hereafter how and in what manner; onely in this place, what the general disposition of Ve∣nus is, that so I may hold to what I promised, onely gene∣rals.

Venus is a Planet cold and moist, fortunate, merry, and jo∣cund: I would we of the Commonalty of England had cause so to be: we shall have, we must have; they had as good let us have it at first as at last; the heavens promise it us, and it is in vaine for man to domineer.

Heu, nihil invitis fas quemquam credere divis.

Th' effects of this Eclipse shall clearly prove 'Tis vaine to strive against the powers above.

Besides this, by her coldness and moisture, she somewhat tem∣pers the hot and dry disposition of Mars: and if we bring it home to this Eclipse, she orders him, having gotten him in her house, she loves singing, and banquetting, and drinking, and venerial vices, diseases that come therefrom; and therefore in this Eclipse, she hath got a sit companion in her house, cut out for the purpose. Mars and she usually cause whoredom, and sometimes a knock with a French colt-staffe: she gives very good words, and is very meek of nature: she will give good words to the poor, be∣cause they are cheap, and cost nothing: she is an enemy to Saturne, though she give him an exaltation in her house. I will leave Ve∣nus, and come to Mercury.

Mercury loves all Arts, and hath gotten a special command over all Clerks & Accomptants: and he is of a convertible nature,

just like a Priest, I should have said a Weather-cock: he is mas∣culine with the masculine, and feminine with the feminine: he is a fortune with the fortunes; an infortune with the infortunes: he is a bold spoken fellow, full of tongue; his father was either a Priest or a Lawyer, I know not which: he is a chearful creature, quick in his actions: he is a divellish lyar, a betrayer; as full of deceit as an egg is full of meat: he will promise more by a far∣thing candle, then he will perform in seven yeers: he signifies windes; and in this Eclipse, such windes as will rend the stout∣est Rocks in Europe in peices.

These be the Planets, which (as I shall tell you hereafter) have one way or another signification in this Eclipse; and there can be no more, nor more variety of these significations which I have here delivered.

I have shewed you here their natures in general; I come now to shew you their natures in particular: only before this, let me premise this one thing, the Moon hath a very great signification in the effects of this Eclipse; the general signification of which, I gave you in the first Chapter, the particular signification, both of her, and other Planets, you shall have hereafter, when I come to the particular dimension of time, in which the effects of this Eclipse are to Operate.

CHAP. III.

Of the Prodromi, or forerunners of the Eclipse.

THE Prodromi or Forerunners of this Eclipse, because they are very many, and something contrary the one to the o∣ther, I will not put them together, for fear they should fall out; but speak of each of them in a part by it self.

Of the Conjunction of Saturne and Jupiter. PART I.

Had it not been unavoidable to my present discourse, I would not so much as have mentioned this great and rare Conjunction: rare, because the world never saw the like; great, because rare: and the reason why I would not have mentioned it, is, because Master Lilly hath so learnedly Treated of it in his Prophetical Merlin, in which you shall finde this speech, not to be des∣pised.

The first restitution of the Firy Trigon in the Conjunction of Saturne and Jupiter, happened in Enochs time. The second, at the universal Deluge. The third, in the delivery from the Egyptian Bondage. The fourth, in the Persian Monarchy. The fifth, in the time of Christ, and the Roman Empire. The sixth, in Charles the great. And now the seventh hath a secret mystery of Sabbatisme in it, and promiseth some thing of more singular moment to the world then the other. Thus Master Lilly very learnedly, and as truly wrote.

To this give me leave to add one speech of the Jewish Rabbies, That as God made the world in six dayes, and rested the seventh,

so the world should enjoy six thousand yeers of trouble, and one thousand or Sabbaticall time of rest; as God rested the seventh day, so shall the world have a thousand yeers of rest, after six thousand of trouble; in which time the kingdoms of the world should become the Kingdoms of our God and of his Christ.

Neither is this much disconsonant from that of the Apostle, Rom. 8. 19, 21, &c. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. Because the creature it self also shall be dilivered from bondage of corruption, into the glorious liberty of the children of God, &c. I do not desire to be accounted a Prophet, nor do I plead revelations for what I write; yet a little time may prove me to be no lyar.

I shall onely quote you what a few Authors say of this Con∣junction. Campanella saith, That the Conjunction of Saturne and Jupiter, under the fourth triplicity, which is inimicall to the first triplicity, the prerogative of Monarchy will be so shaken, that it will neuer be able to stand upright more (nor perhaps ever did in conditions) dreadful heresies (anglicè excellent truths) will begin to appear and be protected by force of armes: faith is enlarged more by the sword then by miracles: new Religions arise, and set a period to the auste∣rity of the former (as much as if he had said, Knowledge begins to break through the clouds of ignorance) yet will all this be to a good intent, because the Stars only incline, but it is in the use of mans liberty, to use this inclination either to good or bad. Blame me not for being a little copious upon this Con∣junction: for without the due consideration of this, it is impossi∣ble I should judge rightly of the Eclipse of the Sun: and I must be a little critical against all Authors; I hope Master Lilly will pardon, me if I dissent a little from him: if he may freely write his own judgement, why may not I by the same rule? The Con∣junction of Saturne and Iupiter (calculated by the Rudolphine Tables) it seems happened in the second house; I shall not be very critical against either the truth of the Rudolphine Tables, nor yet at the ability of Master Matthew Fisk that calculated them;

whose noble spirit is returned to God that gave it; neither will I exclaime upon other Authors, as Noel Durret, Argol, and o∣thers, all which differ in time (yet not so much in that, as Master Fiske and Sir Christopher Heydon differed in the calculation of that in 1603.) By Argols computation, it should be in the ninth house: Argol might be a little mistaken; and the effects shall prove, before they are half over, that it happened in the tenth, and the figure not much different from that of this Eclipse: I cannot at this time stand to give you my reasons, let experience be judge, Time will tell truth, when I may not. Besides, since the time of this Conjunction, never more never greater Phaenomena's have been seen in the aire: never more Parelii or mock-Suns, or Paraselenes, or mock-Moons, have been seen in England, since Iohn of Gaunt, or William the bastard, then have been seen in one yeer: not a yeer hath past our heads, but more then one of them hath appeared; besides other supernatural sights; and rest confident, more yet to come: and if ever God shewed any thing in vaine, this is the first time that ever he did it.

To proceed, when the two superiors returned to the watry triplicity, dreadful Wars are stirred up for Religion, or by the Clergy; as many Religions appear in a Nation, as there are haires upon a mans head; strange Engines are invented for war: the sword, famine, and pestilence afflict the earth.

If the Conjunction happen in Pisces, as this last did, and not far distant from Aries neither, the Clergy are reformed (pray God they do not reform them all away) new opinions vex the Church, Here∣sies arise (as the Ranters did now.) The Signe is double bodied, and people do all with a double heart; or, as the Hebrew hath it, with a heart and a heart; so that we may truly say by the effects of this Conjunction, as David, Psal. 12. 1. Help, Lord, for the godly man ceaseth, and the faithful fail from among the children of men: they speak vanity every one with his neighbour, with flat∣tering lips, and with a heart and a heart. But the Lord will cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaks proud things. The first we know to be true, the second I expect. However, this is certain; Pisces being the house of a superior Planet, and neer at hand to Aries, common people will carry themselves in more

then an ordinary Majestical way. If their Taskmasters set them to make brick, and give them no straw, they will rebel: And just in the nick of time when they are in such a humor, cometh this E∣clipse of the Sun; which, what it will produce, more anon: as also, three Oppositions of Saturn and Iupiter, which will kin∣dle such a fire in Europe, between the Magistrates, Ministers, and common People, which all the water in the Sea is not able to quench. Besides Albumazar saith, that if the Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter happen in Scorpio or Pisces,the effects thereof will work but slowly. And that haply may be the reason the effects of this Eclipse appeared in their colours no sooner. But if all the powers of heaven can blowe the coals to make them burn, this Eclipse of the Sun will do it: and the bellows will blowe the better, because Mars in this Conjunction of Saturn and Iupiter, was in Quartile to the Sun, and now Lord of this E∣clipse.

From these Principles thus considered, let us build a little ra∣tional Judgement upon this Conjunction, that so we may have a sure foundation, to erect our Judgement of this Eclipse upon. Men are undone, by rapine and violence of sonldiers. The whole Nati∣on of Europe is in a mutiny; and they have as much patience as a nest of Wasps. Thieving, rapine, and injustice, are Lords Para∣mounts of Seas and Land. The Merchants trading is bad; he scarce knows into what Country to trade; and when he doth, he loseth his ships by Sea. The world is mad, and servants turn ma∣sters: and what will the end be?

Kings and great men are undone: the Priest and Lawyer leaveth prating, and fall to fretting. It is the opinion of Guido Bonatus, upon a Conjunction of Saturn and Iupiter in Pisces, that all the evil that is done (and that is not a little) will be done under pretence of Religion: which how true it hath proved al∣ready in England, every one that hath but wit enough to eat an egge, knoweth. Besides, Leovitius quotes a great Conjunction of Saturn and Iupiter to have happened in Pisces, 1524. In the first yeer of the effects of it, happened great inundations of water; France was absolutely over-run: let them beware now; it's as likely to fall to their share now, as a Pomwater is like an

apple. Next yeer after, the Emperour and the French fall toge∣ther by the ears; in which unfortunate Battel, the poor French King was taken: it was well he scaped so too. The Duke of Saxony payeth his debts to Nature, and sleepeth both day and night to the Resurrection. The Boors in Germany are up in arms; and such a mortal fury possesseth their brains, that within four months space above an hundred thousand men were slain, and the matter examined after, whether guilty or not guilty. The King of Hungary goeth to war with the Turk; but he never returned home alive to tell how he sped. France, England, Venice, and almost all Europe, was together by the ears. Rome was sur∣prised, sacked, and pillaged, by the Duke of Bourbon; and the Duke himself was slain in the assault. His Holiness Pope Cle∣ment the seventh of that name, when neither wit nor holiness would serve his turn, yeelds himself a prisoner. Holland was quite routed and depopulated: a fair warning to make them a little quieter now; and they would take warning, if God had not an intent to scourge them. A huge Comet, with a terrible tail appeared, such a one as operated in the effects of this great Con∣junction.

Certainly these providential ways of God were made for Priests to learn by, and not to rail at. The Pestilence and the Fa∣mine wandered all over Europe. The Bishops of Germany were all together by the ears with the Duke of Saxony. The Helve∣tians were at Civil war; and what was it about, think you? truely, about that MONSTER called RELIGION. The Turk. falleth into Austria, and besieged Vienna, but did not take it. The Sea devoureth a great part of Holland, Zealand, and Flan∣ders.

A body would think here were enough to bid the Nations of Europe beware the effects of this Conjunction: and they would do it, did not God hide wisdom from their eyes, that so he may destroy them.

I shall onely quote one Aphorism of Rigel, concerning this Conjunction of Saturn and Iupiter, yet in force, but not in his height, till this present Eclipse: and with it I will conclude this first Part.

Dreadful streamings are seen in the air; whether in the forms of Comets, or other forms, it matters not. And I pray (to leave my Author a little) when have there been more seen then since the time of this Conjunction? When more Mock-Suns, and more Mock-Moons? Not a yeer hath past without divers of them, as I told you before; and had not mentioned them twice, had the significations not been prevalent. And if you have not enough, you shall have enough, before this yeer of 1652 pass over your heads, even such that shall make your hearts ake for fear. And truely, whatever you think, I am of opinion, God shews nothing in vain.

To proceed: Hot infirmities, acute diseases, wars and dissentions between Kings and their people, and between one King and another. And when Kings are together by the ears with one another, let them remember what AEsop said of the Mouse and the Frog; who whilst they were busie in fight, came a Kyte and carried them both away. Look to it, Princes of Eu∣rope: there will appear upon the wing, within these four yeers, a Kyte that will serve you in the same sauce.

To proceed: An universal evil will over-spread Europe, though probably it may be greater in one part then in another. Many signes will be seen in the heavens, beyond the course of nature, either round, or like crosses or pillars; whose effects you may know, if you consider the hour they appear in.

And thus much for the first Part of this Chapter, namely, the Conjunction of Saturn and Iupiter.

PART II.

Considering the Conjunction of Mars and Venus lately past, and that Mars is not onely Lord, but also chief disposer of the Eclipse, neither are the effects of that Conjunction over∣passed; we shall therefore, in all reason, speak a word or two of that Conjunction.

In the first place, it signifies hot, dry, and blasting windes, de∣structive both to corn and fruit-trees: the air is terrible, by,

reason of thunder and lightening: pains of the eyes: the eastern nations are together by the ears; 'tis past my wit to part them. Many infirmities will men be incident to: some women play the whores, others die. And if you consider him as he is in this Eclipse, in the eleventh House, Kings and their subjects cannot agree: the subjects have got a sword by the hilt, and care not a halfpeny for a Proclamation. 'Tis not words, but swords, that must end the difference. Friends fall out; and that is an ill time. Many fornications are threa••∣ned; luxurious living, Sodomy, and all the loose Venereal abuses that can be; and are as frequent as atomes in the sun.

PART III.

The Eclipse of the Moon comes next in course to be handled, March 14. 1651/2. it happens in the first Face of Libra: ac∣cording to the opinion of Proclus, it causeth hail, and terrible tempest, many hot windes, and those venomous and pestilential that shall happen in the summer.

Secondly, consider the Luminary eclipsed is in the eighth House, which, considering it as in an airy Signe, threatens many infirmi∣mities, and death; wars, and rumors of wars; diseases, and heat of blood; a terrible change both in Religion and Law; death of ancient people. The Signe being humane, the effects of it fall most heavily upon men.

Thirdly, Ptolomy saith, that an Eclipse happening in Equino∣ctial Signes, their accidents happen upon such men as profess ho∣liness, though they have little or none in them: upon such as pervert the Law, and set Injustice in the place of Justice; and know not equity from bribery. Also he saith, that if it happen in the eighth House, it signifies a change of the Law; men will be deceived of their Legacies, and the seeds of the earth will be destroyed. Also, if Iupiter be Lord of the Eclipse, and in Capricorn, Guiffus saith the effects thereof will work most po∣tently in winter. I suppose his meaning is, When the Sun comes to the place where Iupiter was, (and it is a good reason) they

will appear in Sea-fishes, and Ships at sea, and Birds which live at sea: the Laws of Cities will be changed, and so they will in Nations; I hope, for the best.

Fourthly, Albumazar saith, it causeth the death of Noble∣men.

Fifthly, Guiffus saith, that if the Eclipse of the Moon be in Libra, it threatens death to mortals, putrefaction to herbs and seeds; famine, pestilence, and other sharp sicknesses, proceed∣ing of winde, and heat of blood: schisms amongst the Eccle∣siastical persons; terrible tearing windes, destructive to man∣kinde.

Sixthly, the Cities and Nations subject to the effects of this E∣clipse, are such as we shall note you hereafter in the Eclipse of the Sun.

PART IV.

As concerning its congruity with the Vernal Ingress of Sol in∣to Aries, or (which is more proper) the Earth into Libra, let this suffice briefly, that it happens in the twelfth House of that Fi∣gure, and upon the very Cusp; shewing a yeer full of injuries and straights: servants will slip their necks out of the collar, and turn masters: subjects will rebel; and Kings are in a miserable case, and yet will they be as tyrannical as ever: subjects rise in arms against their Kings: fearful wars, terrible seditions, and danger∣ous mutinies, appear in the world. Let such as are wise, look to themselves: for 'tis no question but the fools will run on, although they be punished.

PART. V.

The Conjunction of Iupiter and Mars in Sagittarius comes next to be considered; touching which, I would have writen more, had not the press staid for me: the truth of it is, the position is but wretched; it happened Sept. 13. 1651. they may set the position that have less to do then I: the first degree of Virgo ascends; the time is 15 ho. 8 min. p.m. what they do in the Conjunction, they must do alone, for there is not one Planet strong enough to lend the least assistance. Saturn and Luna are in their detriments, and in Opposition too, and that is worse, and fils the heads of the vulgar with madness and sadness: Venus and Sol are in their fals, and Mercury is with the Dragons Taile, a most pitiful position as ever your eyes saw; nay there is another thing in the wind, one or two; the Sun is neer the place where the Moon is eclipsed in March: but that which shall bear the bell away is, the Eclipse of the Sun happens upon the very cuspe of the ninth house of the Conjunction, and the Conjunction with a hot violent furious malevolent and martial fixed Star, cor Scorpii.

This premised, we come a little to judgement. The Conjunction of Iupiter and Mars, sets the sword-men and gown-men toge∣ther by the ears: this I am confident is so rational, that none but a Clergie man, will have the face to deny it. I for∣bear my judgement here, which shall get the better of it; a ve∣ry little time will manifest which is sharpest, the Priests wit, or the souldiers sword: only take notice, and then I have done, that the Conjunction happening in the fourth house in a fiery signe, and with a fiery fixed Star, not only consumes the fruits of the earth by heat and driness, but also consumes whole Cities and Towns by fire and sword: also this happening in a humane signe, (for the first ½ of Sagittarius is humane)

There will be much effusion of blood amongst men: the Nations subject to Sagittarius, are never in their elements, but when they are together by the ears: look to it Spaine and Hungary, it will touch thee; and let the Turk have a care he loose not Buda either

by fire or sword, and say I told him of it. I shall conclude this, after I have quoted the judgement of Haly upon such a Conjun∣ction. When Mars is joyned to Jupiter men are in a quarrelling humor, and altogether about Religion, and when they have snarled a while, then they fight: the sword rageth in the earth, sickness and mortality follows it, so that those which scape the sword, may die by the pestilence: beasts of great valour, and va∣rious in colour, will appear in the aire: the beginning of the yeer will be very fruitful, but heat and driness consume the fruits of the earth, before the harvest.

The King of the Country subject to the influence of the Con∣junction, dies: look to it, Spain and Hungary; and let the Bassa of Buda beware of a bow-string, or something else as bad. As for the Quartile of Iupiter and Mars, which happens in Febr. 1651/2. I shall speak nothing, but only refer you to those most ex∣cellent, pithy, and most true verses of George Wharton Esquire, up∣on that month; and they are these:

Mars laies his knap-sack by, and stoutly draws, His trusty bilbow to prescribe us Laws. Jove claims his priviledge, and Mars his power; Both wrangle hard, and each on other lower, At length, Jove yeilds, and Mars assumes the chaire; Votes his own person noble, doings faire.

And thus you see what way is made by other Planets, for the effects of this Eclipse, at what posture the inclinations of the hea∣vens stand; and the disposition of sublunary bodies, is from them like to be found at the time of their operating.

CHAP. IV.

A. Calculation of the Eclipse of the Sun, March 29. 1652.

SO various have the opinions of Authors been, about this E∣clipse, and such difference in Tables, such halucination in the parallax of the Moon, that it would set a mans braines in such an extasie, that like Hercules, it would bring him to ne plus ultra. The time of the day is not agreed upon, nor yet what part of the body of the Sun will remaine enlightened, whether the North, or the South part: nay, Authors vary that have calculated by one and the same Hypothesis.

And if others may make bold to please themselves, why may not I have the same liberty? Therefore I got my special and loving friend (whom I esteem an able Artist) M. Samuel Warre, to cal∣culate this Eclipse for me, by the Tables of Bullialdus; together with the position of the heavens at that time, and the Type of the Eclipsed Luminaries.

An Epilogism of the Eclipse of the SUN, happening on the 28 of March, Anno 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, 1652. being applied to the Meridian of London;

			ho.	min.
Whose	Longitude	according to Bullialdus, is,	24.	45.
	Latitude		51.	32.

			ho. min. sec.
MEan Conjunction at Vranisburg, the 29.			1. 39. 45
Difference of Meridian substract			48. 00

Rests time of the mean Conjunction, Lond. 29.			51. 25
Interval between the mean and true Conjunct. substr.			2. 52. 9
Rests mean time of the true Conjunct. at London, 28.			21. 59. 36
			p.m.
Equation of days adde			2. 0
Apparent time of the true Conjunction, 28.			22. 1. 36
Equated anomal. of the	Sun,	9	11. 51. 14
	Moon,	7	15. 4. 4
The true place of the Luminaries	♈		19. 14. 49
The true motion of the Moons Latitude	☉		8. 48. 29
True Latitude Septentrional A.			45. 39
Reduction substract.			2. 7
The Moons place in the Ecliptick	♈		19. 12. 42
Hourly motion of the	Sun		2. 27
	Moon		36. 39
The Moon from the Sun			34. 12
Time of Reduction adde			3. 43
Exact time of the true Conjunct. is, March 28.			22. 5. 19
Horizontal Parallax of the	Sun		2. 21
	Moon		1. 0. 4
The Moon from the Sun			57. 43
To which given time the Suns R. A. is			17. 44. 50
Distance from M. C. 1 ho. 54 min. 41. sec.			28. 45. 15
R. A. of M. C.			349. 4. 35
Obl. A. of the Ascend.			79. 4. 35
In the Ascend.			18. 28. 8♋
On the Nonagesime			18. 28. 8♈
Altitudo Nonagesimi in latitudine Londini			40. 4. 4
Distance of 90 from the Node in consequentia			8. 1. 48
Adde Septentrional latitude			41. 37
Altitudo Nonagesimi in orbita Luna			40. 45. 41
Her Horizontal parallax of longitude			37. 7
Distance of the Sun from the 90			46. 41
The Moons parallax in longitude			31
To an hour preceding the Suns R. A.			17. 42. 33

Dist. from M. C. 2 ho. 54 min. 41 sec.			17. 42. 33
R. A. of M. C.			334. 2. 18
Obl. of the Orient			64. 2. 18
There is in the	Ascendant		6. 23. 4♋
	Nonagesime		6. 23. 4♈
Altitude of the 90			34. 12. 53
Distance from the Node			4. 3. 6
Meridional latitude substract			21. 3
Altitude of the 90 in the Moons Orbit			33. 51. 50
Horizontal Parallax longitude			32. 10
Distance of the Sun from the 90.			12. 49. 18
Parallax of the longitude			7. 11
Difference of the Parallaxes found			6. 40
Substract from the hourly motion of the Moon from the Sun, leaves hourly motion seen			27. 32
By which dividing the former Parallax, gives the in∣terval between the true and visible Conjunction to be substracted			18
To this interval, the Moons true motion is			39
The visible conjunction, March 28			22. 4. 11
Place of the Sun			19. 14. 47♈
The Moon			19. 14. 8
R. A. of the Sun			17. 44. 47
1 ho. 55 min. 49 sec. distant from M. C.			28. 57. 15
R. A. of M. C.			348. 47. 32
Obl. A. As••end.			78. 47. 32
On the	Ascendant		18. 15. 1♋
	90		18. 15. 1♈
Altitude 90			39. 57. 30
Distant 90 from the Node in anteced.			7. 48. 41
Bor. lat. adde			40. 31
Altitude of the 90 in the Moons Orbit			40. 38. 1
Horizontal Parallax of longitude			37. 35
Distance of the Sun from the 90			59. 46
Parallax longitude			39
Therefore the visible conjunction is truely had.

Distance of the 90 from the vertex			50. 42. 30
Parallax latitude			44. 15
True motion of the Moons latitude			8. 47. 48
Lat. S. A.			45. 35
From which substract Parallax-latitude			8. 47. 48
Rests latitude seen S. A.			1. 30
S d. of the Sun			16. 22
S d. of the Moon			16. 46
Aggregate of their SS dd.			33. ••8
Parts deficient			31. 38
Digits eclipsed			11. 35. 48
To an hour preceding the visible conjunction,
R. A. M. C.			333. 45. 16
Obl. of the Orient			63. 45. 16
On the	Ascendent		6. 8. 21♋
	90		6. 8. 21♈
Altitude of the 90			34. 6. 17
Distance from the Node in anteced.			4. 17. 59
Meridional latitude substract			32. 20
Altitude of the 90 in the Moons Orbit			33. 33. 57
Horizontal parallax of longitude			31. 54
Distance of the Sun from the 90			13. 3. 59
Parallax longitude			7. 13
The difference of this parallax, and that at the visible conjunction, substracted from the Moons hourly motion, leaves hourly motion seen			27. 38
Dist. Nonagesimi a vertice			56. 26. 3
Parallax-latitude			48. 5.
To an hour following visible conjunction			93. 49. 50
R. A. M. C.			3. 49. 50
Oblique A. of Ascend.
On the	Orient		29. 26. 37♋
	90		29, 26. 37♈

Altitude of the 90			45. 26. 24
Distance of the 90 from the Node in conseq.			19. 00. 17
Lat. Boreal. adde			1. 37. 6
Altitudine Nonagesimi in orbita Lunae			47. 3. 30
Horizontal parallax			42. 15
Distance of the Sun from 90			10. 9. 23
Parallax-longitude.			7. 27
Difference hereof to the Parallax at the visible conjunction, substract from the Moons hourly motion, leaves her hourly motion seen			27. 27
Dist. Nonagesimi a vertice			42. 56. 30
Parallax-latitude			39. 20
Line of incidence			33. 6
Time of incidence			1. 11. 52
Time of emersion			1. 12. 29
Total duration			2. 24. 21
Interval between visible conjunction and greatest obscurity substracted			15
Latitude of the Moon seen,	beginning, M.		6. 13
	end, S.		9. 25
The altitude at the beginning, of	☉	31. 33. 31
	☽		31. 44. 53
Altitude at the middle, of	☉		39. 54. 44
	☽		40. 42. 49
Altitude at the end, of	☉		45. 4. 24
	☽		46. 5. 12
Beginning, March 29. a. m.			8. 52. 4
Greatest obscuration			10. 3. 56
Visible conjunction			10. 4. 11
End			11. 16. 25

[illustration]

A copie of the constitution of Vrania's countenance taken, to the Ecliptical Synod of the Luminaries, happening (the 29 of March, at 10 ho. 4. mi. a.m.) in the yeer of humane redemption, 1652. above the Horizon of London, the di∣stance of whose Vertex from the Equator, is 51. 32.

[illustration]

Gentle Reader,

Please to take notice, that the Cutter (through neglect) hath not placed the centre of the Moon at the beginning on the line of Incidence, as he should have done. Humanity can but erre; there∣fore, let thy pardon argue the greatness of thy humanity, since the disease is Epidemical.

I shall here give you some General Aporisms, how to judge of Eclipses.

1. Consider what Province or City is signified by the signe the Eclipse hap∣pens in; and be sure that suffers.

2. Consider what Kingdoms or Cities are under the Signe the Lords of the E∣clipse are in; and be sure their diet is served them with the same sauce.

3. Note the nature of the Signe the Eclipse happens in: if it be violent, as this is, the effects of the Eclipse will be the like: if it be moveable, they begin betimes: if firy, they signifie War, and diseases of heat: if fixed, the effects, though they work slowly, yet they work surely: if both firy and fixed, as that will be 1654. they threaten a Hectick War.

4. Take notice of the nature of the Signe: if humane, men suffer; if bestial, beasts also: and if beasts, then of necessity man, because he takes his nourish∣ment from beasts. And now if I were minded to be critical, what a gallant oc∣casion have I! Suppose the Signe be watry? then, quoth my learned Authors, the water is afflicted: and if the water be afflicted, the earth must needs be, because it is nourished by the water: if the earth be afflicted, then beasts, be∣cause they are nourished by the earth: beasts, earth, and water, nourish man; and why must not he be afflicted too? Either the Signe the Eclipse is in, or the Signe the Lords of the Eclipse are in, being hot and dry, cause corruption by heat and driness: if cold and moist, by coldness and moisture. In this present E∣clipse, the Signe is hot and dry; Saturn in Cancer, cold and moist: What mi∣racle is it, if it drown a Sea-town, and consume a Land-town by fire?

5. It is probably apparent, that one and the same Eclipse may cause driness in one place, and moistness in another, thunder and lightning in a third, earth∣quakes in a fourth, barrenness in a fifth, and burnings in a sixth; and as many more as God pleases.

6. Whatsoever evil falls upon Princes and Magistrates, must needs touch the Commonally.

7. An Eclipse of the Sun falling upon the angle of the Ascendant of any Na∣tivity, kills the native: if it fall within three degrees, it brings such a disease as cannot be claw'd off again with speed; especially if the malevolent beheld the eclipsed Luminary at the Genesis, and more probably, if the eclipsed Lu∣minaries be with the Dragons tail, then if he be with the Dragons head.

8. The Dragons head regards Princes most; the Dragons tail, the Plebeians.

9. If between the time of the Eclipse, and the effects of the Eclipse, a good direction operate in the Nativity of a private person, he need fear no evil, though the Eclipse threaten him never so sore. The curst Cow hath but short horns.

CHAP. V.

A general Iudgment of the Effects of this Eclips.

AND in handling this, I shall give you first the Judg∣ment of Authors upon the Eclips. Secondly, former examples of Eclipses of like nature. Thirdly, my own judg∣ment upon it.

To the first of these, namely, the judgement of Authors, and in the judgment of Authors we have many things to con∣sider: As first of all the house of Heaven, in which the E∣clipse happens, which is the tenth house, the house of Kings, Princes, and other potentates, and the house of all such as lord it over their brethren; the Luminaries Eclip∣sed in the tenth house foreshowes death or deposition to Kings, Princes, Magistrates, and such as call and account themselves Ecclesiastical persons; thus Giuffus, and this he confesseth depends upon the will of God, and so it doth; and yet it were wisdom for so many of them as lie under the lash of this Eclips, (which who they be more anon) they have timely admonition, and a woful experience given them in Isa. 5. 12, 13, 14, 15. and 16 verses, and a joyful promise to them that fear God in the 17. verse. They regard not the works of the Lord, nor consider the operation of his hands; therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge, and their honorable men are famished, and their multitudes are dried up with thirst: Therefore the grave hath enlarged her self, and opened her mouth without measure; and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoyceth shall descend into it: And the mean man shall be brought down, and the mighty man shall be humbled, and the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled: But the Lord of Hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and God that is holy, shall be sanctified in righteousness. Father of mercy look down upon all those Magistrates that fear thy name;

thou knowest what man is, thou knowest he is but dust; and what can I say to the Magistracy of this Nation, any more then what Daniel said to Nebuchad nezzar; (pray do not mistake me, I do not liken you to Nebuchad nezzar, nor my self to Daniel: yet this I say, these things were writ for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the world are come) if you will keep your places, you must know that THE HEAVENS DO RULE, Daniel 4. 27: Wherefore, Oh KINGS and MAGISTRATES, let my counsel be accepta∣ble to you; break off your sins by righteousness, and your ini∣quities by shewing mercy to the poor, it may be a lengthning of your tranquility. I am sure it might have been, had that course been taken in time, had your PRIESTS discreetly handled according to the genuine meaning of the holy Ghost, these two Scriptures, this and that I quoted to you in Isaiah, when they thundred out with a terrible voice, Curse yee Meroz, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof, &c. How happy might it have been for this poor Nation; how happy had all the Princes in Europe been, if their lazy Clergy had done the like. But the greatest part of that ge∣neration now living in Europe, follow the example of Priests of Bell in the Apochripha; eat and drink of the best, live idlely, and deceive their Princes.

You may remember I left you before at Isaiah 5. the 16. verse, the 17. verse gives comfort to them that fear God, and uprightly serve him; for when the Lord shall have brought to pass what he threatned in the former verses: Then (saith he) shall the lambs feed after their maner, and the wast places of the fat ones shall strangers eat. Indeed, the truth is, a general peace may be expected throughout the Earth, & now blush for shame all you that rail and scould at Astro∣logy, when you see the times of the book of the Scripture and the book of the Creatures, end in a Centre: And thus much for the house afflicted.

In the second place we come to the Planet afflicted, and the sign he is afflicted in.

The Planet afflicted is the ☉, what his signification was,

I told you in the beginning of the Treatise, but seeing we are long in learning, and very subject to forget such things as threaten evil to us; I will give you a brief Epitomy of what persons are signified by the ☉, He signifies all Magi∣strates in general from the Emperor to the petty Constable; the sign afflicted, is ♈, the exaltation of the ☉, and the chiefest sign in the Zodiak; we shall tell you by and by what hath ensued upon the Eclipses of the ☉, in ♈ in former ages: ♈ is a sign, Masculine, Diurnal, Moveable, Cardinal, E∣quinoctial, Fiery, Cholerick, Bestial, Domestical, Luxuri∣ous, Intemperate, Violent, Oriental.

The opinion of Giuffus of an Eclips of ☉ in ♈ is this, (I pray God it do not prove too true) It threatens destruction to the fruits of the Earth, kills the fruit in the bud, kills sheep and other cattel; great KINGS, PRINCES, and MAGI∣STRATES, are either banished or imprisoned or put to death. Princes and their Subjects agree like Cats and Dogs, first they snarl, and then together by the ears; huge Armies, terri∣ble wars, slaughters of men, burning of Towns, Theft, Ra∣pines, Depopulations, Fire, and the sword raign lords para∣mount in the Nations threatned by this Eclips: Neither shall the women want their share; for, for, such of them as are with child shall be too too subject to miscarry; (let them make use of my DIRECTORY for MIDWIVES to pre∣vent it) both men and women are subject to acute Feavers, or other Epidemical diseases; the air is hot, blasting, and burning; barrenness of the Earth and dearth of Corn is threat∣ned to those Nations under ♈, CHANGE of GOVERN∣MENT, death of KINGS, Magistrates, and rich men, the execution of which my Author confesseth is in the hands of God; the less reason have the Priests to rail at him.

We leave now Giuffus and come to Proclus; but before I quote the words of Proclus, here is something else to be considered; namely, in what face of ♈ this Eclips is to be found, we vulgarly hold that it is in the latter end of the se∣cond face; and we know as well that since the Creation the fixed Stars are almost moved out of the signs they were Cre∣ated

in: now the query lies thus, whether we should take the faces, according to the signs, or the fixed Stars in the signs?

We will not much contend about the business, ye may take which you please, there is never a barrel better Herring, and in both Proclus shall be my Author: if we take the Eclips to happen according to the vulgar account in the second face of ♂, It makes Kings and Magistrates Goal-birds, and if it do not lay them in prison, it most terribly afflicts them, no∣thing in the world thrives with them, what ever the matter is; some of them whom God pleases lose their heads, and then they feel the lighte••, others are hanged, and they can∣not feel at all, tis as wretched a time for Kings as ever the Sun saw.

But if you will measure the time by the fixed Stars, it happens in the last face of ♓, and that shews Sedition, Cru∣elty, Fierceness, and Inhumanity of Souldiers, Souldiers will be in Armes against their Governors right or wrong, a sword and a gun are two prevailing arguments: there is none like them to be found in Keckermans Logick, nor Ramus Dialects, all the Sophistry in all the Universities in the world will not be able to appease them, Caesar is dead, and cannot appease his souldiers dangerous mutiny; Galesus in Virgil, and Emathion in Ovid were both slain in doing the like Office: when the business comes to pass you'll know what I mean; mean season, let old father Time be witness ei∣ther of the truth or falsehood of my predictions; and thus much for the Planet Eclipsed, and the sign and place he is E∣clipsed in.

We come now in the thrid place, to the Lords of the Eclips, of which ♂ will challenge the preheminence, and will be angry if we should not give it him, and now I can∣not but remember two verses in Lucau, I'll make use but of one verse and a peece of another.

Quid tantum Gradive paras? Nam mitis inalto, Iupiter occasu premitnr—

What, What! Stout ♂, and must thou needs rule all, Poor Iove is set ith' West, and in his fall.

Take notice ♂ rules the souldiery, even from the Generalissi∣mo to the Snapsack boy; let none of them take exception at this, it belongs to them all as they are a Military body: ♃ signifies all civil Magistrates, Priests and Lawyers: a Boy of 14. years old deserves to be whipt, that cannot pick Eng∣lish out of this.

We shall shew you what the actions of ♂ in the effects of this Eclips will be.

First, Generally.

Secondly, Specially.

First, Generally according to Origanus, he consumes the fruits of the Earth, casually by fire, accidentally by heat and driness; the ayre will be hot and dry, and goods of rich men, which they love as dearly as they love their lives, which they have tired their UNLUCKY and COMMON-WEALTH DESTROYING braines to get, shall be extorted by vio∣lence, and consumed by souldiery, all the miseries the sword can bring upon a people, and they are not a few; war, blood∣shed, rapine, extortion; when a covetous man sowes his corn he knows not who shall reap it, (yet this I'll tell you by and by, the Lord by a special providence may look after them that fear him) the air is hot and dry, pestilential and mor∣tal; all Europe is together by the ears, not only one with ano∣ther, but also with themselves; Asmodeus the lecherous Di∣vel enters into men and women, and drawes them to their ruine; Kings and Magistrates are mad, and Subjects are as stubborne.

Pallida Tisiphone (i e. ultio cordis) media inter millia sae∣vit. —No fear their wrath asswageth, Revenge of heart midst many thousand rageth.

The bodies of men are troubled with choller; Towns and Cities are consumed by fire, and ruined by souldiery, mur∣ther, and theevery are as familiar, as butterflies in April: thus for Origanus, and if I have a little commented upon him, blame me not if I have spoke the truth.

We'll come now to Giuffus: ♂ lord of an Eclipse sets the Nations signified by the Eclipse together by the ears, by rea∣son of the TYRANNY of PRINCES, seditions, tumults of the People; Princes and Magistrates are angry, the people are like mad dogs, they run at every thing they are set at; a thousand reproaches, disdaines, and ill words begin the ef∣fects; imprisonment is the middle; death and repentance a∣mongst great ones the latter end; the law shall be changed, and the souldiers sword shall be sharper then the Scholers wit.

Secondly, Particularly.

In the next place, we'll consider the sign ♂ is in: Giuffus, if ♂ be lord of the Ecclips, and in ♉: four footed beasts must go to wrack, especially such as are useful to men, ima∣gine oxen and horses: the fruits of the Earth shall be con∣sumed by caterpilars, violent heat destroys the corn, either upon the ground or putrifies it in the barns.

Also Albumazar saith, if ♂ have North Latitude, he cau∣seth many infirmities, the Small-pox, Measels, &c. if South Latitude, death of women and cattle; but in this Eclips having no Latitude, for ought I know he may perform them both.

Messaholah saith, that ♂ having dominion in an Eclips of the ☉ causeth corruption by his heat, diseases of cho∣ler, and heat of blood, violence, injury, dissention, tumults, and uproars amongst the people, (look to it France, if thou finde not this too true, say I am a lier, and I'll be content to bear the name with patience) also thunder, lightning, tem∣pest scorching driness, sedition, and privy conspiracy, plague, pestilence, and famine, battel, murther, and sudden death, though the Dull headed Colledge of SORBON pray never so earnestly, Good Lord deliver us. Proclus, an Eclipse of the ☉ in the fiery triplicity, signifies war, great drought, cruel seditions, bitter controversies, mortal sicknesses, driness and barrenness of the Earth.

A••steed, if the Eclips of the ☉ be in a fiery sign, and ♂ ruler both of it and the year, signifies great burnings.

We pass now to the second significator of this Eclipse,

which is the ☽, because she is lady of the succeeding Angle •• which Angle ♋ possesses the middle face of it, and the A∣scendants of the Eclipse: If the Moon be lady of the Eclips quoth Albumazar, and also lady of the Ascendant, as here she is, the common people, flutter like a Bee in a Tar-Box, and by wranglings and contentions are like to vex the Magi∣strates to some tune.

Ptolomie saith, if the Eclipse happen in Equinoctiall signes, either in or ♈ or ♎ which this is one of them, the effects of it will fall foul upon the Clergy, such of them as make a trade of prateing nonsence instead of Gospell.

By the rules of the Ancients, ♄ cannot be brought in as a Lord of this Eclipse; for though hee bee anguler yet is hee not stationary; yet shall I have something to say to him by and by. Thus you have the first thing I promised you, nam∣ly, what Authors said of the effects of this Eclipse, passe wee now to the second:

Which is, What experience Authors that were dead be∣fore we were born, have left upon record of Eclipses of this nature. I shal give you som few from Leovitius, and but few, by reason the Press stays for me.

Anno 1418. the Sun was eclipsed in Aries 26 degr. in Prague, in Pohemia the Clergy (as forsooth they call them∣selves) and the Laity (as they please to call others) fell toge∣ther by the eares, the King of Bohemia died of a Palsie, such a fanaticall fury possest the Clergy in Paris, that their sawcy actions caused two thousand of them to be knockt on the head in the streets, in one day. Oh that they would once learn to be a little wiser.

Anno 1419. hapned a dismall Eclipse of the Sun in Aries 15. Mars Lord of it in Taurus, as he is in this; Now follows a new Tumult in Bohemia: Iohn Zizka a noble Soul of an ingenious brain, and an excellent Souldier, gathers a great Army, hee first enjoyes Bohemia, routs the Clergy in every Battell, unthrones Sigismund the Emperor, and at last dies in his Bed a Conqueror, after the Lord had made him a suf∣ficient scourge to correct the proud insolency of the Clergy.

The Duke of Brunswick and his Clergy went together by the eares, which war continued Three years: But who gave the Clergy authority to leave their Bible, and take a Sword; no one breathing knows: sure 'twas Mars or the Devill, for Iesus Christ, whom they pretend they preach, is the PRINCE of PEACE.

Anno 1486. happened a dreadfull Eclipse of the Sun in A∣ries 6. which set almost all Europe together by the eares, and who were the authors of such a dissention think you, truly the buffle-headed Clergy; for tis almost a miracle to finde an evil in a Nation, and they not the Authors of it: the Empe∣ror was that year taken Prisoner by the French, 'tis a strange thing an Eclipse of the Sun seldom happens in Aries, but it plagues the Roman Emperor. Caesars are but men, neither shall Three yeares pass over your head, counting the time from the 29. of March, 1652. but they shall find, and your selves shal see they are no more. Anno 1530. There hapned a great Eclipse of the Sun in ♈ 18. ♂ Lord of it neer the Bulls eye, being a fixed Star of a hot and violent nature, and the effects of this lasted until the spring time 1632. it seems Leovitius followed not Ptolomies method concerning the time, when the effects of an Eclipse began to operate: In the beginning of the effects of this Eclips, the Bishops per∣swaded the Emperor to besiege Florence, which famous Ci∣ty, after a long, tedious and starving siege was taken and brought into bondage. Portugale was perplexed eight daies together with Earthquakes about the midle of the ef∣fects of it: after which terrifying Earthquakes succeeded as terrible a Pestilence. I am almost of an opinion this Eclipse 1652. will shake down that new upstart Monarchy, which revived but in the declining age of the world, like a lightning before death, or the violent strugles of a dying man. About the end of the effects of this Eclipse appeared a Comet, which run through the Grab, the Virgin, and the Bullance, and did a world of mischief; the Helvetians were got together by the ears about Religion; the King of Denmark who had been ten years banisht, prepares a Fleet, and makes a faint

assay to recover his Kingdome, but the poore man was taken at Sea and comitted to safe custody; the Emperours son dies, and the Duke of Saxony marches to his grave; the King of Hungary and Bohemia is proclaimed Emperour, and to war must he go against the Turkes before he had learned to han∣dle a sword: but the world shall never say of him now he is dead and rotten that he did nothing, for he beseiged a town which lay upon the confines of Germany, and when he saw the towne would not yeild and he was afraid to storme it, he turned Retrograde. I will not shame him so much, to say he run a way but the man seing he could not beat his enemies, went to see what he could do against his friends, with fire & sword he wasted the greatest part both of Germany and Au∣stria: at last, when he heard that the Christians had raised a potent army against him, he being something a kin to prince Rupert, loving plundering better then fighting, he and his Ar∣my shift every man for themselves, leaving a name of ignomy branded rather then ingraven upon his sepulcher, if ever he were thought worthy of any.

Anno 1540, hapned a great eclips of the Sunn in Aries 28. a most parching hot and and dry summer followed, insomuch that very deepe rivers were fordable, and rivers of a mean bigness were utterly dried up: the very heat of the sun set fire to woods, the Kings house in Bohemia was fired none knowes how, frequent fires were all over Germany, the King of Hun∣gary who is a branch of the house of Austria died, the Duke of Saxony takes his leave of this world, and turns private man in another, Ferdinand beseiges Buda in Hungary, but insteed of taking the towne, he lost his army first, and his life after∣ward by the Turke, the Emperour must needs be in armes for∣sooth, and whither must he goe but to Algier, but there comes a tempest and stops the mans course, a hundred and thirty ships he lost, himselfe entered battle both with the dan∣ger of the sea and hunger both at a time; at length when no other good was to be don, he gathers up the reliques of his forlorne creatures and returns home like a foole as he came forth, and thus much for my second part, namely, what au∣thors

of credit have left to posterity concerning the effects of Eclipses of the Sun in Aries, upon which in civility you cannot deny me that small curtesie, as to give my own ani∣madversions.

First, you see here that the Priests have been the creatures that have made all the scuffle in the world, in the effects of these Eclipses; tis their turbulent spirits, and sophistical lan∣guage that caused so many mournful widows, and woful fa∣therless children, so much murther and bloodshed in those parts, where the effects of the Eclipses operated, he that hath but half an eye may see what they have acted in this Nation in these late unhappy wars; its in vain for them to prate to me, that they never fight, as some of them have said: there is a pretty fable in Esop, to this purpose; After the winning of a battel, the conquering party took a Trumpe∣ter prisoner, and when they would have executed him, he prayed them for Gods sake they would not hang him, for he never fought in all his life; but said they, thou cowardly rascal, with thy Trumpet thou incitest others to fight. I leave the Clergy of this Nation that are guilty of the business, to make the moral themselves; tis easily done, Pilate had ne∣ver condemned Christ, had it not been for the Scribes, Pha∣risees, and Priests, but was almost forced by them to do it; Pilate knew as well as I that he was guiltless; but being a faint hearted base spirited fellow, and least he should be thought not to be Caesars friend, crucified the Lord of Glo∣ry: I pray God in these our daies, in which the end of the world is coming, fellows of that jackcoat be not neer of kin to the frogs men ioned in the Revelations 16. 13, 14. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the Dragon, and out of the mouth of the Beast, and out of the mouth of the false Prophet, for they are the spirits of devils working miraecles, which go forth unto the Kings of the Earth, and of the Whole world, to gather them together to the battel of that great day of God Almighty: look to it Priests, look to it people, the time is a coming, and if you look not to it these lines of mine shall one day leave you without excuse, build

not your faith upon tradition; in the latter times it will be a hard matter to discover who is a Saint & who is not, even such times in which if it were possible they would deceiv the elect, if they could be deceived; the times will be sharp, they will be short, & for ought I know we are upon the beginings of them, I would fain know of all our Priests, who (unless the Devil) chained Divinity to an University, I hate such creatures, I can∣not call them men, that when they have learned a great deal of Sophistry, and know well how to quible handsomely up∣on a point, and have read Augustine and Cyprian, and Na∣zianzene, and Bazil, and a great many other old Fathers, then they say they have gotten the body of Divinity; truly, I have read many of them my self, but could never see Christ with such a pair of spectacles, the Theory of the Gospel I know, tis onely Iesus Christ and him crucified, and the indwelling of the spirit of God in man, but what the practical part is I am as yet ignorant; my opinion at present is, that tis something more plain and simple then the world takes it to be; the main way to judge between a saint and a sinner, is not who performs most duties; for our reformati∣on so much boasted of, consists rather in pulling down, then setting up, & this Eclipse was so placed by the Eternal God to do it, & it will execute the will of God in despite of all the So∣phisms of all the Universities in the world: I honor learning while it is in its Sphere: the fire is good while it is in the Chimny corner, but put in the thatch, and it spoils all; and so does learning in such men as pretend their natural gifts to come by divine inspiration, learning will make one a man of a beast, but not a saint of a man; and yet the most part of men think that the Gospel rests only in the heads of the lear∣ned, and humane learning is deified and made a little god∣almighty of, as though the Gospel were so chained to human leaning, that it could not be separated: I am none of those that count humane learning evil, but know, and by experi∣ence finde, it is an excellent ornament to a man, it makes a man the more a man; and therefore a saint that hath hu∣mane learning, is better able to express Christ, then he which

is a saint and hath none, because he is more a man, but he is never the fitter nor abler to receive Christ.

In the second place we finde in all these examples, that the Emperors & whole house of Austria hath bin much afflicted, let them look to it: now Bohemia will probably be afflicted with intestine wars: the Emperor at his wits end, his house totters, and tis in vain for him to prop it up by Armies, or a∣ny thing else, mens lives are but like so many ships sailing to their long homes, which should be towards heaven: tis in vain to prop up a ship when it totters, with posts without side, tis the ballast within must keep it steedy: and let me give this sober advise to the forraign Princes of that ancient Family, tis a principle of goodness within you, and not the strength of Armies without you must do you good in these times which so neerly concern you.

Lastly, let Christian Princes beware of warring with the Turk during the effects of this Eclipse: you have read alrea∣dy how fatal it hath been to you in former ages: the time of his fall is not yet come, although fall he must: neither hath the Eternal ordained any of you to pull down that proud Monarchy.

I should now come to deliver my own judgment upon the effects of this Eclipse: but here is an Objection seems worth the answering, namely, Why did not the Eclipse of the Sun in Aries 19. 1633. work so great effects as you Prognosticate in this. To this I Answer,

First, the Eclipse was not so great, therefore not so for∣midable: The greatness of the effects of an Eclipse of the Sun, are drawn from the greatness of the parts of the body of the Sun darkned.

Secondly, the house of the heavens afflicted by that Eclipse was obscure, therefore so must the effects be, and yet what sad effects it produced is well known throughout all Europe, it being not past our memory.

Thirdly, ♃ and ♀ were both in the ninth house, and therefore moderated the matter by wisdom, and good Coun∣sell.

Fourthly, the last, though not the least of all my arguments is, matters were not then fit nor ripe for action; so then there is as much difference between that eclips and this, as there is between fire set among corn when it is green, and when it is dry.

I com to my last thing propounded, which is my own judg∣ment rationally delivered from the Scheam: and in doing of this I shall be as accurate as I can.

The fixed Stars with which this eclipse happens, are of a Saturnine and Mercuriall condition (I mean those that are within the Zodiack, for I have nothing to say to the rest now) the second paper wil shew you what their condition is, to that I refer you, as not daring to write in words of length, and not of figures, what I think; when Iuvenall was in the same fear he wrote his Satyrs against such as were dead; and con∣sidering my self this Nation is ful of Criticks, I wil give my self the latitude of all Europe in my Prognostications: the mid-Heaven signifies Kings, Magistrates, &c. the Ascendant the common people; the place of the conjunction of Saturn and Iupiter last past, was in the mid-heaven of this Eclips, perhaps so was the conjunction in the mid-heaven of the figure: the Moon is Lady of the ascendant, and darkens the Sunne in the 10th. upon the very degree of his exaltation: and if this sig∣nifie not a Democracy, or to write English, That the Govern∣ment shall come into the hands of the People, and that throughout Europe, or the most part therof, before the effects of this Eclipse are over past, I dare bee bound to forfeit my Life: and yet this great thing shall not be done easily: Al∣though I speak more of this hereafter, yet a few words spo∣ken here in due season will not be amiss: Saturn perplexes the Ascendant, and if the Ascendant signifie the comon peo∣ple, it perplexes them also.

Its no great miracle if Magistrates be perplexed: that the Vulgar should suffer: when the Lion roars, the beasts tremble. Two years shall not pass before both come to pass. Saturn in the ascendant according to Bally, and there unfortunate, and the old soul is as misfortunate as can bee; signifies detri∣ment

and impediment to the Body of man, infirmities and sickness of his own nature: the truth on't is, he looks as sowr as Verjuice on the common People; and to tell them the plain truth of the business, hee is Lord of the seventh, eighth and ninth Houses. Have a care of your selves gentle Clergy, and be ruled by me, joyn together and petition the State a∣gainst his effects, and tell them ITS DAMNABLE, ITS DAMNABLE. See if you and the States are able to with∣stand his evill influence. I will promise you, the States have patience enough to stay two years to try which is in the truth, you or I. It were a most gallant thing, my Friends of the Clergy, if your outcryes and most humble petitions, could withstand the influence of the Stars, which the eternall God, the first Being of all things created them for.

A word or two to my Brethren of the Commonalty, my self being a Commoner: Good people, I cannot flatter, nei∣ther can I perswade my self you will act honestly during the effects of this eclipse. I speak not to those in England, but generally to all those in Europe, horrid Tumults, Murthers and Mutinies are threatned, cruel massacres; the Commoners are subject to bee impudent and insolent against their Magi∣strates: remember, remember Ierusalem was ruined by its own seditions within it, or else Vespasian had as good have thrown his cap at it. Let us reason a little together in a fair way; I pray tell mee, and tell mee truly, suppose your Magi∣strates doe not please you, is Mutinies the way to help your selves? would you take such a courswel at the hands of your servants? would you be glad to be served so? read all Histories and see if you can ever finde any good end ensue such prepo∣sterous beginnings; you will undo your selvs and begger your children and families if you take such courses, God will have his work don in his own time, by his own way, of which I am sure Mutiny is none. And yet the more is the pity, they are too too frequent throughout Europe; I pray God England bee not too too sensible of them during the effects of this E∣clipse, I say no more. I am sure France is peppered with them, and Holland hath its share.

The square of Saturn to the Luminaries, signifies wrangling and falling out between great and rich men: Kings and Magi∣strates cannot agree with one another; so it seemes the comon people shall not have all the fish to fry, Negligence and Ty∣ranny having taken possession of Princes; Envy, hatred and accusations by the people, and somthing wors sues and pursues them, and like so many evil Spirits haunts their Ghosts, and at last unthrones them, and layes their honor in the dust: And where can come a better place for that counsell of the Holy Ghost, then this: Be wise now therefore O ye Kings, be in∣structed ye Rulers of the Earth; serve the Lord with fear and rejoyce with trembling: kisse the Son lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way: Blessed are all they that trust in him.

Besides, Saturn being Lord of the Eight, and in the Ascen∣dant, threatens the Earth with diseases of his owne nature, which you may read in my Semeiotica, & I doubt feel before the effects of this Eclipse be half over. The truth is, a general pestilence is threatened to Europe, of which England is like sadly to participate, neither shall Holland want its share.

Lastly, consider that the places subject to the effects of this Eclipse, are England. France. Germany. Swedeland. Poland. Denmarke. Silesia. Syria. The holy Land. Palestina. Russia. Ireland. Lorrain. Franconia. Parthia. Persia. Scotland. Gra∣nado. Burgundia. Holland. Zealand. Prussia. Numidia. a great part of Affrick. Austria and its whole House. Saxony. Hassia, &c.

Of Towns and Cities.

Naples. Anconia. Capna. Ferraria. Padua. Florence. Brunswick. Lipzick. Nantz. Cyprus. and most of the Sea∣Towns in Asia the less. Mantua. Sena. Tarentum Constan∣tinople. Tunis. Algier. Venice. Genoa. Millan York. Saint Andrews. Lubeck. Magdeburg Wittemburg. Gorlitz. Franck∣fort upon the main. Hull. Vienna in Austria. Antwerp. Ox∣ford. Gaunt. Brandenburg. Auspurg. together with many others too tedious here to name, and indeed the Effects will be generally felt over all Europe in one measure or other; so that I may say of Europe concerning the effects of this Eclips,

as my friend and Country-man Thomas May Esquire, once did of Mauritania, a little before the batel at Thapsus, onely a little altering the first verses.

All Monarchy it quite will overthrow, More wrack alas its sad effects will do, Then after ages can repair with speed; And beasts possess the seats of Nations dead, Where feared Monarks once gave laws to Men Shall Lions raign, and Tigers make their Den. The slimy Serpent all alone shall crawll, And wanting men, shall be no plague at all.

And thus much for this Chapter.

CHAP. VI.

Of other great conjunctions and oppositions, Whose influen∣ces concur to the complement of our Iudgment upon this Eclipse.

IN handling this, you must not conceive that I intend to handle them all, for if you do, you make a false concep∣tion; the Press stayes for me, and you'll say it were time (if you knew as much as I) to make hast; I shall therefore handle the greatest and most prevalent of them, and let each stand in a part by it self.

PART 1.

The first that presents it self is a ☌ of ☉ and ♂ in ♊ 17. and this happens, upon the 27. of May, 15. h. 33 '. p.m. They that please may set the Figure, and they that please not may let it alone, tis all a case to me. They me∣diate the heavens the day before, with the goat a horned

beast, and tis in the Citizens signe, let them beware of a child got in Capricorn; the star is of the first magnitude of the nature of ♂ and ☿.

The ☌ of ☉ and ♂ in Gemini; according to Guido signifies im∣pediment that shall fall upon men, by reason of Thunder and Lightning: but my own opinion is the chiefest danger is in the Lightning, and this danger is most like to fall about the Western parts of the World; the Earth hath got a hot and dry disease, being exceedingly distempered for want of wa∣ter; and that water which doth fall from the skies, it comes in such violent storms that it doth but little good; wars and contentions, theevery (and something worse) which I will not name vexeth the North parts of the World; and disea∣ses coming of heat of blood, imagine the Smal-pox, Pesti∣lence, &c.

If I should leave Guido, and come to Haly, he will tell us but little better newes; for he saith it signifies strife and contention, fighting and killing.

Give me leave a little to add my own: London, beware of fire; beware of quarrelling, thou hast got but little by playing such pranks before, thou art likely to get less by such another action: the Pestilence is likely to begin this year, God in mercy doth it to shew what he will do the following year: beware Flanders, a curse is coming upon thee; what if God knows tis good for thee to suspect the worst, either it will come, or it may come: let Brabant, Corduba in Spain, Nurenburge in Germany, that famous Imperial City, Bruges in Flanders, &c. remember what I tell to London.

Questionless the effects of this ☌ will bring a change of Government in London, I pray God it be for the best, I have some hopes it will: Oh, that thy Citizens would every mor∣ning when first they rise read my monthly observations on May 1652.

PART 2.

The second in course is the ☌ of ☉ and ♄ in ♌ 2. with a nebulous fixed star, which bids Saturnine people beware

their eyes, and among them my self, it happens Iuly 14. 1652. 19. h. 13 '. p.m. the ☽ being at that time in △ to them both from ♈.

Now begin the effects of the Eclipse to work, and hee is a fool in grain that prefers Tradition before Reason, I shall tell you hereafter when Authors say the effects shall begin. Now the Princes of Europe beat their heads to finde out which is the readiest way to undo themselves, Ambassadors are rife; but whether Princes consult together to outwit one another, or to secure one another, or the like, there is some question of them both, and is never a barrel better Herring, If presently after this conjunction, you finde not a Pestilence and also many uproars in Rome; also Bohemia troubled much with war, the Florentines all in an uproar, and here in Eng∣land many people troubled with sore eyes, and other diseases of heat of blood; especially a Cephallick disease, called an ad∣dle Brain, say I am no Artist; Men shall wonderfully be given to lying and deceiving, they know not what they would have, their thoughts are in a Chaos, and hang together like ropes of sand, their thoughts dance up and down from one thing to another without any order: so that if they would look upon them with the eye of Reason, they begin without order and end without issue: we may say of mens dispositions about this time, as Seneca said of mens lives, They are tossed much, but sail nothing; and truly, this is a very shrewd Disease, the only true cure that I at present know for it, is to observe the vanity of your owne dispositions. What a vaine thing is it, That a man whose Birth and breeding hath made him but a a Bramble, never to rule over the Trees, should offer to turne Statesman, or except against the government he cannot mend; Thomaso Masianello the Fisherman did so at Naples, to his own destruction, and the City also: Truly, I had not given you so many cautions, had I not been confident, That about this time your Wits be too subject to runn a wooll-gathering to their own destruction.

Besides Guido saith, That the conjunction of Sol & Saturn in Leo, maketh children disobedient, and act things cleane

contrary to their Parents will: They say that Gemini is the Ascendant of London; and yet this we finde by experience, That Saturn never came into Leo but he punisheth this City; let her Magistrates and Common-councel-men avoid perniti∣ous Counsels and Debates about this time: I am very jea∣lous, if God do not immediately contradict the influence of the Heavens about this time, such a thing, or such a like thing may be; and perhaps something worse, if some be not wiser then some, there be those now living that will have occasion to temember August or September 1652. so long as they have a day to live.

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.

Part 4.

COme wee now to another Eclipse of the ☽ which happens Sept. 7^th. 6^h. 2'2. p.m. you may finde the Scheame set ready to your hand in my Ephemeris for 1652. neer scheat a star of the nature of ♄ and ☿ the ☽ Eclipsed in ♓ threatens de∣struction to Vegetables; as also to Fishes, and other Creatures that live in the water: Corruption of Fountains and Rivers: death of the common people; continuall War and Sedition, and Sedition especially in such places as are neer the Sea: Look to thy self Holland; if thou wilt not, I cannot help it; much detriment by water is threatned to thee: the Sea will goe

neer to encroach upon such people as have formerly encroach∣ed upon it.

Proclus saith, That the ☽ Eclipsed in the last degrees of ♓ threatens murthers and rapines, fighting and quarrelling, both by Sea and Land.

Also Giussus saith, That when the ascendant of an Eclips is ♈ Kings will prove Tyrants, and when I pray were they other∣wise? the Commonalty will bee up in Armes against their Prin∣ces: many murthers and battails and combustions will bee in the world; death, or deposition of Princes, and 'tis well if they scape so too: men will bee troubled with sore eyes, &c.

Also if the ascendant bee in the first face of ♈ as it is here, there will ensue much thunder and lightning, and lofty windes.

If the luminary Eclisped bee neer the Equator, as this is, Look to your selves Priests; Ile promise your honesty will be called in question.

Passe wee now to the Lords of the Eclips, which are ♃ and ♂, ♃ is placed in the mid-heaven in ♑, where hee threatens a change of Government, a change of the Laws and customes of Cities: the Winter will bee cold, and much snow: Thus Ptolomy.

Albumazar saith, It signifies the death of noble men. The next Lord of the Eclips is ♂ posited in the sixth house: What the generall signification of ♂ Lord of an Eclips is, you have in my judgement upon the Eclips of the Sun; only wee shall have something to say to him here, as considered in the sixth house, and in the Lion. ♂ Lord of the Eclips in ♌ signifies death of four-footed Beasts; causeth great diseases of heat amongst Men; stirs up heat of ayre, and makes men as quarrelsome as himself is; hee overthrows houses and whole Towns by Fire and Sword: there is but little Water: some fountains are dryed up, and the water of others are putrified.

Also Albumazar saith it signifies Dearth of flesh and bread, especially in the east parts a sickly and mortall yeer: men dye by the Sword, and children by extream pain in their bellies.

A change in Religion is a comming, if many Planets in a

house increase the signification of a house, as is as true as what is truest, then may much sicknesse bee expected during the effects of this Eclips, so many Planets being in the sixth house: And so much for this part.

Part 5.

Of the oppositions of ♄ and ♃.

You may remember we told you before, that ♄ and ♃ made three oppositions during the effects of this Eclipse, and all three of them from ♌ and ♒; the first happens in the yeer 1652/3. Febr. 27. 0^h. 3'0. p.m. in 6^d. of ♌ and ♒.

The second happens the 10^th. of Iuly 1653. 3^h. 3'0. p.m. in 3^d. 1'4. of ♌ and ♒.

And the last happens in Ianuary 1653/4. the 17^th. day about 8. in the morning, in 24^d. of ♌ and ♒, ♄ being with cor, ♌ and ♃ with fomahand, I shall here speak of them all together, and in so doing, first Ile shew you what Authours have left to po∣sterity upon the like oppositions. Secondly, the judgement of Authours upon the effects of them. Thirdly, my own judgement upon them.

To begin with the first of these, namely, What Authors have left upon Record, to have succeeded such oppositions, Anno 1433. in Sept. there was an ☍ of ♄ and ♃ from ♌ and ♒ 13. ♂ joynes with ♄ in November, and opposeth ♃. Anno 1434 ♄ and ♃ make another ☍ in the latter end of ♌ and ♒, about which time appeared a terryfying Comet; and so there may doe now too for ought I know, or else other sights in the aire as bad.

Also Anno 1633. there happened a terrible Eclyps of the ☉ in the crab, which shewed his influence to some pur∣pose the yeere following; and now judge whether it bee not to some purpose to quote this example, there being such an admirable congruity betweene those and these oppositions; only the Eclyps of the ☉ was in the crab then, and in the ram now, and that an ☍ of ♄ and ♃, ♄ being in ♌, might never

bee said to come without having one touch at Rome, and to tell you the truth, It was never yet knowne by man, nor menti∣oned by Chronicle, that ever the tumbling & tossing of the bo∣dy of ♄ through the Lyon hapned, but it was a sufficient scourg to London. The Veneitans and Florentines, together with o∣ther Italian Princ•• made Warre against his holynes the Pope, Anno 1434. who seeing himselfe not able to resist, his Gutts and he ran away, and he was glad at heart he could escape so: A generall. Councell was held at Bazile, at which his holines the Bishop of Rome permitted the Bohemians to receive the Sa∣crament, in both kindes, whereas both before and since, the Priests drinke up all the Wine themselves, and leave the poore people ready to choake themselves with the breaden-god.

When those Princes wee told you of before, had routed the Pope out of his holy-Chayre, like a company of Asses, they goe together by the eares with one another; the Empe∣rour dyeth, and Albert, Arch-Duke of Austria is made Emperour, but hee held it but a small time, Death sum∣moning him to make his appearance in another world.

Anno 1493. was another opposition of Saturne and Jupi∣ter in ♌ and ♒ an Eclyps of the ☉ in ♉ then operating. The Romane Empyre is together by the Eares, whole Heards of Cattle dye of the Murraine; The King of Portingall falls off of his Horse and breaks his neck; now the Emperour dyes, and that veneriall disease (though called the French-Pox) began first in Naples; the King of France is full of trouble, his Ar∣my quits the Field; the King of Poland is beaten by the Turk; presently after this, as there doth now, hapned an Eclypse of the ☉ in ♌, which though it were but small, yet were the ef∣fects great, by reason the luminary was infested with the squares both of ♄ and ♂: Good Lord have mercy upon us! what will the effects of this next Eclips in ♌ be, when the Eclips it selfe is great, and the luminaries besieged by the bodies of ♄ and ♂? The Death of the King of France, and also of many Germane∣Princes succeeded in the effects of this. Anno 1552. there hap∣pened another ☍ of ♄ and ♃ in ♌ and ♒, an Eclyps of the ☉ in ♑ then stoutly operating, Caesare is at wars, the Bishops of

Germany are together by the Eares, so was the Duke of Saxo∣ny and the King of France; I had not mentioned this ☍ had not Edward, the last of that name, King of England, a most hopefull young man changed this life for a better; hee had the Virgin in the Horoscope of his Genesis, and the ☉ Eclipsed neer the degree ascending, and in the place of ♄: Warrs followed his death; and Religion mended just as sowre Ale doth in Summer. The Marquesse of Brandenburg must needs goe fight with the Duke of Brunswick: one battell hee gave him, and was handsomely beaten for his pains: As soon as ever he could get another Army hee must have the other bout with him, and was served the same sauce: the yeer after this great ☍ England was as full of troubles as the Sea is full of water.

Wyat Rebelled about the comming in of Phillip King of Spain, and many more were clapt up in the Goal, right or wrong, it matters not: Guilford Dudly and his wife Ioane, the Duke of Suffolk and his Daughter lost their heads: The Lady Elizabeth was clapt up in Prison; and Mary Rules the Na∣tion more like a Beast then a woman: I must transgres no lon∣ger in quoting what is past, but come to what Authors say of the ☍, which is the second thing promised.

Haly faith, The ☍ of ♄ and ♃ signifies many brawlings and contentions, both between man and man, and between Na∣tion and Nation; sets the Commonalty together by the ears against their Magistrates and Kings. Besides, according to Guido, It signifies that Kings and Magistrates shall bee depo∣sed, especially such whose Kingdomes are under ♌ and ♒; Ci∣ties thereunder shall bee consumed by Fire and Sword. Also, besides all this, Albumazar saith, That rich men shall be made equall with the poor.

De Malé quaesitis vix gaudet tertius Haeres.

Goods ill got soon scatter'd bee, The third Heir ne'er doth them see.

I come now to the third, which is my own judgement upon

the Oppositions, in which I shall bee very brief.

First, They signifie consumption of estate; let no thriving time (I mean, no time to grow exceeding rich) bee expected by English men yet these four or five yeers; God hath pro∣vided other Fish for them to fry, his determination upon the world is otherwise: Ier. 45. 4, 5. Iehovah saith thus: Behold, that which I have built will I break down; and that which I have planted I will pluck up; even this whole land: And seekest thou great things for thy self? seek them not: for behold, I will bring evill upon all flesh, saith the Lord; but thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest. I hope such as fear God, and aime at the liberty of the Subject, shall have Baruchs promise made good to them; and let them thank God if they scape so too: and if they please to heare me, well and good; if not, I have my reward: God is a bringing to passe a great work in the world, which when you see it come to passe, it will make your hearts ake; and I am per∣swaded I can give you some reasons why hee doth so, for the God of reason doth nothing without reason, and if wee can∣not see a reason of Gods actions, 'tis to bee imputed to our blindnesse; let the Priests prate what they will The Saints are united to the God-head, by the person of our Lord Iesus Christ: Some of the Reasons may probably be these, or if you will not take them for reasons, take them for probable conjectures, 'tis no matter under what notion you take them, so you make good use of them.

First, one Reason may be to prepare the Saints for such Mise∣ries as hee will shortly reveale to them; Whilest the Bridegroom staied the wise Virgins, as well as the foolish, slumbred and slept; and in all probabilities these dreadfull times are but to awake them out of that sleepe; consider how unfit the best of Saints are to receive those wonderfull things which God will short∣ly reveale to them; if they please I'll draw them up a looking-glasse to behold a copy of their Countenances in, as they stand in statu quo, as their Disposition is at pre∣sent.

First, they minde riches much, and send their Hearts to

meete them before they come; they draw Maps of their own desires, and cut out such a kinde of life in their thoughts as pleases them, and by their owne thoughts put themselves into another condition then God hath ordained for them; as children, to exercise their houswifery, make clay-pies; and to expresse their desires make Babies of clouts; neither is there any better way for a man to know his owne heart then this, for though a mans condition bee not as hee would have it, and let the impossibilities or improbabilities bee never so great of being what they desire, yet their fancies will discover to them what their inclinations are, they will create a fooles Paradice in their own Brains; First what they would be. And second∣ly, what they would doe if they were so; and when they have created such a Paradise, then they walke up and downe in it with delight; First, how much money they would have. Se∣condly, what they would doe with it; what preferment they would have, and then how they would carry themselves in it, and though they want the things themselves they desire, yet will they please themselves with the Pictures of them drawne in their thoughts.

Secondly, I make no question but the Saints are guilty of sinns as well as other men, and delight to busie their time in thinking of those things that nothing at all concerns them; they long after curiosities, like Women with childe, that many times long for such things as cannot bee had: our thoughts are the buds of an immortall nature whithin us, and ought to bee spent about such things as are discovered in the works and word of God, and not to be spent about the idle Idea's of our own brains: What a madnesse were it for a Lady, instead of Pearls and Diamonds, to dresse her self up with Peacocks fea∣thers; and yet our thoughts, as familiarly as the Sun rises and sets, instead of feeding upon wholesome food, contained in the Book of the Scriptures and the Book of the Creatures, like Ca∣melions, they feed on the aire.

Thirdly, Their thoughts are spent in meditating of what is upon Earth, and not of what is in Heaven; and taking a survey of worldly hapinesse, which they enjoy, as Haman was taking

an inventory of his glory the night before hee was hanged, and Nebuchadnezer when hee was walking alone and talking to himself like a fool, Is not this great Babel that I have built? even at the very time when hee was taken with a Lycanthropia; for as men which desire alwaies to bee telling their money, 'tis a signe they are covetous; and women that alwaies delight to bee looking their faces in a looking Glasse, 'tis a signe they are proud: so men that are alwaies minding their earthly happinesse, and forget to bee thankfull to God, shews infinite pride and self flattery in them; therefore they shall have trou∣ble in the flesh that God may call them off from it.

Fourthly, Take a man that is ambitious, and so 'tis to bee feared are some of the best of men, though they cannot yet obtain what they desire, yet will they, feigning themselves to bee some great persons, and having erected a throne in their own brains, sit down very quietly in it.

Fifthly, A man that loves his guts well, and wants money to purchase such food as hee desires, will please himself with the delights of what hee would have, hee will set down within his own brain a bill of fare and what ingredients hee will have in it, and please himself with the conceit of it, although hee have none of it.

Sixthly, A man that is revengefull, and wants a sting, hee will please himself with his own revengfull thoughts, and take delight to conceit hee is plagueing his enemie, though hee bee twenty miles from him.

I am confident, if you look into your own conditions, you shall finde I have hit the nayle on the head in some of these; and then you cannot but see a reason of the troublesomenesse of the times, before the comming of the Lord Iesus Christ in power. This is my first reason.

Secondly, The Devill begins to grow a little troublesome, because hee hath but a short time to continue, as the Bishops in England were in the height of their pride before they fell, as Monarchy was most tyrannicall a little before its Catastro∣phe: So will the Devill also, if you beleeve the Scripture, Rev. 12. 12. Woe bee to the Inhabitants of the earth, and of the

sea, for the Divel is come down to you, having great wrath, be∣cause he knows he hath but a short time.

3. God may do it to leave the wicked without excuse: They have read, all these things shall come before the great and notable day of the Lord appear, before he pour out his spirit upon all flesh; and if they will neither beleeve what they read, hear, see, nor feel, I do not know what to say to them; As sure as a club, their consciences cannot plead one inch of excuse.

4. God may do it, to make the Saints attend more to pray∣er: When men are most in danger, then they pray hearti∣lyest, and walk closest with God; when they have a little rest, God is quickly out of their minds. And now I think of it, I care not if I incite here a couple of Verses which I heard from a Commander now at present in the Army;

Our God and Souldiers we alike adore, Even in the brink of danger, not before. After deliv'rance they are alike requited, Our God's forgotten, and our Souldiers slighted.

And to tell you the truth, Experience will tell us, that in that persecution under the late Bishops, the Saints walked more closely with God then now they do; they now walk as carelesly, as if the Divel were dead. I shall bring all home to the purpose I quoted it for, and conclude this reason with one place of Scripture; which, when you have read and se∣riously considered, tell me if prayer may not be a notable help to you in these times of trouble which are so manifestly threatned, and so near at hand, and so nearly concern you; it is Acts 2. 19, 20, 21. And I will shew wonders in heaven a∣bove, and signes in the earth beneath: bloud, and fire, and va∣pour of smoake: The Sun shall be turned into darknesse, and the Moon into blood, before that great and not able day of the Lord come. And it shall come to passe, that whosoever shall CALL upon the NAME of the LORD shall be saved.

5. It may be to call off the hearts of the Saints from the world, that so they may look up to God whether they will or no: when nothing but trouble is to be seen under the

Moon, such may the love of God to the Saints be, that he may move them to come to him by arguments of necessity. This is my first Axiome.

2 Magistrates walk in the clouds, neither will what the common people intend, quickly be known. Religion in one place, and execution of justice in another, will be made a couple of dainty cloaks to hide mens knaveries; (i.e. cover ambitious thoughts from the vulgar view;) frigidus latet anguis in herba: have a care you be not deceived that way; nay, have a double care, such as pretend your freedom and liberty, bring you not into a worse bondage. A seasonable warning is given you of it, not onely by the book of the Creatures, but also by the book of the Scriptures, Micah 7. 5, 6, 7. Trust yee not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosome: for the son dishonoureth the father, the daughter riseth up against her mother, the daughter in law against the mother in law; a mans enemies are the men of his own house: There∣fore I will look unto the Lord, I will wait for the God of my sal∣vation: My God will hear me. Here is your disease, here is your cure; the Scripture hath spoke enough, I need speak no more.

3. We told you before, That a murrein amongst beasts was threatned: and as amongst men in a pestilentiall time, all that are infected die not, neither is it probable will all the beasts; therefore men eating such corrupted food, taking their nourishment from it, must needs be defiled by its im∣purity. And if you will give me leave to digress a little, I will not transgress.

First, Hereby ye see, what a great part of the curse of God for sin was: Happy, yea thrice happy is hee to whom God reveals a redresse.

Secondly, By this you may see, if you be not stark blind, which takes a more laudable course to cure a disease, Gailen, who gives the medicine with its impurity; or Paracelsus, who substracts onely the medicinal part, and leaves the im∣purity, as terra damnata.

4. Violent storms, and unusuall, if not unheard of hail will be a great prejudice unto the earth, especially toward the later end of the Summer 1652, 1653, and its well if 1654 scape.

5. When the air is thus troubled, the spirits of the air must needs be troubled also; men conceive strange, ridicu∣lous thoughts of the Divel, namely, that he is an ugly, un∣quoth creature, with horns on his head, and cloven feet, with great eys like sacers: others that have a little more wit, know wel enough that he is a spirit; but they think he is tied up fast enough, either in hell, or in some other hole, neither I nor they know where; when the truth is, his residence is in the air; and therefore the Scripture calleth him, The Prince of the power of the air. Therefore I say, the air being disturb∣ed, the spirits of the air must needs be disturbed also; and such unusual sights may appear, as may terrifie both your eys and hearts, if not at the time of the Eclipse, yet within a short time after: Neither shall you see the midst of August 1652 over-past, but the world shall see what I have written is truth.

6. The Iew begins to take a spleen at Rome, and all the Nations in Europe begin to snarl at her; her finall Catastro∣phe approacheth, but not yet. However, till that time come, continuall sicknesses, fires, and tumults; either one of these, or all of these, or something else as bad, will molest her: And if her learned Jesuits cannot tell her the meaning of God from it, what are they good for?

7. One word or two I will speak concerning the 2^d oppo∣sition of ♄ and ♃, which happeneth in Iuly 1653; for then, and not quite till then, will the effects of the ☌ of ♄ and ♃, which we wrote of before, appear in their colours, that all the world may see what they are: For as Herostratus set the Temple of Diana at Ephesus on fire, that so he might get him∣self a name, that he might be talked of after he was dead, so the Iesuits, when no other good can be done, will set all the Princes in Europe that are priest-ridden, together by the ears, that so they may get themselves a name, though of infamy.

I had thought to have written concerning an Eclipse of the Moon 1653. on March 3. but for some reasons best known to my selfe, I shall passe it by here, and speak of it in my Ephemeris for that year.

CHAP. Ult.

What the effects of this Ecclipse are probably like to produce to every particular nation in Europe.

1. IT being taken for granted, that the effects begin to operate July 1652. the reasons of which I gave you before, and are in full force, power, and vigour through∣out the years 1653, and 1654. and decline in the year 1655, you may by this know the time of the sufferings of Europe, an Epidemicall desease called madnesse, possesses the brains of the Princes thereof, the FIFTH MONARCHY of the world is coming, and the effects of this Eclipse make way for him: but he is no Scotch man, no nor English; 'tis he before whose coming, The Heathen shall rage, and the people imagine a vain thing; the kings of the earth shall set themselves together a∣gainst him, &c. Read the second Psalm throughout, and you shall see both what shall antecede his Coronation, and what shall follow it. I cannot but admire at the fol∣ly and sottishnesse of those that prate and scribble of any other Monarchy to succeed amongst the sons of men, when the Scripture speaks exactly, Dan. 2. 44, 45. And in the dayes of these kings, shall the God of heaven set up a kingdome, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdome shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdomes, and it shall stand for e∣ver: Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountaine without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brasse, the clay, the silver and the gold, &c. this is the stone which the builders refused, but God will make the

corner stone,: As also that Dan. 7. 26, 27. But the judgement shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume, and to destroy it unto the end, and the kingdom, and dominion, and the greatnesse of the king dome under the whole heaven shall be gi∣ven to the people of the Saints of the Most High, whose king∣dome is an everlasting kingdome, and all dominion shall serve and obey him; This, this is the MOMARCHY that I expect, if the Lord please to grant me life to see it; yet I expect it not in the effects of this Eclipse, for this Eclipse shall onely make way for it. I am of opinion Grebner in his Prophesie of his Vtopian Monarch, having by art caballistick obtained the two first letters of his name, mistook Charls for CHRIST, well then this is the first, namely a preparative to the fifth Monarchy, and when you see all Europe together by the ears, when you see Kings mad, and their subjects stub∣born; In a word, when you see all Europe in an uproar, then think of these things, and know that he that shal come, will come, and will not tarry.

2. The Germanes are as bad together by the ears as they were in the dayes of that conquering King of Sweden. Bo∣hemia suffers extremely; the truth of it is, I doubt the poor Emperour will be totally routed, and made no Emperour at all.

3. As for England, I cannot sing a quietus est to them as yet, within a few years I shall; Thou hast but one storm to endure, bear that with patience, I hope thy wars are almost at an end, I would thou couldst keep thy own brains from fanaticall furies, and learn to know what belongs to thy peace before it be hid from thine eyes. Thou wilt in the year 1653 be mole∣sted with a consuming pestilence, and troubles, with a change of Government at one and the same time, make thy choice wisely, God will have his owne Government established in thee, whether thou wilt or no; and tell me one thing, and tell mee truly, whether is it fit he should have his will, or thee thine? should he be master, or thee? In making thy choice of thy next Representative, take counsell of God, see what he speaketh to thee (or as it should be translated, in thee;)

so will he speak peace to thy soul, that thou mayest not return AGAIN to folly: For assure thy selfe of this, thou shalt find my words true, as when the Sun is upon the Meridian, thou shalt never be free from plagues, either of war, (or as I rather think) pestilence, or famine, till thou doest submit to such a Government as God intends for thee; the cryes of the poor, whom thou doest tyrannically defraud of their bitthrights, are heard in the ears of the Lord God Almighty. Be pleased to read every morning the. 26 chapter of Leviticus.

4. The Jesuites set all Europe together by the ears, let Pa∣dua in Italy beware of August 1653, lest either the sword, earthquake or pestilence, destroy it. Ah poor University! I mourn for thee, so much goodhast thou done to the world in generall. Lombardy is quite and clean destroyed, and beasts possesse the seates of dead people: The Pope hath got the impudence to outface heaven, to see if his Bulls can out∣roar the thunder.

5. The Turks fall into a part of Italy, which maketh his Holinesse tremble, but he knoweth how to leave Saint Peters keys, and take Saint Pauls sword in hand; the truth is, his fear is more then his harm, its not the Turk shall pull down the Pope, and yet he must fall.

6. The effects of this Eclipse shall shew themselves first of all in their colours in France. Strange massacres, desperate tumults, fire and sword, and whatsoever else is bad, molest that kingdome: and it's his own fault, he carryeth himselfe as like a tyrant over his subjects as a Pome-water is like an Ap∣ple, if about the later end of this year 1652, that poor King is not either knock'd on the head, or forc'd to leave his king∣dome, say I am so ignorant, that I know not a Star from a Hop-pole; let him beware of his Bishops and Jesuites, espe∣cially the Colledge of Sorbon, for fear they have learned a Scotch trick, to sell him to his adversaries for mo∣ney.

7. Let not that Noble and Valiant soul the Prince of Con∣de, aspire to the kingdome: God hath a determination to blast aspiring braines. If ever that Valiant and Wise Prince

come to raign, it shall be, aut nequicquam, aut nequaquam, either not at all, or in vaine; ours was the first Monarchy that was brought to an end, and France shall be the next; the heavens have decreed it, and its vain for man to kick a∣gainst the pricks. Two years shall not passe over thy head, O France, but thy Monarchy shall come to its fatall and finall, catastrophe, and leave thy ruined nation in such a pickle, that thy pleasant and fruitfull land shall be reduced to such a barrennesse, for the wickednesse of those that dwell there∣in, that this present age shall not live to see it recru∣ted.

8. Thou Famous City of Venice, (and famous mightest thou have continued, hadst thou not harboured so many Rogues and Whores) look to thy selfe, I fear before the year 1653 be elapfed, the Turk will have possession of thee; it would grieve a mans heart to see the streets runne down with blood; I wish I may be found a false Prophet in this, yet whether I be or not, it would do thee no harm to make thy peace with God.

9. Its almost a wonder I have forgot the Hollander all this while, who shall neither be the last nor the least sufferer in this Eclipse, a body would have thought that nation had been wise, had they not committed themselves to the protection of the King of France; but when France shall be together by the ears, and more blood spilt there then wine prest, then may the poor Dutch man say, as the Emperour once did, when he trusted to the Pope for some great courtesie, which he thought would make him and his heirs for ever, the Pope playes the man, and dieth (not because he was weary of this wicked world, and made haste to be in another, for hee alwayes loved this world with all his heart, else he had never built a tabernacle in it) the Emperour hearing of the Popes death, now saith he, My cake is dough, I never thought of the Popes dying before: And just in such a pickle will Holland be, when her protecting king is fled for his life: her necessities will be very great, none will succour, nor ma∣ny pity her.

Tenthly, The Monasteries of Germany are like to be made no Monasteries during the effects of this Eclipse. Tru∣ly, by that time the yeer 1654 be elapsed, Popery will breathe its last in Germany. God in heaven grant they set up the truth in its stead; that, like other Nations, they do not (with Esop's fish) leap out of the frying pan, into the fire.

Eleventhly, During the effects of this Eclipse in England, but how soon it will be I know not, either at, or before the beginning of the yeer 1655, (the wiser my brethren of the Communalty carry themselves, for ought I know or be∣leeve, the sooner it may be effected) the Government will come into the hands of the People, and everlasting peace shall we enjoy, and never more Warr shall afflict us. And (if we may trust to a piece of Art Caballistick) in August 1655, Rome falleth, and IESVS CHRIST the Prince of Peace may reign amongst us. I'll say no more to them now. I may have occasion to speak to them here∣after.

Twelfthly, London, beware of a Pestilence 1653; get able Physicians: And though many men tell thee of thy finall Catastrophe, and fright thee with Mother Skiptons pro∣phesie, which, if it come to passe upon thee at all, it will be in the yeer, One thousand six hundred sixty eight. La∣bour thou to be one of the Elect of God, and hold up but thy head till the later end of the yeer One thousand six hundred fifty five, and I am confident, both thy danger and destruction is past.

I could tell the sad things shall afflict thee in the yeer One thousand six hundred fifty three. But when Phaeton foretold of a great fire that should burn up the greatest part of Italy, they got the honest soul, and accused him for setting the world on fire, and drowned him in the River Po. And haply, should I tel London the truth, I might be inhumanely dealt withall my self; for this is an age in which

Obsequium amicus, veritas odium parit. 'Tis flattery that gets men friends: Tell but the truth, all friendship ends.

I give London leave to make the moral of it; however she dealeth with me, I shall not forsake her in her extremities.

13. The rest of the Princes of Europe must fall as sure as a club: and next to France, Poland is like to go to pot, if it be not contemporary with it: Denmark and Sweden happily next; (it is sufficient for us to prognosticate exactly their downfal, though we cannot exactly finde out the time:) and happily Sweden may come to ruine before Denmark, especially if the Queen light of such a HVSBAND as probably she may; let the Child of that valiant Father beware of an unfortunate Match about the begin∣ing of 1653: if not, the ruine of that Kingdom may happen a∣bout the beginning of 1654. In the mean season, let Sweden be ruled by me, to have a care of their Witches, of which, I am very jealous, it contains many thousands, who though they cannot probably bring a destruction upon that Monarchy by their witch∣crafts, yet they may the more provoke the vengeance of God a∣gainst it, who hath said, Thou shalt not suffer a Witch to live.

14. The Florentines are as full of Tumults as a Wood is full of Trees: The Cossaks fall into Christendom with fire and sword, and I doubt upon the Territories of Italy.

15. The King of Spain is quite and clean routed out of the West-Indies, or else I am mistaken; as he hath formerly there made Slaves of other people, (nay, he would have served the Ba∣boons so too, could they but have spoken,) so in 1654, the Na∣tives of the place shall be rid of this, and finde another Master, and yet scarce a better. I remember a notable story in the Egyptian Chronicle, when the Turkish Emperor besieged Grand-Cairo, the Inhabitants of that great and populous City refused to give a∣ny assistance to the Mamalukes against the Turk; it is confessed the Mamalukes stood to their tackling like Soldiers, and lost the City by inches, and the Inhabitants got a worse Master, the Turks being more imperious over them then ever the Mama∣lukes were. I am afear'd of the like change to the Inhabitants of the West-Indies, and especially Guiana. But who it shall be, I leave for time to determine.

16. The Nations of Europe flutter to save their Kings, which never did them good, nor never will; even like a Bird brought up

in a Cage, that regardeth not liberty, because it never knew what it was. I remember a pretty story in AEsops Fables, which I care not greatly if I recite; The Frogs desired a King of Iupiter, neither would they be pleased unless they had one: Jupiter (to sa∣tisfie them) threw down a great beam into the water, which af∣ter it had astonish'd them awhile, they began to grow bold with it, and leapt upon it, yea and despised it too, because it was pati∣ent: They fall a croaking to Jupiter again, and they must have a stout King that could fight, I marry must they: Jupiter, to sa∣tisfie their importunity, sends them the Stork, who stalking a∣bout the Pool, as the Frogs came to do obeysance to him, he eat them up. I leave every rational man to make the Moral of it, it is plain enough.

17. An Earthquake is like much to annoy Italy, the Peoples Madness and the Jesuites Knavery much more. Italy! Italy! that ancient Nation where the Poets say Saturn once ruled when he turned Leveller and brought up the Golden-Age, I am sorry for thy sufferings, but cannot help them; I would thou wouldst do thy self so much good, as learn a little more Wit.

18. A Fire threatens Constantinople, so doth Dissention, and something worse then either; the great Turk is either slain, or runs away for his life, if a bow-string stops not his journey: you would laugh to see the Tartarian invade Turkey much a∣bout the year 1654: I will promise him if he do about that time, he will go neer to carry it. I would to God he would learn to be so wise as the noble Tamerlane, who is never to be mention∣ed without an Epethite of Honor.

19. In the year 1654, England begins to grow quiet, and I am glad of that: she enjoys her desired Liberty, which she hath spent so much blood for: the time is coming, it is but two years to it, or but a little more, not quite three: and presently after Holland begins to be pretty secure, after once she hath learned to look to the Rock from whence she was howen.

And thus I had best leave off, whil'st matters go well.

Apologus pro Epilogo.

IF I may make bold to write a short Apologie in stead of a Conclusion, I desire you to take notice, that in the years 1641, and 1642, the notions included in this book took up a great part of my study, for indeed in those years I was totally studious; but finding some weakness in them, and the times changing as swift as the winde, and swifter too, being not in the posture at that time to receive such influences as now they are, I took the pain lately a little to amend them; I confess the greatest part of my judgments I drew purely from Astrologie, yet will I not deny, but I made use of a Caball for the perfecting most of them.

If any affirm it was boldly done of me to adventure upon such a manner of judgment in this Age; I answer, Boldness may be taken in a paradoxical sence, not so much according to the deed done, as according to that conception of the Caviller: For King Iames held he was a bold man that first adventured to eat a raw Oyster, though we now know there is no boldness in it. A few years will shew whether what I have written be true or false; and he that carps at me before he knows that, shews rather his own folly, then my weakness.

Imagine what I write be every word false, what harm will it do Princes to prepare for the loss of a kingdom, though it ne∣ver come? Is it not the way to teach them humility? I am sure they are proud enough. Were it not acceptable both be∣fore God and man, that they would leave off their TYRAN∣NY? Imagine such sicknesses never come to the Vulgar as I say this Eclipse threatens; will it do them any harm to make their peace with God, though they do not die? But most people send preparation for death before hand, and intend to overtake it on their death-beds.

I am not conscious to my self of any grand failings in these predictions, and I am the more confident of the truth of them, because they jump so exactly with the Prophesies in Scripture. I know it is the opinion of many in Art, that the coming of

Christ to reign (whether in Person, or in Spirit, I will not dispute the story here) cannot be yet these many years, neither probably should it be by rules of Art drawn from judicial A∣strologie: neither am I ignorant that the Cabal holds it out to come sooner: happily the days may be shortened for the Elects sake; yet can I give you divers Characters, or if you will exem∣plary signes, even from the Scripture it self, of its approaching, Matth. 24 6, 7. You shall hear of wars, and rumors of wars, Na∣tion shall rise against Nation, and Kingdom against Kingdom, and there shall be famine and pestilence, and earthquakes in di∣vers places. ver. 10. They shall betray one another, and hate one another. ver. 11. Many false Prophets shall arise, and shall de∣ceive many. ver. 12. Iniquity shall abound, and the love of many shall wax cold. ver. 24. There shall arise false Christs, and false Prophets. ver. 32. Learn a Parable of the Figg-tree, when his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, you know the Sum∣mer is nigh, even at the door. I shall quote but one Scripture more. 2 Tim. 3. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. This know also, that in the last days perillous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy; without natural affection, truce∣breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more then lovers of God, HAVING A FORM OF GOD∣LINES, BVT DENYING IT IN THE PO∣WER THEREOF. If these be not testimonies enough the truth of my Predictions approaching, I shall remit my self to the judgment of such as are more judicious; and for a conclusion, I will make no other then what Solomon did in his recantation, Eccl. 12. 13, 14. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter, fear God, and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judg∣ment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. And to such as do fear God and keep his Commandments, I shall remain a friend till death,

Nich: Culpeper.