English coat of arms, circa 1642 
HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE    

IRELANDS Amazement, Or the Heavens ARMADO. Being a true Relation of two strange and prodigious wonders or Apparitions, which was seen over the City of Dublin, the one Decemb. 24. and the other Decemb. 30. 1641.  
Which appeared in the Heavens like to an host of Armed men with great Ordnance as it were giving fire, and all other furniture for war, with other fearful signs.  
Which strange Visions put the City and Inhabitants into great astonishment and fear.  
And may serve as a warning piece for England in these troublesone and distracted times:  
London, Printed for John Thomas, 1641.   

Dublins warning piece, OR, The Heavens Armado, with a spur to Repentance.  
IT hath been reported from Antiquity, and our Fathers have foretold us concerning the impious and nefarious imaginations of the Children of the age to come the which being verified in these present times, we ought to take into our serious consideration the present and now imminent deuger ordained by the direful wrath of the just and Almighty God; True it is, that we have like Icarus( scorning the Counfell of our all creating Father God) soared so high with the waxed wings of our human and mortal invention, that we are almost fallen into the surging Ocean of this our present misery, and the wings of our vain and self-conceited inventions are Sunburnt with the hot and melting sun of Gods wrath. The prodigious Apparitions in the Heavens do show and forewarn us from proceeding into our daily vices and heinous iniquities; As lately for Example sake.  
Vpon the 30. day of Decenth. last, Anno, 1641. There did appear in the sight of the Juhabitants of the City of Dublin a prodigious Apparition in the Firmament, the similitude whereof I shall truly demonstrate in this present Declaration; There appeared a great host of Armed men in the likeness of horse and Foot, and according to human supposition they seemed innumerable, when especially were notified to the eye of the aforesaid beholders of the City of Dublin, a train of Artillery with great Ordnance and Field pieces, as necessary for battle, where also was presented to the amazement of the beholders, Gunners giving fire in direful and hideous manner, that the very likeness of the flames thereof, strooke the beholders with great astonishment and admiration.  
●. Oh is it not time therefore for Israell to repent and call to the Lord that he would reform her wicked ways? Oh it is the vengeance of the Lord, not that we are in erroneous and false doctrinal Religion; But by reason that we forget to worship God our Creator.  
Did not the Lord suffer the philistines to vanquish and overcome Israel, because they gave themselves over to all 'vice and carnal delights of the flesh, and running headlong after strange Gods, forgetting the Lord Almighty, that conducted them out of the Bondage of pharaoh, and the slavery of the Egyptians.  
Oh let us with Peter mourn and lament for the denial of Gods true Worship; Oh let the eyes of out Repentance, like the Rocks of Marah power forth the abundant and flowing streams of Repentance, that our God, the God of infinite mercy, may withstand the hand of those merciless and irreligious Caitisses of the blood-sucking Rebels of Ireland, under whose Tyranny our Protestants lie groaning; Oh that the Lord would unite our hearts in the true and fervent prayer of Manasses.  
Oh that we might have a David sent from the Lord to slay the vaunting goliath of those daring Rebels, then should Israel see manifold blessings, the blessings of the Lord, and learn how to praise God her Maker, If the tares of blind superstition and idolatry were rooted out and cleansed from the good Seed of the pure gospel; Then should wee know, how to praise the Lord and rejoice in his Holy Name.   

A strange Wonder.  
GReat are the wonderful works of God, and innumerable are the signs and Wonders, by which he expresses & foretells his judgements, striving by that means to deter mankind from sinning.  
And that this Miracle may not be esteemed fabulous, and vain,( too many hearts being hardened with unbelief, which vainly think that such things are occasioned by chance, and not by divine providence) therefore J have thought good to give you some testimonies in the like nature, which have happened on other Countries, which have sound by sad experience, the effect of those dismal, and amazing Apparitions.  
In Silesia at Trappa, Crowas fought a mortal battle, Feb. 1625.  
At Hessen likewise flights of Birds fought and killed each other, March 1635.  
Many other signs and Wonders I could relate which were the fore-runners of desolation and destruction.  
A nearer Testimony I can give you which hath lately happened at Worsop in Nottinghamshire on the 16. day of Novemb. last, 1641. A certain Maia lay dead the space of 20. houres, afterwards she came to life again and made a strange and wonderful prophecy, fore-telling strange and wonderful alterations in these kingdoms, without speedy repentance, declaring how near Gods judgements were at hand, and ready to fall upon our heads.  
likewise at Dublin on Christmas Eve last, 1641. was a true information sent to an Alderman of London from his Factor in Ireland, of a strange wonder seen on the same day about 4. of the clock in the afternoon it growing dark, such an incredible number of Sea gulls, Ravens and crows assembled together, fluttering, croaking, and pewling over our heads in so strange a hideous manner, that they astonished all the Jnhabitants, and thus continued till 6. at night, being an hour especially at this time of the year, that Fowle seldom are seen or heard abroad, nay the shooting of many Muskets, and of divers pieces from the Castle could not affright or scar them away, nay we in my very conscience were more afraid of them, then they of us, what it should mea●k: I cannot divine, but the oldest man in Dublin, either English or irish never saw the like, but by this wee have cause to conjecture, that God by those Apparitions fore-tels his judgements in signs and Wonders, which without speedy Repentance, wee have cause to fear will suddenly fall upon us, God I beseech him avert them, and give us penitent hearts, so that we may truly loathe our sins and turn to the Lord our God.  
FINIS.