THE PANTHER-PROPHESY, OR, A Premonition to all People, OF Sad CALAMTTIES and MISERIES like to befall these Islands. To which is added, An Astrological DISCOURSE Concerning That strange APPARITION of an ARMY of HORSE seen in Wales, near MOUNTGOMERY, December the 20th. 1661.  ACTS 2.17, and 19, Verses. 
Your Sons and your Daughters shall prophesy, and your Young Men shall see Visions, and your Old Men shall dream Dreams.  
And I will show Wonders in Heaven above, and Signs in the Earth beneath: Blood, and Fire, and vapour of smoke.  
Printed in the Year, 1662.   

TO THE READER  
Courteous READER,  
AMong the many things that Providence hath offered to our serious Consideration, in this Age of Wonders from Heaven, and unparalleled Actions from Men on Earth; this following Paper falling under the special notice of some persons, hath gained itself no small share in their Estimation, as a piece not a little significant to the present Generation. But what it is, and how much, and how nearly it doth concern us, is left to the Judgement of every judicious Reader to pass Sentence.  
Some say it is a german prophesy, which a Gentleman traveling into those Countries( searching curiously after things of this nature) found among divers others, that he thought concerned these Islands.  
Others say, it's an ancient british prophesy, setting down under these Figures and Representations, what should befall great britain. But,  
Others again say, That December, 1653. A Person of Honesty and Integrity; out of an extreme sense of the Misery( which hath since been made sufficiently evident to common sense, and is daily more and more) that was coming upon his Country, as well as his own private affairs, by the Actions then on foot; fell into such a bitter Agony of Spirit, as brought him very low; and upon the 28th day of the Month, in Morning about day-break,( whether asleep or awake he was not certain) that which is contained in the following Paper was presented to him: But whether it was a Vision, or a Suggestion, or a Dream, the perplexity of his Spirit hindered him from discerning.  
Now, whencesoever this Paper came, or whomsoever is the Author of it, by that of it which hath been already fulfilled, it hath gained itself so much credit, as to be worth a serious Consideration; and the remainder of it, deserves an Esteem of a somewhat more than Probability of Performance.  
There came also to my hand another Paper, although it be a Discourse of another Nature; yet, for the sake of some remarkable things in it, I thought it worth the Publishing: The occasion of the Authors writing of it, was this, That wonderful Apparition of a great Body of Horse( appearing on a Common near Mountgomery in Wales, Decemb. the 20th. 1661.) coming to the ears of a very great Person, he sends for two of the most Famous Astrologers, requiring their judgement upon that Apparition; both of them gave him their judgement according to the best of their Skill in Art, which occasioned this draft of it in this Mode and style.  Try all things, hold fast that which is good. farewell.  

THE PANTHER, OR, Premonition to all People.  

Sect. 1.  IN this Corner is the portraiture of a Church Emblimatically expressing( by a metonymy) the Containing for the Contained: Out of each Window and Door, Faces appearing, and Voices seeming to issue from them, saying,— Wee will wait for thy Salvation. In this Corner is the representation of Christ in the flesh ascending to Heaven. Christ On this side stand Four Men as it were in Consultation. The first like a complete soldier in the Ornaments and accommodations of an eminent Commander, with his Sword in his Hand. The second like a perfect Lawyer in his Judges Robes, a four-corner'd Cap upon his Head, before him the Law-Book, and in his hand a Charter and Sealt o it. The third, a Citizen in a scarlet Gown, a black Hood, a gold Chain, a round flat Cap on his head, and a bag of Gold in his hand. The fourth, a Clergy-man in his caconical Gown, his long Cassack underneath, a diminutive Band, his three-corner'd Cap, with a Bible in one hand, and a Directory in the other. From all these four goeth up a Voice, as if they were all conjoined in one consent, saying,— We will not have this man to rule over us. On this side of the first Section is a great Wood, and in the wood( scarcely to be discerned) a PANTHER. Underneath is the portraiture of a City with this Inscription, A certain Noble Man went into a far country to receive a Kingdom for himself, but his Citizens hated him, and sent after him, saying, We will not have this Man to rule over us. The Crescent but just upon Changing Crescent Changing.  

Sect. 2.  In this Corner there is a CHURCH( as before) with Voices as before, saying,— Come Lord Jesus. In this Corner is Christ looking down from Heaven upon the Metamorphosed Men, uttering these Expressions darting upon them, saying, The Lord will have you in derision. Here is a Wood and the PANTHER as before. Here comes a Messenger to the four Men in Consultation, saying, The Marriage Supper is prepared, Come. The Lawyer answered, I have bought five yoke of Oxen and go to prove them, I pray thee have me excused. The Citizen said, I have bought a Farm, and I must go to see it. The soldier answered, I have married a Wife and I cannot come. The Clergy-man having the Picture of a Church on his right shoulder, with this Inscription, My Cure; and on his left another Church, with this Inscription, An Augmentation; between both upon the middle of his back another( like Pauls) with this Inscription, A Poor Lecture of 400 a Year: The Clergy-man turns his back on the Messenger, and hath the Globe of the World under his arm( which he hugs fast) and his hand is pointed out to any other Church at a distance from him, and these words go pointing from his finger, I must have the advouzon of yonder small thing; and out of his mouth goeth voices, saying, Let me have the Mastership of a college or be a Chaplain to a Regiment. Here is a Wood, and the PANTHER coming out, but hides his Head between his legs. Here the soldier, the Lawyer, the Citizen, and the Clergy-man meet again, and each seeming to excite other to admire the beauty of the PANTHER. The Lawyer speaking to the soldier, the Clergy-man to the Citizen, and in their approach to the PANTHER, they are all METAMORPHOSED thus, The soldier hath a Hares Head on his Shoulders. The Lawyer a Foxes on his. The Citizen an Asses on his. The Clergy-man a Wolfs on his, and Sheeps skins hang over his caconical Gownshoulder. The Crescent in the first Quarter. Underneath a City with this Inscription by it, They that embrace lying Vanities, forsake their own Mercies.  

Sect. 3.  In this Corner there is a CHURCH( as before) and Voices as before, coming out saying,— O Lord how long? In this Corner is Christ in the Clouds sitting upon his Throne, & these words issue down upon the Conjunction, saying, He shall break them to pieces like a Potters Vessel. Here on this side cometh the PANTHER clear out of the Wood, no ways hiding himself, the Wood being behind him. The Crescent Increasing. 
Here in the first place it is supposed the soldier hath offered up Himself and Sword to the PANTHER, which is all swallowed saying the Point of the Sword and Foot of the soldier.  
And the other three are before the PANTHER upon their Knees.  
The Lawyer with a great Charter in his hand.  
The Citizen with a Bag of Gold in his hand.  
The Chergy-man with a Bible in one hand, and a Directory in the other; under his arm the Surplice, and the Book of Common Prayer,( hardly yet discerned.)  
And all the four are supposed to have given themselves and their Interests to the PANTHER, who seemeth to have swallowed all but the Bible, and that sticks in his teeth, as in the next Section.  In another Wood seemeth Philonax and his friends to come forth rejoicing, and saying, By these Revolutions we shall return to rest. And then they fall to Quaffing of a poor People, that are by them, saying, Sing us one of the Songs of Zion. Underneath is a City and many going out of it, saying to each other, Come out of her, lest ye partake of her Plagues.  

Sect. 4.  In this Corner there is a CHURCH( as before) and Voices( as before) coming out saying,— Wo is me that I dwell in the Tents of Mesheck. Here is Christ( as before) in the Clouds on his Throne, and these Words darting down upon his People in the Wood( from whence the PANTHER came. saying, I have seen the Afflictions of my People, and am come down to deliver them. Here is a Wood, and abundance of poor People that are fled out of the City, are at Prayers. In this upper Section is the PANTHER, and hath swallowed up all( as before) saving the Bible, and that sticks in his teeth, and this Voice cometh from him, O this I cannot get down. Full Moon. Then is he standing( but as a Beast doth when he vents his Ordure) and voids the soldier with a Dukes Coronet upon his Hares head, and a Sword by his side sheathed, with a golden Pad-lock upon it. He voides the Lawyer in his Robes with an Earls Coronet on his Foxes head, but nothing in his hand, saying, I have gotten Honour, though I have lost mine own and the Nations Charter. The Citizen is voided with a barons Coronet upon his Asses head, and nothing in his hand. The Clergyman is voided in his caconical Gown, Cassack down to his shoes( as before) his diminutive Band and cuffs, his stolen about his Neck, his Scarlet Tippit and Surplice in one hand, and a Commission in the other hand, and upon the Seal Engraven, Coercive Power. In this Sub-section the four Metamorphosed Creatures take up the PANTHER upon their Shoulders, and seem now to be one with him, and to support him. Philonax and his Friends scornfully rejoice and say, They think they have pulled down the Brick and intend to build with hewn ston. A poor People are here in the Wood still mourning before the Lord for the breach of Covenant, and say, Oh, my God I am ashamed, and blushy to lift up my face unto thee; for our Iniquities are increased over our Heads, and our Trespasses are grown up to Heaven. The wicked walks on every side, while the vilest of men are exalted: Underneath is a City with several Disorders, as Dancing and reveling, &c.  

Sect. 5.  
In this Corner is a Church( as before) and Voices as before, saying,— Consider and hear me O Lord my God, lighten mine eyes lest I sleep the sleep of Death.  
In this Section is the PANTHER in his pomp born up of the four Supporters, having in his mouth a Godly Man,( as it were) worrying him by the neck; then comes the  Here is Christ sitting in the Clouds upon his Throne, and a Voice coming from Him, saying Behold I stand at the door. Last Quarter. In the Wood are many Praying, and saying, For thy sake are we killed all the day long, and accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Hard by them is a Castle, and many looking through the grates of the Prison. 
In one Corner of this Section is a Company of Military Officers in fools Caps, one leading them up in a fools Cap, saying, Come, we may deceive the Souldiers, and the country also.  
Near them is a Company of Lawyers in their fools Caps, lead up by a sergeant of the Quoife, and he saith, Fear not Friends, the Law's not yet down, we may have double Fees still.  
Next is a Citizen, leading up a Company of Citizens, he having his fools Cap on his Head, and they theirs off, in their hands, saying unto them, Come, we shall enjoy our Monopolies: They Answered, We fear our Gold is become Dross.  
Next to them come the Clergy, lead up by a Collegiate Doctor in his Pontificalibus, and saith to the mad Crew of Clergy followig him( having fools Caps on their Heads) We have pulled down the schismatics, and now we may quietly enjoy our Plurallities, and tithes.  Philonax standing in a Corner with his Friends, is Courted by the PANTHER to come and close with him. Underneath is a City with this Inscription on her Towers, Confusion, Confusion, Confusion.  

Sect. 6.  In this Corner is a Church, and Faces( as before) saying, Come Lord Jesus. Here stands CHRIST in the Clouds with a bent Bow in his hand, an Arrow ready nocked, and a Quiver full of them by him, and hath shot abundance of them upon the Inhabitants of the Earth; these words come from him through the clouds, saying, Behold I come and my Reward is with me. Here is first of all an Arrow shot through the PAN-THER'S Head, and he is fallen off his Supporters, having his own four Legs broken, so that he can never rise again. A Voice goeth from his Mouth, saying, He will wound the hairy scalp of every one that goeth on in his Iniquity. quiter Extinct. 
By the one side of the PANTHER lieth the soldier, having his Coronet lying in the dirt at a distance from him; and an Arrow shot through his Arm, so that his Arm and Sword are broken; and out of his Mouth goeth these Words, No Weapon shall prosper that is formed against Zion. His Wife( for whom he forsook Christ) is slain by an Arrow of Pestilence, by him.  
On the other side of the PANTHER lieth the Judge upon the Pavement; his Robes torn off his Back, his Coronet upon the ground, and over his Head a broken shelf, where-upon stood the Statute Books, as Rastol, Poulton, Dalton, Litleton, and many others, and these came tumbling down upon the Lawyer, and the Statute Books broken his heads; then he saith, He hath caught the Craf-ty in his own devices; and his Oxen are driven away by the Sequestrators.  
Not far from him lieth the Citi-zen in the Dirt, without Gown, Chain, or Coronet, in a poor Black svit and Cloak, and an Empty Purse in his Hand, with an Arrow shot thorough it; and he saith, I have been an Ass between two burdens; And his farm beside him, having a flaming Arrow shot thorough it, is on fire.  
Over against him lieth the Clergy-man on his Face, having an Arrow shot thorough his Back,( and this Inscription upon the Arrow, Thy Destruction is of thyself.) The Globe of the World is rolling from him, though he be reaching after it with both his hands, the three Churches are tumbling off his Back and Shoulders; and a Voice proceedeth from him, saying, Alas! Babylon is fallen, is fal-len, Alas!  
Then are the Souldiers, the Lawyers, and Clergy-men, and Citizens( all they that rejoiced at the Exaltation of the PANTHER) running away from the PANTHER'S destruction, each crying out, We for partaking of her Sins, must partake of her Judgements; then are the Arrows thick Shot into their Backs as they seemed to run away.  
Yea, Philonax and his Friends escapes not the common Calamity,  Then comes the poor People out of the Wood, and Clefts of the Rocks, and the Prison Doors are set open; and from their Mouths issue Voices, saying, The Lord Reigns, let the Earth rejoice. Then is the City fired, and these Words there-by, As for these mine Enemies, that would not that I should reign over them, bring them and slay them before my Face, &c. And he burnt their City with Fire.  

Strange news from Heaven; or an unheard of Discourse happening among the Planets, about a strange prank of Mars.  
IN the Western part of ♈, ♂ sends down an Incorporeal Army, consisting of 1000 Horse,( as to the sense of Seeing) the ☽ conveyed the Relation of this marshal Prank to ☉, and ☉ commands one of ☿ 's Disciples, to go down and search out the truth thereof; this Mercurian Messenger returns and Confirms the news upon oath before ☉,( for you must note, that unless he had sworn he should not have been believed, for Swearing is chiefly practised, and in fashion with ☉ and the Superior Planets;) Oh strange face of Heaven! But ☉ to be further satisfied, makes his solicitation to the God of Intelligence ☿, to tell him the Effects this Army Celestial might signify and produce; ☿ much fearing the refulgent rays of so great a Presence, did on his Knees with tears, humbly crave to be excused; but ☉ threateneth his destruction, and withal promised him pardon if he would tell the truth, be it of what concernment soever, nay, though it concerned himself; ☿ goes to his aged Father ♄, the God of hidden mysteries and secrecy, for three hours advice, which having obtained, he comes again to ☉, and tells him, that this Celestial Wonder, did presignify the downfall of him, and all those Stars which naturally partook of his Lustre; and further said, That within two years it should be accomplished: And then will the rest of the Planets and wandering Stars, in their several constellations, bewail the absence of their Sun.  
The Sun being perplexed at this sudden and uncouth news, commits the business to his Privy counselor ♀, but ♀ being very ill dignified, minds nothing but Fudling and Lascivious Wantonness, and therefore can do ☉ no good, unless to convey it to ♃, &c.  
But ♃ is in a fallacious hippocritical Sign, viz. ♍, very ill dignified in the house of Bloody ♂, also stationary to Retrogradation, not minding to do much good until he come to grapple with his grand Antagonist ♄, whom he will find in his own house ♐, in October, 1663. till which time ☉ cannot expect the good due to so deserving a Planet: Before which time, ♃ invites all the Planets to his House, the first of December, 1662. to inquire and debate what ♄ and ♃ shall accomplish afterwards; and therefore at present he is worse employed then to do ☉ any good.  
Friend, this Letter is locked, and the Key given to ☿, who hath promised to deliver it to none but his own Children.   
FINIS.