Day-Fatality: Or, Some Observation of Days Lucky and Unlucky, CONCLUDING WITH Some remarks upon the Fourteenth of October, the Auspicious Birthday of His Royal Highness, James Duke of York.  
Atavis qui Regibus editus,  
Augustissimo CAROLO proximus.  NUM. XXVII. 8, 9 LUC. XIX. 42. In Hoc Die Tuo. In This Thy Day. 
THat there be Good and Evil Days and Times, not only the Sacred Scriptures, but profane Authors mention: See 1 Sam. 25. 8. Esther 8. 17. and 9 19, 22. Ecclus 14. 14.  
The Fourteenth day of the First Month was a memorable and blessed day amongst the Children of Israel: See Exod. 12. 18, 40, 41, 42, 51. and 13. 4. Levit. 23. 5. Numb. 28. 16. Four hundred and thirty years being expired of their dwelling in Egypt, even in the selfsame day departed they thence.  
A thing somewhat parallel to this, we read in the Roman Histories; That that very day four years that the Civil Wars were begun by Pompey the Father, Caesar made an end of them with his Sons; Cneus Pompeius being then slain, and it being also the last Battle Caesar was ever in. Heylyn in the Kingdom of Corduba.] The Calendar to Ovid's Fastorum says, Aprilis erat mensis Graecis auspicatissimus, a most auspicious Month to the Grecians.  
As to Evil Days and Times, see Amos 5. 13. and 6. 3. Eccles. 9 12. Plalm 37. 19 Obad. 12. Jer. 46. 21. And Job hints it, in cursing his Birthday, cap. 3. v. 1. to 11. See Weaver, p. 458.  
early in a mornening,  
In an Evil Tyming,  
Went they from Dunbarre.  
Horace, lib. 2. Ode 13. cursing the Tree that had like to have fallen upon him, says, Ille nefasto te posuit die; intimating, that it was planted in an unlucky day.  
The Romans counted Febr. 13. an unlucky day, and therefore than never attempted any Business of Importance; for on that day they were overthrown at Allia by the Gauls; and the Fabii, attaquing the City of the Veii, were all slain save one. Heylyn speaking of St. Peter's Patrimony.] And see the Calendar annexed to Ovid's Fastorum, as to the last Circumstance.  
The Jews counted August 10. an unfortunate day; for on That the Temple was destroyed by Titus the Son of Vespasian; on which day also the first Temple was consumed with Fire by Nabuchadnezzar. Heylyn.] The Treasury of the Times says, the Eighth of Loyon (August) the very same day 679 years one after another.  
And not only among the Romans and Jews, but also among Christians, a like Custom of observing such days is used, especially Childermas or Innocents' day. Comines tells us, That Lewis XI. used not to debate any Matter, but accounted it a sign of great Misfortune towards him, if any man communed with him of his Affairs; and would be very angry with those about him, if they troubled him in any Matter whatsoever upon this day.  
But I will descend to more particular Instances of Lucky and Unlucky Days.  
Upon the Sixth of April, Alexander the Great was born: Upon the same day he conquered Darius, won a great Victory at Sea, and died the same day.  
Neither was this day less fortunate to his Father Philip; for on the same he took Potidea; Parmenio his General gave a great Overthrow to the Illyrians; and his Horse was Victor at the Olympic Games. Therefore his Prophets foretold to him, Filium cujus natalis, etc. That a Son whose Birthday was accompanied with Three Victories, should prove Invincible. Pezelius in Mellificio Historico.  
Upon the Thirtieth of September, Pompey the Great was born: Upon that day he he Triumphed for his Asian Conquest; and on that day died.  
The Nineteenth of August was the day of Augustus his Adoption: On the same day he began his Consulship: He conquered the Triumvirs; and on the same day he died. Hitherto out of the Memoirs of K. Charles I Heros.  
If Solomon count the day of ones death better than the day of ones birth, there can be no Objection why that also may not be numbered amongst ones Remarkable and Happy days. And therefore I will insert here, That the Eleventh of February was the Noted day of Elizabeth Wife to Henry VII. who was born and died that day. Weaver, p. 476. Brook in H. 7. Marriage. Stow in Anno 1466. 1503.  
As also that the Twenty third of November was the Observable day of Francis Duke of Lunenburgh, who was born on that day, and died upon the same, 1549. as says the French Author of the Journal History, who adds, upon particular Remark, and observable curiosity  
Ipsa dies vitam contulit ipsa necem.  
The same day Life did give,  
And made him cease to live.  
Sir Kenelm Digby, that Renowned Knight, great Linguist, and Magazine of Arts, was born and died on the Eleventh of June; and also fought fortunately at Scanderoon the same day. Hear his Epitaph, composed by Mr. Farrar, and recited in the aforesaid Memoirs.  
Under this Stone the Matchless Digby lies,  
Digby the Great, the Valiant, and the Wise:  
This Age's Wonder, for his Noble Parts;  
Skilled in Six Tongues, and learned in All the Arts.  
Born on the day he died, th' Eleventh of June,  
On which he bravely fought at Scanderoon.  
'Tis rare, that one and selfsame day should be  
His day of Birth, of Death, of Victory.  
I had a Maternal Uncle, that died the Third of March last, 1678. which was the Anniversary day of his Birth; and (which is a Truth exceeding strange) many years ago he foretold the day of his Death to be that of his Birth; and he also averred the same but about a week before his departure. This Third of March is the day of St. Eutropius (of which hereafter); and as to my Uncle it was significative, it turned well to him, according to that of Rev. 14. 13. Blessed are the dead, etc. and that of Ovid, Metam. lib. 3.  
— Dicique beatus  
Ante obitum nemo supremaque funera debet.  
— None happy call,  
Before their Death, and final Funeral.  
The Sixth of January was five times auspicious to Charles Duke of Anjou. Ibid. in the Life of the Earl of Sunderland.  
The Twenty fourth of February was happy to Charles the Fifth four times. Ibid.] Heylyn speaking of the Temple of Jerusalem, hints three of these four: His Birth: His taking of Francis King of France Prisoner: His receiving the Imperial Crown at Bononia. And so doth also the Journal History beforementioned.  
Of the Family of the Trevours, Six successive principal Branches have been born the Sixth of July. Same Memoirs.  
Sir Humphrey Davenport was born the Seventh of July; and on that day anniversary his Father and Mother died, within a quarter of an hour one of another. Same Memoirs.  
I have seen an old Romish MSS. Prayer-Book (and shown the same to that general Scholar, & great ginger E. Ashmole Esq) at the beginning whereof was a Calendar, wherein were inserted the Unlucky days of each Month, set out in Verse. I will recite them just as they are, sometimes infringing the Rule of Grammar, sometimes of Prosodia; a matter, of which the old Monkish Rhimers were no ways scrupulous. It was as ancient as Henry the Sixth, or Edward the Fourths time.  
January. Prima dies mensis, & septima truncat ut ensis.  
February. Quarta subit mortem, prosternit tertia fortem.  
March. Primus mandentem, disrumpit quarta bibentem.  
April. Denus & undenus est mortis vulnere plenus.  
May. Tertius occidit, & septimus ora 
* Ex re & laedo.  relidit.  
June. Denus pallescit, quindenus foedera nescit.  
July. Ter-decimus mactat, Julii denus labefactat.  
August. Prima necat fortem prosternit secunda cohortem.  
September. Tertia Septembris, & denus fert mala membris.  
October. Tertius & denus, est sicut mors alienus.  
November. Scorpius est quintus, & tertius e nece cinctus.  
December. Septimus exanguis, virosus denus & anguis.  
The tenth Verse is intolerable, and might be mended thus,  
Tertia cum dena fit sicut mors aliena.  
If any object and say, deni is only the Plural; I excuse myself by that admirable Chronogram upon King Charles the Martyr,  
Ter deno, Jani, Lunae, Rex (Sole cadente)  
Carolus exutus Solio, Sceptroque secure.  
Neither will I have recourse for refuge to that old Tetrastich, 
Intrat Avaloniam duodena. Caterva virorum  
Flos Arimathiae Joseph, etc.  because I have even now blamed the liberty of the ancient Rhymers.  
He means by mors aliena, some strange kind of Death; though aliena signifies strange in quite another sense than there used.  
I shall take particular notice here of the Third of November, both because 'tis my own Birthday, and also for that I have observed some remarkable Accidents to have happened thereupon.  
Constantius the Emperor, Son of Constantine the Great, little inferior to his Father, a worthy Warrior, and good Man, died the Third of November, ex Veteri Calendario, penes me.  
Thomas Montacute Earl of Salisbury, that great Man, and famous Commander sub Hen. IU. V & VI died this day, by a Wound of Canonshot he received at the Siege of orleans. E MSS. quodam, & Glovero.  
So also Cardinal Borrhomeo, famous for his Sanctity of Life, and therefore Canonised, (Heylyn, in his Praecognita, says, He made Milan memorable, by his Residence there) died 1584. this day, as Possevinus in his Life.  
Sir John Perot (Stow corruptly calls him Parrot) a Man very remarkable in his Time, Lord Deputy of Ireland, Son to Hen. VIII. and extremely like him, died in the Tower, the Third of November, 1592. (as Stow says) Grief, and the Fatality of this Day, killed him. See Nanton's Fragment a Regalia, concerning this Man.  
Stow in his Annals says, Anno 1099. Novemb. 3. as well in Scotland as England, the Sea broke in over the Banks of many Rivers, drowning divers Towns, and much People, with an innumerable number of Oxen and Sheep; at which time the Lands in Kent sometimes belonging to Earl Godwin, were covered with Sands, and drowned, and to this day are called Godwins Sands.  
I had an Estate left me in Kent, of which between thirty and forty Acres was Marshland, very conveniently flanking its Upland; and in those days this Marshland was usually let for Four Nobles an Acre. My Father died 1643. Within a year and half after his decease, such Charges and Water-scots came upon this Marshland, by the influence of the Sea, that it was never worth one Farthing to me, but very often eat into the Rents of the Upland: So that I often think, this day being my Birthday, hath the same evil influence upon me, that it had 580 years since upon Earl Godwin, and others concerned in low Lands.  
The Parliament so fatal to Rome's Concerns here, in Henry the Eighth's time, begun the Third of November, (26 of his Reign); in which the Pope, with all his Authority, was clean banished the Realm; he no more to be called otherwise than Bishop of Rome; the King to be taken and reputed as Supreme Head of the Church of England, having full Authority to reform all Errors, Heresies, and Abuses of the same: Also the First-fruits and Tenths of all Spiritual Promotions and Dignities were granted to the King. See Stow's Annals, and Weaver, pag. 80.  
Not long after which, followed the Visitation of Abbeys, Priories, and Nunneries; and after that, their final Suppression: This Parliament being the Door of entrance thereto.  
The Third of November, 1640. began that Parliament so direfully fatal to England, in its Peace, its Wealth, its Religion, its Gentry, Nobility, nay, it's King. So verifying the former Verse of the Calendar,  
Scorpius est quintus, & tertius e nece cinctus.  
A kill day to some or other.  
The Third of September was a Remarkable day to the English Attila, Oliver. 1650. he obtained a memorable Victory at Dunbar; another at Worcester, 1651. And that day he died, 1658.  
The first two Occurrences wonderfully accord to the preceding Verse, Tertia Septembris, & denus fert mala membris. being fatal to the two Members of Great Britain, Scotland and England. The third, as happy to them both, as the same day, 1666. was dismal and unhappy to the City of London, and consequently to the whole Kingdom, with its immediate preceding and two succeeding days, viz. the Second, Fourth, and Fifth of September.  
I come now to Days of the Week.  
Tuesday (Dies Martis) was a most remarkable day with Thomas Becket Archbishop of Canterbury, as Weaver 201. observes from Matt. Paris: Mars, secundum Poetas, Deus Belli nuncupatur. Vita Sancti Thomae (secundum illud Job, Vita hominis militia est super terram) tota fuit contra hostem bellicosa, etc. Mars, according to the Poets, is called The God of War. The Life of S. Thomas (according to that of Job, The life of man is a warfare upon earth) was a continual conflict against the enemy. Upon the Tuesday he suffered; upon Tuesday he was translated; upon Tuesday the Peers of the Land sat against him at Northampton; upon Tuesday he was banished; upon Tuesday the Lord appeared to him at Pontiniac, saying, Thomas, Thomas, my Church shall be glorified in thy blood; upon Tuesday he returned from Exile; upon Tuesday he got the Palm or Reward of Martyrdom; and upon Tuesday, 1220. his Venerable Body received the Glory and Renown of Translation, Fifty years after his Passion. Thus my Authors.  
One thing I make bold to gloss upon. His Translation is here mentioned twice. Note, This is no Tautology of the Historian; but the latter Paragraph is a more particular Recitation of the first, viz. reference to the time when he was translated into the number of Saints and Martyrs: Quando in Divorum numerum relatus, as Cambden.  
Wednesday is said to have been the fortunate day of Sixtus Quintus, that Pope of renowned Merit, that did so great and excellent things in the time of his Government. See The Just weight of the Scarlet Robe, pag. 101 his deserved Praises.] On a Wednesday he was born; on that day he was made Monk; on the same, he was made General of his Order; on that also, was he successively created Cardinal, electected Pope, and also Inaugurated. See Heylyn, speaking of the Temple of Jerusalem.  
Friday was observed to be very fortunate to the great and renowned Captain Gonsalvo, he having on that day given the French many memorable Defeats.  
Saturday was a Lucky day to Hen. VII. Upon that day he achieved the Victory upon Ric. III. being August 22. 1485. On that day he entered the City, being Aug. 29. [Correct Stow, who mistakes the day.] And he himself always acknowledged, he had experienced it Fortunate. See Bacon in his Life.  
Thursday was a Fatal Day to Henry VIII. as Stow, 812.] and so also to his Posterity. He died on Thursday Jan. 28. King Edw. VI on Thursday July 6. Queen Marry, on Thursday November 17. Queen Elizabeth, on Thursday March 24.  
Saturday (or the Jewish Sabbath) was fatal to Jerusalem Temple; for on that day 'twas taken by Pompey, Herod, and Titus, successively. Heylyn.  
Hitherto by way of Prologue. And be pleased to take notice, As to the Days of the Month, I have taken such care, that all are according to the Julian or Old Account, used by us here in England. See Partridges Almanac, Pref. to the Reader.] Pope Gregory XIII. brought in his New Style (used generally beyond Sea) Anno 1585. in October, as asserts the Journal History before-recited.  
Now for Epilogue, and Remarkable Reflection.  
Turning over our Annals, I chanced upon a twofold Circumstance: I will not say, that none else hath observed the same; but I protest, (Ita me Deus amet, ut verum loquor) I do not know of any that have; and therefore must justly claim to be acquitted from the least suspicion of Plagiarism, or ploughing with others Heifers.  
The first is, of William the Conqueror. The second, of Edward III (I need not say any thing of the Eminency of these two; every one knows what great things they did.) And making reflection upon the Auspicious Birthday of His Royal Highness the Duke of York, I adventured upon the following Composure. [I cannot be proud of my Poetry; but I cannot but be glad of my BON HEUR, d' avoir (en lisant) tombè si fortuitemènt sur les evenements d' un si BON JOUR.  

Ad Illustrissimum & Celsissimum Principem, JACOBUM Ducem EBORACENSEM, de Natali Suo Auspicatissimo, Octobris XIV. Anno MDCXXXIII.  

— Deus  
Anne nefasto te posuit die? 
Hor. li. 2. od. 13.   
— The Fates, have they  
Thy Birth designed on an unlucky day?   

OCtobris Decimo quarto Normannus Haraldum  
Dux superavit, & hinc Regia Sceptra tulit.  
Tertius Edwardus, capto pernice Caleto,  
(Gallica quo Regna sunt reserata sibi)  
Ire domum tentans, diris turbomibus actus  
In pelago, Vitae Magna pericla subît:  
Octobris Decimo quarto, tamen appulit Oras  
Nativas. (His quàm prosperus ille dies?)  
Natali laetare tuo, quàm Maxim Princeps;  
Fausta velut sunt haec, Omina semper habe.   

October's Fourteenth gave the Norman Duke  
That victory, 
Stow in An. 1066.  whence he England's Sceptre took.  
Third Edward, after he had Calais won,  
(The Mean whereby he France did overrun)  
Returning home, by raging Tempests tossed,  
(And near his Life (so fortunes) to have lost)  
Arrived safe on Shore the selfsame Date. 
Idem in An. 1347.   
(This day to them afforded so fair Fate.)  
Great Duke, rejoice in this Your day of Birth;  
And may such Omens still increase Your Mirth.    
These Verses I presented in Anno 1677. to a most Honourable Peer of the Land, and of great Place near His Royal Highness.  
Since which time, old Fabian coming into my hands, from him I got knowledge, that that advantageous Peace, mentioned by Stow, Anno 1360. (concluded between the forementioned King Edward III. and the French King) was acted upon the Fourteenth of October, with grand Solemnity.  
The two former Circumstances must needs fall out Providentially: Whether this last of Anno 1360. was designed by Edw. III. or no, (as remembering his former good hap) may be some question: I am of opinion, not. Where things are under a Man's peculiar Concern, he may fix a time; but here was the French King concerned, equally with the English, and many other Great Personages interessed: To have tied them up to his own Auspicious Conceit of the Day, had been an unkind Oppression, and would have brought the Judgement of so Wise a Prince into question: We may conclude then, 'twas merely fortuitous. And therefore to the former Observation concerning this famous Edward, give me leave to add,  
Insupèr hoc ipsoque die (sibi commoda) Grandis  
Rex cum Galligenis, foedera fecit idem.  
An advantageous Peace, on day self same,  
This mighty Prince did with the Frenchmen frame.  
A memorable Peace (foretold by Nostredamus) much conducing to the saving of Christian Blood, was made upon the Fourteenth of October, 1557. between Pope Paul IU. Henry II. of France, and Philip II. of Spain. Nostredamus says, These Great Princes were frappèz du Ciel, moved from Heaven to make this Peace. See Garencieres Comment on Nostredamus, pag. 76.  
A Lucky day this, not only to the Princes of England; but Auspicious to the Welfare of Europe.  
Upon the Third of March last (being the day of St. Eutropius) His Royal Highness withdrew towards the Low-Countries: Procopius tells us, Humana saepe contingit a Deo mutari. Terence says, Vicissitudo omnium rerum est. Which two Sayings I can no way better English, than by that of Eccles. 9 11. Time and chance happens to all men: Nor no way better second than with that of 1 Cor. 4. 11. Incertis vagamur sedibus. This Accident therefore (our life being but a pilgrimage, as Jacob termed it to Pharaoh) is nothing to a General Providence in the main. Therefore from the Augury of His Fourteenth of October, and from the good Omen comprehended in the Signification of Eutropius, which hints, that all this shall end well, and turn to the best; and from Ecclus 14. 14, 15. I accost His Royal Highness with a Non defraudabitur a die bono; He shall not lose his Good day.  
Dixerunt Ibis, pariter dixêre Redibis  
Te non infausto Dîi posuere die.  
The Gods thy Exit have ordained, and also they  
Thy blessed Return have firmed, born on a Lucky day.  
I just now said, That the Third of March was dedicated to Eutropius, which is derived from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 well, and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to turn: It is also dedicated to St. Maximus, St. Marinus, St. Lucius; which three also have notable hints in relation to His Royal Highness. First, No man can deny, but that He is Maximus Princeps. Secondly, He is Maximus Marinus; for in the time of His Exile He was Admiral of Arragon, as I have been told many years since in Flanders; and I am sure very many Commissions in those days passed under His Name: And till 1673. He was Lord High Admiral of England.  
Lucius comes from Luci, which signifies in the morning; and betokens a Child born in the morning, or at Sunrising, (which some affirm to be a good time for Birth): But I will for my present purpose deduce it a Luceo; and I must affirm, Quod hic maximus Princeps gestis marinis maxime lucet, & alias lucebit; This most Great Prince is extremely Illustrious in Sea Negotiations, and shall yet be otherwise most Illustrious.  
That his Highness has long since verified the first Paragraph of my Assertion, take it not only on my Credit; but (besides what has been said before) hear part of an Ode to His Sacred Majesty, on His Highness' Victory over the Dutch, June 3. 1665. composed by Sir T. H. a most Worthy Person, whom his Foreign Negotiations have made enough known.  
This day Your Empire Fate secures,  
And now One half of the whole World is Yours.  
The Austrian Youth, who won the day,  
When the pale Crescent to the Cross gave way,  
Must to Your Glorious Brother yield,  
Who with less Loss hath got a greater Field, etc.  
The Germans, High and Low, (amongst which last His Highness now resides) call October, Wyn-maendt (Mensis Vindemialis) the Wine-month.  
The Effects of Wine we read Judges 9 13. Psal. 104. 15. Eccles. 10. 19 Zach. 10. 7. Why then may we not term this Month Mensis Laetificans? That it may be so to his Royal Highness, as well as it was to the most Great Queen His 
* John 16. 21.  Mother, are the hearty Prayers of BLEW-MANTLE.  


Virg lib. 1. — Haec olim memenisse juvabit:  

Ib. l. 7. & 1.  Vunanimes omnes, cùm Te (Dux Celse) reducto,  
Certatìm instaurent epulas, atque omine magno  
Crateres laeti statuant & Vina coronent.   

Remembrance of these things, delight shall Thee,  
When (home returned) great Feast thou shalt see,  
And Healthings round, shall stir up gladsome glee,  
And this Rejoicing general shall be.   
I have by me a Book printed Anno 1641. containing the true Effigies of King CHARLES the First, of Blessed Memory, his Queen, with their Royal Progeny, with Verses annexed, wherein are notable Predictions of His Royal Highness, which I will here recite.  
This Prince, much like another Sun, darts forth  
Most glorious Beams to's Dukedom, and the North;  
And makes us see with Eyes of expectation,  
He'll be a mighty Pillar to this Nation,  
A Stay of State, a strong supporting Prop,  
Whose Fame will scale the Height of Honours Top.  
He hates dull Idleness, and loves to be  
In Action, such as fits His High Degree:  
He will be stirring in such Exercise  
As well becomes His Years and Qualities.  
Surely th' Eternal Eye of Providence  
Doth watch, direct, and guide this Hopeful Prince,  
For some Designs may be for Heaven's glory,  
And fill the Earth with JAMES His Noble Story.  
This All True Britan's do expect in Love:  
No doubt, our Wishes are confirmed Above.  
Thus that Book: And I add,  
Quis meliora petat, consultus quòd Tripos edat?  
Who Better things than these can wish  
From the Oracle's Breath of Bliss?  

1678.  Martis Mense data haec, timidi committere praelo  
Non Impressores audebant (
* Prov. 6. 19  tempore duro).  
J. Gibbon.  
FINIS.