And therefore this maketh moste men to doubt whether the laste straunge sightes whiche were sene in Rome 1580. Ianuarie 18. and in other places the reportes whereof are extante in print to bee sene bee true or no Also in the yere of our Lorde 1551. the 28. daie of Ianuarie there appeared a bloudie rodde and sondrie fearful fires séen in the ayre ouer Lisborne the cheef Citie of Portugall and there it rained bloud also after the whiche followed suche a fearfull yearthquake that about twoo hundred houses were greeuously shaken and throwne doune through the fall whereof aboue a thousande persones were slaine And here also I can not forget to speake of that greate blasing starre whiche was to see to in forme of a Broome or a bundell of roddes whiche appeared in the yere of our Lorde 1531. the ninth of September ouer Mentz a Citie in Germanie whiche did betoken a heauie burthen of Gods vengeaunce not onely to the state temporall but also to Ecclesiasticall persones But to proceade Anno 1551. the 21. of Marche at Madeburge in Germanie about seuen of the clocke in the mornyng seuen Rainebowes and three Sonnes were sene and in the euenyng the same daie thrée Moones Also Anno 1553. was heard a wofull crie saiyng Woe Woe twise together besides the sounde of Belles and the noyse of Trompettes And at the same tyme it happened that at Duryngia the Trees and Hearbes did not onely sweate bloud But fearfull noises were heard also euery night After the whiche Mauricius the Duke of Saxon fought in battell with Alberte of Brandenburge and at the same tyme beyng smitten with a Bullet died the thirde daie after the battell Moreouer Anno 1554. the firste daie of Februarie in the Citie of Catalane in Fraunce there appeared a marueilous sight aboute the Moone like vnto a greate fire arisyng from the Easte part and declinyng towardes the Weste and the Moone it self appeared like to a firebrand in sight And moreouer this fire in th aire did burne with a greate noyse and often tymes did caste forthe flames and sparkes of fire In the like sorte as a hotte burnyng Iron is wont to dooe beeyng beaten vpon a Smithes handuile And the 26. daie of Maie followyng it rained bloud also not farre from the toune of Dunckelspuell in Germanie Also there were seene three faire Rainebowes and so many Sonnes and Moones and two bloudie Crosses And the 11. daie of Iune followyng aboute fiue miles distaunce from Norinberge in Germanie there was sene in the Sonne a bloudie rodde and many companies of horsemen iustlyng together in the aire whiche so did continue for the space of twoo howers in so muche that it caused men greatly to feare that Doomes daie was at hand After the whiche strange sight Frederick the duke of Saxonie died the same yere And after that a notable toune in Germanie was wasted with fire Also in the yere of the lorde 1555. were sene in the Citie of Duringia three Sonnes the tenth daie of Februarie And moreouer at Lunēberge was seene in the aire a greate companie of Souldiers at the right hande of whom there stoode an Aungell holdyng a fierie sworde in his hande and a child was there seen sodainly emongst the people which did earnestly exhort the people generally vnto hartie repentaunce Affirmyng Goddes Iudgementes to bee at hande And when he had thus exhorted the people he vanished sodainly out of their sight and no manne could afterwardes tell where he was become And in the same yere within the boundes of Polonia were heard and seene a greate companie of Dogges barkyng and fightyng together and many of them were torne in peeces After the whiche fighte there followed greate warres and manslaughter betweene the inhabitauntes of Polonia and the Moscouites Also in Duringia the Sonne shinyng cleare there appeared in the aire a bright sworde like vnto a Turkie blade directing the poinct toward the South and the edge towardes the East Moreouer Anno 1557. on the nineth daie of Marche there were sene thre Sonnes and a verie faire Rainebowe and the 17. daie of the same monethe followyng there fell fire from heauen Also in an other place a fierie Globe was sene and it rained bloud in so muche that lumpes of bloud like to the bignesse of a mannes hande did droppe from heauen in the sight of many and in eche droppe were sene certaine figures like to mennes faces And vppon Sainct Laurence daie afterwardes the Sonne appeared all bloudie after the whiche the Frenche Kyng fought a greate battaill with Philip Kyng of Spaine And after that saincte Quintaines was taken c. Also Anno 1558. there appeared a verie fearfull Comet whiche continued burnyng many weekes After the appearance of whiche Comete was seene a straunge sight and no lesse fearfull to behold For the 21. of August the daie beeyng cleare and the weather calme twoo howers before Noone the Sonne beyng then verie clear also was enclosed about with a greate circle whiche was of many colours like vnto a Rainbowe and continued so in sight for fower howers and a halfe to the greate feare and amasement of all suche as beheld thesame And suche a fearfull sight as Plutarche reporteth was sene before the death of Caesar Moreouer Anno 1562. Heauen was sene to burne in many places of Germanie and a celestiall firebrande shined by night in the aire and stretched from the Northe vnto the Southe Also a greate bande of souldiers were seen in the aire whiche seemed to shed muche bloud doune And in the moneth of Aprill following the Sonne appeared maruelous bloudie as well at the risyng as at the settyng and continued so for three daies together Also Anno 1564. and in the sixth yere of the raigne of our gracious Queene Elizabeth the 7. of October at night all the Northe partes of the Element seemed to be couered with flames of fire proceadyng from the Northe Easte and North West towardes the middest of the firmamente where it staied afterwardes for the space of an hower and so descended West Also Anno 1572. and the 15. yere of the raigne of the Queenes moste excellent Maiestie the 18. daie of Nouember in the mornyng a Starre was sene Northward verie bright and cleare in the constellation of Cassiopeia and it semed so straunge as from the beginnyng of the worlde the like was neuer sene for in the iudgement of the moste experte Astronomers and suche as are moste skilfull in the Mathematiques in this our tyme and age that starre which did then appeare vnto our sighte was no Comete but mere supernaturall directly opposite to the Starre whiche appeared at the Natiuitie of our Sauiour Christe and placed in the verie intersection of Aequinoctium Terrestre and therefore maie worthely be tearmed or named a signe vnto the whole yearth As more at large appeareth in a Booke whiche was written by that worshipfull gentleman maister Thomas Digges called Alae seu Scalae Mathematicae where the miracle is by demōstrations
⧠A blazyng Starre or burnyng Beacon seene the 10. of October laste and yet continewyng set on fire by Gods prouidence to call all sinners to earnest speedie repentance Written by Francis Shakelton Minister and preacher of the worde of GOD. ¶ I will shewe wonders in heauen and in the earth bloud and fire and pillers of smoke Ioel. 2 30. ¶ Imprinted at London by Ihon Kyngston for Henry Kirkham and are to bee solde at the signe of the blacke boye adioynyng to the little Northdore of sainct Paule 1580. To the right Honorable sir Thomas Bromley knight lord Chauncellour of Englande and one of her Maiesties moste honourable priuie Councell long life and health with increase of honor and all maner of spirituall blessynges IT maie be demed in the iudgement of the worlde a great presumptiō in me right Honourable thus vnaduisedly to aduēture the discourse of this late blazing Starre whiche appeared the x. daie of October laste 1580. whereof verie small or rather no accompt at all is made emong the vulgare sort for that it hath not altogether suche splēdant brightnesse and glisteryng radiation as some other Cometes heretofore haue had I knowe I say I shal be launced with the bitter reproofes and Zoilous reprehensions of certaine fine mouthed mates who looke for finer phrases and more mellow and sugred sentences then my poore skill or habilitie will aford My onely drift herein right Honourable is to disswade the worlde from freezing in the dregges of their synnes by admonisheyng them of the finall dissolution of the Engine of this worlde and seconde commyng of Christ in the cloudes whiche by many manifest and ineuitable reasons J gather can not bee farre of Jn respecte whereof accordyng to the duetie of my profession J exhort all men to awake out of their slepe by earnest repentance whiche is the perfecte and plain path waie to auert Goddes iuste plagues deseruedly threatened vnto vs. The artificiall description of whiche Starre together with his appearance motion colour continuance matter forme significatiō and effect as J by the aduise of some right skilfull in the Mathematiques haue by the waie superficiallie touched So dooe J leaue the fuller delineation thereof to them who professedly dwell in the same Art Astronomie I meane are best hable to yeeld their learned resolutions My profession drawyng me an other waie requireth an other maner of methode which as J haue here to my poore skill discouered So am J with all humilitie moste duetifully to craue your Honors pardō for the acceptance thereof at my handes till it shall please God to enhable me with other opportunitie to preferre vnto your Lordshippes censure some other woorke of greater momente importance Till then alwaies J shall humblie beseeche the Almightie lōg to preserue your good Lordshippe with honour healthe and all felicitie to his Diuine will and pleasure Amen Your Honors moste humble Francis Shakelton ¶ Jn hanc Francisci Shakeltonj Cometologiam Ogdoastichon ECce Shakeltonj non parua volumine paruo Commoda Brutigenis hexapla certa suis Eia agè lector in hoc forsan reperire libello Multa potes tibi quae vix aliunde patent Vt tibi vt patriae prodesset amicus amicae Participem tersi te facit esse styli Tu tantùm grates memor esto rependere dignas Sic fructum studij demetet ipse sui Thomas Newton Cestreshyrius SO often as there hath been at any time sene eclipses of the Sōne or the Moone either any Comette or blasyng Starre in any parte of the Heauen Those that are Christians haue forthwith been taught by Christe hymself to lifte vp their heades Luke 21.28 knowyng that their redemption draweth nigh that is to saie Christians are admonished thereby that the daie of Iudgement is at hande When thei shall see the Sonne of manne commyng in the Cloudes with power and greate glorie to iudge the quicke and the deade and to giue to euery man accordyng to his deedes that thei haue doen in their bodies be thei good or euill 2. Pet. 3.10 Whose comming shal be as Peter saith as a theefe in the night In the which daie the Heauen shall passe awaie with a noyce and the Elementes shall melte with heate and the yearth with the workes that are therein shall bee burnt vp whiche is as muche to saie that all the worlde shall bee consumed accordyng to the saiyng of our Sauiour Christe Math. 24.35 Heauen and yearth shall passe awaie but my wordes shall not passe awaie Arist lib. de caelo lib. 8. Phis Yet notwithstandyng I am not ignorant how that Aristotle the Prince of all those Philosophers whiche the Latinistes doe call Peripatetici doth labour very earnestly to proue that the worlde is eternall meanyng thereby that it hath no beginning neither shall it haue any endyng Of this opinion is Galenus also that moste experte Phisition of Pergamus a citie of Asia who liued in those daies that Marcus and Commodus were Emperors Galenus and dreamyng also of the perpetuitie and continuance of the worlde saith after this maner Sēper ita stetit sic igitur perdurabit Moreouer Manilius writeth thus Manilius Non alium videre patres alumne ne potes aspicient that is to say our Fathers haue seene no other worlde and shall our Nephewes see any other c. Moreouer you shall vnderstande that among the Latinistes Plinie Plinie doth also maintaine this opinion affirming Mundum esse aeternum immensum neque genitum neque interiturum vnquam Auerrois lib. 1. de caelo And in like maner Auerrois a follower and imitator of Aristotle doeth tread so right in his Maisters steppes that in his firste booke De caelo Idem super 8. Phis Arist he disputeth earnestly against those who doe acknowledge that the worlde was created c. Declaryng also the same thyng in his Commentaries where he doeth expounde and defende the argument of his Maister Aristotle concerning the eternitie and perpetuitie of the worlde I am not vnmindfull also of those wordes whiche Peter doeth alledge in the person of the vngodly and wicked worldlinges 2. Pet. 3.4 saiyng Where is the promise of his commyng For since the fathers dyed all thinges continue alike from the beginnyng of the creation But ye shall vnderstande that all these prophane and wicked reasons and Heathnishe and vnfruitfull questions shall bee confuted orderly God willyng in their places by the authoritie of the holy Scriptures Knowe ye therefore first deare Christians that almightie GOD hym self doeth teache vs by his holie Prophettes and Apostles but moste specially by his onely begotten Soonne Hebr. ◠2 whom he hath made heire of all thinges that the worlde was created of nothyng and shall returne into nothyng againe And therefore wee must not onely beleeue it Read Gene. 14.19 cap. 20.11 cap. 31.17 but also defende the same to bee so as he hath vndoubtedly spoken it And to the ende
Queene Maries daies And since that tyme in Fraunce and Spaine and other places there hath been thereof to muche experience if the will of GOD had been otherwise Verse 10. More ouer he saieth And then shall many bee offended and shall betraie one an other and shall hate one an other And hath there not been many offences bothe giuen and taken Yea oftentymes more offence taken then occasion hath been giuen Was there euer the like treasons and treacherous conspiracies committed in any age As hath been in these our daies And was there euer more bitter hatred showed betwixt one and other then is at this present I am perswaded the like enemitie betweene partie and partie was neuer seen as is in this our age otherwise there would not be so many brabbling matters sette abroche almoste in euery Courte in Englande as there be c. Moreouer Christe sheweth that many false Prophetes shall arise and shal deceiue many for proofe whereof what saie you to the swarmes of Anabaptistes whiche doe sowe their Deuelishe doctrine almoste in euery place in the worlde And is not this verified also thinke you Of the secrete reuelation of H. N. and of the deuelishe darnell and cursed doctrine of Dauid George and Christopher Vitell and diuers others the cheefest Pillers of the familie of Loue Whose bookes of damnable heresies directly againste diuerse of the moste principall Articles of the christian faithe are scattered abroad in many places of this realme to the greate disturbaunce and breache of that vnitie of faithe which ought to be kept in the bonde of peace But thākes be giuen vnto God the Queenes Maiestie by her graue and learned Counsaile hath taken suche order that not onely all suche bookes shal be called in againe throughout the whole Realme but also that the Sectaries them selues shall bee attached and committed to close prison there to remain till either thei shal be purged and cleared of their heresies by recantation or els by the Lawes of the Realme to suffer the iuste sentence of condemnation for their demerites and to bee condemned as heretiques The heresies whiche thei maintain as thei are infinite in nomber so are thei also full of blasphemie 1 As namelie thei affirme that thei dooe liue so perfectly that thei synne not 2 Also that who soeuer is one of their cōgregation is either as perfecte as Christe or els a very Deuill 3 Thirdlie thei denie with Arrius that Christe is equall with the Father in the power and substance of the Godhead groundyng that opinion out of this place of the Scripture where Christe saieth Ihon. 14.27 My Father is greater then I. Not consideryng that Christe saieth in an other place I and my Father are one c. Ihon. 10.30 4 Thei doe affirme that the Resurrection is paste alreadie with Hymeneus and Philetus Whiche concernyng the truthe haue erred 2. Tim. 2.18 and dooe destroye the faithe of certaine 5 Thei do refuse to suffer persecution for their Religion because thei saie that their bodies are the temples of the holie Ghoste wherein thei doe deny the wordes of Christ who saieth Math. 5.10 Blessed are thei whiche suffer persecutiō for righteousnesse sake for theirs is the kyngdome of heauen c. These with an infinite nomber of other grosse errours doe this deuelishe family of Loue maintain in their blasphemous bookes whiche I doe omit for breuities sake Onely haue I giuen the worlde a taste of a fewe of their opinions that by the consideration thereof all men maie maie take heede of the reste of their Pharisaicall Leuine and damnable doctrine whiche is set a broche in their seditious Bookes firste made in the Dutche tongue in the name of H. N. and lately translated into Englishe haue been secretly brought ouer from beyonde the Seas into the Realme The titles whereof are called Euangeliū Regni or a Ioyfull Message of the Kingdome Documentall sentences The Prophecie of Loue. A publishyng of the peace vpon earth and diuers others which for auoiding of tediousnesse I will not recite at this present Math. 24. verse 12. And furthermore Christ saieth ver 12. that because iniquitie shal bee encreased the loue of many shal be colde but he that endureth to the ende shal be saued Was there euer I praie you more iniquitie Did synne and transgression so aboundantly raigne euery where as it doth at this present Was Christian loue and brotherly fellowshippe more cold at any time then now No truely Suche wickednesse at this daie is raignyng generally vpon the face of the earth that if it were not for the electes sake that these wretched daies should bee shortened it were not possible that any fleshe should bee saued But to conclude our Sauiour Christ addeth verse 14. Math. 24.14 That this Gospell of the kyngdome shal be preached through the whole worlde for a witnesse vnto all Nations and then shall the ende come Now I hope that there is no man so impudent that will deny these Prophecies of Christe to bee alreadie fulfilled For so muche as the Gospell hath been so vniuersally and plentifully preached throughout the worlde that there is none who cā excuse hymself in the daie of the lorde and saie that he hath not heard the sounde of his Gospell preached and published vnto hym by those which are appointed to be the stewardes of suche holie misteries but rather thei must needes confesse that greate hath been the multitude of the Preachers c. What reason can there bee alledged to the contrarie then but that the consummation of the worlde is imminent Seyng that Christe who is the truthe the waie and the life hath spoken it Of whō it is written Math. 17.5 that a voice came out of a Cloude saiyng This is that my beloued Soonne in whom I am well pleased heare hym Hereunto I doe adde that which is writtē by the Apostle Paule 2. Thes 2.1 Now wee beseche you brethren by the commyng of our Lorde Iesus Christ and by our assemblyng vnto hym That you be not sodainly mooued from your minde nor troubled neither by spirite nor by woorde nor by letter as it were from vs as though the daie of Christe were at hande Lette no man deceiue you by any meanes For the daie shall not come except there come a departyng first that is to saie Apostasie or a deniall of the Christian faithe and that the man of synne be disclosed euen the sonne of perditiō whiche is an aduersarie and exalteth hymself against all that is called God or that is worshipped c. Well all these signes ye see haue been already paste and wee can not deny but that wee haue seene and yet doe daiely see an infinite nomber of Antichristes whiche deny the manifest and vndoubted truthe and fall to Poperie and all abhominable Idolatrie so that the daie of the Lorde can not bee farre of but must needes be at hande Moreouer I beseche you harken what Christe
saieth speakyng of certaine signes whiche shall goe before the commyng of Christ to Iudgement Luke 21.25 There shall bee signes then saieth he in the Sonne and in the Moone and in the starres And againe Math. 24. â—9 immediately after the tribulation of those daies shall the Sunne be darkened and the Moone shall not giue her light and the starres shall fall from heauen and the powers of heauen shal be shakeÌ„ Esay 13.9 The Prophet Esay also saieth thus Behold the daie of the lorde commeth cruell with wrathe and fearce to anger to laie the lande waste and he shall destroie the synners out of it For the starres of heauen and the Planettes thereof shall not giue their light the Sonne shal be darkened in his goyng sorthe the Moone shall not cause her light to shine Of this read more Ezechiell 32.7 Daniel 7.13 1. Cor. 15.2 c. Iol. 2.31 Also the Prophete Ioell saieth that the Sonne shal be tourned into darkenesse and the Moone into bloud before the greate and terrible daie of the lorde come By all whiche sondrie testimonies is signified that all the creatures of God as well in heauen aboue as in the yearth beneth whether it be the Sonne the Moone or the Starres or any parte of the hoste of heauen aboue or the yearth beneth shal be as it were summoÌ„s to summon the whole world vnto Christes tribunall feate of iudgement Whiche kinde of Sommons the vngodlie impenitent synners shall euery daie contemne more and more vntill the verie IudgemeÌ„t daie Before whiche tyme bothe heauen earth notwithstaÌ„ding shal after a sorte resemble the countenaunce of an angrie Iudge the rather to stirre vp all wicked synners to repent their vngodlie liues and to tourne vnto the Lorde Beeyng mooued thereunto by these and suche like signes and tokens of Gods wrathe whiche shall euidently appeare vnto all the whole worlde before the ende and consummation of thesame as hath been before declared And then shal thei see the Sonne of manne come in a Cloude with power and greate glorie Wherefore let vs diligently call to our remembraunce whether any of these forenamed signes bee passed yea or no that is to saie whether there haue been many and verie often Ecclipses of the Sonne and likewise of the Moone or whether the Starres haue seemed to fall from heaueÌ„ Or the powers of heauen haue been at any tyme moued or shaken yea or no It can not bee denied but that there hath been of late yeres more wonderfull and straunge sightes seen bothe in the Sonne and in the Moone and in the starres cleane against the order of nature then euer was seen in any age here tofore Haue we not read of twoo Moones that shined at one tyme in the seuenth yere of kyng Henry the first Did ye neuer heare tel of those fiue Moones that shined at once in the seconde yere of kyng Henry the seuenth Haue yee not founde in the Chronicles how that the Sonne hath appeared as red as bloud and so continued the space of sixe howers the laste daie of October in the fiftene yere of Kyng Edward the seconde But to come more nerer to our time haue ye not heard how in the yere of the Lorde 1543. And the xxxv yere of the raigne of king Henry the eight there chanced fower Eclipses one of the Sonne the 24. of Ianuarie and three of the Moone whiche was a marueilous thyng to behold That I maie omit to speake of the strange Eclipses of the Sonne and Moone these yeres laste paste But because I haue hetherto spoken sufficiently of signes and tokens whiche haue been seen in the Sonne and in the Moone for so muche as our Sauior Christ Math. 24.29 doeth make mention also that the Starres shall fall froÌ„ heauen I thinke it moste meete and conuenient for me to speake somewhat of blasing Starres And so muche the rather because at this present so iuste occasion is offered vnto me by the reason of a blasyng Starre whiche did appeare at the firste in the Iudgement of those whiche are learned Astronomers in the signe called Pisces the tenth daie of October 1580. and was left in Aquarius The motion thereof beeyng retrograde contrarie to the common course of other moueable Starres and yet doeth it continue still to bee seen and vewed of all men albeit it doeth not lighten the aire with her glimmering beames and glistring brightnesse so muche as it did at the firste appearyng thereof beyng set on fire by Gods diuine councell and prouidence that by the sight thereof we might be aduertised of after clappes And so to prepare our selues spedely to turne vnto God by faithfull and vnfeigned repentaunce that wee maie bee the more readie to meete hym in the cloudes with ioye at his commyng or els through the hardnesse of our harte whiche can not repent iustly to suffer the bitternesse of his sharpe iudgement and so heape vp as a treasure vnto our selues wrathe against the daie of wrathe and of the declaration of the iuste Iudgement of God Therefore in the title of this treatise I doe tearme this Starre whiche is seene at this present A blasyng starre or a burning Beacon c. set on fire by gods prouidence to warne the whole worlde of dreadfull warres betweene God and those that doe goe on still in wickednesse and will not bee touched and moued to repentaunce And I was partely moued so to name it for this consideration For as in Englande and in moste places of the whole worlde besides Beacons are placed vppon the stipest and highest hills that maie be sene farthest of in tyme of warre and of the inuasion of the enemie into any Nation are night and daie watched and set on fire to signifie and declare vnto the inhabitantes thereof that some greate perill and daunger is nigh Euen so this Comet is as it were set on fire in the height of the aire by the Almightie power and prouidence of our eternall God to the ende that so many as shall behold the same maie be admonished and stirred vp by the consideration therof to auoide suche after clapps by their faithfull repentance as should otherwise fall vppon them in the iuste Iudgement of almightie God Aristotle I am not ignoraunt how Aristotle and diuers other Philosophers dooe define a blasyng Starre to bee but an yearthly vapour somewhat thicke and clammie and fatte in substaunce whiche beeyng drawne vp by little and little from the bowelles of the yearth into the vpper region of the aire nigh to the Sphere of the fierie element is there set on fire and through heate made thinne till it be cleane dissolued c. Whiche opinion of Aristotle albeit it bee thought to bee worthie of credite and subscription in the iudgement of moste Philosophers who with one consent and assent doe agree that blasyng Starres dooe spryng of naturall causes yet notwithstandyng all godlie diuines for the moste part are of
this Iudgement that the Lorde God hymself is the originall aucthour and principall worker of this Starre as of all others makyng it an immediate messenger and minister of his will accordyng to the tyme and place as it beste pleaseth his diuine and eternall maiestie Who seyng that we bee suche an obstinate and stiffenecked people that wee will not bee moued to loue hym neither in respecte of his long sufferaunce and louyng mercie shewed all waies towardes vs neither yet in respecte of that moste sweete and comfortable voice of the Gospell whiche hath been preached full .xxij. yeres vnto vs by his faithfull seruauntes and Ministers Dooeth now in his secrete councell goe an other waie to woorke and by fearfull Eclipses of Sonne and Moone and by glisteryng flames of fierrie Cometes and other suche like monstruous signes and tokens in the heauen and in the earth doeth goe I saie about to enforce and cōpell vs against our willes to be mindfull of the latter daie whiche is not farre of If we will giue any credite to the woordes of Christ who immediatly after he had made mention of the signes whiche should bee sene in the Sonne and in the Moone and in the Starres doeth forthwith adde these wordes Cū haec videritis euenire cognoscite quod prope est regnū dei That is to saie Math. 24.33 When ye se all these thinges knowe that the kyngdome of God is nere euen at the doores Luke 21.28 And againe when these thinges doe beginne to come to passe then looke vp and lift vp your heades For your redemption draweth nere Behold the Figge tree and all trees when thei now shoote forthe ye seyng thē knowe of your owne selues that Sommer is nere So likewise ye whē ye se all these thinges come to passe knowe you that the kyngdome of God is neare Verely I saie vnto you This age shall not passe till all these thynges bee doen heauen and yearth shall passe awaie but my woordes shall not passe awaie By that whiche hetherto hath been spoken you see how almightie God is not onely the creator and gouernour of Nature it self and of all Naturall causes but also he is suche a one as in the worke of this blasyng Starre is to bee acknowledged and confessed to bee the onely efficient cause And therefore he onely and not the blasyng Starre is to bee feared and had in reuerence consideryng that he is of power able not onely to chasten vs with temporall punishementes for the amendement of our liues in this wretched worlde But also in his Iustice maie condemne vs to eternall death and destruction in the kyngdome of darknesse where there is euerlastyng fire prepared for the Deuill and his angelles For whiche cause I can not deny but I must needes confesse that for the moste parte blasyng Starres are a token and signe of greate horror and feare and do prognosticate of some strange wonder and dooe threaten some imminent euill and mischeefe commonly vnto that parte of the yearth towardes the whiche thei seme to cast their beames moste directly And therfore those Philosophers which haue written of the effectes of blasyng starres haue founde by good experience that sometymes thei dooe signifie drouthe and barronnesse of the yearth whiche made Augustinus Niphus to witnesse that after the appearyng of a Comete Anno domini 1506. whiche was about the 22. yere of the raigne of kyng Henry the seuenth there followed within twoo yeres after suche a drought in Lumberdie that from the moneth of Ianuarie vnto Nouember after there fell no Raine at all in that Countrie Sometymes also after the appearyng of blasyng Starres there followeth moste commonly cruell and greate windes and mightie tēpestes with haile stones of suche a bignesse that through the same many houses are throwne doune and often times are cōsumed and burned with fire through the windes As almoste the whole countrie of Scotlande was once wasted by fire the 9. of Ianuarie 1251. a greate Comete of maruelous bignesse hauyng been seen before in Scotlande for many daies Anno 1248. Sometymes thei dooe signifie the death and change of Kynges and Princes and the alteration of kyngdomes cōmonwealthes As maie appeare Anno 1116. When Chichester was burnte there was sene a blasing starre the Moone not long tyme after semed to bee turned into blood after the which Maude the Queene of Englande died was buried at Westminster Likewise Anno do 1165. appeared a mightie Comete in Scotlande burnyng out with twoo long beames And within fourtie daies after died Malcolmus the iiij Kyng by name of the Scottes as the Chronicle reporteth Moreouer Anno 1214. in the moneth of Marche twoo Cometes of a maruellous bignesses verie fearfull to behold appeared in Scotlande the one going before and the other followyng the Sonne in the whiche yere that moste happie and good Kyng Willyam died after he had rained fourtie and nine yeres Likewise Anno 1538. appeared a Comet after the settyng of the Sonne which was placed in the signe Pisces and the taile of it lookyng towardes the East and shortly after died the Duke of Saxon. Also Anno 1539. the sixt daie of Maie appeared a Comete whiche endured burnyng three weekes and not long tyme after Isabell the wife of Charles the fift Emperour died in trauaile of childe in whiche yere also died George that duke of Saxonie And in the same yere as some doe write there appeared three Cometes in the moneth of Aprill after the whiche the Duke of Cleaue died and also the Bushop of Trent and diuers other noble personages In the yere of the Lorde 1540 the seuenth daie of Aprill happened a great coniunction of the Planettes and there appeared also a marueilous Eclipse of the Sōne whose beginnyng was before the Sonne risyng and did endure in the same Eclipse twoo whole howers after it was risen Also there was sene aboute the same tyme a maruelous straunge Comete in the euen after the whiche there followed so greate a drought that Hay Corne and all kinde of Pulse were verie scarce And the same yere the Castell of Prage a noble Citie in the kyngdome of Bohemia with the Cathedrall Churche were burned with fire and many fearfull fires happened in sondedrie places thesame tyme. Moreouer Anno 1547. in Heluecia in Germanie were sene in the aire twoo hostes of men of warre and twoo Lions gréeuously and terriblie fightyng together so long that the one semed to bite of the others head quite And the yere followyng the x. daie of Februarie was sene in Saxonie a Countrie also in Germanie a fire frō heauen that fell vppon certaine Cities and twoo hostes of menne were sene in the aire runnyng and skirmishyng one against an other besides diuers other straunge sightes very wonderfull to beholde And yet in these daies it will not sincke into the heades of many that there maie any suche strange sight appeare in the aire because wee can not render a naturall reason thereof