THE WONDERS OF THE AIR, THE TREMBLING OF THE EARTH, And the warnings of the world before the judgement day. Written by Thomas Churchyard Esquire, servant to the Queen's Majesty. Imprinted at London by Thomas Dawson 1602. To the right worshipful M. D. Sezar master of the requests, master of S. Kathern's, and judge of the Admiralty, Thomas Churchyard wisheth great worship, wisdom, and wealth, with the favour of Prince, and good people, joined to such a virtuous life as always waits for heavenly felicity. WHen the light of my life, (and candle of earthly comfort) was almost burnt out, good M. Doctor Seazar, it was Gods will I should address myself, and suit to our sacred Sovereign the mighty Caesar of our world: who often times poured oil into my wasting lamp, and finding in wants a worthy master of requests, that would not suffer my dim candle blaze to be blown out, so for my benefit you broke with her Majesty, and brought from her gracious goodness the little I live upon, and am likely to die withal, which kind courtesy of yours (void of all taking of money) drew my affection and heart in a manner out of my bowels, and my inward spirits to be so far in your dept, that I searched the best of my inventions to the bottom, the shallowness whereof was so great, that I found but little of contentment, fit to present you withal: Than I bethought me of a translation out of Pliny, 30. years ago set down in prose by me, Of the wonders of the air: Trembling of the earth, and warnings of the world, desirous every day to publish in print that simple translation of mine, but long sickness held my good will so far back, that weak body saw no season to serve my hope. In the mean while a great learned doctor called doctor Holland most learnedly with great pain translated all Pliny's works, I hearing thereof rejoiced much, because his torch would blaze so clear, that the blindest sight in the world should thereby see where the sweet kernel lay, when the hard shelled nut was cracked and opened so cunningly. So taking his gallant book as a witness of my labours (though I never read one line of his translation) I boldly set forth this work of mine, hoping that you and the wise of the world, will accept and judge as my pains and study may merit, in that trust and confidence I present the patronage of these pains to your consideration and approved wisdom, confessing that never work went from me with a greater good will nor less flattery, God so knows, who increase in you grace and goodness with worldly worship, what your own heart desires. Yours in all that he may at commandment Thomas Churchyard. The general Epistle to the Readers. COme gazing world whose restless mind would see & read each thing And mark what wonders wit may find, that in this book I bring, Note now how nature is beguiled, and God the nature takes Of every wonder under Sun, and thereof triumple makes: Come searching heads that finely shifts, the grossest bran from flower, Who knows (through subtle sleights of world) no more than natures pour And mark what marvels mighty God, with majesty doth show Our simple age and careless time, where lewd like learned go: Come you that lives like Epicures, and likes no world but this And thinks when your bad life is gone, there is no other bliss, And note another kind of cause, that can constrain us all In prostrate manner humble wise, with face on flower to fall. Come proudest peacocks in your plumes, with ruffling painted robes Come you that looks when stars will fall, & staers on goodly globes And view how stars and planets falls, and earthly causes too If God when nature is at worst, strange things himself will do. Come stubborn men that will not stoop, at fearful signs and shoes Nor care for trembling of the earth, which wonders comes and goes, By course of nature as some say, but therein make a pause Though kind commands amass of things, there is a greater cause That moves the earth, & shakes the world, well worldlings come & see What wonders God hath wrought for men, that wise and thankful be, And see what warnings God hath sent, to those he means to strick Preserves the good where favour leads, & plagues where grows mislike. You stout stiff-necked people proud, that stands on reason's ground, Come here how far passed reasons earth, in learned ears doth sound, Make faith a proof of your hard hearts, and so let nature guide And you shall see who shoots aright, and when your shafts are wide: If nature's law and reasons rules, might run with right away, No place were left for God that rules, to rule and bear the sway. O wily wits and babbling tongues, yield up your reason's lore And folllow our great captains steps, that marcheth still before: Who leaves them lagging far behind, that looks not after grace, And in their own opinions dwell, with bold and shameless face. Come all the flock of new found sects, that swarms to much this day, And you shall see what glory great, God's goodness doth bewray. Come Deitists and Athists all, bring brabbling books and words That you in bitter sort let fall, sometime with jests and boards, And see his mighty works above, that rules all at his will, Who makes earth air and waters move, to make men muse on still. Come cunning brains whose quick conceits, are ripe and in their prime Come read strange things that wonders are, bestow therein some time. Come soldiers that loves sword & fire, & mark what wars God makes With kings and kingdoms in his ire, when he the quarrel takes, Come see the fall of mighty men, that many battles won, Yet dropped down headlong now and then, as fatal chances run. Come you that think you sit so fast, you can ne slip nor slide And think by guess of wonders past, what you may judge this tide: Come hither high aspiring mind, that hopes the clouds to climb, And by these warnings here you find, reform yourselves in time: Come you that please I say no more, my verses so I end And crave that you with patience read, that I with pains have penned. THE Wonders of the air, The trembling of the earth, And the warnings of the world before the judgement day. IN the dangerous days, and sorrowful season of Repentance, when people ought rather to fall to prayer then disputations, and the manifest works of the almighty commands the consciences of men to leave of frivolous arguments and not to meddle too much with the height or deep mysteries that passeth common capacity, and the reach of weak judgements, It is most necessary towards the honouring of God, and edifying of good men, that preachers should pronounce meekness and mercy, and writers should persuade probable matter, that may draw busy wits from curious questions, and quiet the wavering minds of those that are carried away with every light wind and words full of vanity: And though I seem but slenderly learned (having a good devotion to do well) bestow some small talon to God's great glory, I trust those labours shall purchase as good acceptation, as the large volumes that are stuffed with dark sentences, and polished with racked reasons, but woe is me that am destitute of knowledge, void of cunning, and utterly unfurnished of eloquence, that now have thrust myself into alaborinth, and here am taking in hand to run a further course than my wont custom heretofore hath familiarly been acquainted withal, notwithstanding the best is to be hoped (if I hap to stumble) that the path is plain I walk in, and I presume not to go far in mine own opinion, but will be led by the gravest authors of truth, and most venerable divines and Philosophers, whose words and learning I will allege, and with whom the Readers must strive and wrestle if they mean to struggle with any piece of the ancient Father's reports and philosophy. And for that in many an infinite number of causes (both depending on nature's reason, and earthly operations) Wonders are to be talked off, and Earthquakes to be seen, I will express as well as I may, divers things as they were done many hundred years ago, and so set forth such wonderful matters that happened in those days, that the people at this present shall make a marvel off, and yet therein behold no other thing, but the mighty work of the Lord, and majesty of our maker that is seen shining in his workmanship, and gloried in his creatures. First and foremost is meant by this discourse to begin at the Wonders of the air, and alterations of the heavens (which waxeth old as a garment) and so to come down orderly to the Trembling of the earth and shaking of the world, declared only in this little treatise to make the ignorant believe and acknowledge, that there is no other worker of wonders neither here nor above (though many things are talked off) but the power of God and blessed hand of the Lord: who was never idle, but from the beginning of the world hath always been occupied, either in one place or another, by a wonderful manner both in the heavens and earth, to call his children to repentance and to show himself a merciful Father, but there are some stubborn boys (and I fear too great a number) of the kind and complexion of king Pharaoh, whose heart was indurate, and who forgot correction as soon as the rod was taken from his shoulders and plagues from his people, now if such complexions and corrupt natures (for want of good looking too) have or would infect the sound body and soul of those that are easily tempted, and drawn to believe little that is true, and trust much that is false and full of fair semblances: To these and to none other (for the preservation of their good belief and purging of perverse incredulity) these present pains are presented partly, to show in what parts these manifold wonders did fall, and plainly to explain what followed immediately after, among those nations where such wonders happened. It is found in the Annals that in the year when Marcus Acilius and Caius Porcius were Consuls of Rome, there was openly to be seen that from the inferior region of the air did fall in manner of rain both blood and milk, which as some affirm (albeit it was a strange thing to behold) befell many times before some great alteration of the people and republic, likewise in the year when Lucius Volumnius and Servius Sulpicius were Consuls of the same city, it did rain perfect flesh, the most part whereof was consumed and eaten by the birds of the air, and yet the rest that did fall and remain on the earth did not corrupt of a long season: The very year before that Marcus Crassus, or Rasilicata with his whole army, which were Italian soldiers, of the country Lucania, was overthrown by the Parthes a strong nation that the Romans made war upon: It rained iron in the manner of a sponge in the self same land where the Soldiers were levied, whereupon their wise men and great clerks, by their Divinations declared that the wounds and sores of the heavens were to be feared, and that some sort of people were in danger to receive great hurt from the skies and angry Planets. In the year that Lucius Paulus and Marcellus were Consuls, it did rain will like sponges about the town of Carissan (or Carino) and the next year following Titus Annius Milo a great parsonage was slain in battle near the aforesaid town of Carissan, you shall find in the register of Senates that the same year that Milo was slain in, it rained brick stones, as Milo was pleading a matter in the senate house, all which wonders spoken off weighed together, persuades no little argument of the warnings and miraculous manner of the elements, that foreshoweth great matters to come, and presageth many things worthy memory. It is said, and truly to be proved, that before and after the wars that the Zelanders had, with the Danes of Denmark, There was to be hard in the air oftentimes a certain sound and clickening of harness, and the sound of many trumpets at that present instant was hard in the skies: In the year of the third Consulship of Marius, the people of Ameria (or Amelia) and Todi (or Tuderdani) in the towns of the Duchy of Spoleto, did behold two great armies of men in the skies, the one power coming from the levant, and the other from the occident, and those that came from the occidental were put to flight, and chased by the other party, after both the armies had a long while been in combat: and there fell out great things in the neck of this wonder, yea, the self same like matter happened in the air at Ramberg the year 1534. and at Wisenburg the year of our Lord 1530. On which strange view fell out bloody wars in jermanie and other parts, both fearful in proof and pitiful to behold. The Greek authors as Pliny sayeth do affirm that the second year of the 78. olympiad, Anaxagoras Calzomenien, presaged by his great knowledge, and told the proper day and hour when a mighty and monstrous great stone should fall from the heavens, which came to pass in the open and plain day, in the country of Thrace, which is along the flood Aegos, and in the time of this stone (as big as a tumbril) fell from the skies, a great commett was seen in the clouds, and this commett endured blazing a long season, as did of late a blazing star when the Queen's Majesty lay at Windsor, not long before the king of Portugal and all his army (a sorrowful tail to tell) was overthrown in Barbary by the hard adventure of fortune, and force of the king of Fez. Then was another little stone that Anagoras spoke off long before, it fell from the heavens (that now remains in the village of Abydo) which superstitious people hold in great reverence, and another at Cassandris a town of Macedon (or Thrace) this stone for fear of the wrath of God (that in his anger might punish and suddenly strick) was solemnly carried abroad and showed to the people to daunt their pride, and bridle their follies: The rainbow which as many affirm is never seen by night, but always appeareth in clear day, manifestly declareth that mightily God's majesty worketh, and his merciful dealings are to be marvelously noted: For never as is to be read (by good authors) was seen more than two raynebowes at one time together in the skies, who shows that a firm and constant course and sign of God's mercies, with no alteration is planted perdurable where his people may behold it, sometimes is to be seen (as Pliny maketh mention of) a scarlet colour, and a red sanguine in the skies, and sundry other times is perceived likewise that the sky seems to open, and fire falleth down from the same, (a thing prodigious and fearful) which consumeth all things that it toucheth or encounters, as it came to pass saith Pliny the third year of the 107. olympiad, at which season King Philip of Macedon obtained by victory the most part of all Gréece, And truly saith Pliny I think that nature (which he calleth God) produceth those things at certain times determined by God's appointment, as he worketh his other operations, and further sayeth Pliny all the subtle imaginations of man, nor the inventions of all human spirits and judgements, can render no good reason for the same, for there opinions thereof serveth for nothing, Pliny 27. For these accidence celestial have always signified some great calamity to come, not that I think (saith he) that those evils and calamities that happen are the cause of the blazing stars or commetts, but I hold opinion saith he, that the same commetts are procreated and sent for special marks and signs, to know thereby what calamity is likely to happen, und because those signs are marvelous rare and strange, the reason of their nature is in a manner incomprehensible, so that truly men may not speak on them as they do on the order of the Planets, or on their eclipse, or on many other things remarkable in the elements, look good Reader how excellently that eathnicke Pliny hath spoken of the divine majesty and doings of God (which he calleth nature) and note how he hath so cunningly handled the argument, that no one point or other may be reasoned against, for this in itself confuteth all things to the contrary, and explaineth such secrets, that every other natural reason is by this put to silence, I have seen (saith Pliny) often in the night (an corpse degard that made the sentinel in the camp) near the trenches, certain lights of the manner of a star, which were as it were a flame tied to the end of a soldiers pick, and on the Sea sundry Mariners as they have sailed, have seen the like lights hanging on the mast, which lights are a very evil sign to the Sailors, if they be but one of them seen at one time, for that presageth shipwreck, or manifesteth great mischief, for sometimes if the flame fall down wards, it burneth the vessel, if two lights be seen, they bring goodness and hope of happy fortune, and presageth that the ship shall have a good voyage, likewise when these two happy lights arriveth, (the unfortunate flame that cometh always alone) that the Mariners calleth helen, vanisheth out of view, yea sometimes this light lighteth full upon many men's heads about the evening, all which things saith Pliny never happen without great matter to follow them, the mysteries and knowledge thereof is reserved only to the majesty of God, (whom he nameth nature) who will hide and lock up the reasons of those causes in the cabin or sacred chamber of his privy secrets: Hear Pliny plainly expoundeth (though he were a Pagan) many secret matters much to the purpose of men's good opinions, and greatly to the glory of God, and to prove that strange lights have and are to be seen, I being in Garnsey (having charge under Sir Thomas Leighton) was searching of the watch in a place called castle Cornet, and there full on the top of a cross, I espied this flaming fire, before the face and view of divers Soldiers, after the which sight fell a very great tempest, and such a kind of a storm, as the small fishes in the Seas could not abide, for they were driven to the shore so fast, that little children and young maids wading but a foot deep in the water, took millions of the fishes, and brought them to the land, some in their kirchers and aprons, and other some in their caps hats, and such things as they had for the cause. Thus far have you heard some piece of the matter, touching the air and secrets from thence sent to the world, (as God by his goodness pleaseth to deal) And now shall ye have rehearsed somewhat of the Earthquakes, and other worldly Wonders that many times have happened, and hath bred great harms and no little wonder. Now first and foremost to some wonders of the world, in Titus Livius you shall read, that before great wars burst out, between the Romans and Macedonians, in many places and regions were some strange things most fearful and lamentable to behold: For in the country of Lucanie the heavens seemed as they had been all on a flaming fire, and in another country far from that, at high noon the Sun became all over red as scarlet, and at midnight in the Temple of juno was heard a great alarm, and horrible cry, in divers manners and fearful sorts, yea and in many places sundry beasts of divers shapes very monstrous were brought into the world, and at Salonne a child was borne that the people knew not whether it were a man or a woman, and likewise in Savoy a pig was farryed that had the head of a man, and again in Lucanie was a horse seen that had five feet, and as Cavies was a man that had his ears standing in the middle of his brows, whereon was commanded (when the books of Sibell had been seen) that chaste women should in mourning sort sing a certain heavy song, three times in a week through the city of Rome, all which ceremonies the consul Aurellius did curiously accomplish, King Philip of Macedon anon after these strange sights, did besiege the great city of Abydoo, in which city the magistrates and people, because they would not happen in Philip's hand and be made slaves, they all issued out and fought many times desperately, and in the end burned all their treasure, set a fire of the Town, slew all their wives and children, and after all these horrible acts, one of them killed another: here is to be noted (with the rest of miseries that fell out) that many evils falls immediately in those parts where those strange and prodigious sights and signs are to be seen. The Romans after this discomfited the Gauls in which battle was slain five thousand knights, called noble soldiers, and Amylkar the Duke of Penoyes and with him three noble Emperors of the Gaulleses were put to the sword, with a thirty and five thousand poor Soldiers: Ye shall read in the 4. chapter of the second decaed, that as Titus Quincius was going to levy an army of noble Soldiers (that had been in Spain and Africa) one brought him news that by a thunder or miraculous working of the elements, the high way where he should go, was broken and torn in pieces and both the temple of jove and Hercules were set on fire, and at Aretto the ground for the length of a great distance, was opened and therein was made a deep cave to the wonder of a great number of people, And at Assnesse there was a calf seen with two heads, and a pig with four tails, after which sights prayer and supplications was made to their gods a whole day long without ceasing, and yet great wars and troubels began to be set abroach, in many kingdoms, these wonders going before all these hurly-burlies, the fourth decaed the 12. chapter in the Consul of Domycius time, there was an Ox that spoke and said in latin (Roma cave tibi) after which words pronounced the Ox was diligently kept, and so the river of Tiber arose and did pass the bound so far, that it overthrew many houses and edifyses, and did very great harm divers ways, and through the abundance of rain that fell (or other causes that pleased God) a great rock fell and overwhelmed a number of poor people, and the floods were so high (by the mean of an outrageous tempest) that they drowned many viilages about Rome, upon the which strange sight (or in a small space after) three of the greatest Emperors of the world died most unhappily, and as some authors makes mention those Princes took their leave all in one year, Philopomenes, Scypion, and Hannibal was these three great personages: Now to write what wars, troubels, seditions, and other calamities happened in many kingdoms (after these terrible tokens and prodigious signs) it would weary you with the reading thereof, and make you but marvel at the mighty works of God, which assuredly comes to pass in every place by his appointment (to show his power) and happens not by the course of the heavens, causes of the earth, or natural operations, as many of Aristotle disciples affirm and wilful schoolmen by reasons would prove, for as God is without beginning, so his power is without ending, and his divine works and judgements are as matters that we should not break our wits about, and are so far beyond our reach, that we rather stand amazed at view of them, than any way satisfied in the searching or ceasoning of the cause of their beginnings, and though at the first God gave the Elements a nature, past all the compass of man's base knowledge, we neither must trust Aristotle, nor lean too much to our weakness and imaginations, for the beginning of his Deity is as easily known, as the nature of strange visions and signs in the air, that only are directed by his omnipotent power. Now come we to Earthquakes. In the year of the Consulship of Lucius Marcius and Sextus julius there befell a case so strange at Modenna, that the like yet was never heard off, as Pliny reports he hath found written in the books of Hertusques, A marvel that mountains meet. and among the Toscane Philosophers: Then happened so terrible an earthquake that two mountains met together, and shook so vehemently the one the other, (separating themselves as a combat were fought) and meeting with such fury and noise, that all the country adjoining stood astonished at the matter, and when these two mountains had done their shaking, and at the instant of their first remove there arose such a fume of flaming fire from the earth, that it reached to the heavens, the which monstrous battle of mountains and wonderful earthquake in those parts, was seen of many Roman Knights and Soldiers, and an infinite number of travelers of the world (than being in the way called Emylius, or via emilia, who considering that pitiful tragedy of time and other matters that fell out, marveled much and were sore afraid, for indeed all the granges, tenements, farms, and houses that were one any of these mountains, fell in small pieces, and little morsels, so that both beasts in the field, and people in their dwellings, were all utterly destroyed and clean overthrown, this marvelous chance fell a year before the wars of Sociale, that was made against the Marses, the which wars brought not much less damage to Italy (than the wars civil, by which dissension millions of men were slain or put to shame and misery, and in the chronicle of Nero's rain is to be found a very prodigious thing, for the last year of Nero's ra●●ing, a great ground of alive pertaining to Vertius Marcellus (procuror general to the Emperor Nero) was transported from his own proper place with all his trees, and set in the common way between the soil it stood on, and another man's heritage, after which matter the tyrant Nero died and a great alteration fell in the Empire, by the trembling of the earth as Homer affirmeth waters did flow where firm land remained, and the Seas did retire from their wont course in another place, by which means a great country was discovered before over flowed with water, as men might see towards the mount Siscelo, in the fields and near the haven of Larta, or Ambracia, a plot of ground ten long miles from the borders of the Sea, that in times past stood drowned and undiscovered, and at Athens likewise the sea is retired from the haven (that they call Piree) about five miles of length, and at Epheson the Sea did anciently beat against the temple of Diana, but now the Sea is a great way recoiled from that temple, and if the history of Herodote be true, anciently the waves of the Sea went over the city of Memphys in Egypt, running to the mountains of Ethiopie, and the plains of Arabia, in like sort the Sea did beat against Illium called Troy, and covered all the whole country of Tentertanie, and all the other fields where passeth the river Meander, these proofs and passages sufficiently showeth, that the tremble of the earth are as much and more to be feared then the cracking of a rotten house, or the fall of a mighty castle that stands on feeble props, and totters at every blast of wind: Further it is said, in the Isles of Pithecuses by the vehemency of an earthquake, a great town did sink, and by another earthquake again, a great lake was made in the same islands, as yet remaining a wonder to the world, read the four and ninth of Pliny, and ye shall see a number of other matters, as miraculous as any yet rehearsed. The divine Plato reports, that anciently there was a mighty and a great country, where now is the Sea Atlantic, and in the Sea Mediterranie a marvelous deal of land is sunk and covered with water, yea to the very gulf of Ambracia, which is in Acarnanie which cometh out of Corinth, the same having one member or leg upon Gréece, and how many countries in Europe Azia and other parts, are destroyed by the Sea and original cause of earthquakes, I hope now needeth not to make particular report off, albeit some notorious things may be (by the sufferance of learned men that readeth) touched and somewhat treated off, under favour as far as serveth to my purpose. There was an earthquake in the Emperor Tiberius' time, so wonderful that it overthrew twelve towns in Asia all in one night, and during the wars of Carthage it was reported to the Senate of Rome, that within one year was seven and thirty earthquakes, but now behold what followed the very self same season, Hannibal discomfited the Romans near the lake of peruse, and yet neither of both the armies (which was a most marvel) hard nor felt no piece of the earthquakes, albeit the earth trembled so often, as it was to be supposed that the whole world would have suddenly been overwhelmed: Thus you see the earth which is the mother of mankind (though she seems senseless) is moved by the almighty to tremble and shake, when man is toward destruction, and commonly no bloody battles have happened but an earthquake or comet went before, the one to make man look upward to the heavens, where he desires to dwell, and the other to warn him and plainly show him, he must fall to the earth and ashes, from whence all flesh did rise and took his original, and surely it is a manifest sign of God's favour when that both heaven and earth (and all other things we can behold) are occupied and working away by some mystery to call us to repentance, and make the pilgrim prepare himself to be gone from the vail of misery, and miserable dungeon of disquietness, but now I pray you regard what Pliny sayeth (he being but an infidel in respect of a Christian) now truly saith he The trembling of the earth never is the cause of one evil alone, nor all the danger is not only in the trembling: for it always presageth some mishap and Des aster to come, and likewise saith he there was never seen earthquake in the city of Rome, but some great mischance fell out suddenly after, if an infidel believed so and hath set down his opinion in print, for an infallible rule and ground to build upon, me think Christians should confess without any difficulty, that the natural cause of earthquakes is a supernatural matter, which neither agitations nor exhalations can command by their force, to move so great a mass of earth as an earthquake shaketh, though Aristotle and sundry others makes a great argument on the like purpose. If all earthquakes, commetts in the air, signs and wonders in the skies, and many other notorious marvels, rise on a natural cause, it may be asked who sent the star to be seen at Christ's birth, and who caused the whole world to shake at his death, if nature by the course of her operation, worketh such wonders, than belike that fearful earthquake had happened though Christ had not died, and at the same hour and instant though Christ had not suffered for man, the earthquake would not have failed the ordinary season and working, that springs on exhalations, agitations, and such like matter, Aristotle for all his superexcellent learning, knew no more than pertained to the judgement of a man, and though all the deep wise men of the world (and the world itself) were possessed with his books and arguments, it passeth all reason to believe that the earth can shake, and the whole world trembling without his will and pleasure that made the day and night, and knoweth all things before they come to pass, and is both the mover and maker of heaven and earth: And surely I believe that neither all the Devils in hell, nor all the Angels in heaven, nor all the conjurers and sorcerers in the world, have no power (of themselves) to turn up side down a little mountain, much less have they power to turn mighty kingdoms into the Seas, and make the main Sea dry land, no doubt but the winds, waters, air, fire, and earth (working together) have an excellent force and nature to work their effects, and bring to pass things both marvelous and past man's cunning to compass, but to show armies and battles in the skies, commetts in the clouds, force the heavens to rain blood, compel the heavy mould to remove, and shake the universal world is a diviner matter to speak off, and deserveth in a most high manner to be handled, and more reverenced regarded and feared when it happeneth: For such strange sights are the very messengers that the great judge sendeth before his coming, and the only warnings the world (in the latter days) shall have before this old earth shall be consumed, and new jerusalem shall be made, nature can not of herself make sweet apels sour, sour apels sweet, change and exchange the natural kind of trees or other fruit, as in Lyche was seen a town of Surrie, at the arriving of king Xerxes in those parts, read Aristander and the commentaries of Caius Epidius, and they will show you things to be wondered at of trees (if it be true that they affirm) they say trees did speak, which nature denies and reason can not conceive, but trees stones and all other senseless things, God may make speak, aswell as he made balam's Ass reprove his own master, and the Ox in Rame cry Roma cave tibi. Pliny in his naturals saith, that it was reported of the Romans, that in the territory of Cuma a city of jonie, a great and a high tree did sink so low into the earth, that nothing but a few small sprays on the very top thereof was to be seen, but what think you followed after, marry many mischiefs, terrible bloodshed, wicked conspiracies, and open dissensions, for the civil war between Pompeie and julius Caesar began at that present, and ended not God knows a long while after, the Romans' to know what the sinking of that tree did signify, did look in their books of divinations, and their they found that this wonder presaged a matter of great consequence, threatened the slaughter of multitudes of men: What needs now to search or rehearse profane histories, for the weight and worthiness of a true argument, touching earthquakes, wonders in the air, and warnings of the world, that manifestly setteth forth the miraculous doings and majesty of the almighty, for you need not to go any further for a ready resolution of these points, but to the holy scripture, which plainly declares that in the latter days you should see signs in the air, wonders in the world, the stars fall from heaven, the Sun and Moon lose their light, and to be short and use the piercing and weighty words of the Gospel, we are told of wars, earthquakes, desolation, faintness of faith, and warned if God did not shorten those days for the chosens sake, the very elect might be dissaved and but a few should be saved, so many opinions and errors would arise (and iniquity would be so great) that it would strive for the victory, and faith would wax so cold, that God and all goodness should in a manner be forgotten, wherefore the maker of heaven and earth revives our dead memories with earthquakes and wonders (not engendered and produced by natural causes) because that omnipotent Lord doth what he listeth, both in the elements and earth, compelling them to work his will as their courses be set by the infallible order and ordinance of his majesty, that doth with his own workmanship what seemeth best in his sight, Now I pray you under patience and favour demanded, shall the little star (lately seen in july last) be forgotten, as unfit to be reckoned or noted (for the smallness of it) among the wonders of the air, indeed the incredulity of the world and hardness of stony hearted men, believes as little as they may, either of the forewarnings of God or divine preachings of good men, who daily in sweetest manner openeth the scriptures unto us, and shows familiar examples out of the old Testament and the new, that might move millions to repentance, and frame a fraternal conversion among the people, but thousands grow so stubborn and stiff-necked that they neither will stoop to consider what is spoken, nor bend their minds to the amendment of life, but runs all on head (without looking back) into errors and vain imaginations, thinking that wonder or that worthy matter will blow over, and stands in fear of nothing, no scarce of a terrible blast of thunder, that often tears men beasts and trees in pieces, and striketh down flat to the ground high towers and stately buildings: All these strange accidents rehearsed, and ten thousand times as many more fearful matters, if they might be set down (as a spectacle to our sight) can never change nor alter the common course of our dissolute manners, and incredulous minds. A wonder lasts but nine days, a sign in the air is but wondered at, an earthquake is called but a common custom of many causes, a blazing star makes people but babble a while, a monster in beast or man brings no great marvels, a summer winter like is but weighed as wicked world pleaseth, an unnatural wet out of season is named but a foul weather: a tempest or blustering storms is quickly quieted with a calm: a dearth of grain and all sustentation of man, tries but our patience: and seldom brings repentance, and the plague of the sword war and pestilence is suddenly forgotten: so careless is our life, and so full of incredulity are our hearts, wherefore neither excellent men in a pulpit, true writers of good books, setting out of ancient histories, nor showing of fearful examples, seems to do no good, neither to the benefit of the body nor blessedness of the soul: Than of necessity all must be committed to God's grace and goodness, whose mercies must uphold us, or else the wonders of the air, the trembling of the earth, and the incredulity of the world will increase the wrath of the almighty, and bring a bad world to confusion. Warnings to the world. IN the forenoon doctor Rogers being in a matter to the rebuke of some disorders, he saw suddenly fall a great darkness over all the Church, (a crack of thunder following the darkness) whereby all the people were not only amazed, but likewise stricken down in a great terror and trembling, and at their fall were marked under their clothes with bloody signs and shows of God's wrath, most wonderful to behold, because their garments were kept whole and sound, at which season and fear some seemed dead, and fell so sick on the sudden, that long after they recovered not, yet the preacher not a whit stricken nor none of his folks hurt, notwithstanding (as doctor Rogers told me) many of the people at that instant present were stricken down, but howsoever things fell out by God's visitation and sufferance, the mighty majesty of the Lord was miraculously seen and understood in this fearful action: The bishop yet most stoutly preached in the after noon, when no such wonders were to be noted at that instant, but incredulous people cares for no wonders, for the like of this was at Bongie a parish church in Norfolk, I saw it myself and beheld the clock house, belfry, and walls torn in pieces, even as a man's hand had been thrust through a great piece of warm wax, and another church neighbour to this at the very same season was visited with some sign of God's displeasure, for in some one of them or both, were sundry people slain, other churches since that time, as Norwich of late, and Born in Huntingdon shire, have witnessed to the world that God's anger on churches, hath often been marvelously seen, which may make many men wonder at the strangeness thereof, namely for that in churches and places of prayer, God permits and openly suffers his people to perish, and chiefly when they are at service, where men ought rather to be mindful of their offences, and frailty of life, then bear in breast any motion that may purchase God's displeasure: But some do judge (and that a great number) the vilest sort that honours no virtue, makes or would make the house of prayer, a den of thieves, and so forth as Christ himself found fault withal, Solomon and no other was ordained to build the Temple of the Lord, and when it was finished, Sollomons own words and prayer in that Temple, is a most divine note and wonder to look upon, honour and admire, well well I dare say no more, but God is marvelous angry at some matters, or men pertaining to the Church, when in that holy house he sendeth such miracles, and sendeth such warnings: I refer the judgement thereof to grave Fathers and Divine preachers: So bringing to an end the small matter of this book, that hath treated of Wonders and signs in the air, Trembling and shaking of the earth, and warnings from God sent before the judgement day: which mighty matters because they pass my reach to judge off, and the common skill of men to discuss and decide, I leave unto the almighty that daily works wonders, sends warnings, shows miracles, and never rests from making men know his duty, towards the admiring of him and his works, which the more men writ off, think on, or dispute in, the more farther they run headlong to heaps of errors follies and unpardonable offences, wherefore avoiding over much boldness and presumption of entering too far in these causes, I conclude and commit all to his mercies. FINIS. The Lord's prayer and creed in verse, with the ten Commandments. Our Father which art in persons three, Thy mighty name most hollowed be: Thy kingdom come, done be thy will, As well on earth, as ti's in heaven still: Give us this day, our daily bread, (With which our bodies, and souls are fed:) Forgive us our trespass every way, As we forgive them that seek our decay: And lead us not into temptation, (But for Christ's sake our only salvation:) Deliver us from evils all, That makes us from thy favour fall: For kingdom glory and all is thine, For ever and ever (by power divine.) The Creed. I Believe in God the Father of all might, Made heaven and earth, sent darkness and light: And in jesus Christ, his son and our Lord, Conceived by the holy Ghost (as scriptures do record:) Of the virgin Mary this babe was borne, To redeem man that else had been forlorn: Suffered under Ponce Pilate, crucified and laid in grave, Descended into hell (the elect souls to save:) Risen the third day, such hope I have, Was seen alive here, ascended into heaven than, Sits on God's right hand a mediator for man: From thence shall he come, to judge both quick and dead, Amid the clouds to show his great Godhead: I believe in the infinite holy Ghost, The Catholic Church that honours God most: The communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, The resurrection of the body, where gladness gins: And in the life everlasting I trust, To rise at the last day with job out of dust. The ten Commandments. GOd spoke these words, the Lord thy God I am, That brought thee home, when thou from Egypt came: I set thee free from bondage every way, Because thou shalt my holy will obey. Thou shalt not have any other Gods but me, Thou shalt not serve strange Gods in any degree: Unto thyself, no graven image make, Like any thing, that is in heaven above, Nor earth below, thy pleasure so to take: Nor underneath the earth, my wrath to move: Nor worship them by any kind of mean, For I thy God loves people pure and clean. Thou shalt not bow down to any image wrought, Thy only Lord a jealous God he is, That plague's the sins of people vain and nought: Yea to the third, and fourth generation, note well this, I visit the Sons, and Fathers of them all, That do hate me, or to idolatry fall: And mercies shows, to thousands when I will, That loves me, and keeps my commandments still. Thou shalt not take, thy great God's name in vain, He guilty is, that will mine honour stain. The sabbath day, look that thou keep in fear, Six days thou hast, to work, to trudge, and toil, The seventh is the Sabbath every where: Than thou shalt not thy hands with labour foil, Thou and thy son, thy daughter, maid, and man, That serveth thee, shall do no labour than: Thy cattle and, the stranger in thy gate, Shall do no work, that day early nor late: For in six days, thy Lord that all hath blest, Made heaven and earth, and in the seventh did rest. Thou shalt honour, thy father and mother well, (That long alive, on earth safe thou mayst dwell.) Thou shalt not kill, for blood craves blood, or vengeance still. Thou shalt not break, true wedlocks band no way. That knot and staff, is an honourable stay. Thou shalt not steal, for thieves rob Prince and common weal. Thou shalt not bear, false witness in any sort, For that may take, from justice good report. Thou shalt not wish, thy neighbours house nor wife, His man servant, nor maiden for thy life, His Ox, his Ass, nor nothing that is his, Live with thine own, as the Lords pleasure is. Verses fit for every one to know and confess. TO bed I go from you, God knows when I shall rise, Night's darkness bids the day adieu, till morning glads the skies: The bed presents the grave, in shrouding sheets we lie, The flattering bolster that we have, is stuffed to please the eye: The blankets are green grass, that grows when we are gone, The pillows with sun beams do pass, for pilgrims to look on: The coverlet is care, that clothes us whilst we live, The bed staves gentle scourges are, that doth us warnings give: The bedstocke and the tycke, and all belongs to bed, Is but vain pleasures that we like, to please a wanton head: Sleep is of death the shape, to show man's substance small, As earth doth for the body gape, so death will have us all: Then live as thou shouldst die, when God shall please to strick, The grave wherein our bodies lie, and bed are both alike: But sure when senses sleep, from labour toil and pain, The soul for fear do wail and weep, till man awake again: Death waits so hard at hand, when soundest sleep we have, That all our state doth doubtful stand, till body be in grave: Man shortens his own days, and so doth wear and waste, By wilful steps and wicked ways, that cuts of life in haste: Sleep is a step to death, and time that wears full fast, Life waits no longer on the breath, than blood and health doth last: When candle waxeth dim, or near the socket draws, Man's goodly glistering glory trim, declines by kindly cause: Then aged sires like me, small tarrying have you here, When falters shall examined be, they buy their folly dear: In bed that brings no rest, those strange events we find, When rolling up and down the breast, sad thoughts loads heavy mind: The bed breeds dreams and toys, that idle fancy brings, More vain than rash are earthly joys, that hinders heavenly things: The soundest sleep of all, in Abraham's bosom is, Hear joy is mixed with bitter gall, and there gall turns to bliss: To bed go in these bounds, as babes in clouts are laid, To rise with Christ (when trumpet sounds) who hath our ransom paid. FINIS.