Another Comet flam'd before the French King set upon Helvetia at this time Vladislaus K. of Hungary was slain by Amurath also a Sedition broke out in England And in the year 1454 the Turk reduc'd Constantinople A. C. 1456 A Comet was seen attended by a great Wind and Earthquake the Turk also did then possess himself of Lemnus Mitylene and Euboea A. C. 1457 A Comet which they call'd Nigrum did variously affect the minds of men the death of Alphonsus King of Arragon follow'd it which embroil'd Aemilia Sabina Campania and all the Kingdom of Naples in a long and grievous War a Plague follow'd not long after also the Turk made himself Master of Peloponnesus A. C. 1460 A Comet preceded those great Victories of Mahomet the II. who in the year of our Lord 1451. reduced two Empires and twelve Kingdoms to his subjection A. C. 1471 A Comet foretold the deaths of several Princes A. C. 1472 Two Comets appear'd which were succeeded by several Wars and in the year following by an excessive unnatural Heat and violent Plague at this time Charles Duke of Burgundy made War upon his Neighbours which War lasted many years and was ended by his death Vssanus Cassanus King of Parthia and Armenia then fought with Mahomet which War swept away abundance of men also Stephanus the Palatinate of Moldavia gave Mahomet a great defeat at the Danubius The Germans call'd this Comet a Peacocks Tail and most thought it portended the Burgundian War A. C. 1475 A Comet was conspicuous before Charles of Burgandy seiz'd upon Lorain A. C. 1477 A Comet blazed which was the forerunner of so hot a Season that it burnt up not only Corn but Trees also many great Rivers dried up and a great Plague followed At the same time Charles of Burgundy was slain by the Helvetians and in this year many great Princes died A. C. 1491 A Comet appear'd and a very unwholsome time follow'd both for Men and Beasts also the Turks possessed themselves of part of Dalmatia and Sclavonia A. C. 1500 A Comet was seen before the Tartars devastation of Poland Muscovy and Lithuania a little after the Bavarian War began There was also at this time a raging Famine and Pestilence A. C. 1506 A Comet portended the death of Philip King of Spain as also the Wars of the Emperor Maximilian's Sons with the French and Venetians besides various Inundations Winds and scarcity of Corn. A. C. 1516 Luther who in the year 1517. wrote against Indulgences his Reformation succeeded a Comet A. C. 1523 A Comet appear'd and the Summer following was full of Storms Earthquakes and great falls of Water A. C. 1527 A terrible Comet was seen with a long bloudy Tail at which time the Turk wasted Hungary and much hurt was done by the great swarms of Locusts A. C. 1529 Four Comets appear'd this year when soon after the Turk besieg'd Viennal and became Master of many Cities in Hungary also the Sweating-sickness odestroy'd many thousands in England A. C. 1530 Was another Comet then were many Towns and Villages overwhelm'd with Water both in Holland and Zealand also the Tiber overflow'd Rome A. C. 1531 A Comet portended no less then a great slaughter of men both in the East and West for the Turk broke into Hungary and Austria King Christians with a great Fleet sailed into Denmark to recover his Kingdoms The Helvetian War began upon the score of Religion wherein there were two eminent Battels in the first of which Zuinglius was slain A. C. 1532 A terrible Comet was seen at which time the Turks making an irruption into Hungary were repell'd by the Christians A. C. 1533 A Comet call'd Xiphias from its resemblance of a Sword was conspicuous after which followed Earthquakes in Germany alterations in the Government of England and a contest between Charles the V. and the French about the Dukedom of Millain A. C. 1538 A Comet was seen of a fiery colour upon which follow'd an Epidemical Sickness in many places A. C. 1539 Another Comet was visible and in the year following ensued so hot a Summer that it burnt up many Woods and dried up many Rivers and Fountains A. C. 1541 A great Plague and the Conquest of Buda by the Turks was signify'd by a Comet also Charles the V. his unlucky Voyage into Africa wherein many of his Ships and Men were lost by Storm A. C. 1542 After a Comet followed great swarms of mischievous Locusts likewise the unfortunate Expedition of the Christians against the Turks wherein great part of their Forces perished by Sickness also the Grape was this year so sowr that no Wine could be drank A. C. 1545 A Comet preceded the Gallick Persecution A. C. 1556 Another Comet appear'd in which year many learned and pious men deceased in many parts of Germany the Reform'd Church at this time labour'd under great difficulties A. C. 1558 A Comet lighted Charles the V. into his retirement when he resign'd his Empire also in the year 1566. began the War in the Low-Countries upon the account of the Spanish Inquisition A. C. 1572 A new Star was seen in Cassiopeia's Sign which was by most esteem'd a Comet in which year the Parisian Nuptials were celebrated with Bloud instead of Wine A. C. 1577 A. C. 1585 A. C. 1596 A. C. 1602 A. C. 1604 A. C. 1607 In every one of these years were Comets seen although the three last were by some eminent men esteem'd only new Stars they portended the various mutations in Holland Hungary Bohemia and Germany And besides all these the Blazing-Star before the late Civil Wars as well as those two dreadful Comets before the last Plague and Fire of London may considering the present ill state of this unhappy Nation and sinful People give us just occasion to fear at least no better an Event after this so much a worse Comet than has ever yet appear'd unless Providence grants that happy Vnion of Protestants and Exclusion of Papists which all good men that are not so themselves must ever wish and pray for Having thus given you an account of these Comets their History Nature Causes and Effects according to the most commonly receiv'd Opinions so let me now conclude this discourse with some small transitory Remarques upon this present Comet which by all the relations I have met with is far the most large and terrible that ever yet was seen After it had shewn it self in other parts it began to appear to us here in England on Friday December the 10th about half an hour past four in the Afternoon being of a pale dusky colour with a prodigious Stream at least 35. degrees in length and the Astrologers say its signification cannot be good because it is purely Saturuine Now for the more difficult and uncertain part although I shall leave that to those who dare undertake it yet concerning the other more easie one I could not forbear making some small observation and collecting some conjecture among the
THE Petitioning-COMET Or a Brief CHRONOLOGY Of all the Famous COMETS And their EVENTS That have happen'd from the Birth of CHRIST to this very day Together with a Modest Enquiry into this present COMET Cum Deus puniturus est Gentem vel Urbem prodigiis id prius solet significare Herodot lib. 6. LONDON Printed by NAT. THOMPSON next door to the Cross-Keys in Fetter-lane 1681. A LETTER out of the Country FROM THE AUTHOR to the PRINTER SIR SInce my last recess from London I have wholly devoted my self to Contemplation which is as natural to a Country life as Flattery to the Court Debauchery to the Town Cozening to the City and Fawning to the Clergy Now of this Contemplation I have spent some part in the Evenings about observing the Motion and Progress of this so-much-talkt-of COMET and in this enclosed have sent you the Result of my Thoughts concerning it together with a Meteorological Compendium of all the most remarkable BLAZING-STARS that have been at any time conspicuous from the Nativity of Christ to this very day as also the Events and Misfortunes both to Kings and Kingdoms that have attended each of those Meteors This present Comet it's true is of a menacing Aspect but if the New Parliament for whose Convention so many good men pray continue long to sit I fear not but the STAR will lose its virulence and malignancy or at least its portent be averted from this our Nation which being the humble request to God of all good men makes me thus entitle it A Petitioning-Comet Now as for you my old Friend I must confess the late Noise abroad of your being a Papist or at least Popishly affected made me at first hesitate whether I might with safety entrust any more Papers with you or proceed in our old Acquaintance as formerly but when upon mature deliberation I recollected all your former Letters and Discourses as well as examined what several eminent Pieces against Popery you have publish'd even such as would be a damning Sin in the very Pope himself to dispense with after this I soon satisfy'd my Reason with the absurdity of the Report and from that time examined every one of your Adversaries Intelligences with as great expectation to find that the Emperor of Turky was turn'd a Christian and the Pop a Protestant As force and vertue of the Sun into the highest Region of the Air is there inflamed partly by the Element of Fire on which it bordereth and partly by the motion of the Heavens which hurleth it about so as there is the same matter of an Earthquake Wind Lightning and a Comet if it be imprison'd in the bowels of the Earth it causeth an Earthquake if it ascend to the middle Region of the Air and from thence repell'd it produceth Wind if it enters that Region and be there environed with a thick Cloud it sends forth Lightning but if it passes that Region it then becomes a Comet or some other fiery Meteor in case the matter be not sufficiently capable thereof Now of these Ignita mixta some continue a longer and some a shorter time seven days is the least but some have been visible six months together all which happeneth according to the scarcity or plenty of the matter whereof it consisteth In a Comet there are two things remarkable the colour and the fashion As for their colours they are usually but of three sorts 1. If the matter be thin then the colour is white 2. If reasonably thick then the colour is ruddy resembling Fire and 3. If very thick then their colour is like the burning of Brimstone or of a blue appearance Yet nevertheless they are not always so exactly of these three colours without any different tincture but as near them as the disposing of their matter will admit so that instead of white we sometimes have them of a yellowish colour and instead of a blue of a watchet or greenish colour and the like In the next place as for their shapes or forms if we stand upon a curious examination of them they may be manifold however Aristotle resolves them into two all their other shapes being dependant on these two For first either they seem round with Beams about them which cometh to pass when the Matter is thin on the edges and thick every where else or secondly they seem as it were with a Beard or Tail which happeneth when it is but meanly thick towards some one side or other and rather long than round But some would have these two fashions to be three because the Tail hangs downward sometimes as well as side-long and so there is by this means Stella crinita Stella caudata and Stella barbata concerning which I am not solicitous Now concerning the Prognostications of such Meteors many and various are the opinions of all Meteorologists whether Comets or Blazing-Stars be generally of such terrible effects Browns Vulg Err. l. 6. c 14 as elder times have conceiv'd them is saith Dr. Brown very uncertain for since it is found that many from whence these predictions are drawn have been above the Moon why may they not be qualified from their Positions and Aspects which they hold with Stars of favourable natures or why since they may be conceived to arise from the Effluviums of other Stars may they not retain the benignity of their Originals or since the natures of the fixed Stars are Astrologically differenced by the Planets and are esteem'd Martial or Jovial according to the colour whereby they answer these Planets why although the red Comets do carry the portensions of Mars should not the brightly white be of the influence of Jupiter or Venus answerably unto Cor Scorpii and Arcturus is not absurd to doubt Therefore some are of opinion that this superstitious dread of Comets may possibly proceed from some terrour struck into mens thoughts by reason of their rare and unexpected appearance rather than from any certain ground of knowledge of the reason of the thing it self as if all but the history of them were only uncertain conjectures For say they although it may be true that after such Comets have appear'd strange things have happen'd yet is there no more connexion of causality between the Comet and the deaths of Great men or Alterations of Government and Religion than as the ingenious Sir Thomas More instances that the building of Tenterden Steeple was as the old Sage would have it the cause of Goodwin Sands because the one appear'd presently upon the building of the other And that the Almighty they say hath given these Signs in the Celestial or Aerial Regions not only to affrighten such mortals as pretend not but to be ignorant what they are nor only to exercise the curiosity of others who affect an enquiry into such things but also to puzzle it may be and discover the vanity of those who would be thought ignorant of nothing be it never so much above them and who choose rather
and Plague in Polonia A. C. 1031 A Comet preadvertised of a Plague Famine and great Inundations of Water A. C. 1038 A Comet gave light to the Sedition in Italy A. C. 1043 The War in Hungary succeeded a Comet A. C. 1058 The death of the King of Poland and Famine in the same Countrey were presignifi'd by a Comet A. C. 1066 For a considerable space together Comets were visible all the World over at which time William the Norman first attack'd this Kingdom which afterwards he conquer'd Also in this same year Pope Gregory the VII or Hildebrand excommunicated Henry the IV. and substituted Rodolphus in his place A. C. 1067 A Comet foreboded a great Drought Pestilence and Famine A. C. 1068 Another fiery Comet appear'd with reference to the Evils mention'd in the two former years A. C. 1071 Another 4th Comet was seen and all relating to the Evils before-recited but more especially to various Seditions which about this time occurr'd As the trampling on the Emperor's Majesty by Pope Hildebrand which he had continued to do from the year 1060. till this present time 1071. The Rebellion of the Saxons Caesar made a Petitioner to the Pope Rodolphus elected in opposition to Henry but afterwards slain And last of all the insolent Pope himself reduced to great Extremities by Henry the IV. A. C. 1095 A. C. 1096 A. C. 1097 A. C. 1099 A. C. 1101 A. C. 1106 A. C. 1109 A. C. 1110 A. C. 1112 In every one of these years a several Comet was seen and about this time it was that Conradus and Henry the V. confederated together against his Father Henry the IV. Then followed the Holy War which proved very fatal to all Christendom Histories likewise tells us of many other Calamities that happen'd at that time as Famine and almost an universal Plague throughout the World as likewise that unhappy War which the Pope waged in Germany wherein arming the Saxons against Henry the V. in five several Battels much bloud was spilt and many gallant Princes lost their Lives nor would his Holiness be pacifi'd until the Emperor abolish'd the Edict of his Grandfather Henry the III. wherein it was establish'd that no one should be acknowledg'd for Pope until the Emperor had first ratified his Election A. C. 1132 A Comet appear'd and soon after the Swedes and the Danes revolted from the Emperor Lotharius by whom they were afterwards reduced A. C. 1145 Another Comet was seen and then a War broke out between the Saxons Vandals and Polanders also the Nobles in Hassia rebell'd A. C. 1211 There appear'd a very great Comet and in the year following the Tartars breaking into Poland and Silesia kill'd a great number of men and cut off one Ear from every man they slew thereby to keep an account how many were slain A. C. 1223 A Comet blazed in France at which time the Pope being at variance with the Emperor Frederick II. the faction of the Gibellines took part with the Emperor and the faction of the Guelphs with the Pope A. C. 1240 A Comet arose and in the year following the Tartars with a vast Army made an incursion into Poland where destroying all things with Fire and Sword they afterwards passing through Moravia into Hungary made havock there for three years At this time also there happen'd in Burgundy a most terrible Earthquake which removed two Mountains and overwhelmed divers men A. C. 1254 A Comet was the forerunner of dreadful High winds A. C. 1264 There appear'd a Comet with a vast long Tail and presently after King Charles with an Army out of France began his Expedition against Sicily where having overcome their King Manfredus he took possession of the Kingdom of Naples Two years after this the Saracens marched into Spain where they won and lost several great Battels with much slaughter on either side In Hetruria also great Tumults arose and in the third year after the appearing of the Comet Banducar King of the Babylonians and Assyrians with a great Army invaded Armenia reduced Antioch and gave a great discomfiture to the Christians A. C. 1298 A. C. 1300 A. C. 1301 A. C. 1304 A. C. 1305 A. C. 1307 In each of these years Comets appear'd which amongst other miseries foretold the afflictions which the Christians should receive from the Ottoman Family which began from Osman or Ottoman in the year of Christ 1297. as also a Pestilence which had almost infected the whole World in the year 1305. A. C. 1312 A. C. 1313 A. C. 1314 A. C. 1315 Was seen a Comet and so also in the other four succeeding years Now it was that Henry Lutzelburgius was poison'd by a Monk likewise a Contention or Civil War did at this time arise about choosing Emperour which produced great Troubles in Germany for the space of eight years as also the greatest Pestilence amongst both Men and Cattel that ever was known together with scarcity of Corn. A. C. 1337 Two Comets were then to be seen soon after began the contention between Ludovicus Bavarus and Pope Clement the 6th The Locusts also were then very pernicious A. C. 1340 Appear'd a Comet in the Heavens which was fulfilled by a Victory that the English obtained over the French of whom ten thousand were slain There was at the same time a Plague taging in Florence which destroy'd fifteen thousand A. C. 1347 There was another Comet and soon after a general Pestilence and so in the years 1351. and 1353. in both which years there appear'd Comets with the like success A. C. 1363 John Wickliffe Reformation was introduced by a Comet A. C. 1375 A. C. 1380 Two Comets portended the private discontents of the Princes of France as well as Bertholdus the German Monk his invention of Guns in the year 1380. A. C. 1382 A new Comet was seen which no sooner disappear'd but a cruel Plague began A. C. 1390 Another Comet was visible and attended with unheard-of and incurable diseases A. C. 1394 A Comet appear'd which the Astrologers call Veru a Dart and esteem the worst of all others it denoted the Italians Treachery who then began to shake off the yoke of the German Empite A. C. 1400 A. C. 1401 A. C. 1402 A. C. 1403 In every one of these years a several Comet appear'd and many great misfortunes ensued them divers new diseases Rivers dried up and great Plagues At the same time Tamerlane or Tamyris King of the Scythians and Parthians with an innumerable Army invaded all Asia calling himself the wrath of God and desolation of the Earth Now also it was that Zisca Captain of the Husses fought successfully against Sigismund the Emperor A. C. 1433 Was beheld a great Comet after which there was great scarcity of Corn for six years together A. C. 1434 There was both a Comet and an Eclipse of the Sun which was follow'd by several Wars A. C. 1439 A Comet preceded the invention of Printing which was discover'd in the year following A. C. 1444