Observations upon the Strange & Wonderful PROPHECIES OF Mr. John Gadbury, now Prisoner in the Gatehouse for High Trason. WITH Astrological Predictions For the YEAR, 1680.  
SHOWING, From the Choicest Rules in the Sidereal Sciences, What Grand Revolutions or Accidents are likely to happen in Every Month, respectively, in many Parts of the World: Especially, ENGLAND, SCOTLAND, & IRELAND. AS ALSO, The Death of the POPE foretell, etc.  Multi multa sciunt, Sed nemo omnia. 
COrruptio optimi est pessima. As the Art of Astrology is in itself of Noble Extraction, and a Nature sublime: So has no Secular Science been more grossly abused, whilst Fools Idolise it, Half-witted-Coxcombs Contemn it, and Crafty Knaves Use it, as a Politick-Engine to bolster up a Cheat, or colour their Mischievous Designs.  
When the Famous Popish Gun-Powder-Plot was discovered, there was one Gresham, (a Papist, and small Pretender to the Mathematics) was violently suspected to have some Hand in't, because he wrote so near the Matter in his Almanac. Young Notre dame, to fulfil a certain Prophecy of his, That in such a Year, such a City should be burnt, set it on Fire himself; and for the same, received his Just Reward.  
I know not, whether we have any such Cunning-Men amongst us at this day: Yet cannot but observe to the World, some notable Passages of a Notorious Astrologician, Mr. J. G. in his Almanac for the approaching Year, 1680.  
This Gentleman, having (by what Art, I determine not) obtained, it seems, some Notions of certain Occurrences, that were designed to happen; was so full of the Business, that at the first dash, he breaks Bulk, and presents us with these presaging Lines in January.  
— Sly Hermes with Brisk Mavors Joyns  
In Aquary, [Which must not be forgot]  
That Treacherous Human Sign can spawn a Plot.  
A very pretty Predictive Him! And had not the Dragon's-Tayl, in Conjunction with the Meal-Tubb, hindered, it might in due time, have ripened into a Prophecy.  
In February, he uses this shrewd Expression:  — All of a sudden, methinks, I hear of DREADFUL Treachery Northward. 
I trust, this may not prove altogether Oraculous; and yet, that which is not Improbable, to be sure, is not Impossible. There are People, that would gladly make a Rebellion, if they cannot find it; nay, would purchase it at any Rate, to blanche their own black Purposes. And certainly, that which follows in the same Page, (if properly applied to the Be-Jesuited Bigots of the Bloody Romish Synagogue) is true to an Hairs-bredth; viz.  A Fever of Religion, turns the soon into a Frenzy, and makes each Wight an Orestes. 
In the Month of March, he hath these words:  — I tell thee, O Clandestine Conspirator! be thou who thou wilt, in making it thy Business to disturb either thy Governors, or Country, thou dost therein assuredly court thy own Destruction. 
This, in Defiance of Envy, and for the Credit of Art, and that Well-experienced Author, I will adventure to call a Prophecy. And, as Providence hath hitherto since the Writing thereof, accomplished the same; so let it be our continual Prayers, That it may still be verified for the Future: That so our Author's Menaces in June, may be defeated; viz.  That Vice is like to be Rampant; and the Sons of Perfidiousness, and Treachery, should be prevalent against Men of Worth and Integrity. 
I shall not insist upon that Passage, in the Second Page of his Prog; because, 'tis probable, himself did not enough regard it; viz.  That there is a Spirit of Fr●ud abroad, which animates Men to entrap, ensnare, and betray one another: Yea, even their very Friends, and those of the same Feather, and Party, with them; possibly, to the Ruin and Destruction of Many. 
But in the Third Page following, there is a Villainous Squinting Prognostic; that, perhaps, deserves a Severer Animadversion, than I can bestow. He is speaking of an Eclipse of the Sun in Aries, happening the Twentyeth of March, 1680. Upon which, he drops these Insolent Words:  The Famous Cambden (I suppose, he means Cardan) hath TRULY minded us of the Danger attending ENGLAND, from Eclipses in Aries.— Si quando fuerit Eclipse in ♈ of't ♌ significat mortem Regis. 
In plain English thus,— If there shall be an Eclipse in Aries (as this is) or Leo, it signifies the Death of the KING.  
And though he Translate it a little more generally thus,— An Eclipse of Sol in Aries or Leo, betokens the Death, or Downfall, of some great Emperor or Prince: Yet even this his English amounts to the same thing. For in the Words before, without any Occasion given by his Author, who speaks indefinitely, he had appropriated this to England, by naming That particularly: And goes on to Justify such his Impudent Judgement, saying,  — The REASON THEREOF, IS NEAR AT HAND. Sol is, Rex Planetarum, as a Prince amongst the Planets, etc. 
But we have a more sure Word of Prophecy.— The Lord frustrateth the Tokens of the Liars, and maketh Diviners mad, turneth Wisemen backwards, and maketh their Knowledge foolish, Isa. 44.25.  
However, the Consideration hereof, is modestly submitted to Authority; whilst we only say:—  
From such Stargazing Vizards of State,  
With their Popish Prognostics, Defend us:  
What they seem to Foretell they Create;  
And they cause all the Ills they pretend us.  

And now, that we may Gratify the Reader's Curiosity, that would needs be Pick-Locking the Closet of Fate; we shall present him with some Innocent Predictions on each of the Twelve Months, of the ensuing Year, 1680. deduced from as Authentic Grounds in Art, as any Well-willer to the Mathematics in the Town can boast of. And first of—  

January.  
THE Year gins with Lofty Towering Winds; which, 'tis hoped, may blow all the Jesuits into Lubberland. Towards the End of the Month, their Popish-Plot gins to stink worse than his Holiness, when he was Roasted the other Evening at Temple-Bar, with a Cat in his Belly. Some New Discoveries are made, and fresh Animosities and Accusations break forth: And not a few Conscious Traitors, who thought themselves secure, are brought upon the Stage. Nor will all their Interest, be able longer to screw them from Incensed Justice.   

February.  
Mar, and the Sun, meet in Consultation. 'Tis a Good Omen, when Authority, and Power, are United. What great Martialist is he, that now receives a Check? or languishing with the Tortures of a Guilty Conscience, Resigns his Breath? The General Peace, which seemed hover over Europe, is now upon the Wing; and threatens once more, to leave Christendom to the Rage of Bellona; though divers prudent, moderate Statesmen, use all their Endeavours, to Court her longer Stay. Good News arrives about the Twentyseventh Day, to our Merchants, from the South-West; and curious seasonable Wether, concludes the Month.   

March.  
MArch comes in like a Lion: And men's Actions are as rough and tempestuous, as the Wether. There are Clouds gathering, which may possibly Eclipse the French Grandeur. More petty Counterplots are Hatched, but vanish in Smoak. And the devises of Mischief, are Entrapped in their own Pitfalls. Little March Dust is to be expected. Lofty debate in Supreme Counsels; and preparations every where making, for War; and yet every body pretends for Peace. The Swede Suffers: Brandenburg is Active: The Empire labours under the Male-effects of pernicious Counsels. How long, Oh ye Illustrious Princes of Europe, will you suffer yourselves to be Managed and abused by that pestilent Society, which seeks your Ruin, and to enslave you, all to their Grand Ecclesiastical Idol?   

April.  
THis is generally a moist Month, and perhaps some may Weep Sanguine Tears. What New Plot, or Stratagem is this, which is now turned up Trump? The Trade of London increases, in spite of all her Popish Enemies, who have vowed her Destruction. News Arrives from Ireland: Great Things are upon the Wheel: Murders, and Casualties, more than ordinarily frequent   

May.  
Solemnising, and Jupiter, are in Conjunction; some prejudice happens to an Eminent Judge. Fiat Justitia, ●ruat Mundus: What think you, if the Pope should about this time, take a turn to Purgatory. 'Tis most probable, that Death, or at least, Sickness, Seizes his Holy-ship. 'Tis generally, a Crazy Time; and Men are neither well in their bodies, nor well in their Wits. What foolish Rumour is that, now buzzed abroad? Believe it not. 'Tis the Firstborn of the Father of Lie.   

June.  
O London! London! God in Heaven Bless thee! The Pope's Blessing, or Curse, signifies not three leaps of a Louse: But the Mercies of Wicked, are Cruel. Be Wise, and be Obedient; and, in this thy Day, know the Time of thy Visitation. May the good Hand of providence, protect thee from Casualties. The High and Mighty, are in a Straight; and the Flower de-luces', are withered with the too fervent Kisses of the Sun. If Old More be whetting his Hatchet to Cut down a Tall Cedar or two in Europe, who can help it? Fiat voluntas Dei.   

July.  
FRequent Showers disturb the Haymakers. A new Disease sweeps many into their Grave: Fires are Threatened. Let our Metropolis be careful, to prevent them. Ah Jockey! What's the matter? Is it thy fault, or thy unfortune. Let Pragmatical, or Traitorous Spirits, look to it. Raro Antecedentum. etc.   

August.  
ABout the Fourteenth Day, expect great Rains and Thunder. Nor are men's minds more Calm, than the air; but agitated with the Hurricanes of violent Passions. The Twentyeth Day, is of fatal Consequence to some affairs: And, I fear, a very bad Harvest. Cheats, Robberies, Quarrels, Duels, and Treacherous wicked Actions, make up too great a part of this Month's Business.   

September.  
FIne pleasant Wether, and affairs generally tending to an hopeful Posture; yet some Murmur are heard. London, Remember Sixty Six, and the Cursed Instruments of that Desolation Good News from Italy. But tell us, O Apollo! What Tidings is brought about this Time, in a Packet from France?   

October.  
'tis now Fall of the Leaf; and all the Fig-leaves wherewith the Jesuit, and Popish Emissaries, covered and adorned their Villainous Plots, are blown away, and left them to the view of all the World, in their primitive. What mean all Almanack-writers, to leave Justice Godfrey's Martyrdom out of their Calendars? He deserves it, far better than some of those Popish Ragamuffins, wherewith they blot their Pages.   

November.  
THough our Author leave out the Gun-power-Plot; yet I positively predict, it shall be Remembered. The Wether grows Cold, as the Charity of the Times. The Season admits of little Action: but there are the Devil, and all the Council on foot; but Malium Consilium Consultori pessimum.   

December.  
SHarp Frost, the most part of Month, Lies in a abundance, spread abroad. The Stars are busy in mingling their Rays; whence Men should be Active too. Notable Actions will shortly manifest themselves. An Eminent person is snatched away; and the Year seems to end but untowardly.    
FINIS.   

London, Printed for J. H, 1680.