divers fearful signs Stars were seen continually in the day time and blazing Comets of a huge length hanging as it were in the midst of the Air All sorts of Creatures contrary to their kinds brought forth monstrous and deformed Births but that which most grievously afflicted the City of Rome and amazed them with the presage was that the Temple of Peace the most stately and dainty Monument in Rome was on a sudden without any Tempest foregoing but only a little Earthquake quite burnt to the ground whether by Lightning or Fire out of the Earth was uncertain That Temple was the richest and strongest of all others and was curiously adorned with gifts of massy Gold and Silver yea all Persons of Quality had there deposited and laid their Principal Treasures but the fire happening in the night made many rich men suddenly poor When the fire had consumed the Temple it burned down also many of the most beautiful buildings in the City continuing its rage for many days together Horodian Imp. History Pertinax is Emperor 87 dayes and then is slain by the Souldiers The King of Scots is slain by a Musician for causing one of his Kindred to be executed Severus goeth against Niger whom he beat three times and then slew him at Antioch Herod besiegeth Byzantium now Constantinople three years together Satrahel coming to rule Scotland kills many of the old Lords of the Kingdom Constantinople is taken by Famine Satrahel is strangled by his Servants The Brittains are beaten by Severus and the head of Albinus is sent to Rome About this time Scotland received the Christian Faith The fifth Persecution began Many fled from Jerusalem into the Wilderness to avoid the Persecution The Romans wast Arabia Strange Heresies broached by Praxeus Severus went into Brittain but never returned thence Fifty Thousand of his Army dye Many of the Scots upon a Rebellion were cruelly massacred X. From 219 to 257 the following signs appeared which were accompanied with remarkable Accidents An Eagle flying takes away the Cap of Diadumenus and he is slain within 14 months after The Brittains rebel and invade the Roman Territories Streams of fire and strange Lightnings are seen at Rome Armed men appear in the Air in Muscovia and Poland the Persians invade Armenia and wast the Roman Territories Alectus is slain in Battel The King of Scots is killed by his Guard the Emperor goeth into Persia and is overcome A Blazing Star is seen at Rome which exteâ—â—â—d it self a very great length and was seen both to burn and blaze many nights together Maximilian comes out of Germany and is slain by his own Souldiers his body is given to be torn and devoured of Dogs The Goths at this time became terrible to the Roman Empire In 241 was an Eclipse of the Sun which saith my Author was so great that it made the day seem as dark as the night Athirco King of Scotland kills himself strange Heresies spread themselves The Persians are vanquished and expelled Syria In 244 the Sun was totally Eclipsed and there was a great Earthquake which caused the Earth to gape so exceedingly that several Cities together with their Inhabitants were swallowed up and destroyed great Thunder is heard in the Earth with terrible darkness and another Earthquake The Goths take Chalcedon and Nice and ruin them both The Plague rageth in the Roman Army The Goths burn the Temple of Ephesus and enter Macedonia and Asia The Thirty Tyrants about this time engrossed and parcelled out the Roman Empire among themselves And the Sarmates subdued and robbed all Austria and Hungaria The Germans passing through France entred Spain to the City of Terragona which they ruined and the Empire was almost utterly destroyed Yea it was not only thus molested by men but the very Heavens and Elements conspired against it to plague it For the Heavens were darkened in such a manner that for many dayes space they never saw the Sun and the Earth opened and discovered great Vaults and Caves out of which there issued great streams of Salt-water and such horrid noises were heard as many dyed for fear The Sea broke its bounds overflowing and drowning many Cities After which there fell out the most woful Pestilence that ever was read or heard of so that in Rome there dyed thereof Five Thousand Persons in one day Imper. Hist Pag. 158. XI In 257 the Sea overwhelmed many Cities in Europe and Afriâ—a This year there were many exceeding great Earthquakes and darkness for many days together spears also were seen in the Element at Rome The Germans and Scythians wast the Empire The French destroy Italy Claudius Censorinus was made Emperor in Italy and slain there Donald usurped the Crown of Scotland and kept the Nobility in fear by threatning to kill their kindred whom he had got into his hands In 300 there was an horrible Earthquake in Tyre which destroyed many buildings and an innumerable Company of People Many Monsters were also born this year Dioclesian the Roman Emperor assumeth the Title of a God and would have Divine Honours given him Many Christians are burnt in a House in Nicodemia The Tenth bloody Persecution began One Hundred and Forty Four Thousand Christians are put to death in Egypt and Seven Hundred Thousand Banished In 314 a Banner with a Cross was seen in the Air and divers Armies fighting A hand was seen in Lateran at Româ— without a body which in the sight of many men writ upon the Wall these words Hodie venenum Ecclesiae infusurus To day is poyson poured into the Church This was interpreted to foretell the extraordinary Indulgence of Constantine the Emperor toward the Christian Bishops and his heaping Estates Riches and Honours upon them whereby they soon after lost their former Piety and Humility He was sirnamed the great and was the first Christian Emperor who publickly countenanced and imbraced the Gospel which he is said to have done on this occasion At the same time that he was saluted Emperor in Brittain Maxentius was chosen at Rome by the Praetorian Souldiers being pensive and sollicitous upon these Distractions he cast his Eyes up toward Heaven where he saw in the Air a lightsome Pillar in the form of a Cross wherein he read these words in Greek In this thou shalt overcome and the next night a vision appeared to him commanding him to bear that figure in his Standard and he should overcome all his enemies this he performed and was accordingly victorious from which time he not only favoured the Christians but became a zealous Professor of the Faith and Gospel Before his time it is observable that few if any at all of the Roman Emperors dyed a natural death they being 40 in all from the time of Julius Caesar though after they generally did Rome was likewise beautified by Constantine and Lamps and Wax Candles were first used in the Church in the day time Arius begins to broach his Heresies and is condemned by the Council of
see to pursue their advantage yet it pleased God to strike part of the Imperial Army with a pannick fear that above a thousand German Horse ran all away together one amongst them crying out Oh I know the King of Sweden well enough he is best at the latter end of the day But the Chiefest fright was amongst the Ladies and the Captains Wives and other Women in the Reer of the Army many of whom getting out of their Coaches cut asunder the harness and mounted stradling upon the bare Horses backs and so scudded away among the Souldiers Several Women and Children were there trodden to death nor did the Horsemen stay till they had fled divers Miles But in the heat of the Battle Count Pappenheim one of the Imperial Generals who was before sent for came in with his Horse and Dragoons by whose coming the charge was again renewed but just as he was ordering his Horse he was shot with a Falconet Bullet whereof he presently dyed His Officers flocking about him cryed out O our General is slain Our General is slain and thereupon turning their Horse-heads they ran out of the battle without a stroke striking But the other Imperialists who were incouraged by his coming maintained the fight with admirable resolution yet the charge was sustained by the Swedes with much Gallantry for two full hours wherein the greatest loss fell upon two Brigades of old Swedish Souldiers whom the King did much rely upon for these old Blades stood their Ground till the Earth was covered with their bodies yet they dyed not unrevenged for they slew many of the Imperialists and amongst them divers of great Quality Duke Bernard was very severely beset by the right Wing of the Imperialists that day but no man ever behaved himself more gallantly than himself charging his enemies no less than twelve several times A little before Sun-set the Mist cleared up and then Duke Bernard took a survey of his Army which he could not do since he heard of the Kings death till now He spake chearfully to the Officers and Souldiers incouraging them to a new engagement and though he found the most part of his Army in great disorder yet with much pains he rallyed them for a new onset though not without much regret in the Souldiers one saying to another alas Comerade what must we fall on again The other replying Come if we must let us do it bravely and make a day of it The hearts of the Imperialists quaked for fear seeing the Swedes advancing in such good order against them and thereupon their horse began to retreat which the Swedes perceiving they charged so home with their Great Guns as put them into great confusion But then again so great a mist fell that the Swedes could not discern to pursue their Enemies so that the fight was only maintained about the Wind-mills which continued with much briskness till six a Clock at night when the Imperialists gave it quite over This cruel and bloody Battle lasted above nine hours and then Count Wallestein marched away toward Leipswick leaving the Field and Victory to the Swedes who lodged upon the ground all night where they heard the lamentable groaning of the dying and wounded on both sides it being a frosty cold night wherein many a gallant man dyed of his wounds who probably with seasonable help might have recovered The next morning the Swedes found the Imperialists had left all their Great Guns behind them there were slain of the Swedes Three Thousand and of the Imperialists about Four Thousand upon the place besides which the Boors killed near a Thousand more of them who fled stragling away The wounded were as many more as the slain on the Swedes side were lost the King himself whose death can never be sufficiently lamented his enemies themselves giving him this Honourable Testimony That he was the bravest Enemy and the best Captain that ever was in Christendom so that the Swedes and Protestants found themselves to have gotten but a doleful and a woful victory losing that incomparable Conqueror who was alone worth many hundreds of others But he is dead and was as heartily bewailed of the Germans as of his own Subjects who yet professed That their loss was unspeakable and in both their Chronicles shall his honourable memory be for ever famous and his name shall live in their mouths in after Ages Yet did not this glorious King dye without some singular and miraculous Prodigies which happened about that time in his own Kingdom of Sweden Amongst others at the very same hour and time when this battle of Lutzen was fought there appeared just over the Castle and Royal Palace at Stockholm a Virgin or Damsel holding in one hand a burning Candle and in the other a white handkerchief which she waved about It was likewise noted and observed that all the doors in the Castle though they were shut and lockt yet they three several times opened of themselves At the same time a considerable River in Sweden was suddenly dryed up so that for a whole day any one might go over it dry foot Also in Smaland a Province of that Kingdom the Bells without the help of any man began to ring and sound out to the great astonishment of the Inhabitants Several other brave Swedish Commanders fell with their King and many great men of the Imperialists General Wallestein at first intended only to make a retreat to Leipswick but the Imperial Souldiers as soon as they heard the Drums beat a retreat fell immediately to running and the fright was so great that most of them never came into order again the Chief Officers confest That if the Swedes had sent but one Thousand Horse after them they might have cut off their whole Army The King of Sweden was of a Majestick Countenance and a gallant Stature above six foot high of a strong Judgment natural vigilancy and unweariedness A sudden danger seldom astonished his Judgment still shewing most vigor where there was most need of it He was exceeding temperate in his Dyet his feeding was upon strong and souldierly Meats But that which was most commendable in him was his Religion both Publick and Private He was frequent in Prayers and Thanksgivings upon every emergent occasion He would pray a Shipboard on Shoar in the Field in the midst of a Battle as if Prayers alone were the surest piece of his whole Armour He was a strict observer of Martial Discipline and a severe punisher of Misdemeanours in his Camp when he first came into Germany he saw that many women followed his Army whereupon coming to a great River his Men and Waggons being passed over he caused the Bridge to be broken down hoping thereby to be rid of his lumber but they on a sudden making a terrible shreik the Souldiers on the other side vowed not to stir a foot till the women were fetched over whereupon the King finding that this ill humour was so generally dispersed amongst
a multitude of Miracles and Prodigies of Nature I shall now proceed to those of Art The Chineses look upon themselves as the wisest People upon the face of the Earth they use therefore to say That they see with both Eyes and all other Nations but with one only and thereupon they boast though I know not with what Truth and Justice that the most famous Inventions which have been so lately known to us in Europe have been no Strangers to them for many Ages past however I shall relate what are most observable both in these and other Nations It is likewise recorded that Augustus Caesar having several ways adorned and fortifyed the City of Rome putting it into a condition of bravery and security for after times he thereupon gloried That he found Rome of brick and left it of Marble and certainly nothing makes more for the just Glory of a Prince than to leave his Dominions in better State than he found them Yet the vast Expences of some Princes and People had been more truly commendable and their mighty works more really glorious had they therein consulted more of the Publick good and less of their own Ostentation However it may not be unpleasant nor unprofitable to describe them and likewise to relate the most curious Inventions and Rarities in all Ages even to these times which have been more favourable to Learning than the former and wherein Arts have been thereby improved to the height 1. But first concerning Buildings the most famous structure we first read of was immediately after the Universal Deluge or Noah's Flood for Nimrod the Son of Chus the Son of Cham perswaded the People to secure themselves from the like after-claps by building some stupendious Edifice which might resist the fury of a second Deluge This Counsel was generally imbraced Heber only and his Family as the Tradition goes contradicting such an unlawful attempt But the major part prevailing the Tower of Babel began to rear its Head of Majesty Five Thousand One Hundred Forty six Paces from the Ground having its Basis and circumference equal to its height The Passage to go up went winding about the outside and was of an exceeding great breadth there being not only room for Horses Carts and the likemeans of Carriage to meet and turn but lodgings also for Man and Beast And as Verslegan reports Grass and Corn-fields for their nourishment and admirable it is to consider what multitudes of men there were in the World in so short a space there being but eight persons that came out of the Ark and now this Building was carried on by Five Hundred Thousand Men the Foundation of it was nine miles compass But God by the Confusion of Tongues hindred the Proceeding of this Building one not being able to understand what his Fellow called for which Du Bartas wittily describes Bring me quoth one a Trowel quickly quick One brings him up a Hammer hew this brick Another bids and then they cleave a Tree Make fast this Rope and then they let it flee One calls for Planks Another Morter lacks They bring the first a Stone the last an Ax One would have Nails and him a Spade they give Another asks a Saw and gets a Sieve Thus crosly crost they prate and rail in vain What one hath made another spoils again This makes them leave their work and like mad Fools Scatter their Stuff and tumble down their Tools II. We read in several Ancient Histories of The seven Marvels or Wonders of the World The first whereof they reckoned to be The Walls of Babylon This City of Babylon was seated on the Banks of the River Euphrates which ran through the midst of it over which Semiramuis built a strong and stately Bridge of a mile long binding each stone together with clips of Iron fastened with melted Lead and is the ancientest City of the World first built by Nimrod in the place appointed for the raising of the Tower of Babel and by him made the Imperial Seat of the Chaldeaâ— Kings afterward much beautified and inlarged by Semiramis the Wife of Ninus one of his Successors and finally much increased both in bulk and beauty by Nebuchadnezzar for he added a new City to the old which he compassed about with three Walls and made therein three stately Gates and near his Fathers Palace he built another more stately where he raised Stone Works like mountains which he planted with all manner of Trees He made also Pensile Gardens hanging as it were in the Sky borne upon Arches four-square each square containing four hundred foot filled above with Earth wherein grew all sorts of Trees and Plants The Arches were built one upon another even to fifty Cubits high He likewise made Aquâ—â—iucts for watering these Gardens He erected an Image of Gold in the Plain of Dura sixty Cubits high and six broad These stately Buildings puft him up who therefore arrogated to himself the whole Glory of them saying in his Pride Is not this the great Babel that I have built a City of great Fame and State The compass of the Walls were 365 Furlongs or forty six some say threescore miles according to the number of the days of the year in height two hundred Cubits and fifty Cubits in bredth that six Chariots or Carriages might meet on the top they were finished in one year by the hands of Two Hundred Thousand Workmen The City was foursquare and fifteen miles from one corner to another Insomuch that Aristotle saith It ought rather to be called a Countrey than a City adding withal That when the Town was taken it was three days before the furthest parts of the Town had any Intelligence thereof which taking of the Town must be understood of the surprize thereof by the Medes and Persians in the Reign of Beshazzar when Daniel the Prophet interpreted to that King the words Mene Tekel Peres which were miraculously written by a hand upon the Wall as he was banquetting with his Nobility and foretold the very day before it was taken that God had given his Kingdom to the Medes and Perfians All which was accomplished the might following when Darius King of Media and Persia besieging Babylon took it on a sudden with the help of his Nephew Cyrus the Persian in the time of a great Feast when the King Nobility and People contemning their Enemies being over-confident of their own strength minded only their Sports and Pastimes which we read was surprized after this manner The River Euphrates ran quite through the Town round about whose banks the politick Cyrus cut many and deep Channels into which he in a very short time drained and emptied the River conveying his own Forces into the Town all along the dry and yeilding Channel and in a little 〈◊〉 made himself Master of it the Babylonians being 〈◊〉 in Wine and Debauchery In the Reign of 〈◊〉 Semiramis this City revolted from her and 〈…〉 thereof coming to her as she was ordering 〈…〉 she
In December 1664 In Iannuary 1664 5 In April 1663 In August 1682. In December 1680 The Five Blazing Stars seen in England since the year 1663. Page 154.160.182.18 London Printed for Nath Crouch 〈◊〉 THE SURPRIZING MIRACLES OF Nature and Art In TWO PARTS Containing I The Miracles of Nature or the Strange Signs and Prodigious Aspects and Appearances in the Heavens the Earth and the Waters for many Hundred years past with an Account of the most famous Gomets and other Prodigies since the Birth of our Blessed Saviour and the dreadful Effects of many of them Also a particular Description of the five Blazing Stars seen in England within Eighteen years last past and abundance of other unaccountable Accidents and Productions of all kinds till 1682. II. The Miracles of Art describing the most Magnificent Buildings and other Curious Inventions in all Ages as Solomons Temple The Seven Wonders of the World and many more Excellent Structures and Rarities throughout the whole Earth Beautified with divers Sculptures of many Curiosities therein By R. B. Author of the Hist of the Wars of England Remarks of London Wonderful Prodigies Admirable Curiosities in England and Extraordinary Adventures of several famous Men. London Printed for Nath. Crouch at the Bell next Kemp's Coffee-House in Exchange-Alley over against the Royal Exchange in Cornhil 1683. To the READER THere is no Person of any Age or Vnderstanding but must needs acknowledge that the last Forty Years has been as it were an Age of Prodigies and Wonders in these three Kingdoms so that it may be no former time can parallel so many strange Transactations as have happened in so little space and therefore as an Ingenious Person says A Book of Prodigies is fit In times Prodigious to be writ And another Learned Author says The wise Creator of Heaven and Earth is wont when the measure of our wickedness comes to the height rather to inflict upon us Temporal than Eternal punishments and to use for our Amendment the Occasion of these Natural Effects thereby to affright us from the Terrour of those sights to a Repentance and dutiful respect of him And if we consult History we shall find that there hath never been any notable Apparition or Prodigy seen in the Heavens but it hath been attended in the sequel with more than Ordinary Changes or Troubles here on Earth Neither is there any one except he hath no Religion who is not affrighted at Lightning the clashing noise of Thunder or an horrible Comet For God speaks to men not only with the Tongues of men by Prophets Apostles and Teachers but sometimes also by the Elements and other Extraordinary signs in the Heavens Earth or Sea Vpon these Considerations this small Collection of the most remarkable Prodigies since the Creation cannot surely be unseasonable or ungrateful but may by the Blessing of Heaven cause some Profligate Persons to forsake their evil ways and thereby divert the just Judgments of the Almighty from being poured down upon this wicked and adulterous Generation Here are also added many wonders of Art in the Magnificent Structures and Curious Inventions of all Ages and it is very apparent that notwithstanding our high Conceits of the knowledge of this last Age yet we are obliged to our Ancestors for many if not most of our present useful and Profitable Arts and Sciences R. B. The Surprizing Miracles of Nature in the Heavens Earth and Waters STrange and Wonderful have been the Miraculous Productions of Nature in all Ages or rather of the God of Nature and Divine Providence St. Auflin that Famous and Reverend Father of the Church defineth Miracles to be those things which happen beyond the Expectation or thought of the Beholder and begets in him a Miraculous Contemplation yea oftentimes horrour and amazement whereof there are two kinds True and False the false Miracles are such as are not really as they seem to be but meerly acted by the Power of Nature although obscure and hid The True are performed by the Power of God above and beyond all the Faculties of created Nature partly to procure Admiration and partly to confirm the Faith of Men such were the bringing back of the shadow Ten Degrees in the Dial of Ahaz for Hezekiah A Virgin to conceive with Child and yet remain a Virgin To draw water out of a hard Rock To cause the Sea to divide asunder The Sun to stand still To cause Manna to fall from Heaven To turn Water into Wine and many of the like kind recorded in the Holy Scriptures And these were formerly used for the Confirming of the Faith both of Jews and Christians but are not now necessary since the Writings of the Prophets Evangelists and Apostles are so generally preached unto all Yet hath not the Almighty left himself without Witness nor mankind without warnings of approaching Judgments and Desolations by Prodigious Signs and Wonderful Appearances in all times of the World thereby if possible to deter them from their Evil Practices and to induce them to repentance and Reformation of which the very Heathens were sensible for we may find in the Roman Histories that there never happened any Remarkable Prodigy but the People of every Sex Age and Quality flockt and ran to their Temples and Altars making Prayers and offering Sacrifices to their Gods for appeasing and pacifying their incensed Wrath which may condemn the neglect and Contempt that is in those who pretend to own the true Christian Religion and may teach us to repair to the true God and implore his mercy and forbearance of pouring his Wrath upon us In order whereunto it cannot surely be unseasonable nor unprofitable to Collect out of very approved Authors the most Remarkable Prodigies or Miracles that have appeared cither in the Heavens Earth or Waters for some Thousands of years in this Kingdom and many other parts of the World with the Tremendous Consequences that have succeeded divers of them as to Wars Fires Famines and other dreadful Calamities in several Nations upon some of which the Famous Dubartas thus Ingeniously Comments page 14. Here in the night appears a flaming Spire There a fierce Dragon folded all in Fire Here a bright Comet there a fiery Stream Here Flying Lances there a burning Beam Here seems a Horned Goat inviron'd round With fiery flakes about the Air to bound There with long bloody Hair a Blazing-Star Threatens the World with Famine Plague and War To Princes Death to Kingdoms many Crosses To all Estates Inevitable Losses To Herdsmen Rot To Ploughmen hapless seasons To Saylers storms To Cities Civil Treasons I shall therefore proceed to give an Account of the most Famous and surprizing Signs and Wonders which I find recorded in History I. In the time of the Carthaginian War a River in Italy was observed for near the space of a day to run perfect Blood no accident that might cause it being perceived by any In Hetruria the Heavens were seen to burn In the City of Arimini
3 Moons were seen in one night by the Inhabitants all these Prodigies appeared about the end of the first Carthaginian War In the second War after Hanno was overcome by Scipio a Child of a Month old was heard to cry in the Street Triumphi Triumphi In the Fields near Rome Ships were discerned in the Sky and Men in long White Garments were perceived to march towards each other but never to meet It likewise rained Stones and the Sun and Moon were seen as it were to justle each other and in the day two Moons appeared in the Heavens At Phalascis the Heavens seemed to be rent in sunder and at Capua the Moon seemed to burn and to bend down towards the Earth A Green Palm-Tree in Naples took Fire and burned away to Ashes At Mantua a little Rivulet was turned into blood and at Rome it rained blood An Ox was likewise heard to speak these Words Cave tibi Roma Rome look to thy self Soon after several large tall Ships appeared upon the River of Taracina in Spain The Sun at divers times appeared of a bloody colour many Temples and Houses in Rome were beaten down with Thunderbolts from Heaven some of the Cities Ensigns or Field-Colours were observed to sweat Blood Two Suns appeared in the Heavens at one time It likewise rained Milk and Stones A Comet in the form of a burning Torch was discerned to reach from the East to the West In the Vileterman Fields the Earth rent asunder in such huge and frightful breaches that Trees and whole Houses were swallowed up in it and it rained blood for two whole days together about which time Hannibal received that notable overthrow by Scipio which was the destruction of the famous City of Carthage and the Conquest of that Countrey to the Romans Tit. Liv. Hist II. In the year of the World 3417 when Cyrus overcame Craesus King of the Lydians in Battel a Child of six Months old is said to have distinctly foretold in a Prodigious and wonderful manner That his Kingdom should be lost A Dog and a Serpent spake very plainly and articulately to King Tarquinius of which Sir G. Wharton writes thus When Romes perverse and giddy multitude Dissolved in Tarquin their Great Monarchy To doom the Act unnatural and Rude 'T is said a Serpâ—nt bark'd In the year of the World 3842 at Veios in Italy it rained Oyl extreamly and Wool was also rained out of the Clouds In the year that the Great Mithridates K. of Pontus was born there appeared a huge Comet which at first seemed but small but afterwards spread it self so much that it came as far as the Equinoctial Line so that its extent equalized that Region of the Heavens which we call the Milky Way Another Comeâ— likewise appeared in the first year of his Reign which shined so bright night and day for 70 days together that the whole Heavens seemed all to be on a ligâ—â—t Fire for the Tayl of it covered the fourth part of the Heavens and exceeded the Sun in brightness and also its rising and setting took up the space of four hours Just before the taking of Aristonicus a dangerous Enemy to the Romans news was brought to Rome that the Image of Apollo at Cuma had wept for 4 days together The Southsayers were so astonished at the Prodigy that they had thrown the Image into the Sea had not the old men at Cuma interceded for it but the more expert Astrologers said That thereby the Destruction of Greece was foretold from whence that Image was brought Junius Syllanus going Proconsul into Asia he with his Company saw a spark fall from a Star which increased in Bulk as it came nearer the Earth and being grown to the bigness of the Moon it gave as much light as if it had been a cloudy day and when it drew up towards Heaven again it grew into the fashion of a Lamp When Julius Caesar had crossed the River of Rubicon contrary to the Decree of the Senate the Heavens as foreseeing what miseries were to ensue thereupon rained blood and there happened a horrible Eclipse of the Sun of 10 parts and an half of which Lucan thus speaks The Sun hides When mounted in the midst of Heaven he rides In Clouds his burning Chariot to enfold The World in darkness quite Day to behold No Nation hopes The same day that the Battle between Caesar and Pompey was fought in the Pharsalian Fields the Image of Victory which stood in the Temple of Minerva at Eulide was seen to turn its face toward the Temple-door whereas before it looked to the Altar At Antioch in Syria such great noises and Clamours were heard twice a day about the Walls of the Town that the People affrighted with the supposed approach of the Enemy ran out of the City in their Arms In the Temples of Ptolemais Organs and other Instruments were heard to play of themselves before Julius Caesar was slain in the Senate House and there being a Colony sent to be planted in Capua according to the Julian Law and some Monuments being demolished to lay Foundations for New Houses In the Tomb of Capys who was said to be the Founder of Capua there was found a brazen Table wherein was ingraven in Greek Letters That whensoever the bones of Capys should be uncovered one of the Julian Family should be slain by the hands of his own Party and that his blood should be revenged to the great damage of all Italy At the same time also those Horses which Caesar had consecrated to Mars after his passage over Rubicon did abstain from all kind of Food and were observed to have drops falling from their Eyes after such a manner as if they had shed Tears Also the Bird Regulus having a little branch of Lawrel in her Mouth flew with it into Pompâ—ys Court where she was torn in pieces by divers other Birds that pursued her where also Caesar himself was soon after slain with Twenty three wounds by Brutus Cassius and others Shortly after his Death about the time of the banishment of Antonius and â—â—â—idus an Ox being led out to the Plough uttered these words to his Master Why urge you me to work we shall want no Corn but men And a new Born Child did speak A. B. Vâ—ers Annals Pearson's Vaâ—â—â—â—es III. About the time that our Lord and Saviour was born which was in the year of the World 3849 and the 43 year of the Reign of Augustus Caesar many wonderful and remarkable Prodigies shewed themselves in the Heavens and this more frequently than in former years as Jesphas in his Jewish Antiquities testifies which unusual sights occasioned the Mâ—gi or Wise Men of those times in their Predictions to conclude That 〈◊〉 more than Ordinary Person would arise or appear in the World Which presages some Learned Persons applyed to Augustus Câ—â—sar who then reigned prosperously But the more divinely inspired interpreted them to signifie him who as the Prophet Isaiah saith should
Earthquake and a strange Bird of a notable greatness was seen at Rome also a blazing Star and two Eclipses of the Moon and contrary to Astronomical demonstration she appeared black and bloody Armed men were seen in the Air and many strange and wonderful Voices were heard in the Heavens In 77 another great blazing Star or Comet appeared and three Cities in Cyprus sell to the ground by an Earthquake A little before Nero slew his Mother Agrippina the Sun was strangely darkned as abhorring to behold such a sight and a Woman in Rome brought forth a Serpent In 81 A Terrible Comet appeared The Tomb of Augustus Caesar opened of it self and blood â—aâ—ned in Germany Three Suns were seen at once in Poland and there happened much Lightning and Thunder which consumed many brave buildings An Elm Tree saluted Apollonius Tyaneus and spake to him with an audible voice The Sun is this year Eclipsed and there was a great Earthquake in Naples These Prodigies were judged to portend the following accidents The Emperor Otho killeth himself Dardanus Tyrannizeth in Scotland and was slain by Corbred A very great Pestilence in Rome Most part of England is subdued by Agricola he putteth Karenoth the King to flight and the Scots also Vespasian dyeth of a Flux Haldanus the Sweed is restored to his Kingdom from which he was expelled The Emperor Titus dyeth Lynius a Bishop of Rome Martyred Domitian turns away his Wife and marries the Widow of Titus He sends two Armies against the Goths and they are both routed Philosophers and Mathematicians are Banished out of Rome Brittain is reduced into a single Province and at the Emperors own dispose Cocceius Nerva dyeth Two Saxon Kings rebel against Froto he overcomes them and makes them his Tributaries St. John writes his Epistles Rome and France fall at difference The third Heathen Persecution against the Christians began About the Year 105 in the Beign of Trajan who raised the third Persecution against the Christians October 22. there fell out one of the most terrible Earthquakes that ever was First there arose furious and violent winds which tore up trees by the roots made Birds fall to the Earth uncovered and overthrew many houses Then followed Thunder and Lightning which made the night like noon day then dreadful Thunder-bolts which broke down stately buildings and slew many men The Sea was wonderful tempestuous after which came such violent heat that people not being able to indure it stript themselves and then hid themselves under ground The Sky was so dark and the dust so great that one could not see another so that rushing together many fell down dead Divers Cities were ruined much people perished Several Mountains and Hills sunk and became Plains many Rivers were dryed up Fountains and Springs broke out where never were any before Almost all the houses in Antioch were destroyed Dion Hist VIII From the Year of our Lord 107 to 167 those following Prodigies happened A very great Earthquake in Asia many prodigious fights in the Air as fightings c. observed in Spain An Earthquake in Galatia At Rome Lightning from Heaven consumes the Temples of the Gods An Earthquake at Antioch Great Lightnings strange unusual winds together with horrible noises in the Earth Two great Earthquakes at Nice and two others in Palestine Milk rained at Rome and an Earthquake happened there and Three Hundred and Forty Houses though inviâ—oned with water were destroyed by a great Fire in that City A great Serpent was seen in Arabia and it rained Frogs at Constantinople three Suns likewise appearing and at the same time a Star and a Rainbow A very great Earthquake in Bythinia The waves of the Mediterranean Sea in a Calm elevated themselves to the top of a Mountain far distant from it and cast the foam a great way upon the main Land In this space of time the French and Saxons plant Colonies in Germany The Saracens and Arabians are subdued A Bishop of Jerusalem is Crucified Babylon and Seleucia are taken Nero's house is burnt The Jews rebel in Egypt and kill Two Hundred Thousand Men Ptolomy King of Egypt encounters them slayes Thirty Thousand Jews at once and forced those who survived to eat up their dead Carcases About the same time the Jews slay Two Hundred and Forty Thousand in Cyprus and at last are slain themselves The Chaldeans Brittains Scots and Picts rebel Christians are put to death in Asia Apollodorus is Cain by Hadrians Rollearpus is Martyred Aurelius Caesar seeing a wonderful Fire at Rome causeth the Persecution to cease by an Edict from himself Hermogenes ran out of his wits and dyed The Brittains repine against the Roman oppression and rebel Agricola subdueth them The Fourth Persecution began IX From 167 to 219 were these unusual Accidents A wonderful fire was seen in the Heavens which seemed to pass from East to West Wolves came in flocks near to Rome howling hideously Crosses were seen to sweat with Tears Rain mingled with Fire falls from Heaven at Prema A great and terrible Earthquake and many inundations at Rome Divers strange fires seen in the Air and some to fall from thence Great swarms of Locusts covered the ground and destroyed many Fields and Meadows A great Earthquake in Asia The Stars were seen all the day long at Rome and some apparitions hung streaming down in the very middle of the Air And there fell a wonderful Lightning from Heaven upon the Capitol and the fire increasing burnt the Library and all the houses near it All kinds of Creatures contrary to their natures brought forth prodigious Births this year Flames of Fire descend from Heaven There were seen at Rome three Stars about the Sun very glorious An Eagle alighted on the Image of a Souldier Bees wrought their Combs upon Souldiers Ensigns A sudden fire in the Air toward the North A great lowing and fire in the Earth A Whale comes ashore in the Haven of Augustus A Comet for many dayes together was seen at Rome A wonderful Lightning fell from Heaven upon the Image of Severus and blotted out three Letters of his name These things were judged to portend the ensuing effects The Germans with an Army enter Italy Pertinax is sent against them and beats them back The Senate adjudges Cassius an enemy to the State and he is slain by the Souldiers About this time was great jarring among the Bishops and Churchmen of most Nations concerning Religion Smyrna in Asia is quite destroyed Perennius and his son are executed for Treason Apollonius being accused for a Christian is sentenced and executed Cleander who succeeded Perennius is executed to please the People Two Thousand dye in a day of the Plague at Rome The Emperor Commodus removeth the head from a Colossus or Great Image and putreth one of his own upon it he grows ridiculous and the People taking notice thereof he executeth many of them he is at last strangled by Martia his Concubine In his Reign there appeared in the Sky
King Aswald is Murthered by Siga The Emperor slayes Six Thousand Saracens In 794 the River of Tiber overflows its Banks and doth much prejudice a very great Earthquake happened in Creet and Constantinople the event was that Alphonsus King of Spain killed Seventy Thousand of the Moors and took Lisbon in Portugal from them The Danes invade England but almost all of them perish The Armenian Legions rebel In 798 the Sun was darkened for seventeen dayes together This year Irene the Empress of Constantinople first governed the Empire with her son Constantius but she afterward deposed him put out his eyes and lastly murthered him In 808 the Sun and Moon were Eclipsed contrary to nature Armies of Men appear in the Heavens The Star Mercury is seen in the Sun like a black spot Blood rained in Holland At this time the Picts wast Scotland The Bulgarians kill six thousand Greeks and take Sardis The Danes subdue Friezland the Saracens disperse themselves into divers Countreys under six Princes In 820 a great and wonderful storm of Rain fell which rotted all the Corn in the Fields and such mighty floods and inundations followed that hindred the Countrey-men from sowing their seed Fiery apparitions were often seen in the Elements The effects that followed were a great Famine and Pestilence in France The King of England is slain by the East-Angles Asia is wasted Constantinople besieged and Reyner King of Denmark is expelled his Kingdom XVII In the year 840 sparks of fire like Stars were seen to run up and down the Heavens A great Comet appeared and the Sun was much Eclipsed swarms of Bees were seen at Westchester in England This year was prodigious for many wonderful Earthquakes Hails Whirl-winds Thunders and Lightnings which happened in most parts of the world Soon after the people of Spain rebel the Scots overcome the English who aided the Picts The Saracens are overcome by the Emperor and soon after Lothair their King with his Brethren and one hundred thousand men were slain The Danes enter the Thames with two hundred and fifty ships and take Canterbury and London and expel the King of England In 870 were great Hail Thunders and Lightning at Rome a Church at Worms burnt by it an Earthquake in England In Brixia near Italy it rained blood for three dayes and three nights together At this time the Danes were beaten out of Holland and the Saracens out of Italy The Danes land in Scotland and challenge Pictland for their King In 882 the Sun was so much obscured that the Stars appeared in the Sky in the day time There was an Earthquake in Normandy and a Blazing Star hung just over Spain Now the Brittains invaded Scotland Constantine their King was killed The Saracens break into Italy and are expelled by the Emperor In 912 four Rainbowes were seen at once in Scotland Fiery Torches are seen in the Air Many great floods happened in Saxony A great Comet and Stars were seen to run glittering to and fro in the Heavens Divers Mock-suns were visible in Italy and Spain This Winter was very wonderful for excessive cold The Sun appears for certain days as if it bled three Comets for a fortnight together were seen just over Germany About this time the Vandals invade Greece and the Saracens Calabria and take many Cities in Italy the Emperor dyeth his death being judged to be occasioned by his losses to the Hungarians The Pope is imprisoned and strangled The Scots assist the Danes but are overcome Gonsalvo poysoneth Sancho King of Spain The Russians in a malicious manner persecute the Christians The French King and the Emperor are reconciled and divers Conspirators against the Emperor are executed XVIII The year 956 produced many strange prodigies as a wonderful hail at Oxford in England strange Lightning killing many Priests in France Mighty Thunders Tempests c. Soon after the Hungarians invade the Emperor but are reconciled to him The Bishop of Strasburg calls one hundred thousand Hungarians into Batavia they are all slain there and the Emperors eyes pluckt out The Italians make war with the Pope In 968 Fire falls from Heaven there was a great Earthquake in France a Comet appeared there was wonderful increase of Vermine as Rats Mice c. This year the Empress murders the Emperor Nicephorus Donald murthered the King of Scotland for refusing to pardon a thief of his acquaintance In 979 was an Earthquake in Scotland Armies of Fire were seen a whole night together in the Air A Child was born in Rome with two heads not long after Harold King of Denmark is slain by an arrow The Danes land in Scotland and wast divers places the Scots put them to flight they land in Kent and spoyl the Isle of Thanet In 992 Fire rises out of the River Rhine saith my Author and burns many places in Germany In Spain three swords appeared in the Heavens like fire Now the Duke of Bavaria dyeth The Danes invade England with a very great Fleet the King of Denmark is slain by one of his own servants In 1002 a Fountain of water in Lorrain is turned into blood A Comet very horrible to behold was seen casting out flames of fire on every side The Danes being routed at Oxford fly to the Church and are there all burnt The Emperor Otho is poysoned with a pair of Gloves In 1022 swarms of Locusts came into France It rained milk at Rome there was a very great Eclipse of the Sun and this year the weather was so unseasonable that many dyed through too much heat Divers Polonians rebel against the Christians The Emperor overcomes the Greeks in Italy the Polanders subdue Ruisia and make it tributary The Vandals wast Saxony and take Brandenburg In 1043 five Suns at once appeared in England and a hairy Comet very large was visible the Emperor overcame the Russians who invaded his territories A great Famine happened in Germany and France The Prussians invade Poland and fifteen thousand of them are slain and twenty thousand taken Prisoners The Irish and Welch enter the River Severn and do a great deal of harm In 1033 when the Pope the great Antichrist was come to his height and the darkness of superstition and Idolatry had overspread the Christian world upon June 29 at six a Clock in the Morning the Sun began to be Eclipsed continuing till 8 a Clock in a very strange manner the body of the Sun was of the Colour of a Saphire so that the Countenances of men looked pale and wan as if they were dead and whatsoever was in the Air seemed of a yellow Saffron Colour to the great terror of all men Imper. Hist XIX There was a great increase of Rats and Mice in the year 1058 And stones of a mighty bigness mixt with Hail fell from Heaven and killed many two Blazing Stars this year hung over Poland The Saxons rebel against the Emperor twenty six thousand are drowned in a Pitfall by the stratagem of two Bishops in Holland
as they came against the Earl of Flanders In 1064 a little before the coming of the Normans to this Kingdom about the Feast of Easter there was seen for a week together a Blazing Star of an hideous and fearful form which occasioned in mens minds a fore-feeling of some dismal events In 1076 three Suns at once were seen in Naples A fiery Dart ran up and down in the Heavens in Italy women appeared in the Air of admirable shapes which mightily amazed the Beholders The Emperor deposeth the Pope and the Pope him and also excommunicateth him The Turks take Rhodes and Cyprus The Hollanders overcome the Frisons Northumberland in England is wasted In 1086 a great inundation happened in Italy Four Moons were seen at once in France and England Many tame Fowl became perfectly wild In Flanders a fiery Dragon was seen flying in the Air casting flames out of his mouth shortly after followed the burning Plague called Ignis sacer or Holy fire The Saxons defeat the Emperor the Turkish Emperor dyeth King William the Conqueror dyeth Prince Edmund and Ethelred are banished Scotland by Donald their Unkle and dye in England In 1094 a fiery dart was visible in the Heavens which through its violence flew from North to South There was a great Earthquake in England Horrible noises and strange groanings were heard in the Earth about Rome Soon after the King of Poland being envied by his Nobles causeth many of them to be banished Pedro of Spain taketh Osca and killeth thirty thousand Moors The English invade Normandy again Bretislaus gaineth the Kingdom of Bohemia by the aid of the Hungarians The year 1101 was very remarkable for Monsters Syracuse in Sicily is shaken with an Earthquake Three Suns a Sword and Crown are seen in the Air in Germany and likewise a Comet of wonderful bigness after this Conradus the Emperor dyeth in Italy The Russians invade Poland but are expelled by Boleslaus In England the Earl of Shrewsbury warreth against King Henry 1. The Earl of Flanders takes Cambray A League is concluded between the English and Scots In 1106 a great Comet appeareth for fifty dayes together The Emperor Henry 4. dyeth as supposed of grief that his Son had lately rebelled against him About the same time which was when the Christians were ingaged in Palestine in the Holy War for the recovery of Jerusalem three Suns appeared one on each side the true but smaller both in quantity and light a great white circle invironing them and in it a Rainbow of four Colours the Bow being toward the Sun and reaching to the other two Suns and shortly after the Stars of Heaven seemed to ram XX. In 1116 fiery Armies in the Heavens were seen in Germany with many Earthquakes and very great Whirlwinds then Bruges in Flanders was burnt Poland was wasted And the Emperor is Excommunicated by the Pope In 1135 was a very great inundation in Flanders Holland and Freizeland in England was a great Earthquake and Whirlwinds happened in France the light of the Sun appears sensibly to fail and decay Now many people perished in Flanders Judea is miserably wasted by the Saracens Henry I. King of England surfeits of Lampreys and dyes Baldwin de Rivers fortifies Exeter against King Stephen he is taken and banished In 1147 were great Thunders at Rome and an Earthquake in England Several Globes of Fire were seen in the Heavens a multitude of small worms were viâ—â—â—e it rained blood and there were strange Lightnings at Rome Ling Lewâ—s of France about this time invades Syria he 〈◊〉 taken Prisoner by the Greeks but rescued by the â—â—ing of Sicâ—â—y Alâ—â—â—â—sâ—s King of Spain took Lâ—sbon and St. Iren from the Moores the King of Sueden is slain and soon after King Stephen of England dyeth in 1158 a very great Pillar of fire appeared in the Heavens in Germany There was a great Eclipse of the Suâ—â— Two Dragons were seen to fight in the Air in 〈◊〉 This year the Emperor goeth against the Aâ—â—â—â—â—s The Pope submitteth to the Emperor but soon after repents thereof and excommunicateth him The Venetians deny aid to the Greek Emperor against the King of Sicily In 1169 there appeared three Suns and three Moons beside the true ones and also a Comet there happened likewise a very great Earthquake not long after the Sultan of Egypt is flain by Syraconus The English invade Cumberland Malcolm King of Scots dyeth Catania in Sicily is destroyed and nineteen thousand People are swallowed up by an Earthquake The Romans rase the City of Alba. XXI In 1178 there was a wonderful inundation in â—â—gland Two Armies were seen in the Heavens in Italy to fight a fierce battel The Sun was this year greatly Eclipsed At which time the English and Scots quarrel The Spaniards take several places from the Frâ—â—ch Wars were between the French and Flemmings In 1185 was another very great Eclipse of the Sun and likewise a great Earthquake also an Eclipse of the Moon â—â—d Armies were seen in the air in Greece surrounded with fire At this time the Moors were defeated by the Spaniards and their King slain The greatest part of Bruges in Flanders was burnt Baldwin the fifth King of Jerusalem was poysoned by his Mother A rebellion happened in England The Greeks lose 70 sail of Ships by Pyrates In 1198 great stones fall from Heaven there was an Earthquake in the East which overthrew many Cities It rained blood in England Two fiery swords are seen in the Heavens in Spain Soon after the Kings of Castille and Aragon invade Navar The Sultan 〈◊〉 Iconiâ—â—â— is swallowed up by an Earthquake About this time saith A. B Spotâ—wood Adam Bishop of Cathness was barbarously used by some wicked people suborned by the Earl of Cathnes He was assaulted at his own house and his servant with a Monk who did ordinarily attend him were killed the Bishop was by force drawn into his Kitchen and when they had scourged him with Rods they let the Kitchen on fire and burnt him therein King Alexander 2 was at that time upon his Journey toward England and â—having notice of this cruel fact turned back and went in haste to Cathnes where he brought the Offenders and their Partakers to Tryal Four Hundred by publick sentence were executed and all their Male-Children gelt that no succession should spring from such wicked seed and the place where there Genitals were cast is to this day called the Stony-Hill The Earl because he did not help to rescue the Bishop had his Estate forfeited but yet he did not escape divine vengeance being murdered by some of his own Servants who conspired to kill him and to conceal the Fact set the House on fire and burnt his body whereby he was paid home in the same measure he had used to the Bishop A. B. Spotswood History Scotland Pag. 110. XXII In the year 1212 a dreadful Comet appeared for 18 days together Shapes all bloody were seen in the Heavens A Star with a
Cross and an half Moon was visible in Italy Not long after the Spaniards kill Two Hundred Thousand Moors The Pope giveth away England from King John to Prince Philip of France who lands there and striveth for it The Flemish with the English take three hundred sail of Ships from him and burn an hundred more The King of Aragon is slain William King of Scots and soon after King John both dye In 1234 a great Eclipse of the Sun happened and strange sights appeared in the Moon for whereas she usually seems round she now visibly appeared with six squares The Sun was darkned so much that the Stars were seen This year the King of Bulgaria puts out the Emperors eyes Vienna is subjected to the Empire Constantinople is besieged by the Turks but released by the Venetians King Henry III. of England and his Nobles quarrel but are reconciled The King of Poland dyeth In 1243 was a great Comet fearful to behold A Hill of a vast greatness removes it self out of its place A noise like Trumpets is heard in the air in Italy These were followed by a great Plague in Greece and a miserable Famine in Constantinople the King of the Cumans is slain and the Turks take Jerusalem and kill many Prisoners In 1255 a great Comet appeared Strange Lightning fell from Heaven The Sea overflowed in many places in England Dismal and strange noises are heard in the air At this time the Geneveses take Venice and are expelled again The Duke of Lithuania invadeth Prussia five petty Kings are expelled Spain the Venetians take Padua Eâ—â—â—line comes thither and kills twelve thousand Citizens Not long after Henry III. King of England dyes In 1277 there was a very great Rain about the Rhine in Germany the Sky was as bright in Poland at midnight as if it had been noon day Four Suns were seen in Russia and there was an Earthquake in England Now the Turks won all the lesser Asia from the Greeks The Pope is killed by a fall the Emperor slayes fourteen thousand Bohemians King Edward I. of England forceth the Welch to a Peace In 1285 a great Earthquake happened in Italy A Comet of notable greatness was seen this year A great swarm of divers coloured Flyes and mighty floods of waters were in England There was likewise about this time a battel or fight of Dogs in France saith Mr. Camden at a place called Genelon Castle wherein every one killed another being in number about Three Thousand no Dog escaping alive but only one Upon this followed the Invasion of Denmark by the Norwegians Hungaria is ruined by the Cumans the Helvetians war against the Emperor but are subdued The King of Sicily dyes and there was a great battel fought between the English and Scots wherein many of the Scots were slain the Sun the same day appeared as red as blood as long as the fight continued XXIII Launces and Darts of fire were seen in the Heavens in the year 1300 a great Snow fell and a Comet of a wonderful magnitude appeared In Germany Men and Horses were visible in the Air At this time the English beat the Scots The Turks invade the German Empire and commit great mischiess the Pope writes himself Vniversal Lord in Spirituals and Temporals Flanders is invaded and many Nobles are taken Prisoners Andrew King of Hungary dyes In 1310 was an Earthquake in England The Elements seem to burn many days together A Boy was born with four Arms and two Bodies Soon after the Polonians subdue Pomerania The Isle of Rhodes is taken from the Turks Robert Bruce King of Scotland wasteth that Countrey and drives out the English the Earl of Cornwal is banished and the Emperor burneth Brixia In 1322 the Sun in England for six hours together appeared like blood There was a great Earthquake in Germany and two Crosses appeared in the Heavens and a fiery Circle was seen about the Sun At this time the Scots oppose King Edward II. of England and put him to flight The King of Bohemia conquers Silesia and divers places in Lusatia The Emperor is taken in battel and imprisoned 3 years The King of England dyes In 1337 were two Comets seen together one of which continued four Months the other but three Blood rained in Rome wonderful flocks of Crows and Daws were seen in Germany The Lithuanians burn themselves their Wives Children and Goods to avoid taking The French burn Southampton The Scythians wast Thrace and take many Captives the King of Sicily dyeth About this time there happened a fearful Earthquake in the City of Venice which overturned divers Steeples and Palaces and among other dreadful Effects it caused many hundred women to miscarry in Child-birth and a terrible Plague sollowed it which reduced the City to such an height of misery that it was almost depopulated whereupon the Senate made a Decree that as many as would come to dwell at Vâ—â—ice should after they had continued there two years be free Ciâ—â—â—ens In 1341 a terrible Comet with many other apparitions were seen in the Heavens The Emperor Aâ—â—ronious about this time suffered death in an unheard of Tragical manner And the next year saith Mr. Camdâ—n October 11 when the Moon was eleven dayes old there were seen two Moons at Dablin in Ireland the one according to the â—ourse of nature in 〈◊〉 West the other in the East casting but a mean and slender Light In 1348 Divers Mocksuns appeared in the Sky and the Heavens seemed to burn There were several small Beasts rained from the Elements in the Eastern parts of the World There followed a grâ—at Piague in England the English beat the Scots and recover much from them The Poâ—anders â—â—solutely conqâ—er Russia In 1365 armed men were seen in the Heavens in England and fiery â—anceâ— in Italy Grashoppers cover Switzerland like Snow Soon after the Russians who rebelled in Pâ—land were sâ—bdued The King of France is exâ—â—lled his Kingdom The King of Sweden is taken Prssoner in Dattel the Tâ—rks expel the Christians from Adrianople In 1375 a Comet with a beard was seen many nights together in the Heavens Grashoppers eat up all the green things in France Mighty inundations in Germany and a very great Earthquake there After this five thousand Houses were burnt at Gaunt and seventeen other Towns in Flanders drowned the Christians kill twenty thousand Turks in Bosnia by a stratagem The Scots burn Roxborough there were great Calamities in Italy Prince Edward commonly called the Black Prince dyeth and not long after Edward III. King of England The French take the Isle of Wight and burn Rye and Hastings In 1378 a general Plague in a most miserable manner invaded the greatest part of the world It raged most among young Persons and Children In the City of Lubeck only in Germany it swept away ninety thousand persons there dyed of it in several places of bare-footed Fryers one Million two hundred forty four thousand four hundred thirty four The Jews were
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
Elephant before him to break the way through the Woods that the King with his Followers might pass As he fled the Conspirators pursued him but at a great distadce for fear of some exceellent Fowling Pieces which he had with him and so he got safe to the Mountain Gauluda about 15 miles off where many of the Inhabitants thereabout resorted to him But if the Rebel Party had been resolute who were the greater number even almost all the Kingdom this Hill could not have secured him but they might have driven him from thence there being many ways by which they might have ascended The People having thus driven away the old King marched away to the City of Cande and proclaimed the Prince to be King telling us English that what they had done was not rashly but upon good Consideration and advice the King by his evil Government having occasioned it who went about to destroy both them and their Countrey As in detaining Ambassadors hindering of all Trade making Prisoners of all people that come upon his Land and killing his Subjects and their Children not suffering them to enjoy nor to see their Wives And that all this was contrary to reason and as they were informed to the Government of other Countreys The Prince being young and tender and having never been out of the Pallace nor ever seen any but those that attended on his Person was affinghted to see so many coming and bowing down to him and telling him that he was King and his Father was fled into the Mountains neither did he say or act any thing as not owning the business or else not knowing what to say or do This much discouraged the Rebels to see they had no Thanks for their pains and so all things stood till Dâ—â—emo 25. 1664 at which time they intended to march and fall upon the old King But in the mean time the Kings Sister flyes away with the Prince from the City into the Countrey near the King which so amazed the Rebels that the Money Cloth and plunder which they had taken and were going to distribute to strangers to joyn with them they scattered about the Town and fled away Others of their Company seeing the business was overthrown to make amends for their former Fact revolted and fell upon their Consorts killing and taking Prisoners all they could The People were now all up in Arms against each other killing whom they pleased only saying they were Rebels and taking their Goods By this time a great Man had drawn out his Souldiers into the Field and declared for the old King and so went to seize the Rebels that were scattered abroad but understanding they were all fled and no whâ—le Party or Body left to resist him he marched into the City killing all he could catch And so all revolted and came back to the King again whilst he only lay still upon his Mountain The King needed to take no care to seize or execute the Rebels for they themselves out of their zeal to him and to make amends for what was past imprisoned and killed all they met the Plunder being their own This continued 8 of 10 days which the King hearing of commanded to kill no more but only to imprison them till examination which was not so much to save the Innocent as that he might torment the Rebels and make them confess their Confederates for he spared none that seemed guilty and some to this day lye chained in Prison being sequestred of all their Estates and beg for their Living The King could not be insensible but that it was his rigorous Government which occasioned this Rebellion yet amended it not in the least but like Rehoboam added yet more to the Peoples yoke And being thus safely reinstated in his Kingdom again and observing that the Life of his Son gave incouragement to the Rebellion he resolved for the future to prevent it by taking him away and about a year after his Son being sick the Hing takes this Opportunity to dispatch him by pretending to send Physick to him to cure him but was really Poyson which soon made an end of him The People hearing of the death of the Prince according to the Custom of that Countrey when any of the Royal Blood dye came all in General toward the City where he was with black or else very dirty Cloths which is their mourning the men all bare-headed the Women with their hair loose and hanging about their Shoulders to mourn and lament for the Death of their young Prince which the King hearing of sent them word That since it was not his Fortune to live to sit on the Throne after him and Reign over the Land it would be but in vain to mourn and a great trouble and hindrance to the Countrey and their voluntary good will was taken in as good part us the mourning it self and so dismist the Assembly and burned the Princes dead body without Ceremonies or Solemnities but one thing there is that argues him guilty of Imprudence and horrible Ingratitude that most of those who went along with him when he fled of whose Loyalty he had such ample Experience he hath since cut off and that with extream Cruclty too In Feornary two years after there appeared in this Countrey another Comet or Stream in the West with the head of it under the Horizon much like that seen in England in 1680. The sight of this did much daunt both King and People having so lately felt the sad Event of a Blazing Star The King sent men to the highest Mountains in the Land to look if they could perceive the head of it which they could not it being still under the Horizon This continued visible about a Month and by that time was so diminished as not to be seen But there were no remarkable Passages ensued upon it LXXVII About five or six nights after the extinction of the first Comet which was seen in England and in the same Moneth of December another Comet was visible which continued till the middle of January following it was much less than the former seeming about the bigness of an ordinary Trencher Plate about 8 Inches over and had prickly Rays dispersed round about it In April 1665 following a Third Comet was seen much of the Nature and colour of the first only a little more Jovial This year June 3. A great Victory was obtained by His Majesties Fleet under his Royal Highness the Duke of York against the whole Dutch Fleet wherein above Thirty Capital Ships were taken and destroyed and near Eight Thousand men killed and taken Prisoners A great Plague began in London and this year there dyed in all ninety seven thousand three hundred and six whereof of the Plague sixty eight thousand five hundred ninety six In February this year there was a great Tempest accompanied with Thunder Lightning and an Earthquake in divers places at which time the stately Spire of Trinity Church in Coventry fell down and demolished
the Deâ—ks in several places which immediately burst forth into dreadful Flames and with all their diligence could not be quenched so that they were all forced to betake themselves to their Long-boat and happily escaped to another English Ship not far off In the Cazelt it is related That the Letters from Mâ—sâ—o the chief City of Russia of July 25. give an Account That the late Czar or Emperor Alexis who married with a Polish Lady having by her means taken a great Affection to the manners and customes of that Nation and designed to introduce them among his own Subjects the more to civilize them had thereby raised a great hatred in the Boyars or Nobility and other great Men against him who resolved to poyson him and his Queen and accordingly effected it by the means of a Jew He had two Brothers the eldest named John about 20 years old who had the same Mother and was born blind of one Eye the other named Peter about 9 years old who was born of a second Marriage and his Mother the Princess Natalia was living The Emperor being dead in few hours after suffering great Torments The Chancellor of the Kingdom joyning with the Princess Natalia and several Boyers and other great Men proclaimed the young Prince Peter Emperor and at the same time the Princess Sophia Sister to Prince John General Komanski and many others espoused the cause of the Elder Brother and drew the Guards and Souldiers to their side by perswading them that the late Czar was poysoned and that there was a design likewise to destroy them whereupon the said Guards rose and fell upon the Boyers and others who had proclaimed Prince Peter and destroyed a great many of them After which Prince John was proclaimed Emperor but without deposing Prince Peter so that there are now two Emperors who were both Crowned June 24. last past The Emperor Alexis left a young Son of whom it seems no notice was taken he being yet in the Cradle The two Emperors seem hitherto to agree very well and things at present are very calm and quiet there LXXXVIII In 1682. The Gazett of July 31. gives an Account that on the sixth of that Month at Tortorica a Town in Sicily about seven a Clock in the Evening after so great darkness that they could not discern each other four paces asunder there arose a great storm of Rain Lightning and Thunder which lasted 36 hours that about one a Clock next morning great Torrents of Water caused by these Rains fell from the Mountains with so great violence that they carryed with thâ—â—â— Trees of an extraordinary bigness which threw 〈◊〉 the Wall and Houses of the Town they happened to beat against The Waters were so furious that they 〈◊〉 the Church of St. Niâ—â—â—las and the Arch-Deacon of the Town who retired thither perished there with many other Persons There only remained one Abby and about fifty Housâ—s and those so shattered that they fell down soon after about 600 of the Inhabitants were drowned the rest being abroad in the Fieldâ— gathering their Silk fled to the Mountains where they suffered very much for want of Provisions The Goods Trees Stones Sand and other Rubbish which the Waters carryed away were in so great abundance that they made a Bank above the Water two miles in length near the Mouth of the River where the Water before was very deep several other Towns were likewise destroyed by this great Flood It is added that Mount Aeâ—â—â— cast forth such abundance of Water that all the Neighbouring Countrey was drowned They write likewise from Rome of July 4. That after having been two Moneths without Rain it began to Rain on Sunday June 25 at night and that an hour before day there fell a Thunderbolt in the Popes Pallace of St. Peter which ran through several Rooms and broke down the Châ—mny-Peice of the Apartment of Cardinal Cibo LXXXIX In the weekly Memorials published at Lordâ—â— we have the Extract of two Letters sent to the Publisher by Richard Gips Esq from Weltham-Hall in Suffolk dated the 22 and 29 of July 1682 concerning a groâ—ing peice of Wood to this Effect Sir Myself and many hundreds of Ingenious Men have seen at St. Edmundsbury in Suffolk a groning peice of Wood it was of an Elm-Tree sawn in the middle as I conceive and I guess it to be of a very great Age As soon as a hot Iron was put on this Wood it greaned like a dying man so that it might be heard a great way It was very surprizing to me when I heard it for I could not be perswaded to believe any such thing The Wood was very firm on one side of it knotty and crackt in some places nor would it groan when the Iron was put twice in the same place but it would at some little distance from it At the time when the hot Iron was put upon it I layd my hand nigh the Iron and perceived something gather to the Iron before the Wood groaned the groan was no longer than that of a dying Man This Wood was first discovered by a little Girl who playing with the Fire by accident scattered a Coal on this Board which lay very nigh the Fire and it groaned so extraordinarily that it frighted the Child The second Letter was thus Sir since my last to you the Groaning Plank is removed from Bury but being informed of another Groaning Plank I this day went to see it and was much more surprized at it than at the former the groaning being much more audible than the other This peice of Wood was Witch-Elm as the other also was though much less and thinner it was about an Inch or two in thickness a yard and an half in length and 3 Foot broad It was an old and firm peice of Wood as the former Sir if you see any Witch-Elm that is very old you may assure your self that if you burn it with a very hot Iron it will groan extraordinarily I discoursed with a very ingenious Gentleman who thinks it is occasioned by reason of some Glutinoâ—s matter which is included in that sort of Wood so that when the Fire comes it rarifies it and occasions that noise but in regard I could not perceive any Glutinous matter but on the contrary that it was extraordinary dry I could hardly acquiâ—sâ—â— in his Opinion XC In 1682. August 14. Another Comet or Blazing Star was visible in London at nine a Clock at night about North and by West from that City Its head was large much like the Star Venus at the height it was seen several Nights after and having about 30 Degrees of North Latitude it did never set having continued for some time it disappeared Aug. 25. the Gazett informs us from Naples that the Mountain Vesuvius did cast out Fire accompanied with a most terrible and hideous noise which from an hour after Sunset on Saturday till 3 a Clock next morning was so great that it caused a