Catastrophe mundi, or, Europe's many mutations until the year 1701 being an astrological treatise of the effects of the triple conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter 1682 and 1683, and of the comets 1680 and 1682, and other configurations concomitant : wherein the fate of Europe for these next 20 years is ... more than probably conjectured ... : also, an ephimeris [sic] of all the comets that have appeared from ... 1603 to the year 1682 ... : whereunto is annexed the hieroglyphicks of Nostrodamus ... / by John Holwell.

TO THE READER.

Courteous Reader.

IT having been my Fate to Live in times that have been so Troublesome (though not in England) put me up∣on the Inquiry from what Natural Causes these many Calamities that have attended Europe for this last past 10 years, and having examined many Authors concerning the Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter, and found that their Catalogue of Conjunctions was grosly false, having had a light of their fulness by Mr. Edling's Nuncius Syderens, pub∣lished by him 1664. I took upon me to Calculate the seve∣ral years of their Conjunction from the Caroline Tables of Mr. Thomas Street, and have Framed a Table thereof for 3958 Years before the coming of Christ our Saviour, until the year of our Lord God 1702; and have also Framed a Table from the same Caroline Table of the Mutations of the Aphelions of the Planets, for many years to come, that thereby the Artist might have a sure Foundation, for want of which Astrology has been very lame. I have also pre∣sented you with all the Comets, that have been observed since 1602. with a new method how to judge of the time of their Effects, and have examined the truth by Examples by past, by which I found out the way. I have also presented you with a Speculum of the Directions of the great Con∣junction 1603. and the New Star 1604. and have also shewed a way how the lesser Conjunction may be directed for to find the time of the Accidents. I have also presented

you with a Speculum of the Conjunction 1663. and of the Conjunction 1682. Likewise with a Table of all the Con∣junctions and Oppositions of Saturn and Mars: And also with a Table of all the Eclipses of the Luminaries from the year 1683, to the year 1701. with a Table of the Aspect that Saturn and Jupiter makes till the year 1701. all which Tables cost me a great deal of time, for the Table of the several Conjunctions of Saturn and Jupiter, cost me 6 Months trouble at my spare times. So likewise have I given a probable Conjecture of the Triple Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter 1682, and 1683. and the two Comets that have appeared last, (viz) 1680, and 1682. And I have also presented you with my probable Conjecture of each year from the year 1682, to 1700. In which I have as near as I could, kept close to the Rules of Astrology, yet it is possible in some things for want of Presidents, I may not hit just the time, but I hope the Ingenious will pass by these things, knowing that very few of the Ancients have treated any thing to the purpose of Conjunctions; many of the things that I present you withall, are wholly new. I have also Annexed the Hyroglyphicks of Nostradamus, publish'd by Mr. Lilly 1651. and have taken the pains to place them right and in order (for Mr. Lilly placed them wrong and out of order) besides, I have added a many more which relate to the Mutations of Europe, the next 20 years, all which labour and pains (which I will assure you was not small) I present to the World, hoping it may meet with the kind acceptance of the Ingenious of this Age; which if it do, is all the reward I expect, and it will oblige me to make a further Inquiry into Astrology; but in the mean time

Die Jovis October 12th. 1682.

Farewell, John Holwell.