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A16857
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The vvarnings of Germany By wonderfull signes, and strange prodigies seene in divers parts of that countrey of Germany, betweene the yeare 1618. and 1638. Together with a briefe relation of the miserable events which ensued. All faithfully collected out of credible High Dutch chronicles, and other histories by L. Brinckmair Captaine. As also a learned and godly sermon preached before the lords the States at Norrimberg. Anno 1638.
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Brinckmair, L.
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1638
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STC 3758; ESTC S121731
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42,464
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105
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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
THE VVARNINGS OF GERMANY BY WONDERFVLL SIGNES and strange Prodigies seene in divers parts of that Countrey of GERMANY betweene the Yeare 1618 and 1638. Together with a briefe relation of the miserable Events which ensued LVKE 21. 25. c. And there shall be signes in the Sunne and in the Moone and in the starres and upon the Earth distresse of Nations with perplexitie c. All faithfully collected out of credible High Dutch Chronicles and other Histories by L. Brinckmair Captaine As also a learned Godly Sermon preached before the Lords the States at Norrimberg Anno. 1638. LONDON Printed by JOHN NORTON for JOHN ROTHVVELL and are to be sold at the Sunne in Pauls Church-yard 1638. A BRIEFE DISCOVRSE OF PRODIGIES by way of Preface to the Treatise following Section 1. MOst divine is that Axiome God and nature do nothing in vaine Nature is that constant order of being and working which God hath appointed for the creatures Where there is order and that order constant and both determined by an infinite wisdome there must necessarily be some good end propounded by the Ordainer and all motions effectuall for accomplishment Yet the course of Nature is subject to many alterations because there is a God above nature who hath set bounds for the creatures but none for him save the counsell of his will Whatsoever the Lord pleases that doth hee in Heaven above and in the Earth beneath § 2 Hereupon it followes That even those things which come to passe according to the course of nature are very considerable because they are â—ffected according to Gods ordination His invisible power and Godhead may be seene in them Nothing is so small but his providence extends to it Praesâ—ntemque refert quaelibet herba Deum In every tender grasse God may be seen as in a glasse Divine praescience were far from being as indeed it is all Infinite did it not extend it selfe to every accident Nothing is or moves or suffers in any kinde but in subordination to Gods eternall decrees that his wise purpose may be effected And what is it which we see or heare of in any of the creatures which affords not some morall and divine use The world is Gods great booke in Folio Every creature is a severall page in which wâ—e may reade some instruction to further us in heavenly wisedome The Occasional Meditations of such as are piously devoted give us sensible demonstration of this Prophane then and irreligious are they that looke on the ordinary course of Gods providence but never looke up to God in holy meditation Whereas everything wee see is like Iacobs Ladder The foote of it is in earth but the top is in Heaven We should therefore looke beyond our senses and use them as a prospective glasse to see God through that he may be brought nigh our hearts though wee be farre from his glorious presence That Philosopher seemés to have had some secret inspiration from the almighty who being asked wherfore man was made answered coeli contemplandi gratiâ For God indeede made us to study himselfe and minde things above Why was Adam put in Paradise Onely to till the garden without taking other care or pleasure rather that by imploying himselfe about the creatures he might more distinctly meditate of every one to inflame his affections toward God And what is it which affords no instruction Toades and such like seeing man fly from them presently A lively Emblem of lapsed mankinde which cannot indure Gods presence we being conscious to our selves that we are worthy of his hatred Seeing poore wormes made by God in such a condition that every fooâ—e may tread on them and them without meanes to revenge or resist that hurt we should hence learne humilitie patience and all subjection to the will of God Every Cocke crowing is a lesson of Repentance Every sound of a trumpet an Alarum to the last Iudgement And every puffe of breath a Memento mori For what is our life it is even a Vapour appearing for a little time then vanishing I am 4. 14. § 3 This supposed it followes further Those things which are more rare in the course of nature divers contrary or above are more then ordinarily to be thought upon For of every such thing it may be said Digitus Deiesthic God hath an immediate hand in them they are for speciall use Having therefore in the Treatise following the wonderfull things of God reflicted to us as in a glasse by an historicall gleaning together of some remarkable Prodigies which of late Yeares have happened in Germany with the Events which followed them it will not bee superstâ—ous to take something along with us in reading them touching the nature ends and use which is to be made of such like according to the Scripture The rather because they are in themselves like the writing on the Wall in Beshazzars Palace which Sooth-fayers Astrologians and Chaldâ—â—ns could neither understand nor reade Who can reade Gods riddle but they who plough with his Heifer None know what use to make of his workes but they who meditate of them according to his word with the helpe of his spirit Hence it is though some are carefull in observing them yet few have the happinesse to profit by them Most men profanely disregard them being of Gallio's temper carelesse of such matters Some suâ—â—itiously abuse them Many onely gaze and wonder Few know what they meane and therefore skip them over as unskilfull readers use to doe sentences of Greeke and Latine which they understand not To remedy this in some part Here is my indeavour in hope of Gods blessing The worke of the Lord is great sought out of all them that have pleasure therein Psalm 111. 2. § 4. If the question be what Prodigies are the answer may be Signes and wonders wrought by God immediately or by others at his appointment to signifie his pleasure aforehand touching some speciall mercy or judgement ensuing The Treatise cals them Prodigies that is praedictions or foremarnings So much the word implyesa. In Scripture phrase they are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signes and wonders Joel chap. 2. v. 38. calls them wonders St. Luke chap. 21. 11 calls them fearefull sights and great signes St. Peter tearmes them wonders in Heaven and signes in Earth Acts. 2. 21. Of signes some are to represent Some for commemoration Some to assure Others to prognosticate whereof some be ordinary others extraordinary Prodigies be extraordinary prognosticating signes They are also called wonders not because they are all miracles in propriety but because they seeme to bee unto such as know not the causes and effects of them and therefore cause wondring A miracle is that which happens besides the order of all nature particular and generall For a stone to moove upward when it is throwne is contrary to the particular nature of a stone yet no miracle because all things give way to violence The