Countrey desolate and laid wast the houses and temples overthrown the people lamenting at the sight of their houses being blown down and under them their Goods their Cattel and their Parents slain which occasioned wonderful compassion in the beholders and hearers thereof by this means it pleased God rather to threaten than punish Tuscany for if so great a Tempest had fallen upon any City full of Houses as it fell upon these Oaks and Trees and small Houses one far from another without all doubt the destruction would have been greater then the mind of man could have conceived But it pleased God by that small example to revive in mens minds the memory of his power The same year there perished about Pivel and Naples forty thousand People by an Earthquake Mahomet the Great Turk is beaten from the siege of Belgrade by Hunniades who soon after dyes Ladislaus King of Pâ—land and Alphonsus King of Naples both dye Matchiavil Hist Florence Lib. 6. XXVII In 1460. a most terrible Comet appeared to fight This year King Henry VI. of England is made Prisoner at Northampton The Civil Wars in France begin Charles VII King of France and Adolphus Duke of Holsatia both dye Craâ—ovia a great City in Poland is destroyed â—â—ith Fire and Sword Mahomet II. Emperor of the Tarks after many victories cruelly kills David the Emperor of Trapezund and his two sons the Duke of York is slain at the battle of Wakefield in Yorkshire In 1477 a Blazing Star of the colour of the Star Saturn appeared there ensued a most terrible Plague The Helvetians kill'd seventeen thousand French and Charles Duke of Burgundy The Turks wast Carinthia and the Tartaâ—â— Podâ—lia In 1484 happened a wonderful deep Snow in Germany and fiery darts were seen in the Sky the Sun was likewise much Eclipsed In England three Suns appeared about this time and in Poland there was seen saith my Author an Image of Christ Crucified with a Sword in his hand passing along the Air from West to South for two hours together The English invade Scotland but are repulsed The Venetians make war against the Turks The quarrel continueth in Germany about the Archbishoprick of Mentz A Rebellion was raised in France against the Queen for the Princes death In 1470 Hail of wonderful greatness fell at Rome the stones whereof weighed eight ounces in Germany Hail-stones fell as big as Goose eggs Soon after the Turks take Sabotz in Hungary and wast Germany The King of Sicily with the Venetians fight against them and spovl Leshos and Pergamus XXVIII In the Year 1478 the Sun is darkened without an Eclipse swarms of Grashoppers are seen in Italy A Glorious Star is seen to run along the Firmament Armies are observed fighting in the Air in Switzerland After this the Hungarians defeat the Turks and take Thirty Thousand Captives from them The Spanish Inquisition is first instituted in Castile against the Moâ—s and Jews The Transilvanians overcome the Turks About this time King Charles VIII of France marched into Italy with an Army for the Conquest of the Kingdom of Naples a little before which were many strange Prodigies whereby divers Persons foresaw and foretold that there would be greater changes and more horrible accidents than in many years before had happened in any part of the world For there were seen in the night at Poville in Italy three Suns in the midst of the Firmament and many Clouds about them which sent forth most dreadful Thunders and Lightnings In the Territory of Aretzo were manifestly seen in the Air infinite numbers of armed men upon mighty Horses with a terrible noise of drums and Trumpets The Images of the Saints saith my Author did plainly sweat in many parts of Italy In several places divers Monsters were brought forth both of women and other Creatures with many other things against the order of nature which happened almost all at one time in divers places And whilst the French Army was in the City of Millain there happened an accident of no less wonder than fear which extreamly astonished the Souldiers as if the Heavens by manifest signs had forewarned them of their future calamities For upon St. Peters day the Sun being set and the Air and Firmament clear there fell down from Heaven a Light and a Fire just before the Gate of the Castle where at that time stood many barrels of Powder which were brought out of the Castle to be sent to other Places This Flash of fire seized upon the Powder with an horrible noise by the violence whereof the fair Tower of Marble which was over the Gate on the top of which stood a stately Clock was thrown down and rased from the very Foundation to the top thereof In which fury the Walls and Chambers of the Castle with other buildings adjoyning to the Tower had the same fate Yea in one instant the whole body of the Castle and the whole City of Milain trembled and shook with the fury of the blow which carryed into the Air from several places many great and huge stones which in their fall hurt and slew divers Persons And as in a common calamity a multitude have a share so it fell out here for many who had escaped the fall of the stones were overwhelmed by the ruines of the Walls under which they were smothered and pressed to death with these ruins the Castle green was so overspread and covered that it was very dreadful to behold such a sudden alteration but it was mighty surprizing even to the most couragious to see stones of such an incredible bigness to be thrown with the fury of the fire above five hundred paces from the place This happened at that very hour wherein people of all sorts were walking for their Recreation upon the Castle Green whereby there were slain above five hundred men who belonged to the Castle Guichardines Hist Italy Pag. 785. XXIX In the year 1492 a great Comet is visible in the Heavens Three Suns are seen in Poland another Comet appeared for two Months In Rome the Sky was seen to be on fire for many nights together These were succeeded by great Inundations and Floods in England The English go against the French the Jews are expelled Spain A Rebellion at Gaunt in Flanders The Hungarians enter Mysia and return back with much booty A rot of great Potentates Pope Innocent VIII dyes Alphonsus King of Portugal dyes by a fall from his Horse Frederick Emperor of Germany and Casimer King of Poland both dye A great part of Cracovia is burnt In 1500 a great fiery Dragon and of a monstrous shape is seen in Savoy A Comet of wonderful Magnitude appears for 18 days in Poland an Inundation in Germany Soon after the King of Sweden and the Queen of Bohemia dye The State of Millain rebel and are suddenly subdued again Next year Prince Arthur Son to Henry VIII dyeth and the Wife of King Henry VII of England The Turks take Modone and many other places
the Gates and there remained with his Army Then Vespasian sent several Noblemen as Embassadors to Joseph who thus addressed themselves to him Vespasian General of the Roman Army sends to know what it will avail you to be thus blockt up in a walled Town he desires rather that you would come forth and treat peaceably with him and enter into a League together for it will be for your benefit to serve Caesar Emperor of Rome whereby you may live and not be destroyed nor any of your People Then Joseph sent Embassadors to Vespasian desiring Truce for a few days to consult with the People about this matter which he agreed to and Joseph sent to the chief Priests and Rulers of Jerusalem and the rest of the People the following Letter Ye shall understand Brethren that Vespasian General of the Romans sent his Ambassadors unto me inquiring what it would avail me to be obstinate against them and not rather to come forth and treat of Peace and to joyn in League together that we may serve the Emperor of the Romans so that we may save our lives and not be destroyed And I beseech ye why will you lose your lives with the lives of your Wives your Sons and your Daughters Why will you all fall together on the sword The Dreadful Apparitious and Presages seen over the City of Ierusalem Page 14 whereby those that shall be left alive among you shall be led Captive out of your Countrey to a People which they never knew and whose Language they understand not and likewise your Countrey shall be made desolate your Sanctuary laid wast so that there shall not be so much as one man to enter into it Never suffer this you that are wise men but rather receive my Counsel and come hither to us that we may consult together what conditions of Peace we shall make for the safety of our Lives rather than be destroyed and that we may enjoy the blessings of our Countrey and live at peace therein for Life and quietness is to be preferred before Death and Banishment But the Inhabitants of Jerusalem with the Priests Elders and Noblemen of Judea and the rest of the People returned this answer to Joseph Take heed to thy self that thou never consent to receive Conditions of peace from the Romans but be strong to fight till such time as thou shalt consume them or till thou and all the People dye in Battel and so shalt thou fight the Battels of the Lord for his people and his Sanctuary and the Cities of our God in the mean season let it be as it will but let not thy power be with them When Joseph heard this Resolution of the People for continuance of the War he was exceeding angry and in great fury fell upon the Roman Army with all his Forces in which skirmish very many of the Jews were slain and from that day forward Vespasian began more fiercely to War upon the Jews He marched thence to Gâ—rara a great City in the higher Galilee which he besieged took and rased to the Ground slaying all the people Men Women and Children Oxen Sheep Camels and Asses leaving nothing alive and then said Now I begin to be revenged for the Romans which the Jews murthered in the Land of Judea From thence be came to Jorpata where Joseph was The first day he incamped about it refreshing his Souldiers with plenty of meat and drink and then furnished every man with Arms The next morning early the Roman Army gave a great shout and beset the City round about on every side Joseph standing upon an high Tower beheld the mighty Army of the Romans and thereupon founding a Trumpet gave a sign to the Battle issuing out with the whole power of the Jews upon the Roman Camp at the foot of the Hill and maintaining the Fight from morning till night at which time it being dark the Jews retreated into the Town and the Romans to their Camp the next day the Fight was renewed and so the third and fourth day wherein many were destroyed on both sides For the Romans advanced confidently and stoutly to the Battel boastingly saying We will quickly vanquish this little Nation as we have subdued all others against whom we have fought and they shall trouble us no more and then shall we be at rest The Jews likewise on the other side encouraged themselves against the Romans saying At this time we will all dye together for the Zeal to the Sanctuary of our God and will never suffer these unclean Persons to pollute it and having once destroyed them we shall be quiet ever after So that what with the Pride of the Romans on the one side and the stiff-necked stubbornness of the Jews on the other much people perished of either Party At this time the Jews who dwelt about Jorpata fled to the Camp of Vespasian and joyned with the Romans and alwaies when Joseph skirmished with Vespasian without the City Vespasian sent a Party to assault the City so that Joseph and his Men fought with Vespasian without the Town and the Jews within defended the Walls against the Romans but those within dayly diminished and the chiefest of Josephs Army were slain except some few with whom Joseph fled and recovered the Town and stopped up the Gates after him But Vespasian having a long time besieged Jorpata he at length espied a Conduit of sweet Water without the Walls which ran into the City the Citizens drinking thereof because it was good this he cut off whereby the Inhabitants were destitute of drink having only Well-water which Joseph perceiving and judging that the Romans would now think they might take them at pleasure since they must dye for Thirst He thereupon took Garments and dipped them in the Well-waters in the Town and hanged them over the Walls in several places to declare they had plenty of Water Then Vespasian commanded a Mount to be raised nigh the Town to plant an Iron Ram wherewith to batter and beat down the Walls which they did so furiously that Joseph perceiving them to shake filled sacks of Chaff and hanged them down by the Walls which by their softness prevented the Force of the Iron Horns of the Ram which Policy Vespasian observing he sent secretly into the Town some Jews as spies who should cut the ropes of the sacks and then slip down the Walls with them thereby to be secured from danger and several other devices were used on each side But Joseph perceiving the War to increase dayly he issued out with his Forces and made a great slaughter in the Camp of the Romans burning the Mount and Engines of War they had left behind them and forcing them to retire from the Walls Vespasian perceiving his men shrink stood up and encouraged them so much with good Words and large Promises of Gold and Silver that they continued the Fight against Joseph till night In the hear of the Battel the Jews wounded Vespasian in the Right
beg with an Arrow which much dismayed the Romans to see the blood run down Titus seeing his Father wounded was much disturbed and ran to help him to whom his Father said How comes it my Son that thou art so much astonished Take heart to thee and with undaunted Courage revenge thy Father upon the Jews who have now the better of us The Fight was that day exceeding bloody on both sides very few being left of Josephs Party who returned into the Town The next morning the Romans raised a new Mount and renewed their Assaults the City was now almost desolate most of the valiant men being already slain so that Joseph with those few left and likewise the Women went to defend the Walls The Engines throwing stones on every side it happened that a great stone struck a Woman with Child with such violence that it passed through her body and carried the Child with it the space of half a mile another stone hit one of Joseph's chief Commanders with such force that it divided his head from his body and made it fly a mile off At the same time a Roman Souldier was got under the Wall and just going to shoot Joseph with an invenomed Arrow which he espying cryed out Hold thy hand wicked fellow and do not kill me at which the man starting aside the Jews out of the Town suddenly powred boyling Oyl on his Head from the Walls whereby his skin was scalded off and he ran away naked howling and yelling to the Roman Camp where he dyed Vespasian and his Sun were fully resolved to continue the siege which had already lasted 47 days and those within the Town were so tired out that they were no longer able to supply the watch upon the Walls which Vespasian understanding he and his Son Titus one night scaled the Walls in a place where the Watchmen were wanting being followed by many other Roman Souldiers who went down on the inside and breaking open the Great Gate of the Town the whole Roman Army entred thereat and then sounded their Trumpets and an Alarum to battle The Jews with the noise and Tumult awaked from sleep very much afraid however every man catcht up his Arms and with all speed repaired to the Market-place which was made so large that all the People of the City might upon occasion meet together As they were looking about they saw the Roman Army marching through the great Gate toward them whereupon they encouraged each other saying Let us dye here fighting and never suffer our selves to be taken alive and then they fell upon the Romans but being overpowred most of the Citizens were slain in the skirmish they refusing to yield or take quarter because they would not trust the Faith of the Romans For a while before a certain Jew besought a Roman Souldier to save his Life which he swore he would saying God deal thus and thus with me if I kill thee therefore yield thy self to me The Jew required him to give his right hand in Token of his Fidelity but the Roman reacht him his left which the Jew being extreamly astonished did not observe But when the Roman had once hold of him he held him fast by that hand and with his right hand slew the Jew with his sword who was then naked and unarmed having cast away his weapon upon the Oath made to him by the Roman when the other Jews observed this Treachery they resolved to dye altogether and never trust the Romans and thereupon fell on them and slew many yet at length the City was taken However Joseph and Forty stout men his Companions made their escape and fled into a Wood where they found a certain Cave and hid themselves therein of which Vespasian having notice sent three Persons to Joseph to desire him to come forth and he should have his Life and not be slain upon which Joseph debated the matter with the rest in the Denrequiring their advice For my part saith he if you will follow my Counsel I think it best that we go to them but upon this Condition That they will give us such full security for our Lives as we shall require which being done I doubt not but Vespasian when we come to him will extend his favour to us But they perceiving that Joseph inclined to yield to the Romans were very much disturbed and perswaded him That it would not be for his credit to save his life with the loss of his Honour and therefore resolved to kill each other and dye like men and thereupon each man drew out his sword and came to him in the midst of the Cave saying Joseph our Prince hear thou If thou wilt be ruled by us we will first kill thee as our Lord and a great Prince and thou shalt chuse what Death thou wilt dye that thou mayst dye Honourably but if thou refuse to dye bravely assure thy self of this that every man of us will set upon thee and kill thee Joseph endeavoured by many Arguments at large to divert them from their wicked purpose as proceeding rather from desperation and cowardise than true Courage But nothing would prevail he therefore subtilly told them My Brethren since you are determined to dye on your own swords let us divide into Couples and cast Lots which Couple shall dye first then â—hall they also cast Lots which of then shall kill his Fellow and he that remaineth shall chuse one of the second couple to kill men likewise the second couple shall cast Lots in the same maâ—â—â—er and so till all be slain that we may not see the Captivity of our people and the last Couple shall either can upon each others swords or else cast Lots who shall â—â—ve first but since we are Forty one and so cannot be equally divided let us cast Lots which shall first be slain and when he is once out of the way let us divide as I have said Every man liked this advice and desired him to divide the Men Joseph answered But let us swear by the Name of the Lord that this device shall stand Which they accordingly did Then Joseph cast Lots who should be the odd man and it fell upon Jehoida a Galilean a valiant man and one of the chiefest Councellors of Joseph and the principal perswader of this wicked Fact to kill themselves After this he craftily divided them into Couples so that the Lot of his own Couple came forth last of all who hoped to be saved trusting in God and believing that he would deliver him from this abominable deed Then Jehoida chose him one of the first couple who slew him That done the first couple cast Lots between them and the one killed his Fellow and chose him one of the second couple to kill him and in this manner did they all till they were all slain and none left alive but Joseph and his Fellow who said to Joseph Come let us cast Lots that we may go to our Brethren Joseph said
Alexandria The French aid the Sarmatians against the Romans and in a Battel kill Forty Six Thousand Men. In 323 a Fountain ran with Oyl in Italy there was also a terrible Comet seen for many days together at Rome Constantine overcomes Licinius at Chalcedon Octavian fleeth into Scotland and by the aid of Fincomore recovers Britain Licinius is put to death XII In 340 there was an Earthquake in Aâ—a which overthrew many Cities A Child of six months old prophesies in Rome Constantine the Elâ—â—â—â— is â—ain Constans subdueth the Gauls Athanâ—sius the Bishop is banished In 343 was a great and terrible Eclipse of the Sun and an Earthquake whose force was so great that it overthrew many Cities in the East Hermogenes is slain in a Tumult Constantius persecuted the Clergy Julius entertaineth Athanasius and other banished Catholicks Arius his Hereâ—â—es spread at Antioch The Christians are persecuted in Persia and Constantius is beaten there The Heathen Temples are shut up In 349 was a great Earthquake which overthrew a whole City into the Sea except the Church The City of Dirachium was swallowed up by an Earthquake and Rome was shaken three dayes and nights together with divers Cities in Campania Constantius overcomes the Persians in Battel but his Souldiers being drunk with Wine and Beer as well as with success the Persians came suddenly upon them and make a great slaughter In 362 an Earthquake did very much harm in Persia and the City of Nicodemia was overthrown thereby An Ox is said to have spoken in Italy Constantius makes Peace with the Persians and soon after dyes the Christians are much Persecuted Julian the Apostate being at Constantinople to prepare for the Persian War is slain at Chresiphon The Temple of Apollo Daphneus is burnt In 369 was a great inundation or overflowing of waters in Sicily and a general Earthquake throughout the whole World Romachus defeateth Augusian and the Picts in England He tyrannizeth and the Nobles cut off his head Valence putteth Athanarius to flight In 337 appeared a Comet of wonderful greatness and another general Earthquake in Sicily The Scots and Picts are set at variance by Maximus the Goths turn Arians and wast Thrace Thessaly and Epirus The Emperor Gratian killeth thirty five thousand Germans In 384 there was visible a terrible sign in the Heavens in all parts like unto a fiery Pillar and the River Tiber overflowes her banks again Maximus killeth Gratian treacherously and possesseth Brittain France Spain and Africk The Vaâ—dals and Lumbards quarrel Priscillian is Executed at Trevers by Maximus after an appeal to him from the Council of Bordeux In 392 a new Star is seen in the Heavens which appeared in the form of a sword for forty days together Armed men and Castles were seen in the Heavens in Greece Valentinian is strangled at Vienna Eugenius is made Emperor Honorius wars against Eugenius The King of France is slain in battel the Romans impose a tribute on the French XIII In 399 strange fiery clouds are seen in Constantinople an Earthquake and great hail a Star like a sword is seen at Rome in many places hail-stones fell which were bigger than a stone of eight pound weight A deep Snow great Eclipse of the Sun and other strange Meteors the Goths divide into Factions and consume themselves with Civil War Gildo their King killeth his children is forced to fly and at last is taken and strangled Heathen Temples and Idols are destroyed The Sybyls books are burnt at Rome In 412 the Earth at Vtica in Italy seemed as if it mourned for seven dayes together with a horrible lowing At Rome great flocks of Grashoppers were seen in the Air Arthaulphus warreth with the Vandals The Spaniards Countrey is parted between them and the Swedes Pelagius a Monk in Brittain broacheth his Opinions Heraclian is slain by his own Souldiers In 434 it rained blood in Savoy A Comet of wonderful Magnitude appeared in the Heavens In Sweden a Dragon was seen flying in the Air There was a great Famine in Constantinople Pope Bassus dyeth The French besiege Archillas The Emperors makes peace with the Vandals The Goths break Peace with the Romans The Brittains war with the Scots In 445 were apparitions in the Heavens in England burning Spears were seen at Rome many Earthquakes the Moon Eclipsed A Comet this year appeared ten weeks together Aelius the Roman General is slain Cartigern and Horsa are killed in battel at Aylesford in Kent The Brittains beat the Saxons and drive them into the Isle of Thanet the King of the Goths is slain In 463 happened a great Earthquake in Rome and many parts of Italy with terrible showrs and great storms of hail The Goths wast Illyria Beorgok is slain in Italy by Ricimer The Popes usurpations are opposed by Hillarius a Deacon of Rome In 471 was an Earthquake at Vienna Wolves and other Beasts wander all the year through that City and devour men the Emperors Palace is consumed by fire Ricimer aspireth and being discovered fleeth to Milan he proclaimeth war against the Emperor besiegeth Rome and killeth Arthemius Portugal and Burgundy are wasted by the Goths In 483 Armies of men were seen in the Air in Russia An Earthquake also and two wonderful Blazing Stars appeared a Rainbow likewise seemed to incompass two Suns which were visible at once Giles King of France is slain and Clovis taketh many Cities A Persecution of learned men in Africa Zeno the Emperor gives up himself to riot and cruelty putting many to death In 507 there fell a great and fiery dart from Heaven in Africa and dark spots were observed in the body of the Sun The Emperor gives the Goths money to depart his Dominions Clovis warreth against Alaricus for Religion and Italy is wasted by Clorus with an hundred ships and eight thousand men In 529 happened wonderful Lightning at Antioch and an Earthquake at Constantinople Legible Letters are seen in the Air at Rome it rained blood in the Valleys of Lucern and Piedmont four days together The Persians war against the King of Colchos and the Emperor The Vandals put their General to death the Jews are suppressed the Emperors General Mundus defeateth the Getes who wasted Thrace XIV In 539 a famous Comet appeared in the Royal sign Sagittarius and vast Flocks of Ravens were seen at Rome The Persians take Antioch and wast the Eastern Provinces The Emperor purchaseth his peace People are ordered to pray toward the East in their Churches In 546 the Sea flowed up four miles into Thrace and drowned many people There was a very great Earthquake in Constantinople The Goths soon after setting upon the Romans at the siege of Septa were all slain Totilas the Goth besiegeth Rome and taketh it Belisarius recovereth it In 555 a fiery Lance in the Element appeared from the North to the East The Heavens seemed to open in France and lights shined out for two hours space an Earthquake shook Constantinople for six weeks and the Sun for
a Capital Crime whereupon they presently condemned him and having obtained the Beglerbegs consent and warrant they put him to death The Truth of this Relation was confirmed by Isuf Chaous a converted Turk who came to London about the year 1656 which vision he said did much affect him but he added that the grand Seignior commanded none should speak of it upon pain of death In the year 1625 June 29 there began a most terrible Tempest in Constantinople with such violent and continual Thunder and Lightning that all the City appeared as if it had been on fire at the end whereof fell such a storm of Hail that it brake the Tiles and Glasses so that stones were taken up weighing an hundred and fifty drams the next morning others were weighed that were about 7 or 8 ounces apiece wherewith many were very much wounded and July 3 after there happened another Tempest of Thunder and Lightning which burnt a Woman and a Child and slew much Cattel in the Fields Turkish Hist Pag. 1452. XXXVIII And now I shall relate the Desolations and miseries of Germany with the wonderful signs foregoing as I find them recorded in credible Authors The dreadful Blazing Comet which appeared in 1618 aforementioned seemed to be a fore-runner thereof It was seen often in a clear Sky in the East In Bohemia and Austria it appeared at first with red in other places with a Saturnine pale-red colour for the space of twenty seven dayes and in some places longer And it seemed here to be compleatly effected what has been usually said that never did a Comet appear which was not accompanied with much evil and misery and Claudian the Poet writ thus concerning them Bella canunt ignes subitosque tumult is c. They shew fierce Wars Fire Sword and sâ—dden broyls And by Domestick Plots surprizing Tâ—ils Vncivil Civil Jars and homebred Flames They signifie And Luâ—â—n the Heathen Poet expresses the Prodigâ—es before the Civil Wars of Rome in this manner Superique minaces Prodigâ—â—s Tâ—â—â—as implerant Aethera Pontum c. Tâ—e threatâ—ing Gods 〈…〉 and Earth and Sea with Prodigits Vnâ—â—â— of Starâ— of night adâ—rn the Skies Hâ—aven â—â—ems to flame and through the welkin fire 〈◊〉 â—lyes State changing Comets dire 〈…〉 to us their blood-portending hair Deceitful Lightnings flaâ—h in clearest Air Straâ—ge formed Meteors the thick Air had bred Like faâ—â—lâ—is long like lamps more broadly spread Lightning witâ—out one clap of Thunder brings From 〈…〉 North his winged fires and flings Themâ—gâ—â—â—st our Capitol Small Stars that use Only be night their Lusire to dissuse Now sâ—ine in midst of day c. Such Civil Wars it seems were never without strange Prodigies and no man can be ignorant of the miserable condition of Germany about this time nor think thereof but with a sorrowful heart and as the beginning of their miseries were threatned by this terrible Comet so their continuance was still presignified by many strange things that happened out of the common course of nature which I shall endeavour to declare as followeth In December 1619 the water which runs through Sixto a City in Hungaria where a mighty battle was fought between the Turks and Christians in 1583 was turned into blood and the â—ce therein was likewise blood-red Two years after which Bethlem Gabor routed the whole Army of the Imperialists in or near that place killing above Two Thousand of them in the Field In the same Year and Month Decemb. 19. 1619 at Groningen in Brunswick appeared another great Blazing Star and two Armies one in the East and another in the North fighting in the Heavens till the Northern Army seemed to be slain and defeated Not long after a dreadful battle was fought within a few Leagues of this place betwixt the King of Denmark and the Imperial General Tilly in which the King lost the Field with Four Thousand of his Army who were slain and taken Prisoners And at another place not far off about the same time Five Hundred men were slain and in the City of Munden in the same Dukedom Two Thousand Five Hundred Citizens and Souldiers were miserably slain by the Imperialists In the same year 1619 at Vienna in Austria the water in the ditch appeared like blood for the space of 8 days likewise three Rainbows were visible at once And that very year in the same place and City a bloody fight happened between the Bohemians and the Imperial General Bucquâ—y wherein four thousand five hundred of the Imperialists were slain and about a thousand Bohemians and very many wounded In 1620 it rained blood in Poland so abundantly that the drops fell very fast from the tops of the houses Soon after the Tartars with an Army of Forty Thousand men invaded Poland exercising incredible Cruelty killing in one place above Three Thousand Polanders The same year likewise the Turks with Ninety Thousand men fell into Walstady where they had a bloody encounter with Twelve Thousand Poles led by the great Chancellor of the Kingdom who himself with the whole Polish Army were slain very few or none of them escaping XXXIX In March 1621 two Armies were seen in the Air at Noon-day in Austria fiercely fighting together with great Thundering like Ordnance and Canon and the next year at Lintz in the same Countrey just over that City two Swords were observed standing against each other and two stout Armies fighting a pitcht battle to the great terror of the Inhabitants This City of Lintz was afterward besieged and many times assaulted by the Boors of Ausâ—â—ia but were beaten off with the loss of five hundred men yet being many Thousands they defeated some Imperial forces under the Duke of Hâ—â—â—â—iâ— which was afterward reâ—â—â—â—â— by Count Papâ—â—â—â—im who with an Army of six 〈◊〉 Horse and Foot fell upon them killing 〈…〉 on the place and taking many 〈◊〉 who were afterward executed in the City of 〈◊〉 In 162â— Three Sâ—â—â— and three Rainbows were 〈◊〉 at Prâ—gâ—â— and Hâ—â—dâ—lburg in Germany After 〈…〉 happened near the City of Praâ—â—â— between the 〈◊〉 and the Saxons where 〈◊〉 Hundred â—â—â—â—ts and almost every man else were â—ut 〈…〉 by the Saxâ—â—s before the Gates The â—â—ry of 〈◊〉 was the same year besieged 〈…〉 length taken by the Imperialists with great slaughter of the Inhabitants and another small Town calâ—â—d Wâ—â—kermund about 3 Miles off was at the same time surroâ—â—ly assaulted by the Imperialists wheâ—rin the Garrison making some resistance all the Inhabitants both Men. Women and Children were put to the Sword Some years after the City of Prague was besâ—eged by the Saxons and Swedes who for 3 days briskly fired upon the Town with their Canon and were answered in the same manner with great loss on both sides Nine Thousand Saxons and Swedâ—s beâ—ng slain and the Imperial Garrison within consisting of Fourteen Hundred men Six Hundred of them were slain The same year 1622 in the Countrey of Darmistadt Trees were found whose leaves dropt blood and that
very year many bloody Encounters happened between the Imperialists and Duke Christian of Brunswick in that Countrey but especially one between him and Count Tilly whose Army consisting of Twenty Two Thousand Foot and 140 Troops of Horse fought six hours together till the 〈◊〉 overpowring them with number dispersed them who flying to the Bridge so thronged and wâ—â—ged in one another that a great many were thrust into the River Main wherein there were as many drowned as were killed in the Battle The same year there was an Earthquake in Italy and many Prodigious Lightnings and Rains in France Circles were seen about the Sun and Moon in England At this time the Jesuits and Papists were expelled the Netherlands The Duke of Brunswick lost his Arm in battle There was a great Famine in Mâ—ravia and Silesia The City of Bergen in Norway was almost consumed by fire July 16. 1622 in the Dukedom of Wittenbarg it rained blood on the hands and cloaths of the labouring men and likewise upon Trees stones and other places in the Fields in these parts at the bloody battle of Norlingen many thousands were slain on both sides Commanders and others of all sorts XL. In 1623 in the County of Podibrat in Bohemia a Well for some days was turned into blood At Tursin a Town three or four Miles from Egra in a Citizens house the Table the Walls of the Parlour and the Chairs all sweated blood so that it began to run along the Room Several bloody encounters happened the next and other years in those places Four Thousand Boâ—â—â—ians and Three Hundred Imperialists being there slain five Troops of the Duke of Saxony's Horse were â—illed by the Imperialists few escaping and the Dâ—â—â—â— of Fridland Generalissimo of the Imperialists with 〈◊〉 other â—hief Commanders were soon after killed aâ— Egra This year in divers Towns and Villages near the Râ—ine several bloody signs and tokens were seen and about that time Two Thousand Impâ—â—ialists were there slain by Count Mansfield the wayes by the Rhine being strowed with their dead bodies and the next year in another battle with Count Tilly Five Thousand were slain upon the place about Mayenfield and Mâ—lantz the â—â—â—kâ—â—s and the hands of the Labourers as they were mowing in the Fields were seen to be bloody and soon after the Spaniards exercised great cruelty in those parts the Inhabitants being miserably Massacred without respect to Age Sex or Quality and among other Cruelties it is remarkable that the Spanish and Imperial Army coming from the Rhine passed by the City of Gall where the Papists to secure themselves from being plundered marked their houses with the sign of the Cross but they were the first who felt the effects of their Insolency being wofully pillaged and murdered without distinction Men and Women in Religious Orders being forced out of their Monasteries and an Agent was sent to them from the States of the Province who threw them down from the top of an high Rock and so they were dasht to pieces XLI In December 1624 in Bohemia the Sun for 10 or 12 hours was changed into divers colours at length fiery Beams proceeded from it and for some time seemed to oppose the Sun till all vanished like Smoak in the Air and at last descended with a noise like Rockets Two dayes before two Armies were seen in the Air who continued a great fight and skirmish for some time against each other The following years many bloody skirmishes and sights happened in those Countreys particularly the siege of Frankford upon the Borders of Silesia which the King of Sweden took by storm and Two Thousand Imperialists were killed on the place besides others who were drowned found dead in Cellars Chambers and other places who amounted to near as many more Not far off 300 Swedish Souldiers being over-confident of their valour were put to the Sword by the Croats and 300 Imperialists were killed soon after by the King of Sweden not far from thence with the loss of 600 of his own In May 1624 at Gierslet in the Dukedom of Anâ—ait a strange Prodigy appeared in the Heavens which continued from 6 till 8 a Clock at Night and was observed by the Inhabitants of that Town in this manner First an antient man came out of the Clouds in a red Hungarian habit after him some grave men in the like habit then issued out a Chariot with two Horses of divers colours and then another Chariot with four Armed Horses Soon after an infinite number of People like a swarm of Bees issued out of the Clouds in the same Hungarian habit with hats and great Feathers on their heads After them followed a man on horseback in a great long Robe putting the people before him Next appeared a Comet like an Eagle with his head hanging down A quarter of an hour after came forth another Army consisting of many Horse Foot and Chariots having hoods with broad brims and Feathers In the midst of the Army appeared a man alone drawing a long Red Cross before which he made some Prayers with hands held up These Forces the first Army presently routed and defeated All the rest marching to Asherleben c. at last vanished away in several Red Clouds Not long after Three Thousand of Mansfields men and a Thousand of the Imperialists were slain at this place The day before it rained blood at Weinsham in Bohemia and two Armies appeared in the Sky skirmishing together It likewise rained blood at Friburg in Silesia and two Armies also appeared in the Heavens fighting for a long time together Soon after the Duke of Freidland sending Colonel Pechman with Seven Thousand Horsemen and Dragoons to pursue the Danish and Weinmariâ—h Troops there began a hot skirmish between them where at last most of the Danish Forces were killed and ten Companies of them taken Prisoners and Pechman himself with divers other Officers were slain The same year May 8. a strange Tempest happened at Ratisbone for it being calm and only a small rain two dark Clouds on a sudden met together and instantly a Wind mingled with Fire proceeded from thence which immediately raised a mighty Tempest which tore up Trees by the Roots in a Wood near the City carrying them afar off and thence extending it self to the City in a short time it overturned above Two Hundred Houses in the Town and Suburbs neither was a Chimney left standing the Windows of the Church of the Emerans was much shattered one of the Steeples laid flat on the ground and the other was broke off in the middle Two other Principal Steeples and a Cloyster were likewise blown down This was supposed to be raised by some damned Sorcerer who by the assistance of the Prince of the Air had caused this mischief The Instrument of this desolation was limited both to time place and persons the time was not above a quarter of an hour the Herricane if we may so call it did not foread beyond the City only
renâ—ing up some few Trees and killed 4 men some years after this City of Ratiâ—bone was straightly besieged and assaulted by the Imperial and Bavarian Army consisting of Thirty Thousand Foot and Fifteen Thousand Horse being battered night and day with an Hundred Pieces of Ordnance but were valiantly repulsed by the Swedish Garrison with the slaughter of Four Thousand Imperialists in the last assault they defending the place to admiration the Imperialists confessing they lost Eight Thousand men upon the place and Six Thousand who ran away They made Fifteen Thousand Canon shot upon the Town and cast above Two Thousand Granadoes into it endured Four Hundred Sixty Five Sallies from within the City and at last they surrendred it to the Imperialists upon Honourable Terms XLII In the year 1625 near Troppaw in Silâ—sia a great multitude of little Crows or Jackdaws appeared in the Air who fought as it were in a set Battle and skirmished so eagerly that abundance of them were slain and the Boors gathered some sacks full of dead ones which they brought into the City The year after the Weinmarâ—h Forces killed Four Thousand Imperialists near this Town and a while after in another battle the Saxons killed Five Thousand more of the Imperialists In February the same year in divers places in Silesia were exceeding great Tempests accompanied with Thunder and Lightning At Breslau the spires of two Chief Churches the Foundation of the Statehouse and many other curious buildings were overturned into the Town great Trees and a new strong built Bridge were torn up and driven to divers places so that the next day nothing of them remained At Nissa another City the chief Church was struck with a terrible Thunder-clap and the Steeple thereby battered to the very ground work Not long after at Breslau the Moon appeared bigger than ordinary and four great Ordnance or Canon were visible in the Air to the great terror of the Inhabitants which afterward seemed to be shot off with incessant Thunders and Volleys against each other Soon after the Swedes and Saxons beat the Imperialists near this City Twelve Hundred of them being slain May 3. 1627 a Circle appeared about the Sun at Hâ—mborough and in the edge thereof five other Suns were visible with a Rainbow between them Afterwards two other Suns with another part of a Rainbow were seen one of them extending toward the West the other toward the South at last all vanished in a burning smoak Some Miles from this City soon after the Imperialists â—â—t in pieces 300 Danes and took three Thousand of their Horsemen who stuck in the Moorish places Prisoners Another Conflict likewise happened between Hamborough and Stoâ—d about this time where a Sweedish Regiment of 〈◊〉 and four Companies of Monroes were all killed by Papenheim 19 Colours and some Captains and Officers being taken Prisoners This year a great Beam was visible in the Air in France An Earthquake happened in England Now the Polanders recover many places from the Tartars The Persians beat the Turks The English take the Isle of Rhee and lose it again The Hollander beats the Spaniard in the Indies Jo. Gad. of Prodigis XLIII The year 1628 was full of portentous Prodigies which were seen in many places at Sunderburg in Pomerania the Heavens being open an Army appeared coming from the North in the Van were Muskets and Pioneers after whom followed Canons and Ordnance the Rere was brought up by Horsemen Another Army came forth on the other side against them where began a hot fiery skirmish between them but the victory inclined to the Northern Army at last a Beam with fiery Rayes hovered over the head of the Northern Conqueror which continued thus prodigiously for many hours A great Astronomer of the English Nation gave his Judgment upon the great Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter July 18. 1623 to this purpose that the effects thereof would be felt in the North and North-East parts of Europe in particular and in general that it would produce Wars Famines Plagues c. over all and the places subject thereunto he nameth that is Italy France Bohemia Silesia and Germany Of Provinces he likewise nameth Prussia Brandenburg Stiria Hassia and Saxony Yea he descendeth to Cities naming Rome Prague Magdenburg Coblentz Ulme Brunswick Ausburg He sayes likewise it will go hard with the Roman Empire Clergy and Jesuits He speaks of a King of a true Religion who should do all this and that much happiness should succeed How this Observation was verified was visible to all For in the year 1630 Gustavus Adolphus King of Sweden having conquered many Towns from the King of Poland both in Prussia and Livonia came with an Army of about Twelve Thousand men out of a Northern Corner of the World and landed first in Pomerania not far from Sunderburg where the aforesaid Prodigy was seen from whence he first beat out the whole Imperial Army and never returned without the Olive Branches of Victory so that it will be judged rather Romance then true History in Ages to come to relate these German Conquests of his For how can it be easily believed that two thirds of Germany should in about two years space be wrested from so puissant an Emperour formidable for his greatness and confident upon the power of his Colleagues and Upholders vast in extent terrible for its Armies and Commanders beyond expectation succesful in all its Enterprizes and which knew no bounds but the Alpes and the Ocean And yet that this Empire with its Forces and Garrisons which held so many Princes at a bay was at last it self constrained to take the Sweedish Yoak which was put upon it by him who entred into it with only Eleven or Twelve Thousand men and performed it all in two years and an half This I say is truly admirable and if he had gone on another year what might he not have performed In this year 1628 March 11. at Bishein a Village near Strasburg a poor woman was delivered of a strange Monster which was two Females whose Bodies were joined together about the middle their hands feet and heads being perfect and whole but there was only seen in them one Heart and one Lungs This Prodigy might presage the great mischiefs dammages depredations and vast impositions which usually accompany the Wars and the unruly Souldiers and fell very severely upon the Inhabitants in and about Strasburg Strange was that Thunder-clap which happened at Brig in Silesia the same year wherein the immediate power of God appeared About Noon May 29 1628 a Thunderbolt fell upon one of the Churches of that Town broke down the door and slew a poor woman in the Porch as she was praying wounding in its passage many other Women and Children After this it went to another Church in the Suburbs where the Minister was reading doing him no more harm but only singing the hair of his head neither were the People hurt thereby who at the same instant fell down flat
his men that it was dangerous to purge it all at once smiled out his anger for the present permitting what he could not amend yet this abuse he afterward reformed by degrees His Army won the day though they lost their King which occasioned one to compose this brief Elegy Vpon this place the Great Gustavus dyed Whilst victory lay bleeding by his side A little before his death being in discourse with his Chaplain Dr. Fabricius he said That he thought God would ere long take him away because the People did so overvalue and deify him At his first coming into Germany having a design upon Stetin and his Army being now upon the shore and his Boats ready on the River to imbark them but the Wind having been contrary for several days before the King observing it kneeling down in the sight of his Souldiers with his hands lifted up to Heaven thus expressed himself O thou most just God thou certainly knowest that I did not at first undertake this Enterprize out of any rashness or ambition but for the glory of thy most Holy Name and the defence of the Truth of thy Gospel here now therefore I call upon thee O God and most humbly beseech thee that with the Air of thy favour and with a prosperous wind thou wouldst be pleased to breath upon this my undertaking for Christ his sake Amen No sooner were his Prayers ended but through Divine Providence the Wind turned about with so full a Gale that the whole Fleet passing up the River Oder in two hours time sailed up Twenty Miles and unexpectedly came to an Anchor within a Mile of Stetin whereby he wonderfully defeated the Designs of the Imperialists who intended within two dayes after to have laid siege to that City had they not been thus miraculously prevented When this King came first to the Crown he resolved to lay siege to Nottenburg Castle which the Muscovite had given his Father for some Assistance which he had afforded him This Castle stood in an Island in the mouth of the most raging and swift River of Nerva his Commanders despairing of taking it and being unwilling their young King should receive a Repulse in his first attempts they laboured to disswade him from the action yet he continued resolute to pursue it and see how Almighty God wrought for him The Besieged Muscovites were stricken with such Thrushes Warts and Blisters in their Throats and Mouths they could neither chew their Meat nor swallow it down whereupon they parlied and yielded up that impregnable Castle to him wherein he found a whole years provision of Victuals besides abundance of Ammunition Not long after this he had a difference with the Dantzickers and they had prepared twenty or thirty stout men of War intending with the first opening of the Spring to have burnt up the Kings Navy in their Harbour but toward the end of Winter when this narrow Swedish Sea was frozen a yard or two deep this young King caused his Boors to cut open the Ice for ten or twelve Miles together which done he came suddenly one night with his Fleet upon the Dantzickers and burnt sunk and took most of their Fleet Also in his Wars with the King of Poland he conquered so many Towns from him in Prussia and Livonia that he inforced him by the mediation of King Charles of England to make peace with him In these wars with the Polanders his Army was never great having for the most part not above Five Thousand Men and yet with them he fought several Battles beat and wearied out two Imperial Armies took in the great and strong City of Elbing with divers others and finally obtained his end upon his Enemies though they were able at the same time to have come upon him with such a number of Horse as had according to humane Reason been sufficient to have carryed him away and five such Armies as his was He was slain in the Battel at Lutzen Nov. 16. 1632. in the 38 year of his Age. XLVIII At Bushein a Village near Friburg in Germany there happened this strange Prodigy there appeared in the Heavens a Twofold Rainbow one white as Snow and the other exceeding black besides another of a fiery colour The next day from eleven till two after Noon another Aspect of a very white colour appeared And about the time at Franestein hard by a Woman having bought some bread and carrying it home when she came to cut it blood issued out from it This Franestein is a pretty Town upon an Hill some sixteen English miles from Dresden it was taken by the Imperialists in the year 1632 by Scalado and meeting with some opposition they in revenge cruelly put all both Souldiers and Inhabitants to the sword And October 4. they assaulted Friburg a handsome Town upon the River Mulda some 10 English miles to the West of Franestein and taking it by storm they likewise miserably destroyed the Inhabitants near this place Count Holcks men who was then Commander of those Imperial Forces taking displeasure against a Minister of excellent Learning in that Countrey they first hewed him all to pieces with their swords and then flung his mangled Limbs to the Dogs to be eaten But the Dogs as if astonished at such savage cruelty would not so much as touch his flesh or lick a drop of his blood whereupon his Friends gathered up his pieces the next day and buried them and one of their own Authors relates That the Crabats shewed themselves ingenious to invent New Torments for the poor Protestants and that it was frequent with them for want of Dogs meat to feed them with humane flesh which if so we may truly say Thatthough the Dogs were the Man-eaters yet certainly the Crabats were the Cannibals XLIX In the month of August 1632. at Kempten in Swabeland a strange Monster was born of a Citizens Wife the head was altogether fat and without ears the hands were stretcht out and appeared all bloody between the flesh and the skin in the left hand there was a Rope the Belly had two wounds as if prickt by a Sword and the left knee seemed as if it had been twice broken a cord being tyed about it This goodly Town of Kempten was held by the Imperialists and after many furious assaults was taken by the Swedes in 1633. The Imperial Commander went to Reitaw where he was beheaded because he had so soon surrendred the Place Many other bloody skirmishes happened about this Town and what miseries that and the Countrey thereabout endured when it was besieged and re-taken by the Imperialists can hardly be exprest It was brought to such extremity of Famine not much inferiour to those dreadful ones of Samaria and Jerusalem recorded in Holy Scripture or of Saguntum in Spain Perusium in Hetruria or Tuscany in Italy mentioned by other Authors Many brave Citizens out of this and the Neighbour Towns were compelled by necessity to bear Arms for a livelihood Horse-flesh was sold at