A LETTER Written to a Friend in WILTS, Upon occasion of a late Ridiculous PAMPHLET, Wherein was inserted a pretended PROPHECY OF THOMAS BECKET'S, etc.  ANTONIN. 
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.  
LONDON, Printed by R. D. Anno Dom. 1666.   

To My Worthily Honoured Friend T. G. Of A. Esquire.  
Dear Sir,  
THE Stoics have ranked all the concerns of man under these two heads, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, such things as are under the jurisdiction and command of his Will, and such as are not. In the former every Virtuoso of the Sect fancied himself in the Poet's Irony to be uno minor Jove, an Imperial Monarch, and his Throne but one step below Jupiter's, his Will his Sceptre, and his Passions his Empire. And whoever had not advanced unto this Sovereignty within himself, was to be no Saint in their Calendar, no King in their Chronicle. For the latter (I mean the various rencontres and occurrents of life, which they never challenged for any Subjects of their Kingdom, but honestly resigned them to their respective Lords and Masters, especially to the Lord Paramount of all) they seemed to have very little or no concern, enjoining their Disciples to lie with as much ease and satisfaction in Phalaris' Bull, as on a Bed of Down. Now, Sir, though I look upon these Stoics as mere Hector's in Practical Philosophy, yet so far we agree, that men ought to be severe and curious in the menage of what is any way in their Power, to provide honest things in the sight of God and Man. But as for such events as no Wisdom or Virtue of theirs can hinder, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, to be content with what comes next, and in all to act and suffer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, as becomes men of Reason and Magnanimity, or rather as becomes the spirit of a Christian.  
Sir, the Solemnity of this Preface may possibly invite you to some higher expectations than I have designed it for. The truth is, I should be hearty ashamed to give you the trouble that follows, but for some more urgent (reasons I cannot call them, but) occasions than I could at first Imagine, and which I shall freely deposit in your bosom at our next meeting.  
We live, Sir, in a world that lies in folly and wickedness, and though the Grace of God (without which we are nothing) may secure us from scandal, or any deserved blame from man, yet it does not exempt us from malice, or mistakes in others, nor from the stroke of a foolish or reproachful Tongue. The last time I had the contentment to see you, you were pleased to mention a late senseless and ridiculous Pamphlet, wherein the most accomplished Publisher ('tis a pity he concealed his Name, otherwise 'tis like enough, it might have made noise sufficient:) He, I say, has lately Printed a certain Prophecy pretended to be Thomas Beckets, where after some very irreverent and rudely simple Reflections upon divers Eminent and Worthy Persons (that could no way become his quill to mention) He quotes a Letter of mine written to a private Friend (Mr. Y.) a grave Divine in the Country, and a constant honest Member of the Church of England: where also to the high uncivility of naming Me upon that occasion, he thought fit to superadd this either hasty or impudent untruth, that I (amongst so many of worthier names) delivered as my own judgement what he has placed in the Margin of that Prophecy. I may possibly know the first Letter of the Publishers Name (with its alias, if it have one) but out of my respect to his supposed Profession, I think not fit to mention my conjectures of it in this paper. Only Sir, I have received such a Character of him I take to be the man, from some of unquestionable credit, that know him very well, as renders him very capable of doing such or far nobler exploits, whereof he may in due time give some account to his Superiors.  
But Sir, to present you with a true and plain account of the whole matter on my part, thus it was. A little after Christmas (as I remember) that pretended Prophecy was brought from Abingdon to this Town, and sounding in the general such a Harmony to the genius of the Time, it presently became both the Music and discourse of all, not as the Publishers Ingenuity has phrased it, the unanimous resolve of all— as if forsooth a Convocation had been called about it: This pretended Prophecy was, I confess, sent by me enclosed in a Letter as the News of the Town to Mr. Yeates, together with a small key to the Text in the Margin, which I borrowed for that occasion of the common Discourse; and indeed, excepting but one clause (for the barbarous Latin in another, is not considerable) I see nothing in the Prophecy of so much depth, as to need a Delian Diver (of which sort I am far from being one myself) to fetch it up. The Comment Sir was none of mine more than the bare Transcribing; and this is all I am responsible for: the Ingenious Publisher must answer for the rest. So that if you will have the state of the case laid in short before you, you know well enough it will amount to this conclusion; I wrote a Letter to a Friend, wherein I enclosed a piece of innocent News, generally discoursed off, and received with much seeming contentment by all, and the Publisher thought fit, in the depth of his wisdom, to give it Press▪ money, that so it might march along with him in his hungry (if not worse) design, for the comfort and satisfaction of 
His own words.  all his Majesty's loving Subjects. Now Sir, to this day, I am so dull of apprehension, as (after all my pains and curiosity of research) not to understand where lies my fault. For as to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, I grant it was in my power to write, or not, to send harmless (nay generally applauded) News, or not; and so it is, and has been in the power of worthier men than myself, who yet have not been afraid to use their liberty for fear of a small free-boter in the way, that might possibly make prize of the frait. As for the taking and exposing of it to open Port-sale, with a flourish of foolery and nonsense into the bargain, I take myself to be no way concerned in that, ipse viderit.  
Sir, I must again profess to you my shame, that I should causam dicere in such a very trifle, in which I have no ground of doubt, but that besides yourself, I have many worthy and ready compurgators, whose quality, judgement, and honesty, are my sufficient protection against such a nothing as this. Neither is it that I fancy my name (which yet should be valuable to myself) of any such consideration, as that you, or any other of my worthy Friends should be much concerned in its defence. But seeing so many other both greater & better names embarked in the same passive contumely, I hope I may have leave to use this Letter of Reprisal; and so enough (if not too much) of that.  
As for my own Judgement of that, or any other Prophecies of the like nature, I shall briefly and freely impart it to you thus; I deny not  
1. But that persons of little or no acquaintance with the Spirit of Truth and Holiness may yet be endued with a Spirit of Prophecy. Thus was Balaam who loved the wages of iniquity, a man whose eyes were open (as he speaks of himself) enabled (amongst other less concernments) to point unto the Star of Jacob, to Christ himself. And I have no cause to doubt of the same influxus Propheticus (or Prophetical Spirit) in the old Heathen Sibyls, some of which you know are quoted by Virgil, and their famed Acrostics mentioned in the general by Cicero in his Books of Divination, and particularly set down by Eusebius, nay their Authority urged ad Homines 
De Vita Const.  against the Infidel Heathens by several of the Primitive (especially of the Greek) Fathers. You have their Poems and Prophecies compiled in this last Age into one Volume by Opsopoeus, though (as he complains himself) with several justly suspected Interpolations and Corruptions, which may pass either amongst the piae frauds, or strong Credulities, or some other ordinary misfortunes of times and persons, from which no age, and perhaps but few of the more eminent elder Writings of Religion have been free. But that such Prophecies there were, and that they delivered high ones of Christ himself, I see no cause to question, with the good leave of an Excellent and Learned Person, who has argued the contrary, but upon such grounds as I am confident his great Abilities had not exactly weighed, and which are sufficiently refuted by our Learned Montague in his Apparatus. And the reason is plainly and briefly this, because the Spirit of Prophecy is not gratia gratum faciens, but gratis data (as the Schools have phrased it,) conferred sometimes upon such as neither well understand, nor be any way suitably affected with their own predictions: and it is I must confess quaestionable to me, whether such Revelations of the way, the truth, and the life, though somewhat dark and enigmatical to the Gentile World of old, and those advantages which are (though more remotely) in the power of the Heathen world to make use of now by their actual, or possible commerce with Christendom, will totally acquit them in the Day of Judgement from a positive Infidelity, such at least indirectly and by just interpretation: seeing it is not ignorance which excuses, but that which is absolutely invincible, nor is it a sufficient discharge to any man from his duty that he had not the promulgation of the Law, unless upon the use of all the means that were morally possible he yet remains in ignorance that such a Law there is. But I find myself on a sudden (when I thought I had been coasting along the shore) in a wide working Sea, 'tis time for me to make to Land again: for though it were no impossibility to enlarge into a Volume upon this Theme, and that which occasioned it, yet I must remember I am writing a Letter, and that we may farther discourse it, when you please and God shall permit.  
Nor 2. do I question but even since the great infusion of the Holy Ghost upon the Apostolic times, men eminent for Sanctity and Holiness of Life, may be inspired with power to foretell some things to come. For what wonder if they who converse so much with Heaven, and lean as it were with Saint John in the Bosom of Christ, be sometimes admitted to his open Breast? The examples I confess in no Age after that of the Apostles are numerous, nor is there any such visible necessity of Prophetical spirits since, as then, and in the general (and almost continued) great Apostasies under the Law. Besides the gifts of the spirit are his own, and he dispenses them as he pleases. However I could furnish you (though I believe your own indefatigable reading may save me the labour) with several instances in some few later Centuries of unquestionable reputation. But as for other vagrant Predictions which fly about among the Vulgar, I look upon the most as poor easy cheats and mere designs, (though of several complexions) and I think it were no difficult matter for a man of ordinary parts to make twenty such in a day: for either (pardon the solecism) they are made post factum, and so are not Predictions, but Histories, (of which sort no doubt the world is full) or they are sagittae volantes in tenebris, arrows shot at futurity upon adventure, which flying in the dark may be thought to fall whither they were never directed, unless out of a deceitful Bow.  
Barclay (as I remember) in his Icon Animorum, is very peremptory in his Character of the English Genius, Gens Anglorum semper dedita Prophetiis, that we are great admirers of Prophecies, he means it I suppose of the common sort. Perhaps he had seen or heard of an Act of Parliament in Edw. the Sixth's time, which looks severely upon that piece of curiosity, and thence possibly took the measures of his conjecture, and for my part, I intent no petition for the Abrogation of that Law. Baronius ad ann. 178. tells us of Marcus Aurelius the Emperor, that he banished (relegavit in Insulam) one that had foretold the Tyranny of the Rebel Cassius, and withal made a Law (as he quotes it out of Modestinus) that all such Prophets should expect the same punishment, Qui aliquid facerent quo leves hominum animi superstitione numinis terrerentur, designing (as he thinks) especially the Christians: which if it were so, the chief ground of his mistake, was no doubt his misery; but, setting that aside, the Law might be rational. For experience sufficiently informs us how the doting humour that reigns among the vulgar upon these humane (and commonly designed) predictions, takes them off from the nobler and more Christian Contemplations of their Duty both to God and man. I have often wondered to observe men that my Charity bids me hope are Pious, and that are otherwise learned and sober, so sick of this disease.  
For the Scriptural Prophecies, which are either known or handsomely supposed to have had their accomplishment already, we have more cause to applaud, then condemn their Industry, who have rationally attempted to give them more light to the world; 'tis a pity if the clouds and mists which veil the face of humane Story and Chronology, have in any circumstance injured the success, and set learned Brethren as well by the ears, as the tongues, together in the dark. But as for the rest, that are yet but in the womb of History, (or Providence if you please) the time of their Birth being so very uncertain; if men will needs be Godfathers, me thinks they might have patience till the Child be born, and not by their hasty confidence force it out into the world before its time. I am not censuring the modest or ingenuous conjectures of men in these cases, but in our converse with the Bible, I wish the humour were not so common of beginning at the wrong end, and so cunning the Revelation before Genesis, rolling the Prophetical Scriptures with delight under our tongues, but either spitting out, or hastily swallowing unchewed the plain and practical dictates of the Holy Ghost. Nor is our modesty here a slur upon the darker Oracles of God, as if they were delivered in vain. He hath showed thee, O man, says the Prophet, what is good; he has writ thy duty with a Sunbeam, and if in some more speculative concerns the cloud dwells upon the Sacred Tabernacle, yet even there also, the glory of the Lord appears. I bless God for Saint John's Apocalypse, as well as for the more lightsome Scriptures, and I hope receive benefit by its darkest pieces, though I cannot apprehend with one of our Countrymen, that in this, or the other passage, such or such an English great Lord (by Name) is designed. The number 666, which of late has made so much noise in the world, and is by many looked upon as fatal to this present year, I meet with in that Sacred Book, but whether it must needs be applied to the course of time, & if so, whether to our computation of the year, I have neither the skill nor confidence to assert. However, I cannot but applaud the very ingenious Labours of sundry late Writers upon that Prophetical number, especially those of Mr. Potter, and of a nameless Author in a small Book of his Printed ann. 662. Entitled, Christ and Antichrist, or 666 multiplied by 2½, who has trod a different path from all others I know off in his new Algebra of two years, and ½, in both which, (though I dare not say there is demonstration enough in either to satisfy the judgement, yet) certainly there is curiosity enough to entertain a Learned Fancy with delight.  
But Sir, neither the Prophecy which gave occasion to this Letter (nor any of the like nature) must think to come in competition with those that own no other but the Father of Lights for theirs.  
For the pretended. Author of the former, or any Prophecy of his, I have but little to say. Our Chronicle has given us such an account of him, as that (excepting his zeal for his Holiness) I can find no traces of extraordinary Sanctity, as might entitle him to the gift of Prophecy, and upon what other account he should be capacitated for it, I know not.  
But, Sir, we have a more sure Word of Prophecy, unto which we shall do well if we take heed, without regard to idle Dreams, or studied Delusions, or humane pretended Revelations whatsoever. This every where acquaints us that if we Repent, iniquity shall not be our ruin, but if we shall still do wickedly, the just God can Plague us yet seven times more for our Abominations, ' till we know that the Most High Ruleth in the Kingdoms of Men, and that he will not be mocked or braved by Worms of the Earth. And had we store of such examples as Yourself, Sir, who think it no solecism to be Great and Good, then why might not David's Motto be England's too, Quem Timebo? Of whom shall I be afraid? But as Pliny minds me, Et hoc amantis est parce laudare: I shall release your modesty, and discharge your trouble from this Paper with one word, which I dare say you will own for the Child not of my Tongue, but of my Heart, namely, that I am by a Thousand Obligations, but by none more than those of your Exemplary Worth and Virtue,  
Dear and Worthy Sir, Your ever most Affectionate Servant, T. T.