a multitude of Miracles and Prodigies of Nature I shall now proceed to those of Art The Chineses look upon themselves as the wisest People upon the face of the Earth they use therefore to say That they see with both Eyes and all other Nations but with one only and thereupon they boast though I know not with what Truth and Justice that the most famous Inventions which have been so lately known to us in Europe have been no Strangers to them for many Ages past however I shall relate what are most observable both in these and other Nations It is likewise recorded that Augustus Caesar having several ways adorned and fortifyed the City of Rome putting it into a condition of bravery and security for after times he thereupon gloried That he found Rome of brick and left it of Marble and certainly nothing makes more for the just Glory of a Prince than to leave his Dominions in better State than he found them Yet the vast Expences of some Princes and People had been more truly commendable and their mighty works more really glorious had they therein consulted more of the Publick good and less of their own Ostentation However it may not be unpleasant nor unprofitable to describe them and likewise to relate the most curious Inventions and Rarities in all Ages even to these times which have been more favourable to Learning than the former and wherein Arts have been thereby improved to the height 1. But first concerning Buildings the most famous structure we first read of was immediately after the Universal Deluge or Noah's Flood for Nimrod the Son of Chus the Son of Cham perswaded the People to secure themselves from the like after-claps by building some stupendious Edifice which might resist the fury of a second Deluge This Counsel was generally imbraced Heber only and his Family as the Tradition goes contradicting such an unlawful attempt But the major part prevailing the Tower of Babel began to rear its Head of Majesty Five Thousand One Hundred Forty six Paces from the Ground having its Basis and circumference equal to its height The Passage to go up went winding about the outside and was of an exceeding great breadth there being not only room for Horses Carts and the likemeans of Carriage to meet and turn but lodgings also for Man and Beast And as Verslegan reports Grass and Corn-fields for their nourishment and admirable it is to consider what multitudes of men there were in the World in so short a space there being but eight persons that came out of the Ark and now this Building was carried on by Five Hundred Thousand Men the Foundation of it was nine miles compass But God by the Confusion of Tongues hindred the Proceeding of this Building one not being able to understand what his Fellow called for which Du Bartas wittily describes Bring me quoth one a Trowel quickly quick One brings him up a Hammer hew this brick Another bids and then they cleave a Tree Make fast this Rope and then they let it flee One calls for Planks Another Morter lacks They bring the first a Stone the last an Ax One would have Nails and him a Spade they give Another asks a Saw and gets a Sieve Thus crosly crost they prate and rail in vain What one hath made another spoils again This makes them leave their work and like mad Fools Scatter their Stuff and tumble down their Tools II. We read in several Ancient Histories of The seven Marvels or Wonders of the World The first whereof they reckoned to be The Walls of Babylon This City of Babylon was seated on the Banks of the River Euphrates which ran through the midst of it over which Semiramuis built a strong and stately Bridge of a mile long binding each stone together with clips of Iron fastened with melted Lead and is the ancientest City of the World first built by Nimrod in the place appointed for the raising of the Tower of Babel and by him made the Imperial Seat of the Chaldeaâ— Kings afterward much beautified and inlarged by Semiramis the Wife of Ninus one of his Successors and finally much increased both in bulk and beauty by Nebuchadnezzar for he added a new City to the old which he compassed about with three Walls and made therein three stately Gates and near his Fathers Palace he built another more stately where he raised Stone Works like mountains which he planted with all manner of Trees He made also Pensile Gardens hanging as it were in the Sky borne upon Arches four-square each square containing four hundred foot filled above with Earth wherein grew all sorts of Trees and Plants The Arches were built one upon another even to fifty Cubits high He likewise made Aquâ—â—iucts for watering these Gardens He erected an Image of Gold in the Plain of Dura sixty Cubits high and six broad These stately Buildings puft him up who therefore arrogated to himself the whole Glory of them saying in his Pride Is not this the great Babel that I have built a City of great Fame and State The compass of the Walls were 365 Furlongs or forty six some say threescore miles according to the number of the days of the year in height two hundred Cubits and fifty Cubits in bredth that six Chariots or Carriages might meet on the top they were finished in one year by the hands of Two Hundred Thousand Workmen The City was foursquare and fifteen miles from one corner to another Insomuch that Aristotle saith It ought rather to be called a Countrey than a City adding withal That when the Town was taken it was three days before the furthest parts of the Town had any Intelligence thereof which taking of the Town must be understood of the surprize thereof by the Medes and Persians in the Reign of Beshazzar when Daniel the Prophet interpreted to that King the words Mene Tekel Peres which were miraculously written by a hand upon the Wall as he was banquetting with his Nobility and foretold the very day before it was taken that God had given his Kingdom to the Medes and Perfians All which was accomplished the might following when Darius King of Media and Persia besieging Babylon took it on a sudden with the help of his Nephew Cyrus the Persian in the time of a great Feast when the King Nobility and People contemning their Enemies being over-confident of their own strength minded only their Sports and Pastimes which we read was surprized after this manner The River Euphrates ran quite through the Town round about whose banks the politick Cyrus cut many and deep Channels into which he in a very short time drained and emptied the River conveying his own Forces into the Town all along the dry and yeilding Channel and in a little 〈◊〉 made himself Master of it the Babylonians being 〈◊〉 in Wine and Debauchery In the Reign of 〈◊〉 Semiramis this City revolted from her and 〈…〉 thereof coming to her as she was ordering 〈…〉 she
the death of her Husband lived in continual Tears and mourning and that she died before the Work could be fully finished having drunk the bones of her Husband beaten into Powder which she buried in her own body as the choicest Sepulchre she could provide for him 6. The Fifth Wender of the World was The Temple of Diana at Ephesus in Ionia a Province of Asia Pliny saith it was built by the Amazons and contained four hundred Twenty five foot in length and two hundred and Twenty in breadth so artificially contrived that it was two hundred and Twenty years in finishing It was founded in a Lake to prevent the danger of Earthquakes and it is said that a great quantity of Coal-dust and Wool were laid under the Foundation to secure the moist places It had one hundred and Twenty seven Pillars of Marble seventy foot in height of which Twenty seven were most curiously ingraven and all the rest of Marble polished each of these Pillars were erected at the charge of so many Kings of Asia The doors of the Temple were of Cypress which after four hundred years were as fresh as if they had been new made The roof was of Cedar The Image of Diana which the superstitious vulgar were made to believe came down from Jupiter out of Heaven was made by one Camesia some say of Ebony others of the Vine which having many holes was filled up with Spikenard the moisture whereof closed up the rifts It was adorned with rich and unvaluable Gifts It was contrived by Ctesiphon and after it was finished was fired seven times But last of all by Erostratus who observing the Soveraign Magnificence thereof was resolved to burn it to get himself a Name which he did accordingly but to disappoint him the Princes of those Countreys as some Authors affirm forbid that any man should speak write or record his name yet all this was to no purpose for latter Historians name him and call him Erostratas This glorious Temple was burnt the same night that Alexander the Great was born which gave occasion to that witty scoff That Diana who was counted one of the Goddesses of Midwifry could not attend the Preservation of her Temple being then busied at the birth of so great a Prince Some write that this Temple was afterward rebuilt much more sumptuous and magnificent than before and that the Master of the work was named Democrates 7. The sixth Wonder of the World was the Idol or Image of Jupiter Olympas which stood in his Temple at Achaia between the Cities of Elis and Pisa This Statue was much renowned as well for artificial persections and admirable Workmanship as for the greatness thereof being no less than sixty Cubits high composed by that excellent workman Phidias of Gold and Ivory Some say that Phidias was taxed with only one imperfection that he had not proportioned the Image to the bigness of the Temple because he had made it sitting and so large that if the standing upright were considered the Temple would no ways have been able to have contained it In honour of this Jupiter the Olympicks Games were instituted by Hercules and celebrared on the Plains near this City in the year of the World 2757. The exercises in them were for the most part bodily as running in Chariots running on foot wrastling fighting with Clubs and the like But yet there repaired thither Orators Poets and Musicians and all that thought themselves excellent in any laudable quality to make Tryal of their several Abilities the very cryes who proclaimed the Victories contending who should cry loudest and best play his part The rewards given to the Victors were only Garlâ—â—ds of Palm or such slight remembrances and yet the Greeks no less esteemed this small sign of Conquest and Honour than the Romans did their most magnificent Triumphs those who were Conquerors therein were met by the Principal Men of the City wherein they lived and a Passage was broken through the main VValls of the Town for their Reception as if the ordinary Gates were not capable of so high an honour or able to afford them entrance The Judges of these Games were some Citizens of Elis appointed for that purpose Of these Games Horace thus writes Some in Olympick dust take Pride Their Chariots and themselves to hide Whom the won Mark and Palm so priz'd Like to the Gods hath Eterniz'd Such as like heavenly Angels come With an Elean Garland home VIII The seventh Wonder of the World was The Tower of Pharos which stood in an Isse of that name near the City of Alexandria in Egypt a mile distant from the Land but joyned to the Continent by Cleopatra Queen of Egypt upon this occasion The Rhodians then Lords of the Sea used to exact some Tribute and acknowledgment out of every Island within those Seas and consequently out of this Their Ambassadors being sent to Cleopatra to demand this Tribute she detained them with her 7 days under pretence of celebrating some solemn Festivals and in the mean time by making huge dams and banks in the Sea with incredible charge and speed she united Pharos to the shoar so that it was no longer an Island which finished she sent away the Rhodians empty handed with this witty jeer That they were to take Toll of the Islands but not of the Continent A work of great Rarity and magnificence both for the bigness of it taking up seven Furlongs of ground and for that incredible speed wherewith it was finished As for the Watch-Tower called Pharos by the name of the Island it was built by Ptolomy Philadelphus King of Egypt for the benefit of Saylors the Sea on that coast being very unsafe and full of flats to guide them over the Bar of Alexandria Deservedly esteemed one of the Worlds seven Wonders It was of a wonderful height ascended by degrees and having many Lanthorns on the top wherein Lights were burned every night flaming like a Beacon for direction to Seamen It was erected of Marble marvellous in curious Workmanship and scituate upon a Mountain incompassed with Water the chief Workman was Sostratus who ingraved on the work this Inscription Sostratus of Cnidos the Son of Dexiphanes to the Gods Protector for the Safeguard of Saylors This Inscription he covered with Plaister and thereon ingraved the name and Title of the King who was the Founder to the end that the Kings name being soon wasted and washed away his own which was written in Marble might be eternized to Posterity as the Founder thereof Nigh unto Pharos Caesar pursuing Pompey into Egyt and having discontented Plolomy the King thereof by demanding pay for his Souldiers Caesars Navy lying here at Anchor was assaulted by Achilles one of young Ptolomys Commanders Caesar himself being then at Alexandria but hearing of the skirmish he hastned to Pharos resolving to succour his Navy in Person but the Egyptians coming upon him on all fides he was compelled to leap into the Sea and swim for his
3 Moons were seen in one night by the Inhabitants all these Prodigies appeared about the end of the first Carthaginian War In the second War after Hanno was overcome by Scipio a Child of a Month old was heard to cry in the Street Triumphi Triumphi In the Fields near Rome Ships were discerned in the Sky and Men in long White Garments were perceived to march towards each other but never to meet It likewise rained Stones and the Sun and Moon were seen as it were to justle each other and in the day two Moons appeared in the Heavens At Phalascis the Heavens seemed to be rent in sunder and at Capua the Moon seemed to burn and to bend down towards the Earth A Green Palm-Tree in Naples took Fire and burned away to Ashes At Mantua a little Rivulet was turned into blood and at Rome it rained blood An Ox was likewise heard to speak these Words Cave tibi Roma Rome look to thy self Soon after several large tall Ships appeared upon the River of Taracina in Spain The Sun at divers times appeared of a bloody colour many Temples and Houses in Rome were beaten down with Thunderbolts from Heaven some of the Cities Ensigns or Field-Colours were observed to sweat Blood Two Suns appeared in the Heavens at one time It likewise rained Milk and Stones A Comet in the form of a burning Torch was discerned to reach from the East to the West In the Vileterman Fields the Earth rent asunder in such huge and frightful breaches that Trees and whole Houses were swallowed up in it and it rained blood for two whole days together about which time Hannibal received that notable overthrow by Scipio which was the destruction of the famous City of Carthage and the Conquest of that Countrey to the Romans Tit. Liv. Hist II. In the year of the World 3417 when Cyrus overcame Craesus King of the Lydians in Battel a Child of six Months old is said to have distinctly foretold in a Prodigious and wonderful manner That his Kingdom should be lost A Dog and a Serpent spake very plainly and articulately to King Tarquinius of which Sir G. Wharton writes thus When Romes perverse and giddy multitude Dissolved in Tarquin their Great Monarchy To doom the Act unnatural and Rude 'T is said a Serpâ—nt bark'd In the year of the World 3842 at Veios in Italy it rained Oyl extreamly and Wool was also rained out of the Clouds In the year that the Great Mithridates K. of Pontus was born there appeared a huge Comet which at first seemed but small but afterwards spread it self so much that it came as far as the Equinoctial Line so that its extent equalized that Region of the Heavens which we call the Milky Way Another Comeâ— likewise appeared in the first year of his Reign which shined so bright night and day for 70 days together that the whole Heavens seemed all to be on a ligâ—â—t Fire for the Tayl of it covered the fourth part of the Heavens and exceeded the Sun in brightness and also its rising and setting took up the space of four hours Just before the taking of Aristonicus a dangerous Enemy to the Romans news was brought to Rome that the Image of Apollo at Cuma had wept for 4 days together The Southsayers were so astonished at the Prodigy that they had thrown the Image into the Sea had not the old men at Cuma interceded for it but the more expert Astrologers said That thereby the Destruction of Greece was foretold from whence that Image was brought Junius Syllanus going Proconsul into Asia he with his Company saw a spark fall from a Star which increased in Bulk as it came nearer the Earth and being grown to the bigness of the Moon it gave as much light as if it had been a cloudy day and when it drew up towards Heaven again it grew into the fashion of a Lamp When Julius Caesar had crossed the River of Rubicon contrary to the Decree of the Senate the Heavens as foreseeing what miseries were to ensue thereupon rained blood and there happened a horrible Eclipse of the Sun of 10 parts and an half of which Lucan thus speaks The Sun hides When mounted in the midst of Heaven he rides In Clouds his burning Chariot to enfold The World in darkness quite Day to behold No Nation hopes The same day that the Battle between Caesar and Pompey was fought in the Pharsalian Fields the Image of Victory which stood in the Temple of Minerva at Eulide was seen to turn its face toward the Temple-door whereas before it looked to the Altar At Antioch in Syria such great noises and Clamours were heard twice a day about the Walls of the Town that the People affrighted with the supposed approach of the Enemy ran out of the City in their Arms In the Temples of Ptolemais Organs and other Instruments were heard to play of themselves before Julius Caesar was slain in the Senate House and there being a Colony sent to be planted in Capua according to the Julian Law and some Monuments being demolished to lay Foundations for New Houses In the Tomb of Capys who was said to be the Founder of Capua there was found a brazen Table wherein was ingraven in Greek Letters That whensoever the bones of Capys should be uncovered one of the Julian Family should be slain by the hands of his own Party and that his blood should be revenged to the great damage of all Italy At the same time also those Horses which Caesar had consecrated to Mars after his passage over Rubicon did abstain from all kind of Food and were observed to have drops falling from their Eyes after such a manner as if they had shed Tears Also the Bird Regulus having a little branch of Lawrel in her Mouth flew with it into Pompâ—ys Court where she was torn in pieces by divers other Birds that pursued her where also Caesar himself was soon after slain with Twenty three wounds by Brutus Cassius and others Shortly after his Death about the time of the banishment of Antonius and â—â—â—idus an Ox being led out to the Plough uttered these words to his Master Why urge you me to work we shall want no Corn but men And a new Born Child did speak A. B. Vâ—ers Annals Pearson's Vaâ—â—â—â—es III. About the time that our Lord and Saviour was born which was in the year of the World 3849 and the 43 year of the Reign of Augustus Caesar many wonderful and remarkable Prodigies shewed themselves in the Heavens and this more frequently than in former years as Jesphas in his Jewish Antiquities testifies which unusual sights occasioned the Mâ—gi or Wise Men of those times in their Predictions to conclude That 〈◊〉 more than Ordinary Person would arise or appear in the World Which presages some Learned Persons applyed to Augustus Câ—â—sar who then reigned prosperously But the more divinely inspired interpreted them to signifie him who as the Prophet Isaiah saith should
the greatest part of the year gave so little light aâ— was only equal to that of the Moon though the Sky was clear and no Clouds or any thing to overshadow it After which there followed a great Famine Earthquakes and much War and bloodshed Narses winneth Liguria and Venice from the French The Romans rout the Persians at Phasido The Jews and Samaritans persecute the Christians and burn their Churches in Caesarea In 570 at York in England the Fountains ran blood Likewise blood fell from the Clouds in Lombardy in Kent a Boy laughed in his Mothers Belly and at London Trees seemed to be on fire This year the Persians begin a war with the Romans The Huns break into Germany and are expelled by the French There was so great a Famine in England that the People assembled together in flocks to throw themselves into the Sea In 590 was a great inundation in Constantinople there was a Comet this year which Blazed a Month together In the River Tyber at Rome was seen a Dragon and many Serpents and the water thereof overflowed the City an infinite company of Grashoppers are seen in Lombardy and many Locusts in France Not long after so great a Plague was in Rome that eight hundred men fell dead in an hour in the time of Procession Antharis is poysoned at Papia The Huns invade Italy and France the Emperor goes against them but was forced to return In 597 a dreadful Comet is seen at Constantinople the Elements seem to burn in Poland a fiery lance is seen in the Heavens at Rome An horrible Earthquake in Palestine A sign in the Heavens like a sword flamed thirty days together A Comet was seen for a month together at Jerusalem Soon after the Sclavi wast Thrace The Brittains and Scots invade the Saxons France and Poland are miserably wasted Brunchild a Daughter of the Royal Blood of France being found guilty of the death of Ten Kings she is tyed by the hair of the head and by the Arms to wild horses and torn to pieces The Romans and Persians differ and the Emperor is defeated in Thrace XV. In 639 was an Earthquake at Antioch and Horsemen were seen in the Air in Muscovia and blood rained at Naples A wonderful storm at Constantinople which spoiled the Fields and Gardens a fiery Dragon was seen in the Air there also After this the Saracens or Turks become Lords of all Mesopotamia Sigebert King of the East-Angles dies Dagobert becomes sole Monarch of France the Pope is imprisoned at Constantinople and afterward banished and starved In 674 appeared so horrible a fire and a Rainbow in the Element that many cryed out the world was at an end this was accompanied with Rain Thunder and Lightning which slew both Men and Beasts in Italy This year the Saracens besieged Constantinople and the sâ—ege continued 7 years till at last thirty thousand of them were slain and their Fleet is fired by Cariniceus who revolted from them Bamba warreth against the French Egbert of Kent dyeth King Lothari is slain with a dart The Goths overcome the Gascoigns In 687 there was a very great Comet at Christmass and several Mocksuns were seen in England the next year it rained blood seven days together through all Brittain In Campania Wheat rained from Heaven also Barly and Pulse in other parts of Italy two Comets of great magnitude were seen this year It rained blood seven days together through all Brittain and the milk cheese and butter turned into blood Soon after happened great controversy in Rome about a new Pope The King of Scots is slain by the Picts The Emperor defeateth the Sclavonians Kenwin the West-Saxon dyeth The French enter into Germany and subdue the Bavarians and Almains Italy began to choose themselves several Dukes this year In 735 a most Prodigious Hail fell in England Fire was seen to flame in the Heavens at Rome About this time Gregory the great being sent to the Emperor at Constantinople about some Ecclesiastical Affairs at his return to Rome the River Tyber swelled to such an immeasurable height that it ran over the Walls of the City and drowned a great part of it breaking into divers great houses and overthrowing many Antient Monuments flowing into the Granaries that belonged to the Church and carried away many thousand measures of Wheat Presently after which inundation there came down the River an innumerable company of Serpents and amongst the rest one so monstrous that it was as big as a great beam all which swimming down the River into the Sea were there choaked and their Carcasses being cast upon the shoar rotted there by the stink whereof the Air was infâ—â—â—ed so that a dreadful Plague followed whereof th◠〈◊〉 many Thousands Yea Arrowes were visibly seen sâ—◠〈◊〉 Heaven and whoever was struck with them dâ—ed immediately and among others Pelagius Bishop of Rome This Judgment so raged in the City that many houses were wholly emptied of their Inhabitants An inundation likewise happened in Constantinowe Oyl raired in Spain a Comet appeared in the fashion of a sword Croâ—â—â— fell from Heaven upon mens Garments An Earthquake in Palestim Fire rained from Heaven in many parts of France The French about this time enter the territories of the Goths and destroy their Caâ—â—â—es A mighty Pestilence in Constantinople for three years which devoured so many that they wanted men to bury their dead Selred the East-Saxon is slain The Emperor beats the Saracens in Cyprus the Huns General slain in Transilvania XVI In 761 in the month of September happened a very great Eclipse of the Sun A Blazing Star was seen in the East for many dayes together This year the King of Scotland invadeth Northumberland and is slain There was a Rebellion in Galloway The Bulgarians invade the Empire Dominico the great Duke is deposed by the Venetians for his Tyranny and his eyes put out About this time the Turks brake forth from the Caspian Sea and there was such an extraordinary cold Winter that the Euxine Sea was frozen thirteen foot thick and men walked on the see for an Hundred Miles into the Sea Yea all the Countreys from Lycia to Danubius and on the other â—â—de as far as to Euphrates were so joined together by the Frost as if they had been all one Continent And at the end of Winter began a very dry Summer so that the Fountains of water were dryed up Some pieces of Ice as big as Mountains fell upon and beat down the Walls of several Cities Stars were seen falling from Heaven so that men thought the end of the world had been come In 778 was another great Eclipse of the Sun Armies of men were seen in the Heavens in France This year it rained blood also Earth and Ashes fell from Heaven at Rome There were Meteors in the Air like unto fiery Serpents which fell in many parts of England Soon after Telerick King of Bulgaria is expelled by his people King Etheldred flyes from England
thereupon leaving her head half drest 〈…〉 besieged it never ordering the rest of her hair 〈…〉 had recovered it Of this great Lady it is recorded That she was born in Ascalon a Town of Syria and exposed to the fury of Wild Beasts but being born not to dye so ingloriously she was brought up by Shepherds and at full Age presented to the Syrian Vice Roy who gave her in marriage to his only Son going with him to the Wars she fell into acquaintance with King Ninus who liking her Person and Spirit took her to his bed This bred in him a greater Affection to her so that he granted her at her request the command of the Empire for 5 days making a Decree that her Will in all things should be punctually performed which boon being gotten she put on the Royal Robes and as some writers report commanded the King to be slain Having thus gotten the Empire she exceedingly inlarged it leading her Army consisting of one hundred Thousand Chariots of War three Millions of Foot and half a Million of Horse A Woman worthy of Honour and Applause but only for her insatiable Lusts of which the Greek Writers charge her to be very guilty This Queen Semiramis caused an huge Obelisk or Pyramid to be cut out of the Armenian Mountains all of one entire stone one hundred and fifty foot long and twenty four foot thick which was foursquare and was brought with much difficulty to the River Euphrates and from thence to Babylon where she erected it to be a matter of admiration to future Ages Babylon likewise revolted from the Persians in the Reign of Darius Hyslaspes and that Victuals might 〈…〉 for the Men of War they strangled 〈…〉 of the Women they being then it seems 〈…〉 to be necessary Evils when they had for 〈…〉 obstinately defended the Town that the 〈…〉 had very little hope of prevailing Zopyrus one 〈…〉 Captains mangling his body and disâ—iguring 〈◊〉 Face by cutting off his own Ears and Nose â—ed to the Babylonians complaining of the Tyranny of the King as if he had been thus cruel to him The Babylonians believing his Words and knowing his Courage committed the charge of the whole Army to him as a man to whom such barbarous usage had made the King irreconcileable But he taking the best Opportunity delivered both the Town and Souldiers into the hands of his Soveraign which made Darius often say That he had rather have one Zopyrus than Twenty Babylonians Here dyed Alexander the Great after whose Death the Graecian Captains regardful rather of their own Ambition than the Common Loyalty divided the Empire amongst themselves leaving the body of the King eight days unburied A wonderful change of Fortune that he who living thought the World too small for his valour being dead should find no place big enough for his Body The Walls of this City were built of Stone and wonderful high strongly joyned together with Lime and Ciment growing in the Mines of that Countrey but especially in the great Lake of Asphaltites in Judea where sometime Sodom and Gomorrah stood within the Town were a great number of Marble Temples and Golden Images whole Streets shining and glittering with Gold and precious Stones And among other Temples there was one of Belus built by Semiramis and dedicated to Cush or Jupiter Belus fourfquare each side containing two Furlorys or a Thousand Paces with thick Towering Walls and entred by four Gates of polished Brass In thâ— midst thereof there was a Tower sometimes reckon 〈◊〉 one of the 〈◊〉 Wonders it had an hundred Braâ—en 〈◊〉 and â—wo Hundred and Fifty Towers and 〈…〉 a quarâ—â—r of a mile both in height and bredth uâ—on which were raised eight other Towers one above another with easie stairs to ascend up to the top where there 〈◊〉 a Chappel with a sumptuous Bed and a Table of â—old In the top of this Chappel were placed three Golden Statues one of Jupiter 40 Foot long weighing a Thousand Talents each Talent containing 63 pounds 10 Ounces Another Image of Ops weighing as much sitting in a Golden Throne at her Feet were two Lyons and hard by divers huge Serpents of Silver each weighing Thirty Talents The third Image was of Juno standing in weight eight hundred Talents to all which was added a Common Table of Gold forty foot long and twelve broad weighing 50 Talents There were also two standing Cups of 30 Talents and 2 Vessels for perfumes of the like weight Besides 3 other Vessels of Gold weighing twelve hundred Talents All which the Persian Kings after the Conquest of it took away Finally such wonderful things are written by credible Authors of Artificial Mountains Orchards and Gardens hanging in the Air that they seem almost incredible All which demonstrates the wonderful Wealth and Glory of those Monarchs in that time But after the taking of it by the Macedonians the grandeur and magnificence thereof began to decline lessening a fourth part in the time of Quintus Curtius and was reduced to Desolation in the days of Pliny and in the Reign of the Emperor Adrian there was nothing left of Babylon but a poor Wall which served for a Park for Wild Beasts in which the Kings of Persia used to hunt and those who have lately travelled thither relate it is now so full of Lyons and Savage Beasts yea and of Robbers and Murtherers that Passengers are forced to have Souldiers to Guard them from whence we may by the way observe the exact accomplishment of the Prophecy of Jeremiah ch 51. concerning this City A drought is upon her Waters and I will dry up her Sea and make her Springs dry and Babylon shall become heaps a dwelling place for Dragons an astonishment and an hissing without an Inhabitant The Wild Beasts of the Desert with the Wild Beasts of the Islands shall dwell there and the Out shall dwell there and it shall be no more inhabited neither shall it be dwelt in from Generation to Generation and the Land shall be Desert and Dry. And it is certainly reported by Travellers that there is not nowany Town or Village near that once famous City nor so much as a Tree or green Herb in all that Territory but all is become a sandy Desart For Bagdat which is now called New Babylon is a days Journey from the place where the old City stood and this barrenness is wonderful considering the admirable fruitfulness thereof in times past which Pliny saith was the most fruitful Countrey of all the East and that the ground usually yielded two hundred and some years Three Hundred for one Treasure of Time Vol 1. III. The Second Wonder of the World is reckoned to be The Colossus of the Sun which was at Rhodes It was the Statue or Figure of a man dedicated by the Gentiles to the Sun and some say to Jupiter it was composed of Brass of an incredible bigness and in height like a mighty Tower so that it can hardly be imagined how
Egyptian Kings intended these for their Sepulchres yet it happened that they were not buried therein For the People being inraged against them for the slavery and toilsomness of the work and for their Cruelty and oppression they threatned to tear in peices their dead Bodies and with scorn and ignominy to throw them out of their Sepulchres whereupon these Princes commanded their Friends that when they were dead they should bury them in some obscure place The Tomb is cut smooth and plain without any sculpture or ingraving The outsides contain in length 7 Foot 3 Inches and half in depth 3 foot 4 Inches and the same breadth the hollow part within is about six foot long the depth two foot whereby it appears that mens bodies are as big now as they were Three Thousand year ago for it is near so long since this Tomb was made The charge whereof was so great that though the workmen had no other Food but Garlick Radishes and Onions yet it cost that King eighteen Hundred Talents Some with great labor and pains have climbed to the top of this Pyramid but being above they have seemed as it were to lose their sight by looking down judging themselves to be above the clouds whereby their Brains were much troubled Next to this in bulk and beauty is said to be the Pyramid of a Daughter of Cheops who as Authors report to finish her Fathers undertaking and raise her own to the height prostituted her body to all Comers requiring but one stone toward the work from each one of her Customers Treasury of Time Not far from this Pyramid are the Egyptian Mummies which are the Graves of the ancient Egyptians into which are descents like the narrow mouths of Wells some near Ten Fathoms deep leading into long Vaults hewn out of the Rock with Pillars of the same Between every Arch lye the Corps ranked one by another of all sides which are innumerable shrouded in a number of Folds of Linnen and swathed with Bands of the same the breasts of many being marked with strange Hieroglyphick Characters The Linnen being pull'd off the bodies appear solid uncorrupt and perfect in all their dimensions To keep these from Putrefaction they draw the Brains out at the Nostrils with an Iron Instrument filling the head with preservative spices then cutting up the Belly with an Ethiopian Stone they take forth the Bowels cleanse the inside with wine and so stuffing it with a composition of Myrrhe Cassia and other odours they closed it up again The same the poorer sort effected with Bitumen fetched from the Lake of Sodom whereby they have been preserved to this day having lain there for above Three Thousand years Clarks Mirrour First Part. On the Bank of the River Nilus stood that famous Labyrinth built by Psammiticus King of Egypt situate on the South side of the Pyramids and North of Arsinoe It contained within the compass of one continued Wall a Thousand Houses Herodotus says three Thousand five hundred and twelve Royal Palaces all covered with Marble and had one only entrance but innumerable turnings and returnings sometimes one over another and all very difficult to such as were not acquainted with them The Building was more under ground than above the Marblestones being laid with such Art that neither wood nor cement was imployed in any part of the Fabrick The chambers were so ordered that the doors upon there opening gave a Report no less terrible than a crack of Thunder The chief entrance was all of white Marble adorned with stately Columns and most curious Imagery Having got to the end of it a pair of stairs of ninety steps conducted into a gallant Porch or Portico supported with Pillars of Theban Marble which was the entrance into a fair and stately Hall the place of the General Convention or meeting of the Nobles of the Kingdom all of polished marble set out with the Statues of their Gods A work which afterward was imitated by Dedalus in the Cretan Labyrinth though it fell as short of the Glories of this as Minos the King who was at the charge thereof was inferiour to Psammiticus in power and Riches Heylins Cosmography The lake of Maeris was likewise a most admirable work undertaken and finished by Maeris one of the Egyptian Kings which for greatness and colour is like the Sea It is about six hundred furlongs from the City of Memphis the circumference thereof containing some hundreds of furlongs the depth fifty fathom or three hundred feet many Millions of men were imployed several years about it the benefit of it to the Egyptians and the wisdom of that King cannot be sufficiently commended for since the rising of the River Nilus is not alwayes alike and the Countrey is more fruitful by the moderateness thereof He digged this Lake to receive the superfluity of the waters that neither by the greatness of the Inundation it should cause Marishes or by the scarcity of water the Earth should not yield her strength â—he therefore cut a ditch from the River to this Lake fourscore furlongs long and three hundred feet in breadth by which sometimes receiving in and sometimes diverting the River he gave at his pleasure a sufficient quantity of water to the Husbandmen In the midst of this Lake King Maeris built a Sepulcher and 2 Pyramids each of them an hundred fathoms high placing upon them two Marble Statues fitting on a Throne one representing himself the other his wife designing hereby to make his Memory Immortal The Revenues which rise by the Fish of this Lake he gave to his wife to buy sweet Ointments Ornaments and Jewels which was so great that it amounted to above a Thousand pound a day For it was mightily replenished with Fish of Twenty sorts so that very many were continually imployed in catching and salting of them Diodorus Siculus Hist 5. The Fourth Marvel or Wonder of the World was the Tomb of Mausolus King of Caria a Province in the Greater Asia built by his Queen Artemisia who as Historians report so dearly affected her husband that she is by many recorded as an absolute pattern of Conjugal Affection After his death she lamented his loss with extraordinary Sorrow and Complaints and resolved to erect a Tomb or Sepulcher for him answerable to the extream Love she had for him and such indeed it proved to be being accounted for rare workmanship and costly magnificence one of the Worlds Wonders The Stone of the whole Structure was of most curious Marble four hundred and eleven foot in Circuit and 25 Cubits high supported with Thirty gallant Pillars excellently ingraven This building was open on all sides with Arches 73 foot wide framed by the most exquisite workmen of that Age and the perfection of the work was so admirable that ever after all sumptuous and beautiful Tombs were called Mausolaea of which Martial thus writeth Mausolus Tomb which hangeth in the skie The Men of Caria's Praises Deifie It is recorded that Artemisia after
have his Government upon his shoulders Even the Saviour of the whole World for besides what the Evangelists mention as of the Angel appearing to the Shepherds and that Star which directed the wise men of the East to find out the place 〈…〉 As the Earth with a New Sun was blest So th' Heavens with a New Star is drest It is likewise recorded by Paul Horatius and Eutropius Secretaries to Augustus and likewise by Eusebius That at the time that Jesus Christ was born it happened in Rome that in a publick Inn was discovered and broke forth a Fountain of pure Oil which for the space of a whole day continually issued out in great abundance and that at high Noon in a clear and fair day a Circle was seen about the Sun as shining and resplendent as the Sun it self About the same time the Senate and People of Rome offered to Augustus the Title of Lord which he refused and would not accept of unknowingly prognosticating that a greater Lord than he was upon Earth to whom that Title belonged Comestor in his Scholastick History affirms That the same day of the Birth of Christ the Temple in Rome dedicated by the Romans to the Goddess Pax fell to the Earth ruined adding that when it was first built by the Romans they addressed to the Oracle of Apollo to know how long time it should endure who returned answer Even until a Virgin should bring forth a Child which they judged impossible and that therefore their Temple should last Eternally nevertheless at the Virgins bearing a Child even the King of Heaven it fell to the Earth Lucas de Tuy in his Chronicle of Spain writes That he hath found in the Ancient Histories of that Countrey That by Computation of time the same night wherein our Saviour was born there appeared in Spain at mid-night a Cloud which gave so great a Light that it seemed like mid-day I remember also saith my Author I have read in St Jerom That when the Virgin fled with her Son into Egypt all the Idols and Images of the Gods which were there tumbled from their Altars to the Ground And that the Oracles and Answers which these Gods or rather Devils used to give to such questions as were propounded to them then ceased and never answered afterwards Rarities of the Creation p. 84. IV. About the first year after the Birth of Christ there were many Prodigious Births in Germany Armies in the Air were seen at Rome A terrible Eclipse of the Sun and dreadful storms of Hail and Rain Soon after Tiberius obtains a Victory in Germany and subdues the Lombards The Panonians Rebel A very great Famine in Rome Varus is defeated and killeth himself About the Twelfth year there was a great Earthâ—â—ake in Câ—prus which overthrew many Cities Jesus Christ disputes with the Doctors a great and terrible Comet then seen The Light of the Sun was seen apparently to fail The Heavens seemed to burn Fiery beams fell from Heaven Bloody Comets seen in other places The River Tiber overfloweth Rome 13 Cities in Africa destroyed with an Earthquake Noysome Flys come in great Swarms and Companies into Germany The Effects whereof were judged to be that a while after Aâ—â—â—â—s a great Commander was slain by the â—all of an Horse Caligâ—ia that Monster of Mankind was born King Agrippa was slain and Julia Daughter of the Emperor Augustus was starved to Death Caesar dyeth The Brittains are subdued In his 22 year Blood rained in Rome Great Flocks of Graâ—hopâ—er Armies seen fighting in the Air in Rome and Poâ—â—â—d Fiery Torches a blazing Star like a Sword soon after 〈◊〉 Theatre was burned Sejanus chief â—â—â—ourite to the Emperour Tiberius is executed for Aâ—â—â—ition his Son strangled his Daughter first deâ—lowred by the Hangman and then put to Death Drusâ—s the Emperors Son is poysoned The Arabians defeat Hâ—â—od the City of Tâ—â—â—ias is drowned Tiberius turned Tâ—â—ant and commits all mâ—nner of horrid Cruâ—â—ies upon the Romans Natura Prodig p. 43. V. In the Thirty Fourth year of our Blessed Saviours Life he was crucified by the wicked hands of theâ— Jews which produced prodigious Effects that were afterward attested as well by Heathens as Christians at the time of his Death a very great darkness happened in the day time which continued from six a Clock till nine and yet there was no Eclipse of the Sun for it was at a full Moon so that it was miraculous and contrary to the Order of Nature and only by the power of God who deprived the Sun of its light for that space of time And therefore Dennis the Areopagite being that day in Athens and seeing the Sun so darkened and also knowing as a man learned in Astrology and the course of the Hâ—avens that such an Eclipse must needs be contrary to the Rule of Nature spake with a loud voice saying Either the World is at an end or the God of Nature suffers and upon this Account say some Authors the Wise Men of Athens being astonished at this Prodigy they presently caused an Altar to be built to the Vnknown God after which St. Paul coming thither reproved them for it declaring to them that Jesus Christ the Redeemer of the World who had suffered was that Unknown God whereby he Converted many of them to the Christian Faith which doth also demonstrate that the darkness was over the whole Hemisphere since it was seen at Athens and other places far remote from Jerusalem Yea the Moon being then at full and having no light but what she hath from the splendour of the Sun and being then in the Firmament that is under us she came to be violently eclipsed and darkned so that the darkness was universal over all the World because the Moon and Stars can give no light unless they receive it first from the Sun It was likewise very observable and is acknowledged by the famous Historian Plutarch though a Heathen that after the Death of Christ not only the Oracles of Egypt but throughout the World ceased of which he can give no reason being ignorant of Christianity but that there were some Devils or Demons dead However it was very remarkable that Satan should so plainly demonstrate himself to be subdued and overcome immediately after the Death of our Saviour that he could never after give any answers The Words of Plutarch to Emilius the Orator a prudent and humble man concerning this matter of which Eusebius writ to Theodorus as a thing of great note are as followeth That his Father coming one time by Sea toward Italy and coasting by night about an Island not inhabited called Paraxis when all in the ship were silent and at rest they heard a great and fearful voice which came from that Island that called upon Alaman who was Pilot of the Ship and an Egyptian born now though this voice was heard once or twice by Alaman and others yet no man had the Courage to answer till at the third Call he
the Command of Nero who rejoyces in that Villany playing upon his Harp and singing the Destruction of Troy This year the Jews rebel against the Romans and many of them were slain Gassius Florus being killed by them Boadicia Queen of the Brittains being assisted by Corbred King of Scots killeth Seventy Thousand Romans Natura Prodig p. 46. VII In the Sixty Seventh year after the Birth of our Saviour and about the Fortieth after the Jews had with cruel hands crucifyed the Lord of Life that innocent blood which they desired might fall upon them and their Children began to be revenged upon them for soon after the Romans came and burnt down and destroyed the City and Temple of Jerusalem and kil'd multitudes of them as by the sequel will appear but before these woful Desolations happened there wanted not Prodigious Signs and warnings from Heaven of their Approaching Miseries For the year before Vespasian came against them there was seen a Star over the Temple so bright as if a man had held many drawn swords in his hand And at the same time which was the Passover that whole night the Temple was light and clear as at Noon-day and continued so seven nights together which wise men understood to be a very ill Prognostick though others thought it good A Sword and other Instruments of War were seen hanging in the Air directly over the City very dreadful to behold The same time likewise they brought a Heifer for a Sacrifice which when she was knocked down she calved a Lamb besides there was a certain Gate called the East-gate which could never be opened or shut without the help of Twenty men and the creaking of the hinges might be heard afar off This Gate was found open without any mans help and they could not shut it till a great number joyned their strength Moreover there was discerned on the Sanctum Sanctorum or Holies of Holies a whole night long the face of a man very terrible There appeared also at the same time four Chariots with Horsemen fighting fiercely against each other and great Blasts of Fire in the sky coming toward Jerusalem In the Feast of weeks the Priests heard a man walking in the Temple and saying with a wonderful terrible voice Come let us go away out of this Temple let us make haste away from hence At that time also there was this writing found graven on an old Stone At what time the building of the Temple shall be brought to a four square then it shall be destroyed Now when the Temple was besieged and the Walls bruised the Jews making haste to repair the Ruins without remembrance of the old writing they made the Temple four square These words were likewise found in the Walls of the Sanctum Sanctorum When the whole building of the Temple shall be four square then shall a King reign over Israel and that King and Ruler shall reign over all the Land of Israel Some interpreted this of the King of Israel but the Priests said it was meant of the King of the Romans These were the dreadful Presages of their ensuing Calamities which never ended till the whole People were almost utterly destroyed and they ceased to be any more a Nation which sad Judgment remains upon them to this day and whereof I shall here give a brief Account The beginning of their troubles happened in the time of King Agrippa during whose Reign the Wars began between the Jews and Romans which never ceased till the people of Judea were led captive into the Provinces of the Romans and the Temple was made desolate the rise whereof was on this occasion In the Twentieth year of his Reign the ninth day of the First Moneth which is July Nero Emperor of Rome sent a Present for a Burnt Offering to be offered at the Temple of Jerusalem requiring peace of the Elders of Judea and Jerusalem and that they would enter into League with him saying My request is that you would offer my Present to the Lord your God for his service and Religion pleaseth me very well therefore I desire you to joyn in Friendship with me according as you have done with the Emperors of Rome my Predecessors in time past I have heard what Cassius the Captain of mine Army hath done to you which displeaseth me out of measure wherefore I assure unto you a faithful League by the Consent and Counsel of the Senate of Rome that hereafter there shall never any Roman Captain stir hand or foot against you but rather your Magistrates Rulers and Judges shall be all Jews and of Jerusalem Yea Agrippa your King shall be Lord of all your Rulers and what he commands you shall do it the Romans shall only be called your Lords and shall have no more to do with you When these Embassadors came to Jerusalem they delivered their Message to Anani the Priest and placed Nero's present before him which was a Bull for a Burnt-Offering with a Crown of Gold upon his head his Horns were also covered with Gold upon his Body was a Cloth of Purple adorned with precious Stones before him some Persons carried Ten Talents of Gold and behind a great number of Sheep followed for Peace-Offerings But when Eleasar the Son of Anani heard of it he came and turned Nero's Presents out of the Temple saying We will not prophane and unhallow the Sanctuary of our Lord with the Offerings of Strangers for God will not accept either their Burnt-Offerings or Peace-Offerings When he had thus spoke he sounded a Trumpet and set his Men in Array against the Guards of the Romans who were quartered in Jerusalem and falling suddenly upon them slew many of them that day with one of their Captains and took another of them alive who being a Valiant man and seeing himself overpowred by the Jews he cryed out save my Life and I will yield upon which Eleazer the Rebel swore That he would not kill him but spare him for his valour he having slain many of the Jews in the Conflict whereupon the Captain yielded himself Prisoner Then said Eleazer to him Even as thy sword hath made many Women Childless so shall thy Mother be made childless of thee above all others and thereupon contrary to his Oath he commanded his Servants to kill him King Agrippa seeing this was extreamly troubled and therefore as he stood in the street cryed out O thou Rebel Eleasar I pray God that this mischief of which thou art the cause and thy wickedness may fall upon thee and thy Fathers House which when it cometh to pass we shall not be disturbed thereat It seems hard to keep Peace and Tranquillity in thy days for they are not like to be continued by thee How long wilt thou go on to bring us into Bryers thou Enemy and hater of the Lord Why dost thou destroy and wast the Vineyard of the Lord God of Hosts To whom Eleazar replyed Why takest thou upon thee the Name of King If thou be
bloodshed and without the Roman Army made inroads from Caesarea even to the Gates of the City between those three within there were most cruel Battels for the space of four days without breathing or ceasing and every day very many were slain so that the blood of the Jews ran abundantly through the Market-places and Streets even to the Temple of the Lord like a great Flood which had been caused by showers of Rain Then assembled the Priests Elders and many of the People beseeching these their Intestine and Domestick Enemies not to pollute and defile the Temple with their slaughters but they were almost all slain for their pains by the villany of the Seditious together with Anani and Joshua the Priests and Sechariahu the Prophet of the Lord. Then had the continual Sacrifice ceased Thirty six days for even till that time some good men or other in Jerusalem still offered Sacrifice to the Lord But now when the Priests had laid the Sacrifice on the Altar the seditious would run upon them and kill them so that the Priests and the Beasts they would have Sacrificed fell down dead to the ground together and so they likewise destroyed all that came â—hither for Devotions sake so that scarce one was left â—live and the pavement of the Temple being Marâ—le was made so slippery with the blood and fat of â—hose which were slain that no man could go upon it without falling Nay whosoever the seditious overâ—â—ne they set fire on their Houses which fired other great mens Houses nigh the Temple and at last caught hold of the Store-Houses of Corn Wine and Oyl to the number of One Thousand Four Hundred all filled full of Victuals against a time of necessity or the besieging of the Town For when Vespasian was in Galile the Priests and Elders made up the Doors of these Garner-houses and laid in Victuals sufficient for Two Hundred Thousand men for 20 years but now in this one Fight of the Seditious they were all burnt to the ground with all within them which caused a sudden hunger and Famine in Jerusalem At the same time the seditious pulled down all the fair and goodly Buildings that there should be no sign nor Monument of any Noble House left in the City Thus God visited the Citizens of Jerusalem with four dreadful Plagues at once Sword Pestilence Famine and Fire to which this Fifth was added the ruine and destruction of all beautiful and glorious Buildings So that whithersoever a man turned himself there were nothing but desolations pollutions of the Temple and all holy things and uproars without all rest and refuge no help no succour but every corner of Jerusalem was full of howling and yelling weeping and wailing sobbing and sighing of Women and Children Here you might hear the roaring and lamentation of men not quite dead there the mourning and throbbing of the Elders with the woful crys of young Children for bread in short all manner of misery oppressed them so that he was thought happy who dyed before this day and all those were in a woful case who were so unfortunate to see it when Joseph heard all these things at Caesarea he tore his Hair with his hands cast Ashes on his Beard and sitting with great sorrow on the ground he bewailed and made Lamentation over the miserable City of Jerusalem After this in the first year of the Reign of Vespasian Titus his Son mustered his men in the Plain of Caesarea and he found them a vast number so that they seemed almost to cover the Earth he then marched to Samaria and being received by the Citizens with great joy he spared them and did them no harm from thence he went to Ajelona thirty Furlongs from Jerusalem and there pitched his Tents and taking six Hundred Horsemen with him he went to Jerusalem to view the height of the Walls and the strength of the Town but the Jews laid an Ambush and slew sixty of Titus his men and might have slain him likewise but that they designed to take him alive whereby he took an Opportunity to escape The next day Titus brought his whole Army to Jerusalem and it being a little before the Feast of Vnleavened Bread an infinite number of People who came to celebrate it were shut up in the City by which means the City was soon oppressed with a cruel Famine all manner of Food and nourishment being consumed and Oxens Dung was accounted good Meat others fed upon old Leather and horrible dreadful things happened for some Women boyled their own Children and eat them many thinking to save their Lives by flying to the Romans were cut in pieces to search for their Gold and Jewels which they had swallowed to prevent Discovery Two Thousand were miserably destroyed one night upon this Account And on the Feast day which was April 14. Eleasar having seized on the Inner Temple opened the Gate that the People might sacrifice Jehochanan taking this opportunity sent privately many of his party armed with short swords under their Garments who being admitted with the rest of the multitude set upon Eleasar and seized the Inner Temple with the slaughter of many of his party and thus the threefold Faction was again reduced into two that of Jehochanans who were Eight Thousand Four Hundred and the other of Schimeons with whom were Ten Thousand besides Five Thousand Idumeans or Edomites Titus approaching the Walls pitched his Camp about the River Psephina and presently raised a Mount and with a battering Ram first shook and then beat down part of the Wall and May 7. broke into the City The first wall being beaten down and the Jews retiring inward he gained the North quarter of the City even to the Castle of Antonia and the Valley of Cedron On the fifth day after a Tower on the second Wall being shaken and battered down from the North-quarter Titus got the new lower City from which he was repulsed again by the Jews but on the fourth day after he regained it and so addressed himself for the assault of the third Wall May 12. he commanded four Mounts to be raised two at the Castle of Antonia whereby he thought to gain the Temple â—nd two at the Tomb of the High-Priest John 〈…〉 he hoped to win the upper City which 〈…〉 â—â—nished in 17 days Jehochanan by a Mine from Antonia cast down one of the Mounts and burnt it and Schimeon the second day after in a Salley that he made fired 2 of the Mounts opposite to him with the Rams and other Engines of the Romans whom they fell upon in their Camp but Titus relieving them from Antonia forced the Jews into the City again These Mounts being thus demolished Titus in three days time encompassed the City with a Wall of thirty nine Furlongs in Circuit about which he built 13 Castles each 10 Furlongs round so that none could go in or out whereby the Famine raged so cruelly in the City that with it and the Pestilence
Earthquake and a strange Bird of a notable greatness was seen at Rome also a blazing Star and two Eclipses of the Moon and contrary to Astronomical demonstration she appeared black and bloody Armed men were seen in the Air and many strange and wonderful Voices were heard in the Heavens In 77 another great blazing Star or Comet appeared and three Cities in Cyprus sell to the ground by an Earthquake A little before Nero slew his Mother Agrippina the Sun was strangely darkned as abhorring to behold such a sight and a Woman in Rome brought forth a Serpent In 81 A Terrible Comet appeared The Tomb of Augustus Caesar opened of it self and blood â—aâ—ned in Germany Three Suns were seen at once in Poland and there happened much Lightning and Thunder which consumed many brave buildings An Elm Tree saluted Apollonius Tyaneus and spake to him with an audible voice The Sun is this year Eclipsed and there was a great Earthquake in Naples These Prodigies were judged to portend the following accidents The Emperor Otho killeth himself Dardanus Tyrannizeth in Scotland and was slain by Corbred A very great Pestilence in Rome Most part of England is subdued by Agricola he putteth Karenoth the King to flight and the Scots also Vespasian dyeth of a Flux Haldanus the Sweed is restored to his Kingdom from which he was expelled The Emperor Titus dyeth Lynius a Bishop of Rome Martyred Domitian turns away his Wife and marries the Widow of Titus He sends two Armies against the Goths and they are both routed Philosophers and Mathematicians are Banished out of Rome Brittain is reduced into a single Province and at the Emperors own dispose Cocceius Nerva dyeth Two Saxon Kings rebel against Froto he overcomes them and makes them his Tributaries St. John writes his Epistles Rome and France fall at difference The third Heathen Persecution against the Christians began About the Year 105 in the Beign of Trajan who raised the third Persecution against the Christians October 22. there fell out one of the most terrible Earthquakes that ever was First there arose furious and violent winds which tore up trees by the roots made Birds fall to the Earth uncovered and overthrew many houses Then followed Thunder and Lightning which made the night like noon day then dreadful Thunder-bolts which broke down stately buildings and slew many men The Sea was wonderful tempestuous after which came such violent heat that people not being able to indure it stript themselves and then hid themselves under ground The Sky was so dark and the dust so great that one could not see another so that rushing together many fell down dead Divers Cities were ruined much people perished Several Mountains and Hills sunk and became Plains many Rivers were dryed up Fountains and Springs broke out where never were any before Almost all the houses in Antioch were destroyed Dion Hist VIII From the Year of our Lord 107 to 167 those following Prodigies happened A very great Earthquake in Asia many prodigious fights in the Air as fightings c. observed in Spain An Earthquake in Galatia At Rome Lightning from Heaven consumes the Temples of the Gods An Earthquake at Antioch Great Lightnings strange unusual winds together with horrible noises in the Earth Two great Earthquakes at Nice and two others in Palestine Milk rained at Rome and an Earthquake happened there and Three Hundred and Forty Houses though inviâ—oned with water were destroyed by a great Fire in that City A great Serpent was seen in Arabia and it rained Frogs at Constantinople three Suns likewise appearing and at the same time a Star and a Rainbow A very great Earthquake in Bythinia The waves of the Mediterranean Sea in a Calm elevated themselves to the top of a Mountain far distant from it and cast the foam a great way upon the main Land In this space of time the French and Saxons plant Colonies in Germany The Saracens and Arabians are subdued A Bishop of Jerusalem is Crucified Babylon and Seleucia are taken Nero's house is burnt The Jews rebel in Egypt and kill Two Hundred Thousand Men Ptolomy King of Egypt encounters them slayes Thirty Thousand Jews at once and forced those who survived to eat up their dead Carcases About the same time the Jews slay Two Hundred and Forty Thousand in Cyprus and at last are slain themselves The Chaldeans Brittains Scots and Picts rebel Christians are put to death in Asia Apollodorus is Cain by Hadrians Rollearpus is Martyred Aurelius Caesar seeing a wonderful Fire at Rome causeth the Persecution to cease by an Edict from himself Hermogenes ran out of his wits and dyed The Brittains repine against the Roman oppression and rebel Agricola subdueth them The Fourth Persecution began IX From 167 to 219 were these unusual Accidents A wonderful fire was seen in the Heavens which seemed to pass from East to West Wolves came in flocks near to Rome howling hideously Crosses were seen to sweat with Tears Rain mingled with Fire falls from Heaven at Prema A great and terrible Earthquake and many inundations at Rome Divers strange fires seen in the Air and some to fall from thence Great swarms of Locusts covered the ground and destroyed many Fields and Meadows A great Earthquake in Asia The Stars were seen all the day long at Rome and some apparitions hung streaming down in the very middle of the Air And there fell a wonderful Lightning from Heaven upon the Capitol and the fire increasing burnt the Library and all the houses near it All kinds of Creatures contrary to their natures brought forth prodigious Births this year Flames of Fire descend from Heaven There were seen at Rome three Stars about the Sun very glorious An Eagle alighted on the Image of a Souldier Bees wrought their Combs upon Souldiers Ensigns A sudden fire in the Air toward the North A great lowing and fire in the Earth A Whale comes ashore in the Haven of Augustus A Comet for many dayes together was seen at Rome A wonderful Lightning fell from Heaven upon the Image of Severus and blotted out three Letters of his name These things were judged to portend the ensuing effects The Germans with an Army enter Italy Pertinax is sent against them and beats them back The Senate adjudges Cassius an enemy to the State and he is slain by the Souldiers About this time was great jarring among the Bishops and Churchmen of most Nations concerning Religion Smyrna in Asia is quite destroyed Perennius and his son are executed for Treason Apollonius being accused for a Christian is sentenced and executed Cleander who succeeded Perennius is executed to please the People Two Thousand dye in a day of the Plague at Rome The Emperor Commodus removeth the head from a Colossus or Great Image and putreth one of his own upon it he grows ridiculous and the People taking notice thereof he executeth many of them he is at last strangled by Martia his Concubine In his Reign there appeared in the Sky
divers fearful signs Stars were seen continually in the day time and blazing Comets of a huge length hanging as it were in the midst of the Air All sorts of Creatures contrary to their kinds brought forth monstrous and deformed Births but that which most grievously afflicted the City of Rome and amazed them with the presage was that the Temple of Peace the most stately and dainty Monument in Rome was on a sudden without any Tempest foregoing but only a little Earthquake quite burnt to the ground whether by Lightning or Fire out of the Earth was uncertain That Temple was the richest and strongest of all others and was curiously adorned with gifts of massy Gold and Silver yea all Persons of Quality had there deposited and laid their Principal Treasures but the fire happening in the night made many rich men suddenly poor When the fire had consumed the Temple it burned down also many of the most beautiful buildings in the City continuing its rage for many days together Horodian Imp. History Pertinax is Emperor 87 dayes and then is slain by the Souldiers The King of Scots is slain by a Musician for causing one of his Kindred to be executed Severus goeth against Niger whom he beat three times and then slew him at Antioch Herod besiegeth Byzantium now Constantinople three years together Satrahel coming to rule Scotland kills many of the old Lords of the Kingdom Constantinople is taken by Famine Satrahel is strangled by his Servants The Brittains are beaten by Severus and the head of Albinus is sent to Rome About this time Scotland received the Christian Faith The fifth Persecution began Many fled from Jerusalem into the Wilderness to avoid the Persecution The Romans wast Arabia Strange Heresies broached by Praxeus Severus went into Brittain but never returned thence Fifty Thousand of his Army dye Many of the Scots upon a Rebellion were cruelly massacred X. From 219 to 257 the following signs appeared which were accompanied with remarkable Accidents An Eagle flying takes away the Cap of Diadumenus and he is slain within 14 months after The Brittains rebel and invade the Roman Territories Streams of fire and strange Lightnings are seen at Rome Armed men appear in the Air in Muscovia and Poland the Persians invade Armenia and wast the Roman Territories Alectus is slain in Battel The King of Scots is killed by his Guard the Emperor goeth into Persia and is overcome A Blazing Star is seen at Rome which exteâ—â—â—d it self a very great length and was seen both to burn and blaze many nights together Maximilian comes out of Germany and is slain by his own Souldiers his body is given to be torn and devoured of Dogs The Goths at this time became terrible to the Roman Empire In 241 was an Eclipse of the Sun which saith my Author was so great that it made the day seem as dark as the night Athirco King of Scotland kills himself strange Heresies spread themselves The Persians are vanquished and expelled Syria In 244 the Sun was totally Eclipsed and there was a great Earthquake which caused the Earth to gape so exceedingly that several Cities together with their Inhabitants were swallowed up and destroyed great Thunder is heard in the Earth with terrible darkness and another Earthquake The Goths take Chalcedon and Nice and ruin them both The Plague rageth in the Roman Army The Goths burn the Temple of Ephesus and enter Macedonia and Asia The Thirty Tyrants about this time engrossed and parcelled out the Roman Empire among themselves And the Sarmates subdued and robbed all Austria and Hungaria The Germans passing through France entred Spain to the City of Terragona which they ruined and the Empire was almost utterly destroyed Yea it was not only thus molested by men but the very Heavens and Elements conspired against it to plague it For the Heavens were darkened in such a manner that for many dayes space they never saw the Sun and the Earth opened and discovered great Vaults and Caves out of which there issued great streams of Salt-water and such horrid noises were heard as many dyed for fear The Sea broke its bounds overflowing and drowning many Cities After which there fell out the most woful Pestilence that ever was read or heard of so that in Rome there dyed thereof Five Thousand Persons in one day Imper. Hist Pag. 158. XI In 257 the Sea overwhelmed many Cities in Europe and Afriâ—a This year there were many exceeding great Earthquakes and darkness for many days together spears also were seen in the Element at Rome The Germans and Scythians wast the Empire The French destroy Italy Claudius Censorinus was made Emperor in Italy and slain there Donald usurped the Crown of Scotland and kept the Nobility in fear by threatning to kill their kindred whom he had got into his hands In 300 there was an horrible Earthquake in Tyre which destroyed many buildings and an innumerable Company of People Many Monsters were also born this year Dioclesian the Roman Emperor assumeth the Title of a God and would have Divine Honours given him Many Christians are burnt in a House in Nicodemia The Tenth bloody Persecution began One Hundred and Forty Four Thousand Christians are put to death in Egypt and Seven Hundred Thousand Banished In 314 a Banner with a Cross was seen in the Air and divers Armies fighting A hand was seen in Lateran at Româ— without a body which in the sight of many men writ upon the Wall these words Hodie venenum Ecclesiae infusurus To day is poyson poured into the Church This was interpreted to foretell the extraordinary Indulgence of Constantine the Emperor toward the Christian Bishops and his heaping Estates Riches and Honours upon them whereby they soon after lost their former Piety and Humility He was sirnamed the great and was the first Christian Emperor who publickly countenanced and imbraced the Gospel which he is said to have done on this occasion At the same time that he was saluted Emperor in Brittain Maxentius was chosen at Rome by the Praetorian Souldiers being pensive and sollicitous upon these Distractions he cast his Eyes up toward Heaven where he saw in the Air a lightsome Pillar in the form of a Cross wherein he read these words in Greek In this thou shalt overcome and the next night a vision appeared to him commanding him to bear that figure in his Standard and he should overcome all his enemies this he performed and was accordingly victorious from which time he not only favoured the Christians but became a zealous Professor of the Faith and Gospel Before his time it is observable that few if any at all of the Roman Emperors dyed a natural death they being 40 in all from the time of Julius Caesar though after they generally did Rome was likewise beautified by Constantine and Lamps and Wax Candles were first used in the Church in the day time Arius begins to broach his Heresies and is condemned by the Council of
as they came against the Earl of Flanders In 1064 a little before the coming of the Normans to this Kingdom about the Feast of Easter there was seen for a week together a Blazing Star of an hideous and fearful form which occasioned in mens minds a fore-feeling of some dismal events In 1076 three Suns at once were seen in Naples A fiery Dart ran up and down in the Heavens in Italy women appeared in the Air of admirable shapes which mightily amazed the Beholders The Emperor deposeth the Pope and the Pope him and also excommunicateth him The Turks take Rhodes and Cyprus The Hollanders overcome the Frisons Northumberland in England is wasted In 1086 a great inundation happened in Italy Four Moons were seen at once in France and England Many tame Fowl became perfectly wild In Flanders a fiery Dragon was seen flying in the Air casting flames out of his mouth shortly after followed the burning Plague called Ignis sacer or Holy fire The Saxons defeat the Emperor the Turkish Emperor dyeth King William the Conqueror dyeth Prince Edmund and Ethelred are banished Scotland by Donald their Unkle and dye in England In 1094 a fiery dart was visible in the Heavens which through its violence flew from North to South There was a great Earthquake in England Horrible noises and strange groanings were heard in the Earth about Rome Soon after the King of Poland being envied by his Nobles causeth many of them to be banished Pedro of Spain taketh Osca and killeth thirty thousand Moors The English invade Normandy again Bretislaus gaineth the Kingdom of Bohemia by the aid of the Hungarians The year 1101 was very remarkable for Monsters Syracuse in Sicily is shaken with an Earthquake Three Suns a Sword and Crown are seen in the Air in Germany and likewise a Comet of wonderful bigness after this Conradus the Emperor dyeth in Italy The Russians invade Poland but are expelled by Boleslaus In England the Earl of Shrewsbury warreth against King Henry 1. The Earl of Flanders takes Cambray A League is concluded between the English and Scots In 1106 a great Comet appeareth for fifty dayes together The Emperor Henry 4. dyeth as supposed of grief that his Son had lately rebelled against him About the same time which was when the Christians were ingaged in Palestine in the Holy War for the recovery of Jerusalem three Suns appeared one on each side the true but smaller both in quantity and light a great white circle invironing them and in it a Rainbow of four Colours the Bow being toward the Sun and reaching to the other two Suns and shortly after the Stars of Heaven seemed to ram XX. In 1116 fiery Armies in the Heavens were seen in Germany with many Earthquakes and very great Whirlwinds then Bruges in Flanders was burnt Poland was wasted And the Emperor is Excommunicated by the Pope In 1135 was a very great inundation in Flanders Holland and Freizeland in England was a great Earthquake and Whirlwinds happened in France the light of the Sun appears sensibly to fail and decay Now many people perished in Flanders Judea is miserably wasted by the Saracens Henry I. King of England surfeits of Lampreys and dyes Baldwin de Rivers fortifies Exeter against King Stephen he is taken and banished In 1147 were great Thunders at Rome and an Earthquake in England Several Globes of Fire were seen in the Heavens a multitude of small worms were viâ—â—â—e it rained blood and there were strange Lightnings at Rome Ling Lewâ—s of France about this time invades Syria he 〈◊〉 taken Prisoner by the Greeks but rescued by the â—â—ing of Sicâ—â—y Alâ—â—â—â—sâ—s King of Spain took Lâ—sbon and St. Iren from the Moores the King of Sueden is slain and soon after King Stephen of England dyeth in 1158 a very great Pillar of fire appeared in the Heavens in Germany There was a great Eclipse of the Suâ—â— Two Dragons were seen to fight in the Air in 〈◊〉 This year the Emperor goeth against the Aâ—â—â—â—â—s The Pope submitteth to the Emperor but soon after repents thereof and excommunicateth him The Venetians deny aid to the Greek Emperor against the King of Sicily In 1169 there appeared three Suns and three Moons beside the true ones and also a Comet there happened likewise a very great Earthquake not long after the Sultan of Egypt is flain by Syraconus The English invade Cumberland Malcolm King of Scots dyeth Catania in Sicily is destroyed and nineteen thousand People are swallowed up by an Earthquake The Romans rase the City of Alba. XXI In 1178 there was a wonderful inundation in â—â—gland Two Armies were seen in the Heavens in Italy to fight a fierce battel The Sun was this year greatly Eclipsed At which time the English and Scots quarrel The Spaniards take several places from the Frâ—â—ch Wars were between the French and Flemmings In 1185 was another very great Eclipse of the Sun and likewise a great Earthquake also an Eclipse of the Moon â—â—d Armies were seen in the air in Greece surrounded with fire At this time the Moors were defeated by the Spaniards and their King slain The greatest part of Bruges in Flanders was burnt Baldwin the fifth King of Jerusalem was poysoned by his Mother A rebellion happened in England The Greeks lose 70 sail of Ships by Pyrates In 1198 great stones fall from Heaven there was an Earthquake in the East which overthrew many Cities It rained blood in England Two fiery swords are seen in the Heavens in Spain Soon after the Kings of Castille and Aragon invade Navar The Sultan 〈◊〉 Iconiâ—â—â— is swallowed up by an Earthquake About this time saith A. B Spotâ—wood Adam Bishop of Cathness was barbarously used by some wicked people suborned by the Earl of Cathnes He was assaulted at his own house and his servant with a Monk who did ordinarily attend him were killed the Bishop was by force drawn into his Kitchen and when they had scourged him with Rods they let the Kitchen on fire and burnt him therein King Alexander 2 was at that time upon his Journey toward England and â—having notice of this cruel fact turned back and went in haste to Cathnes where he brought the Offenders and their Partakers to Tryal Four Hundred by publick sentence were executed and all their Male-Children gelt that no succession should spring from such wicked seed and the place where there Genitals were cast is to this day called the Stony-Hill The Earl because he did not help to rescue the Bishop had his Estate forfeited but yet he did not escape divine vengeance being murdered by some of his own Servants who conspired to kill him and to conceal the Fact set the House on fire and burnt his body whereby he was paid home in the same measure he had used to the Bishop A. B. Spotswood History Scotland Pag. 110. XXII In the year 1212 a dreadful Comet appeared for 18 days together Shapes all bloody were seen in the Heavens A Star with a
Cross and an half Moon was visible in Italy Not long after the Spaniards kill Two Hundred Thousand Moors The Pope giveth away England from King John to Prince Philip of France who lands there and striveth for it The Flemish with the English take three hundred sail of Ships from him and burn an hundred more The King of Aragon is slain William King of Scots and soon after King John both dye In 1234 a great Eclipse of the Sun happened and strange sights appeared in the Moon for whereas she usually seems round she now visibly appeared with six squares The Sun was darkned so much that the Stars were seen This year the King of Bulgaria puts out the Emperors eyes Vienna is subjected to the Empire Constantinople is besieged by the Turks but released by the Venetians King Henry III. of England and his Nobles quarrel but are reconciled The King of Poland dyeth In 1243 was a great Comet fearful to behold A Hill of a vast greatness removes it self out of its place A noise like Trumpets is heard in the air in Italy These were followed by a great Plague in Greece and a miserable Famine in Constantinople the King of the Cumans is slain and the Turks take Jerusalem and kill many Prisoners In 1255 a great Comet appeared Strange Lightning fell from Heaven The Sea overflowed in many places in England Dismal and strange noises are heard in the air At this time the Geneveses take Venice and are expelled again The Duke of Lithuania invadeth Prussia five petty Kings are expelled Spain the Venetians take Padua Eâ—â—â—line comes thither and kills twelve thousand Citizens Not long after Henry III. King of England dyes In 1277 there was a very great Rain about the Rhine in Germany the Sky was as bright in Poland at midnight as if it had been noon day Four Suns were seen in Russia and there was an Earthquake in England Now the Turks won all the lesser Asia from the Greeks The Pope is killed by a fall the Emperor slayes fourteen thousand Bohemians King Edward I. of England forceth the Welch to a Peace In 1285 a great Earthquake happened in Italy A Comet of notable greatness was seen this year A great swarm of divers coloured Flyes and mighty floods of waters were in England There was likewise about this time a battel or fight of Dogs in France saith Mr. Camden at a place called Genelon Castle wherein every one killed another being in number about Three Thousand no Dog escaping alive but only one Upon this followed the Invasion of Denmark by the Norwegians Hungaria is ruined by the Cumans the Helvetians war against the Emperor but are subdued The King of Sicily dyes and there was a great battel fought between the English and Scots wherein many of the Scots were slain the Sun the same day appeared as red as blood as long as the fight continued XXIII Launces and Darts of fire were seen in the Heavens in the year 1300 a great Snow fell and a Comet of a wonderful magnitude appeared In Germany Men and Horses were visible in the Air At this time the English beat the Scots The Turks invade the German Empire and commit great mischiess the Pope writes himself Vniversal Lord in Spirituals and Temporals Flanders is invaded and many Nobles are taken Prisoners Andrew King of Hungary dyes In 1310 was an Earthquake in England The Elements seem to burn many days together A Boy was born with four Arms and two Bodies Soon after the Polonians subdue Pomerania The Isle of Rhodes is taken from the Turks Robert Bruce King of Scotland wasteth that Countrey and drives out the English the Earl of Cornwal is banished and the Emperor burneth Brixia In 1322 the Sun in England for six hours together appeared like blood There was a great Earthquake in Germany and two Crosses appeared in the Heavens and a fiery Circle was seen about the Sun At this time the Scots oppose King Edward II. of England and put him to flight The King of Bohemia conquers Silesia and divers places in Lusatia The Emperor is taken in battel and imprisoned 3 years The King of England dyes In 1337 were two Comets seen together one of which continued four Months the other but three Blood rained in Rome wonderful flocks of Crows and Daws were seen in Germany The Lithuanians burn themselves their Wives Children and Goods to avoid taking The French burn Southampton The Scythians wast Thrace and take many Captives the King of Sicily dyeth About this time there happened a fearful Earthquake in the City of Venice which overturned divers Steeples and Palaces and among other dreadful Effects it caused many hundred women to miscarry in Child-birth and a terrible Plague sollowed it which reduced the City to such an height of misery that it was almost depopulated whereupon the Senate made a Decree that as many as would come to dwell at Vâ—â—ice should after they had continued there two years be free Ciâ—â—â—ens In 1341 a terrible Comet with many other apparitions were seen in the Heavens The Emperor Aâ—â—ronious about this time suffered death in an unheard of Tragical manner And the next year saith Mr. Camdâ—n October 11 when the Moon was eleven dayes old there were seen two Moons at Dablin in Ireland the one according to the â—ourse of nature in 〈◊〉 West the other in the East casting but a mean and slender Light In 1348 Divers Mocksuns appeared in the Sky and the Heavens seemed to burn There were several small Beasts rained from the Elements in the Eastern parts of the World There followed a grâ—at Piague in England the English beat the Scots and recover much from them The Poâ—anders â—â—solutely conqâ—er Russia In 1365 armed men were seen in the Heavens in England and fiery â—anceâ— in Italy Grashoppers cover Switzerland like Snow Soon after the Russians who rebelled in Pâ—land were sâ—bdued The King of France is exâ—â—lled his Kingdom The King of Sweden is taken Prssoner in Dattel the Tâ—rks expel the Christians from Adrianople In 1375 a Comet with a beard was seen many nights together in the Heavens Grashoppers eat up all the green things in France Mighty inundations in Germany and a very great Earthquake there After this five thousand Houses were burnt at Gaunt and seventeen other Towns in Flanders drowned the Christians kill twenty thousand Turks in Bosnia by a stratagem The Scots burn Roxborough there were great Calamities in Italy Prince Edward commonly called the Black Prince dyeth and not long after Edward III. King of England The French take the Isle of Wight and burn Rye and Hastings In 1378 a general Plague in a most miserable manner invaded the greatest part of the world It raged most among young Persons and Children In the City of Lubeck only in Germany it swept away ninety thousand persons there dyed of it in several places of bare-footed Fryers one Million two hundred forty four thousand four hundred thirty four The Jews were
from the Venetians and destroy abundance of them together with divers French and Spaniards In 1506 there appeared two Comets the first on April 11. which lasted but five days the second in August following Alexander King of Poland dyes together with the King of Spain and Philip the son of Maximilian the Emperor In 1509 there was a great and terrible Earthquake in Constantinople and the Countreys thereabout by the violence whereof a great part of the Walls of that City with many stately buildings both publick and private were quite overthrown and thirteen thousand People overwhelmed and destroyed therewith The terror thereof was so great that Bajazet the Emperor himself and the People generally forsook their houses and lay abroad in the Fields It continued for a Month together with very little intermission after which ensued a great Plague whereby that City was almost made desolate there dying above an hundred and threescore thousand people Turkish Hist Pag. 476. XXX The next year 1510 there happened a Prodigy which is very strange to relate for in this year saith my Author there fell Twelve Hundred Stones from Heaven some weighing threescore pound others more Nay it is affirmed some of them weighed an Hundred and Twenty Pound which if true serves for a good Argument to prove that some other Stars or Planets may be habitable besides the Earth At this time the Lubeckers wast Denmark King Henry 8. goeth into France and besiegeth Turwiu Bajazet the Great Turk is poysoned The Spaniards take Tripoly and make war in Navar The Lubeckers worst the Danes at Sea the Switzers invade France and do much mischief there In 1512 there appeared a great Comet in Leo Pope Julius 2. and John King of Sweedland dye James 4. King of Scotland is slain at Flodden Field The King of Poland being at war with the Emperor of Muscovia kills forty thousand of his men in a pitcht battle In 1521 three Suns with a Rainbow were seen at Vienna in Germany and suddenly after a great burning Torch was visible in the Heavens which continued a Month A Circle and Cross appears with the Moon and a burning Pillar is seen in Germany Soon after the Venetians aid the Hungarians against the Turks The French lose Millain The English and French quarrel The Emperor invades Picardy in France King Henry 8. writes against the Pope Christian King of Denmark is expelled his Kingdom In 1530 a Blazing Star of wonderful greatness appeared and was visible through all Europe This year four hundred and four Parishes were drowned by a great Inundation of the Sea in Holland with all their People and Cattel the Turks take Buda in Hungary the Great Cardinal Woolsey dyes the English Clergy are fined and pay to the King an Hundred Thousand pound for divers misdemeanours the next year about Fourteen Hundred Houses were overthrown by an Earthquake at Lisbon in Portugal and about six Hundred more so extreamly shattered that they were ready to fall and many of the Churches were thrown to the ground In 1533 a very great Comet was visible in the Heavens this year Pope Clement 7 dyes Alphonsus Duke of Ferrara and the Duke of Millain dye strange factions and seditions are raised about Religion in Hungary A great Plague at Noremburg in Germany In 1538 a fiery Comet appeared in the Sign Pisces with a long tail Charles Duke of Gelderland dyeth This year was made famous for divers things For then the Kingdom of Denmark imbraced the Gospel The Emperor and King of France met together to treat of Peace the Bible was Printed in English at Paris the Overseer of which work was Bishop Bonner The University of Strasburg was erected The Sect of the Antinomians was detected The Duke of Brandenburg imbraced the Augustan Confession The Sea upon the Coasts of the Kingdom of Naples was wholly dry for eight Miles together out of which Fire and Ashes broke forth so abundantly that many places were miserably destroyed thereby This year Alexander Medices who was made by the Pope Duke of Florence was Marryed to Margaret Daughter of the Emperor Charles 5. the Nuptials were celebrated with great Pomp and Military Revels at which time a great part of the body of the Sun was darkened whilst they were at the Feast which much astonished the Guests and the very next year after this Alexander was murthered by his Kinsman Lorenzo Medices who was always very great with him and privy to all his debaucheries Strada Wars Low-Countries XXXI In 1539 a bloody Star and Cross were seen flying in the Air Armed men swords and funerals were visible in the Heavens in Germany there likewise appeared a Blazing Star This year John Duke of Cleve dyeth a great fire happened in Constantinople which burnt the Jayl and consumed seven hundred Prisoners therein John King of Hungary dyes the Irish invade the English and are beaten George Duke of Saxony dyes The People of Gaunt in Flanders mutiny and behead their Magistrates Isabella Empress of Germany dyeth and shortly after Katherine Queen of England is beheaded by King Henry 8. In 1545 a Comet appeared in the West in colour like blood Lodowick Prince Elector dyes Martin Luther dyes and the next year a war in Germany breaks out A bloody French Massacre was now perpetrated King Henry 8. of England and Francis 1. King of France both dye The Earl of Surrey is this year beheaded in England In 1548 November 6 there was a great chasme or opening in the Heavens and in some places fire fell to the Earth and flew up into the Air again This Jasper Crucifiger saw and thereupon much bewailed the great Commotions and Divisions in the Church which he foresaw by this Prodigy and accordingly it came to pass In 1550 it rained Corn from Heaven in Carinthia Three Suns were seen in England an Earthquake and Globes of fire were visible in the Elements Armies of men appeared in the Air in Saxony The Sun seemed to cleave asunder after this followed great troubles in Antwerp and the sweating sickness in England The French make war with the Emperor the Duke of Somerset in England is beheaded the Queen of Sweden dyes the Turkish Pyrates carry six thousand Christians into Captivity out of the Isle of Gaul near Malta The next year a very great multitude of Men and Cattle were drowned by a terrible Tempest the Clouds suddenly dissolving and the waters pouring down with such a stupendious violence that the strong and massy Walls of many Cities with divers Vineyards and fair Houses were destroyed thereby XXXII That may be looked upon as a Prodigy in the highest degree saith Mr. John Gadbury which my worthy friend Captain George Wharton in his Ephemeris for the year 1655 hath transcribed from one Tackius a German Doctor of Physick who likewise takes it out of one Casper That in the year 1554 not far from the City of Harmsted in Transilvania there were observed in fair and legible Characters to be read in
the Heavens the following Letters I. N. R. I. M. D. L. V. I. I. A. R. E. I. N. E. N. D. E. D. I. S. E. S. R. E. I. C. H. S. Nay that Author further affirmeth that at Friburg in Germany the same year on a very fair day Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Iridi insidentem conspectum fuisse Our Lord Jesus Christ was beheld sitting upon a Rainbow as if upon his Tribunal to denounce the Vniversal Judgment In 1558 there was seen a Blazing Star in Spain at first somewhat dim at which time Charles the 5th Emperor and King of Spain sickned but as his disease increased so it grew in bigness at last shooting its fiery streams point blank against the Monastery where he lay in the very hour the Emperor dyed the Comet vanished The same year in the Month of August a Comet in the form of a spit appeared of a pale envious colour denoting a more then ordinary mortality of great Potentates Queen Mary of Hungary and Bohemia and Queen Mary of England both dye Christian the 2. King of Denmark dyes in Prison after 26 years imprisonment Henry 2. King of France is slain by running at Tilt Pope Paul 4. dyes and likewise the Dukes of Venice and Ferrara with fifteen Cardinals besides many other Princes In 1562 an Earthquake happened in Constantinople Clashing of Weapons in the Elements and armed men seen there Much Thunder was heard in England and five Suns seen in Holland After this the English take many Towns in France There was a great Plague in England the Muscovites invade Leiseland and the Danes and Lubeckers Sweden the Polanders beat the Livonians Nine Thousand men were slain at Dreux in Normandy and among them the King of Navar The same year December 19. Mr. John Calvin lying in his bed sick of the Gout it being Sunday and the North Wind having blown strongly for two days together some Friends coming to visit him he said unto them Truly I know not what is the matter but I thought that the last night I heard warlike Drums beating very loud and I could not perswade my self but it was so Let us go to Prayers for surely some great business is at hand And indeed this very day there was a great Battle fought between the Papists and Protestants not far from Paris in France news whereof came to Geneva a few dayes after Clarks Examp. 2 Part Pag. 564. XXXIII In 1568 were many Locusts in France The Heavens seem all on fire in Hungary In England when the true Moon was under the Earth there appears a Moon and a Cross with a refulgent Star at the top thereof Soon after the Third Civil War in France began the King of Sweden is deposed and imprisoned The Prince of Conde is taken and shot to death with a Pistol The Earls of Northumberland and Westmorland rebel against Queen Elizabeth Selymus Emperor of the Turks invadeth Cyprus The Polanders and Danes fight at Sea About this time the Duke of Alva came first into the Low-Countreys and the future calamities of his Government were presaged by a boy born at Leige with two heads four legs and as many hands the terror whereof was increased by a fire happening immediately after in the City of Mechlin by a spark falling amongst Gunpowder which took hold of threescore Barrels and caused such an horrid Thunder and Earthquake that in most of the Cities of Flanders the Men and Houses trembled at the dreadful noise Not long after when the Prince of Orange brought an Army against the Duke in the behalf of the Protestants there were seen in divers places on a clear night two Armies in Battalia brandishing their glittering Pikes as if they were ready for a charge The next year a Comet appears at the setting of the Sun near the Planet Jupiter Then followed a Famine in Austria Sweden Bohemia Bavaria Rustia Lithuania Joachimus 2. Elector of Brandenburg dyes and a little after Four Hundred Thousand People are drowned in Flanders and Holland besides Cattel In 1572 there appeared a Comet or New Star in Cassiopeia which continued Six teen Months Soon after which Charles 9. King of France who was the Author of the bloody Massacre in France dyed of extraordinary bleeding which issued from divers parts of his body cursing and swearing in a most dreadful manner saith Mr. Camden in his History of Queen Elizabeth Sigismund King of Poland likewise dyeth The Duke of Norfolk in England is beheaded A great Rebellion in Ireland XXXIV In 1577 Another Blazing Star of great magnitude appeared Sebastian King of Portugal dyed the next year of two wounds which he received in his head in his expedition for Africa In 1579 a fiery Dragon and great Troops of Ravens flew through the Air in Germany A mighty Tempest happened in Bohemia and an Earthquake in Holland Armies are seen in the Heavens at Antwerp Two armed men are visible in the Air in Gelderland That which followed was the Polanders take Livonia and Polotia from the Moscovite The Popish Clergy are expelled out of the City of Antwerp by the People The Emperor forbids the Protestant Religion at Aken In 1585 a Comet appeared for many weeks together and the next year it rained Locusts in Thracia and Ducks and Geese in Croatia as Leonclavius testifies who was an eye-witness thereof The Locusts fell in such multitudes that they devoured all the Countrey and on the contrary the Geese and Ducks fed and nourished many Cluverius Hist World Soon after Osman Emperor of the Turks and Stephen King of Poland both dye In 1593 there was another terrible Earthquake at Lar in Persia which overthrew Three Thousand Houses crushing to death above Three Thousand Persons in their Ruins yea the Castle though built upon the top of a solid Rock groaned in the like affrighting downfall Herberts Travels In 1598 Feb. 25 which was a little before the Earl of Essex went into Ireland the Sun being almost totally Eclipsed it was so dark for the time that the like had never been seen in the Memory of Man XXXV In the year 1602 there was an Earthquake in England a very great Blazing Star appeared Armies of men were seen in the Air in France and warms of Grashoppers are visible in Germany asster this the Spaniards invade Ireland but are beaten thence The Swedes in vain attempt Livonia The Turks loose Alba Regalis and therein Threescore Thousand men Queen Elizabeth of England dyeth In 1607 another Comet appeared There were great Wars between the Swedes and Danes and Charles Duke of Lorrain dyeth In 1610 fiery Darts and Lances were visible in the Heavens Four Crosses appeared in the Air at once in Spain where likewise happened Thunder and a very great Earthquake Now the Danes war against the Swedes The Persians invade Babylon and kill Twenty Thousand Turks Henry 4. â—â—ing of France is murdered the Polanders overcome the Moscovites and Nine Hundred Thousand Meors are banished out of Spain J. G. This
year the strong City of Strignnium in Hungary being besieged by the Turks during the siege there appeared a dreadful fiery Meteor in the Air in fashion much like a Rainbow of a bloody red colour which arising some heigth and continuing for a space of time at length vanished away In 1611 three Suns were seen in the Firmament over Vienna in Germany and three years after the Heavens over the same Town grew so red and soon after so fearfully dark on a sudden that the Inhabitants were much amazed apprehending either the last day was come or that there would follow some horrible effusion of blood In 1616 about the same time which was not many years before Frederick Prince Elector Palatine was chosen King of Bobemia about the midst of October there appeared in the Firmament over the City of Prague a Crown which gave a very great Light and about it Armies of men fighting as if it were who should have it divers Mocksuns were seen in the West of England An Inundation happened in Holland The Shape of an Elephant appeared in the Air in Germany A Lyon was heard as my Author saith to roar in the Air the Venetians at this time make war with Ferdinand of Austria The Hollanders beat the Spaniard in the South Sea The Tartars invade Podolia burning four Cities and four hundred Villages carrying with them thence much booty J. Gad. of Comets XXXVI In 1618 a mighty Blazing Comet appeared in the Heavens it was first seen Novemb. 18. and continued till the Decemb. 16. following taking its compass over most parts of the known world in twenty eight days time and sometimes extending its Blazing Locks forty five degrees in length Towards its Declination December 11 it passed over London and so more Northwards even as far as the Orcades in Scotland What miserable effects of war ruin and devastation followed thereupon over all Europe especially to Germany of which I shall give a more particular account hereafter was obvious to all men There likewise was seen this year in the night over Constantinople a Comet in the form of a crooked sword of a vast bigness at the first appearance it was somewhat whitish but the higher it rose the redder it was even like unto bloud There were also strange sights seen in other places inundations of Rivers and the Ocean Earthquakes monstrous births waters turned into blood unusual and impetuous Winds and Tempests which overthrew several Towers and tore up many Trees by the Roots Pleurs a Town in Rhetia near Switzerland was overwhelmed by an Earthquake a great Hill falling suddenly upon the City and destroyed Fifteen Hundred Persons This year the Emperor Matthias and soon after his Empress together with Anne Q. of England dye J. Gad. of Prodigies XXXVII Mr. Knowls in his Turkish History Page 1348 relates that in the year 1620 there was a strange Apparition or Vision seen by the Turks at Medina where there Prophet Mahomet lyes buried which continued three weeks together and exceedingly terrified the whole Countrey and it was this About September 20 there fell a very great Tempest about midnight attended with dreadful Thunder but when the Clouds were dispersed and the Element clear the People might read in Arabick Characters these words in the Firmament O why will ye believe in Lyes and between two and three a Clock in the Morning there appeared a Woman in white compassed about with the Sun having a cheerful countenance and a Book in her hand and over against her were Armies of Turks Persians Arabians and other Mahometans in battel array ready to fight with her but she keeping her Station only opened the book at the sight whereof the Armies fled away and presently all the Lamps about Mahomets Tomb were put out For as soon as the Vision vanished which was commonly an hour before Sun-rising a murmuring wind was heard unto which they imputed the extinguishing of the Lamps The antient Pilgrims of Mahomets race who after they had visited this place never use to cut their Hair were much amazed because they could not concieve the meaning of this Vision only one of the Dervices or Priests which is a strict Religious Order among the Turks like the Capuchins among the Papists and live in Contemplation stepped up very boldly and made the following Speech to the Company That the World had never but Three true Religions every one of which had a Prophet First God chose the Jews and did wonders for them in Egypt and brought them forth by their Prophet Moses who prescribed them a Law wherein he would have maintained them if they had not been obstinate and rebellious and fallen to Idolatry whereupon he gave them over and scattered them upon the face of the Earth Then presently after God raised a new Prophet who taught the Christian Religion This good man the Jews condemned and Crucified for a Seducer of the People being not moved with the piety of his Life his great miracles nor his Doctrine yet after his death the preaching of a few Fishermen did so move the hearts of men that the Great Monarchs of the world bowed to his very Title and yielded to the commands of his Ministers But it seems they in process of time grew as corrupt as the Jews their Church being disjointed with the Title of Eastern and Western committing Idolatry again by setting up Images with many other idle Ceremonies besides the corruption of their Lives so that God was weary of them too and not only sent divisions among them but forsook them and dispossest them of their chiefest Cities Jerusalem and Constantinople Yet God is still the Governour of the world and himself hath raised up another Prophet and People even our great Mahomet giving way to our Nation so as no doubt we shall be happy for ever if we can serve this God aright and take warning by the fall of others But alas I tremble to speak it we have erred in every point and wilfully broke our first Institutions so that God hath manifested his wrath by evident Signs and Tokens keeping our Prophet from us who prefixed a time to return with all happiness to his People so as there are now forty years past by our account wherefore this strange and fearful vision is a prediction of some great Troubles and Alterations For either the opening of the Book in the womans hand doth foretell our falling off from the first intent of our Law whereat these armed men departed as confounded with the guilt of their own Consciences Or else it signifies some other book wherein we have not yet read and against which no power shall prevail So that I fear our Religion will be proved corrupt and our Prophet an Impostor and then this Christ whom they talk of shall shine like the Sun and set up his Name everlastingly Hitherto the Company was silent but hearing him speak so boldly they were much incensed against him charging him with Blasphemy which their Law makes
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
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
with their faces on the ground October 13 the same year a terrible Thunder fell upon the Church at Sagan another Town in Silesia from whence it burst out of a Window attended with such Wind Rain Hail and Tempest that it tore up the Trees by the very Roots blasted the Herbs and Fruit trees and so harrassed the Countrey for a League about that the damage was very considerable After the Thunder and Tempest there appeared just over the Church fiery beams like a sword and a rod the Bells in the Steeple began to sound and ring without the help of man and 3 miles off the Heavens for the space of an hour seemed open and fiery Not long after a terrible fight happened between this Town of Sagan and Sternaw both in Silesia where the Swedes and Saxons killed about two thousand Imperialists and not far thence soon after two thousand more were slain XLIV In 1630 a very miraculous thing happened at Geismar in Hassia two souldiers lying for safety in that Town one of them complained to the other who was in bed with him that he was very cold the other answered he could not believe it in regard that his own body was very hot and wet intreating him to touch and feel his side which when he had done finding his hands exceeding wet and as it were glued and congealed together he suspected something extraordinary and looking on his hands by the light of the Moon he judged them to be bloody whereat being much terrified he called for a Candle and found his fellow souldier very weak and his left side and the sheets of the bed to be bloody and endeavouring to wash off the blood from his side presently more blood issued 〈◊〉 at length after the space of an hour it ceased of it self About three handfuls of blood were taken out of the sheets this with the relation of other circumstances they presented in the morning to their Commander who inquired of him how he had felt himself that Night the souldier answered That he had been extream ill for some time but was afterward restored to his former health The two next years after this Prodigy this goodly Countrey of Hassia was miserably harrassed by several Armies and the Inhabitants were barbarously and inhumanely treated by the Emperors ' Army and if the Prince or his poor subjects did at any time complain and petition for Justice or redress they were only scorned and rejected for their labours so that they were forced to endure quarterings taxpatiens burnings robberies and sacking of their Towns and Villages yea the slaughter of innumerable innocent Subjects of all sorts without being able to obtain any pity or compassion from their enemies The same year 1630 in May the Noremberg Carrier and several Passengers in their journey toward Hamborough passing by the Town of Coburg at night they observed with great admiration a prodigious fire going in and out of the Town and heard a mighty noise like the discharging of Canons Two years after which General Wallestein assaulted this Town with his Souldiers and great Guns but was so stoutly entertained by those within that after the loss of a great many of the Imperialists he was forced though he had besieged it above Twenty Months to break up his siege and depart XLV In May 1631 at Hall in lower Saxony the water was turned into blood and about the middle of this Month this Town was taken by Tilly and afterward retaken from him by their natural Lord and presently again repossessed by Tillies Forces and he himself after the battle of Leipsick made his escape thither that night and had his wounds dressed by the Town Barber Whilst Tilly's Army lay in the Town one of his Chief Officers saw blood prodigiously dropping from the House wherein he lay whereupon he said What Must we bleed will the King of Sweden beat us That 's impossible But it happened otherwise for Hall was not above 7 Dutch Miles distant from the place of battle wherein the Imperial Army was utterly routed and miserably destroyed in the chase and if the King had but had 3 hours more of day-light it was judged that hardly a Thousand of the Enemy had escaped one of their own Relations affirming that there were Fifteen Thousand of the Imperialists slain upon the place and in the pursuit that night and the day following It s said Tilly's couragious heart could not refrain from tears when he perceived such woful destruction among his brave old Souldiers his Army consisting of Forty Four Thousand stout men being usually termed Iâ—vincible The next day the King besieged Hall which was yielded to him and soon after the Castle But a while after Pappenheim and the Imperialists again retook this City exercising all manner of Barbarism upon the Inhabitants This year likewise in the time of the siege of Magdeburg a City Captains Wife dying in Child-bed desired to be ript open which being done they found a Boy almost as big as one of 3 years old who had an head-piece and an Iron Breastplate on his Body great boots of the French fashion and a bag by his side with two things therein like Musket bullets This horrible Prodigy no doubt portended the deplorable destruction of that City which happened May 10. 1631 when a general assault was made upon the Town by the Imperialists the Walls were mounted in an instant the Town entred and the Souldiers fell to killing At the same instant a fire none knew how broke out and it being a very windy day on a sudden all became one mighty Flame the whole Town being in twelve hours time turned to Cinders except some few Fisher-houses six Goodly Churches were burnt the Cathedral by the diligence of the Monks and Souldiers being preserved There were at least Twenty Thousand People killed burnt and smothered beside Six Thousand drowned in the River Elbe Two days after Tilly came into the Town and finding some Hundreds of Women and Children in the great Church he gives them their lives and some bread to maintain them XLVI June 18. 1631 at Asherleben in the lower Saxony toward Evening two strong Armies were observed in the Heavens who prepared themselves to fight one came out of the North and the other out of the South after a long fight the Northern Army obtained the victory This Prodigy was seen two days in a cleer Sky for the space of an hour after the battle a Person in a long Garment appeared two several times shooting with a Bow at the Leader of the Southern Army The very next Month July 8. happened a sharp conflict between this Town and Tangermond where the â—ing of Sweden routed Twenty Companies of the Imperialists and took 14 Ensigns and soon after 1500 more were slain These slaughters Count Tilly resolving to revenge sets forward toward the King with twenty six thousand men and fell upon him in his Trenches but were beaten off with a miserable butchery so that it was judged
have sometimes been carried as far as Constantinople though many hundred miles distance and so affrighted them that they have all ran to their Prayers to implore the averting of Divine Wrath The Mountain hath a double top that toward the North ends in a Plain the other toward the South aspires higher which when covered with Clouds prognosticates rain to the Neopolitans In the top there is a large deep hollow in form of an Amphitheater in the midst is a Pit which leads into the Entrails of the Earth the matter thrown up is ruddy light and soft the uttermost brow of the Hill flourishes with Trees and excellent Pasturage the midst is shaded with Chesnut Trees and others bearing divers fruits The lower parts are admirably clothed with Vines which afford the best Greek Wines in the World It hath at divers times made dreadful Eruptions and Devastations which as well as Mount Aetna of which hereafter have been accounted ominous and to portend some woful Calamities to ensue But never any thing appeared so horrible faith my Author as what happened in the Reign of the Emperor Titus eighty years after Christ For then it disgorged such boyling Waves and Flouds of Fire as consumed the Neighbouring Cities And then it was that Pliny the Second that great searcher into Nature and the famous Author of the Natural History and then Admiral of the Roman Navy being desirous to discover the reason thereof was choaked and suffocated in approaching too near to discover so great a mystery of Nature yet not wilfully I suppose though some Authors â—â—sert that he threw himself into it because he could not understand the natural cause of 〈…〉 Condagration At that time there issued 〈◊〉 so great a 〈◊〉 that the very Sun seemed to be 〈◊〉 an 〈◊〉 and likewise huge Stones and such plenty of 〈◊〉 that Rome Africk and Syria were even covered with them and besides Beasts Fish and Foâ—l which were desirâ—â—ed it overwhelmed Herculanâ— and Pumptins two adioyning Cities with Pumiâ—e Stones together with all the People sitting in the Theater There were also heard dismal noises all about the Province and Giants of incredible bigness were seen to stalk up and down the top and edges of the Mountains if the Peoples sanâ—ies were not imposed upon 〈◊〉 their astonishment which extraordinary 〈…〉 was judged either a cause or Presage of a 〈…〉 which reigned in Rome and Italy long 〈…〉 the Roman Historian relates 〈◊〉 the 〈…〉 transported in the Air obsoured and darkned â—â—l Europe and that the Inhabitants 〈…〉 wonderfully affrighted therewith 〈…〉 their Emperor Leo forsook the City and that in memorial of the same they celebrated yearly the 12 of November It likewise burnt in the 6 year of Constantine the Fourth and groaned but ejected no Cinders Platina writes that it flamed in 685 prognosticating the Death of Pope Benedict 2. with the insuing Slaughters Rapines and Deaths of Princes During the Papacy of Benedict 8 and 9. it is said to have done the like and though it hath made divers dreadful devastations yet the fruitful Ashes thrown about did seem to repair the foregoing losses with a quick and marvellous fruitfulness At the foot of the Hill there are divers holes and vents out of which exceeding cold winds do continually issue and which at Padua they let into their Rooms at pleasure to qualifie the heat of Summer In the year 1610 in February Vesuvius began to flame to the great affrightment of the Neapolitans and solemn Prayers and Supplications being ordered they went in Procession with the head of Januarius their Patron and the defender of their City carryed before them whereby the deluded people were perswaded that the destruction which hung over their heads was prevented In 1631 was a new Eruption and again in 1635 was an Earthquake in 〈◊〉 LXVII In the year 1633 likewise the industrious Kircher made a discovery of the Phlegrean or Fiery Plains in the Fields of 〈◊〉 near Naples which being another wonderful Prodigy of Nature may be worth relating Passing by Naples saith he I could not let slip the opportunity of inquiring and looking into those Sulphurous Plains so much celebrated in all Ages Having therefore gone through a Passage under ground called the Grotte arched and made hollow to the Mountain Pausilippus not far from Puteoli between the Jaws of the Mountains a large Plain presents it self to view altogether dreadful and full of horrour in length about Twelve hundred Foot in breadth a Thousand The whole Plain is surrounded with Hills of high and steep Rocks which were formerly very lofty but are since devoured by perpetual Fires In the bottom little hills are seen to burn and flame with a strong smell of Brimstone which is carryed by the Winds through all the Neighbouring Regions even as far as Naples some parts of the Plain have an infinite number of holes and are yellow with a Sulphurish matter the ground when it is touched by those who walk thereon sounds and rattles like a Drum by reason of the hollowness thereof and you may feel as it were not without astonishment boyling waters under your feet and thick fiery fumes to hiss and flow from one place to another with a great crackling noise through the Pipes and Passages under ground which are made by these fiery Exhalations the force of this is very great as you may experience by stopping any of these holes with an heavy stone or the like for then you shall observe the violence of the smoak presently to throw it up and belch it forth again But an huge Laky Ditch in the same plain did wonderfully affect me It is full of boyling waters very frightful for their blackness that one would imagine it were a Kettle or Caldron boyling with Pitch and Rosin It is likewise admirable that the swallowing Gulph casts forth these boyling waters eight or ten foot above a mans height in the fashion of a spire Steeple or Pyramid In the Mountâ—â—ns and Rocks wherewith this Vulcanian Plain is incompassed there are Pasâ—aâ—es like Châ—mneys some whereof breath out a continual Wind with a terrible sound and raâ—ling and also with such strength that if you cast a stone thereinto it is struck back again to your hand with great fury some of these breathing holes dart forth smoak mixt with flames you would here think your self almost in the midst of Hell where all things appear horrid sad and lamentable and you are even struck breâ—â—hless with the stench of Sulphur Bitumen Napthe and other Earths Clays Marls and Minerals We must not here omit Mr. Sandys his Relation of aâ—most memorable Earthquake and burning which happened near the City Puteoli in 1538. with the new formed Mountain For the famous Lake Lucrinus hard by extended formerly to the deadly Sulphurous Lake Avernus supposed the entrance into Hell by ignorant Antiquity where they offered Infernal Sacrifices to Pluto their God of Hell and to the Manes or Ghosts of their deceased Friends who were
such a destruction as is impossible to bedâ—scribed and at present 't is not throughly known what damage it hath done upon the eighth of this Moneth it pleased God not by any extraordinary rains from Heaven to our thinking to open the Mountains like Fountains and to cause the Seaso to swell that in less than four hours it overflowed the Town throughout sixteen foot high which prevented us not only from saving our Goods but also with great hazard of our lives have we escaped yet many lost their Lives with great destruction both of the Houses and Walls For my own part I feared my life for my house trembled under me extreamly so that not only my self but my whole Family had been destroyed had it continued but a small time longer though the Water ebbed not for Twenty four hours Many Iron Mills were destroyed many Thousand Loads of Charcoal were carryed away many bags of Wool spoiled All their Shops with their Goods were much damaged God knows the trouble we underwent and still I am every day in the mud half my height looking after my Goods and am fain to keep many men digging to find them and am looking out for bread to maintain my Family a little Chicken costs us two shillings in Spanish Plate In brief neither Horse Mule Hog nor any other Living Creature that goes upon the ground hath escaped drowning but only such as fled to the tops of the Mountains The destruction and losses of â—his Town are unspeakable the very pavement and ground being carryed away at least Ten Foot deep and the River hath altered its Chanel The first work that we now set upon by command of Authority is to throw away the Fish which the water brought with it which being tainted smells so abominably that we fear it will bring the Plague amongst us but we hope by to morrow night to throw it all into the River and thereby be rid of this stink and our next work must be to cleanse the River LXXII In 1652 There was a great Eclipse of the Sun and Two Eclipses of the Moon A Two handed Sword was seen in the Air in Cheshire and Armies of men encountring each other appeared in the North a Comet was visible in the Signs Gemini and Taurus from December 11 to the 30. This year the English subdued Scotland and beat the Dutch at Sea They beat the French at Sea this year also The English Parliament firnamed the Long are turned out of Doors by their own Army In 1653 Oliver Cromwell a private Gentleman by Birth but then General of the Army assumes the Government of Great Britain by the Title of Lord Protector of England Scotland and Ireland The King of the Romans and the Pope in two years after dye strange and unheard of Alterations in Law and Government here in England new Courts of Justice Council of State Major Generals In 1654 was another Eclipse of the Sun and an Earthquake in the West of England Apparitions are visible in the Air in the North of England A very great Rain falls in Bohemia At this time the English take Jamaica and make War with Spain The English and Swedes unite In 1655. Castles Cities and Towns appear in the Air in England and seem to be besieged the different Actions and Gestures of Men both Commanders and Souldiers being plainly visible This year Cardinal Guisi is made Pope by the Title of Innocent the 10. The Polanders are routed by the Swedes In 1656 An Earthquake happened in Cheshire doing much harm sinking the Ground and rending up many Trees by the Roots to the great damage of the Countrey In November a fiery Dragon was seen in the Air in Scotland This year the English land in Flanders and take Mardike from the Spaniards they become angry thereat and Wars between them grow high The King of Denmark was twice invaded by the King of Sweden There fell such abundance of Rain at Vienna in Germany that the River Danubius swelling above its banks the violence of the Waters broke down all the Bridges and most of their Mills Yea the Water came into their Suburbs called The Jews Suburbs drowning many Persons and carrying away a very great number of Cattel and did so great mischief to the Countrey that the loss was thought inestimable there being sixteen Towns and Villages swept away by the Flood Gadbury de Comet LXXIII In 1658 A great Whale came up to Greenwich near London a thing seldom known before This year Dunkirk was taken by the English Sir Henry Slingsby and Dr. Heuit being condemned by an High Court of Justice as they called it were beheaded at Towerhill and Sept. 3. following which used to be a great day of Triumph in Olivers Court for two great Victories at Dunbar and Worcester was turned into a day of Mourning by the Death of their Protector who dyed about 4 or 5 a Clock that day and Richard Cromwel confidently succeeds him in the Government as if it had been his just due Nay some People in England send such sugred Addresses to him that he believed himself to be what they flatteringly stiled him The King of Sweden loses much this year and dyes In 1659 there was a very great Inundation in Holland which overflowed Thirty Six Thousand Acres of Ground Also a great Eclipse of the Sun in Scorpio November 4. Lofty and strange unwonted Winds In May 1659 the Long Parliament returned and turned out Richard Cromwell but were soon after turned out themselves by Lambert and the Army A Committee of safety is set up The L. General Monk being troubled to behold the Confusions of the English Proceedings marched out of Scotland and after the Committee of Safety was fallen brings in the secluded Members of the Long Parliament who soon after dissolve themselves and call another Parliament who restore His Royal Majesty King Charles 2. to His just Rights and Priviledges whom God preserve with a Long and Happy Reign over us Gadbury of Prodigies LXXIV In 16â—0 Feb. 20. At Dantzick in Poland when the Sun was going down there were seen seven Suns together very distinctly in the Heavens three of them coloured and three white besides the True Sun it self about which was a Circle much like a Rainbow In 1661. Jan. 28. There is a Relation that near Worsup in Nottinghamshire there was an appearance of a gallant Troop of Horse marching which a Justice of Peace having notice of related to a Person of Honour thinking them to be real Men and Horses but upon a strict inquiry it was concluded to be only an Apparition The same Relation says about that time there happened a strange and dreadful storm of Hail at Northampton and fire mingled with the hail in some places and that it did run upon the ground in great sheets of Fire for a considerable way together It fell upon some part of Wellinborough Town in Northamptonshire Upon February 18. this year very early in the morning began a
darkned the Face of the Sky The Birds and Fowl about this time either through want of Food or illness of Air which was corrupted with the noisome smells arising from these Burnings were observed to lye dead in all places On the 28th the Grand Current was advanced near the City as far as the old Capucins which struck so great a Terror into the People that most of them left the City only some Officers remaining with such persons as were under their command who have secured and sent away the Magazine and all the Artillery from the Castle A Latter Relation from Catania of April 27. gives this further Account The dreadful Inundation from Monte Gibello having destroyed many Castles and Towns with an infinite loss and utter ruine to the Inhabitants arrived lately with a renewed Force at Mostor-bianco which it has wholly ruin'd from thence passing on to Albanelli in four days space destroyed all the Gardens and Vineyards with 63 Thousand Vines On Wednesday April 16. With an Impetuous Fiery Torrent it came towards Sardanello where all the remainder of the Inhabitants of this City were Spectators of it which resembled a River of melted and burning Brass about ten Ells wide running with swiftness to the Arch of Marcus Marcellus a famous Piece of Antiquity and passing under it ruin'd about 6 Ells of it which was the breadth of the Current in that place from thence it ran to Madonna di Monferrato which it wholly destroyed then falling down to Madonna delle Gratie it entred in at one Gate and passed through another without any considerable hurt and running through the Gate Della Decima filled all the Plain Di Schiara Viva where it was above six Ells deep Then taking its way towards the Bulwark on the Sea-side under the Castle of this City it ran by two Ells deep into the Sea in which to the great wonder of all that saw it it has made its Progress a mile in length and as much in breadth and is drawing towards the Gate of the Channel which gives us great Apprehensions least it may that way Invade the City it self Nor is there less danger on the side Del Tindaro where there runs a great Torrent of the same Active matter which draws near and seems to threaten the Walls and is in that place about a mile in breadth having overflowed and destroyed all the Gardens from the Gate Della Decima as far as Medonna delli Amellati The names of the most considerable Towns and places ruined and destroyed by the dreadful Earthquakes and Irruptions were The Town of Nicolosi wholly ruined Padara and Tre Castagne the greatest part destroyed The Towns of La Guardia Malpasso Campo Rotundo Potielli St. Antonino St. Pietro Mosterbianco Montpileri La Anunicata Faliâ—chi Placchi all wholly overflowed consumed and lost in this fiery Inundation with all the Lands belonging to them no foot-steps of them remaining The Towns of Mascalucia and St. Giovanni de Galermo ruined in part The large Gardens and Vineyards of Albanelli overflown and destroyed The famous piece of Antiquity of Marcus Marcellus much ruined Madonna de Monferrato destroyed besides many Castles Farms and other Places which have run the same Fortune whose names we for brevity pass over LXXX West of the Isle of Sicily in the Tuscan Sea within sight of Messina and 150 miles distâ—â— from Mount Aetna are the Aeolian Islands so caned from Aeolus King thereof who first raught the use of the Sail and by observing the Fire and Smoâ—â— which ascended from these Islands for heretofore they all flamed was from thence fabled to be the God of the Winds These were anciently seven but are now eleven Islands of which Liparis is the greatest being ten miles in circuit the Fire went out here about an Age ago So that at this day Strombolo only burns though another called Vulcano smoaks continually It was formerly called Strongile but by corruption Strombolo from the roundness thereof for it seems like an high round Mountain in the Sea out of the top whereo issueth continually a flame like a burning Beacon and exceeding clear so that by night especially it is to be discerned a wonderful way A place so full of horror to the neighbouring Islanders that the more ignorant Papists are made to believe it is the very Jaws of Hell it self The aforenamed Kircher made Observations of this Mountain likewise which he thus relates That on a certain day viewing Strombolo very curiously about threescore miles distant he observed it to be more than ordinarily furious for it appeared wholly overwhelmed with Fire in so great plenty that it seemed to belch out flaming Mountains a most horrendous Spectacle And then saith he I heard a strange kind of dull murmur from the Mountain so far off which seemed to come towards us under the Earth till it reached the subterraneous place where we stood and there uttered such horrible Thundrings within the Earth with such formidable Earthquakes that none of them were able to stand on their Feet After the violence was over getting up again with unspeakable Consternation they beheld the destruction and lamentable subversion of the famous Town of St. Euphemia three miles off which happened at that instant the City being wholly swallowed up for seeking for the Town they found instead thereof what is wonderful to be related nothing but a dark stinking Lake sprung up in its place they could find no men nor Inhabitants Thence passing on their Journey they found nothing else for Two Hundred miles but the Carcases of Cities horrid ruines of Castles Men stragling up and down in the open Fields and through horror and famine pining and withering away LXXXI In April 1669 The Mountain Vesuvius aforementioned cast up more smoak and Ashes than formerly and for several Nights the neighbouring places were much affrighted with the great Flames which issued from it accompanied with unusual noises At the same time they write That the Vice Roy of Sicily having compassion upon the miserable condition of above Thirty Thousand poor People who by their Flight had saved themselves from the Fire of Mount Aetna aforementioned which had destroyed 17 or 18 Towns or Villages and by the dayly approaches to the City of Catania seemed to threaten it with inevitable ruine so that the Inhabitants were leaving the place And that he thereupon sent one of his Officers to take order for the maintenance of those distressed Creatures and disposing of them into places of safety In the same Month 1669 in the night there was a cry made in the Town of Lichfeild in England of Fire Fire and the Bells rang out which frighted many This was occasioned saith Mr. Clark by the sight of a sheet of Fire which hung over that City for the space of half an hour and then disappeared This saith he I had from one that lay in the Town that night Upon July 10. the same year at Weymouth in Dorsetshire between six and nine a
it was raised and made in that manner Pliny saith it contained threescore and Ten Cubits in height and that it was twelve years before it was made though many able Workmen continually wrought about it and that it cost Three Hundred Talents This Statue was so immeasurably great that it seemed as if the Earth could no longer sustain it so that what was twelve years in making having stood sixty six years was pulled down in an instant by an Earthquake After this fall which was in the time of Pliny many went to see and wonder at it for saith he there were few men who could imbrace one of its Fingers the least of which was greater than any other man whatsoever standing with his two Legs striding over an Haven between the Legs whereof Ships might pass with their Masts and Sails up This wonderful Colossus lay there ruined for a very long time the Rhodians being forbid by an Oracle to erect it again or possbly pretending such an Oracle to save that charge yet they held the Brass and the other Materials thereof almost sacred which none ventured to meddle with till Mnavias the Aegyptian General in the year 600 finding in himself no such scruple of Conscience made a Prey thereof for after he had overcome Constance the Emperor in a Sea-fight and had conquered the Isle of Rhodes he sold this Image as it lay on the ground to a Jew who loaded nine hundred Camels with the Brass thereof Treasury of Time Vol. 2. IV. The Third Wonder of the World Historians have recorded to be The Pyramids of Egypt and if all be certain which they have written of them they are truly admirable they were vast and stupendions Structures many in number three most celebrated and one the principal of all scituate on the South of the City of Memphis and on the Western Banks of Nilus they ended in a sharp point like a flame of fire from whence they had their name It is related that for erecting them there were three hundred and threescore Thousand men imployed for Twenty years together They were built by the vanity of the Aegyptian Kings and used for their Sepulchres when dead yet many times only to keep their Subjects in imployment and upon these it is thought the Israelites were imployed by Pharaoh when they cryed to the Lord and he delivered them by the hand of Moses The largest and chief of the Worlds seven Wonders is scituate most part of it on the top of a Rocky hill which riseth an hundred Foot above the Plain with a gentle and easie ascent the height of the Scituation adding to the Beauty of the Work and the Rock to the Strength thereof It was built for the Sepulcher of Cheops an Aegyptian King Each side of this Pyramid is six hundred ninety three Foot according to English measure so that the whole Circumference of the Basis and Foundation contains four hundred eighty thousand two hundred and forty nine Square Feet or eleven English Acres of ground the height and breadth are both the same that is six hundred ninety three foot The Ascent to the top is contrived in this manner From all the sides without the Ascent is by degrees the lowermost step is about four foot high and three in breadth which running about the Pyramid in a level makes on every side of it a long but narrow walk The second now is like the first retiring inward from the first three feet and so runs about the Pyramid In the same manner is the third Row placed above the second and so in order the rest like so many stairs rising one above another to the top which is about nine foot square consisting of three Stones only yet large enough for threescore men to stand upon No Stone in the whole Building being so little as to be drawn by any of our Carriages yet were brought thither from the Arabian Mountains but how brought and by what Engine mounted is an equal wonder The Degrees by which men ascend are not all of an equal depth for some are about four foot others scarcely three and the higher they ascend the more they diminish both in bredth and thickness These are all made of massy and polished Stones the bredth of every step being one single and intire Stone containing thirty foot of stone the number of these steps is two hundred and seven On the North-side ascending 38 feet upon an Artificial Bank of Earth there is a square and narrow Passage leading into the inside of this Pyramid containing in length ninety two feet and an half The Structure of it hath been the labour of an exquisite hand as appears by the smoothness and eveness of the work and by the close knitting of the joints It is now an habitation for great ugly Batts of about a foot long At the end of this entrance you must climb up a massy stone eight or nine foot in height where you enter into a Gallery the pavement whereof is of smooth and polished white Marble the breadth is above five foot and the height the like the length of this Gallery is one hundred and ten foot At the end of this begins a second Gallery a very stately piece of work not inferior in Curiosity of Art or richness of Marerials to the most sumptuous Buildings It is divided from the former by a Wall at the end whereof is a Well about three foot over the sides of which are lined with white Marble it is eighty six Cubits in depth hewn through the Rock where the Pyramid stands About 15 foot thence is a square Passage of mighty Stones exquisitely joined containing one hundred and 10 foot at the end of which is an Arched Vault or little Chamber the length about twenty foot and bredth seventeen The length of this second Gallery is 154 feet of white and polished marble both roof Walls and bottom and on each side benches of the same At the end of this Gallery you enter into a square hole which brings you in a little room lined with rich and speckled Theban Marble out of which through another Passage of the same stone most curiously cut you come to the North end of a very sumptuous and well proportioned Room wherein Art seems to contend with Nature the curious work not being inferiour to the Rich Materials It stands in the heart or center of the Pyramid the floars sides and roof all of excellent Theban Marble The Stones which cover this room are of a strange stupendious length like so many huge beams lying flat cross the room and bearing up that almost infinite weight and mass of the Pyramids above Of these there are nine which cover the Roof the length of the Room is 34 English feet the breadth 17 and the height 19 feet In the midst of this glorious room stands the Tomb of Cheops aforementioned of one piece of Marble hollow within and sounding like a Bell but empty For saith Diodorus although the
the Treafury supported with mighty Pillars All the Gates were covered with Plates of Gold and Silver only one was covered with Corinthian Brass which for beauty far excelled the other dazling and surprizing the Eyes of the Spectators In every Gate were two Doors each of them 30 Cubits high and 15 broad and on each side they had seats 30 Cubits long and 40 in height each of them supported with 2 Pillars 12 Cubits thick only the Gate which was covered with Corinthian Brass was 〈◊〉 Cubits high and the Gates 40 more richly adorred than the rest Lastly the Holy of Holies or Sanctum Sanctorum was scituate in the midst of all and had 12 stairs to go up to it the fore-part of it was an hundred Cubits high and as many broad backward it was 40 Cubits on each side it had as it were two shoulders rising up in height 20 Cubits The first Gate was 20 Cubits high and 25 wide and had no doors to shew That Heaven was always open c. All the sore parts were guilded and all within was covered with fine gold The inward part was divided into 2 rooms whereof the first only might be seen which was in height 90 Cubits in length 40 and in breadth 20. Round about the Wall was a golden Vine whereon hung many Grapes in Clusters all of Gold every cluster being about six foot long It had golden Gates 55 Cubits high and 16 broad It had curious hangings of the same length admirably wrought with purple violet and scarlet silk all the Fabrick was so exquisitely and richly wrought that none could possibly imagine any Workmanship it wanted For it was all covered with a massy plate of pure Gold which astonished the Beholders The top was all set with Rods of Gold sharp like Pikes at the ends lest Birds should sit thereon and defile it The stones wherewith it was built were 45 Cubits in length six broad and as many thick Josephus Hist lib. 6. Jerusalem was a principal City in Josua's time when Adonthâ—zek was King who was slain by him yet did the Jebusites hold it almost four hundred years after till David won it though the Inhabitants did so much rely on the place that they boasted their lame and blind men should defend it 2 Sam. 5.6 David having conquered it strengthned it with a Castle and beautified it with many Palaces And after his time Solomon inlarged and further beautified and fortified it extreamly The Pallaces Gates and Walls could not be matched in all the World it had an hundred and fifty thousand Inhabitants besides Women and Children The Trench about it was sixty foot deep cut out of the Rock and 250 foot broad the like scarce ever heard of Not long after Shishak Kin Aegypt took and sackt it and became Master not only of Solomons â—â—â—es but of all K. Davids spoils which he had taken from many Nations 2 Kings 14. It was again plundred and part of the Wall broken down by Joas King of Israel in Amazia's Reign 2 Kings 16. Not long after Ahaz the fifteenth K. of Juda impoverished the Temple to present Tiglathpilnezer with the Treasures thereof and Manasses lost what remained 1 Chron 5. And Nebuchadnezzar laid this glorious City with the Temple Pallaces Walls and Towers thereof even to the Ground 2 Kings 19. It was built again by Nehemiah Chap. 12.34 and again the Temple and City were spoiled by Bugoses Leiutenant to Artaxerxes Then by Ptolomeus the First Then by Antiochus Epiphanes And again by Apollonius his Deputy After which it was taken by Pompey and robbed by Crassus in his Parthian Expedition yet all the losses that the Temple and City sustained were repaired by Herod the Great who inlarged the City new built the Temple and adorned it with many sumptuous Works and left it in a more stately and glorious condition than it was in the days of Solomon Lastly about 40 years after the Death of Christ the sins of the Jews being come to the height it was destroyed by Titus the Roman General who made it so desolate that they which saw it afterward could scarce believe there had ever been such a City in that place only he left the 3 Herodian Towers as well for Lodgings for the Roman Garrisons as to make his Victory more glorious yet afterwards some of the despised Jews began to build and inhabit some part of the City but after 65 years as aforementioned when they began to revolt again Aelius Adrianus the Emperor slew many Thousands of them and overthrew the three Towers of Herod with all the rest not leaving stone upon another as our Saviour had foretold But when his fury was appeased he took one part without the VVall wherein stood Mount Calvery and Christs Sepulcher and made it a capacious City which he called after his own name Aelia Capitolia And in the Gate toward Bethel he caused a Sow to be cut in Marble and set it in the Front to despite the Jews making an Edict That thenceforth none of them should ever enter into that City not dare so much as to behold or look toward it from any high place Yet the Christian Religion flourishing in Palestine it was inhabited by all Nations especially Christians and so it continued five hundred years And in 639 it was taken by the Egyptian Saracens who held it above four hundred years In 1099 it was regained by Godfrey of Bullein who being elected King refused to be crowned with a Crown of Gold since Christ for whom he fought was there crowned with Thorns It continued to him and his Successors for 88 years till in 1197 it was retaken by Saladine King of Aegypt and lastly in 1517. the Turks beat out the Aegyptians and hold it to this day calling it in their Language Cuzumbarec or The Holy City Rawleighs Hist World X. The City of Nineveh as it was more ancient than almost any other City so in greatness it excelled all those that were famous in old time The Plot or ground of it is said to be four hundred and eighty Furlongs The Walls were in height one hundred foot and the breadth of them such that three Chariots might meet on the top of them On the Walls there were Fifteen Hundred Towers each of them Two Hundred Foot high it was called Tetrapolis as being divided as it were into four Cities Nineveh Resena Forum and Cale and was reckoned three days Journey in the time of Jonas the Prophet 11. The Capitol of Rome seated on the Tarpeian Rock seemed to contend with Heaven in height and no doubt but the length and depth were every way answerable The excessive charge that the Emperor Domitian was at in building it Martial after his flattering manner hath wittily described and which may be thus translated So much has Caesar given the Gods above That should be call it in and Creditor prove Though Jove should barter Heaven it self away This mighty debt he never could repay We may partly
to K. James with her last words on the Scaffold The Lady riding naked through Coventry Together with the natural and artificial rarities in every County in Eng. and very many other observable matters with several curious Sculptures Price one Shilling III. WOnderful prodigies of judgment and mercy discovered in above 300 memorable Histories containing 1. Dreadful judgments upon Atheists blasphemers perjured villains c. As of several forsworn wretches carried away by the Devil and how an horrid blasphemer was turned into a black dog c. 2. The miserable ends of many magicians witches conjurers c. with divers strange apparitions and illusions of the Devil 3. Remarkable predictions and presages of approaching death and how the event has been answerable with an account of some Appeals to Heaven against Vnjust Judges and what vengeance hath fallen upon them 4. The wicked lives and woful deaths of several Popes Apostates and Persecutors with the manner how K. Hen. 2. was whipt by the Popes Order by the Monks of Canterbury and how the Q. of Bohemia a desperate Persecutor of the Christians was swallow'd up in the Earth alive with all her followers c. 5. Fearful Judgements upon bloody Tyrants Murderers c. with the terrible Cruelties used by those monsters of men Nero Heliogabalus Domitian and others upon the Christians also how Popiel K. of Poland a Cruel Tyrant his Q. and Child were devoured by Rats and how a Town near Tripoly in Barbary with the Men Women children Beasts Trees Walls Rooms Cats Dogs Mice and all that belonged to the place were turn'd into perfect Stone to be seen at this day for the horrid crimes of the Inhabitants also the wonderful discovery of several Murders c. 6. Admirable Deliverances from imminent Dangers and Deplorable Distresses at Sea and Land Lastly Divine Goodness to Penitents with the dying Thoughts of several famous Men concerning a future state after this life as S. Austin the Emp. Ch. 5. Philip 3. K. of Spain The E. of North. Galleacius H. Grotius Salmasius Sr. F. Walsingh Sr. P. Syd Sr. H. Wotton A.B. Usher E. of Rochest L. C. J. Hales and others Imbellished with divers Pictures Price One Shilling IV. HIstorical Remarks and Observations of the Ancient present State of London and Westminster shewing the foundations Wall Gates Towers Bridges Churches Rivers Wards Halls Companies Government Courts Hospitals Shcools Inns of Court Charters Franchises and Priviledges thereof with an account of the most remarkable Accidents as to Wars Fires Plagues and other occurrences for above 900 years past in and about these Cities and among other particulars the poisoning of K. John by a Monk The Rebellion of Wat Tyler who was slain by the Lord Mayor in Smithfield and the speech of Jack Straw at his Execution The Murder of K. Hen. 6. and likewise of Edw. 5. and his Brother by Rich. 3. called Crook-back The Execution of Empson and Dudley the Insurrection in London in K. Hen. 8. time and how 411 Men Women went through the City in their Shifts Ropes about their Necks to Westm Hall where they were pardoned by the King With several other Remarques in all the Kings and Queens Reigns to this Year 1681. And a description of the manner of the Trial of the late L. Stafford in West Hall Illustrated with Pictures with the Arms of the 65 Companies of London and the time of their Incorporating Price one Shilling V. THE 4th Edition of the Wars in England Scotland and Ireland being near a 3d. part enlarged with very considerable Additions containing an impartial Account of all the Battles Sieges and other remarkable Transactions Revolutions and Accidents which have happened from the beginning of the Reign of K. Ch. 1. 〈…〉 to His Majesties happy Restauration 1660. And 〈…〉 â—articulars The Debates and Proceedings in the 4 〈…〉 Charles 1. The murder of the D. of Buck. by Felt. The Tumults at Edenb in Scotl. upon reading the Common Prayer The Insurrection of the Apprentices and Seamen and their assaulting of A. B. L's House at Lamb. Remarks on the Trial of the E. of Strafford and his last Speech The horrid and bloudy Rebellion of the Papists in Ireland and their murdering above 200000 in 1641. The Death of Arch-Bishop Laud. Mr. Chaloner and Tomkins Sir J. Hotham Sir Alex. Carew Duke Hamilton E. of Holland L. Capel M. Love M Gibbons Sr. H. Slingsby Dr. Hewet and others The Treaties and Propositions at Uxbridge and Newp in the Isle Wight The Illegal Trial of K. Ch. 1. at large with his last speech at his suffering His Majest Reasons against the pretended Jurisdiction of the H. C. of Justice With the most considerable matters which happened till 1660. And the K. most Gracious Declaration from Breda with Pictures of several Remarkable Accidents Price one Shilling THE Young Mans Calling or the whole Duty of Youth in a serious and compassionate Address to all young Persons to remember their Creator in the days of their Youth Together with Remarks upon the Lives of several excellent Young Persons of both Sexes as well ancient as modern who have been famous for Virtue and Piety in their Generations namely On the Lives of Isaac and Joseph in their youth On the Martyrdom of the 7 Sons and their Mother and of Romanus a Young Noble-Man with the invincible courage of a Child of 7 years old who was martyred On the Martyrdom of divers holy Virgins and Martyrs On the Life of that blessed Prince King Edw. 6. with his earnest Zeal for the Protestant Religion and his ingenious Letters to his Godfather A. B. Cranmer when but 8 years old with his last words and Prayer against Popery On the Life and Death of Q. Jane as her learned Dispute with Fecknam a Priest about the Sacrament her Letters to her Father the D. of Suffolk to her Sister and to Harding an Apostate Protestant On the Life of Q. Eliz. in her Youth with her many sufferings and dangers from bloody Bonner and Gardiner and her joyful Reception to the Crown On the Religious Life and Death of the most noble and Heroick P. Henry eldest Son to K. James And also of the young L. Harrington c. With 12 curious Pictures illustrating the several Histories Price Eighteen Pence All six sold by Nath. Crouch FINIS
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