The prophecie of one of His Maiesties chaplains, concerning the plague and black-patches with Mr. Gadburies happy and joyful predictions, for the decrease of the plague both in the city and suburbs; the time when; the manner how; by God's permission, and according to natural causes; the effects and motion of the planets, and what every week may produce for the thrice-happy and welcome abatement of this sad and dismal pestilence; and the city of London to be wholly acquit thereof about (or before) Christmas.

The Prophecie of one of His Majesties Chaplains, concerning the Plague, and Black-Patches.

ALthough after several evil Aspects, and Male∣volent Conjunctions of the Planets, after bad Constitutions of the Air, and distemper of the Weather, after dearth of Corn, and scarcity of Provision, whereby the humors of Mens Bodies have been corrupted, and several Diseases have sprung up yet no Plague hath followed; and on the contra∣ry, though after the signs of healthy Sea∣sons, plenty of good and wholesome Diet, yea and after a most cold and dry Winter, and in a dry and temperate Summer, the Plague hath risen up and spread abroad; yet most commonly there have been some Tokens, Signs, and Fore-runners of it, which have given men an Alarm to prepare for it, expect it, and provide a∣gainst it. From whence also is observable the Causes producing it; Such as are the Position of the Heavens and the Conjunction of Mars and Saturn; as the Learned Mr Gadbury hath most judici∣ously set forth in those Memorable Predictions hereunto ••nnexed. But first the Reader may be pleased to observe, the Signs imma∣nent and approaching of great Mortality; Mr. Kelway in the third Chapter of his Treatise of the Plague printed at London 1593. hath these words:

When we see young Children flock themselves together in Companies, and then will fain some o•• their Company to be dead amongst them, and so will solemnize the B〈…〉〈…〉rt, this is a token which hath been well observed in o••r Ag•• to fore-shew great Mortality at hand. And 'tis worthy of serious consideration, that about 20 years ago, one of the Chaplains of his late Majesty King Charles the First of ever blessed memory, did preach at Bristol upon this Text out of Gen 4.15 ••nd the Lord set a mark ••pon Cain; And in his Sermon did speak much against black-patches and beauty-spots; and, among other things, said, that they were Fore runners of other Spots, and Marks of the Plague; and presently, within a very little while after, the Plague brake out among them, and all those persons that did wear them, fled the Town. And when St. Andrews Church yard Wall did break or fall down this last Winter, some there were that did prognosticate the coming of the Plague, saying, It fell in like manner the last great Sickness in 1625. but what reason they had to say so, is best known to themselves.

Yet true it is, that this black and dismal Cloud was fore-seen and predicted by that great Artist in Astrologie Mr. John Gadbury, in his Ephemeris for the present year 1665. in the Moneth of April, at which time the Sickness first began to shew it self visible; not∣withstanding it took its Rise at Christmas, he himself being visit∣ed at that time.

And though the Plague cometh unawares, and frizeth upon a man on a suddain, yet such is the infinite mercy of God, and the providence of Nature, that it giveth alwayes warning enough to any one that will diligently observe it.

The warnings are either a suddain Head-ache, a Vomiting, or a Faintness, with a Chilnesse, or a Loosenesse. Each of these Symp∣tome she••••th, what part of the body hath been first infected; the Head-ache s••••nises the Brains; the Vomiting the Liver; the Faintnesse the Heart; and the Loosenesse▪ the Stomach and the Gut.

When therefore any one upon a sudden and without evident cause, findeth him••el•• seized with either of these 4 Symptomes, let him fly to Remedies without the losse of a moment of time: For it is one of the easiest Diseases in the World to be cured, if it

be taken within 4 hours after the first Invasion; otherways, and for the mo•••• part mortal. Now assoon as one findeth himself stric∣ken with any of the foresaid Symptomes, let him presently repair to a clean and warm room, and kindle a wood-fire in the Chimny, to consume and destroy all the infectious vapours that proceed both from the Air, and the infected party: Let the Patient pre∣sently be put into a warm bed, wrapped in a sheet and blanket; & then sweat him well, by giving the party some Venice-Treace; and those that have contracted the Plague by a Fright, put a little Saffron into it. Venice-Treacle being taken in time, is the onely Antidote against all Plagues and Poisons whatsoever.

Vinegar is a most excellent Antidote against the Plague, and to drink 2 or 3 Spoonfu••s in a Morning is very good. Hence 'tis, that Physitians to suppresse and take away the fiery Venome of Spurge, Laurel, Mezereon, and other Plants, steep them in Vinegar, and so give them safely to their Patients, whereas otherwise they would kill and be a worse Remedy than the Disease. And Dioscorides saith that it resists all poysons both hot and cold. And Christoph. a Ʋega tells of one that was strangled with a Rope, and did foam about the Mouth, and yet was recovered by drinking Vinegar.

Coffee is commended against the Contagion; and moderate ex∣ercise; be sure to prevent costiveness, and violent passions: Sleep moderately, and after you are up uncover your bed, and open the Curtains to air it, and have the bed well shaken when it is made, for Damps are very dangerous.

To go forth with an empty stomach is unwholsom; bread dipt in Vinegar is very good; but the best Breakfast against the Con∣tagion is Bisket and Raisins.

And as the great Causes of this particular Pest were the Con∣junction of Saturn and Jupiter Octob. 10. 1663. the Conjunction of Saturn and Mars Nov. 12 1664. so also are they chief Causes po∣werfully impelling, that it is to be feared the Pestilence we now partake of, will not be the one m••ie••y of the Effects thence to en∣sue, or thereon depending. ••y this connexion of Causes, it is some∣what apparent that this Pest should have took its beginning at the latter end of 1664. and truly had not the Winter then been so ex∣treamly sharp (it having a Frost of almost ten weeks continuance

together) to have kept it back, it had beyond all question broke forth then. Nay, and break forth it did then too, as the Learned Artist in Astrologie Mr. Gadbury, can experimentally testifie, having been personally visited with it at Christmas that year. And many o∣ther Patients of Mr. Josias Westwood the Chirurgeon, were then also afflicted with the same Distemper, and yet obtained cure against it, the Air being then so friendly to Nature, and an Enemy unto the Pestilence. But now let us consider its progress and increase, with the causes thereof, and the possibility of its abatement, with the time when. In this matter I shall consult, but not trouble you with the Figure of the Suns Ingress into the Equinoctial Sign Aries, for the year 1665. and thence draw down the several Arguments of encrease and abatement; and because the Pestilence was hardly per∣ceptible untill the Month of June, I will begin there.

This Month, (as if God and Nature had appointed the Sickness to be Ominous in earnest to these Nations) we may observe two most fatal transits to usher it in, viz. Mars his then coming to the opposite point of the Ascendant, and the Sun to the opposite point of Saturn; a beginning of a sickness so mischievous, that greater can hardly be; God grant the end be not as inauspicious: and al∣though (I presume it will not be of many Months continuance to this great City, yet we are not to suppose a Pestilence ended, when it seemingly acquits one place.

In the moneth of July it began to encrease considerably, espe∣cially toward the latter end thereof: there were then fix opposi∣tions of the Erratick Stars, and two Eclipses; and to add to these, Mars, Venus, and Mercury, then came to the Quadrate place of the Sun, and to the opposite point of Saturn by transit; and the Sun then came to the opposition of Jupiter both by transit and aspect: all which were very great arguments of its encrease.

In the Month of Aug. Saturn comes to the Quadrate place of the sun, and will be stationary upon it I the Month; the two Eclipses last Month do now begin to operate, which are testimonies of very great augmentation: howbeit the fortunate Planet Venus coming to the Sextile of her own place and of the Moms at the beginning of the Month; and coming to a Trine of the Sun, the latter end thereof, may so happily contemper the fury of it, that it may not [now] encrease or augment to any exceeding great height.

A ••art of Septem. is like to prove somewhat dangerous because Saturn is in a manner still stationary, and the Sun and Saturn then come to a Quadrate aspect, and this in ill points of the Vernal Fi∣gure, Mars and Jupiter who is Dominus Ascendentis) then also come to an opposition, and both in square of Luna's place; whence it is probable, that in the second and last weeks of this Month, the Pest may admit of an abatement; but indeed, I much fear about the middle of the month an encrease considerable: nevertheless, I hope, and rationally believe (favente Deo) that this Pestilence can∣not ascend to any higher degree, than it may at that time reach unto.

The Month of October seems to promise well, and the Distemper therein cannot meet with any eminent cause for augmentation: yet I suppose the second and last week will make some slight Of∣fers at an encrease, because then the Sun comes to the opposite place of the Moon▪ and Venus hath a progressional motion to the opposition of the Sun, and Quartile of Saturns places.

November and December in this respect (God not frustrating the course of second Causes, or taking advantage of us for our sins) I question not will prove very kindly; and the City of London will begin to be in a better heart, than in many Moneths before. How∣beit, it cannot ••e supposed that this Pestilence should in so short a time totally vanish; or that so great a Sickness should not leave some unkind impressions behind it; but in comparison of what it hath been, I dare assert, that we shall [then] be (in a manner) wholly acquitted from it, and its violent raging, destructive Qua∣lities and Company.

La••••ly, London hath at present been the Patient, and hath felt the force of the Almighties scourge to purpose; while most other places of England have escaped the Lash. I wish with all my soul, that London might be the Scape-Goat for them all: but ah, I fear, before the Planet Saturn be gotten quite out of Capricorn, that tho••e other parts of this Nation will drink deep of the same Cup. God and Nature punish none by proxy. It will not be this Cities sufferings, that can excuse other Towns and Cities, from the vio∣lent stroak of so insatiate an Enemy. Thus much for the Predi∣ctions of the Learned Gadbury.

And now the great and principal Antidote against the Plague is, hearty Repententance and fervent Prayer: For Prayer upon Re∣pentance is of all things most powerful with God. And as Faith is the best Fence against Fear, so is Patience the best Plaister against S••res: Let the distrust of God's Mercies be far from you; and arise from Sin willingly: Read in the Bible daily; take up the Crosse of Christ boldly, and stand to it manfully, bearing all Visitations pa∣tiently; pray continually, Rest thankfully, and thou shalt live e∣verlastingly, and come to the Hill of Joy quickly: To which place hasten us good Lord speedily.

FINIS.