of England Ireland and Scotland from the time of William Conquerour to the reigne of our souereigne Ladie and gratious Queene Elizabeth c. Also a commemoration of our late generall Earthquake the 6. of April about 6. of the clocke in the Euening 1580. Chap. 12. HAuing waded thus farre in the due description of Earthquakes their generation their instant and consequent operations and yet not sufficiently persuaded that this my present and vnpolished treatise will answere the expectation of the Reader if I leaue it lame and halting vpon one legge I haue determined in this twelfe Chapter which shalbe the conclusion to leaue forein countries and their wonders and comming néerer home to offer vnto the view of the inhabitants of this land the horrible Earthquakes that haue happened as well in particular places of this Realme as generallie through the whale region that wée may sée how the Lorde from age to age hath giuen testimonies to the world of his omnipotencie And because admonitions which consist but in wordes vttered either by voice or expressed by penne preuaile not so much as were to be wished in this wicked worlde as doe examples which are liuely representations of the heauie chaunces whereunto our predecessours haue béene subiect neither yet the threatnings of God in his wrath by the mouthes of his Prophets terrifie the hearts of euill liuers as do the dreadfull signes and wonders which hée vouchethsafe to giue as tokens of his hot indignation herevpon as sorie that we which haue so long liued vnder grace should become gracelesse and vtterly voide of that spirit which shoulde conduct euerie Christian I haue vndertaken to recapitulate or rehearse vnto you according to my promise purpose the times when and the places where Earthquakes haue happened as I find them truly recorded in Chronicles which I haue searched diligently to report iustly to the people of this land that God hath spoken vnto vs manie yeares past euen by such meanes as of late he vsed wherein his long sufferance appeareth vpon the which I counsell no man ouer boldly to presume by securitie in sinning least iudgement and confusion fall vpon him suddenly And first we will beginne at London the Metropolis of this land by degrées of yeares procéede to declare what Earthquakes haue chaunced in other cities and shires of this our natiue countrie It is recorded in the Scottish Chronicles that in the reigne of king Eugenius it rained bloud at Yorke that in sundrie places trées were blasted and thereby withered and died but O wonder that the market place or rather Cheapeside in London did open and gape so that a great hole appearing in the earth manie houses were swallowed vp and sunke neither is it to be thought that no harme in such an excéeding daunger happened to the inhabitants Thinke we the same God who wrought that wonderful worke in this Citie was not able with the late Earthquake to haue done the like here in London Yes yes his almightinesse is perpetuall his will remaineth vnchangeable his arme is not shortened Againe in the time of king William the Conqueror in the yeare after the birth of Christ 1077. there hapned in March a generall Earthquake throughout all England and in April next immediately following a terrible blasing starre appeared to the horror of the beholders Although this Earthquake now named shooke the foundations of all this land yet in so much as there is no mention made that it chaunced in other countries therby we may gather that being inferiour vnto this our late Earthquake in vniuersalitie for so farre as I can vnderstand both by trauellers beyond the Seas and by strangers borne it is supposed that it was generall and that the whole frame of the worlde trembled therewithall farre greater harmes happening there than here the Lord be thanked it could not import or foreshew such a plague as this threatneth against vs nor include in it so secret a meaning The Lord in mercie deale with his people for in iudgement none shalbe able to abide his presence Againe in the time of the said king William the Conqueror in the veare after the birth of Christ 1084. there chanced an Earthquake which although it was but particular yet may it séeme to bée supernaturall For at such time as king William among all other cruelties executed vpon English men pulled downe whole townes villages churches and other buildings thirtie miles compasse to make thereof a forrest which at this day is called by the name of New forrest it pleased God beside the lamentable outcries of afflicted people ringing about the Tyrants eares to giue a token by the earth which at that instant shooke and rored of his indignation against that vnnaturall destroier for his accursed dealing As for him who by his power might presume somewhat further than a priuate man I thinke he was not so mercilesse a spoiler but that in this our age there may be founde millians I feare I would to God I did lie which excell him by many degrées For the worlde is growne vnto this abhomination in these dayes that the craftiest man is counted the wisest and he that hath most circumuentions in him to ouershoote his brother is had in estimation As for simplicitie and plaine dealing it is so little thought vpon as if it had neuer béene in the world No maruell then though God by vniuersall signes sent throughout all corners of the earth foreshewe the sharpnes of his sworde wherewith he meaneth to come girded wound vs in his wrath our iniquities are so outragious so manifold and detestable Againe in the reigne of King Henrie the first of that name in Ianuarie in the yeare of our Lord 1165. there hapned a meruellous Earthquake in the Isle of Elie in Northfolke in Suffolke and other places the vehemencie whereof was such that with the trembling of the same men had not the power to stand vppon their féete buildings also were sore shaken and stéeples so rocked that the belles knolled therewithall And in the reigne of King Henrie the second of that name at Oxenhale within the Lordship of Derlington in the yeare of our Lord 1179. the earth did lift vp it selfe on high like a mightie towre and continuing so from nine of the clocke in the morning till the euening it fell downe at length with a horrible noise swallowed vp with the sudden and violent sinking of the same left a déepe pit in place thereof as a witnesse to the posteritie of that strange wonder These documentes or lessons as they are not vsuall so ought they not negligently to be thought vpon and therfore woe to the wicked that are growne so senseles and voide of féeling that no iudgement of God can soften their stonie hartes To procéede in our examples for we meane to tell you of later Earth quakes some in the daies of our grandfathers our fathers and our owne On Monday
vnto them by dutie ¶ What inconueniences and mischiefes doe followe after earthquakes Chap. 3. HOwe vnhappie and vnluckie earthquakes are what hurt they haue done diuerse wayes in diuerse places there is great store of examples no lesse horrible to heare than terrible to tell Old writers record that with an Earthquake the whole citie of Lacedaemonia was so shaken that it fell and soonke That with an Earthquake the greatest part of the huge and mightie mountaine Taigetus was riuen and rent away in forme and fashion like a shippe and that with the fall of the same was caused a gréeuous slaughter That with an Earthquake twelue cities of Asia within the dominion of Tiberius Caesar were laide flat vpon the ground in one night That with an Earthquake in the reigne of Lotharius the sonne of Ludouicus the first all Italie was sore shaken and diuerse cities and mountaines in diuerse places ouerthrowne in the yeare after Christs birth 1344. That with an Earthquake in the reigne of Frederike the seconde of that name the hilles Salnij were so shaken that to the number of two thousande persons perished in the yeare of our Lord 1214. That with an Earthquake in the reigne of Frederike the third of that name manie cities and townes in the kingdome of Naples were ouerturned and with the falles of houses and other buildings of timber and stone to the number of thirtie thousand persons lamentably killed the fairest and most gorgeous places and palaces rent and torne in sunder The memorable Earthquakes that haue chaunced in our age and in the daies of our forefathers Maximilian being Emperour in what great daunger of ruine all Italie in a maner was like to fall I passe them ouer vntouched There is no euill that is to say no punishment for sinne but it is sent from him that abhorreth wickednesse and cannot at any hand away with iniquitie As for the mischéefes which fell vpon the places aboue mentioned by Earthquakes or otherwise we ought so to impute vnto naturall causes that we denie not Gods iustice and righteousnesse in recompensing offenders according to their merits The plagues which fell vpon Hierusalem Iuda Babylon Samaria Aegypt Tyre Sidon and other populous cities regions after the Prophets sharpe denuntiations and terrible threatnings were they by fire famine sword or otherwise may warne vs that Whatsoeuer calamitie falleth vpon any nation it is sent from God as a punishment for sinne And surely of this opinion am I that none stand more in the defence of their owne righteousnesse than such as séeming too wise in the contemplation of mysteries referre to the coniunction opposition of such and such starres to windes to vapours to exhalations and to I can not tell what any kinde of casualtie though neuer so wonderfull forgetting in the meane time themselues to be offenders and so consequently derogating from God the glorie proper to his eternitie preach vnto the worlde their owne iustification If any thing chaunce contrarie to common course order vp starts one or other wisard and he by his knowledge will be busie to bolt out the mysterie which God hath reserued to his owne secrete counsell This commeth to passe sayth one of such and such a cause the reason thereof notwithstanding vnknowne to them and yet because their blind coniectures haue in them some probabilities the ruder sort of people are readie to giue credit thus betwéene both the forewarnings of Gods heauie iudgement are neglected his fatherly chastisements contemned induration of heart ingendered obstinacie in sinne procured a desperate securitie fostered and the gulfe of voluntarie destruction opened If the remembrance of Gods correction be a meanes to kéepe vs vnder obedience then the forgetfulnesse of such fauourable dealing is the next way to wilfull stubbernesse if obedience be the sacrifice which he inioyneth vs to offer in his temple what shall we thinke of our contumacie and rebellion our loosenesse of life our daily violating of his law Doe not these being monstruous make vs horrible in Gods sight It is a great argument that the sinnes of the people are heinous when the plages which God sendeth are gréeuous that their offences are fowle and filthie when the tokens of his wrath are straunge and extraordinarie And therefore to conclude this illation let vs bow our bodies and soules vnder the scepter of Gods grace least that neglecting the acceptable time of loue the day of wrath approch he come with the iron rod of his power beat vs all to powder ¶ Where and when Earthquakes commonly happen and how long they last Chap. 4. SUch places as lie néere the Sea are moste of all shaken with Earthquakes and as for hillie countries they are not altogether voide of this trembling for in Autumne and in the Springtime they are most commonly subiect to these casualties Herevpon some coniecture that nether France nor Aegypt are troubled with this tempest because Summer will not suffer it in the one nor Winter in the other We haue also learned by obseruation that Earthquakes chance oftener by night than by day and that they cease so soone as the winde which was the cause of their generation is let loose and set at libertie the time of their continuance to haue béene fourtie daies before they staied and yet there haue béene Earthquakes that haue lasted the space of one whole yeare or two sauing that now and then they haue ceased for certeine howres and daies For about the yeare after the birth of Christ 471. in the reigne of the Emperour Anastasius wée reade of an Earthquake that lasted in Constantinople full foure monethes without ceasing and staied at the length when the voice of a litle infant was heard saieng Holie holie holie ô mightie and immortall God haue mercie vpon vs. Againe in the yeare after the birth of Christ 1094. in the reigne of Henrie the fifte of that name there hapned an Earthquake in Italie which continued in sundrie places the space of fourtie daies as our elders haue truely reported As thankes be to almightie God we haue not béene greatly terrified with Earthquakes so haue we no cause to complaine of their continuance Other countries haue felt the calamities of them we behold it and are not a whit amased In that we are taught by example of foraine people what ouerthrowes haue insued Earthquaks how long they haue lasted fourtie daies two moneths a twelue moneth two whole yéeres c. to the astonnishment of that age which saw and felt them I gather that the mercie of God was more mightie than his iustice his loue aboue his wrath his patience surpassing his vengeance For that litle quiuering of the earth that small rocking of our houses which lasted not either for a yeare or a moneth or a wéeke or a day or an houre yea but a moment may put vs in mind that God hath an eie vpon our trade of life
the wéeke before Easter 1185. in the reigne of the said King Henrie the second there happened a generall Earthquake thoroughout all England yea such a one as the like had not beene heard of in this realme since the beginning of the world This Earthquake was so violent that stones which were couched fast in the earth and driuen in with rammars were remooued out of their places buildings of lime and stone ouerturned houses of timber shaken in shiuers and among the rest the great Church of Lincolne was rent from the toppe to the bottome After this Earthquake there followed a vniuersall Eclipse of the Sunne and such terrible thunder lightening and tempestes that both men and beasts were destroied houses burned vp and much harme done very lamentable to report Our Earthquake chanced on Wednesday in Easter wéeke about the same time of the yeare whereby though the like dangers fortuned not as by the other yet being more generall for the frame of the whole earth as it is thought trembled therewith I may not so boldly as truly affirme that the like was neuer heard of since the creation The euents of which Earthquake wée leaue to the secrete counsell of God to bring to passe by his prouidence beséeching him to powre into our hearts the spirit of true repentance that by conuerting turning from our wicked waies wée may escape the plagues which otherwise we are like to féele Moreouer in Scotland at what time king William surnamed Lion ware the crowne from the Twelftide till Februarie in the yeare of our Lord 1199. there chanced continuall and terrible Earthquakes incessantly day by day not onely there but elsewhere to the great ruine of many buildings besides diuerse other inconueniences which may be presupposed to followe such tremblings But to come néerer home in the reigne of King Henrie the third in the yeare of our Lord 1222. there was an Earthquake in Warwickshire a generall thunder throughout the whole realme a blasing starre and great dearth of corne all which plagues concurring and running together into what perplexities the minds of people were driuen I leaue to the contemplation of the well aduised reader Againe in the reigne of the saide King Henrie the third there happened in diuerse places of England and namely about London in the yeare of our Lord 1247. a terrible Earthquake wherewith as in such chaunces is commonly séene houses went to wracke c. A litle before this Earthquake the sea by the space of thrée moneths together ceassed from ebbing flowing and shortly after this Earthquake in like manner such vnseasonable weather insued that the quarters of the yeare did varie from their naturall ordinarie course the Springtime vnpleasant changed into Winter Furthermore to knit one to another and so to make an end of these tragicall reports in the West countrie about Bath and Welles there was such an Earthquake that some buildings were turned topsie turuie and some sore shaken the tops specially vpper partes of stéeples turrets chimnies c. came tottering downe this Earthquake was in the reigne of the said King Henrie the third in the yeare of our Lord 1248. Againe in the reigne of the self same King Henrie the third in the yeare of our Lord 1250. there happened an Earthquake at S. Albons the quarters there abouts with a great noise rumbling vnder the ground as though it had thundered In which very yeare a note worthie the marking euen vpon Christmas day it thundered and lightened out of measure in Northfolke and Suffolke Here you sée in the reigne of one King foure Earthquaks particular generall wherevnto if I should ad the innumerable wonders that appeared otherwise the miseries that followed after and the outragious troubles which were in his daies I should meddle with a long a wearisome labour and lament to behold the calamities which haue fallen vpon this land Moreouer I find that in Ireland in the yeare of our Lord 1266. there chanced an Earthquake which did not a litle hurt to that countrie more harme in processe of time did insue therevpon than was done at the instant For besides the present perils within a while after the very effects of Earthquakes and the plagues whereof they are foretokens fell vppon the people namely dearth and mortalitie To come a steppe or two forward in the reigne of King Edward the first of that name in the yeare of our Lord 1274. there chanced such an Earthquake in diuers places of England such terrible lightening and thunder the vision of a burning Drake and a blasing Starre that the people being at their wittes end thought Doomes day to haue béene come vpon them and the yeare next and immediatly insuing being 1275. there happened * a generall Earthquake throughout all this realme wherewith among other hurts that were done the Church of S. Michael on the hill without Glastenburie was throwne downe to the ground not long after which chance it rained bloud in the countrie of Wales a bloudie token of bloudie battels which shortly after followed Againe in the reigne of King Richard the second in the yeare of our Lord 1382. it is recorded that in one wéeke two Earthquakes happened in sundrie places of this realme and namely in Kent the first being so vehement that it ouerthrewe Churches other buildings of timber and stone the second so violent both vpon land and water that euen shippes in hauens by knocking one against another were so bruised that the repairing of them cost much monie Thus farre wée haue runne through the reignes of the Kings of this land and we sée still by contemplation that God hath neuer withheld his hande from working wonders in the worlde Now let vs marke what Earthquakes haue ben heard felt and séene of late memorie euen since the fortunate aduancement of our most gratious souereigne Ladie ELIZABETH by the grace and prouidence of almightie God of England France and Ireland Quéene c. Gathering by them such necessarie doctrines as may redound to the benefit of vs all In the time therfore of the great plague when God with the broome of his iustice swept manie a house in this citie cleane not leauing so much as an innocent childe aliue such was his wrath against vs for sinne when the pestilence was so common and contagious that in one yeares space there died twentie thousande thrée hundred thrée score and twelue persons euen then beside other crosses which it pleased God to lay vpon vs as dearth of victuals and pouertie then I say an Earthquake happened in diuerse places of this realme specially in the shires of Lincolne and Northampton where as in such chances we sée come to passe much harme could not choose but be done Shortly after in comparison from the first of December till the twelfth of the same moneth it thundered and lightned continually but on the last day at night so
he looketh downe from heauen and seeth our conuersation and passing by with a gentle forewarning calleth vpon vs that by repentance and amendment of life we might flie the terror of his iudgment A Father hauing an vntoward child first by counsell then by correction seketh his reformation when neither of these serue he casteth him out of his fauour and withdrawing all naturall affection doth quite giue him ouer so is it like to fare with vs vnles we purge out of our hearts the old leauen of corruption and become newe dowe of regeneration vnles we retire home to the shéepefold of our God from whome wée haue gone astray vnles we leaue plaieng the vnthriftes and looke in our reckoning booke how goe our accounts vnles we heare the holsome counsell of the Prophets and stoppe our eares at the persuasions of the men of Anathoth vnles we take in our handes the glasse of the Gospell and labour by lamentation and contrition to scowre away the blemishes of our soules Let it be enough for vs to haue felt the mother of vs all tremble and though it had continued but the twinkling of an eie as it lasted but a moment yet if we haue vnderstanding hartes let vs relent euery one of vs turning ouer a new leafe forget our old lesson For if we shall passe so great a wonder as this lightly ouer making a small matter therof and estéeming Gods threatening as a toy shall we not heape vpon our heades the firie coles of his consuming furie shall we not turne his patience into vengeance euen in bitternes to plague vs that we shall haue no shifte to escape his heauie hand Are we in Gods fight like Gilead are we like the head of Lebanon are we the signet of his right hand The people whom he so accounted he spared not in his iustice but fedde them with wormewood and gaue them water of gall to drinke And shall we presume vpon his long sufferance tempting him by our continuance in sinne to hasten his furie vtterly to consume and lay vs waste like fire in a forest I conclude here with a Prouerbiall watchworde Hereafter commes not yet Forbearance is no quittance ¶ That there are differences of Earthquakes Chap. 5. IT is not vnknowne to the learned that in the kind of moouing and shaking there is great difference for the earth may quake many waies Now it is a dangerous and fearefull Earthquake when as the earth is rowled to and fro like a waue of the Sea or when it beareth it self wholy to one side as it shaketh Contrariwise it is not so perillous when with quaking the frames of houses and buildings cracke with shrinking and when the earth swelleth at a sudden and anon falleth againe as also when houses méeting together ratle knocke one against another by reason of interchangeable moouing the one resisting and withstanding the other Such an Earthquake and yet not lightly to be thought vpon happened of late in this famous citie of Mentz in the yeare of our Lorde 1528. the 17. of Februarie about two of the clocke after midnight we all euen broad waking felt it with no small amasement of minde This may serue vs for a looking glasse wherein to sée a representation and likenes of our late Earthquake chancing vpon the 6. of April about 6. of the clocke at night 1580. For as the reuerend Father saith of such Earthquakes as he hath last named that some are more dangerous some lesse perillous setting downe the manner of both so say I in like case for there was no such violent moouing no such terrible shaking no such ruinous renting either of houses or Churches no such ouerthrowing of Mountaines c. that any generall calamitie God be thanked did insue Neuertheles séeing that it pleased the Lord in one to shewe what he was able to doe in all it is wisedome so to thinke of Earthquakes notwithstanding the former reasons that the death of one put vs in minde of a generall daunger This iudgement God shewed vpon a lad that we of riper yeares should feare his omnipotencie confesse that the very same might haue happened vnto vs. This iudgement God shewed in a Church where the congregation was assembled in the honor of his name to teach vs what his out-stretched arme can doe in prophane places among an vncircumcised multitude This iudgement God shewed on the wéeke daie that wée might sée his long suffering in sparing vs on the Sabbaoth when he mighte as well haue smitten but that mercie vpholdeth his throne Tremble and quake therefore O yée shameles breakers of Gods Sabbaoth which display your banners of vanitie selling wind for monie infecting the tender mindes of youth with the poison of your prophanations kindling in them the fire of inordinate lust to the wounding both of bodie and soule Doth not God sée your filthines or thinke you that your trade of life depending wholy vpon those your Heathenish exercises are not offensiue to his Maiestie Will he winke at such wickednes kéepe silence at such filthines as is continually concluded vpon and committed in your Theatre Curtaine and accursed courtes of spectacles O how glorious a worke shoulde that be how happie a day how blessed an howre wherein the people of God might sée all such abhominable places dedicated to Gentilisme or rather Atheisme for who can directly say that either God or the diuell heauen or hell is once thought vpon in the prosequuting of such shamefull shewes vtterly torne vp from the foundations rent in péeces the timber from the stone wasted with fire laid euen with the ground and no appearaunce thereof remaining And thus much touching Comoedies and Comoedians by way of digression an enormitie often cried out against of Gods ministers and in a Christian Commonwealth altogether vnsufferable ¶ What things Earthquakes doe prognosticate and signifie Chap. 6. IT remaineth that wée consider what good or ill is foreshewed to insue or followe after Earthquakes a thing which all in a maner haue desired to know and vnderstand but none haue certainly noted many demanded the question but few geuen the onset to make answere As for me I cannot but bée persuaded that Earthquakes how soeuer nature put to her hande as a ioynt worker in their generation are not to be thought trifles or to come to passe of nothing but hauing in them an hidden meaning and secret reason foreshewe somewhat to followe either good or bad a huge multitude of examples left in writing to verifie this matter And principally to begin with the chéefest that euerlasting trueth of almightie God our Sauiour Jesus Christ the maker and Lord of euerie creature yea of nature it selfe he I say in whome all treasures of wisedome and knowledge are reposed affirmeth that There shall bee Earthquakes and all these thinges saith he are the beginnings of sorrowes c. Giuing vs to note by an vndoubted coniecture
that before the last day of this worlde there shall be Earthquakes which are foretokens of vniuersall woes to come vpon all the worlde and specially vpon the wicked whose torments shall be excéeding sharpe and gréeuous And thus we are taught euen out of Gods worde that Earthquakes happening vnto vs not simplie of custome but of purpose do signifie somewhat to insue denounce against vs the wrath of almightie God therewithall admonishing vs to amende our euill life to reforme our wicked conuersation to be renewed in the spirite of the inwarde man and to be heauenly minded otherwise such sorrowes are like to light vpon vs as shall turne to our most miserable ouerthrowe and lamentable destruction and here vpon it came to passe that when our Lord Jesus Christ was crucified the earth quaked and trembled But of what sorrowes to come are Earthquakes foretokens First to beginne of warres whereby it is most certaine pestilence and famine are ingendered pestilence by the aire poisoned with the stinch of dead carcasses lieng vnburied famine by reason of husbandrie when plough landes lie vnmanured besides other calamities full of feare horror and desolation Uerie religiously haue the Saints of God alwaies thought of Earthquakes albert the wisedome of this worlde which is foolishnesse before God dreame of naturall causes And surely such as are well affected and haue in them any féeling or taste of Gods gratious spirit after the happening of an Earthquake will say with the Prophet Dauid Come and behold the workes of the Lord acknowledging in heart that the blessings of God follow the righteous as peace and plentie tranquillitie of minde with other his good graces contrariwise his curses pursue and chase the wicked as warre and scarsitie horrour of conscience and infinite tribulations We sée that the rainebow appeareth in the cloudes euery yeare at diuerse times touching the generation whereof reasons I grant may be giuen but we knowe that the rainebowe being appointed by the ordinance of God hath continued euer since it was first made as a witnesse to the world that God will neuer destroy it againe with water for the trueth of which worde and promise he hath left vs the rainebowe Of Eclipses we know there may be naturall causes alledged but let vs remember that he which in their creation made them glorious in token of his mercie by their defection and losse of light what else doeth he thunder against vs but his iustice and vengeance For the good works of GOD are made as it were to mourne for our sakes who being wilfully blinde cannot sée how néere the day of our visitation approcheth Againe the woordes of our Sauiour are true The Sunne shall be darkened and the Moone shall not giue her light and the starres shall fall from heauen and the powers of heauen shall bee shaken With which wordes of our Sauiour Christ the saiengs of the Prophets accord The starres of Heauen and the Planets thereof shall not giue their light the Sunne shall be darkened in his going forth and the Moone shall not cause her light to shine Another Prophet saith in the person of God I will couer the Sunne with a cloude And a third Prophet saith The Sunne Moone shal be darkned the starres shall withdrawe their light Of Earthquakes also and other visions of fire there may naturall reasons be brought but as the controuersie can be decided by no wiser moderator than Christ our Sauiour and the Prophetes his forerunners so is it our partes to take their authoritie for truth and not to hunt after the vaine speculations of Philosophie Before the end of the world come saith Christ iniquitie shall abound there shalbe rumors of wars there shalbe Earthquakes there shalbe famine troubles all which if they be but the beginnings of sorrowes alas what calamities will followe The Prophet saith that Before the great and terrible daie of the Lord come wonders shalbe seene in the heauens and in the earth bloud and fire pillers of smoke the Sunne darkened and the Moone turned into bloud c. So that béelike Nature hath litle to doe in such secrete maters and as for the counsels of God men ought rather to wonder at them than presumptuously to scan vppon causes supernaturall with whose foolishnes I end this confirmation aduising them to take héede how they meddle in Gods high mysteries least they be destroied by the power of his Maiestie ¶ What mischiefes and euils Earthquakes threaten and denounce Chap. 7. THat the case standeth as we haue alreadie saide yée shall vnderstand by a fewe circumstances which wée haue found and proued partly by vse and experience partly by studie reading Did not I pray you after Earthquakes and tempests which Mardochaeus the sonne of Iaer saw in a dreame all nations rise in an vprore to make warre among themselues and did there not followe a day of darknes danger of tribulation and anguish of sorrow and heauines besides an excéeding great feare ouer the earth Did not likewise the earth tremble and shake out of measure when Ozia the king of Iuda in the pride of his mind had taken vpon him the office charge of another wherwith it became him not to meddle and then insued the iust vengeance of God against him wherof there was a foretoken geuen by the said Earth quake when he was smitten with a leprosie growing ouglie loathsome was compelled to resigne vp his royaltie and in the end miserably dieng he was buried but in a homelie place euen in the field apart by himselfe from the sepulchres of his predecessors the kings of Iuda and this was his rewarde for dealing so vnreuerently in Gods seruice and Temple The accurssed Iewes in like manner euen to their great smart haue fealt what meaning there should be in Earthquakes yea they haue tried by their owne miserie most worthie of memorie what calamities are like to follow after earthquakes the subuersion of the renowmed citie Hierusalem herein giuing proofe the destruction whereof was so lamentable that no penne can expresse it nor tongue declare it to the purpose Of which their ouerthrow they were oftentimes warned as with many strange sights and wonders so among the rest with Earthquakes that they might be sorie for their sinnes by repentance escape the rod which because they neglected to do neither beléeuing that the plagues woulde come vpon them whereof those wonders were foretokens nor redressing themselues in that wherin they were awrie but returning to the filthines of their vomit and of wilfull blindnes and obstinancie setting Gods threatenings from Heauen at naught therefore were they ouertaken with the bitter day of their sharpe visitation What I pray you was foretold to Lucius Martius and Sextus Iulius Consuls of Rome by an Earthquake Euen that notable warre without controuersie which tooke the name to be called ciuill than the which warre a more dangerous and deadlie was
firmament of the Heauen and the Spheres of fire and aire The Scripture in déede affirmeth that * The stars of heauen were appointed to be signes for the difference discerning of seasons times daies and yeares Which to be true and credible we finde by vse and custome For we sée that by them the husbandman doth giue a ghesse what shall follow and by the set seasons of the yeare vnderstandeth what hée should do by day and what by night learning in like manner at what time it is best plowing sowing and reaping which benefit he hath chéefly by being cunning in the changeable and wandering course compasse of the Sunne and Moone By the Sphere of fire also of the aire by reason of the néerenesse each to other it is giuen vnto them of the countrie to coniecture this and that whiles as we know flames of fire in the aire lightnings and thunders windes and raine haile and other tempestes haue their issue from thence the foreknowledge of which things is greatly in vse among husbandmen shepherds and mariners These signes and appearances as they are naturall and their causes naturall so their effects being naturall may be forknowne of certentie For the knowledge of the one is the knowledge of the other But to come to wonders supernaturall of which kinde are all such wonders as are to be counted very wonders in déede the matter peraduenture goeth farre otherwise because that as the causes of such wonders are aboue our reach euen so the effects and operations much more Againe all wonders though supernaturall are not like but diuerse this also ouerthroweth the knowledge of man For the more difference the more doubtfulnes If this be so who will not confesse that the effects and operations of such wonders are vncerteine both at what time and in what place they shall come to passe Concerning which matter because some effects happen sooner and some later no certeintie able to be knowne there can be no infallible and perfect rule giuen But to touch some signes wonders appearing in the Heauens this is a flat truth that such were séene the very same yeare that Ierusalem was destroied the effects whereof were prolonged a yeares space So in Genua at what time a spring there very straungly bubbled bloud the citie it selfe was assaulted of the Sarracens taken and wonderfully afflicted In Lucania what time it rained iron the very next yeare following the Souldiers of that countrie were all slaine with their Captaine Crassus in Parthia and not one mothers sonne left aliue So a litle before the time that C. Caesar was murthered it was founde true by proofe that his horses would eate no prouender but pining themselues there fell teares from their eies so plentifully that it was wonderfull to behold So after the sightes and visions which Daniel saw in the heauen and told the meaning of them there followed an ouerthrowe of the Persian Empire and the famous victorie of Alexander By all which examples as also by certeine wonders appearing at Vienna in Austria not many yeares past we are taught that there can no vndoubted doctrine be set downe touching the time when the place where the effectes of such wonders should come to passe although the busie heads of the Heathen no lesse vainely than superstitiously haue dealt in that matter Which fashion of theirs we vtterly forsaking refer all things as wée haue oftentimes said vnto the prouidence of almightie God ¶ Why more straunge wonders appeare in these latter daies than haue done in other former times Chap. 9. ALthough the wonders which haue béene séene in former times are many as Chronicles and faithfull recordes verifie yet notwithstanding as most men hold opinion there neuer chanced more nor oftener than in these our latter daies as we may manifestly perceiue by examples alreadie rehearsed Howbeit we haue gathered but a fewe out of many and neither the commonest but the chiefe principall In which collection we haue not béene so precise superstitious as to be affraid to make mention of any but onely such as had in them an euident apperance and shew of strange wonders nor againe so rashe vnaduised that what sightes so euer happened and had any likenes of a wonder by and by to catch it by the end put it into our reckoning for then we might be cast in the téeth and not vndeseruedly that whatsoeuer we coulde hit vpon had it neuer so litle strangenesse we tooke it for a wonder as Midas thought euery thing that hée touched to be streight wayes turned into golde And hereof it is that we are certeinly assured many wonders heretofore to haue happened wherof we are ignorant and better knowne vnto others than vnto vs which although wée had béene able vppon knowledge to report yet for tediousnesse sake it were néedelesse to repeate them in this place For they may be so many peraduenture that it would prooue an easier péece of worke to finde where to begin than where to make an end we haue had more regard in the rehersall of examples to kéepe a measure than to séeke after plentie and store in this behalfe Now there be some that hearing me speake as I doe put out this question why in these our dayes rather than in former times more wonders haue béene séene in euery place of the world Is not this thing of it self a wonder I make answer that it is wonderfull inough and not without some monstrous meaning For so many and so great wonders happening in these our dayes do certeinly foretell that the ende of this world is at hand and that this age wherein we liue weareth away and séeth as an eye witnesse by the wonders and signes which continually appeare that Death draweth nighe yea standeth watching at the entrie doore For séeing that this world in all respectes is compared vnto a man and man also him selfe contrariwise likened vnto the worlde he béeing called and named Microcosmus A little world reason concludeth that as it fareth with man so it fareth with the worlde Now man being a little world is subiect to decay diseases may attach him misfortunes may fall vpon him one infirmitie or other hanging vpon him may consume him though not his whole bodie at once yet the partes thereof though not suddenly and at an instant yet by degrées of times wherby in the ende the disease waxing stronger and he weaker that fearcer and he fainter he may fall sick euery where and at the last giue vp the ghost Now there are diseases incident to the worlde as we thinke and what are they but such effects as are denounced by signes and wonders to happen vnto the worlde namely Earthquakes ouerflowings of waters fieres in the element famines pestilences and any other of this sort which are none otherwise foreshewed either presently to happen or hereafter to come to passe than the sicknesses wherevnto men are
Signes in the sicke wherby to know whether he shall liue or die * Vndoubted tokens either of death or of extreme sicknes or of life and recouerie in the diseased according to the rules of Hippocrates * From whence strange sights monstrous shapes c. haue their generation and being * The more strange sights and appearances the more strange significations and meanings * Wonders haue beene seene euen since the very beginning of the world in a manner * For the heart cannot safely consist without the ministerie and due seruice of the inferiour meÌ„bers though it selfe be the principall * The stare of y â— worlde comparable to the state of Aegypt for what reasons and considerations * The chaunge of this worlde set downe by contemplation of other countries * A worke so intituled and named and of this Authors owne writing * The alteration change of this world declared vnto vs by particular circumstances * Men must hold fast now a daies many times more than their owne such is the iniquitie of these times * Workes of his own compiling and so named as is declared before * They are coÌ„futed and put to silence which by coÌ„putation of yeares gather the certeine end of the world * All y e knowledge of y e end of this world quite cut off in man by the testimonie of Scripture * An argument or reason drawne from the lesser to the greater * An allusion made to the example which Christ himselfe vseth in the Gospell * The shamelesnes of some which vpoÌ„ no sure ground will warrant y e certeintie of things most vncerteine Lactantius and others of his opinion reproued for their precise computations * A notable speach wherby all Calculators Reckoners of yeares therby to come to y e knowledge of the worldes end are controlled * For the Lord as the Scripture testifieth hath reserued this to his own counsell and secret knowledge * Search the Scriptures and be answered * Workes and treatises of his owne penning and intituled by the name of Centuries * The mutuall seruice duties required of vs and thought most conuenient for vs to prosecute in these latter daies of the worlde * Herein appereth how iust and vnparciall a iudge God is in the execution of his punishments * Examples of Gods iudgemeÌ„ts powred vpoÌ„ vnrepen * A supposed or imagined speach * The danger of this cogitation is set forth in a parable of the Gospell by our Sauiour himselfe to shew what a shrewd sinne securitie is * The furniture which S. Paul setteth downe by parcels in the 6. chapter to y e Ephesians is necessarie for euerie Christian in this case * Whole some admonitions if we haue the grace to followe them which y â— Lord God grant vnto vs. * Manifest proofes of y e latter day to be at hand neerer than we think The Lorde God amend vs that we be not ouerwhelmed in our wickednesse and sinne vppon the sudden * Very children in comparison can say no lesse the iniquitie of these our dayes are so spred through out all places * The Authors conclusion of this necessarie treatise written for the benefite of vs in this age God giue vs grace well to vse it * The determination and purpose of the Translator in this 12. Chapter being the conclusion * Examples represent vnto vs the good or bad estate of our forefathers * This is not the first time that God hath spoken vnto vs by Earthquakes * Many houses swallowed vp and sunke in Cheapside by a gaping of the earth * A generall Earthquake ouer y e whole realme of England * A particular Earthquake and yet supernaturall the reason may be read in the rehearsall of the historie * The craftiest man accounted the wisest as the worlde goeth nowe a daies * These examples may be loking glasses for vs if we had any grace * The second general Earth quake that I reade to haue happened in England * A breefe note giuen of our Earthquake 1580. by way of digression * A viewe of wonders in Warwikshire elsewhere * An Earthquake at Bath and Welles in the West countrie * An Earthquake at S. Albons the quarters there aboutes also terrible thunder lightenings vpon Christmas day c. * An Earthquake with other strange and fearefull sightes to the astonishment of people * also a third generall Earthquake ouer all England * An Earthquake Waterquake both at one instant * The great plague wherwith this citie of London was lamentably visited * A particular Erthquake in the reigne of our gratious Queene Elizabeth * A leape from London to other places of this realme where y e Earthquake was forceable * We wonder no longer at Gods workeâ— than whiles we see them present * Our vnreadinesse if God had come to iudgement at that instant when he fraid vs with an Earthquake * The Isle of Elie shaken notwithstanding y c rounde compasse of waters about it * Some crieng sinnes of England named by them to iudge the abhomination of the residue * This praier is necessarie for euerie priuate housholdeâ— â—o vse with his familie * We cannot excuse the least sinne y r we haue committed * For the reward of sinne as S. Paule saith is death and except that Gods mercie set in foote eternall damnation * Here would be reckoned vp all such sinnes as our owne consciences cast before vs. with a set purpose to amend * The names of the idolatrous Gods whome the superstitious Gentiles worshipped * This confession must be made with a zeale and fernencie of spirit * The mercie of God hath shewed it self by sundrie signes to all ages * It is the mercie of God his long sufferance that we haue not been destroied in our sinnes * Our offences and misdeedes are more than the haires of our heades * God must be heartily praied vnto for in him it resteth onely to reforme all disorders in vs who of our selues are able to do nothing that is good * The meanes and waies to be reconciled vnto God out of whose fauour and loue we are fallen * For the word of God beside temporall blessinges whith it bringeth to them that follow it in life conuersation is the sauour of life vnto life c. * For in these two pointes consisteth the summe of the lawe and so by sequele the fruition and enioieng of euerlasting life