Another Comet flam'd before the French King set upon Helvetia at this time Vladislaus K. of Hungary was slain by Amurath also a Sedition broke out in England And in the year 1454 the Turk reduc'd Constantinople A. C. 1456 A Comet was seen attended by a great Wind and Earthquake the Turk also did then possess himself of Lemnus Mitylene and Euboea A. C. 1457 A Comet which they call'd Nigrum did variously affect the minds of men the death of Alphonsus King of Arragon follow'd it which embroil'd Aemilia Sabina Campania and all the Kingdom of Naples in a long and grievous War a Plague follow'd not long after also the Turk made himself Master of Peloponnesus A. C. 1460 A Comet preceded those great Victories of Mahomet the II. who in the year of our Lord 1451. reduced two Empires and twelve Kingdoms to his subjection A. C. 1471 A Comet foretold the deaths of several Princes A. C. 1472 Two Comets appear'd which were succeeded by several Wars and in the year following by an excessive unnatural Heat and violent Plague at this time Charles Duke of Burgundy made War upon his Neighbours which War lasted many years and was ended by his death Vssanus Cassanus King of Parthia and Armenia then fought with Mahomet which War swept away abundance of men also Stephanus the Palatinate of Moldavia gave Mahomet a great defeat at the Danubius The Germans call'd this Comet a Peacocks Tail and most thought it portended the Burgundian War A. C. 1475 A Comet was conspicuous before Charles of Burgandy seiz'd upon Lorain A. C. 1477 A Comet blazed which was the forerunner of so hot a Season that it burnt up not only Corn but Trees also many great Rivers dried up and a great Plague followed At the same time Charles of Burgundy was slain by the Helvetians and in this year many great Princes died A. C. 1491 A Comet appear'd and a very unwholsome time follow'd both for Men and Beasts also the Turks possessed themselves of part of Dalmatia and Sclavonia A. C. 1500 A Comet was seen before the Tartars devastation of Poland Muscovy and Lithuania a little after the Bavarian War began There was also at this time a raging Famine and Pestilence A. C. 1506 A Comet portended the death of Philip King of Spain as also the Wars of the Emperor Maximilian's Sons with the French and Venetians besides various Inundations Winds and scarcity of Corn. A. C. 1516 Luther who in the year 1517. wrote against Indulgences his Reformation succeeded a Comet A. C. 1523 A Comet appear'd and the Summer following was full of Storms Earthquakes and great falls of Water A. C. 1527 A terrible Comet was seen with a long bloudy Tail at which time the Turk wasted Hungary and much hurt was done by the great swarms of Locusts A. C. 1529 Four Comets appear'd this year when soon after the Turk besieg'd Viennal and became Master of many Cities in Hungary also the Sweating-sickness odestroy'd many thousands in England A. C. 1530 Was another Comet then were many Towns and Villages overwhelm'd with Water both in Holland and Zealand also the Tiber overflow'd Rome A. C. 1531 A Comet portended no less then a great slaughter of men both in the East and West for the Turk broke into Hungary and Austria King Christians with a great Fleet sailed into Denmark to recover his Kingdoms The Helvetian War began upon the score of Religion wherein there were two eminent Battels in the first of which Zuinglius was slain A. C. 1532 A terrible Comet was seen at which time the Turks making an irruption into Hungary were repell'd by the Christians A. C. 1533 A Comet call'd Xiphias from its resemblance of a Sword was conspicuous after which followed Earthquakes in Germany alterations in the Government of England and a contest between Charles the V. and the French about the Dukedom of Millain A. C. 1538 A Comet was seen of a fiery colour upon which follow'd an Epidemical Sickness in many places A. C. 1539 Another Comet was visible and in the year following ensued so hot a Summer that it burnt up many Woods and dried up many Rivers and Fountains A. C. 1541 A great Plague and the Conquest of Buda by the Turks was signify'd by a Comet also Charles the V. his unlucky Voyage into Africa wherein many of his Ships and Men were lost by Storm A. C. 1542 After a Comet followed great swarms of mischievous Locusts likewise the unfortunate Expedition of the Christians against the Turks wherein great part of their Forces perished by Sickness also the Grape was this year so sowr that no Wine could be drank A. C. 1545 A Comet preceded the Gallick Persecution A. C. 1556 Another Comet appear'd in which year many learned and pious men deceased in many parts of Germany the Reform'd Church at this time labour'd under great difficulties A. C. 1558 A Comet lighted Charles the V. into his retirement when he resign'd his Empire also in the year 1566. began the War in the Low-Countries upon the account of the Spanish Inquisition A. C. 1572 A new Star was seen in Cassiopeia's Sign which was by most esteem'd a Comet in which year the Parisian Nuptials were celebrated with Bloud instead of Wine A. C. 1577 A. C. 1585 A. C. 1596 A. C. 1602 A. C. 1604 A. C. 1607 In every one of these years were Comets seen although the three last were by some eminent men esteem'd only new Stars they portended the various mutations in Holland Hungary Bohemia and Germany And besides all these the Blazing-Star before the late Civil Wars as well as those two dreadful Comets before the last Plague and Fire of London may considering the present ill state of this unhappy Nation and sinful People give us just occasion to fear at least no better an Event after this so much a worse Comet than has ever yet appear'd unless Providence grants that happy Vnion of Protestants and Exclusion of Papists which all good men that are not so themselves must ever wish and pray for Having thus given you an account of these Comets their History Nature Causes and Effects according to the most commonly receiv'd Opinions so let me now conclude this discourse with some small transitory Remarques upon this present Comet which by all the relations I have met with is far the most large and terrible that ever yet was seen After it had shewn it self in other parts it began to appear to us here in England on Friday December the 10th about half an hour past four in the Afternoon being of a pale dusky colour with a prodigious Stream at least 35. degrees in length and the Astrologers say its signification cannot be good because it is purely Saturuine Now for the more difficult and uncertain part although I shall leave that to those who dare undertake it yet concerning the other more easie one I could not forbear making some small observation and collecting some conjecture among the
to adventure the after-censure of Folly then quit the Ambition and vain-glory of being thought Prophets if the event chance to answer their prediction by interpreting the portent of those things which fore-signifie it may be nothing or at best they know not what For say they no certain knowledge or scarce a satisfactory probability appearing of what a thing is who shall pretend to know what it signifies when no one would think but that should in reason be known before if not more easily than this Accordingly saith Dr. Hakewell the late Lord Privy-Seal Apolog. l. 2. sect 6. and Earl of Northampton in his Defensative against the poison of supposed Prophecies sheweth that as Comets do not always fore-run such Events so neither do such Events always follow upon the appearing of Comets some instances he produceth of Comets which brought with them such abundance of all things as stories have recorded it for Monuments and Miracles to posterity And the like saith he could I say of others An. Dom. 1555 1556 1557 1558. after all which years nothing happen'd that should drive a man to seek out any cause above the common reach and therefore I allow the diligence of Gemma Frisius taking notice of as many good as bad effects which have succeeded after Comets Moreover he tells us that Pecuer a great Mathematician of Germany prognosticated upon the last Comet before the writing of his Defensative that mens Bodies should be burnt up with heat But how fell it out we had not saith he a more unkind Summer for many years in respect of extraordinary Cold nor was there any inclination to War or any Prince deceas'd at that time but on the contrary the Plague which had raged before in Lombardy as God would have it ceased at the rising of that Comet Queen Elizabeth 1558. being then at Richmond and being disswaded from looking on a Comet which did then appear made answer Jacta est alea the Dice are thrown thereby intimating that the preorder'd providence of God was above the influence of any Star or Comet Neither saith he do I remember that any Comet appear'd before her death as at her entrance there did nor before the decease of Prince Henry nor of Henry the Great of France all three famous Princes Charlemagne profess'd that he fear'd not the sign of a Blazing-Star but the great and potent Creator thereof and so much fear consists both with Christianity and prudence 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Also Manilius Nunquam futilibus excanduit ignibus aether That Comets of themselves are mischievous I disown yet how knows any man but that they may be set there as menaces of the Almighty's Anger The common opinion hath been that New Stars Comets and the like either as signs or causes or both have always prognosticated some dreadful misfortune to the World as outragious Winds extraordinary Drought Dearth Pestilence Wars death of Princes c. Accordingly we find the wise men of the East prophecying that our Saviour at whose Birth a new Star appear'd should bring destruction upon the Kingdom of the Jews his Native Country But that which above all others does most influence me is the experience of former Ages wherein 't was rarely observ'd that any terrible Comet appear'd without an effect altogether as terrible There is no general Rule without an Exception and as we must not define Luxury to be a Vertue in a Prince because some few extravagant Princes have lived and died happily beyond expectation so neither must we esteem a Comet the less ominous because one in a hundred has proved a Blessing to the people although fatal to Nero. There are many Authors who have wrote concerning Comets some in particular Treatises upon that subject and some only by the by as Josephus Manilius Xiphiline Pliny Seneca Suetonius Eusebius Nicephorus Pontanus Amerbachius Niphus Apiarius Funccius Mylichius Carion Cufrinianus Suessanus Peucerus Camerarius Aretius Garcaeus Griminaeus Praetorius Dasypodius Latomus Celichius Irenaeus Zeisius Nagelius Keckermannus Puteanus Lycosthenes de prodigiis ab orbe condite and others out of whom but more especially out of Alstedius his Chronology I have perfected this following Breviary of all the Comets that have occurr'd from Christ's time to this very day As for those that happen'd before Christ History mentions not above ten or eleven and therein they vary however the most eminent of them were that which happen'd A. M. 3519. before the Peloponnesian War and those which preceded Julius Caesar's death whereof Virgil speaks Non alias caelo ceciderunt plura sereno Fulgura nec diri toties arsere Cometae An. Ch. 13 A Comet was seen at which time Quintilius Varus was slain by the Germans under the conduct of Arminius An. Ch. 16 The death of Augustus Caesar was foretold by several bloudy Comets An. Ch. 56 Being the year that Claudius died not only a Comet was seen but also it rained Bloud as if one had portended the death of Claudius and the other the Reign of his wicked successor Nero who murder'd his Wife his Mother and his Schoolmaster Seneca besides the many other robberies and exorbitances he committed An. Ch. 57 Was seen a Comet and 3 Suns to usher in the bloudy Reign of Nero. A. C. 62 Appear'd another Comet that lasted 6 months which predicted the tragical end of Nero and so proved fatal to the Prince although favourable to the people A. C. 66 A Comet also raged for 6 months together which was succeeded by a terrible Earthquake wherewith Laodicea Hierapolis and the Inhabitants of Colossis in Natolia suffer'd much A. C. 68 A Comet like a flaming Sword was seen hanging over the City of Jerusalem in Judea A. C. 69 and elsewhere which portended the destruction of that holy City A. C. 73 Appear'd a Comet which is call'd Acontia from the resemblance it hath of a Dart. A. C. 77 Was seen that Comet which Titus the Emperor describ'd in Verse A. C. 78 A Comet was beheld about Cyprus and other places where soon after many Cities were shaken with a dreadful Earthquake A. C. 79 Terrible Winds Earthquakes and Plague raging at Rome succeeded a Comet which Comet being shew'd to Vespasian he jestingly said This bushy Star belongs not to me but the Parthian King Ipse enim comatus est ego vero calvus sum however Vespasian soon after died notwithstanding his Quibble A. C. 181 Was seen a Comet which resembling a Beard was call'd Pogonias At this time the Temple of Peace being burnt many Wars and Troubles followed at Rome which was imputed to the wicked Life of Commodus A. C. 190 A Comet boded the burning of the Capitol as also War and Pestilence A. C. 195 In the time of Severus a Comet was seen it was the opinion at Rome that it portended some great Evil. A. C. 323 Divers Comets preceeded the pestilent Heresie of Arius A. C. 377 A Comet foreran that almost universal Earthquake when the Sea transgressing its bounds devoured
many Cities and people A. C. 383 Appear'd a Comet like Lucifer which from its resemblance of a Sword was named Xiphias and besides many other Mischiefs portended the Invasion of Eugenius A. C. 389 The same Luciferan Comet was likewise seen A. C. 405 Under Arcadius a Comet was seen which signified his death A. C. 410 A Comet appear'd like a Sword which portended many Evils About this time Rome was besieg'd by Alaricus King of the Goths besides sundry calamities that happen'd as well in the East as West for then was there so great a slaughter of men that no Age can parallel from the beginning of the World All Europe suffer'd together with great part of Asia and Africa War Famine Drought and Pestilence infested the whole Universe there was also at this time so great an Eclipse of the Sun that the Stars appear'd at Noon-day A. C. 418 Under Honorius another Comet appear'd which was succeeded by an Insurrection throughout all Spain and Italy A. C. 443 A Comet was seen and Bloud flowed at Tholouse A. C. 448 A Comet shining for many days together there happen'd a terrible Earthquake also Attyla having after a long Siege taken Aquileia gave terrour to Vincentia Verona Millane Pavia Basil Argentina Vormatia Cologne and other Cities upon the Rhine till at length he was overthrown in a great Battel in the Campaign Fields A. C. 459 A Comet and other Prodigies happen'd after which a Plague destroy'd many A. C. 519 A bearded Comet appear'd which portended an Earthquake wherein many Cities and Men perish'd A. C. 533 Another Comet blazed under Justinian which was succeeded not only by an Earthquake that lasted for ten days but also by a Sedition at Constantinople and Plague at Antioch and other places A. C. 550 A Comet appear'd in the form of a Lance soon after which Rome was taken by Totila and Franconia and Turingia wasted by the Huns. A. C. 589 A Comet gave warning of the overthrow of the Persians by Mauritius A. C. 594 A dreadful Comet appear'd which was attended with many Evils as for instance Drought scarcity of Corn the Lombards War in Italy and vast swarms of Locusts all thereabouts A. C. 602 A most prodigious Comet was seen besides many other strange things which were the forerunners of the Emperor Mauritius his slaughter the future Idolatry of Mahomet and Tyranny of the Bishop of Rome when Boniface the III. notwithstanding the Patriarch of Constantinople commanded of Phocas that the Church of Rome should be call'd and esteem'd the Head of all other Churches A. C. 620 A Comet appear'd at which time Cosroes King of Persia sackt Jerusalem and in the year 622. Mahomed began There were likewise seen several other Prodigies as well as horrid Noises heard of Thundring c. A. C. 633 A Comet was seen in shape of a Spear about which time the Saracens rendred themselves Masters of Damascus Jerusalem and all Syria A. C. 674 Another great Comet foreran Drought Pestilence and Famine A. C. 675 A Comet lasted for 3 whole months when soon after the Saracens violently infested the Roman Empire A. C. 676 coming with a great Navy into Sicily-Bellarmine in his Chronology places this Comet in the year 678. and further adds that it did not rain one drop in the 3 following years A. C. 684 A Comet foretold the following Plague Thunders Famine and Inundations A. C. 729 Two Comets were seen and in the same year many parts of the World were infected with a Plague especially Constantinople wherein 300000 men lost their Lives and soon after Luitprandus King of the Lombards besieges Rome also the Saracens sayling out of Africa into Spain possest themselves of part of that Province A. C. 745 A Comet appear'd in Syria and many sickly Distempers followed A. C. 761 Two Comets were seen the one in the East the other in the West after which the Turks invaded Armenia A. C. 763 Another Comet was succeeded first by a great Cold and afterwards by a Blast also the Turks increase in power A. C. 814 Before the death of Charles the Great appear'd a most remarkable and dreadful Comet whereat the Emperor being struck with terror fearing lest it threatned either the loss of his Kingdom or of his Life consulted with Eginardus the Philosopher about it who being unwilling to increase the Emperor's Melancholy referr'd him to that comfortable place in the Prophet A signis Coeli nolite timere Whereupon the good Emperor replied We ought not to fear any thing but that God who is the Creator both of Men and Stars nevertheless are we bound to praise his Clemency who when we offend admonishes us by such Signs Others attribute this passage to Ludovicus the I. the Son of Charles the Great A. C. 818 Was a Comet seen as also another in the year 830. about which time some of the Heads of the Clergy in malice to the Emperor Ludovicus for his reproving their insolent behaviour excited his own Sons to conspire against him to take their Father and imprison him A. C. 840 A. C. 841 A. C. 842 Three Comets appear'd before the Dissention and War between Ludovicus Pius his Sons that arose about the division of the Kingdom Then it was also that the Saracens march'd out of Africk into Italy and sackt Rome in their return from whence they were drowned A. C. 868 A Comet preceeded a terrible Earthquake A. C. 876 A Comet was succeeded by a dreadful Plague and Famine A. C. 882 A Comet was seen before the burning of Triers A. C. 900 A Comet lighted the Emperor Arnolphus to his Grave Soon after which the Huns and Saracens made their Incursion into Italy A Comet appear'd before the Hungarians entred and laid waste Germany Also about the same time Berengarius Emperor of Italy deprived Ludovicus King of Lombardy of his Sight A. C. 906 Another Comet after which followed a prodigious quantity of Hail A. C. 912 More Comets portended the Hungarians Invasion of Italy as also the great Inundation of Waters which happen'd chiefly in Saxony both which things happen'd soon after A. C. 942 Comets predicted the ensuing War Famine and Mortality of all kinds of living Creatures A. C. 945 In Italy a Comet of a wonderful bigness was seen which was attended with Plague Famine and extraordinary Floods of Water A. C. 964 A Comet and other prodigies were seen portending that Famine which soon after followed A. C. 984 Was a Comet that presaged a Famine Pestilence and Earthquake A. C. 1000 Comets and other wonderful things appear'd before Otho the III. subdued the growing Greatness of the Patricii and substituted seven Electors in their stead A. C. 1006 A Comet and other things supernatural portended that great Plague and Famine which raged so violently in England for 3 years together that the living were hardly sufficient to bury the dead many Towns being thereby exhausted of Man Woman and Child A. C. 1017 A Comet gave warning of the ensuing War