answered Who is there who is it that calls and what would you have Then the voice spake more high and loud and said to him Alaman I require that when you pass near the Gulf of Laguna you remember to cry out aloud and make them to understand that the Great God Pan is dead At these Words all that were in the Ship were much astonished and at last after Consultation concluded that the Pilot should take no notice of the voice nor slay in the Gulf to utter such words if they could possibly go beyond it but go on in their Voyage But coming to the place which the voice had mentioned the ship stood still and the Sea was calm without wind so that they could sail no farther whereupon they all resolved that Alaman should perform his Ambassage and so he placed himself in the Poop of the Ship and cryed out as loud as he could saying Be it known unto you that the Great God Pan is dead He had no sooner uttered these words but there were so many mournful cryes groans and woful Lamentations that all the Air resounded again therewith these Complaints continued for some time and extreamly surprized those in the Ship but having afterward a prosperous Gale they followed on their Course and being arrived at Rome told of this Adventure which coming to the Ears of Tiberius the Emperour desired to be informed of the Truth thereof and had the former particulars fully confirmed to him whereby it is evident that the Devils in all parts were chased and banished from the World by the death of the Blessed Jesus and it is to be supposed that this Great God Pan is not to be restrained only to the God of the Shepherds but was rather some great Master Devil who had now lost his power and Empire as the others had before In the days of the aforesaid Tiberius the Emperor Publius Lentulus being at that time President in Judea writ an Epistle sometime before this to the Senate of Rome which was as followeth There appeared in these our days a man of great Virtue called Jesus Christ who is yet living amongst us and of the People is accepted for a Prophet but his own Disciples call him the Son of God He raiseth the Dead and cureth all manner of Diseases A man of stature somewhat tall and comely with a very reverend Countenance such as the Beholders may both Fear and Love His Hair is of the Colour of a Chesnut full ripe and plain almost down to his ears but from the ears downward somewhat curled and more Orient of colour waving about his shoulders In the midst of his head goeth a seam or partition of his Hair after the manner of the Nazarites His forehead very plain and smooth His Face without spot or wrinkle beautified with a comely red His Nose and Mouth so formed that nothing can be reprehended His Beard somewhat thick agreeable in colour to the Hair of his Head not of any great length but forked in the midst of an Innocent look his Eyes grey clear and quick In reproving he is severe in admonishing courteous and fairspoken pleasant in speech mixt with gravity It cannot be remembred that any have seen him laugh but many have seen him weep in proportion of Body well shaped and streight his hands and Arms very delectable to behold in speaking very temperate modest and wise A man for his singular beauty exceeding the Children of men Josephus likewise a Jew by Nation and descent in his Antiquities hath these words In these very times lived Jesus a very wise man if it be lawful to call him a Man because in truth he did marvellous things and was Master and Tutor to them that loved him and sought the Truth The Jews and Gentiles Assembled unto him and followed him in great Companies And though he was afterward accused by some of the Chief of our Religion and crucified yet he was not forsaken by those who before followed him and three days after his death he appear'd alive unto them according as the Prophets inspired by God had foretold and prophecied of him And now even in our time the Doctrine and the name of Christians continues and is spread over all the World These are the words of Josephus who writ of the destruction of Jerusalem as an eye-witness which happened forty years after the Death of Christ Josephus Antiquit. VI. In the 39 year after the birth of our Saviour a very great Light was seen in the Heavens and a voice encountred Saul going to Damascus to prosecute the Christians with all severity which said unto him Saul Saul why persecutest thou me c. This Prodigy was the Forerunner of St. Paul's Conversion At this time that Tyrannical Emperor Caligula commanded himself to be worshipped as a God and executed divers Roman Knights and Gentlemen for refusing it In 47. The Heavens seemed wonderfully to burn and a Comet of a very great magnitude appeared for many days together Lightning fell from Heaven upon the Standards of the Praetorian Souldiers soon after Vespasian goeth into Brittain and taketh the Isle of Wight The Romans overcome the Picts in Scotland Herod dyeth Twenty Thousand Jews are slain between the Gates of the Temple Messalina the Empress forces Silvis to put away his Wife and then is married to him but they were both slain In 50. A Phaenix was seen in Egypt and an Island of thirty Furlongs in length appeared in the Sea which was never before seen Three Suns appeared at one time in Rome and in and about the Coasts of England for certain days the Sea seemed as blood A Comet of a very great magnitude appeared for a long time together in Italy The Effects were a very great Famine in Rome Domitian the Roman Tyrant born The whole Countrey of Trevers in Germany is wasted by Clodomore The Emperor Claudius is poysoned by Agrippina Three thousand Romans are defeated in Scotland Agrippa poysoneth Sylanus also Narcissus for seventeen Millions of Money and likewise poysoneth Brittanicus Nero begins his Acts of Villany Cartismunda Queen in Brittain rejects Venutius her Husband he makes War against her the King of Scots takes her and buries her alive In 59. There was a terrible Eclipse of the Sun so that the Stars were seen Nero's Supper was burnt with Lightning an Earthquake happened at Rome and the Sun was Eclipsed again and again that is three times visibly in 3 years Many Jews perish in Caesaria Nero commits Incest with his Mother The Brittains slay Seventy Thousand of the Romans and Suetonius destroys Fourscore Thousand Brittains as he comes from the Isle of Anglesey St. Mark writes his Gospel In 63. A great Comet appears There was a very great Inundation in England The Ocean seemed to be blood A Prodigious Accident was seen at Colchester in England where the Image of Victory turned backward of it self An Earthquake in Asia A Comet appeared six Moneths and three Suns together Rome is fired by
Alexandria The French aid the Sarmatians against the Romans and in a Battel kill Forty Six Thousand Men. In 323 a Fountain ran with Oyl in Italy there was also a terrible Comet seen for many days together at Rome Constantine overcomes Licinius at Chalcedon Octavian fleeth into Scotland and by the aid of Fincomore recovers Britain Licinius is put to death XII In 340 there was an Earthquake in Aâ—a which overthrew many Cities A Child of six months old prophesies in Rome Constantine the Elâ—â—â—â— is â—ain Constans subdueth the Gauls Athanâ—sius the Bishop is banished In 343 was a great and terrible Eclipse of the Sun and an Earthquake whose force was so great that it overthrew many Cities in the East Hermogenes is slain in a Tumult Constantius persecuted the Clergy Julius entertaineth Athanasius and other banished Catholicks Arius his Hereâ—â—es spread at Antioch The Christians are persecuted in Persia and Constantius is beaten there The Heathen Temples are shut up In 349 was a great Earthquake which overthrew a whole City into the Sea except the Church The City of Dirachium was swallowed up by an Earthquake and Rome was shaken three dayes and nights together with divers Cities in Campania Constantius overcomes the Persians in Battel but his Souldiers being drunk with Wine and Beer as well as with success the Persians came suddenly upon them and make a great slaughter In 362 an Earthquake did very much harm in Persia and the City of Nicodemia was overthrown thereby An Ox is said to have spoken in Italy Constantius makes Peace with the Persians and soon after dyes the Christians are much Persecuted Julian the Apostate being at Constantinople to prepare for the Persian War is slain at Chresiphon The Temple of Apollo Daphneus is burnt In 369 was a great inundation or overflowing of waters in Sicily and a general Earthquake throughout the whole World Romachus defeateth Augusian and the Picts in England He tyrannizeth and the Nobles cut off his head Valence putteth Athanarius to flight In 337 appeared a Comet of wonderful greatness and another general Earthquake in Sicily The Scots and Picts are set at variance by Maximus the Goths turn Arians and wast Thrace Thessaly and Epirus The Emperor Gratian killeth thirty five thousand Germans In 384 there was visible a terrible sign in the Heavens in all parts like unto a fiery Pillar and the River Tiber overflowes her banks again Maximus killeth Gratian treacherously and possesseth Brittain France Spain and Africk The Vaâ—dals and Lumbards quarrel Priscillian is Executed at Trevers by Maximus after an appeal to him from the Council of Bordeux In 392 a new Star is seen in the Heavens which appeared in the form of a sword for forty days together Armed men and Castles were seen in the Heavens in Greece Valentinian is strangled at Vienna Eugenius is made Emperor Honorius wars against Eugenius The King of France is slain in battel the Romans impose a tribute on the French XIII In 399 strange fiery clouds are seen in Constantinople an Earthquake and great hail a Star like a sword is seen at Rome in many places hail-stones fell which were bigger than a stone of eight pound weight A deep Snow great Eclipse of the Sun and other strange Meteors the Goths divide into Factions and consume themselves with Civil War Gildo their King killeth his children is forced to fly and at last is taken and strangled Heathen Temples and Idols are destroyed The Sybyls books are burnt at Rome In 412 the Earth at Vtica in Italy seemed as if it mourned for seven dayes together with a horrible lowing At Rome great flocks of Grashoppers were seen in the Air Arthaulphus warreth with the Vandals The Spaniards Countrey is parted between them and the Swedes Pelagius a Monk in Brittain broacheth his Opinions Heraclian is slain by his own Souldiers In 434 it rained blood in Savoy A Comet of wonderful Magnitude appeared in the Heavens In Sweden a Dragon was seen flying in the Air There was a great Famine in Constantinople Pope Bassus dyeth The French besiege Archillas The Emperors makes peace with the Vandals The Goths break Peace with the Romans The Brittains war with the Scots In 445 were apparitions in the Heavens in England burning Spears were seen at Rome many Earthquakes the Moon Eclipsed A Comet this year appeared ten weeks together Aelius the Roman General is slain Cartigern and Horsa are killed in battel at Aylesford in Kent The Brittains beat the Saxons and drive them into the Isle of Thanet the King of the Goths is slain In 463 happened a great Earthquake in Rome and many parts of Italy with terrible showrs and great storms of hail The Goths wast Illyria Beorgok is slain in Italy by Ricimer The Popes usurpations are opposed by Hillarius a Deacon of Rome In 471 was an Earthquake at Vienna Wolves and other Beasts wander all the year through that City and devour men the Emperors Palace is consumed by fire Ricimer aspireth and being discovered fleeth to Milan he proclaimeth war against the Emperor besiegeth Rome and killeth Arthemius Portugal and Burgundy are wasted by the Goths In 483 Armies of men were seen in the Air in Russia An Earthquake also and two wonderful Blazing Stars appeared a Rainbow likewise seemed to incompass two Suns which were visible at once Giles King of France is slain and Clovis taketh many Cities A Persecution of learned men in Africa Zeno the Emperor gives up himself to riot and cruelty putting many to death In 507 there fell a great and fiery dart from Heaven in Africa and dark spots were observed in the body of the Sun The Emperor gives the Goths money to depart his Dominions Clovis warreth against Alaricus for Religion and Italy is wasted by Clorus with an hundred ships and eight thousand men In 529 happened wonderful Lightning at Antioch and an Earthquake at Constantinople Legible Letters are seen in the Air at Rome it rained blood in the Valleys of Lucern and Piedmont four days together The Persians war against the King of Colchos and the Emperor The Vandals put their General to death the Jews are suppressed the Emperors General Mundus defeateth the Getes who wasted Thrace XIV In 539 a famous Comet appeared in the Royal sign Sagittarius and vast Flocks of Ravens were seen at Rome The Persians take Antioch and wast the Eastern Provinces The Emperor purchaseth his peace People are ordered to pray toward the East in their Churches In 546 the Sea flowed up four miles into Thrace and drowned many people There was a very great Earthquake in Constantinople The Goths soon after setting upon the Romans at the siege of Septa were all slain Totilas the Goth besiegeth Rome and taketh it Belisarius recovereth it In 555 a fiery Lance in the Element appeared from the North to the East The Heavens seemed to open in France and lights shined out for two hours space an Earthquake shook Constantinople for six weeks and the Sun for
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
Countrey desolate and laid wast the houses and temples overthrown the people lamenting at the sight of their houses being blown down and under them their Goods their Cattel and their Parents slain which occasioned wonderful compassion in the beholders and hearers thereof by this means it pleased God rather to threaten than punish Tuscany for if so great a Tempest had fallen upon any City full of Houses as it fell upon these Oaks and Trees and small Houses one far from another without all doubt the destruction would have been greater then the mind of man could have conceived But it pleased God by that small example to revive in mens minds the memory of his power The same year there perished about Pivel and Naples forty thousand People by an Earthquake Mahomet the Great Turk is beaten from the siege of Belgrade by Hunniades who soon after dyes Ladislaus King of Pâ—land and Alphonsus King of Naples both dye Matchiavil Hist Florence Lib. 6. XXVII In 1460. a most terrible Comet appeared to fight This year King Henry VI. of England is made Prisoner at Northampton The Civil Wars in France begin Charles VII King of France and Adolphus Duke of Holsatia both dye Craâ—ovia a great City in Poland is destroyed â—â—ith Fire and Sword Mahomet II. Emperor of the Tarks after many victories cruelly kills David the Emperor of Trapezund and his two sons the Duke of York is slain at the battle of Wakefield in Yorkshire In 1477 a Blazing Star of the colour of the Star Saturn appeared there ensued a most terrible Plague The Helvetians kill'd seventeen thousand French and Charles Duke of Burgundy The Turks wast Carinthia and the Tartaâ—â— Podâ—lia In 1484 happened a wonderful deep Snow in Germany and fiery darts were seen in the Sky the Sun was likewise much Eclipsed In England three Suns appeared about this time and in Poland there was seen saith my Author an Image of Christ Crucified with a Sword in his hand passing along the Air from West to South for two hours together The English invade Scotland but are repulsed The Venetians make war against the Turks The quarrel continueth in Germany about the Archbishoprick of Mentz A Rebellion was raised in France against the Queen for the Princes death In 1470 Hail of wonderful greatness fell at Rome the stones whereof weighed eight ounces in Germany Hail-stones fell as big as Goose eggs Soon after the Turks take Sabotz in Hungary and wast Germany The King of Sicily with the Venetians fight against them and spovl Leshos and Pergamus XXVIII In the Year 1478 the Sun is darkened without an Eclipse swarms of Grashoppers are seen in Italy A Glorious Star is seen to run along the Firmament Armies are observed fighting in the Air in Switzerland After this the Hungarians defeat the Turks and take Thirty Thousand Captives from them The Spanish Inquisition is first instituted in Castile against the Moâ—s and Jews The Transilvanians overcome the Turks About this time King Charles VIII of France marched into Italy with an Army for the Conquest of the Kingdom of Naples a little before which were many strange Prodigies whereby divers Persons foresaw and foretold that there would be greater changes and more horrible accidents than in many years before had happened in any part of the world For there were seen in the night at Poville in Italy three Suns in the midst of the Firmament and many Clouds about them which sent forth most dreadful Thunders and Lightnings In the Territory of Aretzo were manifestly seen in the Air infinite numbers of armed men upon mighty Horses with a terrible noise of drums and Trumpets The Images of the Saints saith my Author did plainly sweat in many parts of Italy In several places divers Monsters were brought forth both of women and other Creatures with many other things against the order of nature which happened almost all at one time in divers places And whilst the French Army was in the City of Millain there happened an accident of no less wonder than fear which extreamly astonished the Souldiers as if the Heavens by manifest signs had forewarned them of their future calamities For upon St. Peters day the Sun being set and the Air and Firmament clear there fell down from Heaven a Light and a Fire just before the Gate of the Castle where at that time stood many barrels of Powder which were brought out of the Castle to be sent to other Places This Flash of fire seized upon the Powder with an horrible noise by the violence whereof the fair Tower of Marble which was over the Gate on the top of which stood a stately Clock was thrown down and rased from the very Foundation to the top thereof In which fury the Walls and Chambers of the Castle with other buildings adjoyning to the Tower had the same fate Yea in one instant the whole body of the Castle and the whole City of Milain trembled and shook with the fury of the blow which carryed into the Air from several places many great and huge stones which in their fall hurt and slew divers Persons And as in a common calamity a multitude have a share so it fell out here for many who had escaped the fall of the stones were overwhelmed by the ruines of the Walls under which they were smothered and pressed to death with these ruins the Castle green was so overspread and covered that it was very dreadful to behold such a sudden alteration but it was mighty surprizing even to the most couragious to see stones of such an incredible bigness to be thrown with the fury of the fire above five hundred paces from the place This happened at that very hour wherein people of all sorts were walking for their Recreation upon the Castle Green whereby there were slain above five hundred men who belonged to the Castle Guichardines Hist Italy Pag. 785. XXIX In the year 1492 a great Comet is visible in the Heavens Three Suns are seen in Poland another Comet appeared for two Months In Rome the Sky was seen to be on fire for many nights together These were succeeded by great Inundations and Floods in England The English go against the French the Jews are expelled Spain A Rebellion at Gaunt in Flanders The Hungarians enter Mysia and return back with much booty A rot of great Potentates Pope Innocent VIII dyes Alphonsus King of Portugal dyes by a fall from his Horse Frederick Emperor of Germany and Casimer King of Poland both dye A great part of Cracovia is burnt In 1500 a great fiery Dragon and of a monstrous shape is seen in Savoy A Comet of wonderful Magnitude appears for 18 days in Poland an Inundation in Germany Soon after the King of Sweden and the Queen of Bohemia dye The State of Millain rebel and are suddenly subdued again Next year Prince Arthur Son to Henry VIII dyeth and the Wife of King Henry VII of England The Turks take Modone and many other places
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 Gates and there remained with his Army Then Vespasian sent several Noblemen as Embassadors to Joseph who thus addressed themselves to him Vespasian General of the Roman Army sends to know what it will avail you to be thus blockt up in a walled Town he desires rather that you would come forth and treat peaceably with him and enter into a League together for it will be for your benefit to serve Caesar Emperor of Rome whereby you may live and not be destroyed nor any of your People Then Joseph sent Embassadors to Vespasian desiring Truce for a few days to consult with the People about this matter which he agreed to and Joseph sent to the chief Priests and Rulers of Jerusalem and the rest of the People the following Letter Ye shall understand Brethren that Vespasian General of the Romans sent his Ambassadors unto me inquiring what it would avail me to be obstinate against them and not rather to come forth and treat of Peace and to joyn in League together that we may serve the Emperor of the Romans so that we may save our lives and not be destroyed And I beseech ye why will you lose your lives with the lives of your Wives your Sons and your Daughters Why will you all fall together on the sword The Dreadful Apparitious and Presages seen over the City of Ierusalem Page 14 whereby those that shall be left alive among you shall be led Captive out of your Countrey to a People which they never knew and whose Language they understand not and likewise your Countrey shall be made desolate your Sanctuary laid wast so that there shall not be so much as one man to enter into it Never suffer this you that are wise men but rather receive my Counsel and come hither to us that we may consult together what conditions of Peace we shall make for the safety of our Lives rather than be destroyed and that we may enjoy the blessings of our Countrey and live at peace therein for Life and quietness is to be preferred before Death and Banishment But the Inhabitants of Jerusalem with the Priests Elders and Noblemen of Judea and the rest of the People returned this answer to Joseph Take heed to thy self that thou never consent to receive Conditions of peace from the Romans but be strong to fight till such time as thou shalt consume them or till thou and all the People dye in Battel and so shalt thou fight the Battels of the Lord for his people and his Sanctuary and the Cities of our God in the mean season let it be as it will but let not thy power be with them When Joseph heard this Resolution of the People for continuance of the War he was exceeding angry and in great fury fell upon the Roman Army with all his Forces in which skirmish very many of the Jews were slain and from that day forward Vespasian began more fiercely to War upon the Jews He marched thence to Gâ—rara a great City in the higher Galilee which he besieged took and rased to the Ground slaying all the people Men Women and Children Oxen Sheep Camels and Asses leaving nothing alive and then said Now I begin to be revenged for the Romans which the Jews murthered in the Land of Judea From thence be came to Jorpata where Joseph was The first day he incamped about it refreshing his Souldiers with plenty of meat and drink and then furnished every man with Arms The next morning early the Roman Army gave a great shout and beset the City round about on every side Joseph standing upon an high Tower beheld the mighty Army of the Romans and thereupon founding a Trumpet gave a sign to the Battle issuing out with the whole power of the Jews upon the Roman Camp at the foot of the Hill and maintaining the Fight from morning till night at which time it being dark the Jews retreated into the Town and the Romans to their Camp the next day the Fight was renewed and so the third and fourth day wherein many were destroyed on both sides For the Romans advanced confidently and stoutly to the Battel boastingly saying We will quickly vanquish this little Nation as we have subdued all others against whom we have fought and they shall trouble us no more and then shall we be at rest The Jews likewise on the other side encouraged themselves against the Romans saying At this time we will all dye together for the Zeal to the Sanctuary of our God and will never suffer these unclean Persons to pollute it and having once destroyed them we shall be quiet ever after So that what with the Pride of the Romans on the one side and the stiff-necked stubbornness of the Jews on the other much people perished of either Party At this time the Jews who dwelt about Jorpata fled to the Camp of Vespasian and joyned with the Romans and alwaies when Joseph skirmished with Vespasian without the City Vespasian sent a Party to assault the City so that Joseph and his Men fought with Vespasian without the Town and the Jews within defended the Walls against the Romans but those within dayly diminished and the chiefest of Josephs Army were slain except some few with whom Joseph fled and recovered the Town and stopped up the Gates after him But Vespasian having a long time besieged Jorpata he at length espied a Conduit of sweet Water without the Walls which ran into the City the Citizens drinking thereof because it was good this he cut off whereby the Inhabitants were destitute of drink having only Well-water which Joseph perceiving and judging that the Romans would now think they might take them at pleasure since they must dye for Thirst He thereupon took Garments and dipped them in the Well-waters in the Town and hanged them over the Walls in several places to declare they had plenty of Water Then Vespasian commanded a Mount to be raised nigh the Town to plant an Iron Ram wherewith to batter and beat down the Walls which they did so furiously that Joseph perceiving them to shake filled sacks of Chaff and hanged them down by the Walls which by their softness prevented the Force of the Iron Horns of the Ram which Policy Vespasian observing he sent secretly into the Town some Jews as spies who should cut the ropes of the sacks and then slip down the Walls with them thereby to be secured from danger and several other devices were used on each side But Joseph perceiving the War to increase dayly he issued out with his Forces and made a great slaughter in the Camp of the Romans burning the Mount and Engines of War they had left behind them and forcing them to retire from the Walls Vespasian perceiving his men shrink stood up and encouraged them so much with good Words and large Promises of Gold and Silver that they continued the Fight against Joseph till night In the hear of the Battel the Jews wounded Vespasian in the Right
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
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
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
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
high rates Dogs Cats and Vermin were counted as good as Venison For all Commerce and Trade being hindred bread-corn was at an excessive rate and hardly to be purchased for money In February 1633. at Dobenshutz a Village in Althenburg blood sprang out of a Fish-pond with such a filthy savour that if it were touched they could not wash off the stink in 2 or 3 days This Countrey was the same year lamentably ruined and plundred and the beastly cruelty and licentiousness of the Souldiers was exceeding monstrous Many fine Towns and Villages were robbed and burnt to Ashes for defending themselves and the Inhabitants thereof as well as of Dobenshutz miserably slaughtered The Women yea Ladies and Gentlewomen were tyed and coupled together like Beasts and â—ogs and sent into the Woods to be ravished and for making resistance they had their cloaths stript off their Bodies whipt and their ears cut off and in this deplorable posture were sent home again The Souldiers and Crabats got many Thousand head of Cattel together and what beast soever did not readily follow them they killed them lest they should serve some Hereticks many other horrid Barbarisms were committed by them as if they had believed that a Countrey was never throughly conquered till it were utterly destroyed by Sword and Fire L. In 1633. March 6. about 8 a Clock in the Evening over the Town of Bibrach two long swords were seen in the Air one Fiery and the other red as blood many fierce encounters happened about this time and place between the Swedes and Imperialists Count Horn the Swedish Field Marshal killing near fix hundred Crabats and as many more Spanish and Italian Souldiers who came to aid the Emperor perished by Cold Famine and Sword by the way that betwixt Vlm and Bibrach a thousand dead Carcases were found so that a third part of the Army were lost some Months after four Regiments of the Imperialists were surprized and killed by the Swedes betwixt this Town and Isne and six hundred other Imperialists being abroad were also taken and most of them slain In March 1634 Gustavus Horn besieged the City of Bibrach wherein were thirteen hundred men offering the Imperial Governour good conditions upon his first approach which being refused he battered the Town so long with his Ordnance that he won the Enemies works and made a breach into the Walls Then the Governour sending out a Trumpet desired reasonable Terms or else he would defend it to the last man and threatning first of all to blow up all the Protestant Citizens whom he had already lockt up in the Town-house and into a Cellar But having already refused fair ofters the Swedes denyed them now and prepared all things ready for another assault advancing toward the Breach when at the same instant the Protestant Ministers with several Women came out of the Town making most pitiful Lamentation to the Swedish General signifying that it would certainly cost them all their Lives because the Town-house was already undermined and the Mine filled with Powder and that they fearfully expected to be blown up immediately Out of Commiseration therefore to these poor people another Agreement was offered to the Governour and Liberty granted them to march out with their Swords only which was accepted and the Protestants thereby saved LI. In 1634 June 23. another Prodigy happened at Dresden in Saxony About five a Clock in the Evening the Sun first appeared white as Snow and then suddenly became dark as if covered by a Mist It appeared first in the form of a Crown and then like a Feather and then red as blood in which posture it continued for about half an hour and then returned to its natural shape but retained its sanguine colour till it went down and the Moon at her rising retained the same bloody Aspect till she was no longer seen in that Horrison About the same time at Berlin in the Marquisate of Brandenburg it rained blood and brimstone and the next year in November at Itzâ—â—o a Town in Holsiein it rained thick blood whose drops being used as Ink represented true natural blood in writing It is scarce credible how many bloody Conflicts and Encounters happened between these two Countreys the same year and the next following but more especially that sore and bloody Battel at Witstock wherein seven Thousand Imperialists were slain by the Swedes six whole Regiments being wholly cut off with several great Commanders Fifteen Hundred Prisoners Fourteen Pieces of Ordnance and Eight Thousand Waggons were also left to the Swedish Conqueror Of the Swedes likewise were a Thousand slain upon the place of Battel In the same year 1634. July 24. at Melnick where the Saxon Army quartered there was a strange Apparition in the Air which was thus related by Eye-witnesses About Evening when the Elector of Saxonys Chaplain was at Prayers there appeared a sign in the sky like a fiery Beam and a while after another in the form of a Scepter fiery red just over the House where he was Preaching assoon as Sermon was ended and the Chaplain had pronounced Amen the sign vanished out of sight After this the same Apparition was seen again of divers others That year and some others following the Crabats like Vermine in a warren ransacked plundred and pillaged what places soever they came to sparing neither Churches Cloysters nor Noble mens Houses but robbed and dismembred the Countrey people ravished the Women defloured the Maids burnt the Villages and Towns and committed all manner of mischievous Insolencies and Villanies LII About this time Man and Beast and Fowls of the Air all seemed now to be at irreconcileable difference and Germany was the Stage wherein they acted their Tragedies At Hessen in March 1635. there met together two Armies of strange Birds which fought as it were in a set Battel And near Straubinge upon the River of Danube multitudes of Dogs had their Rendevouz who fought so furiously that all the Neighbourhood were affrighted at the Prodigy And as if they would admit of no Agreement but such as pleased themselves when the Governour of Ratisbone had sent out against them four Companies of his Foot Souldiers with Muskets and other Arms to assault and slay them they left their hostility among themselves and joyned together against the Common Enemy falling upon the Souldiers and in despight of their shot and weapons killed and devoured nine of them This year 1635. A great Inundation of Water happened at Rome and after that a mortal sickness Five Moons were seen at once in Normandy and in Italy many Monstersâ— were brought forth At this time there began Divisions in Scotland about Religion The Hollanders and Spaniards fight at Sea There was a great Plague at Venice the Spaniards beat the French J. Gadbury of Prodigies LIII The next year strange Prodigies terrifyed the hearts of the People For while the Princes and Peers were in their jollity at the Diet at Ratisbone War with its grim Attendants Famine
have heard the Villanies of the German Troops recited with Tears Among others a beautiful Maid was hid by her Parents in a Dunghil but they discovering her ravished her and then barbarously cutting her in pieces hung her quarters up in the Church and bid her Friends pray to the Saints for her relief In the Land of Brunswick two Souldiers took a Girl of ten years old and carryed her into the Wood to ravish her The Mother with hands held up came running after our Coach saith my Author crying out to my Colonel but he being a stranger had no command there and could not relieve her soon after wesaw the 2 Horsemen come out of the Wood whether they left the poor Child dead or alive I know not Some virtuous and chast women they have offered to kill or thrown their Children into the Fire to make them yield They spared not the very Nuns but after they had broke into their Cloysters and pillaged them of all their goods they have likewise ravished and killed some of them Some Women have leaped into Rivers and Wells others have killed themselves because they would not be subject to the lusts of these Hellish Furies nay not only sick and weak Virgins and Women have been violated till they dyed but these wretches have committed filthiness with the dead Bodies LIX But fourthly as to Robberies and Pillaging they were so numerous that no man could pass any where in Germany but he was robbed stript and perhaps killed The Merchants of Frankford Noremburg Leipswick Hamburg c. have had too woful experience thereof The Merchants of Basil returning from the Mart of Strasburg and other Fairs were set upon by the Imperialists in their Lodgings and though they offered to prove themselves Merchants and so ought to pass freely yea though they begged their Lives upon their knees yet they villanously murdered Ten of them saying They must dye because they were Hereticks The rest leaving their Goods and Cloaths behind escaped stark naked in the night by flight Yea the very Convoys who pretended to guard Travellers were oft times as bad as the Enemies watching all occasions to cheat them of their money goods and Horses spoyling their Waggons when they made a stand and rifling and stripping the meanest person if he stragled in the least from the Company Two Countesses of great Nobility with their fair Daughters were entertained by us saith my Author in the Castle of Heidelburg and when provision grew scarce they went away with the Enemies pasport notwithstanding which they were robbed and riâ—â—ed in their Coaches of all they had not leaving them the very Garments that covered them yea they shamefully plundred the Danish Ambassador though priviledged by his Office in all Nations so that the case was strangely altered in Germany where not long before a man might have rid with an hundred pound in his pocket and only a whip in his hand through all those Countreys without the least fear of being injured But now the very Souldiers even robbed one another if they found them in the least out of their quarters neither did they acknowledge God nor Devil but in their cursed Oaths and Blasphemies nor was there any action so vile but they were ready to commit it and this introduces the next particular LX. Which is Fifthly to relate the Bloudshed and Murders committed by them to report the whole of which will be equally impossible and incredible Alstedius saith that before the K. of Sweden came into Germany the Wars had consumed an Hundred Thousand and if so how many Millions have miserably perished The cruelty of the Souldiers toward the Inhabitants of those Countreys is inexpressible all persons having the same measure without distinction At Lanshood in Bavaria the Souldiers entred by force killing not only all they found in Arms but the very Priests kneeling at the Altars and the poor Peasants and Countrey People were killed upon every slight occasion There were among the Imperialists a base rascally sort of Horsemen called Croats or Crabbats aforementioned the tenth part whereof were not of that Countrey but a miscellany or mixture of all Nations without God or Religion having only the outsides of men and scarce that neither but were bloody Monsters within These Rakehels made no Conscience of murthering men and women both old and young yea of very innocent Babes whom like the Wild Beasts among which they were bred these Villains inhumanely eat when they might have had other food By these the poor people were barbarously knocked down in the Fields and Highwayes and likewise slaughtered stab'd and tortur'd I have seen them saith my Author beat out the brains of poor old decrepit Women only in sport and commit many other outrages too long to relate yea it was so common for the poor people to see others killed that as if there had been no Relation Affection Neighbourhood or Kindred none pitied them or had any compassion upon them hardly any cryed out Oh my Father Oh my Brother c. The Croats very seldom gave Quarter but killed all that were at their mercy and others received Pay for bringing the Noses and Ears of their Enemies to their Masters Tilly after the defeat of the D. of Brunswick at Hâ—uxt on the River Main drew out of that Town Threescore Souldiers and caused them all to be killed in cold blood before the Gate saying That he sacrificed them to Count Mansfield their Master LXI Lastly For Burnings pulling down and ruining of Churches Cities Villages the like hath never been heard The Swedish Army burned above Two Thousand Villages in revenge of the Cruelties acted in the Palatinate But their Enemies spared neither Friends nor Foes what goodly Houses of the Nobility and Gentry were on every side defaced or burnt to Ashes So that all men betook themselves to Arms No tilling of the Land no breeding of Cattel no place secure but the Camp no Plow to follow but the War for he that was not an Actor with the rest must of necessity be a miserable suffererâ— If they should have sowed any thing one year the next year the Souldiers would have devoured it so that they judged it better to sit still than to labour and let others reap the benefit thereof from whence proceeded an Universal Desolation most of the People and Inhabitants swarmed as banished men in other Countreys as in Switzerland France Italy and the Venetian Territorys From Basil to Strasburg and from thence to Heidelburg and Marpurg which was some Hundreds of miles I scarce saw a man saith my Author in the Fields and Villages Little better was it in travelling from France to the middle of Bohemia and from the Alpes about Auspurg to the Baltick Sea though a compass of ground of above Two Thousand miles and not much less than three times all Brittain the greatest part of the People being destroyed and extinguished by Wars length of time and all manner of miseries LXII Famine cometh in
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