A LETTER From a Gentleman in the COUNTRY, To his Friend in LONDON.  
Occasioned by a PROPHECY, That was lately found in the place of Retirement of Father Lewis, at Comb in Hereford-Shire; he being the Party that undertook, for the value of thirty pounds, to pray the Soul of a certain Maids Father out of Purgatory, (the which) hath lately been made mention in a Pamphlet.  
SIR,  
THe News which daily occurs to us in the Country, doth give me frequent Opportunities of presenting my Service to you; I am very glad, that you are so kind to me, as to do me the Honour, to employ me to give you an Account of our quotidian Transactions; But on the other side, I am sorry that you will find no better entertainment, when you come into the Country, than now you are like to have. For our French-Wines were long since, quite spent, and our better Wine, our Redstreak-Sider is almost drank up, for Father Lewis and his Accomplices were most insatiable Drinkers, and would never be at quiet, till they had gotten our Liquors from us; and though that Holy-Father was so Conscientious, as to demand but thirty (out of five and thirty) pounds of the Maid, to pray her Father's Soul out of Purgatory (which if well done, might in Reason, deserve a hundred) yet he was so Devilish unkind to us, as to threaten us, that we should drink no more Cider after his Decease; The verity of which, you soon may find, if you please to Read the Copy of a Prophecy which he left behind him; It is as followeth.  

The Prophecy.  
BEfore the Glorious Luminary of the Day shall this year Enter into the ninth of the Celestial Houses, there shall happen strange Revolutions, to the great Admiration of many. Deserts shall become populous, and many Populous places shall be almost desolate. Divers Fertile places shall grow Barren, and some Mines shall be exhausted. There shall be Apparitions of Men in Bloudy-coloured Robes, shaking of Chains, to the great Terror ofl the Beholders. In many places shall be heard wonderful and unintelligable Voices, to almost the general Consternation of all those that hear them; and by means thereof, some shall be so enchanted, that for some considerable time, they shall not be able to stir from the Magick-Ground. Divers grievous Sighs and Complaints shall be uttered, which shall even penetrate the Hearts of those who hear them, whilst others shall rejoice to see Bloody Slaughters and great Fires, which shall then be in many places. Many things which for several Ages have been kept in profound Secrecy, shall be then brought to light, and made to appear as clear as the Noonday. Vineyards shall lie waste, Pomaries shall be rifled, and divers Structures shall be Demolished; insomuch, that Corn shall hereafter grow in the places where they once stood.  
This Prophecy was strangely and miraculously found out, for our Gentleman of the two legged Tree, having a Month's mind to try whether a Priests Garments would become him, going one Morning to try how Father Lewis his Doublet would sit him, by chance espied a Gentleman, which much accompanies the Blackguard, creeping out from between the Lining and the Cloth, which he intends to send to Rome, there to be kept alive, for Zealots in future Ages to go in Pilgrimage to; and that he might be so much further meritorious, as to oblige other Romish Churches (besides St. Peter's) with some of those Relics, he falls to Ripping up the Doublet, not daring to trust a Tailor with a matter of so great importance; lest by him he should be cheated of some of those six-footed Animals, and so his intended pious Designs should be performed by another. He had no sooner thrust in his Knife, with an intent to Rip up the stitches, but on a sudden out leaps the Prophecy, and away vanishes the Doublet, so that he thinks his desires are accomplished, for he doth really believe, that every Church in the Pope's Dominion is furnished with one of the beforementioned consecrated Gentlemen. This is all the News I can at present inform you of; but when there happens more, I will give you notice of it by the next, in the mean time if any thing happens at London worthy your pains of writing, pray Communicate it to your Friend and Servant,   
M. P.   

The PROPHECY Explained.  
Prophecy. BEfore the Glorious Luminary of the Day shall this year enter into the ninth of the Celestial Houses, etc.  
Explanation. Sagittarius is the ninth House, into which that Glorious Luminary the Sun enters upon the tenth of November, being near the middle of Michaelmas Term.  
Pro. Deserts shall become populous, and many populous places shall be almost desolate.  
Exp. Those People who in the long Vacation went into the Country and deserted London, will towards the Term come up again to Town, and leave the Country almost Empty.  
Pro. Divers Fertile places shall grow barren, and some Mines shall be exhausted.  
Exp. Some Clients who came up with full Purses, will then go down with scarce a Cross in their Pockets: and those who were troubled with more vexatious Suits of Law, will likewise be forced to ezp●nd greater and more considerable sums of money than others need to do.  
Pro. There shall be Apparitions of Men in Bloudy-coloured Robes, shaking of Chains to the great Terror of many of the Beholderss  
Exp. Before the Term the Sessions will be held in the Old Baly, where the Lord Mayor, the Sheriffs, and some of the Aldermen will fit in their cSarlet Robes, with Golden Chains about their Necks, and those Prisoners who are Conscious of their Gild, will tremble, when they are brought to be tried at the Barr.  
Pro. In many places shall be heard wonderful and unintelligable Voices, to almost the general Consternation of those who hear them.  
Exp. In the several Courts of Judicature, the hard terms of the Law will be made use of, which many persons cannot understand.  
Pro. And by means thereof, some shall be so enchanted that they shall not for some considerable time be able to stir from the Magick-ground.  
Exp. Some against whom Verdicts have passed, will be Arrested and imprisoned, till they have paid the sums of money, in which they were Cast.  
Pro. Divers grievous Sighs and Complaints shall be uttered, which shall even penetrate the Hearts of those that hear them.  
The poor Prisoners in several places are apt to Sigh, and make sad Complaints.  
Pro. Whilst others shall Rejoice to see Bloody Slaughters and great Fires which shall be in many places.  
The Butcher must kill their Beasts, and the Poulterers their Foul, and the Cooks must have good Fires or else they cannot dress them.  
Pro. Many thing which for several Ages have been kept in profound Secrecy, shall be then brought to light, etc.  
Exp. Upon some Trials, Ancient Records must be produced.  
Pro. Vineyards shall lie waste.  
Exp. Because the Grapes will be all gathered befors that time.  
Pro. Pomaries shall be Rifled.  
Exp. The Orchards will have no Fruit left in them.  
Pro. Divers Structures shall be demolished, insomuch that Corn shall hereafter grow in the places where they once stood.  
Exp. Sturbridg. Fair is kept in a Corn field, and the Builders of the Booths are obliged to pull them down before the end of September, that the Field may be Ploughed. And now I bid the Reader farewell, hoping he will be satisfied with this Explanation.  
FINIS.