and likewise in the time of Harvest that in the Northern parts Corn and alll manner of Grain and fruits were corrupted and putrified and for two yeers following was a great scarcity of all things and much famine and a great mortality amongst Sheep And in the yeer 1346. the 28. day of August was a most terrible battle fought between Phillip of Valoys King of France and Edward the second King of England at Cresse where the English with 10000. men overcame 60000. French the King of Bohemia was there slain together with 30000 men 11. Princes 89. Barons and 1200. Knights and in the yeer 1347. King Edward winneth Calice John Copland defeateth the Scots takes David King of Scotland prisoner who is sent to the Tower Copland was made a Banneret and rewarded with 500li. per annum and in the yeer 1348. was such a mortality and pestilence amongst men as scarce hath been known the like 50000 were buried in the Charter-house Church-yard and many strange matters happened in those times which our Histories and Chronicles mention to which I refer you So likewise I will remember that terrible Eclipse of the Sun which was on the second day of October 1605. about one of the clock in the afternoon in the 19. degree of ♎ Libra being the opposite Sign to ♈ Aries under which England is supposed to be subject What a horrible unheard of damnable treason of the Papists was discovered the 5. of November following I hope will never be forgotten in England If I should but remember the Eclipse of the Sun which happened on Friday the 29. of March 1633. in the 19. degree of ♈ Aries I should be over-tedious I will refer you to my Almanack for that yeer and some yeers following in which the tyranny of the Prelats in these times manifestly appearing I my selfe not escaping their fury So also that Eclipse of the Moon the 8. of Octo. 1641. in the 26. degree of Aries or that of the Moon likewise the 4. of April 1642. in 25. degrees of ♎ Libra and another of the Moon the 27. of September following in the 15. degrees of ♈ Aries or that of the Moon likewise the 17. of September 1643. in 4. degrees of ♈ Aries I should but rub the gold horse back and put your in mind of the sad and deplorable condition too fresh in our memory this poor Kingdom of England is in I will set down these following Tables wherein you may understand unto what Signes Astologers have placed out of continuall observation and experience many Countries and Cities that thereby you may see when any Eclipse of the Sun or Moon or notable Conjunction or Configuration of the superiour Planets happeneth what places are subject or likely to participiate of the influence of any such Coelestiall position under such Signes their ☠opposite and □ Quadrate Aspects these Signs following Aries ♈ Taurus ♉ Gemini ♊ Cancer ♋ Virgo ♠Is opposite to Libra ♎ Scorpio ♠Sagitary ♠Capricorn ♑ Aquary ♒ Pisces ♓ And this Aspect is an aspect of perfect enmity and hatred and this is six Signs asunder So likewise these Signs following doe behold one another though not so violently yet they doe disagree very much in Nature and disposition viz. by a Quadrate Aries ♈ Taurus ♉ Gemini ♊ Cancer ♋ Leo ♌ Virgo ♠Hath a Quadrate Aspect to ♋ ♑ ♌ ♒ ♠♓ ♎ ♈ ♉ ♠♊ ♠Thus Aries beholds Cancer and Capricorn by a Quadrate □ Taurus beholds Leo and Aquary Gemini beholds Virgo and Pisces Cancer beholds Libra and Aries Leo beholds Taurus and Scorpio and Virgo beholds Gemini and Sagittary by a Quadrate Aspect which is called an Aspect of imperfect emnity or faigned friendship or trecherous amity c. and this is three Signs asunder But there is another manner of the Signs beholding one another two wayes viz. by a Trine Aspect which is an Aspect of perfect amity and friendship and is when Signs of one Triplicity of Nature behold one another As ♈ ♌ ♠are of the fiery Triplicity hot and dry ♉ ♠♑ are of the earthly Triplicicy cold and dry ♊ ♎ ♒ are of the aiery Triplicity hot and moist ♋ ♠♓ are of the watry Triplicity cold and moist Thus we see the fiery Trigonagrees with the earthly Triplicity in drinesse and with the Aery in heat and the earthly triplicity agrees with the watery triplicity in coldnesse and with the fiery triplicity in drinesse sic è converso These three Signes doe behold one another by a trine △ aspect and for the most part when any of the signes of one nature is well qualified or affected by a certain sympathy and agreement the other signes of the same qualitie participates of the same good or evlll influence and this Aspect is foure Signes asunder The other Aspect is called a ⚹ Sextile and is more imperfect then the Trine and the Signes doe thus behold one another viz. ♈ ♉ ♊ ♋ ♌ ♠Hath a Sextile aspect to ♒ ♊ ♓ ♋ ♈ ♌ ♉ ♠♊ ♎ ♋ ♠Here we see the fiery triplicity agrees with the Aerie in heat the Earthy with the Watery in coldnesse the Aery with the Fiery in heat and the Watery with the Earthy in coldnesse by a ⚹ Aspect and this is when Planets or Starres are two signes asunder Now I shall set downe the twelve Zodiacall Signs and such places Kingdomes Countries and Cities as have experimentally been found to have been subject to the said Signes and they are as followeth Vnder ♈ Aries these Countries England North and East part France Germany Suevia Silesia the higher part of Polonia Burgundie part of Denmark Basternia Syria Palestine Vnder ♈ Aries these Cities Naples Capua Ancona Ferrara Florence Verona Bergamo Lindaw Trajectum Padua Marseilles Epidaurum Crackow Augusta Caesarea Vincentia Vnder ♉ Taurus these Countries Russia Polonia the great the North part of Sweathland IRELAND Lorraigne Campania Helvetia Rhetia Franconia Parthia Persia the Islands Cyclades between Europe and Asia Cyprus the Sea towns of Asia the lesse Vnder ♉ Taurus these Cities Bononia Sena Mantua Tarentum Panorme in Sicily Perusium Parma Caput Histriae Brixia Tigure Lucerne Nantz Metis Herbipolis Carolstade Liepsig Posnania Gnesna Novagrade Vnder ♊ Gemini these Countries Sardinia part of Lumbardy South West part of England part of Flanders Brabant the Dukedome of Wittemberge Hircania Armenia Mariana Cyreniaca Marmarica Aegypt the Lower Vnder ♊ Gemini these Cities Carduba in Spaine Viterbiurn Coesena a City in Lumbardy Turin Vercelli Rhegium Lovaine Bruges in Flaunders LONDON Mentz Kitzing Hasford Bamberge Villacum Noremberge though Schoner and Cardan say it is under Sagitary yet Garcaeus proves it for many reasons to be under Gemini Vnder ♋ Cancer these Countries SCOTLAND Granado part of Burgundy HOLLAND Zeland Prussia Numidia Africa Bithynia Phrygia Colchis Carthage Vnder ♋ Cancer these Cities Constantinople Tunis VENICE Genoa Lucas Pisa Millain Vincentia Bern YORK Saint ANDREWES in SCOTLAND Lubeck Magdeburge
so that now they may see these words to their shame and Gods glory fulfilled But I am tedious although no neede is thereof let any indifferent man judge on Mr. Lillies Observations in this present March 1646. He saith the first weeke Newes from severall quarters and some towne or fort surrendred so we had the surrender of Ashby and the town of Torrington Then he proceds some proposition from our weather beaten enemies Westward Is not this true in the Lord Hopton his surrender of 2000 horse upon modest propositions Againe his Majesty stands amazed who thinks lesse then so when he sees all is like to be lost Here 's strugling saith he this we in London know to be true Againe Three dayes promise our enemies successe but God may blinde their eyes to make use of none that is neither eyes nor time The poore fellowes were in Abington 2 March but were hastily and valiantly thrust out by the valour of the Garrisons this was one of their promising dayes In the second weeke of March they attempted it againe but to no purpose the same weeke they missed our Convoy of 20000 pound by contrary Intelligence so that its hoped their three dayes ore out of date and their eyes quite put out and they may wander with Rupert and Maurice to Ireland to cry Oh hone for here 's no more plunder to be obtained in England These his predictions in favour of Astrology I have repeated because they are excellent and notable expressions in the Art and manifestly visible They that would be further satisfyed repaire to the books themselves For what I have performed in the ensuing Tractate I leave to the candid censure of the well disposed and doe hope as Mr. Lilly and my selfe have the same principles in Art so our judgements in the generall and my owne particular notion upon the sollid foundation of Art will have answerable successe I hartily wish all happinesse to our present Parliament and abundant of blessing to the City of London wherein I now inhabit pray to God preserve both States in Unity and Concord that so the Affaires of the Publique may more vigorously be prosecuted Religion established and Peace universally succeed So wisheth a true English man an Abhorrer of the Irish Rebellion One that prayeth for the Peace of Church and State and the utter extirpation of Popery JOHN BOOKER A Bloody Irish ALMANACK for the YEERE 1646. NOt many dayes after the Irish Cabinet or his Majesties Secret Papers for establishing the Papall Clergy in Ireland came to publick view which is worthy to be perused by all true hearted Protestants of England There appeared an Irish Almanack intituled thus A new Almanack for the yeere of our Lord God 1646. being the second after Leap yeere and since the Creation of the World 5595. Calculated for the Longitude and Latitude of the City of Waterford and may serve generally for all Ireland By an Manapian Waterford Printed for the Yeere MDCXLVI Which Almanack I having had sight of and perusing the same I found many remarkable and memorable Chronologicall Observations agreeing so exactly with the transaction of the forepassed and present affaires betweene his Majesty and the bloody Irish who are called his Majesties Catholick Subjects That I held it a great injury to the English Nation if the same should have been smothered and not divulged I meane so much thereof as discovers the inveterate hatred of that inhumane people against the Parliament and the whole Kingdome of England The other part being either Popish Saints dayes or vulgar Observations in most common Almanacks I passed by as not materiall to the present taske in hand and indeede the whole of it and all of them I judge worthy no other then the fire In the leafe next the Title page Thus it is Printed Our most Gracious King Charles began his Raigne over great Brittaine and Ireland the 27 of March in the yeare of our Lord 1625. And hath Raigned 21 yeares compleate the 26 of March 1646. But the 27 day we write Anno Regni 22 Whom God prosper in all his Designes against his Rebellious Subjects the ☞ ROVNDHEADS of ENGLAND I trust God will not heare their prayer but turne it into Sin and Abomination Psal 109.7 Prov. 28.9 Hath the King Designes against his Subjects Are his Subjects termed Rebells Are they pointed out for destruction by a bloody hand and called the Roundheads of England O God blast all such designes And all yee true hearted English men looke about you unite your selves against the common Enemy the blood-thirsty Irish Papists Jesuites and their confederates c Why doe the Heathen rage and the people imagine a vaine thing The Kings of the Earth set themselves and the Rulers take Councell together against the Lord and against his anointed Saying Let us breake their bands asunder and cast their coards from us He that sitteth in the Heavens shall laugh The Lord shall have them in division he shall speake to them in his wrath and vex them in his sore displeasure He shall breake them with a rod of iron and dash them in peeces like a Potters vâ—ssâ—ll Be wise now therefore O ye Kings be instructed ye Judges of the Earth serve the Lord with feare and rejoyce with trembling Kisse the Sonne least he be angry and ye perish from the way when his wrath is kindled but a little But blessed are all they that put their trust in him Psal 2.1 2 3 4 5 9 10 11 12. The next Irish note which I observe is as followeth In the month of January over against the 10 day in bloody red letters this Manapian one borne in Menapia a City or Towne in the County of Weisford or Wexford in Ireland or Wexford it selfe as Camden thinks in his Description of Ireland fol. 89. mihi sets it downe thus The most pernitious Anarchicall Rebellion of the Roundheads of England It may be remembred that January the first 1641 The Parliament petitioned the King for a Guard foreseeing a designe upon them And the next day the Kings Answer was He tendred their safety as his owne and their life as the life of his children But the fourth day he came in person to the House of Commons attended with about foure hundred persons with Swords Pistolls c. to demand the five Members which unparallel'd attempt discovered the designe of the Enemy to make warre against the Parliament which afterward followed yea and the next day after the King himselfe came to the Guild Hall in London at a Common Councell to what intent appeared in few dayes for this tenth day mentioned in the Irish Almanacke The King with the Queen Prince Duke of Yorke left Whitehall and went to Hampton-Court ever since which time to this very day having forsaken his Parliament and left his people out of his protection hath beene the most horrible bloody unnaturall warre that ever was in England nay in all the world it being never knowne that a King
flourished about the yeer of Christ 1535. cotemporary with Bibliander Marlorat Viret Musculus c. all learned and men very excellent it is most true that from the yeer of Christ 800. to the yeer 1520. Paucae novae Haereses sunt Ortae multa autem fuerant Scismata ubi excellunt Scismata Pontificum Romanerum that is A few new heresies sprung up and many were the Schisms but those of the Roman Popes Bishops exceeded them all Alsted Chron. heresium pag. 390. And a little after the same Alsted saith Verum tamen enim vero non fuerint heretici illi Doctores sed Reformatores hereticae pravitatis in Regno Antichristi Romani these Doctors were not hereticks but Reformers of the hereticall pravity or corruptnesse in the Kingdome of the Pope the Roman Antichrist indeed if you will look a little further in Alsted he will tell you that ab hoc anno viz. 1520. Vsque ad nostram Aetatem pestilentes haereses ab inferis fuerunt revocatae nam Principio Anabaptistae furere caeperunt c. Anabaptists Antinomians Socinians Ubiquitarians Arminians c. were very busie and these were the Hereticks here meant though for my part I suppose the greatest Hereticks are Papists Jesuits c. and of all in the world those in Ireland the most damnable Next followes since the vertuous and holy Queen Mary of Scotland was beheaded in England 46. yeers Here is a manifest errour for if so then she should have been beheaded Anno Christi 1600. but that was not so for she was beheaded at Fothringhay Castle in Northamptonshire the 18. of February 1587. which was 13. yeers before this Computist reckons her body was buried at Peterborow and 25. yeers after viz. 1612. her body was removed to Westmninster she was born the 5. of December 1542. on which 5. of December 1560. Francis the second King of France who was her first husband dyed being married to her 1558. the 13. of October if you please to read Buchannan that learned Scotchmans books though they were prohobited 1584. some are extant they will tell you more I have read in Alsted in his Chronologia Regni Scotiae Maria haec Anno 1558. nupserat Francisco Regi Galliae quo defuncto redijt in Scotiam ubi nupsit Henrico Arli sive Stuarto quem interfici curavit unde in Insulam est deportata post elapsa in Angliam Anno 1568. postquam 18. Annos captiva fuisset detenta ibi est decollata and in Saturni Ephemeride Dedicated to King Charles pag. 382 Sub Titulo Scotland it is there said that in the yeer 1564. she fell in love with the Lord Darnley son to the Earl of Lenox got a Dispensation from the Pope for consanguinity and created him Earl of Rosse the next yeer after he is made Duke of Albany marrieth the Queen and is proclaimed King and that yeer that Duke of Chatteralt with divers Lords being put to the Horn fled into England but returning are reconciled The yeer 1566. Earl Morton and others fled into England and having murthered David Risius the Queens Minion in her Chamber Thaunus in his History Tom. 2. fol. 307. sayes Hemo vili conditione Citharaedi filius nomine David Rizius Angustae Taurinaurum natus and a little after he saith Faeminam per se praecipitem postremo impulit Rizius qui plus apud eam quam aut aequum aut ipsi decorum esset poterat Earl Morton returneth into Scotland and is pardoned that yeer King James was born and the next yeer viz. 1567. the King her husband was murthered by Earl Bothwell which Earl marrieih the Queen she goeth against the Discontented Lords and is taken Bothwell flies into Denmark and there dyes in prison the Queen resigneth makes an escape raiseth forces flies towards France and is cast on the English shore much more may be read of her in the Scottish History to which I refer you I shall use the words of Cambden in his description of Northamptonshire speaking of Fothringhay Castle fol. 511. As for that disaster which even here befell unto another most mighty Prince Mary Queen of Scots I had leiser it should be enwrapped up in silence then once spoken of let it be forgotten quite if possible if not yet be it hidden as it may in silence The next Chronologicall observation is since the birth of our gracious King Charles the 19. of Novemb. 46. yeers This I beleeve is true for I have often heard it reported that he was born at Dunfermling in Scotland the 19. of Novemb. 1600. Then succeeds since King Charles his return from Spain October the 5. 23. yeers this I remember was in Anno 1623. and it rained all or most part of that day at London Dic rogo cur toties Descendit ab Aethere nimbus Grandoque de Coelis sic sine fine Cadit Mortales quoniam nolunt sua crimina flere Coelum pro nobis solvitur in Lachrymas Then follows since the Birth of Prince Charles May the 23. 15. yeers This is erronious for our Prince Charles was born the 29. of May 1630. which is 16. yeers since at the revolution of this yeer 1646. and I very well remember the last of May being but two days after his birth there was a great Eclipse of the Sun in Gemini the 19. degree which was visibly beheld here and most part of Christendom all Authors agree that eclipses are very ominous and we have had sad experience thereof of late yeers Now comes again that memento with a witnesse viz. since the happy union of the Catholikes for defence of his Majesty his royall Issue c. which day is to be kept holy for a day of Thanksgiving being October 23. 1641. five yeers I have said enough already of this infamous 23. of October and I hope it will be remembred to the perpetuall ignominy of the bloody Rebels of Ireland And after that are renumerated severall victories since that Rebellion burst forth obtained by the Irish Confederates for his Majesty against the Round-heads I will not trouble my self or the Reader to mention them for I am confident they will sing O hone very shortly And the Irish Their dayes a number small shall make Another shall their Country take Their Children Vagabonds shall be Walk up and down most wretchedly God shall them put to endlesse shame And quite cut off their hatefull name If I should tell this Irish Chronologer of the severall wonderfull Victories it hath pleased God to give the Parliaments Forces in severall parts of the three Kingdoms against a potent powerfull malicious tyrannous and numerous Army since the beginning of this Parliament or since the most horrible Rebellion of Ireland was kindled I should exceed and swel into a volume I will only desire all the three Kingdoms to nay all the world may take notice of Gods great and wonderfull mercy he hath shewn to the Parliaments Forces in obtaining severall Victories against and strong holds taken
ruine and destruction to those great ones subversion of their ancient Families and ruine to their stately Buildings Cities Townes Towers and Castles That People shall be in most miserable and deplorable condition We see the Conjunction is in Taurus under which amongst other places Ireland is posited and that the signes Leo Scorpio and Aquary are sharers and must participate in this influence Famine Scarcity Plagues and terrible warfare shall happen to many places under those Signes If they expect ayd from Foraigne parts they will be frustrated Me thinkes I behold all the States of Europe involv'd in this Quarrell the French and Spaniard Matching the Hollander busie the POPE thundering his Bulls and Excommunications the Turke making great preparations so likewise the Germane Dane Swede Polonian Venetian nay what State in the Christian World is not disquieted If I should recount the Eclipses and great Conjunctions of the superior Planets in Signes to which most or all Countries in Europe are subjected and the events that have succeeded within these few yeares in these places I might rather make an History then a succinct discourse there were not long since two or three Eclipses of both the Luminaryes in the Signe Leo the effects of all which are strongly operating and for many yeares together will produce admirable and unexpected occurrences I believe the progresse of Saturne through the Signe Taurus out of which he will not fully free himselfe till the end of March 1648. will be very fatall to Ireland and most chiefely he will powre out his influence upon that place rather then any other For if we consider the present condition thereof since the Rebellion there broke forth The horrid Murthers and cruell slaughters by them committed upon many thousands of English Protestants whose bloud cryes for vengeance doe authorise me Astrologically to pronounce a fearefull doome of Fire Sword Plague and Famine to follow that bloudy Nation Let me tell the Spaniard French or what other Nation soever that is ayding or assisting them they must not escape the Divine vengeance which God by the Starres his Coelestiall Ministers doth menace them withall If the Pope send his Agents to prosecute their Designes he may chance loose his Triple Crowne in this unjust quarrell they have raised The Divell may rage for a season Sed si Deus nobiscum quis contra nos The fight from Heaven the Starre in their Courses fight against CaesAR Sisera I hope I shall speak truth if I tell the French Spaniard or any other friend the Irish or their Associates have that though they never made greater preparations yet with as like successe as that Invincible Armado in 88 had at what time fourescore of the Spanish Ships were lost with not so few as twenty thousand men The windes and Seas fighting at that time for England which was many yeares before threatned by the proud and insulting Spaniard This Armado consisted of 130 Ships nineteene thousand two hundred and ninty Souldiers eight thousand three hundred and fifty Mariners two thousand and fourescore Gally-slaves two thousand sixe hundred and thirty great Ordinance which Navy having been three yeares in preparing and at no small charge within one moneth was often beaten and at length put to flight and as I said 20000 of their men being slaine and not above one hundred of the English were missing the remainder of their Navy some in their slight were cast upon Scotland and some upon Ireland and those few that escaped returned with a great deale of dishonour into Spaine above 700 Souldiers and Seamen were cast upon the Scottish shore who were afterward sent over to the Low-Countries but those which by Tempest were driven upon Ireland found a harder measure for the wild Irish of their owne accord slew many of them I suppose their cruelty is not inferiour now to what it was then but suppose the French Spanish Irish Jesuite Popish Fryer Priest and the whole rabble of Antichristians in all the World were combined together against England let but an English man name 1588. or 1605. And without doubt the proudest and most cruellest of them all will be daunted and sink down with amazement so powerfull hath God showne himselfe in those times That in the first the King of Spaine himselfe acknowledged the misfortune that befell him to have been the handy worke of God and gave thanks to God and his Saints causing the like to be done throughout Spaine that it fell to be no worse And for that in 1605 certainly it was the eye of Gods Providence that discovered that horrid deed of darknesse the Gun-Powder Treason invented by the Divellish Papists to the destruction of the Parliament and so consequently to the whole Kingdome Let us looke back to the yeare 1587. In which yeare Mary Queene of Scots was beheaded for the position of Saturne and we shall finde that from the first of March that yeare to the middle of Aprill 1589 he walked through Taurus the Signe under which he now is c. under which Ireland is subjected as I said before In the moneth of August the 28 day was an ominous opposition of Mars from Scorpio to him in the 16 degree and if we observe this memorable yeare 1588. Upon the 28 of May Saturne and Mars were in Conjunction in the 19 degrees Taurus not farre from the place they now meete in not many dayes after which that Spanish Fleet was discovered on our English Coast If we examine our Chronicles we shall finde most Memorable Passages in divers parts of the World to have happened this yeare Was it not unusuall and strange that Polonia this yeare should have three Kings usurping the Title while the fourth viz. Stephen Battori was yet unburied Namely Sigismond the Sweden Maximilian the Emperours brother and Henry Valoys King of France of which three Maximilian in the beginning of this yeare was taken Prisoner his Army overthrowne by meanes thereof many thousands of men women and children carryed away Captives by the Tartars Thus saith Gallobelgicus and further that Suetia was all on fire with tumults and lost certain places of strength to the Muscovite The Muscovite himselfe ranne mad and lost his wits The King of Denmarke Frederick the second dyed In France the Barricados of Paris the flight of the King from thence The slaughter of the Duke of Guise and his brother the Cardinall of Lorrayne The death of the Queen Mother the poysoning of the Prince of Condee and the Overthrow which the King of Navarre gave unto Duke Mercury all which Les derniers troubles de Fraunce do testifie and gave that Kingdome sufficient cause to thinke that yeare 1588 to be an extraordinary yeere At the same time the Duke of Savoy prepared his Army and surprized Carmagmall the King of France his chiefe Magazine in Saluze The Turke suffered great overthrowes in Hungaria And in Constantinople by reason of false moneys wherewith the Jauizaryes were payd their wages they fell into a
from the enemy since June 1645. to this present February which may be read in a small Tractate entituled Englands Remembrancer abstracted in a short Catalogue lately printed the number there computed being seventy all within ths space of seven moneths and since the publishing thereof many more great victories but amongst the rest I will only mention the surrender of Chester the back-door for Ireland to that faithfull man to his Country Sir William Brereton and now if I should tell the Irish they are never like to hear or say Masse there or ever see their Unhallowed Candle again lighted which was extinguished the second of February last they may chance to storm fret and fume at me and and curse with Bell Book and Candle all which will doe me or any man else as much hurt just as the howling of an Irish Wolf or the barking of an Irish Wolf dog does the Moon The last Chronologicall observation I perceive troubles them exceedingly and that is the downfal of their Dagon the Crosse in Cheap-side which in base railing language he utters thus Since Cheap-side Crosse was pulled downe the third of May 1643. and immediatly after all other Crosses from off the top of Steeples in and about London by a crew of Antichristian Parliamentary Round-heads enemies to Christianisme 3 yeers Indeed it would trouble any Saint any Christian any Heathen to lose his God or have his God taken from him or his God forsake him but for a wooden stone golden silver leaden iron gilt god a headlesse mouthlesse earlesse noselesse handlesse footlesse god is none but a papistical senslesse Irish Man-Apian or a meer man that hath as much understanding as an Ape would be troubled at it I doe much admire at this third day of May as at any day in all the yeer the Papists Irish and all Romanists c. celebrate the third of May as a great Festivall in commemoration that the Crosse of Christ on which he suffered was found about Anno Christi 326. on the third day of May by Hellen Mother to Constantine the great with the other two Crosses on which the two Thieves suffered unperished as Ruffinus sayes and the third day of May is thus noted in the Almanack Inventio Crucis Saint Cyrill sayes the whole world is full of pieces of this Crosse and yet by a continuall miracle as Paulinus saith it hath never been impaired and the County of Tipperary in Ireland is called The County of the holy Crosse of Tipperary and enjoys certain peculiar freedoms granted in honour of a piece of Christs Crosse there sometimes preserved thus were Christians in ancient times perswaded and incredible it is what a confluence there is even yet of these sottish popish Irish Manapians continually upon devotion thither as unto an holy place so firmly do they persevere in the old blind Religion of their fore-fathers which the carelesse negligence of their Prelats Bishops and popish Priests and ignorance together hath beyond all measure encreased when as there be none to instrust and teach them otherwise It is true that third of May 1643. the Crosse in Cheapside was totally subverted and pulled down to the ground yea that morning Dagon was falled on his face to the ground the head of Dagon and the palms of his hands were cut off no not so much as the stump of Dagon was left unto him by vertue of an Ordinance of Parliament and by the assistance of godly and honest men friends to true Christian Religion but are enemies to and have taken a Covenant to pluck up popery root and branch And not long after the crosses from off the top of many Steeples Yes and in divers Churches and other places many popish and superstitious pictures crosses crucifixes and Romish Trinkets c. were demolished defaced and burnt which are certain fore-runners of the finall and utter destruction of Rome Me thinks when I read Revelations the 18. I hear one crying mightily saying Babylon the great is fallen is fallen and is become the habitation of Devils and the hold of every foul Spirit and a Cage of every unclean and hatefull Bird and therefore it is high time that we come out of her that we be not partakers of her sinnes and receive not of her plagues Now having briefly run over the Observations in the Almanack and those others in the compendious Chronology of things memorable I thought to have found in the Prognostick part thereof some Oxonian Irish predictions against the Parliament and Kingdom of England but God be thanked it is hid from their knowledge and the evill they have wished thereunto will redound and fall upon themselves There are some monethly Observations touching planting grafting sowing and such like affairs c. but what they sowe another shall reap c. now in the conclusion of all as if he were a profound calculator an Astronomer indeed he says there will be three Eclipses two of the Sun and one of the Moon but none of them to be seen Only he doubts that of the Moon the 17. of July I will put him out of doubt and doe tell him that there are five Eclipses this yeer viz. three of the Sun and two of the Moon whereof only one of the Moon visible in Europe and that is already past which was on Wednesday the 21. of January last about six of the clock in the morning the beginning thereof being about four of the clock in the morning I my self saw but immediatly after by reason of a very thick mist and foggy vapour the light of the Moon and visibility of the Stars was taken away from us about London that it could not be observed this Eclipse this Irish Manapian takes no notice of as if there were not such a one to be seen in the Heavens but I shall tell him it belongs to them and the best of their friends the effects begins now to operate some short Observations I have made in my Almanack of this yeer to which I refer you As for the rest of the Eclipses in regard none of them are to be seen in any part of the Christian world I will not mention them only I said I will put him out of doubt And again doe tell him that the Lunar Eclipse the 17. of July next shall not be seen in any part of Europe much lesse in Ireland for the beginning thereof will be about three quarters of an hour past one of the clock in the afternoon the middle about five of the clock and the end about seven of the clock all which time for the most part of Europe the Moon is under the earth and the Sun gloriously shineth above the Horizon Indeed the Inhabitants in Finland Litvania and Muscovia shall observe the Moon to rise Eclipsed and they that live in Kirkithay a Country in Tartary in Turchestan in India within and without Ganges and in the Gulf of Bengala and in Sumatra and places neer thereto shall have that Eclipse in
their Miridians or midnight-sted But those that are in Anian and Quivira shall have the Moon to set Eclipsed now for that the Sun is above the Horizon when this Eclipticall full Moon happeneth being the 17. of July and because the Eclipse is past when the Sun setteth the Moon then rising There is no such doubt to be made as this Irish Almanack would possesse his Country-men withall notwithanding that Kingdom of Ireland amongst many other places shall partake of the effects of that Eclipse and of some others as well Lunar as Solar lately passed whose effects now most strongly operate together with a notable Conjunction of the two Malignant Planets Saturn and Mars which happeneth this yeer on Friday the 12. of June forty minutes past seven of the clock in the afternoon in the longitude of 17. degree and a half and latitude 53. degrees and a half agreeing neerest to that of Dublin being the chief City in Ireland the position of the Heavens there at that time being as followeth A Coniuction of Staturne Mars on friday the 12 of Iune 1646 at Dublin in Ireland IN the yeer 1419. there was a Quadrate Aspect of Mars and Saturn Mars in the latter degrees of Taurus and Saturn in the latter degrees of Leo the supposed Sign under which Bohemia among many other places is and there was that yeer on the 26. day of March a little before noon a great Eclipse of the Sun in the 15. degree of ♈ Aries ♂ Mars being governour thereof After which followed a great tumult in Bohemia Joannes Ziska a noble Captain and a man descended from a great Family one very ingenuous and skilfull in Military Affairs favouring the Hussites being sore grieved for the death of John Hus and Hierom of Prague raised a mighty Army to the number of 40000. whom he called Thaborites almost possest himself of all Bohemia subverted the Monasteries and Idolatrous Temples pulling down and breaking in pieces the Images and Idols driving away the Priests and Monks which he said were kept up in their Cloysters like Swine in their Styes to be fatted His Army encreased and in the yeer 1421. having lost before one of his eyes lost his other eye by a Shaft when he besieged the Town of Raby but from hence being carried to Prague was cured of his wounds and would not though he was blind forsake his Army and the next yeer defeateth the Emperour and was Victor in many battles against the Pontificians and in the yeer 1424. he was striken with sicknesse and dying he gave order that a Drum should be made of his skin to terrifie the enemy Now others suppose that Kingdom to be under ♋ Cancer because that in the yeer 1424. there was a great Eclipse of the Sun the 26. day of June in the 14. degree of Cancer in the evening the effects succeeded the next yeer viz. 1425. at what time three powerfull Armies from Saxony Franconia and Bavaria entred into Bohemia in three severall places but they all fled without sight of an enemy and left their Tents to the Bohemians In like manner Saxony and the maritine Cities neer there are supposed to be under the Sign ♑ Capricorn because after some great Eclipse or unfortunate Aspects of the superiour Planets being in the same afflicted some notable calamity hath happened thereunto so in the yeer 1548. there was a Conjunction of ♄ Saturn and ♂ Mars in ♑ Capricorn in the Moneth of February foreshewing the many troubles that happened soon after in Saxony So also the City of Venice is said to be subject to the Sign ♋ Cancer for that many wonderfull events have happened to that City when an Eclipse or great Aspect of the superiour Planets hath happened in that Sign or in the □ Quadrate or ☠Opposite Aspect thereof so in the time of Maximilian the first Emperour in Germany 1505. who made peace with the Venetians there was a ☌ Conjunction of the higher Plante◠in ♋ Cancer they were extreamly put to it and suffered much by him and he by them And 1508. the Emperour Pope and the French enter in League at Cambray against the Venetians and the next yeer after they took divers places in Forum Julij and other places from the Venetians and in few yeers after strange transactions of Affairs happened between the Pope and them the French and them sometimes on one side sometimes on the other as Historians relate In like manner the famous City of Noremberg amongst many others although the time is uncertain of the first foundation thereof yet from notable events and admirable unusuall accidents which have happened unto the same it is strongly conjectured to be under the Sign II Gemini for when a notable Conjunction happened in ♠Virgo which doth afflict the Sign II Gemini by a □ Quadrate and ☿ Mercury be unfortunate then some ominous matter hath happened thereunto and so likewise if any Eclipse be in the said Signs as in the yeer 1448. the 29. of August was an Eclipse of the Sun in the 15. degree of ♠Virgo in □ Quadrate to ♊ Gemini with whom ♄ Saturn mixed his malicious influence Marchio Albertus Sir-named the Achilles of Germany fought nine battles with the Norembergers and was Victor in eight of them with great destruction to the Citizens So likewise in the yeer 1551. was a great Eclipse of the Sun in 17. degrees of ♠Virgo ♂ Mars being elevated in the middle of Heaven above the Eclipse but placed in his Detriment in ♎ Libra a little while after which Albertus Marchio the son of Casimir besieged the City the Suburbs were spoiled and the Citizens were compelled to dishonourable conditions of peace So likewise in the yeer 1560. another Eclipse of the Sun happened in the eighth degree of ♠Virgo in Quadrate to ♊ Gemini in which Sign of Gemini ♄ Saturn was in 22. degrees very much afflicting ☿ Mercury who was Lord of the said Eclipse in 22. degrees of Virgo by which means the evil foreshewn by the Eclipse was duplicated or much encreased and the effects continued to the yeer 1563. in which space of time many thousands of the Norembergers were swept away with the plague I might reckon up many other places which Historians make mention of but I shall much exceed my intentions I will only remember some few Observations concerning England and all or most Astrologers think it to be under the Sign ♈ Aries for that when any Eclipse or great Conjunction happeneth in that Sign or the opposite Sign ♎ Libra or the □ Quadrate Signes ♋ Cancer or ♑ Capricorn some memorable occurence hath befallen that Kingdom as in the yeer 1345. there was a totall Eclipse of the ☽ Moon the 18. day of March about 9. of the clock in the night in the 6. degree of ♎ Libra opposite to ♈ Aries in which yeer such unusuall tempests and violent winds with great rains and inundations happened throughout the whole Summer