came four feather-footed Beasts running on full of blood and fire doing horrible dammage and approached to a two-horned White Beast as it were to fight together but it was onely for an appearance For they did joyn in a league against the Kings of the West and North. But they were vanquished because of the stedfast union of the Nations and the great Sun in Heaven helped them And there are manifest the Heroes against the Seven-headed Beast to destroy it For many of them at this very time will turn backwards nay there is as yet not Ten that intend seriously to destroy the Beast but the time comes that the said number shall be full and then they will go on so that about the year 663. there shall be spread abroad a rumour of great wonders God from Heaven shal please to give to the potentates one heart love and unitie to perform his work The VII Vision OCtobris 2. I had a dream 3 hours before day as followeth I stood as it were in the East with my face Westwards and saw before me the sun Southwards standing about as high as at ten of the Clock And behold he was grown dark very black like a coal And besides him Eastwards stood a red moon but over against her a black two horn'd-moon And round about the Sun seven Stars bright shining as they do shine at night But a thick mist rising from the earth discover them all with darkness insomuch that both I and many others beside me were terrified and began to flie Immediately I saw between the West and South in the Air a shining brightness or light in shape of a Man standing and crying out Wo Wo Wo unto you people who call the black white and the white black that ye might arise up against the Beast to make it stand on tip-toes and to bring all again under it's yoke Behold the time of his down fall cometh near and is now here Wo to your life who drink out of his cup. And at the same time he poured out a great Vial of somewhat red like blood And great lamentations arose over the whole earth insomuch that I my self thought nothing else but Doomsday did surprize us and I went to prayer till I awakened The VIII Vision 1659. I Saw again a Sun in the North East risen at the height of half South and there standing without motion For there came great clouds from t' other Easts And another Black Sun arose up from the West who was crossed over by some clouds and winds with white streaks He went on through the black thick clouds passed suddenly towards the South to the other Sun and by how much the nearer he approached the sw fter he run on so much the brighter he became But when he came near the South line as it were between twelve one there he stood stedfast like the very natural Sun Afterwards he burst in pieces like smal crackets shooting here and there in the Aire and made a very great noise and crack and fire fell down like stars But when I lifted up my eyes to the Heaven I was aware of them called the Seven starrs that they did part from one another four of them towards the North and the other three towards the South and great Winds began to blow one against another like great Armies and great lamenting was heard I fear that by discord in the Empire some devision may arise Wo to that Potentate who suffers himself stil to be poysoned by the Beast but happiness to them that do look upon the Lords work expecting their imployment at the appointed time when the Lord shall call upon them to act his work and to perform it who so will go on before the time and fight against the truth will meet with evil in the end Ah! that all Christians were of one heart for a great net is prepaed to draw over all the true Believers and to destroy them all but the Lord laughs at it Behold they have already stretched out their hands for a draught but the Lord doth beat with hammers upon their hearts because they have begun it Whom the Lord shall be pleased to let live two years more he shall see great revolutions and the works of God For the fifth day doth approach The IX Vision IN the Mid-lent I came viz. in a dream in a Garden situated westwards in which did grow many very fair flowers of all kinds besides all sorts of trees The most part of the flowers were Lilies high of three or four ells under propped and born up with costly supporters But the North-east part of the Garden stood as it were frozen and could not begin to sprout forth because there did blow a cold wind By and by there fell down a press written upon Inquisitio Hispanica Observe amongst the Roses and Lilies thorns also and thistles were grown underneath which stood roses red and white so that the press could not smother all the Lilies because it could not fall down to the very earth And there were grievous complaints upon the earth that the three Crowns â—owed and wrapped thorrow with Lilies had suffered dammage And presently J saw that they did receive strength again from North-eastwards and that one of the Northern-crowns was changed into blood O that the Protestants Evangelici would make peace amongst themselves against the poyson of the Jesuits that so doth overflow Nevertheless they shall fall The X. Vision October 24. I Came into a very large field whose width and length J cannot describe There was a great people old young and children but all of them buried in the earth unto the head which onely they lifted up crying together with a loud Voice O Lord holy and true how long dost thou judge and not avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth At that very instant came two riding hastily upon horses dashed all over with blood dirt they lighted off and the one laid him down the other struck him that was holding his horse with his sword lamenting that he had followed his counsel and laid him down also nstantly J saw a mighty multitude of people beyond which J could not see And above them as it were in the air a pulpit upon which sate an old honest man who did comfort them when they all both themselves and them that were lying down did expect nothing but death and exhort them to constancy for the Lord would not tarrie any longer because all must be fulfilled what is written in the Books and said they should have yet patience for a little season untill the number of their Brethren that should be killed still should be fulfilled After having finished his speech he began to sing the 123 Psalm The XI Vision FRiday before Easter four hours before the rising of Sun I saw the whole World in a dreadful manner breaking all in pieces chiefly towards the North as if all should be turned upside down And because
XII VISIONS OF Stephen Melish A GERMANE BEING Such as Concern the Affairs now in agitation between The French King the Pope Translated by Albertus Otto Faber LONDON Printed for the Author and are to be sold at the corner-house at the bottom of Addle-hill in the Year 166â— THE PREFACE BEcause of the present differences between the French King and the Pope I thought good to Translate these following Visions of Stephen Melish of Prague Cittizan of Lissa who as saith he thâ—â— first Published his Visions is a down-right honest man Pious and dutiful to God and his Neighbour a stranger to Worldly Policy State affairs altogether ignorant of the transactions now on foot Therefore we must conclude that his Visions were shewed him by a higher power The most part of them being fulfilled and others were fulfilling some also seem to be just upon accomplishment This was the cause that I have Translated those Visions whose accomplishment I judged to be now beginning so that all good people here might have some knowledge of what passes beyond-Sea of this nature Consider of it and Farewel A. O. F. XII Visions of Stephen Melish a Germane c. The 1 st Vision ON Palme-sunday April 9 1656 I Dreamed thus I travelled and a man I knew not did accompany me and we went forth together til we entred into a great Palace the name of which I knew not And the man drew me aside and asked me from whence I was I said of Poland He again Of what Religion I Of the Protestants He Sing ye also French Psalms Yes said I that is my highest joy when I rise and go to sleep Then he behaved himself lovingly towards me and said Stand here by me no evil shal happen to thee thou shalt see great things that must be done in short If it be somewhat thou understand'st not ask me I shall tell thee And soon he was changed into another shape as a spiritual person on whose side I standing saw exactly what I now shall tell thee without addition First of all There was set in the midst of the Palace a square silver-Table in the mean time came a great King whose Vesture was of Silver-cloth and led the King of Sweden at his right hand Then he sate down with his back Southwards and his eies Northwards and the King of Sweden sate at the Table over-against him and at the right hand of this King the Elector of Aeydelberg of Saxen of Brandenbourg having their eyes turned as it were Westwards but their backs Eastwards But betwixt this King and the Elector of Saxen sate a Cardinal upon a silver-stool at the corner of the Table holding a Bishops Crofier in his hand which was mighty thick He was cloathed with a long priests gown like to the Kings in Silver cloaths and was girded with a girdle having upon his head a mitre of astrange fashion At the left hand sate one as it were Ra-Kocy cloathed according to the Hungarian mode beside him an ambassador of Spain and then one of the Emperors Ambassadors and others The Embassadors of England and Holland sate next the King of Sweden Round about those Kings were set silver stools upon which sate along the three sides of the palace or hall mighty Potentates Then presently was given a great sound out of great Guns and afterwards Psalms and songs were sung in the French tongue insomuch that there was a very great noise of Musick all kind of instruments I also heard voices of men amongst this Musick singing very loud the Melody of the Psalm I knew wel Following there was brought in upon two levers a small silvertable upon which did lie the Popes Crown And by and by at the Kings and Princes consent lifted up him self the Cardinall aforesaid and struck with the crosier upon the crown that it did flie into pieces and others standing round about trampled on the bursted silver with their feet At that same instant there arose to be a sudden quivering noise by shooting of pieces and great ordnances horrible and dreadfull After that shooting a very great triumph was made by singers and musical instruments Then came a Queen and sate down next the King She was cloathed like the King After her followed Virgins with a melodious sound of Psalms and songs bearing an exceeding precious present upon a golden lever which they did present to the King And then again was heard a great crack of pieces and ordnances to confirm all this After came a very great multitude of the Gentry and Knight hood and Lords out of all the four corners of the World and brought to the King a crown and a sword which crown they set before him in the presence of all these Potentates But the sword they put him in his hand even to the end that he should skirmish against the Babylonish beast At which they also joyned their joyful gratulation which I understood not because it was done in French And J durst not ask the Man what they said onely what J did see with my eyes could apprehend with my understanding After this was heard again a great ratling of Guns singers And there came as it were persons of the commonalty and brought to the King a costly present and did ad their gratulations but J did not understand it And all this was anew confirmed with shooting and musick sound Whereas now the Gentry and Knighthood aforesaid had presented the Crown and reached the sword into his hand the said King profered to the King of Sweden his right hand and the other Princes Potentates and Kings standing by laid thereupon their hands kissing one another and sung at it the 20 Psalm At which there was heard once more so great a shooting and musicall rejoycing as never before insomuch that the very earth did ring Then they all did arise and went into a great temple wherein the said King did crown the said Cardinall and put him on a very Patriarch-Mitre as it were a Cardinals-hat And many Preachers sate there in white silk-cloaths about the Altar and elsewhere and sung French Psalms in the congregation of many thousand people There the King did establish him to be an intendant Administrator of the Church of God instead of Moses Samuel c. Out of this temple now J came forth with the same man upon a very large field where the King did muster his Souldiers and sent his Army towards the South West to fight couragiously giving his order to them how they should behave themselves Then the Cardinal began a reformation in all cities and gave them priviledges according to the manner of the old Testament But all what could not be easily decided was ordered should be brought before the King It was also ordered that nothing in what cause soever Ecclesiastical or Secular must be done without knowledge of this King and the said Potentates His Armies did increase of all sides round about and his Dominion was to
be like as it were Germany and he a King for ever to wit so long as the World stands and no alteration at all was to be expected from him but that at the time of his government there should be Peace unity and all kinde of good like as it was in the time of Solemon And it was clear day when I awaked The II. Vision APril 27. had I such a dream as thus I came at a high mountain unto which when I had climbed up very hardly yet with help of others I was commanded to look back Which doing he said to me Dost thou see that piece of land Yes Sir I see it said I. But when I looked back again behold there was nothing more left then earth and ashes Then I asked Sir how is that gone so suddenly He Even so shall be gone the whole Land because of their great sins which they do For terror shall fall upon them indeed upon all as well the fighting men as them that are defending themselves But them that I shall preserve I will bring thorrow into other countries that they might be preserved for a time and season but the hypocrite who do oppress my people shall be an abomination for ever For the Lords Season is approaching to make manifest the works and doings of every one The III. Vision ON the 19 May when I was already amongst the scattered ones in Silesia saw I the Sun shine towards the North and all dark only clear towards the bottome of it and there arose three other Suns from the East and West and betwixt the West North. But on the highest part of the Heaven stood a very great Sun the greatest of all And I did ask Sir Wherefore is the Northern Sun so dark He answered Because that I will not by him alone my Ambassador perform the Work least there creep in pride and opinions or imaginations as though he by his own power or wisdom did effect the work to which I have called him For behold he already doth not what I will but what he will himself However I did not send him for his own profit and interrest but for my glory-sake For I have another Workman whom I shall send unto him even to the end that they shall work together and perform the work At that same instant began the Northern Sun being refreshed from the other Suns to arise on high and take her course And presently I did hear a voice coming from far Beware now therefore thou do nothing but what will tend unto the honor of God and his Worship and unto the edification of his Church And ye other Suns proceed in your course also and go on for it's time do not tarrie one for another for its high time to perform the work of God the time of the manifestation of his Glory is at hand And there came from the South a very deformed wonderful beast who had sent forth many messengers of strange fashions And these went to the great Lords and the common people exhorting them and giving drink out of a wonder-cup Then they did conspire and bind themselves together with great chains to the end that they might stand fast together for the maintenance of their cause But when the battle began these were driven back to the South and that wonder-beast was overcome and vanquished and I praised-God for the victory given to the Suns But a Voice came to be heard which said His fall is not yet for the Suns help not truly one another because of their great envie that is amongst them and some of them seek their own ends But those that do seek shall perish For the time of him by whom God will perform the Work is yet not at hand But shall not tarrie very long because his time also approacheth The IV. Vision AGain I saw a bright fiery light towards the South all as it were burning up and as it were an unquencheable fire And there arose a very great out-cry and many lamentations with so thick and dark a smoak that nothing was to be seen At that instant I saw red Foxes come from the East every one having a great tooth And a gold yellowish Lyon stood upon a green place about whom the foxes were leaping And a voyce was heard Trust them not they have falshood in their mind Therefore the Lyon did smile at them and a while after rent them in pieces And behold that great Sun the brightness of which was before so great that nothing did appear to be seen because of his so great light was changed into blood also in the same region but only for a time Instantly after came a fiery Man like a flame with a black sword of Iron And against him a bright shining Man like the the Sun with such a sword like a flash of Lightning Betwixt those was such a fight that many thousands did fall in the place and none was left remaining but very few Between them stood a white Eagle and in Heaven the great Sun like to the lightning because of whose great heat I could not see how it ended only that I saw that the bright Sun-shining Man had cut off the head of the white Eagle and that head was given with the Crown to the North but the body of the Eagle was given to a red Eagle and the wings to the East Presently a voice was heard saying To shee O lamb be praise and thanks for thou art worthy to take the book and to open his seals For one time is past already and half a time and now is half half a time Presently there was a theater made for execution Many of the great Lords were beheaded and priests strangled And fear did overcome them and some were taken prisoners The Popes stool also did fall with a very great fall and thereupon was a monstrance which was not broken but lay there and no body listed it up And a Voice came a farr off Hasten and tarry not for thou shalt go further and perform the Work for which I have called thee For the others also do expect their redemption The V. Vision AGain I saw seven Stars rising from the East to joyn with the Sun that stood on the highest Heaven After then did arise also a red horny moon but proceeded not very far fell back again But another horny moon from the west did meet him he was very bright shining but could-not become full because of the clouds flying hither thither Presently I heard a Cock crow very pleasantly after he had obtained the place alone but he could not flie very high But the black eagle did flie very high that he scarce could be seen holding as yet his place and much strength Because the time is not yet come that his pen-feathers shall be drawn out as if he should bear rule till at the year of 63. In the mean time many tempests overcome many lands and cities The VI Vision BEtwixt East and South