A compleat history of the most remarkable providences both of judgment and mercy, which have hapned in this present age extracted from the best writers, the author's own observations, and the numerous relations sent him from divers parts of the three kingdoms : to which is added, whatever is curious in the works of nature and art / the whole digested into one volume, under proper heads, being a work set on foot thirty years ago, by the Reverend Mr. Pool, author of the Synopsis criticorum ; and since undertaken and finish'd, by William Turner...

CHAP. VII. Discovery of Things Secret or Future; by Prodigies, Comets, Lights, Stars, &c.

HERE I propound only, to shew how God Almighty, when he is doing, or going to do any thing extraordinary in the World, to put Nature out of its usual Course, and make some greater and more remarkable Steps in his Providence; He often hangs out some Flag, makes some Flame of Fire his messenger, or so Ruffles the Elements of the Visible World in such an unusual manner as is enough to startle Men, not out of, but into their Wits, and make them serious and inquisi∣tive into the Counsels of Heaven; and their own Merits and Behaviour towards God; and so to Humble them into Sorrow and Penitence, when they see the Hand of God thus lifted up, or concern'd for them.

1. Before the Destruction of Jerusalem there was often seen in the Air Armies of men in Battle-array, seeming to be ready to charge each other; the Brazen Gate open'd of it self, without being touched by any Body. Joseph. de Bell. Jud. l. 7. Gaffarella, Part 2. c. 3.

2. A little before the time that Xerxes cover'd the Earth with his million of men, there appear'd horrible and dreadful Meteors, as Presages of the Evils that afterwards happened; as there did likewise in the time of Attila, who was call'd Flagellum Dei, God's Scourge. Gaffarrel, unheard of Curios. Part 2. Ch 3.

3. When Ambrose was a Child, a Swarm of Bees settled on his Face in the Cradle, and flew away without hurting of him; whereupon his Father said, Si vixerit infantulus ille, ali∣quid magni erit; viz. If this Child live, he will be some great man. Clark's Mart. of Eccl. Hist.

4. In the time of Gregory the Great, (A. C. 600, &c.) The River Tsber swell'd to such an unmeasurable height, that it ran over the Walls of Rome, and drowned a great part of the City, and brake into many great Houses, overthrew divers antient monuments and Gra∣varies belonging to the Church, carrying away many thousand measures of Wheat: Pre∣sently after which Innundation came down the River an innumerable Company of Serpents, with one monstrous great one, as big as a Beam; which, when they had swam into the Sea, were there choaked; and their Carcasses being all cast upon the Shoar, there rotted; which caused such an Infection of the Air, that presently a great Plague followed at Rome; so that many thousands died of it. Yea, Arrows were visibly seen to be shot from Heaven; and whosoever was stricken with them, presently died; amongst whom Pelagius was one, then Bishop of Rome. Ibid. p. 97. What the consequences of those Prodigies were, I leave to the Consideration

of the ingenious Reader, who may easily find in Church-History somewhat not obscurely pointed at by them.

5. Thales Milesius, by help of the Stars foretold an abundance of Olives, that should be the Year following. Arist. Pol. l. 1. c. 7.

6. In the Reign of Theodosius, there appear'd a Star, shooting forth Beams in the shape of a Sword; and in the time of Sultan Scilim, an infinite Number of Crosses appear'd shi∣ning in the Air; which foreshewed the Loss he afterward receiv'd by the Christians. Gaf∣farel. unheard of Curios. Part 2. Ch. 3. And who knows not that the Emperor Pertinax was forewarn'd of his Death three Days before by a certain Vision, that seem'd to threa∣ten him (in a Pond) with a drawn Sword in his Hand. Idem ibid.

7. Appian hath reckon'd up what miraculous things were seen and heard, before the breaking out of the Civil Wars, as fearful Voices, and strange running up and down of Horses, which no Body could see. Pliny hath likewise set down those that were heard in the same manner, before the Cymbrian War; and among the rest, divers Voices that were heard from Heaven, and dreadful Alarms, sounded by certain terrible Trumpets. Before the Lacedemonians were overthrown at the Battle of Leuctra, the Arms in the Tem∣ple were heard to make a Noise of their own Accord; and about the same time, at Thebes, the Gates of the Temple of Hercules open'd of themselves, without any Man touching thee; and the Arms that hung against the Wall were found cast on the Ground (as Cicero reports the Story, lib. de Div.) not without the great Astonishment of the Beholders. At the time that Milliades went against the Persians, divers strange Sights fore∣shew'd what the Event would be; and that I may trouble my self to reckon up these Won∣ders no longer, you may have recourse to Livy; who for having been so copious in his Stories of this Nature, is thought fit by some Authors, to be stiled a Tragedian, rather than an Historian. Gaffarel. unheard of Curios. par. 2. c. 3. Cicerone de Divin. Val. Max. l. 1. Ces. l. 1. de Bell. Civ. Malleal. de Nob. c. 30. &c.

8. Constantine the Great marching towards Rome, with an Army of 9000 Foot, and 8000 Horse, against the Tyrant Maxentius; and musing with himself unto what God he should address his Prayers for Success (for as yet he was not settled fully in the Christian Faith) and considering withal, that his Predecessors, who had worshipp'd many Gods, and put their Trust in them, had very often miscarry'd; and that on the contrary, his Father, that had only worshipped one, and the true God, had a happy Reign, and was still preserved from many Dangers, he therefore resolved to adore that God only, which his Father had served; and upon that prayed earnestly to God to reveal himself to him, and to prosper him in his Journey; and whilst he was thus praying, lifting up his Eyes to Heaven, about Noon-day, he beheld the Sign of a Cross, lively figured in the Air, with this Inscription, In hoc Vince, [by this Overcome] himself and all his Army wondring at so strange a Pro∣digy; and being much troubled in his Mind, to know the meaning of it, the next Night following Christ appear'd to him in his Sleep, commanding him to make the like Figure and Banner, and to carry it against his Enemies: Whereupon the next day impart∣ing the Vision to his Friends, he sent for the best Goldsmiths and Lapidaries, to make the like Cross with Gold and precious Stones, and resolved to worship that God only who thus appear'd to him.—Afterwards with great courage he went forwards, bear∣ing before him and his Victorious Army, instead of the Imperial Eagle, the form of this Vision upon his Standard. Maxentius, as much depending upon his Sorcerers, was no less confident of Victory, for the furtherance whereof, he framed a deceitful Bridge over Tiber, to intrap Constantine; and sent out divers Armies to oppose him, before he should come near the City. But Constantine trusting only in God, overthrew at the first Encoun∣ter, his first, second and third Armies; and so marching thro' all Italy, he brought his Vic∣torious Ensigns near the Walls of Rome. Hereupon Maxentius led forth his Army above a mile from Rome, and joyned Battle with Constantine; but being overcharged with Con∣stantine's Vantguard, he with the rest of his Army fled; and either thro' Haste or Forget∣fulness, took over the Deceitful Bridge, which he had made to entrap Constantine with; where they had no sooner enter'd, but it fell asunder, and so they were all drown'd. Clark in vit. Constantin. p. 4. & Centuria Magdeburg ex Eusebi••.

9. In the Reign of Justinian there was such a prodigious Sight seen about the Sun, that the like had not been seen or heard of before: The Sun, for the greatest part of the Year, gave so little Light, that it was but equal to the Light of the Moon; and yet at the same time the Sky was clear, without Clouds, or any thing to obscure it; after which there followed a great Famine, and much War and Bloodshed. Idem in vit. Justinian. Tho' the Centurians of Magdeburgh are silent in the Case, and make no mention of it, not∣withstanding they undertake to record all the Prodigies and Wonders that happen'd in the Reigns of the several Emperors; however I offer it only upon the Credit of my Author, who lays it wholly at Evagrius his Door.

10. Gasper Cruciger, ••s he lay in his Bed in the Night, Nov. 6. A. C. 1548. Seeing a Prodigy which then happen'd, viz. A great Chasm in the Heaven, and in some places Fire falling to the Earth, and flying up again into the Air; much bewailed the great Commo∣tions and Dusipations in the Church, which he foresaw by this Prodigy. Fuller Abel. Rediv. p. 145.

11. Mr John Lewis, a Learned Justice of Peace in Cardiganshire, speaking concerning the strange and usual Appearance of Lights, [call'd in Welch, Dead Mens Candles] before Mortality hath these Words: This is ordinary in most of our Counties, that I never searce heard of any, Young or Old, but this is seen before Death, and often observ'd to part from

the Body of the Persons all along the way, to the place of Burial, and infallibly Death will ensue. Now, Sir, It is worth your Resolution, whether this may proceed from God or no; it is commonly imputed to the Igneous Air of the Counties: But that evil Spirits can come by so much Knowledge, as to be always so infallible, (tho' herein I confess them very vast) and be so favourable and officious unto man, as to be such seasonable monitors of his Dis∣solution, and to give so much Discovery of Spiritual Essences, and the Immortality; I doubt whether they mean us so much Good as this: Some Wiles I confess they may have by such Appearance, but it carries the Benefits mention'd with it whereas their Disappear∣ance makes more for Infidelity and Atheism: But this I leave to your Judgment, beg∣ging Pardon for this Boldness, in diverting you from your far better Thoughts; and see∣ing it is my Happiness to have this little Invisible Acquaintance with you, I shall omit no Opportunity of troubling you with such poor Thoughts as the Lord shall give unto me of the best Things, humbly wishing (as for the making up the sad Differences of Religi∣on among us) the Lord would give those in Authority to weigh thatPious and Wise Discourse you have proposed, as to those four great Parties in the Dedication of your Saints Rest, with my unfeigned Prayers for your Health and Happiness. Hist. Discourse of Apparitions. &c.

12. March 2. 1678. At Poins-town, in the County of Tepperary, in Ireland, were seen divers strange and prodigious Apparitions; whereof take the Account as follows. On Sun∣day in the Evening several Gentlemen and others, after named, walked forth in the Fields, and the Sun going down, and appearing somewhat bigger than ordinary, they discoursed about it, directing their Eyes toward the Place where the Sun fat; when one of the Company observed in the Air, near the place where the Sun went down, an Arm of a Blackish Blue Colour, with a ruddy complection'd Hand at one end, and at the other end a Cross Piece, with a Ring fastned to the middle of it, like one end of an Anchor, which stood still a while, and then made Northwards, and so disappeared; next, there appeared at a great Distance in the Air, from the same part of the Sky, somethings like a Ship, com∣ing towards them; and it came so near, that they could distinctly perceive the Masts, Sails, Tacklings, and Men; she then seem'd to tack about, and sail'd with the Stern foremost Northwards, upon a dark smooth Sea, which stretched it self from South-west to North-west; having seem'd thus to sail some few Minutes, she sunk by degrees into the Sea, her Stern first; and as she sunk, they perceived her Men plainly running up the Tack∣lings in the forepart of the Ship, as it were to save themselves from drowning. Then ap∣pear'd a Fort, with somewhat like a Castle on the Top of it; out of the sides of which, by reason of some Clouds of Smoak, and a flash of Fire suddenly issuing out, they con∣cluded some Shot to be made. The Fort then immediately was divided in two Parts, which were in an instant transformed into two exact Ships, like the other they had seen, with their Heads towards each other: That towards the South seem'd to chase the other with its Stem foremost, Northwards, till it sunk with its Stem first, as the first Ship had done; the other Ship sail'd some time after, and then sunk with its Head first. It was observ'd, That Men were running upon the Decks of these two Ships, but they did not see them climb up, as in the last Ship, excepting one Man, whom they saw distinctly to get up with much Haste upon the very top of the Bowsprit of the second Ship, as they were sinking. They supposed the two last Ships were engaged, and sighting, for they saw the likeness of Bullets rowling upon the Sea, while they were both visible.—Then there appear'd a Chariot, drawn with two Horses, which turn'd as the Ships had done North∣ward, and immediately after it, came a strange frightful Creature, which they concluded to be some kind of Serpent, having a Head like a Snake, and a knotted Bunch or Bulk at the other end, something resembling a Snail's House. This Monster came swiftly be∣hind the Chariot, and gave it a sudden violent Blow, then out of the Chariot leaped a Bull and a Dog, which followed him, and seem'd to bait him: These also went Northwards, as the former had done, the Bull first, holding his Head downwards; then the Dog, and then the Chariot, till all sunk down one after another, about the same place, and just in the same manner as the former. These Meteors being vanished, there were several Appearances like Ships, and other things. The whole time of the Vision lasted near an Hour, and it was a very clear and calm Evening, no Cloud seen, no Mist, nor any Wind stiring. All the Phoenomena came out of the West, or South-west, and all moved Northwards; they all sunk out of Sight, much about the same place: Of the whole Company there was not any one but saw all these things, as above-written, whose Names follow.

• Mr. Allye, a Minister, living near the place.
• Lieutenant Dunslervile, and his Son.
• Mr. Grace, his Son-in Law.
• Lieutenant Dwine.
• Mr. Dwine, his Brother.
• Mr. Christopher Hewelson.
• Mr. Richard Foster.
• Mr. Adam Hewelson.
• Mr. Bates, a School-master.
• Mr. Larkin.
• Mrs. Dunslervile.
• Her Daughter-in-Law.
• Her Maiden Daughter.
• Mr. Dwine's Daughter.
• Mrs. Grace her Daughter.

13. Ostenta, or Portents. Extracted from the Miscellanies of John Aubrey, Esq;—

How it comes to pass, I know not; but by Ancient and modern Example it is evident, that no great ••ccident befalls a City or Province, but it is presaged by Divination, or Prodigy.

14. There was a strange Phenomenon seen at Broad-Chalk, in Wiltshire, on the First Day of May, 1647. It continued from about Eleven a Clock (or before) till Twelve. It was a very clear Day; but few did take notice of it, because it was so near the Sun-Beams. My Mother happened to espy it, going to see what a Clock it was by an Hori∣zontal Dial; and then all the Servants saw it. Upon the like occasion Mr. Jo. Sloper, B.D. Vicar there, saw it, and all his Family; and the Servants of Sir George Vaugham (then Fellow of Falston) who were Hunting on the Downes, saw it. The next remarkable thing that follow'd, was, that on the Third of June following, Cornet Joyce carried King Charles I. Prisoner from Holdenby to the Isle of Wight. The Isle of Wight lieth directly from Broad-Chalk, at the X a Clock Point.

15. There was seen at Bishops Lamington, in Wiltshire, in Sept. 1688. Two Balls of Light. They were about Eleven Degrees above the Horizon by the Quadrant; observed by Mr. Robert Blea, one of the Earl of Abingdon's Gentlemen.