Generall signifying it would cost all their lives for that the Town-house was already undermined and the Myne filled with powder and that they certainly expected to be blown up immediatly Out of commiseration therefore to those poore people was offered another agreement unto the Governour and granted them liberty to march out with their swords onely which was accepted At Dresden Iune the 23. Anno 1634. happened another Prodigy where towards evening at five of the clocke the Sun was first seene as white as Snow and then suddainely becomming darke as if a mist went over it It appeared first in forme of a Crowne and then like a Feather red as blood in which postures when it had continued by the space of halfe an houre it returned to his orbicular shape but retained the sanguine hew till it went downe and the Moon at her rising retained the same bloody aspect till she was not to be seen in that Horison I know not whatsoever the Physiologers bable of naturall causes yet such alteration in the Heavenly and Ayry bodies is alwayes prodigious Memorable was that observation of the ancient Astrologians to this purpose Speaking of the fearfull blazing Star seene 1618. that it did presage 1. Violenta et superba Consilia dissidiâ— proditiones et rebelliones 2 Latrocinia et subsessiones viarum solicitudinem Auxietatemque Animorum 3 Regum et Principum interitum bella pestem et morbos varios 4 Religionis legum et institutorum mutationem novarum rerum inexplebilem cupiditatem I shall not dispute of the effects but expect them a Luxuriant wit may happily play on either side and presage probably good or evill to either party I dare not medle here my wish is Deus omen in hostes Convertat and my prayer shall still be Powre out thine indignation O Lord upon the Heathen and thy wrath upon them which have not called upon thy name About the midle of Iune Anno 1634. at Berlin in the marquisdom of Brandenburg it rayned Blood and Brimstone The next yeare following in the moneth of November before the gate of Itzeho a Towne in Holstein it rayned thick blood whose droppes instead of inck have represented right naturall Blood in writing How many bloody conflicts and encounters the same yeare and the next following happened betwixt these two Countries no man can fully apprehend or beleeve unlesse such as have seen it with their eyes And to avoide all other bloody passages whichhave raged most cruelly in those parts yet still in remembrance is the last bloody and sore Battell which was fought in the moneth of October Anno 1636. at Witstock in which were slaine 7000. of common Souldiers upon the place on the Saxon and Imperiall side and many others more which fell by the sword of the Swedes in the prosecution 6. whole Regiments being totally ruinated besides those great Commanders who lost their lives also namely the two Generall Majors Wilsdorp and Goliz 5. Colonels besides Rittmasters Captaines and divers Officers both of Horse and Foot 1500. prisoners taken amongst which were 170. Officers 143. Cornets and Ensignes 14. peeces of Ordnance and 8000. Wagons were lest to the Swedish conquerours Of the Swedes were also slaine upon the place of Battell 1000. and upwards amongst which there were of account two Colonels 4. Lieutenant Colonels and sundry Ritmasters Captaines and under officers At Mâ—lnick where the Randevouz of the Saxon Army was in time of prayer Iuly the 24. Anno 1634. was a strange apparition in the Ayre which is thus delivered by Letters bearing date the same day That about evening when our Electors Chaplaine was at prayers there appeared a signe in the Skie like a fiery Beame when he had finished his course and the Lieutenant Generall Arnheim his Chaplaine did his Office there appeared another in a forme of a Scepter fiery-red just over the house where he made his sermon assoone as prayers were done and the Chaplaine had spoken Amen the signe vanished It was seene of many after this The Crabats like Vermin in a Warren worse then Bandetties have ransacked plundered and pillaged what places soever they came unto in these Countries this yeare and the other following they spared neither Noblemens Houses Churches nor Cloysters but robbed and dismembred the Country people ravished the women defloured the maids burnt the Villages and Townes and did such mischievous insolences as those Rhodopes and Dolopes would have started at Man and beast and Fowles of the Ayre all seemed now to be at an irreconciliable difference and Germany must be the stage whereupon they played their prizes at Hessen in the moneth of March Anno 1635. there met together two Armies of strange Birds which fought as it were in a set Battaile and neere Straubinge upon the Danubie multitudes of Dogges had their randevouze which fought so eagerly that the whole vicinage was not onely affrighted by the Prodigy but as if they would not admit of any agreement but such as themselves liked of when the Governour of Ratisbone had sent out against them 4. companies of his Garrison with Muskets and other Military instruments to assault and slaye them they left their hostility a strange Enemy comming upon them set upon the Souldiers and in despite of their shot and weapons devoured nine men Multitudes of Strange dogges fought so Eagerly and slew each other that the Gouerner of Ratisbone sent 4 Companies of Muskets against them and 9. of the men were slaine by the dogges The Conduit at Isenach rane blood for 2 houres together 1637 Strange Prodigies terrifying the hearts of the people while the Princes and peeres were in their jollitie in the Dyet at Ratisbone Mars and Saturne reigned abroad and warre with his grim attendants Famine Pestilence Fire and destruction also raging abroad in the Romane Empire What might happen by the fault of a carelesse or unskilfull Mason not well bedding or cementing the stones at the building of a new Steeple at Vienna was by the construction of the vulgar sort counted ominous The spire of Shotten lately built fell downe suddenly the 19. of December Anno 1636. about the time of the Coronation of the new King of Romanes at Ratisbone and demolished the new builded Church and that was made portentous the rather being accompained with another of the same time at Rome where a great blazing Starre called by the Naturalists Cometa Crinitus appeared for a space and then vanished away suddenly over S. Pauls Church with a noyse and diverse Monuments placed in the Church fell downe and were defaced utterly Now it would relish of over much boldnesse to peepe into the Arke of the Divine Secrets nor can we conclude any particular consequences to have been portended by the accidentary fall of the aforesaid new Steeple at Vienna yet doubtlesse the comet though caused by the meeting of secundary and naturall causes was the significator of what ensued about that time and not long after Within the space of a
man can be ignorant how the people and inhabitants of that Country have been tortured for their money had their cattell driven away their houses firedand and all commers driven out of the same Country The Souldiers neither observed martiall discipline nor morall honesty neither keeping the Lawes nor fearing God Virgins and women have been ravished upon the high altars And if the weekely contribution were not payed at the Souldiers pleasure then the inhabitants were presently spoyled or killed of them Strange was that Thunderclap which fell at Brig in Silesia wherein the Immediate power of God appeared A thunder Bolt about mid-day May the 29. Anno 1628. fell upon one of the Churches of the same Towne broke downe the doore slew a poore woman in the porch as she was praying wounded in its course many poore women and children After this the same thunderbolt rowted towards the Church in the Suburbs struck the Minister as he was reading doing him no more harme but that it singed the haire of his head nor the people which fell down and prostrated themselves to the Earth at the instant A strange thunder fell upon the Church at Sagan another Towne in Silesia the 13. October in the same yeare whence it burst forth by a window attended with such winds raine haile stormes and tempests that it tore up the Trees by the very roots blasted the Herbs and fruit-Trees and so harrowed the Country for a league about that the losse was esteemed of a great summe of money I can onely say with the Prophet it is the glorious God which makes the Thunder marvellous are his works and that my soule knoweth right well Besides this Thunder and tempest afterwards appeared just over the Church fiery beames like a sword and a rod the Bells in the steeple began to sound and ring without helpe of man and 3. miles of the heavens for the space of an houre seemed open and fiery Betwixt this Towne Sagan and Steinaw both situated in Silesia a hot skirmish happened the 17. of August in the yeare 1632. following where the S wedes and Saxons forces came before the Imperiall leaguer under Don Balthasar di Maradas consisting of 12000. men The Swedes cruelly with 20. peeces of Ordnance thundred both upon the Towne Steinaw and the Imperiall leaguer The Swedes and Saxons Cavalery charged and fell upon their horse quarters their horsemen after a charge or two were defeated some 4000. of their foot having thrust themselves into the Fort of the same Town In this fight were some 2000. Imperialists slaine the rest of the horse-men running towards Sweinitz and Breslaw At Griffenbery another Town betwixt Sagan and Brig in Silesia the Swedish Generall Bannier was entered in a set Battell with 15000. Imperialists under the conduct of their Generall Coloredo the 29. of Iune Anno 1634. and got a noble victory where the Imperialists lost some 4000. men slaine upon the place Another Towne in Silesia by name Olaw felt the like misery of the bloody warres with more grievous punishment After the Battell at Lignith the Saxon Army marched towards the same Towne wherein the Imperiall Governour being advertised of the Saxons comming burnt the whole Towne to the ground and betooke himselfe into the Castle from thence the Saxons did goe to Orls a lesser Towne then this in Silesia wherein the Imperiall Governour Don Iohn de Languiall yeelded to the mercy of the Saxon and was taken prisoner with his 300. Souldiers Sâ—llaw a City in Silesia suffered also much calamity and was plundered at the same time by the Souldiers in their fury For the Saxon Army though not with strong opposition tooke the same City by assault the issue on both sides was bloody A very miraculous thing happened in a Souldier at Geismar in Hassia Anno 1630. Two Souldiers lying for a safeguard in the same Towne the one at night makes his complaint to his fellow Souldier who lay with him in one bed for taking much cold to whom the other answered that he did not beleeve it in regard that his body was very hot and wet intreating him to touch and feele his side Which when he had done finding his hands exceeding wet which were as it were glued or congeled together suspected some had event First lookes upon his hands in the shadow of the Moon and apprehendeth his hands to be bloody being hereat much terrified called for a Candle who findâ— the Souldier very weake and his left side and the sheets of the bed to be bloody and whereas their indeavour was to wash off the blood of his side presently commeth forth more and more blood at length after a space of an houre it ceaseth of it selfe Three handfulls of blood or thereabout was taken out of the sheetes this with the relation of other circumstances they presented in the morning to the Captaine and Commander of those two Souldiers who enquired of him how he had felt himselfe that night the Souldier answered that he had been in great anguish of heart and was afterwards restored to his former health It cannot be concealed how many and severall Armies and Forces since have invaded this goodly Country of Hassen and especially about the time when this prodigie happened on the Souldier The 2. next yeeres after how barbanously and inhumanely the Inhabitants thereof have been used by the Imperall Army and that against all reason without any cause and besides all colour of right and justice they are yet still sensible of them and whâ—ch was worse then all this if the Prince with his poore subjects did at any time complaine or sue for justice or redresse they were but scorned and rejected for their labours contrary to all Lawes and rights of nature as also against the peace of Religion and of policy all Constitutions and Articles of the Romane Empire yea they have endured the most barbarous usage that might be in the said Country of Hassia namely in quarterings taxations burnings robberies sacking of their Townes and Villages yea also and of putting to the sword innumâ—rable innocent Subjects of all sorts During all which proceedings of the enemy and most lamentable sufferings of the Inhabitants the worst hath been of all that notwithstanding those infinite complaints prayers cryes and lamentation they were never able to obtaine any pitty of their cause or any Christian compassion towards them The Norinberg Carrier with some company in his journey towards Hamborow passing by the Towne of Coburg at night in the moneth of May Anno 1630. observed with great admiration a prodigious fire going into the Towne and out of the Towne as if some discharging of great Orduance were heard for certaine houres after this Before the Towne of Coburg Generall Wallenstein presenting his Canons in the yeare 16â—2 following the Towne being there upon entred the Dukes Pallace within the Towne fell also to the Souldiers ransacking with the rich houshold-stuffe and a great part of treasure The Towne being thus mastered
moneth the Emperour Ferdinand the second who had long been sickly at Ratisbone and then removed to Vienna exhaled his last spirit February the 5. Anno 1637. betwixt 8. and 9. of the clock in the morning to the great griefe of the Court and City which had prepared triumphs and tournaments and in much braverie determined to receive the new King of Romanes but by this occasion laid aside their gallantrie put on the face of sorrow and by their dejected lookes and mourning apparell shewed their anxietic for his losse who so long had steered the ship of State to their content and was then taken from them when the tottering Empire freshly assaulted and ransackt by strangers required such a Nestor as by sage directions grounded upon mature deliberations might preserve it from feare of utter ruine Some prodigies happening in sundry places of the Roman Empire before the meeting of the Princes in the electorall diet at Ratisbone did dis-hearten the common people and made them despaire of any good issue by that treaty One was at Wels in Austria the suddaine uncovering of the Emperours house of pleasure where he was lodged by a violent tempest and this was accompaâ—ned with two others at Lintz the first whereof was the suddaine fall of an Arch of the Bridge made over the Danuby which the Emporour had no sooner passed over but it tumbled into the River the other this Three carved Eagles placed upon the house of a Burgesse of Lintz being broken downe by the fury of the Tempest were mounted by the same violent blast into the Ayre shattered there sundry wayes and the one in the end fell upon the house appointed for the assembly of the Province the other upon the State-house and the third upon a publike Aqueduct Anno 1636. Distracted wits upon every light occasion project terrible things These conceits were fond and superstitious not rationall and sound The harsh beginning of the Dyet and the first session was more to be feared as a fatall Prognosticke of no happy conclusion then those antecedent accidents A bloudy time was in the Electorate of Saxony and a generall feare was conceived by the adjoyning Princes that the fury of warre would not be confined there the hearts of the people were terrified by a strange Prodigie which though it admits no particular interpretation was as terrible as portentous The conduit at Isenach Anno 1637. situated in the midst of the Marketsted sodainly instead of water poured out blood and so continued for the space of two houres before it yeelded againe that Element for which that aqueduct was ordained A bloody time ensued it betwixt the Imperiall Generalls and Banniersâ—orces â—orces where few dayes passed Without shedding of blood in those parts about the same time And the miserable condition of that Dukedome of Saxony and the detriments and most totall ruine thereof can not bee delivered without an accent of griefe which desolation was made not onely by the Swedes the enemies but also by the seeming friends the Caesarians who spared not to burne those places to the ground where they finde not as much provision as they demand for their Armies and the severall Conflicts betwixt the Swedish and Saxonian Armies were not without the effusion of much Christian blood but the blood so shed was not taken away by way of murther Warre justly grounded is continued lawfully the Sword is oft a just decider of controversies and though it bee accompted one of the great Plagues sent by GOD it is not attended with any injustice in the execution black murthers and horrid treasons hatched in darknesse what ever the pretence thereof may be are not onely unexcusable but detestable also to GOD and man Peace the benefits whereof have not for many late yeeres been sensibly discovered to the Germans was now and especially in this Country of Saxony the generall desire of the people the Boores which lived by tillage and feeding of Cattell hoped that these yeares the Swords would be turned into Plow-shares and the Pikes into shepherds Crooks the Merchants whose free traffique was stops by these Militarie broyles began to feele poverty comming upon them more then the armed men against their enemies and longed for an open trade and severall persons according to our humane condition qui facilè credsmus quod volumus upon each slight occasion gave out that a truce for time of yeares if not a certaine and firme peace would be concluded betwixt the Crowne of Sweden and its Allies and the King of Hungary and his adherents But the misery of that Country was not yet come to the height the Elector himselfe lost almost his whole Country Moissen the chiefest City of Mionia Eulemberg Grim Borne Debitz Bitterfeld Belgeren and Hall yeelding instantly to the Swedish Conquerours having no hope of reliefe by any Confederate Army onely Dresden of all the umbilicall Cities of Saxony did hold still out yet not without feare of being made the spoyle of strangers the Imperiall Armies being so farre from their succours that their march and places of reft were unknowen to the Citizens The Swede was by this â—ucceâ—â—e growne terrible to the Commons of the Empire some accounted him as an authorized executioner of divine justice upon the Saxon whose jugling dealing had brought this misery and desolation upon his Dukedome A woman at vienna appeared Crying Nothing but woe vnto you woe vnto you Anno 1637. the water at Weimar againe turned to blood A strange Worm in the shape of a man with perfect Lineaments and a golden Crowne upon his head was found in a sallad at an Herb-womans shop at Coblentz and which if not prestigious was most terrible A woman appeared in a mourning habit in Stephens the Cathedrall Church-yard at Vienna Iune the 18. 1637. which with an accent of sorrow from 11. to 12. at night yelled out woe unto you woe unto you often repeating those words and nothing else the Bells without helpe of man rung sodainly to the great affrightment of the people who descanted upon the Omen doubting such horrid consequences would ensue it as presented themselves to their sevetall fancies A new time of trouble began then fire and sword raging in the most and best part of Germany not only casually but by the arbitrement and will of such as used that devouring element to the damage of those with whom they were at enmity FINIS Beda inter axiome Philos ex Arist a Psal 135 6 b Rom. 1. 20. Vâ—tâ—â—is est maxima pertâ—agâ—â—e quem 〈◊〉 Apud 〈◊〉 Arist de an 〈…〉 Pind. A minâ—â—i ad miâ—es a Dan 5. 8. Prodigia quod â—orro dicant dest sutâ—rrap â—edicant Au. dâ— Civ Dâ—i lib. 21 cap. 8 Omnia quâ—â—pe portâ—nta contra nauram diâ—muâ— csse Sâ—dnâ—n sunt â—dem c â—â—nch de epâ—â—ih Dei lib 3. Cap 13. 〈◊〉 mirâ—â—uâ—um 〈◊〉 Quae sunt rara â—psa sunt mira Augu. Novis omnia plena virg a Iob. 38. 28. 29. b Gen. 19. 24. a Deut 13. 1. b Mat. 24. 24. c Exod. 7. 11. d Iob. 1. 16. * Marâ—â—nus Biermanus de Magicis Actiombus e Exod. 15. 11. 1 Tim. 2. 4. a Pro. b Gen. 27. 9. c Rom. 19. Isa 4â— 8. and 9. * Qui portentorum numerat multitudinem que historia gentium conâ—inentur Aug. a Mat. 27. 45. b Exod. 10 21. c Levit 10. 2. Fitry Prodigies d 2 Kings 1. 10. e Exod. 13. 21. 22. Gen. 19. 24. Gen. 3. 24. Airy Iosh 101â— Watery Earthy Isa 38. 8. I psa nomint indict â—inâ—m rei Monster sane dicta peâ—hi bentà monsirando c. Aug quo supra * Cum Deus puuiturâ—â— est genâ—ens vel orbenâ— prod 〈◊〉 id 〈…〉 Herod * â—â—e 〈…〉 Pâ—obaâ—◠〈◊〉 â—act 〈…〉 16. Acte 9. 6. Rev. 3 3. Ier. 10. 2. Ezech. 8. Luke 21. 31. Acts. 20. Deut. 32. 27. Rom 3. 4. Deut. 29. â— * Gen. 44. 43. The blazing Start Water and ice turned â—â—bloud Two Armie fighting in the heavens Three Rainbows and three Sunnes appearing in the heavens â—dnance â—d Canons disâ—arging n the â—eavens â— Swordâ—â—tanding â—gainst o her seene â—y the inâ—abitants Leaves of Trees drop blood A Well turned to blood The Parler walls table and chaires sweate blood Bloody signes seene on hoâ—s s walls Sickles in the lâ—ield bloody It rayned blood Fiery beames comming forth of the Sunnc stand in opposition to it An Ancient in red habit seen in the air also a chariot with 2. horses an infinite number of men A strange Tempest Strange kinde of Fruite Thunder and lightning 2 Femals joyned together Thunderbolt did much hurt Sword a Rod appeared Water tur ned to bloud A Child taken out of the body of a woman as big almost as one of three yeeres old â— Strang-Armies met in the Ayre one out of the South the other out of the North. A Virgin with a Candle Handâ—ercher A double â—aiâ—e-bow one white the other black Blood running out of a loafe of Bread Homo 〈◊〉 â—uâ—uâ— Men metamorp osed into Vipers A strange Abortive Blood springing out of a fish pond God punisâ—â—â—th fâ—thy thy beastly ans with stenches â—â—thy â—â—vots Friday and 〈◊〉 â—â—â—cleannâ—sse Savage â—â—â—city Blood and Brimstone from Heaven Scepter seene red and fiery 2 Armies of Birds fighting A conduit running Blood A strange Worm in the shape of a man