The doome warning all men to the iudgemente wherein are contayned for the most parte all the straunge prodigies hapned in the worlde, with diuers secrete figures of reuelations tending to mannes stayed conuersion towardes God: in maner of a generall chronicle, gathered out of sundrie approued authors by St. Batman professor in diuinite.

Of three prodigious theues by the which Common wealths are disquieted.

A beggerly Théefe robbeth by the high way for néede, and yet for the facte deserueth punishment, because all men are bounde by the Lawes of God to labour.

A slaunderous Théefe, through Enuie at his neighbours prosperitie, belieth the truth, and speaketh euill of the Godlye by taking awaye their good name as a reuenge of his malice.

The couetous Théefe is he, that abuseth Lawes in a common wealth, for his priuate commoditie, a betrayer of the innocent, a robber of the Fa∣therlesse, and an increaser of Beggers.

These thrée drone bées do suck vp bread, béefe, & béere, to maintain back, belly, and building, with inordinate desire, which is the cause of confusion.

When money fights for Lands defence, beware of treason, Where no Lawes hold but bought and sold, there farewell reason.

In the Booke entituled Ghostly counsaile, by a Germane religious, Vesper Swoll.

In Switzerlande at a certaine village which in their mother tongue they call Gossaw, nere to Grouing, a monsterous Childe was borne the 26 day of August, to wit, with two heads, thrée armes, and so many féete. There a∣rose in Switzerlande sharpe ciuile warres, they incountered together with deadly weapons nere the Monasterie of Capel, where the Citizens of Tigure with their men, had a great ouerthrow, wherein Hulricus Zwing∣lius fighting for his Countrey and religion was slayne.

At Ausburg a woman brought forth thrée Monsters, first a mans head [ 1532] wrapt in a Caule: secondly, a Serpent with two legs, whiche had a greate head like vnto a pyke, the body and féete of a Frogge, and the tayle of a Li∣zarde: thirdly, a pigge whole in all parts. Oecolampadius, a preacher at Basill of singular learning.

[illustration]

A horrible Monster of no common wildnesse, hauing ••. féete, a mans head bearded & combed, Eagles féete, hands almost like to a Lions pawes, a dogs tayle, and his bodye of a darke yellow coloure somewhat shining, in the yere of our saluation 1531 was taken in the Lordship of the Byshop of Salisburg in a forrest which they call Hanesberg▪ for he did flie mens sight and hid himselfe in corners in the darke where he mighte: at length when he could neither be cōpelled nor allured to take meat, he died for hunger in few dayes.

[ 1532] Not farre from Oenepont (as Iob Fincelius hath noted) there was séene these Images, an Eagle standing vpon an hill, and not fearing: thrée other Images as enemies met him, ouer against: the first of which was a Camel looking vp, and hauing a flame round about him: the other a Woolfe vome∣ting a flame out of his mouth, being likewise beset with a flaming circle: him followed a Lyon, by whom a man in armour standing at the entrye of the Mountains, did flatteringly stroke his mane, and againe the Lion sée∣med to flatter him, reaching out his foote as though he would leape. Casper Pucer.

Not farre from Isena a Towne of Thuringia, there were séene in the ayre an olde Trée, and a man on horsebacke carying an other Trée wyth gréene Leaues, whome a hounde followed, and afterwarde a greate and a blacke crosse nere a Village which was as it were set afire with lightning. Fincelius.

In the moneth of September a Comet was séene again in Virgo, and in y^e house of Mercury for certayne wéekes, two houres in the morning be∣fore

the sunne rising, and in the East part which lasted 3. whole moneths, the flame was very terrib••e, for in greatnesse and continuance he surpassed the other Comet which we saw the yere past. The famous Doctor of Phi∣sick Achilles Gas••aru•• and Iohn Virdingus Hastrodus a notable Astrolo∣ger hath described and interprete this Comet.

There were séene at Venice the 11. of Aprill, the second houre of the day 3. faire and bright sunnes, with two rainebowes, not wich poyntes descen∣ding, but opposite of the Sunne, y^e first of whiche soone gaue ouer, the other being little, stoode still amid the Element, more than two houres, the one as it were a Crowne, the other as it were a halfe Circle, being of lyke di∣staunce from the playne of the Earth, contrarye to the manner of others: but the Sunnes were so brighte that they coulde not be beholden, like to that which was in the myddle: but hée whiche stoode at the left hande of the Sunne appeared towarde the South verye cleare, greater and brighter, but he whiche was on the righte side and laye northwarde was lesse, and not so shining, notwithstanding in the ende we perceyued that he more en∣creased in such sort notwithstanding, that both séemed to faile at once, both of them stretched oute verye greate beames through the Elemente to the Earth, the coloure of all declined to rednesse.

The 7. of the kalends of May in Switzerland about the Sun rising was séene a white and a christalline Circle, and the same yere war was begun with very great preparation against the Turkes, notwithstanding in vain, Iohn Duke of Saxonie Elector of the Empyre died, Stomphius & Fun∣ctius in Chron.

In many countreys there were séene Dragōs flying in y^e ayre in flockes couered with crounes, and hauing pigs snoutes otherwhile the number of 400. flue together, Iob Fincelius in his booke of the miracles after y^e sprin∣ging againe of the Gospell.

They of Munster in Westfalia in fayre weather beheld one in armor sitting on horseback. A Woman great with childe in Germany being styr∣red vp with madnesse ioyned with loue slue her husbande asléepe, and eate vp his left side with his arme as farre as his thigh the same nighte, and kepte the residue of his bodye poudred with salte for an other time: not lōg after she broughte forth a Twin, but for her cruell facte, the lyke where∣of was neuer hearde, she being shutte vp in perpetuall prison was compel∣led there to spende hir life in sorrow and hunger.

In the kingdome of Babilon about the Radubians whom they cal Pali∣casti, the seuenth daye of M••rche a childe was borne of a Woman of base estate called Rechiena, hauing a goodlye fauoure and his eyes and téeth shining contrarye to nature, and the same houre that hée was borne, not only the Elements but y^e powers of heauen were stirred & gaue

fearefull Tokens. For at midnighte the Sunne appeared with vn∣accustomed brightnesse, as at noone days, which afterward became so dark y^t (which was no les miraculous) it was not séen for a whole day in Babilō. Afterwarde it was séene agayne with diuers kinds of starres of a strange figure wandring too and froe in the Elemente: but ouer the house where the Boy was borne, besides other tokens, fyre from heauen also was séene to fall downe and consume men, and the day following the Sunne being Eclipsed, and a sore tempest of the ayre risen, it rayned Pearles from hea∣uen.

The thirde day a fierie Dragon was séene to flie aboute Babilon▪ there appeared besides a newe mountayne excéeding other Mountaynes in heigth, whiche immediatelye was deuided into two partes, in the middle whereof there was sound a piller, wherein these wordes were ingrauen in the Gréeke tongue, Hora Natiuitatis venit, ac instat Mundi fini••. The daye of Byrth commeth, and the ende of the Worlde is at hande: and the thirtéenth houre of his byrth the voyce of one crying was hearde in the ayre Parate corda vestra ad excipiendum, ac beati qui custodium verbum eius. Prepare your hartes to receiue, and blessed bee they whiche keepe his worde. And after that the childe had liued two moneths, he lifting vp his voyce like an olde manne, sayde that he was the Sonne of GOD, and when he was demaunded what the signes foregoing didde betoken, hée aunswered, that the pearles falling from Heauen, didde signifye the peo∣ple whiche didde sweare to his wordes, and the flying Dragon his aduer∣saries. He cured al diseases, he restored to the blinde their sighte, and raised the dead to life with his word, and when he sayd that he was the interpre∣ter of the holye Scriptures and hidden misteries, he was worshipped and honoured for God throughout all Babilon, agaynste the Lawes of the coun∣trey. This haue I translated out of y^e Letter of Magnus Meisinus of Rhodes which he wrote not only to the souldiers of his calling, but also to all prin∣ces of the Christian faith, to the end they might take héede that mankinde were not deceiued by false prophets, Sathans crafts and iuggling against Gods word.

In a Vilage of Sweueland which in their mother tongue is called Chri∣stantzhoue••, scituate not farre from y^e town of Isula a boye of 7. yeres old fel oftētimes into a traunce, who comming to himself after many torments of the body, shakings of the brest, and sweates, in a great assembly of all men, and to their wonder, recited certain things that were reuealed to him frō a∣boue, & he said y^t he was forced by Gods commaundment, y^t he being nowe a boy, & setting al perill of life apart, should vtter to the people Gods truth, who hytherto hadde refused the warninges of the Elders by Gods worde. Wherefore he tolde the people not publiquelye but in pryuate houses, not Boye lyke, but with greate Grauitie, manye thinges of GOD, of

his workemanship, Iustice, grace, long suffering likewise of Iesus Christ, whose passyon he was able to recite in order from the Lordes Supper e∣uen to the ende: he called the people standing about his bedde (where hée laye) to repentaunce, saying that the daye of the last iudgemente was euen at hande, and that he knewe this by a Starre of thrée beames whiche hee tolde them he had séene, among whiche the first of the beames whiche was of a redde coloure signified Warre, and a moste bloodye slaughter of men. The second, which was of a white colour, a great pestilēce among people, which scarsely the third person coulde escape. The third, whiche was of a yellow coloure, whose signification he would not reueale. Hée enuyed wonderfully agaynste Priestes, because they offered agayne Christ cruci∣fied in the masse, being once offered for the sinnes of the people, and solde him but for foure halfe pence: When he had detested the worshipping of all Idols, Loftinesse, Pryde, Whoredome, Adulterie, Dronkennesse, and other haynous offences, by the whiche manne sinneth agaynste Gods ho∣ly lawe, he beganne to exhort them that stoode by him, to the loue of their Neighboure, to Humanitie, Bountifulnesse and Méekenesse, yet among other thinges he spewed out deadlye poyson while he spake many thinges agaynste the Holye Trinitie and merite of our Sauiour Christe, tou∣ching intercession of the Virgine Marie touching the darkenesse betwéene hell, and the habitation of the godly, and many other thinges by the which accursed Sathan (to the end he might deceiue the simpler sort) poureth out deadly poyson by the meanes of a most innocent childe vnder the pretence of the truth.

A strange thing, no lesse miraculous, also is set downe to happen in the Cite of Paris, of a Chanon which for his wicked life (the body being set in the Church) being at the fourth Lesson, a voice was heard which sayd Con∣demnatus sum: after these words red Responde mihi which was that he was damned for his liuing: it might peraduenture craftily be done by an illusi∣on for the fearing of their idolatrous religion to be diminished, & therby to account their Chanon an Heretike, for some tast of the truth. Otherwise I referre this strange hap to the consideration of the wise godly, & learned: In the Primer of Salisburie vse, printed. An, 1432.

In the moneth of Iuly a greate Comet gaue lighte spreading his flame toward the Sunnes going downe in winter, so long that he occupied about 8. degrées, it was white and gaue a flame of a wonderfull length lyke a sword, as a long staffe, and in Milechius iudgement he was properly 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, (a sword) Nicholas Brugurus and Achilles Gassarus Phisitions did inter∣prete him.

Schiltachium a towne in Germany iij. dayes before Easter was set on fire and quite consumed by the Diuels wyles and a witches seruice. The Di∣uell for a season hauing conuersation with that olde Vixen Whore was

was séene by no other, albeit oftentimes he spake to many, & diuers times he wandered with a Taber in the towne through the Stréetes, and was heard of all men, and not long after, the Witche béeing sounde to bée the instrument of so great a wickednesse was cast into a burning fire at Ober∣dorfe.

At Millaine the eleuenth of December, there was such great hayle and so often thunder and lightning in most extremitie, that men as madds ranne vp and downe through feare and superstition: yet the prodigie was greater at Padua than at Millaine. In the iudgemente of Cardanus these portended the feare of Warre, and the losse or domage by newe tributes, if no other more terrible token were ioyned thereto: for suche thinges are not contrary to nature, but only without the state of time.

In the lower Germany by reason of too much rayne, there arose cruell floodes ouer all the Countrey about Antwerpe, whiche spoyled all thinges farre abrode: immediately there arose a fearefull fyre in Anwerpe, wher∣with the church of S. Maries was destroyed, which Cornelius Grapheus hath written in a trim verse.

At Episcopizella a towne of Turgraue in Switzerlande when a Hare great with yong was vnboweled, there was found in her belly a Leueret with one heade and bodye, but with foure eares and eight féete, foure of which stoode in their place, but the other foure appearing on the backe, did represent as it were another hare.

In Switzerlande the eightéenth of Iuly a white and christalline Cir∣cle like a rainebow was séene about the Sunne in fayre weather: almoste at the same tyme there appeared at Clauenna a verye fayre mayden to a Prieste vnder the false pretence of the Virgine Mary, whiche notwith∣standing being begotten with childe by a manne of suche greate holinesse, at length bewrayed the deceite, but the Prieste as hée was worthye, being put into a burning fire, suffered punishmente for his greate impie∣tye.

Nere to Episcopizella a famous towne of Turgone, the 26. of Nouember by reason of a gréeuous Earthquake the riuer Siterus, which in their coun∣trey spéeche they call Diesitter, being let with a little hill, by the shaking of the Earth neare the vsual passage became a Lake, and did much harme, vn∣til being eaten asunder by the force of the water, the riuer retourned to his former channell.

The 17. day of Iuly and somewhat after, a Comet with a long taile was séene at Lubick and the yeare following that vertuous and peaceable king Frederike ended his life. And this is worthye to be remembred whiche Iustinus Goblerus hath noted in his second Booke of the exploytes of them of Lubik: the king being deade when his body noynted with Balme and wrapt in Linnen was closed vp in a pitched Coffin, his bodye notwith∣standing

didde auoyde so much blood, that they were driuen to receiue it in Vessels. When these thinges contrarie to nature happened in a deade carcasse, GOD without doubt woulde signifie something by suche a straunge sighte, as it were by a manifest outwarde line, to wit, that horri∣ble plague and murther, which not long after happened and ensued for ma∣nifolde miseries, wars, and seditions, were afterwarde in those quarters & at Lubeck Moreouer the same yeare the Turkes brake into Hungary and Austria.

In the moneth of December Basi••l was shaken with thrée earthquakes. At Salodor in Switze••land there was a great dissention about religion, and herevpon there was made a new confederacie of certaine Lordshippes and Cities to defend the faith.

The 25. of May was taken betwéene London and Greenewich two great fishes called Horlepooles, both a male & a female. The Archebishop of Can∣terburie named William Warham deceased.

The seuenth day of September was the Lady Elizabeth Daughter to King Henry the eight borne at Greenewich betwéene thrée and foure of the clock in the afternoone, whose gouernment is a spectacle to forraine natiōs, and shall be a greate wonder to the posteritie.

Claraualla a Citie in Fraunce being stricken with lightning about noone-tide, did burne so extreamely, that in the space of thrée houres it was consu∣med, [ 1534] with the Churche, Castle, and Lawhouse, where when the Citizens sought their safetie by flying away, they were hurte for the most parte, and when manye coulde not flye through the Gate of the Cittie, they falling downe headlong from the wall into the Towne Ditche died miserablye. In Polande there were manye and deadlye Floodes wherewith both Citie and Countrey were spoyled. At Cracouie and in those countreyes adioy∣ning there was great aboundaunce of water which destroyed many mens laboures and groundes. The kingdome of Denmarke was troubled with Warre, wherein also they of Lubeck were entangled. Barbarossa droue Altz••chenus King of Tunis oute of his realme and spoyled and tooke his kingdome.

At Sleswic a Towne of Holsatia the third of Iune in faire weather there were séene diuers kindes of liuing Creatures in the Elemente, to wit, a great number of Lyons méeting together on all quarters, with an armed man on Horsebacke with a Launce: There were séene also a heade with∣oute a bodye set out with an Emperours Crowne, afterwarde the heade of a Bore with Tuskes, and two Dragons spitting out fyre: a redde Crosse, Cities, and Castles burning here and there, an Eagle and a Lyon lying vprighte hauing a Crowne on his heade, whose eyes a Cocke pickte out with his bill, and at length seuered his whole heade from his body. There appeared afterward a Vnicorne and a Pecock without féete,

which by and by was turned into a Dragon, of which thing reade more at large in Iob Fincelius in his miracles.

[ 1534] In the Towne of Seckingen scituated by the Rhene side, thrée mile beyōd Basil••, there was borne a twinne hauing their bodyes ioyned together, who by reason of the Mothers gréeuous paines being in trauayle lyued not long.

The third day of Iuly (as afore sayde, but more at large by a seconde Authour) in the Towne of Scheswic in the South, in fayre weather there were seene in the aire Lions running together from diuers places to a con∣flicte, and by them a horseman in harnesse brandishing a deadly speare: not farre from the horseman lay a mans head without a body, hauing on an Imperiall Diademe: a little while after there was séene a Bores heade tusked, and two Dragons belching out fyre: afterward there appeared the platforme of a verye greate Cittie standing by a greate water, besieged with an armye by Sea and by lande, and ouer this was a crosse of a bloody colour turning by little and little into blacke: likewyse an other horse∣man came out in a fierie colour, wearing an imperiall Diademe on his heade, whome a spare horse followed. Afterwarde in a large playne there appeared two burning Castels neare to a high hill, to the whiche stoocke a greate Eagle hiding the halfe of his body behind the side of the hill: there appeared also certayne yong Eagles of a brighte white coloure, likewise the heade of a Lyon lying vpright, hauing a Crowne vppon his heade, a Cocke striking and digging the heade with his Bill vntill it was loose and fell from the body, and so vanished away, the body remayning a long tyme to be séene. There stoode by also other Lyons, and by the Bores heade there was a Vnicorne which by little and little turned into a Dragon, and there were very many creatures of forme and greatnesse not vsuall. There burned a Castle vppon an high rocke beset with two hostes, and there was séene a whole countrey full of many Townes, Castles, and Vil∣lages, but immediatelye all that quarter where these thinges stoode, was sette on fyre and burned, and the greate ruines filled vp the greate water, the Towers only appearing. In that place where before the greate Cit∣tie was séene, at the Bankes of the greate Water stoode a Camell, as if hée hadde dronke. This writeth Gasparus Pucerus in his Tetratos∣copia.

At this time began

• The rising of Religion,
• The libertie of the Gospell,
• The fall of Superstition,
• The bondage of the Church.

The Pope was proclaymed vniuersal Vicar of Christe on earth, the yeare of our Lord God 605. then began the birth of the Popish supremacie, from which time vntill Anno Domini. 1534. & the 26. yeare of King Henrie the 8. was clearly banished forth of England his error. But note y^e prophesies that belonged to his heresie, in Stella clericorum, the Popes Priestes be∣came makers of God, when they saide Iste qui creauit me, dedit mihi crea∣re se: qui creauit me sine me creatur mediante me, that is: He that made mee, gaue me power to make him, and he that made me without me, is made by the meanes of me: this straunge prodigie no lesse wonderful in heauen, then miraculous on erth, Quicunque desiderat primatum in terra, inueniet cō∣fusionē in caelo. Christostom opere imperfecto in Math. Homil. 36. Authour Wil. Chauncie in his booke of the rooting out of the Romish supremacie.

Phocas the Emperour gaue the name of vniuersall Bishoppe to Bo∣niface the first vsurper ouer other Churches, after Lanquet 608. aboute whiche time manye straunge Monsters of the Sea were séene of sundrye people the space of halfe a day.

The Coyne vsed in the time of Pius Quintus, whose mony was better than his religion (notwithstanding he excelled manye others in vertue, al∣though superstitious) is here set down.

[illustration]

The scutchion declareth his gentilitie to bee* 1.1 Betweene the serpent and Eue, we plainely see, The two keyes crossed, a power in Heauen and Hel, With the triple Crown kingdomes to excel. The shew of two faces, of Peter and Paule, A signe of that truth which bewrayeth all

His subtil deuises now brought to light Declareth all his interest and right. To be the Diuel who euer say nay, * 1.2And God hath found Adam, though Eue be astray.

If the Potte can make the Potter, Antichriste can make a God: God made the world by his word, yet not that man can create any thing by the same worde, not so muche as one hayre white or blacke. Antichrist can nei∣ther make fishe, foule, nor beast, and yet he wil make God. If you that bée Christians wil haue no felowship with Antichrist, set a bible in your win∣dowe, and he wil not abyde, Booke of the Discloseng of Antichrist.

In Polande there were very great floudes, other Countreys through∣out Europe lacking rayne. The Anabaptistes, a vile secte, tooke the monasterie in Westfalia••. Huldrike Duke of Wirttenberg was resto∣red by Phillip Landgraue of Hesse againste Ferdinandus. Henrye King of Englande reuolted from the Pope, when Frederike King of Scaudia was deade, the Kingdome was toste with dyuers cruell warres.

The Anabaptistes in Munster at the commaundemente of their pro∣phet Iohn Alcide (a Taylor) gathered 4000 together, and ministred the supper of the Lord after their fashion, but by Gods prouidence not long af∣ter they were put to death.

On the euen of the Natiuitie of Christ, at Stasforde, whiche is a town in Saxonie, the Diuel, as Fincelius writeth, came in mans shape to the pa∣rish Priest of that place, called Laurence Donar, being at confession, besée∣ching him that he woulde also heare his confession: he being admitted, bel∣ched horrible blasphemies against God, but being ouerlaide with the word of God, was driuen to depart.

[ 1535] At Milan when Frauncis Sfortia the seconde was deade, in the daye tyme there was séene a dymme Starre in the Elemente, wher∣fore when Sfortia was deade wythout Sonnes, the rule of the Citie wente to the Emperour Prince Conrade, the state of things be∣ing chaunged.

[illustration]

In the Dukedome of Wittenberg, after that the hostis in an Inne had set before hir guestes at Sup∣per Pigges fleshe that was hurte by a madde dogge: they which had tasted it, sodainely falling in∣to the like furie by∣ting one another, tore themselues in péeces. Vpon S. Gyles day at Olsten a towne of Sylecia, there hapned a hor∣rible tempest, which Iob Fincelius in his myracles doeth per∣fectly paint out.

At Bremopirg a ci∣tie of Marchia, as Fincelius noteth, a child was so borne, that hauing a skinne hanging loose about his bodye, he was thoughte to be cladde in a Dutch Souldiours cloake.

In Lusatia not very far from the Town of Iubin, on Whitson Mon∣day aboute two of the clocke in the afternoone in fayre weather, ther were séene Hostes of menne in the Elemente marching from the North to the South, and there were heard in the Element the noyse of war and of men fighting.

[illustration]

They report that about Alexandria after a prodigious haile, there appeared a strāge kind of byrdes, and surely not without and euent aunswera∣ble, for that wretched Citye was vexed so manye wayes, so many kinde of Barbarous people, she tryes, and saw the Gazigians and Metauaisti∣ans

people vnknowen to vs, neither yet when now the 20. yeare is ended, there is any hope of better fortune.

Ouer Vinaria there was séene in the Elemente in fayre weather thrée fierie sunne beames, and the day before the Citie of Munster was taken, there was séene on a cleare day in the Element a Crosse, and a sword dra∣wen, hanging ouer the Citie.

At Kesuvil in Turgania, a woman brought forth at one byrth •• boyes which were all christened.

The eight of the Calendes of August in Switzerlande aboute Tygure, there was a greate and cruell tempest of weather, all places in the ayre did shine with fire: there were hearde horrible thunders, there fell downe vpon the grounde flames of no commmon greatenesse, with the whyche at Bula Lotstot and Graslikon neare Adelfing, fiue houses were quite de∣stroyed.

[ 1535] In the moneth of Iuly in the Towne of Swelwic, while the people be∣fore dinner were at Church, a great light sodainely appeared, and the light∣ning slue two, and ouerthrew to the ground with hys violence, & vehemē∣cie of exhalation aboute thirtie persons, whiche notwithstanding throughe Gods goodnesse were saued beyonde mans expectation, some mens gar∣ments also were burned, their bodies being vnhurte. This yeare Mun∣ster was deliuered from the disloyal Anabaptists. The duke of Milan dy∣ed Charles the Emperour tooke Tunis in Affricke. The Citizens of Berre depriued the Duke of Sauoy of his Dukedome.

[ 1536] At a Towne in Spaine, the seuenth day of Februarie, about the second houre of the night, as Fincelius recordeth, out of others, there wer séene in a cloudie and raynie weather, two yong men armed, méeting togither wyth their swords, one of which had in his lefte hande a Target, bearing an Eagle with this inscription, Regnabo, but the other had a shielde with this inscription Regnau••, but when they had fought togither he which hadde the Eagle ouerthrew his enimie, and became conquerour, as Fincelius wry∣teth: but we reade that y^e like thing hapned in the yere of Christ 1556. wher of I wil speake hereafter in his place.

Hernan Lopes de Castanneda Cronicler to the King of Porting••le in the eight booke of his Cronicle, recordeth that Nuno de Acuna being Vice∣roy and gouernour of the Portingale Indians in the yeare of our Lord 153. there was a man that all other maruelled at bycause it was auouched by verye great proofe and witnesse, that he had then liued 340. yeares: he re∣membred when that Citie was not builded, being one of the gretest forces of the Indies He had growen yong agayn foure times, quitting himselfe of his hoare hayres and wrinckles, and hauing new téeth and gūmes, whom when the viceroy sawe, the haire of his heade and beard, being but lit∣tle, was blacke, and calling for a Phisition, commaunded him to féele hys

pulse who founde him as strong as if he had bin a very yong youth. Thys mā in his youth had bin a Gentile, and afterward became a Moore, he was borne in the kingdome of Vengala, and affirmed that he had at times a∣bout seauen hundreth wiues, some of which dyed, and others he had put a∣way. The King of Portingale was tolde of this man, who maketh reckning of him, and his Armadas (which are great and mightie ships, whiche traf∣ficke to the Indies) did yerely bring him certaine tydings that he was aliue, and (as they say) he is yet: so that he is now at this present aboue three hun∣dered thrée score and ten yeres old. Moreouer the same Cronicler sayth that at that time that Nuno de Acuna was gouernoure there, there was in the City of Vengala another man a Moore, whō they called Xequepir, born in a Countrey called Xeque, that was by report thrée hundred yeares olde, and all they that knewe him, affirmed it, bycause he hath great tokens and witnesse thereof. This More was helde of others as holy, for his harde and abstinente life, and the Portingales had greate friendship and acquaintance with him: and albeit the Chronicles ar not so true, y^t nothing is written in them but is most assured, & that I can very hardly beléeue it: yet there are many witnesses in Portingale and Castile which saw it, and knewe it was certaine and true. In these things there are some secrete misteries whiche we vnderstand not nor comprehende. This is recorded in the booke entitu∣led Iardin du Flores Curiosas, Imprinted at Antwerp, Anno Domini. 1575.

The first day of April in Sicilia the Mountaine Etna being shaken with an Earthquake, cast out so great aboundaunce of fire, that all places were spoyled al abrode for the space of sixe myles, but chiefely the Monasterie of Saint Leo, which was quite destroyed.

In that part of Sa••matia which they of later time cal at this day Podolia, so great a number of Grashoppers was broughte a lande with the greate violence of Winde from the sea Euxinus, that they eate vppe all the Corne in euery place. There ensued a greate plague and Morraine of menne and beastes.

From the time that the league of Schmalkadia was made, these Ima∣ges were séene to shine in the ayre, whiche were iudged to figure the ende of the league: firste there was séene a man on horssebacke after whome husbandmen armed with clubbes succéeded, secondarily there appeared a huge towre by the water side, and not far from it, a man drawing water, whom at last a great Dragon pursued: the two firste shewes some vani∣shed away, but the other were long to be séen. Of these writeth Gasper Pu∣cerus.

The same yeare Charles the Emperour besieging Marcilia, was re∣pulsed through the pestilence. The king of Portingale gotte a great part of India.

Not farre from Tygure a Childe was borne altogither like vnto him whiche sixe yeares paste was borne also in Switzerland at the village of Gossue, to witte, with one bodye, two heades, thrée handes and thrée féete.

That yeare there followed great fiers in Switzerland which did much mischiefe. Stumphius Author.

At Franckford, standing by the riuer Viadrus, a mayden being possessed by the Diuel, did deuoure the coyne of Marchia a whole moneth togither, and at length pinnes.

At a manour place or Farme standing not far from the towne of Wort∣zen, situated by the riuer Molda, there was borne a childe without legges.

The Moone was eclypsed the 24. of May, whiche George Emilius of Mansfeld hath discribed in a learned verse.

The seauenth of the Calendes of Iune, at foure of the clocke in the afternoone, the olde Castel of Haydelberg where in times past Rubert King of the Romaines dwelte, was stricken with lightning, in the which there were about foure hundred vessels of Gunnepouder: it ouerthrewe the Ca∣stell at once, it tore certaine buildings of the newe Castell, and did great hurt and damage to the Citie of Heydelberg. This tempest hath Iames My∣sillus in a learned verse.

[ 1537] The daye before the Ides of December the Popes Castell standyng by the Bridge Aelius when it was set on fire by a blast of lightning, it can not be tolde what hurt it did then to the nexte buildings and the Gardens within the wals.

The first daye of Februarie, there was séene an Eagle in Italy flying throughe the ayre, whyche carryed in his righte foote a bottell, and in his left a Serpente wrapped vp togither, whom a greate number of pyes followed.

The same tyme also the Burgundian Crosse was séene in the Ele∣mente with diuerse colours. Iob Fincelius in his Myracles.

At Rome there was hearde a Tempestuous thunder, contrarie to the season of the yeare. In the vpper Germany there arose a greate and vnsea∣sonable floud of water.

The mountaine Aetna burned againe, at which time a fiery masse of a wonderful greatnesse, made of kindled sulpher, fell downe from the toppe of Aetna, with a great noyse, which tumbled down not quickly, but scatte∣ring abrode out of the ayre, hauing the ouershew same what thickned, and burned (as I haue heard) Hilles, woods, stones, and rockes, and two vil∣lages, (for the mountain contayneth many villages) and finally the top of the Hill throughe the continual flames falling downe on one side, the hole became greater, the Ball of fire which is manifest to haue bin kindled sul∣pher,

appeared in the day time to the beholders dead or duskie, but in the night altogither fiery and dreadfull.

There was heard also continuall thunder for manye dayes, whiche made men afrayde: and not only Sicilia but also a parte of Calabria was co∣uered with the burnt and blacke ashes, and all the Element was ouercaste with the noysome smoke which they that inhabite those Countreyes cā te∣stify. The fire was helde in many yeres, in which time many kinds of good trées grew vp at the foote of the mountaine, the Citizens of Catana also sat in great quietnesse, but when the violence of the fire brake out, and Vulcan went about to amende his workehouse, all things aboute the mountaine were grieuously hurte, trées, woods, men, and beastes. The Philosophers do yéelde a natural reason for this fire burning so wonderfully, through the counsel of the Princes of Germany war was in vaine taken in hand against the Turke, the Sea in the kingdome of Naples was dryed vppe the space of eight Italian myles.

A Comet appeared in Ianuarie in the signe of Pisces, through Germa∣ny in the euening toward the weast, whiche lifted vp his tayle towardes the Weast. Immediately in May, another appeared towards the weast in Taurus, not far from the Dragons heade, which lifted his beard towards the South. Basil was shaken with a great earthquake, whiche notwithstā∣ding did then no harme to the townesmen.

That yeare following was a verye greate heate, whiche continu∣ed from Marche vntill the byrth daye of Christe. Fountaynes and verye greate Riuers were dryed vp, houses and wooddes were sette on fire by the heate of the Sunne, the Vintage was verye riche through good Wine.

In Fraunce betwéene Papenberg and the Woodde of Thuringia the six∣téenth [ 1537] of Ianuarie a Starre of a wonderfull greatnesse was séene in the Elemente, whiche by little and little spreading into the ayre tooke the forme of a whitishe cyrcle, whereof afterwarde throughe a greate vio∣lence of the wind flames were raysed vpon the earth, & did burn only those thynges whyche otherwyse are not commonlye consumed wyth de∣uouryng flames, as speareheades, chaynes, and Byttes of Horsses, with suche like, otherwise it hurte no man nor set a fire any building. Iob Fincelius.

The Countrey aboute Puteoli a Citie in Campania, was so shaken with great Earthquakes almoste for two yeares togither, that there re∣mayned in it no whole house nor building whiche was not readye to fall: but in the yeare of oure Lorde 15••8. the fourth and fifth of the Calendes of October the earth shoke both day and night. The sea went back almoste 200. paces, in which place they which dwelt neare too, toke a great number of Fishes, and swéete waters were séene to spring verye faste vppe.

At length the thirde of the Calendes of October, a greate piece of grounde (which lyeth betwéene the foote of the Hil which the inhabitants call Barbarous and the sea by Auernus, séemed to lift it selfe vppe, and to bée like a mountain sodainly rising. The same day y^e second houre of the night this heape of Earth belched out, as it were with an open mouth, gret fiers with great noyse, and pumises and stones, and suche aboundance of foule ashes, that it couered the houses of Puteoly, lay ouer the grasse, broke trées, and turned into ashes the Grapes growing within sixe myles compasse, it slue byrdes also and many beastes, and they of Puteoly fledde away in the darke with their wiues and children, and with great murning and lamen∣tation got them to Naples: the ashes hereof through the force of the exhala∣tion was cast almost 60. myles, and (which may séeme a wonder) neare the quaue it fel downe dry, but for myre and Mose: but which surpasseth al ad∣miration, the mountaine about the quaue was séene made vp in one night of pumises and ashes more than the height of a thousand paces (which is a myle) wherein there were manye holes or issues, of whiche, two now re∣main, one by the sea shore which runneth out to Auernus, the other in the middle of the mountaine. A gret part of Auernus was couered with ashes, those bathes renoumed for so many hundred yeares, and which gaue health to so manye diseased, lye buried vp with ashes. This fire continued after∣ward [ 1538] for certaine monethes, notwithstanding with some space betwéene.

There was one borne, and grew to the perfect stature of man hauing two heades and foure shoulders, so that one heade was before, the other be∣hinde, of a wonderful likenesse one to another: they were both bearded and looked one vpon another, their appetite to meate was alike, their hunger a∣like, their voyce very like, they had one desire to the same wife, the whiche he had, and had the same waye of voyding excrements, and he was thirtie yeares old when he came to Basil.

I saw also the like Monster in Bauaria, the yere of Christ. 1541. it was a woman of sixe and twentie yeares of age with two heades, one of which notwithstanding was very deformed: when she got hir liuing by begging from doore to dore, she was commaunded (by reason of women with child) to departe out of the Countrey, in giuing hir money to paye hir charges.

In Germany euerye where in the ayre there were séene armed men, swordes, and funerals, but towardes the weast there appeared a star of no common greatnesse with bloudie raines, and by him a bloudie crosse and a standerd banner flying in the ayre.

Before the first setting out of the Landgraue, a very honest man the Sherife of Schmalkalde (as Gasperus Fuserus in the booke of diuinations hath left in writing,) saw in the night as it were before him, these shewes: An olde man sléeping at the table with his head hanging down, and neare

to him a Lion vpon a forme, and in the same Parlour a greate number of men in long garments; taking counsell about the Lion, against whiche at length the Lion rising with his fore féete, as it were to set vpon them, lept from the forme, they making a cyrcle set themselues against the Lion, and stabbed him, flying at him with their daggers, and at length casting a stoole vpon him, they cut off his taile, but not long after strugling from vn∣der the stoole, he recouered his tayle againe, where through the feare (as it were) of the Lion, those men departed out of the Parlour, and the Lion le∣ping vpon the forme, wente to his former place: afterwarde when diuerse times againe they going in and out, did as it were take counsell to kill the Lion, he being angrye, flewe vppon them violentlye, which crying out, and for feare stretching their armes to the sléeping olde man, he arose, and lifting vp hys heade, manaced the Lion by shaking his righte hand: which séene, the Lion went backe, and oftentimes looking to the olde manne, and leaping vpon the forme, turned to the figure of Christe, standing and Preachyng, before whome when these menne laye prostrate, as asking and obtayning forgiuenesse, they anished vaway togither with the other apparaunces.

In May appeared a blasing Starre. And at the same time dyed Isabel [ 1539] the Emperors wife. D. Cooper. Also in May the same yere the eighte daye the Citizens of London mustered at the myles ende in bright armour, with coates of white silke and chaines of golde, passing through the Citie to S. Iames through the fielde, and came home through Holberne. Manye dyed of hote burning agues, and of the laxe, in all partes of the Realme An. 1541. after some.

In Flaunders in the Moneth of October, from two of the clocke in the afternoone til foure, it rained bloud: in Switzerland in the moneth of of May there appeared a Comet turning his dark & duskish taile towards y^e south.

In a village called Feigenstall, vnder the gouernement of the Bishop of Ister▪ one Huldrike Newessesser dwelling there, when a long time he was troubled with diuerse paines and torments in his bodye, at length hée felte with his hande betwéene the skinne and the fleshe an Iron nayle, and helde it vntill it was cutte oute by a Chirurgion. Notwithstanding he being not eased of his paine, the griefe séemed so greatly to oppresse him, that he wanting the grace of God, fell into suche a fransie, as he woulde haue cut his owne throte, yet was restrayned by his friends till the feaste of S. Mathew following, when he bored his throte, yet the wounde sée∣med not so, as there folowed present death, although after the wicked fact he liued not long. But being dead and opened by the Chirurgion, in his sto∣mack were found ••. strange kniues, & a péece of wood: Moreouer there was in his belly a long péece of Iron foure square, whose vttermoste parte was sharpned in two sides, and two other pieces of Iron, couered with ruste, to

the which there was knit a haire of a mans heade.

[ 1540] At Milan a Cowe brought forth a Calfe with two heades, he had two perfect heads with tong, téeth, eyes, & cares, but the heades were ioyned to∣gither in the nape, the one a Buls head, the othe a Cowes heade. That yere the kingdome was transposed to the Emperous sonne, whiche had a wife, and the French receiued many discommodities, as the Calfe didde signifie labour and the sexe betokened the ill lucke and flight of many Captaines, and the losse of Cities without assaulte, and Castels and prouinces with∣out war. This writeth Cardanus in his fouretéenth booke Chap. 7.

At Hemnitium the 25 of Iune, there was a great Earthquake, wher∣with many houses were shaken. In certaine places of Germany the 25. of December, a very bright Star was séene, before the breake of daye in the Moone, out of which the day following two Stars appeared & gaue a ben∣ding lighte of great brightnes.

[ 1540] Thys yeare a childe was borne at Hassia with two heads turned to∣wards the backe, whose faces standing one against the other, behelde eache other with a threatning countenaunce.

There was an E••rthquake againe the 14. of December in Germanye. wherewith many houses were shaken.

Cardanus hath written that he saw a manne, who in the yeare of oure Lord .1540. being condemned to dye, and being twice stricken with a club, the engine also called a crane falling vpon him, was saued in the presence of the people of the Town of Chasteau Nouueau neare the riuer of Leir in Fraunce He foretolde this should come to passe before he was carried forth, and being at the place of execution, from that day which was the eight and twentith of Nouember, he went in Pilgrimage vpon the vowe, yet being hurt he hardly escaped. The like also is reported to haue hapned at Corona∣gium aboute thirtie yeares paste: the thing is there painted, and so greate a Prodigie is ascribed to the blessed virgine. The causes of this Prodigie if thou desire to know, reade them in Cardan in his fourtéenth of the variety of things. Chap. 76.

The Sommer of this yeare was parching and dry, more than many Sommers were before, there was greate scarcitie of Hay and Pot hearbes and other things growing, by reason of great heate, althoughe there was store of verye good wine euery where, euen in places of least account, and reasonable good store of wheate. Many iudged the Comet séene that yeare was the cause of the heate and drought, as also the greate eclypse of the Sunne whiche happened at the beginning of Sommer, the seauenth daye of Aprill, whose beginning was before the Sunnes rising, and lasted two whole houres after the Sun was vp.

At Prage in Boemia, the kings Castell that was built and beau∣tifyed, at the excéeding greate charges of the Kings of Boemia, togi∣ther with the cathedrall Churche was burned, and there were manye fiers in manye places, and manye were punished as setters of houses on fire.

In Englande the latter ende of thys yeare was greate burning agues and flixes, whereof manye dyed, and suche droughte, that Welles and small Riuers were dryed vppe, and manye cattell dyed for lacke of Wa∣ter. The Salte Sea Water flowed aboue London Bridge. Iohn Stow.

This yeare was a sedition in the Citie of Gaunte whiche Charles the fifth appeased by putting the Authors of the sedition to the sworde, and taking awaye diuerse priuiledges of the Citie, builte there a Castel for a a place of defence to kéepe them in awe. At the same tyme there was helde an assembly at Wormes of Princes and Bishoppes of Germanye, among whome at such time there was communication of matters of Religion, and chiefelye disputation touching Originall sinne, and treatie of true iustifycation.

At Friburge there was a twinne borne the ninetéenth of Februa∣rie [ 1542] ioyned togither from the breast, as far as the the Nauill. In the Dukedome of Millan, aboute twentie Dogges méeting togither at a place called Alexandria, and martching as it were Souldiours, and running verye faste to Millan warde, dydde sette vppon menne and Beastes in greate rage, and tore in péeces what so euer they met.

In Germanye neare to Albderschuuiler not farre from the Towne Landauium, in the Vintage time. There was founde bearded Grapes whiche firste were sente for a present to Lewes Duke electour of Bauaria, and afterwarde in the assemblye at Spire they were séene as a myracle of King Ferdinandus and the princes of the Empyre, and there they were liuelye expressed after this sorte by Henrie Vogther an excellente Painter.

In the Ile of Sardinia the same nighte that the Emperoure Charles the fifth toke shipping to go to Barbary, at the town of Lagra a cow brought forth a Calfe with two heads.

About thrée a clocke in the afternoone there appeared two by Sunnes, the Sunne stoode as it were a Centre, two brighte cyrcles didde enui∣rone it: in the compasse of the innermoste Cyrcle there didde shine on bothe sides, a by Sunne, as it were at the vttermoste limitte of a line drawne through the Centre of the Sunne, and passing through the same to cutte it in two seuerall partes. The outwarde Circle or chaungeable

bowe in colour of the Rainebowe, and in the forme of a hooke, turning his hornes towardes the North, did indent or cut in the vttermoste. It is well knowen what ioynings togither of Kings and Princes, and what Cōmo∣tions there followed.

In Germanye neare a Village called Malsch not farre from the Imperyall Towne of Spire, there was founde in a Vineyarde, a réede hauing fiftéene eares of corne trimlye sette oute, without anye sow∣ing.

[ 1541] A weauers wife at Friburge a Citie of Misnia, in Saint Francis stréete broughte forth a twin, ioined togither in the forepartes of the bodye, and imbracing one the other, the nintéenth of the Calendes of Februarie. There followed a sodaine cheapnesse of corne vpon a great dearth, for whē the thirde of the Calends of August, a bushel of wheate was solde for a fle∣mish gyldren, and halfe, within seuen dayes it was solde for lesse than halfe a gyldren.

The same yeare the worthye Duke Henrie dyed at Dresdah the fif∣téenth of the Calendes of September, and was buried in Saint Maries Church at Friburg.

In Switzerlande a valley was sore shaken with an Earthquake, and streames of verye stincking sulpher ranne on the plaine to the Hill Apeninus which notwithstanding continued not.

The same yeare William Rogendorfe following Cazianer, be∣trayed the Germaine Souldiours to the Turkes, Buda was in vaine as∣saulted: a great fire rising at Prage dydde greate harme to Kyng Ferdinan∣dus.

About this time, a newe trade of dauncing of Galliardes vpon fiue paces, and vauting on horses, (whereof some after learned to breake their neckes) was brought into this Realme by Italians who not manye yeares before hadde thys tearme in scorne of the Englishe that they were verye good ashes, meaning their readinesse to euery light exercise and toye, which shortly was exercised commonly of all young men, and the old (per∣aduenture more comelye) fashion lefte, whiche caused a spéech in disdaine that England was like a iakes, ready to receiue euery mans filth, and thys was sayde for suffering so many people of all nations, to dwell, inhabite, and vse what religion they woulde for gain, wheras in euery Countrey else, whatsoeuer he be that commeth to dwell shall be sworne to the Prince or taryeth not, neyther is suffered to buye or sell, &c. Reade Lanquet, Doctour Cooper, Allens and others. In Grafton hys Chro∣nicle.

[ 1542] In the Dukedome of Wittenberg, there was borne a twinne hauing their bodies knit togither as far as the Nauil.

In the same Country there were séene horrible shapes in the Element, among whiche also there were roddes or torches caried too and fro wyth a very swift mouing.

The fourtéenth of Iune at Buda with a very strong tempest the toppe of Saint Peters tower was broken and cast to the earth.

At Bilsen a town of Boemia, as Peucerus hath written, a child was born like the Image of Christ crucified and hanging on the crosse, which hadde his necke bowing and bending to one side, euen as the Image of the sonne of God is painted taken from the crosse, that hardly for the wrinesse of his mouth meate could be put in: he had also ouerthwart and bending thighes, which although sometimes they were sundered, notwithstanding of theyr own accord they came to their former shape: he liued for a time at Vienna in Austria. At the ende of September there was séene in manye places a great number of Grashoppers as it were a cloude, which at the beginning lacking wings, had afterward foure, who eating vp one fielde immediate∣ly flying from thence went to another, consuming all that grew vppon the ground, sauing that they could not so much hurt the vines: the territorie of Milan felt this miserie. In like sort that kind of Grashoppers breaking into Sile•••• out of Poland, in the moneth of Nouēber, did the like or also gre∣ter harme to the ground, which at the beginnyng of October making a gret spoyle not far from Torga in Misnia, and at a Towne called Oschewitz or Oscitium, left behinde them a foule stincke, which greater foule could not a∣bide. At length in the colde of Autumne they pyned awaye & were foode for swine. Historians write that such plagues do light on mens grounds trim∣med & vntrymmed, but yet neuer without the betokening of euil, & iudge∣ment of Gods wrath.

This yeare it rayned bloud in the Diocesse of Munster at the Castell of Sasenburg not far from Warendorf.

In Frizeland there sprang vppe a newe diuellishe Prophete, named [ 1542] George Dauie tearming himselfe Gods nephue, and spake in what toung soeuer, with beastes and byrdes, taking foode of them: he affirmed that hea∣uen was cleane emptie, and that he was sent to this ende, to chose chyldren by adoption to be coheires of the kingdome of heauen, and babled manye o∣ther most foolish and vaine things. This yeare the Turkish warres was in vaine. The war betwéene Maurice and Iohn Frederick Duke of Saxo∣nie, was after a sorte appeased. Henry Duke of Brūdeswike made warre against Iohn Frederick Duke of Saxonie, and was driuen out of his domi∣nion.

Great pestilence in London this yeare, and therfore Michaelmasse terme was adiourned to Saint Albons.

The eight of the Ides of Februarie at fiue a clocke in the morning at [ 1543] Caffehuse in Switzerland two women children were borne with two heds,

foure armes, and so manye féete seuerall, but with one massie or whole bo∣dye from the necke to the Nauil, the string of the Nauil hanging downe vnderneath.

A greate number of Grashoppers driuen into Misnia and Marchia did much harme to y^e fields on euery side. That same came to passe also at that time in the countrey aboute Luca, where so great a number was found, that in some places, Iob Fincelius hath noted, they being clustered togither lay more than a Cubit high.

[illustration]

The fourth of the Nones of May, not far from Pfortzheim, belonging to the Marques of Baden, at a village called Zessenhusen, betwéene foure and fiue of the clocke in the afternoone a great Comet was séene, that was byg∣ger that a milstone to sée too, whiche stretched out his tayle towardes the North, from whence a fire descending to the earth like a Dragon, drunke cleane vp the brooke that was next vnto it, & from thence flying into a field, consumed a greate parte of Corne, and mounting vp again left behind him horrible tokens of these things to be séene.

This yeare chaunced foure eclipses, one of the Sunne the 23. of Ianu∣arie, and thrée of the Moone. Iohn Stow.

[ 1543] In the Village of Rinach not far from Basil a woman brought forth a twin, hauing both bodyes ioyned togither ouer the Nauil, with 4. armes, yet from the loynes he had two féete, he was a male, he is trimely set out by Sebastian Munster in his Cosmography, from whence also Stomphius hath taken him into his worke of Chronicles.

[illustration]

In Flaunders vpō the day of the Con∣uersion of S. Paule, (although there be some which write at Cracouie) there was borne a childe of honest and gen∣tle parentes, verye hedious and horri∣ble to behold, with flaming and spark∣ling eyes, hauing a mouth and No∣strels standing out with the forme of a horn, a back rough with dogs haires, Apes faces appea∣ring in his breastes where his dugges should stand, Cats eyes vnder the na∣uill, cruel, and cur∣rish dogs heades at both elbowes and knées, looking foreward, the forme of Tods féete, a tayle bending vpward and turning againe crooked at the end an ell long: he is said to haue liued foure houres after he was borne, and at length (after hée had vttered these wordes, Vigilate, dominus deus vester aduentat, that is, Watche, youre Lorde is a comming) to haue dyed. Gasperus Puce•• and Munster in his Cosmography.

A great number of Butterflyes, the third of August entred the fieldes about Basil, whereof it came to passe, that all things being then eaten vppe, there was no grasse founde in the fieldes for the foode of Cattell, and thys rage of Butterflies was chiefely aboute Minchensten, Arleshim, Tornac, Ronac, Pfeffenhen, Villages. This yere there was cruel war almost through Europe.

The Smalaudians rebell against Gustan, and by the helpe of the King of Fraunce they were brought into subiection. The Castell of Grane who was betrayed to the Turkes, the Emperour Charles subdued. The Duke of Iuliake sette vppon the Frenche in the lower Germanye. The Frenche by helpe of the Switzers in Picardie dydde helpe to victuall

the Towne of Landersey against the Emperour, and also subdued the coun∣trey of Litzelburg. William Duke of Cleue taking part with the Frenche disquieted Charles the Emperour in Brabrand and besieged Antwerp.

Thys yeare Kyng Henrie wanne Bulleine from the Frenche king. &c.

[ 1544] The fifth of the Ides of Aprill at Glaron a Towne in Switzerlande well knowen, at eleauen a clocke before noone, in verye fayre weather, there was séene a white and christaline cyrcle to goe amidde the Sunne, for foure houres togither, whose entrye from the righte hande to the lefte a péece of a Rainebowe didde occupye, wyth hys Elementall co∣lours.

The seauenth of Aprill at eighte a Clocke in the after noone, in fayre weather, there was séene a prodigie in the Elemente, at Wil a City in Turgane, to wit, the Moone did shine, in the fulnesse whereof did shine a white Crosse.

At Millaine in the moneth of Ianuarie, as Cardanus recordeth, ther was borne a woman childe with two heades, and all the rest of the body in good proportion.

This yeare the Frenchmen troubled the coast of England, shewing thē∣selues before the Ile of Wighte, Poole, and other places, as setting some souldiours alande in Sussex afore Brighthamsted, but at the burning of the Beacons the Englishmen came downe so fast, that the French made hast to theyr ships.

The nintéenth of Iuly the Maryrose a goodly ship, not far from Ports∣mouth, was drowned, with Sir George Carowe Captaine and many gen∣tlemen and Souldiours, the King being then at Portsmouth. The Earle of Hertforde was sente into Scotlande with an armye of twelue thousande men, destroying diuerse Townes, and putting manye Scottes to the Sword.

In many places of Germany, as Fincelius recordeth, a great number of Grashoppers ouerlaide the fieldes, they were of a shape not vsual, to witte, hooded lyke Monkes, mixed with a darke yellowe and a duskishe colour.

At Hedelberg standing by the riuer Neccarus, on Whitson Sonday was borne two boyes ioyned togither, hauing two bodies closed by the bel∣ly part, two heades, foure handes and féete, whose mother was called Ca∣therine: and Gasper Besler sayth they were christened, one called Iohn the other Ierome, and liued a day and a halfe: when they were dead, they found in the belly but one hart.

At Nissa a towne of Silecia, there fell Hayle of wonderful greatnesse, whereby the fieldes of that Countrey were spoyled euerye where. So also the sixtéenth day of Iune, after a blacke cloudie weather, there arose a tem∣pest

and such aboundaunce of Hayle, that in Su••goia from the Towne of Bruntrut as farre as the Rhene, it so beate downe the Corne in the Fields, and the Grapes in the Vineyardes, that the Vines were quite marred, and in the Fieldes there was no straw lefte for the cattell: the next day it didde no lesse harme at Brigoria and in the dominyon of the Marques of Baden, and the third daye in the miery valley. There followed a great dearth of al thinges, and at Basili their measure of Wine was sold for 6. halfepence,* 1.3 & 2. bushels of Wheate was solde for. French crounes and a halfe, aboute fifteene shillings.

The fift of the Kalends of September, at Strausburg the mother Cit∣tie of Alsatia, there was borne a woman childe with a horrible and mon∣stro••s heade, and wide open in the vppermost part, with a brode mouth, with Oxe eyes, and Eagles nostrels. That yere the Emperour Charles tooke Turin by assault, and burnt it, he broughte the Duke of Cleue to obe∣dience, in getting the Dukedome of Gelderland. By y^e treason of y^e Marques of Quissa, the armie of Charles was slaine at Carniola. Henry King of Englande made sharpe Warre vpon the Frenche whiche landed in the Ile of Wight and slue many. &c. The Emperor Charles by his Spaniardes got the Kingdome of Afrike.

On Witson Monday in Silecia these thinges were séene, as Casparus [ 1545] Pucerus recordeth, a Beare lead from the East an hoste of men furnished for the Fielde, whome a Lion with a power of armed men encountred frō the Weast: betwéene both Armies there appeared a very bright Star, im∣mediately they méeting, fought so sharpely together y^e blood seemed plenti∣fully to distill from their wounded bodies, and the Carcasses of the murde∣red séemed to fall downe dead: during the fight an Eagle was séene from a high rocke to shake his Winges, soring ouer the armie of the Lyon: when the Fielde was fought, as though the conflict had bene broken of, the Lion agayne appeared among his Souldiers, but the shape of the Beare was séene no where, the Carcasses lay along and scattered where the other Ar∣mie was, by whome there stoode goodly and reuerent olde men with gray heares: when the Battaile was ended, the Lion withdrew his armie to the Weast, where one riding on a fayre white horse, retourned from his Ar∣mie to the place of fight, and set vpon his horse a yong man in armour that stoode there, and went towards the East accompanyed, wherevppon with the other appearances he vanished away.

In Saxony in the moneth of Februarie a childe was born with a grisly looke, hauing a whole body and well compacte, but all his l••mmes were brused, torne and loose, sauing that his head was copped like a Sugerlofe, and as it were set out with a Turkish cap.

In Polande the 29. of Marche about 8. a clocke in the Morning there was cast a fearefull lightning from heauen, which made all Polande afrayd: im∣mediately

there appeared thrée red crosses in the Elemente, among whiche a Souldier in Harnesse fought with a flaming Sworde againste the Ar∣mie that was agaynste him, and ouercame it, and afterwarde the Conque∣rour was deuoured of a hydeous Dragon: by and by there appeared a greate gaping or opening in the whole Elemente almoste for an houre: There appeared at the last thrée Raynebowes with their coloures, vppon the whiche there sate a winged Aungell, whome all menne mighte see for halfe an houre, who notwithstanding afterwarde vanyshed awaye with the reste in the continuall concourse of the Cloudes: Thys wry∣teth Fincelius in his Booke of myracles, after the Gospels rising vp a∣gayne.

The seuenth day of August about eleuen of the Clock at afternoone, a fearefull tempest hapned ouer the Citie of Machlin, the like whereof was neuer scarsely heard of, for by reason of a Thunder the Citie was in such a feare, that moste men thoughte that the latter iudgement was at hande, or that the Citie should be destroyed, for there followed that feareful crac∣king of the Cloudes, a cloudye lightning, and an intollerable sulpherous stinke, neyther did any man knowe what was done, but those that were taken with the Tempest and with death, vntill at length a rumour ranne in the Cittie, that the Lightning had stricken the Sand Gate, where there were layde vp eightie Vessels of Gunpouder, whose sodayne setting on fyre made so greate a confusion in the Citie, that no man didde euer sée a more wonderfull sighte: The Sandegate was destroyed in the twinkling of an eye, and beaten into smal péeces, and not only the Foundations of the Towre, but also the Stones of the Walles neare too were pulled vp from the Foundation, and scattered ouer all the Citie, and whiche more is, the Ditche water was vpon the sodayne dryed vp with the force of the heate of the kindled Gunpouder: wherefore the next daye in the morning there were founde all about that place as it was thoughte thrée hundred deade Carcasses, and one hundred and fiftie sore hurt: there was also found a wo∣man in that Tempest who going to shut her chamber windowe loste her heade vpon the sodayne, and there were some playing at Cardes in an house who were quite slayne, sauing the wife which went into the Celler to fetche Béere: there was founde also a man hidde in a Caue, who com∣ming out thrée dayes after, asked whether the World stoode yet or not. To conclude, it was a miserable sight to sée that goodly Citie so pitifullye spoy∣led and deformed, there was almost no Churche in the Citie whiche was not gréeuously shaken, and the houses nere to were quite ouerthrowne, the whole stréetes were beaten downe.

At Rotwill a Towne of Germany well known, when diuers did spite∣fully raile at the Gospell, and many professing that they shoulde bée saued

through fayth alone in Iesus Christ went out of the Citie, and lefte their goods, the Diuel to y^e great feare of the Citizens, was seene to walke in the Citie, and it was to be feared least that deadly enemie of mankinde, and cunning craftes maister in a thousand wiles, as he did elsewhere, woulde set the Citie on fyre.

In the Citie of Argelia through the violence of a Tempest, the heade of a greate ingrauen Image was ouerthrowne in the Castle, whiche was like to the Duke of Saxony.

The whote Bathes of Fideren in Pretigoia, were so spoyled with muche rayne, and breaking of a cloude, that all thinges béeing taken a∣way with muche laboure, the Fountayne could scarcely be founde. The same yeare Henrye Duke of Brunswic séeking to recouer hys auncyente dominion, was taken and slayne by the Duke of Saxony and the Lantgraue of Hesse.

The same yere a woman of Vienna in Austria called Margaret daugh∣ter of Wolfegang Karlinger a Cittizen of Vienna but wife of George Wolczer an Inne kéeper, dwelling at that time at the signe of the redde Crabbe, being great with childe, when before Bartholmewtide she felte the Childe struggle and stur it selfe till Sainte Lukes daye, being payned with throwes, she sent for her mother and the wiues that they mighte bée with her in due seasō, which whē they came in y^e presence of the Midwife, she was vpon deliuery, but being in verye extreme pangs there was heard a certayne cracking, which declared the child was hurt, after which cracke the childes liuelinesse could no more be perceiued: in the meane season shée beganne to haue sore laboure, and milke aboundauntlye filled her brestes, wherefore the Woman carying a burthen not to be auoyded, and suffering gréeuous payns, continued halfe aliue halfe deade, euen vntill the yeare of our Lorde 1549. hauing continuallye a rotten fluxe, but after that they had in vayne tried all remedies by Surgeons and the Doctors, at length in the yere of our Lorde 1550 the tenth of Nouember at twelue a Clock at noone, vpon making an incision a little aboue the Nauill, rotten matter auoyded, and in the right side by drawing of the right Muskell they drue out y^e childe halfe rotten in the mothers belly: The mother in processe of time was well healed, so that she had her ordinarye course of bodye afterwarde. All this Storye worthye the reading, was written by Matthias Cornax, Doctor of Phisicke at Vienna to Ferdinandus King of Hungarye and Bo∣hemia.

The 18. day of Februarie Martine Luther left this life 1546. a godlye and learned preacher.

In Acke•• a towne of Saxony by the riuer Albis two children were séene growing together by their hippes on one side, where the Hippes are

Fastned to the huckle bone, in such sort that the right arme ouercompasse•• the left, as if they had embraced ech other.

In the lower Panonia the Elemēt opened for the space of an houre, from whence fell greate aboundaunce of fyre to the grounde, and vpon the Fyre was seene a black Oxe which pissed fyre. In Hungary in the presence of all men blood ran out of grapes. Fincelius.

In Denmarke this yere not farre from Coppen Hagen a famous town, a Sea Fish was taken, headed like a man, but blackishe like a Negro, and in his apparell like a Monke, for he ware a Coule aboute his necke, and his habite was set out with certain pictures: in the place of Armes & hands he had fins fit to swim withall, and the lower part, to wit the tayle, was like a fishe thrée elles long, after he was taken he liued thrée dayes, & was sent to the king of Denmarke for a myracle, but I beléeue it is the same that Caspar Pu••erus in his Booke of diuinations, and Iob Fincelius in his my∣racles haue set downe in the yere of Christ 1550. whome notwithstanding we haue read in his description to be taken .1546.

Before the Germane Warre whiche the Emperour Charles the fifte made againste the Duke of Saxony and his confederates, as Marcus Frits∣chiu•• in his Meteorologicall matters recounteth, a Childe was borne at a Village in Franci••, who after he was deliuered of his Mother, there laye a knife in his belly, whose point appeared, and by little and little was drawn out: all men iudged that it signified ciuile Warre, & the falling out of Citi∣zens among themselues, who afterwarde drue their Swords as it were against their bowels.

At Esling a Citie of Germany very well knowne, a Maiden, daughter of Iohn Vlmer called Margaret by name, through a gréeuous sicknesse and extreame paynes of the belly did so swell, that the greatnesse of her Bellye was séene of many to couer her face, and in compasse to be more than tenne handbreadths: she sayde that she fed diuers kind of liuing Creatures in her belly, whereas notwithstanding she did neither eate nor drinke, but onelye was refreshed with Pothicarie confections and smell of hearbes and flow∣ers. There were heard by those that stoode by her bedde where she laye, the voyces of diuers liuing creatures, the crowing of Cockes, the cackling of Hennes, the noyse of Géese, the barking of Dogs, the bleating of Shéepe, the grunting of Swine, and which is more, the bellowing of Cattayle, and neighing of Horses, and the cryes of many liuing creatures, farre excéeding a mans voice in greatnesse, with the which is sayde, she was continuallye tormented, and with intollerable stirring payned: she broughte oute of her Wormes and Serpents of a meruailous greatnesse, about 50. in number, to the ende she might make the Miracle to be beléeued: wherefore when the report of that thing waxed rife, not onely in Townes, but also abrode in Villages and places adioyning, and immediatelye almost throughout all

Germany so great a hugenesse of the mayden was behelde daylye of manye straungers, with no lesse compassion than wonder, and was inriched with many gifts, many Phisitions and Surgeons were asked counsaile of, and at length also the Phisitions of the Emperour Charle•• the fift, and of Fer∣dinandus king of the Romanes and Hungary came thither, accompanyed with certayne Nobles and Gentlemen, who notwithstanding found ther∣in no deceite: but when the disease had continued almost foure yeares, and that it séemed that her gréefes grew more and more, the Magistrate of the Citie (whether moued through pitie or ill suspition I knowe not) sending for the maydens parentes, asked them whether through the counsayle of the Phisitions by making an incision they desired to haue their Daughter deliuered of so great tormentes, to whome the father a simple and a harm∣lesse man made answere, that he was willing to haue his Daughter com∣mitted to Gods goodnesse and lawfull remedies of Phisitions, but the Mo∣ther being guiltie of the misfact, would not haue them attempte anye thing to her Daughters daunger, and whiche more is, she sayde that she woulde praye that Gods vengeaunce might light vppon him if they slue her yong daughter. There were also some sente vnto the diseased to cal to remem∣braunce that they many times besought helpe of Phisitions, and that ther∣fore they were now present to the end they might either asswage by some meanes the extremitie of the sicknesse, or else by Gods helpe mighte quite take it away, but she being first suborned by her mother, answered that she would suffer with a patient minde, without any Phisick, the extremity of the sicknesse, and the Crosse that God had layde vpon her, vntill it pleased the goodnesse of God to deliuer her, when now by foure yeres by God only she had ouercome all the crueltie of the disease: but the Magistrate of Esting being better content with her Fathers answere, sent at length a Doctor of Phisick with thrée Chirurgians, & a Midwife, to search the Maydens bel∣lye by incision. They came into the chamber, where they founde her swol∣len and bounde with cloutes, they drue away the couerings from her cry∣ing, they applyed their toole, and found her belly made by hand with great skill stuffed vp with pillowes, and other light matter, with diuers bowes with which her bellye was made round wherefore when this was pulled off by the Midwife they saw the mayden starke naked with as well a com∣pact and as faire a body as might be: when now the deceit was discouered, the Parentes with the Daughter, and al they which were accessarie (with whome in the night, while others were asléepe she made good chere, and consumed those giftes which the beholders brought) were caried to prison and afterwarde put to the racke. The belly was brought to the Lawhouse, and for a myracle was behelde and kept by the Burghomesters and y^e maids mother being a Witche and put to the racke confessed that she did al these thinges through Sathans perswasion and helpe, which were done for four

yeres past for gaynes sake,* 1.4 wherefore she being condemned by the sentence of the Iudge, had her neck first broken, and afterwarde was openlye bur∣ned, but the Daughter hauing her chéekes first burned through with a hote yron, was shut within a wall, and was condemned there to abyde in perpetuall prison, the Father who tooke vppon his othe that he was de∣ceyued by his Wife and daughter euen vntill that daye that this haynous and wicked facte was discouered, they fréelye dismissed, but some béeing taken which were guiltlesse, were commaunded to departe to their dwel∣linges, and some were punished for the greatnesse of their offence. I haue thought good to recken this among the prodigies of this yere, not because it is a prodigie indéede, but because it maye seeme prodigious, that a subtile olde woman ouercome with desire of gayne, was able by Sathans per∣swasion, to make fooles for foure yeres together, not of the ignoraunte and vnskilfull people only, but of Princes and Magistrates, and at length of all Germanye, from whence afterwarde the vayne reporte thereof was spreade into other countreys: whereby a man shall learne not onelye the wiles of Sathan, sixe of all lyes, but the slouthfulnesse well neare of all ma∣gistrates in waightie matters, and chéefely in abolishing the workes of the diuell, whereof it commeth to passe that the blynde guide doth easily hyde all truth from such as are plunged into too much securitie and in place ther∣of doth thrust the vayne counterfeyte shew of lies.

[ 1546] The 27. of Aprill being Tewseday in Easter wéeke, William Foxle•• pot∣maker for the mint in y^e tower of London, fel asléepe, & so cōtinued sléeping & could not be wakened by pricking, cramping, and other attemptes, til the first day of the next tearme, which was ful 14 dayes & 15. nightes, the cause of this so strange sléeping could not be known, otherwise than y^t he himself thought to haue slept but one afternoone and night: y^e kinges Phisition and the king with other did examine him, but found no matter of any apparāce in sléepe otherwise than before expressed. The same yere in Iuly An Askew & .other godly martirs were burned in Smithfielde for y^e testimonie of the Gospell, which I. S. either for feare of hoped time to come setteth not down or else that he doth not yet know that they died for denying the popish Sa∣crament. Henry Howard Earle of Surry was beheaded. And the 18. daye of Ianuarie next following deceased king Henry the eight, when he had raig∣ned 37. yeres 9. moneths and od dayes, and was buried at Windsoure.

At Basill on a widowes grounde dwelling in the Suburbes of S. Al∣bon there was found a wheate straw that had 7 eares, of y^e which y^t which was in the top did far excell the other in greatnesse. This yere when Mar∣tine Luther was now dead, the 18. of Februarie, the Emperour Charles y^e fift breaking into Germany with a Spanish armie whilste he pretended to chastice the disobedience of certayne princes, robbed the Countrey by di∣uers subtilties, and gaue the spoyle to the Souldiers.

The tenth of Februarie at Belgerne a towne of Misnia and in the places nere about, in the night season there appeared a great opening of the Ele∣ment by the north pole, that did shine red for two howers, and cast rayes to the earth: there were séene also the same time 3. great beames of diuers colours wandring vp and downe in the cloudes. King Henry the eight di∣ed and his sonne Prince Edwarde raigned king.

The 24. of Aprill at Halberstate in Saxonie there was séene a boule of a black colour going with a great violence, from amid the Moone towardes the North.

The Saylers of Hambrough the 15 of December at Midnight saw a bur∣ning boule like the sunne going with great spéede to y^e South, which gaue so great a heate with his beames, that the mariners coulde not abide it, but falling vpon their face were also afrayde of the burning of their shippe. This doth Iob. Fincelius recite in his miracles, after the rising agayne of the Gospell.

In Switzerlande there were séene in the ayre two armies, and two Ly∣ons gréeuously fighting together, y^e one of which bit off y^e others head, more∣ouer there stretched out in length a white crosse, in the end whereof was a rod like to a fan. The 12. of Aprill this yeare the Sunne for thrée dayes ap∣peared in the Element in the afternoone like a boule of fire, in so much that the stars also appeared.

At Louaine the 7 of the Ides of Aprill a twin was borne, hauing two se∣uerall bodies, but ioyned together in one heade: of these maketh mention Gaspar Pucerus.

The 24. of Aprill, not only in Saxonie, Thuringia and Misnia, but also in Switzerland the Sun was séene, not with a heauy or sad, but with a bloodye chéere, almost for 4 whole houres, to the great astonishment of many which day when I had noted in my historye kalender, I found out afterward that the same day Iohn Frederike Prince of Saxony that moste holy and cōstant Gouernour in the fayth, was taken in a bloodye slaughter by the Emperor at Milberg.

The same time at certayne places in Germany as Fincelius writeth, the Images of the Crosse were séene on mens garments.

At Ploa a towne of Witlande a monstrous childe was borne, for in him appeared neither back nor belly, sauing that his entrailes about his Brest hong farre down, he bent his féete towards his heade, he had his nauill in the hamme of the lefte legge, and he hadde a poynted head like a Suger∣lofe.

Aboute this time of Carolus Quintus the Emperour, there happened a maruellous strange alteration in nature no lesse wonderfull then most as∣sured true: a yong Gentleman of noble parentage, in the Court of the Em∣perour, where he the sayde Gentleman defloured a yong Gentlewoman,

whome he loued excéedingly, was notwithstanding his loue towardes her for the rash fact committed to prison, where looking for none other but the rigour of the Lawe, whiche among the Germanes is seuere punishmente (namely death) the Gentleman languishing the nighte in deadly gréefe of mynde, became through feare so altered the next morning, y^t being brought forth to the executiō was not known of his kéepers, nor of any other. This strange altered creature being brought before the Emperour, his youthfull face wan and pale, his fresh coloured heare tourned into gray as if he had bene a man of great yeares, his beard slauered and filthie with driueling, the Emperour beholding so straunge and sodayne a sighte, supposed the straunge hap to be but a shift, for the sauegarde of the Gentleman to put som other in his place, the matter examined it was found manifest that the said straunge alteration come through an ouernatured feare, whose Maie∣stie being astonied at the sight thereof pardoned the offender, and remitted his offence, estéeming the feare for the fact a sufficient punishment. Leuine Lemme in his Booke translated by T. Newton Touchestone of Complex∣ions.

The first of October in Saxonie in the morning about the rising of the Sunne there was séene in the Element a hearse of one dead couered with black cloth hauing a crosse of red colour layde therevppon, before whome there went and followed men in mourning apparell, making such a noyse and sounde with their Trumpets, that the sounde was easily heard of the inhabitantes, and whilste this was, there appeared also a Souldier in Ar∣mour fearefull to beholde, who drawing his Sworde cut a white cloth in sunder, and afterward, that which was lefte he tore in two péeces with his handes, and lately with the residue he vanished out of mens sight.

At the Towne of Bitterfeld a Calfe was found in the fielde with mans eyes, Nostrels and eares, hauing his heade shauen, and as it were couered with Vermilian, in mouth and breast like a Calfe, hauing his former legs like a Calfe, and his hinder like a man, and very short, but both were part∣ly houed like a Calfe, and partly towed and fingred like a man, which fin∣gers were vnder the hoofe, and hong out seuerally: this Mōster Gaspar Pu∣ceru describeth in his booke of Teratascopia.

So in Caelius Rhodiginus we read that by the Town Siberis 1••. myles from Rome a Sheaphearde called Crathis by his often companying with a Gote (which is foule and filthie to be spoken) begat a Gote with a mans head much like his father, the rest like the Dame, on whom afterward the head gote being iealous vpon occasion offered, assayed him violentlye with his hornes, lying vpon the ground, an•• ••••ounding his fellow (in louekind) with many blowes slue him. Caelius in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 25. Booke and 32 chapt. of aun∣cient readinges.

[ 1547] At Micena the Cathedral Church the fift of the Kalends of Iune, was

striken with lightning, at ••. a clocke in the afternoone, the Towers, the roufe of the churche and the belles were burnt, when that daye they hadde giuen thankes, and the Channons and priestes had sung therein ••e Deum laudamus, for the taking of Iohn Frederike Elector: no other lightning went before or came after. George Fabricius of Remnik in his Misntake discourses.

In Italy not far from Rome the first of the Ides of December aboute thrée of the Clock in the afternoone, in faire weather a bloody rod and redde crosse was séene in the ayre almoste for thrée whole houres, and ouer the toppe of the Crosse an Eagle sored with her winges, and the same yeare the counsayle of Trent was continued by the Cardinals and Bishops of the Romishe court. An Interim of y^e new Pope was proclaimed at Ausburg to the ouerthrow of Germany.

At Sasa in the moneth of May the Sunne shining very bright, hadde about it two fierie boules, mouing themselues here and there, the greater of whiche at laste so couered the Sunne, that he appeared altogether lyke Iron.

In certayne places of Saxony there was séene fire falling from the E∣lement vpon the ground and vpon Cities. Iob Fincelius.

A Woman borne at Argeria went accompanied with her husbande to Lypsia to a village called Oberstorf betwéene Mansfielde and Sangar∣huse, who beganne to be payned with throwes, wherevppon shée brought forth a Gyrle, a fayre Chylde and a goodly to beholde, sauing that there appeared on her backe redde spottes as broade as a Ioachim Groate, and when the Chylde had liued fourtéene dayes, her heade so grew, that dayly she was loden with a greater swelling, vntill also hir eyes being quite hidden with the fleshe growing aboute, she could sée nothing, wherfore the fifte moneth after when she was yet aliue, the compasse of her heade was measured with a thréed, which contained in cōpasse twentie & foure inches: This writeth Iob Fincelius of the miracl•• after the rising agayne of the Gospell.

This yeare was the rising in Deuonshire, for the whiche foure captaynes of that Sedition were hanged, drawne and quartered at Ty∣borne.

[ 1548]

[illustration]

The 18. of the Ka∣lendes of Maye be∣twéene sixe and se∣uen a clock, at My∣sena, a childe was borne with the skul deuided in the sore∣head, w^t one thigh, without lippes, ha∣uing in the place of his mouth a little hole, and maimed in the reste of hys bo∣dye.

In Aurelian woods in Fraunce, which I take to be the forest of Arden, was foūd a beast called Lynx, which is much lyke a woolfe hauing ma∣nye spots which in very short space de∣uoured so manye men y^t the dwellers by being amased with feare of daunger kept themselues within dores, and durste not come abrode. The ninth daye of Februarie there was a small Earthquake at Basill.

The tenth of Februarie there was séene in Saxony a fire in y^e Elemente, falling vpon certaine cities. In Saxony there were séene agayne in the Ele∣ment two armies at Quende••burg fighting fiercely together, there were also other kindes of prodigies séene in the ayre. Marcus Fritschius in his Meteores.

At Rosenfield in the Dukedome of Wittenberg, the thrée and twentith daye of Iulye, firste when the Moone was nowe full, and contrarye to Nature, of a bloodye coloure, there was séene in it the Image of a blac∣kish arme, with the hande stretched out, and when shée hadde recouered hir naturall brightnesse, shée was séene agayne with thrée blackishe beames, crossing ouerthwart as it were a straighte line. Afterwarde when as these vanished awaye, there was sodaynelye séene a Burgondine black Crosse: and lastly ouer the Moone there appeared on both sides of her

two other moones but much lesse.

This yeare in Saxony Charles the Emperoure fought a luckie Bat∣taile: and the Spaniards afflicted Germany.

Fraunces the French king died, whome his Sonne Henry the second of that name succéeded: so vppon the death of king Henrye the eighte king of Englande, Edwarde succéeded being yet but a Chylde, as before is sayde.

Certayne honest menne of Bru••swik when they trauailed in the night they sawe the Moone enuironed with a goodly shewe whiche is called Halo, and by her two by Moones, and that the Moone didde turne foure tymes aboute, afterwarde they behelde a fierye Lyon by the by moones, and an Eagle picking hir owne brest. After these succéeded an horrible shewe of burned Cities, and about them Camels: the figure of Christe hanging on the Crosse, with the two Théeues, and about it a companye of menne, as if it were of the Apostles. The laste shewe of all was moste terrible: a cruell manne stoode threatning with his drawne Sworde, to stryke a mai∣den which stoode before him, in shew of one making humble intreatie, & sée∣med wéeping to make request vppon hir knées that she mighte not be stric∣ken. The like to these were also séene else where. The Authoures of all these are, Gaspar Pucerus, in his Teratoscopia, and Iob Finceli∣us. These also are published throughoute all Germany with a God∣lye Exhortation to repentaunce, by Nicholas Melder and Flaccus Illi∣ricus.

In Panonia when Vipers and Lizerdes grew in mens bodyes, a greate number of menne for want of remedie died in great payne and tormente. At length some being sette in the Sunne vomited the Serpentes, féeling the naturall heate, and were deliuered: there was also found a greate num∣ber of Serpentes in the houses, whiche with clubbes and fyre were sette vppon by the inhabitantes: one of the Serpentes in the behalfe of the rest, is reported to haue sayde these wordes in a mannes voyce: Nihil efficietis contra vltionem Diuinam pugnantes. Ye shall bring nothing to passe striuing agaynste Gods vengeaunce. The Authoures of this are these, Iob Fincelius, Frances Bebeckius, and Giles Aquila, who haue written hereof.

In a Towne of Voytlande in fayre weather in the Morning, as Iob Fincelius writeth, there was séene a tall manne attyred and sette oute lyke a Prince of Germanye, ouer whome on the one side there ap∣peared a Lyon, and on the other a Lambe, who embracing one another, shewed in gesture and countenaunce tokens of loue: There also appea∣red a Garlande in the cloudes, whiche the Prince wente about to take but in vayne, and the Sworde whiche was long séene vnder hys féete,

with the pummell standing vpright, he tooke and cast about and flourished thrée or foure times, vntill the whole sight was buried in the Cloudes, Iob Fincelius.

At Munda a Towne in Saxony vpon S. Vrsulas day, a man vnknowne with fearefull countenance, clad in filthie Garments, carying a staffe, with∣out a cote, running vp and downe in the stréetes with a loude voyce crying repentaunce, did exhort men to embrace the word of God, and to detest the worshipping of Idols.

Peuce•• doth witnesse that he saw this yere children new borne like apes to looke too, and full of heare like Beares ouer their backe, and moreouer which held their tongues out, and as it were hanging downe like Calues newly killed.

Nere to Brunswik much blood ranne out of a fountayne. In the vpper∣most Alsatia not farre from Colmar a Citie of the Empyre, there fell oute of the Element vpon the ground a great number of Frogges and Toades, which being fyrst destroyed with clubbes and battes by the inhabitants of that place, afterwarde least the ayre shoulde be infected therewith, at the commaundement of the Magistrate they were gathered in a heape by the Hangmen, and Tanners, and cast into a ditch. That yeare died the Pope before called Alexander Farnezius, in whose place Iulius the thyrde suc∣céeded.

There was borne a boy not farre from Tygure in the Lordshippe of Kiburg•• in the parrishe of Wisnang and in the Village of Tellurge the 26 day of Maye, which was the Sunday before the Ascention of the Lorde a∣bout the twelfth houre of the night, his parentes being called Iohn Wal∣ker and Barbara Sax••r, this boy was christned by Henry Mesicommer cu∣rate of the place, and was called Hen••y, his increase or grouth in his infan∣cie and boyes age was a wonder to all menne, for whereas at this time he was onelye but sixe yeares olde, yet he grewe so high as one of fourteene yeres of age: he had a great and a strong voyce: his Genitales were as bigge as ones of twentie, and were full of heare, neyther didde hée yet seace to grow. Being but fiue yeres olde he caryed great burthens, as a reasonable sacke of Wheate which our men call a bushell, and is almoste foure times as muche as the bushell of the olde Romanes: he was able also to threshe in the Barne, and to guide the plough as well as a manne: his witte was yet childishe, and his Parentes didde not excéede the measure of a meane stature. Most of the Citizens of Tygure at that tyme knew this to be true, and manye behelde the boye being brought by his father to bée seene.

It is sayd y^t about the time of Iohn Earle of Holande, there was a Giant whose name was Nicholas whose greatnesse of body was vnto all men in admiration, his stature so high, that menne (as they saye) mighte stande

vnder his armes, his shooe easily receiued the féete of foure excéeding bigge men, and he so feared the Children going to schoole, with the greatnesse of his members, that they durst not but go backwardes and a far off looking vpon him. Hadrianus Barlandus in the Chronicles of Hollande, and printed in English. 1557.

In Carinthia not farre from the Townes of Clagdenfort and Villac the 10 [ 1550] of the kalends of Aprill before Palme sonday, it rayned verye good Corne from heauen, which was gathered by the inhabitants of the Countrey, and imployed for mans sustenaunce.

On palme Sunday at thrée a clocke in the afternoone, in the dominion of the Duke of Brunswik there were séene two by Suns, for a large circle en∣uironing the Sun did represente on both sides a by sunne as it were with a straighte line, and a long beame of the same colour sharpe at both endes pearced through the thrée Sunnes.

The 25 of May, betwéene the howers of eleuen, & one in the afternoone, was an earthquake of a quarter of an houre long at Blechingly, at Go••stone, Tytsey, Rigate and other places. The 10 of Iuly following, the firste fall of English money, and also an other sweating sicknesse whereof many dyed.

The third of August in the Dominion of the Abot of Vrcium in y^e vilage of Rieden 3. miles frō Knafburin a towne of Swedon, a Smiths wife brought forth a twin in all parts perfite, but ioyned together in the bellye as far as the neck, which after they were borne, were longer than thrée quarters of the Sweadon elle.

There were séene the 1•• day at Lipsia in Misnia 3. boules of fire which many students and famous men behelde, as Marcus Fritschius writeth.

Betwéene Noringburg, Fichtuuang and Aucltzbaech the third of the Ides of August in fayre weather the Sunne was séene of changeable colour, and vpon the same a vessell full of blood, about an eagle sette oute with spreade winges and chaungeable coloures, but wanting féete: and a little beneathe there was séene a rainbow, and by the same a horseman which in one hand led a horse, in the other a white hound.

The 7. day of the kalends of Iuly in Germany nere the vilage of B••r∣tholdszdorf not far from the town of Coburg on a peare trée was found ripe peares, and on the peares blossomes, as though newe peares shoulde haue bene yielded vpon the old the same yeare.

In Saxony at Tribinium the ••9 of Iuly not far from Wittenberg, the very marte of the Muses and all good learning, there were séene many prodigies in the Element, for there was an apparant shew of an harte, and the Ar∣mies of men fighting together on both sides, and méeting with shoutes whose blood like raine fell to the ground. The sunne was séene in a dread∣full shape, who also at that time séemed to be clouen in two partes, and on the one side to bend to the earth. The 12 of the kalends of Iuly, at Witten∣berg

there was séene a bloodye sworde and an engine of Warre layde vpon whéeles in the Element, as writeth Iob Fincelius. At the same place about the feast of S. Iohn the Baptist, betwéene the houres of 6. and 9. in fayre weather, a blacke crosse was séene with a dart turning in the forepart like a hooke. The same yere in Saxony betwéene Hall and Mespurg in the moneth of Iune, there was found a fountaine in a Medowe, out of whiche there ran blood, which notwithstanding being taken vp into handes chan∣ged into yelowish colour. In a town of Mysia a townesmā in y^e night time going through the churchyard saw a graue sodaynlye swelling vp, oute of which he heard a voyce plainely speaking Vae Vae, Vae Vrbi, Wo, Wo, Wo be to the Citie, wherevpon the man being sodaynly amazed fel down. Iob Fin.

In the Sea Baligicum not far from Hafnia, Gaspar Pucerus in his booke of Teratoscopia affirmeth, a fishe was taken with a mans face, his heade shauen about like a Monkes crown, hauing scales on his body, like vnto a Friers cowle: perhaps it is the same wherof we haue written before in the yere of Christ, 549.

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In Siemia a village in the lesser Polande, scituate 12. Myles from the Towne of Gloganu when bread was cut at the Ta∣ble, al the table was filled with droppes of blood running frō the bread.

In the Lordship or Domynyon of the prince Elector, in y^e day of the visitation of Mary in the Vil∣lage of Horchsham and in the Valley of Zelliu, a woman Childe was borne monstrous to behold withoute eyes and eares hauing a broad and open mouth, a body torne & woun∣ded euerye where, & in many of hir members like to one that were fleane.

In Germany about the Vilage of Rikenslaw was taken a Pigeon hauing foure féete and two fundementes.

About this time one at Millaine in Italy whose name Cardanus fauou∣red for his estimation, about one a clock at midnight where he accustoma∣bly laide his cloak, had sparckles of fyre spattering out from the cape, and a∣gaine when it was taken away and layde downe agayn, they brake out a∣gayne, wherevppon he was stricken with a double feare. Within fiftéene dayes after, he being accused of witchcraft or poysoning, his friends intrea∣ting for his life went willingly (through their perswasiō) into banishment. This writeth Cardanus Booke 14. Chapt. 69. of the vanitie of things. This yere Pope Paulus the third died, after whom Iulius the thirde succeeded. In Februarie Maideburg at the commandment of the Emperour Charles y^e 5 was for 15. moneths besieged by Maurice D. of Saxonie, and Albert y^e yon∣ger Duke of Brandeburg, and immediately vpon the pacification of them of Maindenburg contrary to all mens expectation, the warre was tourned a∣gainst Charles the author thereof, wherefore Charles who now reioyced in his great soueraintie, being beset by his enemy at Oenepont, scarcelye esca∣ped by flying away.

The 10 day of Ianuarie at Murtpurg in Hassia there arose a great flood••, [ 1551] whereby in manye places stone bridges were quite ouerthrown and cary∣ed away.

The 13. of Ianuarie there arose a vehement tempest in manye places of Germany with many showers, much lightning and thūder, in so much that many among whome it happened supposed that the daye of the last iudge∣ment was at hande.

The 28 of Ianuary there were séene at Lisborne in Portugale in y^e elemēt bloody rods, and fearefull fires, it rained blood also, and there was so greate an earthquake kindled, that it vehemently shooke and ouerthrew ••00 hou∣ses, in which shaking 1000 men perished.

At Creutzburg, an honest Citizen, his house being stricken with light∣ning, he sitting at the Table was slaine by the same together with his dogge that lay at his féete, but a yong Childe standing nere the father was not hurt.

The 2 day of Marche at Magdeburg in the morning about 7 of the clock there wer séene 7. rainbowes, and in the euening 3. moones, of which y^e first that was the Moone in déede, did shine ouer the Citie of Magdeburg, but the other being bloody, ouer the village of Desdorf, the third and the same bloody ouer the new citie.

At Wittenberg in Saxony the 12 of the kalends of Aprill there were séene 3 Suns with changeable circles in the Elemente, Greekes call them Parelia, which we may English by Suns.

In many places of Germany there appeared bloody prodigies. In Saxony it

sprang blood, euen as it did in Fraunce. Moreouer at Kitting, Bosphor, and in the places nere to Fraunc••, before the feast of Pentecost a great aboundance of water breaking out of the clouds, did sodaynly oppresse men and beasts, and destroied the whole town of Brundurghus, swallowing vp many men, the bridge of Kitting was caryed away, and the foundations moued, all thinges in that place swimming in the water, where without doubte all thinges had perished, vnlesse by breaking of the Towne walles the water had founde his passage, yet it cleane ouerthrew fiue houses. At Bosphor it thundered and lightned aboue thirtie claps it set the towne on fyre, and cō∣sumed the greater part. At Rotolse the violence of raine water ouerthrew 3. houses, and tooke away men and beasts, in the lesser Necker it caried away fiue houses with sixe children and certayne cattayle: at Specfort it tooke a∣way fiftéene men in destroying there many buildinges: At Pabenberg it o∣uerthrew seuen houses, and did great harme to the fieldes and Vineyards, which deluge Iob Fincelius doth intreate of more at large in his myracles. The 28 day of Februarye at Anwerpe a famous Marte of the lower Ger∣manye there were séene thrée Sunnes

[illustration]

with diuerse & sun∣drye circles, whose description I haue thoughte good to set downe.

In the moneth of May in Thuring be∣twéene Got & Isenac through the conti∣nuall showers of rayne, riuers grew vp so sodainlye in y^e Lordship of Theut∣leb, that they ouer∣threw fiue Cotages and destroyed y^e far∣mer and his thrée Sons. In Englande there hath often∣times happened a more greate losse of men and cattaile than this, or suche like, and yet not spoken of at all.

Not long before the confederacie of the Princes of Germany with the French king, about thrée houres after the sunnes rising the one and twen∣tith of March there were séene two by sunnes, whiche almoste excelled the Sunne throughe the brightnesse: they were knit togither in vnitie with a changeable bowe, coloured like a rainebow, and turning Westward, whō two other followed, shaped like hornes, much lesse and narrower, but hauing the same colours, and méeting togither in the vttermoste rundell. One of them turning his hornes to the Sunne, the other turning them a∣way, and stretching thē towards the weast was séene more than an houres space, the euente shewed what ensued. Gaspar Pucer in his Metereo∣log.

In the moneth of May there fell in Ioachimes valley a place in Germany, and in Slacenwald verye many & violent showres, which made such spoile in the mines that it could not be valued. The like floudes happened at the Riuer Albis, and else-where, for the riuers grewe so excéedinglye euerye where, that no man coulde remember that the like happened in that place before.

Thys yeare the Sea brake in at Sandwiche, in so muche that it ouerflowed all the Marshes there aboute, beside Woolwich, and beyonde Saint Kathrens.

At Witstad which is a village belonging to the Lordshippe of Megalo∣pyrg, in the Whitson holy dayes the husbandmen in a tauerne or victualing house gaue themselues to drinke, among the which a woman of the Coun∣trey spake reprochfully against God, and abusing his name with a wōder∣ful maliparte and vnshamefast boldenesse, did curse and scorne the diuine Maiestie, wherevppon sodainely the Diuell carryed hir alofte throughe a window, wherwith al that saw it were stricken in a great feare, and when many ran out of the doores, looking what woulde come of it, they sawe the woman for a season wauing in the ayre, and afterward to be caste downe headlong to the grounde dead, and hir neck broken.

At Micena a woman child (as Fincelius writeth) fiue dayes before she was borne, cryed aloude in hir mothers belly, the fiftéenth of the Calendes of Nouember, she liued halfe a yeare, and dyed of pushes, out of which there ran bloud. There ensued a Pestilence for two yeares.

The same yeare two by Moones were twice séene. The firste, the twelfth of the Calendes of April, the other, the thirtéenth of the Calends of Ianuarie. There followed herevppon the warres of the Em∣perour.

In Saxonie the Diuel being transformed in the night season into sun∣dry shapes, was séene in the stréetes knocking at sundrye mens doores and gates, and whilest he was sometimes heard, as it were to go with a Crosse to church, sometimes to shed teares, and bewaile like a mourner, it cannot

be sayde how much he deceyued men.

A Caulfe with two heades was broughte forth in the moneth of De∣cember in Schim at a village which they cal Long neare to Friburge.

At Damenwald a manour house in Marchia neare Wodstocke a Far∣mers wife brought forth a mōster which Fincelius discribeth. Al the childs body was of a bright Bay, his heade had hornes, his eyes were greate and hanging out, he had no nose, his mouth broade a span long, amid whiche appeared a white tong and foure square he had no neck, for his head grew close to hys shoulders, all his body was puft vp, and full of wrinckles, hys armes did sticke in his loynes, his féete were slender, and from his Nauill there hung down to his féete a kinde of loose bowel.

In a Village of Thuring a Cowe broughte forth a Calfe with seauen féete hauing a lumpe of fleshe hanging downe from his side. At the same place there arose a vehement Tempest, which spoiled the corne far abrode, and there was muche lightning. There also fel downe out of the Element a burning bowle, whiche laye vppon the grounde, to the greate feare of all men.

[illustration]

There was séene a verye monsterous beast broughte out of India by certaine, for gaines sake into Germanye, whiche beaste they call a Pauion or Babion a filthye beaste, and was carryed aboute to be séene for money, hys bodye roughe, hys heade Ape-like, dreadefull, hys eares short: he had foure féete clouen betwixt the fingers and tooes, a short tayle shewing hys hinder parts. Gesner.

At Bern in Switzerland a colt was séene with fiue féete. And at Basil one led about an Oxe with fiue féete.

This yeare Henrie the seconde King of Fraunce being in league with Maurice Duke elector of Saxonie. Albert Marques of Brandenburg, and cer∣taine other Princes of Germanye, broke into Germany wyth a great hoste to defende the libertie thereof against the Spaniardes & to deliuer the Prin∣ces that the Emperour had taken prisoners, by which meanes the counsell of Trent brake vp.

In Sommersetshiere neare the Towne of Bruton was Calued a Caulfe wyth two heades, whyche bredde a greate griefe to the owner of that straunge sighte, being an honest Townesmanne, called Goffe.

In the whyche Towne, for that I was borne, I haue thought good to reci••e the antiquitie thereof. As authours affirme by auntiente re∣corde, one of the Earles of Cornewall, and Oxenforde named Algarus, firste founded the Abbay, after whyche foundation, the Towne in∣creased in buildings and inhabitauntes, aboute the yeare of our Lorde God. 1043. at suche time when Edwarde the sonne of Egelred was King of Englande thrée and twentie yeares before the Conquest, aboute fiue hundred one and fortie yeares continuance. Bruton lyeth Northe and Southe, with a fayre stréete Weste, thereto ioyning other Stréetes. It hathe a fayre Market Crosse of Stone wyth sixe Pillers, within the which are seates of the saide stone, whych Crosse was builded by Ely, the last Abbot there. The Parish Church is beyonde the riuer Brue of Bruham, from whence the riuer falleth West: the Abbay and the Towne standeth in Selwood, in the which Abbay were placed first Monkes, and after Cha∣nons, diuerse of the Moynes were buryed there, a people whiche came in with William Conqueror and were of nobilitie: ouer the riuer are two Bridges to passe with cariage betwéen the Parish church, the Abbay that was, and the town, the one hauing thrée Arches, the other a bowe Bridge of such Art and making, as being once decayed will hardly be made againe. The Abbay was suppressed Anno. 1538. then called Abbas Monasterij bea∣tae Mariae, the first of April. Authors Lanquet, Leyland, the Register of the suppression Anno 30 of King Henrie the eyght. Since whiche time, there was a Schole house, where many times Schollers profited in learning, to the honor of the place, and profit of youth, supposed now very muche decay∣ed, the more haue the hinderers to aunswere before God.

Aboute the Towne of Claggendorfe, standing by Villachus vppon a Sondaye it rayned Wheate from Heauen, for two houres togyther, and almoste for sixe myles greate plentie thereof couered the Earthe lyke

Snowe a hande breadth thicke, it was grounded and made good breade.

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[ 1552] The thirde of August, was borne a maruellous straunge Monster. At a place called Middleton, eleauen miles from Oxford a woman brought forth a childe, whiche had two perfecte bodies from the Nauill vpwarde, and were so ioyned togither at the Nauill, that when they were layde in length, the one heade and bodye was Eastward, and the other weaste, the legges for bothe bodyes grewe out at the middest where the bodies ioined, and had but one issue for the excrement of both the bodies: they liued eigh∣téene dayes, and when they were opened, it appeared they were women children. Iohn Stow.

The eight of August there were taken about Quinborough thrée greate fishes called Dolphins, or by some called Rigges, and the wéeke folowing were sixe more taken and brought to London, and there sold, the least of thē was greater than a horsse.

At Grauesende the seauenth of October were two whirlepooles taken, fishes of a great bignesse, and drawn aboue London Bridge. The sequele of these Monsters hapned the second yere folowing, in which season, that ver∣tuous and noble Prince King Edward the sixth dyed, of the age of sixtéene yeares, the sixtéenth day of Iuly, when he had raigned sixe yeares and fiue monethes, after whose death folowed greate and vnquiet troubles, not so

much for the suppression of commotion, as cruell persecution for the Gos∣pell. &c.

Vppon Bartholmewday being on a Sunday, in Holand there arose a great tempest, wherin there fel haylstones of diuers forms, one waying a pound waight, some of the stones were like the Sunne, some like a Gar∣lande o••••ares of Corne, and others had other shapes, who afterwarde bée∣ing molten with the heate of the Sunne, yéelded a verye stinking smoke, wherewith all the ayre was infected, and many liuing creatures died.

The 16 daye of September there was an earthquake at Basill, yet not greate: about sixe of the clocke at the afternoone, and the same yeare dyed more than 1000 men of the plague.

In y^e moneth of Ianuarie many things were destroied with the floods of diuers riuers. At Iena the Riuer Sala ouerthrew many houses, and drou∣ned men and beastes. In Flaunders a Towne was quite destroyed. The ri∣uer Moenus at Fronhus nere Markburg drouned many thinges, and ouer∣threw bridges in Hassia a countrey of Germany chéefely renowmed for the setting forth of the Gospell. At Witzenhus the third daye after the feaste of the thrée kinges, a man childe was borne with two heades, two necks, and a body very well compact with the other members.

A méere at Martisbirg was séene to runne with b••ood more than once: in Fraunce it rayned blood and flesh. In many townes of Misnia and chéefely at Mulde there were earthquakes which shooke many buildings. Ioachims valley quaked also, wherein many things fell.

[illustration]

Betwéene Binge a towne famous for the death of the Father in law [ 1552] of the Emperour Drusus Augustus, and Mogunce, there was neuer before in that coast, séene so great a number of strange Flindermice flying fast in one flocke, that with the mouing of their winges they shadowed the Suns light, made darkenesse at noonetyde, and quite couered the grounde of that Bishoprick. Great discord fel in Germany betwéene the Emperour and the

states, as wel in causes of religion, as for politike gouernement.

The 9. of May, at fiue a clocke at afternoone to witte the very same day that the Duke of Saxonie was set at liberty from the Emperours Captiui∣tie, a sodaine tempest arose at Wittenberg stones fel from heauen, and after much lightning y^e Percullices at the castel gate were cast down with light∣ning and broken in very smal péeces.

At Bonne a town wel knowen in the low Countrey, and standing by the riuer of Rhene soure myles from Cullen, the 17. of the Calendes of Iune a Cow brought forth a Calfe with two heades ioyned togither, two bodies, two tailes and thrée eyes.

In the moneth of Iune at Schoufield the sun arising in the morning ap∣peared like a Pitcher, of some called an earthen steane, powring out bloud vpon the earth, through whom passed two beames ouerthwart.

At Mechlin in Flaunders the sixtéenth of the Calendes of Marche, a∣bout thrée a clocke at afternoone, the Sun appeared feareful to behold, first with a blewe and after with a bloudy colour, and with a great cyrcle, with a Rainebow.

The Hils or Mountaines called Suditi in the twylighte the twelfthe of the Calendes of Marche, were shaken with an Earthquake togyther with the places adioyning, whiche also the towne of Misena felt some∣what.

The same yeare aboue. 2000. men died of the pestilence, a woman in hir sicknesse swet bloud in the vpward part of hir body.

[ 1552] Friberg was shaken with an Earthquake. In the stréete Vicarium, a yong man stoode fiue yeare in one place, his steps being also printed in the grounde, the sixth yeare he beganne to sit, he was foolish and seldome quiet, & turned away mens sight. The same yeare he dyed of the plague. George Fabritiu•• of Kemnic hathe lefte this written in his Misnian matters of the towne of Friberg.

* 1.5At Windensbach which is a myle from Schlenfing a Monster was borne of a woman like a childe, without féete, in a place whereof it had a poynte comming downe warde, and from the thyghes also, it had sharpe poynts standing out, and of this Iob Fincelius maketh mention, in his myracles, after the rising again of the Gospel.

With vs at Basil, in a verye greate plague, the seruaunt of a Cooper dwelling in Spali stréete fel sicke of the plague, who dyed and was layde forth, and in the meane season his fellowes talking togither of his burial, within a space he recouered himselfe againe, and not knowing where he was, for they hadde put him into a darke corner of the house, he cryed out as well as he coulde oh how coulde is the Countrey where I am, oh the stoue is not wel heate, where I poore wretche perish for extreame colde.

The householde hearing the hoarse and vnknowen cry, being afraide, for they seruauntes thynking some noughtie spirite was in the Chamber, durst not enter the Chamber. The poore felow crept out of the corner to his bed, and taking the pillowe in his hande, layde it vnder his head vpon the grounde, and afterwarde his felowes became more hardye, and comming into the Chamber founde him aliue againe, and so recouered, that af er∣ward he had wife and children. The like also, in a manner happened in the lesser Basil about ninetéene yeares past, where a gyrle of fourteene yeares of age, which dwelt in the vine warde, dying of the plague, was layde out, sowed vp, and prepared to be buried: and when she was caryed sorthe in the Coffin, where she hadde layne manye houres in the coldeste tyme of the yeare she recouered againe, and was put in hir bed, and spake bold∣ly, and liued after many yeares, she said that she had bin deade in déede, and saw diuerse torments of Hel, the paines of sinners, and certaine which she knew very wel, and which also she named, who were there sore tormēted, whereas notwithstanding at y^e time they were yet liuing:* 1.6 she added more∣ouer certaine other things very like to oldewiues tales, wherevpon at the commaundemente of the wise Magistrate shée was commaunded to sylence, leaste the vnconstaunte people myghte be wyth trystes misseled.

In a Citie which is situate at the foote of the Mountaines whych Pto∣lome [ 1552] called Sudites at the entry of the vppermost Lusatia, called Budecina, two myles from the heade of the Riuer Sueuus, the thirtéenth of August, a∣bout Sun setting, when a péece of a cloud was pulled away, and fel down, and with his swift course had ouerwhelmed the vallyes full of fishe, filled the Channels, and broke the banckes, the water finding a course ran into the riuer Sueuus thereby who sodainly being increased hereby and risen vp so high, as no Chronicles make mention of the like, when it ran w th great violence downe from high Hils, for the space of two miles, what Bridges soeuer, houses and Gardens were neare to the bancke, it quite destroyed and made euen with the grounde, and left no manner of token of house or Garden, and toke away, and drowned at once thirtie men neare the Towne, and the rest scaped to the Hilles that were thereby: it was saide, that in that coaste there were drowned a hundred persons: within eight days after there followed such gret whirlewinds, that they pulled vp, and threw down, verye strong buildings euen from the very foundation, and caste downe a greate number of tall and high trées, pulling them vppe by the rootes, or wrythed them aboute, or as it were riued them in the middest. And eighte dayes before the natiuitie of Christe, the Elemente séemed to descende, and to be often a fire, and immediatelye the hyghe Churche was stricken wyth a feareful lightning, all the winter the plague

was very gréeuous. Earthquakes, which as histories do specifie do always signifie great Warres and deadly seditions, the very same yere the Moun∣taynes Sudites, and the Townes builte vppon them did féele, not one or two, but many and continuall, the houses trembling as it were at the ve∣hement blastes of wynde. Thus writeth Gaspar Pucerus in his Meteoro∣loge.

This yeare in the most bloody warre of the Emperour Charles with Henry the second King of Fraunce, Ternau a very strong Towne in Picar∣die was besieged by Charles in May, and afterwarde at length was taken in Iune. Mete•• yéelded to the Frenche, was besieged in vayne by Charles, the Souldiers dying for cold in the winter. Albert Marques of Brandeburg made fierce warre agaynst the Norimbergers and the Bishops of Herb••pole and Bomberc. Sesa in Italy being long besieged by the Emperour, was de∣liuered thereof by reason of the Turkes lying in wayte for the kingdome of Naples.

[ 1553] At Basill the 23 of Ianuarie about eight of the clocke at nighte, the Moone was enclosed in a great circle like a rainebowe, which lasted for ••. whole howers, there followed immediately greate Snowe and cold.

The Riuer of Rhene the 19 of Iune through many shoures did so ex∣céede his channell, that it did much harme, not onely to Corne and pasture, but to many Cities by the riuer side. Basill was in some daunger whiche standeth full vpon the Rhene, whilest the violence of the raging riuer didde touche the walles of the lesser Citie, and touched almost the fishmarket of the greater Basill, yet most of all Newburg The same time also Rubiac was in daunger of a greate floode: by the meanes of that greate ouerflowing Fishes were taken in Meddowes and Sellers, the violence of the flood be∣ing past.

Not farre from Norenberg a cabage grewe hauing 16. heades vppon one stocke: so likewise hath these later yeres bene séene in Englande of moste sortes of hearbes, flowers and fruites, verye manye straunge and prodigi∣ous formes, who doe represent vnto all the world that God doeth as well shew his miraculous worke in the small hearbs as in great Trées, beasts, or men: notwithstanding let all Christians obserue this rule, that whenso∣euer any of these happen, they are manifest tokens of troublous times and discordes, for nature growing out of course doeth tell what the rewarde of sinne shalbe,* 1.7 Foelix qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas, A happye man is hee that can the cause of thinges perceiue.

The fift of Iune it rayned blood at Erforde. At Coburge betwixt 5. and 6. of the clock at afternoone diuers kinds of men were séene in the elemente in faire weather, and afterwarde armies of men fighting, and an Eagle with her winges displayed.

At Luneburg a chylde was borne with awrie mouth, from whence

came a clouen or double tong, the like Monster was there borne the yeare before.

At Herbesleb a village of Thuring the twentith of Marche, a twinne was borne with thrée bellyes togither, and as it were bounde in one wyth a fleshye swadlebande imbracing one another aboute the myddle. They were Christened and two houres after gaue vppe theyr Ghoste to God.

In the moneth of Iuly two Serpents were séene in the Element by∣ting one another with their tailes foulded in, betwéen which ther appeared a bloudy Crosse.

When Madeburg was sharpely besieged, after the feaste of Easter the sunne was séene bright a litle after his rising, and inuironed with a great milky circle, this circle did foure halfe rainebowes pearce, parted with very exquisite colours as the nature is, after these had appeared they vanished away within halfe an houre, and the Sunne recouering his na∣tural light, went his accustomed course.

On Palme Sonday euen in the morning, betwéene seauen and eight, there appeared thrée Sunnes in the sight of all men, the middle of whyche was very bright colour, but both the Collaterals were red and bloudy, and when these were gone downe as it waxed night, thrée Moones were séene, this made men much more affraid, because those thinges which happened in the night, are commonly in nature seene more dreadfull. Their colours cannot be described bycause they were diuerse and vncertaine. The vtter∣most moones in the ende were chaunged into bloude, and vanished awaye. But she whiche stoode in the middle continued kéeping hir natural bright∣nesse. Bycause these thinges happen vppon certaine naturall causes, the Astronomers can discusse of them, we neither affirme nor disafirme this to be a prodigie, but let euery man iudge as he wil.

But at that time when Duke Anhald, George Bishop of Mersburg, a man of great name, slepte in the Lorde at Wittenberg, in the nighte sea∣son there was séene in the Element a redde Crosse. And in the moneth of September, there was séene in the Castel the shape of a man flaming or a fiery man to walke vp and down.

In a farme of Thuring by Vnster, a woman brought forth a toade with a tayle long and straunge to behold.

The seauen and twentith of October in the Castel of Wittenberg there were séene in the night, for thrée houres togither, as it were thrée men clad in cloakes walking vp and downe in the Princes Court, and sometimes leaning.

In the moneth of December, the Sunne arose bright in the morning, hauing on both sides bowes very wel coloured.

There were hearde in the fielde of Saxonie warlike shoutes and

feareful noyses of men, buskling togither for certaine dayes and nightes, before the Princes mette there togither in armes, and that a most bloudye slaughter was made, as Iob Fincelius testifieth, writing of the myracles of his time.

The sixth of Iuly king Edward of England dyed being of the age of 16. yeres, at Greenewich, when he had raigned sixe yeares, fiue monethes, and odde dayes, and was buryed at Westminster, a prince of such towardnesse in vertue and learning, and all godly giftes, as seldome hath bene the like. Af∣ter whose regiment followed vnder Quéen Marie a grieuous eclipse in the Church, by the absence of the Gospell, for the which diuerse were burned & made awaye, that were founde resisters of the Popishe iurisdiction. Syr Thomas W••at rose in Kent with many gentlemē, and came to London, and being taken, was as rebel put to death the eleauenth of April, being behea∣ded on the tower Hil, and after quartered.

The thirtéenth of the Calends of Iuly at Zichist, a village in Misnia▪ not far from Pernahun, a Child was borne with two heads, hauing all his lims perfect.

In the moneth of Iuly, before the fight of Saxonie, at Wittenberg, there appeared many times a light in the Castell chamber, without anye thyng séene. At Lypsia the eight of Iuly it rained bloud. The day before the fight, two of the tents of Maurice Duke of Saxonie, the one wherein he vsed to dine, the other wherein his meate was drest, all the other being vnhurte, were ouerthrowne to the grounde by a Tempest of winde, as Fincelius writeth.

Maurice Prince of Saxonie, and elector of the Romaine Empire, whē he nowe persecuted (by the helpe of his neyghbours) Albert Marques of Brandburg dealing very extreamely with fire and sworde in diuerse places of Germany, encountring stoutely with him in the Diocesse of Hildesham, and discomfiting and putting to flight his hoste, and taking 68. standerds of his enimies, at length in that ouerthrowe throughe the stroke of a Gunne whiche he toke on the righte side, dyed stoutelye. The third day after, in the same fight Charles and Phillip Dukes of Brunswike, the sonnes of Henrie and Fredericke Duke of Luneburg dyed. There were many forewarnings of so great a calamity. The rage of Dogges, wherewith they stroue euen to the deathe, dreadeful noyses in the ayre, drops of bloude vpon Hearbes and trées, cryes of men and bayings of horsses, hearde at midnight in that fielde where the conflict was, likewise houling in townes in the night season. In the Castel of Perlin, the heade fel off from the grauen Image of Mauricius without any violence vsed, he also séemed in the night time, to an honest mā to be in a burning house: This writeth George Fabricius of Kemned, in his Misman matters.

Before the death of Maurice in a village of Thymigra, the Image of a tall man appeared in the cloudes, bloud beganne to runne from him by lit- and little, afterward sparcles of fire flue from his body, at last he vanished away by piecemeale. Iob Fincelius in his myracles after the rising againe of the Gospel.

The coast which lyeth along the riuer Albis, the sixtéenth of the Ka∣lends of September, betwéene seauen and eight in the euening felt a most grieuous earthquake, wherewith the toppes of houses made suche a noyse, as thoughe all things hadde fallen downe vppon them from a∣boue.

Gasper Peucer writeth that he sawe in the yeare of oure Lord 1553. a Caulfe fearefull and horrible to beholde, looking like a Catte, hauing a greate swelling hanging from vnder his iawe, long like a Bladder, white and softe, hys hayre was blacke like a Dogges, hys stones were of no common greatenesse, like vnto them of a Ramme, double codded.

At Stetin a Monster was borne hauing thys forme: in the place of his [ 1554] head was a deformed lumpe moueable, as the entrailes of a shéepe, in the place of one of his eares stoode an arme, in the place of the face, curled locks like to Cattes haire, and sticking thereon like the spaune of a Pike, thro∣ughe which beneath there appeared glassie brighte little eyes, his mouthe was a very smal hole without lippes, his nose little, and without a necke: the other arme grew out of his side, but ther was no likenesse of breast nor of backe, he was of no kind, his armes and long féete had houfe, whole bone through, without ioyntes, elbowes, and hams, his handes and féete tender, and hanging down as it were twice broken, like vnto crooked and bending clawes. This monster describeth Iob Fincelius.

In Ianuarie at the Towne of Brutzan, so at Misen, two by Sunnes were séene the eighte of the Ides of Ianuarie, whyche by and by were couered in a darke cloude, George Fabricius in his Misnian Notes.

The firste daye of Februarie at Cathalan a Citie in Fraunce, after the mustering of the armye, or viewe, whiche the King of Fraunce com∣maunded at that place to be made, there was séene a wonderfull sighte aboue the Moone, for a greate kindling of fire, rysing from the Easte parte and turning to the weast, laide it selfe against the Moone, in manner of a verye greate Torche: this fire raged wyth a greate noyse often casting out flaming sparckles into the ayre, no other∣wyse than a Smythe doeth at such time when he entendeth to forge hotte Iron.

The nintéenth of Februarie, at Nebra two Images of a Crosse, of a redde colour were séene in the Elemente, but the same daye at Griesseas a Towne of Thuring, amiddest the Sunne whiche then shined verye bryghte there appeared a redde Crosse, whyche wyth greatenesse coue∣red the whole bodye of the Sunne, and on bothe sides a huge beame wyth diuerse Cyrcles in the Elemente. Iob Fincelius in hys myra∣cles.

The ninth of Aprill at Zultzselt whych is thrée myles from Schumin∣forte, a Towne of the Empire, in the nighte two seuerall Moones were séene, and not long after a village was burned.

In Bauaria and Countreys adioyning, diuerse kindes of Sunnes were séene wyth certaine cyrcles in the Elemente, firste at Ingolstad, the sixth of Marche betwéene eight and nine of the clocke in the forenoone, two Sunnes were séene, with a Rainebow, euen as also at Norenburg the thrée and twentith day of March, at which time the memoriall of the passion of Iesus Christ is celebrated, aboute one a clocke at afternoone, at whyche tyme notwithstanding, another bowe towardes the west, and the Sunne shut within Cristaline cyrcles did appeare for thrée houres, with a beame stretched out to a ful length. Afterwarde all these things were séene at Ra∣tisbona. & Renisburgh, in another forme, whose beginning was at one a clock at afternoone, the operation betwéene two and thrée, and the ende at foure. The Sunnes gaue out long beames of one side lyke a Comet, the middle-moste towardes the Northe, but the Collateralles to the Easte and the West.

In Maye at fiue a clocke in the afternoone, in diuerse Cities of Ger∣manye there appeared in the Elemente diuerse kinde of crosses, in likenesse of a Burgundian Crosse of a white coloure, but yet knitte togither after a sorte. The thrée and twentith daye in the twylight, two Sunnes were séene neare the Sunne, inuironed all about as it were wyth a Raine∣bow.

At Schalun a Towne in Fraunce verye well knowen for Marshiall affayres, the sixth of the Ides of Marche, betwéene sixe and eighte of the clocke in the afternoone, there appeared aboute the Moone a burning fire, making a great noyce, wherein there séemed to bée the poynte of a launce tournyng from the Easte to the Weste, and casting out flames on euerye side.

The sixe and twentith of May, as Marcus Fritchius wryteth in his Me∣teors, it rained bloud not farre from a Towne of Germany called Dunc∣kelspuel.

The eleauenth of Iune as the same Authour writeth, in the vilage of Blech fiue miles from Norenburge, a bloudye rodde was séene in the sunne, with starres, or round bowles of Azure, after whom there followed

a great troupe of horsemen, with standerds of Azure, fighting fiercely togi∣ther in the ayre almost for two houres: there was such a shewe of things in the Element at that time, that many thought that the day of the last doome was at hand.

The same yeare the thirtéenth of Iune at Iene, at fiue a clocke in the af∣ternoone the Sunne was séene of a bloudy colour, to whom bowles of fire running togither in greate number from the South and Northeast to the Northweast, did darken his brightnesse. But afterward two beames of a red colour were séene ouerthwart the Sunne, of which more at large read Iob Fincelius.

The 23. of Iuly at Milan there besel a strange thing, whereat also Car∣danus himselfe was present. Iames Philippus Cernuscus commaunded a priuy to be digged in the earth, and to be vawted. When it was finished, he commaunded it to be shut vp: ••0. dayes after he opened it, and commaū∣ded that the woodden arches should be taken out, a workeman went down by a ladder, when he came to the middle of the ladder he fell downe deade, when the maister saw that he came not againe, he also went down, & when he came thyther he by and by fel downe, the standers by sent the third, who when he was amidst the ladder saide, be of good cheare for I will bring out the rest, but when his heade was vnder the vaute he by and by fell downe deade, the fourth also fel downe deade, the fifth whiche was called Matto, (which signifyeth in their language a foole) a very strōg felow, wēt down, but his head did not fayle him, and with his hooke he drewe vp one of the deade, whervpon he being the more imboldened returned and went down thither, so that he went down vnder the vaute, who immediately fel down: they perceyuing that he yet hadde breath drewe him out by little and little and recouered him, yet he remained dumbe till the Sunnes rising the next daye. This is more to be wondered at, that the priuie wente downe as farre as a spring, and the house standeth in a Henne yarde agaynste the hotte Sunne ouer againste the vitayling house of the Hospitall. At the commaundemente of the Magistrates it was vncouered, and safely from the mouth of the Caue they behelde the water, they put in a dogge by a spring, and he was drawen out halfe deade: bycause there appe∣red no certaine cause, there were some that thought that there was a Coc∣katrix in it. Two monthes after, when an olde woman was buried at Ca∣chiarella, whiche is a Farme neare the Citie of Millan. X. M. P. they found two Cheastes full of cloth & linnen, that were hidden almost thirtie yeres before, for feare of warres, whiche when they had opened and searched di∣ligently, they found nothing corrupted, but as many as were present or els that handled them or afterward those things that were hiddē in the chests, they dyed within thrée daies. This doeth Cardane himselfe describe in his first booke Chap. 9.

The foure and twentith of Iuly aboute ten of the clocke at nighte in the vppermost palatine ship of the Rhene, in the ayre appeared at the wood of Bohem two mē in harneis, the one of them was in quantity of body big∣ger than the other, hauing a brighte star at his Nauill, and a fierye swords in his hande, against whome he of smallest stature sighting fiercely, fell downe, so that he coulde scarsely stay himself from the ground, and a chaire being brought to the Conqueror, he sat him down, who sitting for a season ceased not very often to threatē more grieuous reuengement with his cō∣queryng hande and sworde, to him that was conquered lying at his féete, vntill that both, as wel he which ouercame, as also he whiche was van∣quished, vanished out of the ayre.

The fifth of Auguste at nine a clocke at nighte neare to Stolpen, in the southpart of the Element there was séene armies of souldiours, makyng a great shoute and running togither with dreadfull weapons, whiche al∣wayes when they made an ende of fighting, a great aboundaunce of fla∣ming fire breaking out, toke awaye their appearaunce from the sight of the beholders, of thys Prodigie if you please, reade more at large Iob Fin∣celius.

The seauen and twentith of August at Tigure in Switzerland, one Wallis was broken vpon the whéele, bycause he hadde robbed one neare to Wil, a Towne in Turgone Crowes or Choffes so assayled him, that hée was constrayned to resiste the force, and laye downe his burden, this was openlye redde, as the manner is when he was carried to exe∣cution.

In the afternoone, halfe a myle from Micena towardes the weaste in the moneth of October many flockes of Bats were abroade in the fields for two dayes, whereas that liuing creature doth not gather in flockes, and commonly flyeth not abroade but in the euening.

Licostenes had a house cat in Basil, which did kittle Monstrous Cats of thrée seuerall Cattes ioyned togither, and after eating hyr kitlings a∣gainste nature was for the same drowned. Perhappes these were cruell forewarnings of his priuate and domesticall griefes, for the same yeare when he went about to Printe his Apopthegms going out of his studie the one and twentith of December he was taken with an extreame palsie, whereby by little and little he shrinking to the grounde, did so lose at one moment, not only his voyce, but the right part of his body, and all the fée∣ling and mouing thereof, from the heade to the héele, his sighte and hearing only excepted, that he could not vtter one word for twelue dayes nor stande vpon his féete, nor moue one finger out of his bedde for thrée moneths: his lims séemed to be turned, not into wood, but into very hard stones, whilest the bloud of the diseased part through the coldenesse of the humours and the obstructions of the nerues and passages was so colde and hardened, that

they could not scarsely at length be made warme.

At Friberg in Misnia at noone tide, the Image of our Lord Iesus Christ, was séene sitting vpō a rainbow, notably set out in his natural colours, as Fincelius hath written in his myracles, after the rising againe of the Go∣spel.

At Rekow, a manour house in Pomeran neare to Rug by the entry of the riuer Viander, a Mare brought forth a Colte, with a deformed head, hauing [ 1554] where the eyes shold stand reddish spottes, hanging eares, such as Hounds haue, growing to the skin in y^e lower part, his mouth was also monstrous with turning lips, as it were two little ladles put togither, that the Mare coulde not giue him sucke, his necke was wrythed and hollow, set out wyth diuerse colours as it were chaines, his mane was platted ful of wreathes, when he neyghed, a great horsse was thought to neigh, and if by chaunce a∣ny gentleman came neare him, he stirred his whole body and beat y^e groūd, as if he had bin mad, and woulde run violently vpō them, he stoode vpright making a terrible neyghing, he coulde abide townesmen and Countreymē whom he suffered fréely to come vnto him, his skin was toughe and ful of haire, in the place of his taile stoode vp a huge crest, euen when the colt was deade. His fore féete were, one, like a mans, the other, none at al, but only a maymed foote, his hinder féete were like horsse féete, he liued for thrée days, and afterward was put in the grounde and couered, Iob Fincelius, after the rising again of the Gospel.

In the moneth of August in Suffolke at a place by the sea side, al of harde stone and pibble, called in those parts a shelfe, lying betwéene the towne of Ortford and Alborne whereas neuer grew grasse, nor any earth was euer séene, there chaunced in this barren place, sodainely to spring vp without a∣ny tillage or sowing, great aboundaunce of Pease, wherof the poore (being notably vexed at that time, with the lacke of necessarie foode) gathered (as menne iudged) aboue a hundred quarters, yet remayned some ripe and some blossoming, as many as euer ther were before, to the which place rode the Bishop of Norwich, and the Lord Willoughby, wyth others in great number, who found nothing but hard rockie stones, the space of thrée yards, vnder the rootes of the Peason. About this time was broughte to Linne a monstrous fish of 9. foote in length, hauing within it much white & cleare fat, & being eaten it proued to be holesome meate, in taste like redde déere, the like fish before not séene, neither was known, the name or nature thereof. The beginning of October fel such raine, that for the space of sixe dayes, men might rowe with boates in Saint Georges field, the water came into Westminster Hall, also into the Pallace of Westminster and into Lam∣beth Church, that men might row about the Church and Bishoppes place, with a whirrie. The euent.

The 16. day of October Doctor Ridley, and Doctor Latimer were burned at Oxford for the maintenaunce of the Gospel, the rest of the effects folow in the next yeare. Iohn Stow.

Ierom Cardane a man of great learning hath written that a whales heade being drawen out of the sea at Genoa, lay long vpon the shore, which was so greate, that the space betwéene the vpper iaw and the neather, con∣tayned nintéene paces, (so many yards) and in Cardanes iudgemente no∣thing was signifyed by this monster, but that Cyrna being loste, the heade shoulde remaine, the body being cōsumed: for Genoa by reason of the Lord∣ship, and littlenesse of it, supplyeth the place of the heade, Cyrna of the body. If they had in due time interpreted this forewarning, they might haue for∣tifyed their Castels against the Turkes nauie, which happened a yere after, whereby they mighte neither haue lost the Iland nor spente so muche mo∣ny, now hereby al Europe grew in feare and also became in danger, for as al these things séeme superstitious, yet these strāge sights ioined with natural prudencie may be obserued very profytably for the common wealthes pre∣seruation. For the heade of so great a sea Monster coulde not be cut off, ey∣ther by a greater sea Monster, or by a Gunne or any other chaunce, but if so be it were slaine at once by some chaunce or violence, and that the necke being writhen asunder, the body shoulde consume and the head be left, how commeth it to passe, that the heade did not first putrify or consume? or howe coulde the necke be broken of, which in the Whales kind is not much lesse then the head so that fishes are saide to want a necke. To conclude in suche vnkouth coasts, what singular force droue the head to Genoa? nothing but a minde that knewe desteny in due season distributing euery token for euery chaunce. This writeth Cardanus in his fourtéenth booke Chap. 74. of the varietie of things.

There was séene a prodigie neare the Towne of Zoped which Fin∣celius described, the Sun arose bloudy, ouer whom stoode a gorgeous house which was burned at both sids of y^e sun, there stoode vpright a high Piller, like to the pillers of Hercules, as are commonly pointed (which take name of two Moūtaines standing in the vtmost coast of Spaine and Affricke whi∣che Hercules commaunded to be set in that place, as a signe of victorie a∣gainst théeues) and the Pillers were coloured like the Rainebow, yet wer they not arched but stoode vpright, whose baces séemed to touch the ouer∣shewe of the grounde, and to spreade themselues far abroade. The nexte daye the Sunne rose in the morning with a chaunged coloure some∣what pale, the house as before stoode verye bryghte and shyning, the Pyllers also shewed themselues agayne imbracyng the Sunne in the middle, but not so playnelye as it dydde at the firste daye. And they were séene in the ayre, but no more to touche the ground.

At Rome in the hospital or place where fatherlesse children are cherished, as Cardanus hath written, all the gyrles which were in number about 7. became possessed, neither any of them for two yeres space coulde be gouer∣ned, whereo••re the cause may come of the exhalation of the place, or of the water, for the water doth change heares and humoures: it may also be a de∣ceit. So the same Cardan doth witnesse that he knewe a man who being a boye, counterfeyted for sixe yeres and more that he sawe the Deuill, to the end he might liue more at libertie, and make men to maruaile at him, and also followed his vnbrideled pleasure. Many thinges happen among men, but if one with a constant minde doe consider with himselfe, he shall easily smell out that all such thinges are vayne and full of deceyte: but who doub∣teth to be possessed with a diuell or to be mad is not vayne? I would to God it were: wherefore if this happened without counterfeiting, it declared the lewdenesse of times to come, and of prelates, for as harmelesse age doeth growe to a wicked example, so they whiche ought to beare rule in religion shall be geuen ouer to a reprobate sence, wherevpon they being accursed, shall not onely be hissed at and scorned, but also shall be damned. This writeth Cardanus in his fourtéenth Booke, 76 Chapter of the variety of thinges. [ 1551]

Not farre from Berne in Switzerlande the wife of Iohn Gislinger a Preacher in the Lordship of Berne, when she had broughte forth a twinne, within a yere after she brought forth fiue children, to wit, thrée Sons and two daughters, but if it séeme to any impossible, let him reade the learned commentaries of Francis Picus Mirandula vpon his second Hymne, and he shall finde that one Dorothie a Germane woman brought forth in Italye at two byrthes 20 sonnes, and at another 30. whereof mention is made be∣fore in their place.

At Stettium it happened that a chylde being borne was christened in the night, which after a direfull maner was against the Curate that was about to christen him, by turning of his body, by crying out and diuers ge∣stures, that he made all the standers by afrayde, at length the Pastor ma∣king feruent prayer to God christened the childe, he had vpon the toppe of his head a lumpe of fleshe bearing the Image of a red snayle in the neck: he had a fleshly tayle like a Ratte, but whitish, like vnto the skinne withoute heares: his head was deformed, and his eyes stoode oute, of whome also Iob Fincelius writeth in his Myracles after the rising agayne of the Gos∣pell.

In Mysnia a chyld was borne without a head, hauing the forme of eyes standing in his brest, of whom the same noteth Fincelius, also a cocke with thrée legges which ran very swift.

The tenth of Februarie at Vinaria two by Moones were séene, the ••••. of Februarie in the village of Pfeffelbach by Vi••ar as Fincelius recordeth

this monster was borne of a sheapheardes wife, a boy without a mannes face, in place thereof he had smooth fleshe, sauing that he had two great eyes vnlike one the other standing out, not placed in the holes, horrible to be∣holde: in the place of his forehead, a point of flesh hanging out which stoode vpright, it had a hanging chin, a little hole in the place of his mouth where∣withal the beholders were sore afrayd, neither was he christned, but forth∣with buried.

At H••lberstad the eightéenth of Februarie, it happened that a Lambe was yoened with a round head, with thrée eyes, thrée mouthes, two noses, with hanging eares to his backward, like to dogges eares, but (which is to be counted a great prodigie in his thrée mouthes he had a great eye greater than the other, and there he put forth a long tongue, he liued one daye with continuall crying, Iob Fincelius.

The thirtéenth of Marche in Thuring, a sworde was séene in the Ele∣ment. There were a great number of butterflies about Friberg in Misnia, about the moneth of Iune, which stained plants, leaues of trées, and linnen clothes, with bloody spots, sonne also affirmed y^t it rained blood, as George Fabricius writeth of the towne of Friberg.

In Germany a Gote had a horne growing oute of his side: and also seuen miles from August, a Calfe was there séene with two heads, foure eyes, 2. on the forehead, and 2 vpon his sides.

The 6. of Iune at Vinar, in a ditche going about the Castle, a Fountayne of blood was séene for thrée whole dayes. At Erdford a fountain was turned into blood. Moreouer a little spring standing betwéene Vinar and Erdforde, which in An. 1524 before the warre of the countreymen, was turned into blood, which cruell prodigie appeared agayne bloody, the 12 and 13 of Iune as Fincelius writeth.

The 12 of Iune at Neher in Thuring, this wonderfull thing happened which Fincelius describeth vnto vs, a shoemakers wife dwelling there had for thrée dayes painefull labour, that she was driuen to vse 3. Midwiues, at length she brought forth a dead childe, but in her throwes and deliuerie when the childe was halfe appearing, a great noise and terrible sound was heard like a gun in her belly being in labour, & great falmes of fyre brake forth with the childe, and burned great blisters vpon his buttockes, it scor∣ched the midwiues chéekes, called Katherine Heggenwald, and the flames scattered abroade ouer al the Stoue, filling all the house with a sulphurous smell.

One Saint Stephans day, in the village of Freywerg not farre from Adorfe, a Towne in Voulande▪ a Smithes Wife broughte forth a childe with two heads, foure handes, and so many féete, withoute anye secrete bewraying the sexe or kinde in whose place notwithstanding it hadde a na∣••••.

In the Moneth of December at Rosow at a manour house in Pomeran, whiche standeth but a myle from Pasewalck a woman brought forth a hor∣rible Monster, his body was like a Calfe, his head smooth and rounde like a boule, after the likenesse of an Ape, his chin heary, his tongue hanging out; his soreféete were without nayles, hauing only little round knobs, his hin∣der féete like an Oxe, his tayle was without ioyntes, bonye and not stir∣ring.

The 29 day of December betwéene 0 and •••• at nighte, there arose an excéeding tempest, and the thunder and lightning was so cruell that in V••ni∣lande and in many other cities it quite destroyed a Church, and diuers hou∣ses: Moreouer the same day in Misnia certayn Villages and Castles were stricken with lightning.

In Bohemia from the towne of Prage almost throughoute all Silecia, for the space of eightéene miles or thereaboute, hayle didde verye muche harme.

In Marchia not farre from Regemont, a Mare broughte forth a monstrous Colt, hauing the skinne gagged euery where, hanging bréeches and a dublet cut, like to the fashion of the Launceknightes, as writeth Iob Fincelius.

A terrible example of Gods seuere punishment vpon a certayne priest in Kent, named Nightingale, Parson of Crondale besides Canterburye, who [ 1555] vppon shroue Sondaye, whiche was aboute the thyrde daye of the sayde moneth of March, began to make a sermon to his Parishioners, taking his Theame out of the wordes of Saint Iohn, He that sayth he hath no sinne is a Lyer, and the truth is not in him. &c. After an impertinent entring into this Texte, he sayde: Nowe maisters and Neighboures reioyce and be merrye, for the prodigall sonne is come home, for I knowe that y^e moste parte of you be as I am, for I knowe your hartes well ynough, and I shall tel you what hath happened. This wéeke past I was before my Lord Cardinall Pooles Grace, and he hath made me as cleane from sinne, as I was at the Font Stone, and on Thursedaye last being before him, he hath appoynted me to notifie (I thanke him for it) the same vnto you, and I will tell you what it is: and so reading the Popes Bull of pardon that was sent into Englande, he sayde, he thanked God that euer he had liued to sée that daye, adding moreouer that he beléeued that by vertue of that Bul, he was as cleane from sinne, as that night that he was borne: immediate∣ly as he so sayd he fell downe out of the Pulpit, and nouer stirred hand nor foote: Loe the ende of wilfull resisting Gods holy ordinance: Monuments of Martirs▪ the tenth Booke Follio 1731. It is better to truste in the Lorde GOD than in manne, whose arme is fleshe, and power cutte off by death.

At Genoa among the Allobroges a monster was borne of a frenche woman, which was a token of matter abounding, that monster had two faces, that is, she was Bifrons, like as antiquitie painted Ianus: that whiche hong on both sides was puft vp, the entrailes came out at the backe, and that which did hang out at the lower part of the belly was the liuer cōming oute from the secrets. This monster was of both kinds, on the right side male, on the left side female, the thighes which were apart were broken and pulled frō the Mother when she was in trauaile.

[ 1556] This yere in Englande before haruest, Wheate was solde for foure markes the quarter, Malte at 44 shillings the quarter, Rie at 40 shillings the quarter, and Peaze at 46 shillings the quarter: but after haruest wheat was solde for fiue shillings a quarter, Mault for sixe shillinges eight pence, Rye at thrée shillings and foure pence, and in the Countrey Wheate was solde for foure shillinges the quarter, that is sixe pence the bushell, Maulte for foure shillinges and eight pence, and in some place a bushell of Rie was solde for a pounde of Candels, which was foure pence. This sodaine plenty foretolde the aboundant grace which was to come vnloked for, and vnlike∣ly also among the people so soone to happen. Callis was as sodainly lost the first of Ianuarie.

The eleuenth of Ianuarie at Ausburg toward the mountaynes the Element opened, and seemed as it were to be clouen asunder, wherevppon manye thinking that the latter day of Iudgemente was at hande, yéelded themselues to Gods mercye, and the same day about nine of the clocke at nighte at Mickhas in Bauaria there arose such an extreame tempest that it put out the lightes that were in the houses, and one fierie brightnesse in the Element gaue them light almost for thrée houres. At Ausburg not long af∣ter there followed cruell robberies in the Citie, for a Cutlers wife in hope of a very large praye felled in her house a marchant man with a Gun, and immediately her maid cut his throte. The day before the common post slue a certayn officer with a Gunne before the gates of the Citie, the thirtéenth daye of the moneth another thrust through a Butcher with his sworde, on which daye also Holtzach and Wisnig were burned. The 15 day the kéeper of S. Katherines Wood being stricken with a Gunne dyed. The 7 daye a Goldsmiths seruant drouned himself, & the same night many were woun∣ded euen to the death.

In Algo•• a countrey of Sweadon not farr from Loengen, the Saturday after the byrth of Christ, there arose a greate thunder and lightning, by the which one house was consumed. The third houre of the night the Element cleauing did voyde out so much fire, that many men for certayn houres be∣ing in danger of their life for feare and dreade, lost the vse of their tongue and voice. The same day also in Bohemia and in Silecia through a cruell tempest of weather many men and cattaile were slaine, and many houses

and churches were beaten to the ground.

In other countreyes of Germany there were Cities set on fyre and for the most part consumed with fyre from heauen. It rained blood, and the I∣mages were séene in the Element deuouring a man in armour. Not far frō Lipsia a chylde was borne with two heades, 4 hands, and so many féete but with one body alone.

[illustration]

The day before the Nones of Ianuarie in Germany, at a vi∣lage belonging to y^e byshoppricke of Di∣ling called Oberhan∣sen a cowe broughte forth a Calfe y^t had but the two hinder féete, yet of so great swiftnesse that run∣ning with the body vprighte, he surpas∣sed all other calues one foote.

In the Countie of Boetz neare to an holde of the same name, the 19 of y^e ka∣lends of February, from foure a clocke in the afternoone til 7. there was a cru∣ell tempest, much thunder and ligh••∣ning, at last there fell downe vpon the ground a mightie deale of fyre from heauen with a great noyse, and burned many thinges on euery side. There were séene also in the cloudes armies of footemen and horsemen fighting on both sides.

There appeared at the beginning of Marche, An. 1556. a Comet al∣most halfe as bigge as the moone, with heares not verye long, nor abiding in a place but flaming like fyre, as in torches while the winde bloweth, it was dimme, reddish, and thick: the fift day of Marche it was by the mid∣dle of Libra, but the ninth day it was in y^e north pole: wherfore it declined 65 partes from the east to the weast, and 30 from the South to the North, then it rayned continually, and when the raine seaced it appeared not. In

Germany it appeared till the middle of Aprill. From the ende of Marche, there followed continuall fayre weather vntil the 27 of Aprill, and so much heate, that the constitution of the time was like the moneth of Iune. In the Astrologers iudgement it signifieth strife concerning the lawes, by rea∣son of the colour of the heares, and the moouing, and also pestiferous disea∣ses, namely in Germany and Panonia, Asia, and Greece, and among the Nor∣therne nations▪

In the Ile of Madagascar called by the Portugales S. Laurence, among sundrye straunge hearbes, Woodes, beastes and Fishes, there is a straunge byrde made like a Puttocke or rauenous Foule, the bill like a Hauke, but thicker, eares hanging downe like a Spaniell, verye full of feathers of a white siluer shining colour, only the feathers on the head blackish, they cal this byrde Pa, in the Persian tongue P••e or Lege, this foule liueth by deuou∣ring Serpentes: I thought good to set downe this report, because the lyke in this our Europa is not to be founde, Andrew Theuet. Chapter 23. Fol. 45.

The third of Marche in the towne of Bergerdorf a monster was brought forth after a sort like a calfe, he had sixe féete, two heades and an Arse, the heads were seuered in length, the one of which séemed to looke towarde the Easte, the other towarde the weast, thrée feete to the forme of the one, and 3 to the other.

In the moneth of Aprill Rossana a Citie of Astopia, was terribly sha∣ken with a gréeuous Earthquake, to the great hurte of the inhabitauntes, with the violence whereof many buildinges fell downe in the Countries nere too for thirtie myles space. But the tenth daye of this moneth there was a dreadful Earthquake at Constantinople, where it is reported to haue continued thrée whole dayes, it caste downe manye Towers, it didde great harme to the Churche called Saint Sophia, and to the Gate of Ha∣drionopolis.

The thyrde daye after which was the thirtéenth of the same moneth, a Starre of a huge greatnesse was séene nere the Moone, which almost it sée∣med to touch. This Earthquake with y^e rest, Valentine Nuberie of Noren∣berg hath described.

In America among the sauage people, there is a byrde called Toucan, of the greatnesse of a Pigeon, of the which there are 2 kinds, ouer the backe & toward the head black, sauing that about the taile and brest the feathers are yellow about 4 fingers brode as well in breadth as in length, the yellowe is most bright shining and excellent, at the end of the tay••e there are little Feathers, as read as blood, the wilde men take the skinne of that parte that is yellow, with the which they garnishe their Sword sheathes, Hats, and other trinkets: the bill of this byrd is greater and longer than the body. A∣mong

some of these byrdes, there are a sorte more bewtifull then Parats, of whose feathers the Americans make great choyse. An. The••et. Cha. 47. Folio. 91.

In diuers places of Switzerlande in the Citie of Basill, and the Fieldes about it, the 12 of May and the daye following within the Lordshippe of Berne, not farre from the Towne of Dun, dewe fell from heauen that was swéeter then honey, which also oftentimes came to passe before, yet namelye in Fraunce▪ the yere of our Lord 1598, there followed a murrain a∣mong cattaile, which doth commonly go with it.

The fourtéenth of may, nere to Schapus at the Village of Herblingen it rained blood. Some denied that it was so, but the thing was found out true, by them that sought for it.

The 2. of Iune a great swarme of Grashoppers spoiled certayne quar∣ters of the Lower Germany. Fincelius.

At Basill a Boye was borne hideous to beholde, hauing a bodye well ynough compacte, but hée had a rough hearye heade, more like vnto a Dogge, a Catte, or an Ape, than a manne, he liued aboute an houre and a halfe.

At Aldenburg a Towne in Misnya the nynth daye of Auguste, a [ 1556] great Tempest arising, brought the townes men in excéeding great daun∣ger of their liues, vppon whiche daye also a Childe was borne and there christened as Fincelius hath written, who diuers tymes before he was borne cryed aloude in his mothers bellye, to the great astonishmente of all men.

The seconde daye of September, at fiue a clocke in the morning, at Locarne, a whyrlewinde withoute a storme comming from the South parte, didde so cast downe the Castle Wall, whiche stoode on the one syde of Locarne, that through the fall thereof part of the houses nere to was cast downe. The same daye aboute two of the clocke at afternoone the Ele∣ment was so ouercast with darke cloudes, that the daye séemed to be quite taken away, but not long after, feareful thunder & lightning with so much raine followed, that none that was aliue could remember that he euer saw the like, because that nothing in mennes houses was lefte frée from the domage thereof: it continued from two a clocke vntill it was sixe: in the meane season vyolent floodes and streames, running from the hilles nere too, made a shewe of great Riuers, the noyse whereof being putte to the fearefull sounde of the rayne and storme, didde so much astonishe mennes myndes, that they thoughte that all thinges shoulde by and by perishe.

The fifte day of September at Custerin, a little Towne in Marchia at nyne a Clocke at nighte, there appeared euerye where in the Elemente

innumerable flames of fire, but amidst the Element there were séene two fierye beames and at laste a voyce was hearde from aboue, but no figure séene, saying: Vae, Vae Ecclesiae, Wo, Wo be to the Church, Iob Fincelius in the myracles of his time.

[illustration]

The 24 of Iuly a Cow brought forth a deformed Monster in the vilage of Clesdorf 3. miles distant from Pabenberg, which Fincelius also described, he had foure féete like a Calfe, his head like a man, a black beard, two mens eares, indifferent well heared, likewise a mans brest with dugges, the monster was brought forth at the farme of a noble woman, a widowe. So Volaterranus writeth that a childe was borne of a woman, begotten by a Dogge, hauing a mans shape in the vpper part, but the lower parte the ful forme of a dogge, and to purge the sinne he was brought to the Pope, of which matter Cardanul maketh mētion, Booke .14. Chap. 64. of the varie∣ty of thinges.

In Switzerlande the monday after the feast of Sainte Gallus not far frō the town of Winterthur in the riuer of Thesus, they report y^t there were séene a crosse, and the armes of Burgondy set out, and as it were engrauen by nature.

At Bobatsha a Citie in Hungary the vj. daye of October before the Sun rising, there was séene in the ayre a singular combate of two naked boyes, but armed with Targets and Swordes, wherein he whiche had the Tar∣get with the spread Eagle, séemed so to ouerthrowe the other fenced with Turkishe armoure, that his bodye appeared to be wounded with manye strokes, and to fall to the earth out of the cloudes. At the same time & place

also there was séene a bow in the element set out with his natural colours, and two sunnes on both sides of him.

In the moneth of December not far from Ausbarg, a Beare was séene in the element fighting with a Lion.

At Wittenberg in Saxony there were séene two by suns, a crooked cloude partie coloured with blew and red stretched out like a rainebow, and as it were with equall disstance inuironed the earth, but the sun being compas∣sed on both sides with the by Sunnes seemed to be of a pale and sad coun∣tenaunce.

In the towne of S. Gallus in Switzerland, Peter Besler born at Rot∣munde, being the Seruant of a Citizen dwelling not far from the City of Sainte Gallus, an vngodlye and rashe yong man, and verye muche gy∣uen to dronkennesse when vppon the Sondaye, whiche by the olde church was dedicate to Saint Trinitie, the one and twentith daye of Maye, hée was gone to the Towne of Sangall with his Companyons, there to make merry, he being peuish through ouer muche Wine (as commonlye suche vyle persons are wont to doe at Feastes or Banquets) he made a styrre and rayled at his Companions and at length after diuers kinds of blasphe∣mies againste God, he added this moreouer: if I serue my Maister here∣after, I betake my body and soule to the Diuell, but when he had stayed al the night in the Citie, in the morning hauing digested his surfet, he some∣what called to remembraunce what he had said and done the night before, when he founde no other meanes to finde hymselfe, then to retourne vnto his Maysters worke which before he hadde cursed, béeing nowe gone forth of the Cittie, not farre from his maisters house, a manne feare∣full to beholde, and cladde in blacke araye, spoke to him with these wordes: Go to, good fellowe, I am nowe readye to take that which is my right, and which was giuen me yesterdaye, whiche spoken taking the fellow by the hande amased with feare and horrour, and altogether a∣stonyed cast vnto the grounde, and vanished awaye: but not long after the moste myserable yong man being founde by the Neighboures hauing his handes and féete drawne together, was brought to a lodging, where after the vse of all his Limmes was taken awaye, and kéeping his bedde hée he most miserablye past the dayes of his life with no lesse greife of minde then bodye.

At Basill, was séene a man hauing on both handes sixe fingers. And a henne chicken that had foure féete.

The firste daye of Nouember at Tundorfe, aboute foure a clocke in the Morning a potters wife was deliuered of a horrible Monster: from the crowne of the head to the midrife, he was like a man but his mo••th〈…〉〈…〉 out like a dogges, he hadde a frowning face, but from〈…〉〈…〉 downewarde, was destitute of the other partes of mannes 〈…〉〈…〉 ••∣cended

downewarde in forme of Piramides, in the poynte hauing the lykenesse of a wrinckled tayle of a Sowe, but on his backe bone there was the forme of a Nauill standing out as it were a Tayle: the sexe of this monster didde not appeare, for there were founde no tokens of any thing.

The fourth of December a man childe was borne at Basill withoute anye eares, in whose place he had onelye two holes, whiche notwithstan∣ding were so shutte vppe, that he coulde heare nothing, the Chylde liued sickelye till the moneth of August, at whose beginning he dyed with many griefes.

[ 1557] At Ausburg betwéene Basill and Rinfelde, there were found Hens with Géese féete.

At Basill about the feast of Easter a childe was borne with suche clouen and open Nostrels, that his braine was very easily séene from thence. And the fift of the kalendes of May abont 9. of the clocke at night in fayre wea∣ther, a circle, which the Philosophers call Halo, appeared about the Moone, and lasted for two houres.

The •• of the Kalends of August in certaine villages of Suntgoia betwéene the Towne of Eusbeim and Basill, and also the 13 of the kalends of the same moneth, sunnes were séene in fayre and cleare weather.

The seuenth of the Ides of August, with vs at Basil, a man chylde was borne with a bodye well ynough framed or compact, but withoute a necke, hauing his eyes of no common greatnesse, as they were placed in his foreheade, and he wanted the vppermoste parte of his heade: be∣hinde his heade he hadde a bigge hole, out of the which hole there ran oute some blood, wherevpon immediatelye after he was borne, he ended his life.

These are the prodigies and strange sightes (studious Reader) which at this time I thought good to note in very few wordes, in adding those thinges as far forth as my reading did aford, which immediately followed, to the end that thou mightest more plainly perceiue, that they were the cer∣tain prognostications of alterations, changes, and calamities, and the true tokens of Gods wrath, that euery man being thereby become more wary and prudent through other mens harmes, and perceiuing that God is an∣gry with the world, and threatning the destruction thereof, may haue grea∣ter occasion to appease him with repentance & innocencie of life: Our euer∣lasting Lorde Iesus Christe, is to be desired and earnestly to bée entreated of vs, that through his intercession hée woulde mittigate his Fathers wrath, renewe in vs a newe harte, encrease oure Fayth, and for euer preserue his Churche, whiche he hath redéemed with his owne blood, from all the craftes and subtelties of Sathan and of the corrupte Worlde. Amen.

The seuenth day of Iuly within a mile of Nottingham, was a mar∣uailous great tempest of thunder, & it came through two Townes, it beate down all the houses and churches, and deuided the stones eche from other: also the belles were caste to the outside of the churchyarde, and some of the webbes of leade 00 foote into the fielde, and writhen about like leather: al∣so sixe acres of Medowe grounde betwixte the two townes was taken vp and torne to dust, and séene flying in the ayre, and neuer knowne farther where it became. The Cartes were torne and cast about also. Betwixt these two Townes ranne the Riuer of Trent where the tempest followed the Riuer one thousande foote, and tooke vp the water with the madde in the bottome, scattering the same agaynst Trées, a quarter of a mile. Al∣so there were Trees pulled vp by the rootes, and caste from their growing twelue score, and some of them were more than two lodes a péece. Also a Chylde was by the same vyolente Tempest taken forth of a mannes hands and aboute thyrtie foote lyfted vp into the ayre, at the fall whereof the arme of the Chylde was broken, of the whiche hée dyed, with fyue or ••••xe other menne nere thereaboute that were slayne, neyther fleshe nor skinne perished. There came also a little before the Tempest some haylestones that were in cōpasse about fiftéene inches. Stow in his abridge∣ment.

In Ianuarie in diuers places of Saxony, Misnia, and Bohemia, were horrible tempests of winde, rayne, thunder and lightning, which did much harm, & especially about churches. The same moneth at Vitodure a town•• miles frō Schurike in Heluetia, fire appeared in one of y^e stéeples of y^e church, and made such a noyse, that all the people resorted thether to quench it, and when they came thether no fire appeared. This happened twice the fourth day of that moneth, and also the 14 day.

The 26. of Februarie died Frederike Palsegraue of the Rhene and Elector.

The 21. day of Marche at Oxforde Thomas Cranmer, who had bene [ 1557] Archbishop of Canterbury, a learned and worthye man, was for mayntay∣ning of the Gospell, burned at Oxforde, as writeth D. Cooper in his Chro∣nicle after Lanquet, & Iohn Fox more at large in the monumentes of Mar∣tirs.

This winter the quartane agues continued, called y^e pestilent agues so y^e many Gentlemen but chéefely husbandmen died, by the meanes whereof, the corne stoode on the ground for want of workemen in many places and also (one thing to be marked) such a company of Priestes dyed, that a great number of parishes in diuers places were vnserued, and no Curates to bée gotten.

Warre proclaymed in Fraunce, many Englishe men died at Sainte Quintines of the plague, Callis also was lost, a famous place for the

defence of the Englishe Nauie, the Frenche King tooke the same into his possession from whose posteritie it was long before wonne.

[ 1558] Quéene Mary died the 17 of Nouember 1558. when she hadde raigned fiue yeres foure moneths, and twelue dayes. The same daye dyed Cardi∣nall Poole. Reade Cooper, Stow, Grafton, and the Monuments of Mar∣tirs.

[illustration]

The Flying Stingroh was séene in the South Seas, aboute thys season fashioned like a ser∣pent, the wings like the Batte, prickle∣boned like y^e thorne∣backe, headed as a Serpente, whose flighte continueth no longer then his wings are wet: this fishe oftentimes wil settle on the Rocks. Gesner. It is suppo∣sed that when he fli∣eth, he is pursued of other fishes to be de∣uoured who setling far from the shore, through vnablenesse of flight, dieth.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Gen. 3.
• * 1.2

  Apoca. 18.
• * 1.3

  Three pyntes English.
• * 1.4

  If Pinders wife and her coun∣te••••eit Daugh∣ter had had for the like filthye deuice such pu∣nishment, the Iustice had re∣ce••••ed cōmen∣dation.
• * 1.5

  Germany.
• * 1.6

  Illusions.
• * 1.7

  Virgill