Black Munday: or, A full and exact description of that great and terrible eclipse of the sun which will happen on the 29. day of March 1652. beginning 48. minutes after 8. a clock in the forenoon, and ending 17. minutes after 11. in which time the sun will be almost totally darkened (as at the Passion of our Saviour) and the stars appear in the firmament in the day time. Also an astrologicall conjecture of the terrible effects that will probably follow thereupon, according to the judgment of the best astrologers: it threatens the fall of some famous kings or princes, and men in authority: malice, hatred, uncharitablenesse, cruell wars and bloodshed, house-burnings, great robberies, thefts, plundering and pillaging, rapes, depopulation, violent and unexpected deaths, famine, plague, &c.

A description of that great Eclipse of the Sun, which will be on the 29. of March next ensuing, 1652.

TAking into consideration this notable Eclipse, which will be of the Sun, when I considered with my self the dire and fearful accidents which may happen unto this Nation, it struck me with astonishment; yet to give the world satisfaction, I thought good to write (as neer as I can) the true description of this grand Eclipse. You have heard of that remarkable dark Saturday, which was on the 25. of February, 1598. 'twas much about the same time of the day that this happens with us in 1652, though many re∣member that, yet I am confident not any man living ever saw a greater then this.

And we may well call it Black-Munday. First, in regard it hapneth upon a Munday. Secondly, in regard of the effects it bringeth along with it: for this dismall day (wherein the Sun shall suffer a totall E∣clipse to our imagination) so dark and terrible it will be, that the Stars will be seen at noon day. It shall happen on the 29. day of March next, beginning at eight of the clock, and indore till after eleven.

Now I have shewed you the time, give me leave to tell you of the sad events that come thereby: it is the Precursor of great calamities and mischiefs that shall happen to the people and places concerned in it, especially all Europe, and more particularly England; this Eclipse falls out in the fiery triplicity in Aries, (the ascendent of England) and the very degree of his Exaltation, Mars having principall govern∣ment and dominion their, and in the Angle following the Eclipse, and so is Lord thereof, so that the effects must necessarily be of his quality (evil) Mars being an enemy to mankind, and to all things that are good: it is the terriblest Ecclipse that hath been seen in our daies; yea it will be a greater then that ominous Eclipse of the Sun

that wil fal out in the year 1654. howbeit never since the eldest man born did there appear two such Eclipses in England in so short a time; and as they are great and terrible, so it is as miraculous an Eclipse, as that was at the time of our Saviours Passion, for that in many remarkable respects too sadly agrees with this; and cast back your eys upon the Scripture, how dismall a sight was there, when there was darknesse on all the Land, from the sixth hour till the ninth, and the Vaile of the Temple was rent in twain, and what horrid calamities hapned to the Jews after that? how were they destroyed by Titus Vespasian? their Temples destroyed, defaced, and themselves led into captivity? what alterations of govern∣ment did there not happen? what bloodshed, what murthers were there not perpetrated? how did they embroil their hands in one ano∣thers bowells, Father against the son, and son against the Father, till there was none left? pray God avert those calamities from these Na∣tions, that are under the predominancy of these ruling Planets; for they presage (if we may believe Origanus, and the best and most learned Astrologers most sad and dire aspects; for it threatens exile, captivity, or slaughter of some famous King, or great Potentate, and men in Authority, &c. and great heart-burning between the common people and their Magistrates and Governours, with losse to both: what events have blazing stars produced formerly? the death of Kings and Princes, great Plagues and Earthquakes; we have seen it plentifully fullfill'd in our time, to the great terror and amazement of this King∣dome, and other Nations adjacent; and although there may be a cause in nature, yet do they (by the will and appointment of God) foretell such things as are the forerunners of the wrath of God; as the signs in the Ayr, which Josephus mentioneth immediately before the destruction of Ierusalem, and the horrible signs preceding the day of Iudgement: do but peruse the Astrologers, and you find the sad effects of Comets, &c. did not there happen in 1631. a great Eclipse of the Sun, and in 45. another Lunar Eclipse, most of them hapning in the eighth house, termed by Astrologers, domus mortis; Mars being (for the most part) predominant. In such Eclpses, surely if we would observe Gods threatning hand over us, we might see how God forewarns us by his instruments; nay we may expect military acts of great and fearfull consequences in most parts of Europe, which shall produce scarsity of Doves and beasts, destruction amongst men, and the ruine of most stately Fabricks, and a great desiciency of the fruits of the earth; that

there will be great things managed in the world is most certain, as to the infinite honor and fame of some, so to the great prejudice, if not consumption of some other people and Nations: Affairs shall be acted under the notion of Religion, yet not without dissimulation, and that hath been the pest and bane of all undertakings, when Religion is made the stalking horse to all designs and purposes. Mars his position is in Taurus, as his detriment doth testifie, and under the banner of conscientious reformation shall the sword bear sway, which is and will be paramount: if it should be demanded the time when, I answer, as those precurrent messingers which usher in the beginning of these ef∣fects, we may expect them in Iune or Iuly this year, according to Her∣mes in his 33. Aphorisme, Saturno quidem transeunte ab uno signo in aliud, fiunt in coelo signa de natura ignis, coruscations and fiery apparitions in the Ayre: this Conjunctions doth denote unto us, that the common people in most Countreys will usurp Authority, and spurn at their Su∣periors; but some mitigation doth Iupiter promise, that though the Sword rule, it shall seem rather justly to divide, then ravenously de∣stroy: good grounds will be pretended, Justice as well as revenge in∣tended in all the quarrells of the sword, and vicissitudes of things: Let me not be misunderstood, since nothing promises any support to the tottering time-serving Levite: the Farmer (I am certain) envies his tithes, and eats his pigs at home; the generall part of the pretend∣ed Clergy are male-conlent at the course of things, and do not yet see the over-ruling hand of God, nor will they teach men to aquiesce, but sullenly stir up discontent, pretending religious superlative ends.

Some begin to be ashamed of their Scotch Covenant, which bound them to promote the honor and dignity of the King and his Successors, subintelligitur, if they could not sell him for money to promote their own.

Sol (the Prince regent of heaven) who hath naturally the signi∣fication of regality, worldly pomp and glory, is ecclipsed in the very degree of his exaltation, and in the regall house of heaven likewise.

Let those tyrannicall powers of the world, who are limited with a non ultra possumus, who now culminate in their pride and power, expect so sure an obscuration accompanied with mutation, as not to be avoid∣ed: the Moon (the Lady of the ascendent) eclipsing the Sun in his own house, exaltation and triplicy: doth not this shew and declare, that inferiours, and men of men quality shall usurp and eclipse the glo∣ry

of the great and mighty? Let me not be misunderstood, but let this be a caveat to all those supreams whom this Eclipse finds with the knotty Scepters of tyranny in their hands, be they Kings or other∣wise.

We cannot deny but England is as much, if not more then any other Nation of Europe concerned in the effects of this solar Eclipse. Lord of heaven and earth what wilt thou do with us, we are in thy hands as a ball to be tossed to and fro: and as the clay in the hands of the Potter, thou canst break us, and bruise us at thy pleasure, if thou dost take from us those that sit at the helm to guide our poor ship of the Common∣wealth, I mean our Members of Parliament, of our Nobles, of our Gentry, of such as commanded and governed, and such as have not obey'd; but God thou knowest best what is fittest for us, and teach us to obey thy will, and be content with our Governours set over us; for re∣gall Government is very nigh a period in all Nations, by the production of this Eclipse a grandee falls to nothing: many grand Potentates are eclipsed, their glory shall be taken from them, and their honor laid in the dust: the first, second, or third most principall or greatest Prince in Europe shall die e're 1654. or (during the continuance of the effects of this Eclipse) shall suffer or be sensible of great calamities, intudes and devastations in a most miserable way, or els the losse of all, or the greatest part of his ancient patrimony. I much fear, e're time limited for termination of this Eclipses effects, too many will be sensible of our judgement, for all the evills, the sword, sedition, famine, pestilence, can do to Europe, may be expected from the effects of this Eclipse. Oh that the Princes of Europe would learn to be wise from the book of the creatures, what the will of their God is, before their houses be left desolate before destruction comes as an armed man. What Kings and Governours are threatned by this Eclipse, which will be so formidable to Europe? 'tis so, that all the Princes in Europe are threatned by it, yea all those of the world where it is visible and angular, together with Hogens Moghens, Illustrisimos, and Titilado's, I can hardly sing a qui∣etus est to the present times, I wish I could, I cannot flatter, neither dare I write what I think.

This puts me in mind of that miraculous Eclipse of the Sun at the Passion of our Saviour, which in many remarkable respects too sadly a∣grees with this: For (as to the Position of Ierusalem) Cancer then as∣cended, and the very degree wherein Saturn is at the time of this Eclipse,

he also then Rising with the Horoscope, and in square to both the Lumi∣naries as at this time; the Sun being then in Aries directly Culminating, and the Moon in Libra opposing him: A heavy and dreadfull Position, it threatens the Exile, Captivity, or slaughter of some famous King or Prince, and Men in authority, &c. Hatred, Malice, and all uncharitable∣nesse betwixt the Common People and their Magistrates or Governors, with Detriment, or Ruine to both; the motion of a great Army, cruell Warres, much bloodshed, and pestilent seditions, the sacking of Cities and Towns, House-burnings, Robberies, Thefts, Plundering and Pilla∣ging, Rapes, Depopulations, violent and unexpected deaths, corrupti∣on of the Air, putrefaction and scarcity of Fruits, Abortive Births, A∣cute Feavers, Famine, the Plague, and generall Murrain amongst Cat∣tle; Pyracies, Ship-wrecks, and great fights by Sea as well as by Land, discontents, murmurings, and insurrections, new Governments, new Religions, new Customs, new Laws. In a word, this Eclipse, premon∣strates a generall madnesse and confusion to all such Kingdoms, Com∣mon-wealths, Countries, Cities and Towns as are under the division of Aries, Libra, Cancer, and Capricorn, viz. England, Scotland, France, Germany, Denmark, Holland, Zeland, Suevia, Polonia, Granado, Bur∣gundia the lower, Macedonia, Austria, Alsatia, Thracia, Greece, Saxony, and divers other Nations, (more particularly) the Cities and Towns of Naples, Tetraria, Florence, Padua, Brunswick, Lisbone, Franckford, Vi∣enna in Austria, Antwerp, Oxford, Brandenburg, Constantinople, Tu∣nis, Venice, Genoa, Pisa, Millain, Vincentia, Berne, Lubeck, Magdeberge, Wittenberge, Gotlick, York, S. Andrews, and the Islands of Orcades, and many more, too large for my limits.

The continuance of the effects of this Eclipse, is two years, 25. weeks, odd hours, from the 4th. day of August, 1652. untill the 6th. day of Ian. Anno Dom. 1954.

The quality of the events is known from the nature and quality of the sign, in which the place of the Eclipse is, from the place and na∣ture of the sign where any stationary superiour Planet is, and from the quality of the sign and places of the Planets, that hath-most dominion in the sign of the Eclipse, and the sign of the Angle preceding the E∣clipse.

Mars generally signifieth or threatneth mischief to all in generall, which shall happen through extremity of drought; particularly, he causes much war, quarrells and bloudshed, amongst men of that life or

kind of profession: therefore I expect little peace here, (nor in any o∣ther part of the world (where there is war) where the Eclipse shall extend its influence) by fair means or treaty: He excites men also to many robberies, spoiling, sacking, and inslaving each other, the wrath of Kings and great men, and troubles in generall to all manner or kinds of men: As also suddain death, sicknesses, and these chiefly, Tertian agues, or Feavers, and this shall be chiefly incident unto these of younger years, or in their prime or strength of youth; there shall happen much choler and anger amongst men, and from men of small repute, they shall com∣mit unlawfull things, and transgresse the Law; there shall also happen many combustions, man-slaughters, rapines, thefts and robberies.

His events in the Ayr shall be extream heat, and very warm winds, lightning and little rain.

In the Sea he shall cause destruction very often to ships, by mixt winds, or lightning, or such like.

In Rivers he shall cause a scarcity of waters, and the drought of fountains.

And in things appertaining to the use of man, viz. beasts and vege∣tables, he shall cause a scarcity, there shall be much destruction or want of fruit, by reason they shall be scorched up with extremity of heat, or eaten with Locusts and Caterpillers, or they shall be destroyed by winds, or nipt in the bud.

One word more in generall, Be wise therefore O ye Kings, be instructed O ye Iudges of the earth; serve the Lord with fear, and rejoyce in him with trembling: for the Sun being in his seat of Majesty, is Eclipsed of his glory: therefore O ye Kings and Emperors be ye not puft up with high conceits of your dignities and honors, for your Scepters are gone, and Democarcy takes place: your mighty Hosts shall be consumed by the Sword, 'tis not your Kingdoms nor your high-born blood can pre∣vent Gods revenging hand that is upon you, therefore repent in time, lest his Judgements fall upon you, and utterly eradicate you.

A word to England; Oh England repent thee of thy sins also, lest God take away the florishing Gospell, and remove the golden Candle∣stick from among you, and give it to a more deserving Nation.

Soli Deo gloria.