The Explanation of the Frontispiece. MArke and behold ye bloody Irish Nation This Heavenly Figure; where my contemplation Hath been implyoyed: Your horrid deeds, me thought Would into question in short time be brought. Blood cries for Blood: me thinks I fear each hour God will his vengeance on that Island power. See Meger, Palefaced, Saturn, Furious Mars, In Taurus, Ireland's Sign, most dismal Stars, By God appointed; for to do his will. Fire, Famine, Sword, the Plague: of blood their fill shallbe their portion: Phalaris did frame A brazen Bull, But when the burning flame Had heat the Engine, He himself first felt The cruel torments, which he would have dealt To others: Ireland's case is fare more worse The children yet unborn that folk will curse. Though Spain and France: The Pope, that man of sin With his adherents you to aid begin. And bring you succour, Vengeance cries aloud 'tis heaped as rain into a fearful cloud, Unless that God restrain Heavens menaceing This sad position will your ruin bring. A BLOODY IRISH ALMANAC, OR, Rebellious and Bloody IRELAND, Discovered in some Notes Extracted out of an ALMANAC, Printed at Waterford in IRELAND For this Year 1646. woodcut depicting astrologicall signs and figures East South West North Whereunto are annexed some Astrological Observations upon a Conjunction of the two Malignant Planets SATURN and MARS in the middle of the Sign TAURUS the Horoscope of IRELAND, Upon Friday the 12. of June this Year 1646. with memorable Predictions and Occurrences therein. By JOHN BOOKER. InenarranDVs DeVs est operIbVs sVIs, qVI transfere regna atqVè eXCIDIt ea. Printed at London for JOHN PARTRIDGE, 1646. To the Reader BEing for some years late passed publicly employed on behalf of the Commonwealth of this Kingdom, I could not attend my Study of Astrology with that earnestness and pains I desired, or with that former industry I for many years had under gone; and indeed I was almost discouraged in prosecuting the Writing of my Annual Prognostic, when as in Licensing the same, half my Astrology or what was most pertinent to the present times was most maliciously expunged, so that I ever appeared a lame & deficient Person, ambiguous, and not easily to be apprehended: the fault not being mine, who desires to benefit my Native Country, but those peevish Episcopal Chaplains who had sole Licence either to permit, or disannul my Writings. But the errors of that misty Faction being now by divine Providence cleared, and liberty given by the Noble Parliament now resident at Westminster for advance of any humane learning; I have assumed liberty to appear again in the World (not in an Almanac, the least thing I ever intended) but in a notable and eminent way of Prediction upon the famous Conjunction of the two Malevolent Planets Saturn and Mars; I am herein much encouraged by those Labours of my Friend Mr. Lily, not only Printed in these times, but made more memorable in the success I have observed hath followed his Astrological Predictions: a few of which I will repeat that the misguided in fancy against Astrology may not be destitute of sufficient testimony in his only Writings of the verity of that Art, by which Art at this time I writ the ensuing Discourse. I omit his Anglicus 1644, and shall relate some Observations out of his Prophetical Merlin, Printed 1644. See fol. 43 upon his Judgement of the Comet 1618. In 1645 let those Princes that live near the Mordway Tartar look to themselves, etc. Is not the Kingdom of China bordering thereon almost destroyed by the sudden attempt of the Tartar 1645. But we will come home to England, See fol. 98, and so it may be hoped towards the later end of 1645 we shall have great likelihood of being in a better condition than now we are in: we were in a sad condition when he wrote that Book in 1644. but in Decemb. 1645, the whole Kingdom knows the words exactly verified, by the continual successes of our Parliaments General, and the inestimable losses of his Majesty and his partakers. Again in the same fol. In 1646 all the Planets except Mercury saluting each other with one benevolent aspect or other, do most undoubtedly declare, that the misery of the afflicted English do draw near to a period: and this is like to be so. See again fol. 100 Indeed in 1646 Jupiter in the Figura Mundi being in the ascendant, etc. Matters are not yet ripe and perfectly settled, yet better then formerly; some Prince either fled or captivated, etc. whether things are not fare better and yet not rightly settled, and whether of late the Prince miss not of being captivated, but since is fled the Kingdom; we all know: Let who will please examine his whole Discourse upon the conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter, there in that Book handled, and they shall see Astrology is not either vain or an unnecessary Study. Let us observe some passages in his Starry Messenger Published 12 June 1645 fol. 23 in his Premonition to Princes: Your Generals shall quake and tremble and prove men of no courage, etc. Hath not Prince Rupert fulfilled this, etc. at the delivery of Bristol, etc. Again, Your confederates shall fail in real performances; Observe the good hand of God, not any man of his Majesty's Friends hath supported him with a man or money since that Prediction, no not the beloved Irish Catholics. In the same fol. Your Children shall wander as banished people all over the world. How like this may be truth, let all wise men judge for Prince Charles is fled, and so may the rest for aught I know. Again fol. 43. in answer to that Bifronted Buzzard Wharton, he saith it upon that opposition of Saturn and Mars in Septemb: we knock not our enemies sound, God is angry with us. I think we bastinadoed them sound near that time at Sherburne, and at Rowten more. So that it appears as Mr. Lilly wrote, God is not or was angry with us. But in his Postscript of his Starry Messenger in answer to lying Wharton, who published the King's March from Oxford on the last side, published the same the 12 of June there are his words verbatim. But let me tell you, such shall be our victories before the time limited by you be half come, viz. Novemb. 1645) that me thinks I hear the many cursed oaths the Dam-boyes spew out both against God & man. Oh what skulking sneaking, running into Corners, mouseholes, sawpits, Cunny-berries, tossing and tumbling the ungodly out of one Country into another: do I foresee: face about Gentlemen says one for our honour, as you did at Newberry, that is with a good pair of heels, or all's lost I say: Oh the way to Bristol, from thence to Exeter then into Cornwall, thence into a safe harbour, if any can be found for Malignants. God's Providence hath made those words true, for d●d we not first take Bristol, then beleaguer Exeter, and now this present March have we not in Cornwall unhorsed these pure Swash-buckling Cavaliers, so that now they may see these words to their shame and Gods glory fulfilled. But I am tedious, although no need is thereof: let any indifferent man, judge on Mr. Lilies Observations in this present March 1646. He saith: the first week, News from several quarters, and some town or fort surrendered, so we had, the surrender of Ashby, and the town of Torrington Then he proceds: some proposition from our weather beaten enemies Westward. Is not this true in the Lord Hopton his surrender of 2000 horse upon modest propositions. Again, his Majesty stands amazed: who thinks less than so, when he sees all is like to be lost. Here's struggling saith he; this we in London know to be true. Again, Three days promise our enemy's success, but God may blind their eyes to make use of none, that is, neither eyes nor time. The poor fellows were in Abington, 2 March: but were hastily and valiantly thrust out by the valour of the Garrisons; this was one of their promising days. In the second week of March they attempted it again, but to no purpose; the same week they miss our Convoy of 20000 pound by contrary Intelligence so that its hoped, their three days over out of date, and their eyes quite put out, and they may wander with Rupert and Maurice to Ireland to cry Oh hone: for here's no more plunder to be obtained in England. These his predictions in favour of Astrology I have repeated, because they are excellent and notable expressions in the Art and manifestly visible. They that would be further satisfied repair to the books themselves. For what I have performed in the ensuing Tractate, I leave to the candid censure of the well disposed, and do hope as Mr. Lilly and myself have the same principles in Art, so our judgements in the general, and my own particular notion upon the solid foundation of Art will have, answerable success. I heartily wish all happiness to our present Parliament, and abundant of blessing to the City of London, wherein I now inhabit, pray to God preserve both States in Unity and Concord, that so the Affairs of the Public may more vigorously be prosecuted, Religion established, and Peace universally succeed. So wisheth a true English man, an Abhorrer of the Irish Rebellion: One that prayeth for the Peace of Church and State, and the utter extirpation of Popery. JOHN BOOKER A Bloody Irish ALMANAC for the YEAR 1646. NOt many days after the Irish Cabinet, or his Majesty's Secret Papers for establishing the Papal Clergy in Ireland came to public view (which is worthy to be perused by all true hearted Protestants of England) There appeared an Irish Almanac, entitled thus, A new Almanac for the year of our Lord God 1646. being the second after Leap year, and since the Creation of the World 5595. Calculated for the Longitude and Latitude of the City of Waterford and may serve generally for all Ireland; By an Manapian. Waterford, Printed for the Year MDCXLVI. Which Almanac I having had sight of, and perusing the same, I found many remarkable and memorable Chronological Observations, agreeing so exactly with the transaction of the forepast and present affairs between his Majesty and the bloody Irish, who are called his Majesties Catholic Subjects: That I held it a great injury to the English Nation if the same should have been smothered, and not divulged; I mean so much thereof as discovers the inveterate hatred of that inhuman people against the Parliament, and the whole Kingdom of England, The other part being either Popish Saints days, or vulgar Observations in most common Almanacs, I passed by as not material to the present task in hand, and indeed the whole of it, and all of them I judge worthy no other than the fire. In the leaf next the Title page, Thus it is Printed. Our most Gracious King Charles began his Reign over great Britain and Ireland the 27 of March, in the year of our Lord 1625. And hath Reigned 21 years complete the 26 of March 1646. But the 27 day we writ Anno Regni 22 Whom God prosper in all his Designs against his Rebellious Subjects the ☞ ROUNDHEADS of ENGLAND. I trust God will not hear, their prayer but turn it into Sin and Abomination, Psal. 109.7. Prov. 28.9. Hath the King Designs against his Subjects? Are his Subjects termed Rebels? Are they pointed out for destruction by a bloody hand, and called the Roundheads of England? O God blast all such designs! And all ye true hearted English men, look about you, unite yourselves against the common Enemy, the bloodthirsty Irish, Papists, Jesuits, and their confederates, &c, Why do the Heathen rage and the people imagine a vain thing? The Kings of the Earth set themselves, and the Rulers take Council together, against the Lord and against his anointed, Saying, Let us break their bands asunder and cast their coards from us; He that sitteth in the Heavens shall laugh, The Lord shall have them in division, he shall speak to them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure; He shall break them with a rod of iron, and dash them in pieces like a Potter's v●ss●ll; Be wise now therefore O ye Kings, be instructed ye Judges of the Earth, serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling; Kiss the Son lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little, But blessed are all they that put their trust in him, Psal. 2.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12. The next Irish note which I observe, is as followeth; In the month of January over against the 10 day in (bloody) red letters, this Manapian, one borne in Menapia, a City or Town in the County of Weisford or Wexford in Ireland, or Wexford itself, as Camden thinks in his Description of Ireland, fol. 89. mihi, sets it down thus. The most pernicious anarchical Rebellion of the Roundheads of England. It may be remembered that January the first 1641, The Parliament petitioned the King for a Guard, foreseeing a design upon them; And the next day the King's Answer was, He tendered their safety as his own, and their life as the life of his children; But the fourth day he came in person to the House of Commons attended with about four hundred persons, with Swords, Pistols, etc. to demand the five Members, which unparallelled attempt discovered the design of the Enemy to make war against the Parliament, which afterward followed; yea and the next day after the King himself came to the Guild Hall in London at a Common Council, to what intent, appeared in few days: for this tenth day mentioned in the Irish Almanac, The King, with the Queen, Prince, Duke of York, left Whitehall, and went to Hampton-Court; ever since which time to this very day (having forsaken his Parliament, and left his people out of his protection) hath been the most horrible, bloody, unnatural war that ever was in England, nay, in all the world, it being never known that a King against his people, his Parliament, his Kingdoms, should raise war, till soon after that time in the Irish Calendar mentioned. And now let all the world judge whether this Manapian be not a most Malignant, lying, pernicious, Antichristian Irish Rebel, that so falsely slandereth the Parliament and Kingdom, by calling their just actions anarchical Rebellion, and the people thereof the Roundheads of England. Over againg the 23 of October in the Almanac, This Hellhound in (bloody) red letters, writeth, thus, The happy Union of the Catholics eo die. This is that infamous, that fatlla day, the 23 of October 1641, when that unparallelled Grand Rebellion of the barbarous Irish violently burst forth to the massacring & destruction of many thousands of innocent Protestants in that Kingdom by a crew of Devil's incarnate, who plead Commission for this inhuman Act, and call it The happy Union of the Catholics: This 23 day of October 1641 I could wish were marked with Carbone nigre, or for ever were deleated out of the Calendar: But when I observed that very day twelve month, viz. the 23 of October 1642. How just God was in punishing (though not the Irish Nation yet) the Abetters of them and their horrible Rebellion, in that memorable Victory it pleased God to give the Parliaments Forces under the conduct of their then Lord General, the Right noble Earl of Essex between Keynton and Edgehill against the Enemy; I am struck with admiration, and with me it shall never be forgotten. How the Oxford Naworths, and this Irish Manapians Almanac agree, seems to me somewhat strange. The Oxonian calls it The Grand Rebellion, he means the 23 of October 1642 when the Battle at Keynton was, But I mean that black day the 23 of October 1641, when the Irish unparalleled Grand Rebellion burst out, which this Manapian terms The happy Union of the Catholics, so that the Grand Rebellion in the Oxford Almanac, and The happy Union of the Catholics in the Irish are both one; Though there was a Rebellion but in one, yet they were both united in the prosecution of a most bloody war; what was intended by the Irish in 1641 in that Kingdom against the Protestants there, was in 1642, on the same day vehemently pursued by their Confederates against the Protestants here; There is a time drawing near when the Oxford's Almanac Grand Rebellion, and, The happy Union of the Catholics in Ireland will be remembered, and both of them called to a strict account for the same. There are some admirable Astrological Observations which happened on these two days viz. the 23 of October 1641: And that 23 of October 1642: On that in 1641 (though not visibly to be seen) was a great and terrible Eclipse of the Sun in eleven degrees of Scorpio the opposite Sign to the Horoscope of Ireland. The Moon then changing the 24 day causing such a darkness in him in the morning, as if he were ashamed to behold the intended Irish massacring of the Protestants, which was discovered the 23 day by Owen Ockanellee then servant to Sir John Clotworthy. Eclipse Solis si fuerit in Scorpione fundamentorum ruinas, & inter Ecclesiasticos ●dia, simultates, & turbas excitabunt, & plebis & turbae ignobilium interitus, diuturnaeque bellorum seditiones &c denotat. Sic Jo. Anton. Giuffus in tractatu de Eclipsibus. That is, If the Sun shall be eclipsed in Scorpio, it threatens destruction of Ancient Foundations, and stirs up hatred and grudge and debates amongst ecclesiastics. The death of the common, or ignoble people, and continual seditions of war. And Proclus says if the Sun shall be eclipsed in the first ten degrees of Scorpio, Tumultus bellicos movet, cades, odia, captivitates & proditiones machinatur. That is, It stirs up warlike tumults, slaughters, hatred, captivities and treacheries it doth threaten; And if in the second ten degrees of Scorpio (as this was) Regis cujuspiam perniciem, aversum exercitus animum. Part of this prediction is already fulfiled, and if God prevent it not, the residue is approaching very near. It began to operate that very day, and hath continued in much virulency to this very time. But the next 23 of October viz. 1642: was most memorable when Mars who was Lord of the said Eclipse met in opposition to the Sun, was that Signal great Battle fought at Keynton: betwixt the King's Army and the Parliaments. Both which days and configurations Mars was extremely afflicted by being opposite to his houses. In the first he was in Libra, and in the second in Taurus: very fatal to the Irish, and that party their Associates. I gave a touch of that in October 1642 in my Almanac, amongst other thus much, Caedes quoque cruentae, & lights atrae hinc inde percrebescent, Edgehill Battle can witness this, The number that was slain on both sides there, are not yet known; This 23 of October 1642: the Sun was in ten degrees of Scorpio, and Mars in Taurus retrograde in the opposite Sign and near the degree opposing: And I well remember what Origanus says Par: 3. de effectibus. Fol: 522: Pertinet ad fidem & diligentiam Astrologorum, omnium quantum fieri potest Principum, Ducum, Comitum, Nobilium, Consulum, praecipuorum quoque Theologorum, Episcoporum, Consiliariorum, Medicorum, Genituras inquirere; Non enim magna solummodò laut est, priori consulta experientia de ipsis in specie aliquid dicere: Sed publica quoque fata ex eorum salute pendent: Quicquid enim delirant reges plectuntur Achivi: That is, It is for the credit of Astrologers as much as in them lies to search into the Nativities of Princes, Dukes, Earls, Nobles, Consuls. (i. e. Mayor) or chief Officers of Cities or Towns, Prime Divines, Bishops, Counsellors, Physicians, etc. For there is not only great praise (experience being had of them particularly) But the Public Affairs or Commonwealth depends on their welfare: And most men frame themselves to the mind of the King. I am not ignorant of this, and have had some experience of late of this Aphorism, And this I dare boldly say, that what ever he be from Caesarto Codrus, if he have at the time of his Nativity the tenth degree, or within five degrees, ante & retro of Scorpio, Leo, Aquary, but especially Taurus, culminating, Horoscopicall, The Sun, Moon, or part of Fortune in the same or near it, He, she, or they will suffer extremely in one kind or other, some in their Honours, Estates, Dignities, Some in their Life, etc. and some in all of them: I know some, and those no mean ones; But, Cynthius Aureno vellit; Our King is either misled, or wilful: For the first, Take away the wicked from before the King and his Throne shall be established in righteousness, Prov. 25.5. But if he continue in this strange unheard of absence from the Parliament, whereby, not only through the neglect of due and just governing of his people, both his and their ruin must inevitably succeed, I must remember him of Pharaoh and the Red Sea; yea God changeth the Times and the Seasons, He removeth Kings and setteth up Kings, Dan. 2.21. Who knows but that the Handwriting upon the Wall may be applicable to this present, miserable, deplorable time we live in? for my part I tremble to think to what sad condition many will be brought in short time if God Almighty prevent not: But Quos vult perdere Jupiter hos dementat. And now though these two dismal Aspects in October be past, their Effects continue; And this year in April are many notable meetings of the Planets in the Sign Taurus (governing Ireland) As first of Saturn and Mercury on the 12 day, Venus and Mercury the 14 day, the Sun and Saturn the 17 day, the Sun and Venus the 18 day, and Saturn and Venus the 20 day, all of them in the first Face of Taurus, between the 6 and 10 degree of the said sign; Lord, what preparations do the Irish, and their confederate Friends the papal Party here, there, and from foreign parts make? what Consultations, Messages, Embassyes, what Treacheries? what combinations, what Conspiracies do they frame against the poor Protestants of England, & c? But the longest day must have an end; And on that day this year, Mars and Saturn Lerma Lerma resonabunt who meeting in conjunction in the midst of Taurus, will sound fearful Alarms in the midst of Ireland; but of these more anon. I thought to have found in the next Month, in this Irish Almanac, viz. November on the 5 day, some commemoration of that damnable powder Plot 1605, that Popish, hellish Conspiracy to destroy the Parliament; but they in Ireland would be ignorant of that, as not long since our corrupt, ambitious Prelatical Clergy endeavoured to have brought the same about here, but let us in England for ever remember God's mercy, and be thankful in our deliverance from the damnable Treason of the Papists, on our 5 day of November, 1605. Where there was both a Plot and powder: And let us not forget the fearful judgement of God, in the downfall of Blackfriars upon the Papists, (the 26 of our October) being the 5 of their November, 1623. where was no Plot, nor powder. O miranda Dei Judicis aequitas, fraudis fraud● sua prenditu Artifex, & quis alios plagis irretire parabant h●sere impliciti pedes. The wicked people in the pit, are fallen themselves that digged it, Yea their own feet are fast ensnared, in hidden nets themselves prepared. And thereby hath the Lord been known, for having such a judgement shown In that the wicked are surprised, even in the snare themselves devised. They in Ireland begin their Michaelmas Term at Kilkenny, as this Irish Almanac hath it, on the 3 day of November, on which day of November 1640. this happy Parliament in England (so much endeavoured to be dissolved) began, but their Term and our Parliament are heterogenean, Our Parliament ere long will alter their Term, and as their Rebellion broke forth the 23 of October, so we now begin our Term on the 23 of October, as if one should say, all the Courts of Justice in England by a Divine providence, were opened to give Judgement against the Irish for their Rebellion against them the 23 of October. Well! This 23 of October will be remembered as a day of mercy by the Parliament and whole Kingdom of England for their great deliverance out of the hands of their cruel Enemy at Keynton Battle, when the bloody Irish His Race and all his Generation, Shall suffer utter extirpation, And in the Age that next doth follow Oblivion shall his black name swallow. It may very well be said of Ireland, Bona Terra, malu Gens. But when that wicked Generation of men have drunk their fill of the blood of the Saints: then shall they as deeply drink of the Cup of God's wrath. Quod differtur, non aufertur. The time hasteneth, and is nearer than they are ware of. I have briefly run over these Irish Notes which this Manapian in behalf of that Kingdom of Ireland, and to the same end as Naworth and Wharton the Oxfordians publish theirs in malice against the Parliament and the Kingdom of England have done; Thereby discovering themselves to be a most Viperous Generation: There are some other observations I might have made on the Popish Saints days, which in this Almanac are very thin: I hope in the next that is written, there will be none at all. And had this Irish Manapian been as learned in Astrology as Wharton is, and predicted as much as he did upon the Kings (unfortunate) march the seventh of May the last year, I should have hoped the like success as ever since hath befallen that Party. My Friend Master Lily in his Postscript to his Starry-Messenger lately Printed, hath sufficiently refuted that Bloxford Astrologazestar. We need not fear either of them, one more than the other. There is a lying Spirit in the mouth of all of them. 2 Chron. 18.21. Their Religion, their Learning, is one and the same; their Knowledge in Astrology very near of kin. There is not a Lunation, that is, A New Moon, Full Moon, or her other Quarters, mentioned throughout this Popish Calendar, that is truly set down; Some of them twelve hours, some a day, some two days, and many three days erring from the truth. I am sure of it never a one of them fitted to the Meridian of any part of Ireland, for which it was intended, nor for England, against whom it was penned, printed and published; So that if the Oxford Writers take their Observations, and ground their Judgements from the Lunations in the Irish Almanac, we shall not need to be dismayed at their pradictions, And the fair weather in the Irish Almanac will prove foul to them, when the English come to correct the Printing Press at Waterford. I am now come to the end of the Calendar, and in the next page I find set down, The rising and setting of the Sun for every first and fifteenth day of every month in the year. Why? God maketh his Sun to rise on the evil, and on the good and sendeth rain on the just, and on the unjust. Math. 5.45. There is likewise the length of the day set down; If they please to remember the Battle at Naseby the last year, they will have small cause to rejoice the 12 of June this year, (or not many days after.) Truly the longest day will be for ever fatal to the Irish and their Confederates, if my Astrology fail not, and they know it seldom does. After this Table follows A Compendious Chronology of things Memorable. From the Creation to Noah's Flood, Gen. 5.7.11. 1060 Years. From the Flood to Abraham, Gen. 11.32 12.4. Act. 7.4. 356 Years. From Abraham's birth to Terah's death, Gen. 11.32.12.4.- 80 Years. From Terah's death to Israel's delivery, Exod. 12.40, 41. 434 Years. From that time till salomon's Temple, 1 Kings 6.1.- 484 Years. From the building of salomon's Temple to Christ.- 1032 Years. From Christ's birth till this year's end. 1646 Years. The full Sum from the Creation to this year's end is 5092 Years. This Irish Chronologer hath computed by his false Arithmetic the abovesaid numbers of years to be 5595, as he sets down both in the Frontispiece of his Almanac, and in this place, but both are equally erroneous. It is true, Non levis inter viros Doctos rerum historicarum annotationibus existit controversia: That is, There is no small controversy amongst learned men in their Annotations of Historical matters; Truly, there is great diversity amongst them in many memorable Chronological Computations; But never any that ever I read of computed less than 1656 years from the Creation to the Flood; So that this Irish account is short of the truth (in this very particular) no less than 596 years; now if we add these 596 years to 5092 they will make in all 5688 which is too many by 93 years, so that there is no truth at all in this compendious Chronology: Methinks when I see 88 I call to mind that Annus ominosus & fatalis, The Spanish Invasion, Cum formidabilis illa Classis Hispanica profligatur ab Anglis Deuce Francisco Drake; That terrible Armado, The lively portraiture whereof is represented in those curious Works in the Lord's House now in Parliament at Westminster; But as that Armado then was Ventorum Ludibrium and was by God's providence totally defeated by the English; So the Irish Rebellion will have like success. Then follows the remainder of this Compendious Chronology with Since the destruction of Troy 2830 years. This may be something near truth, for all Writers agree that it was before Christ 1183 years; now if we add 1646 being the years since Christ Birth, to 1183 the years before his Birth, they will make 2829 since the destruction of Troy. Then follows, since Bartholenus entered this Island of Ireland 4235 years, who this Bartholenus I cannot learn, but it seems he came in the year of the world 1360, which was 296 years before the Flood, which I prove thus. If you subtract 4235 years from 5595 there will remain 1360, and if you subtract this 1360 from 1656, (the year of the World when the Flood was) there will remain 296. I believe he was one of the Offspring of Cain, though Camden relates (in his description of Ireland, fol. 64.) that the Irish Historiographers say that he was a Scythian, (and then he came of Magog) who descended from Japeth, and that he fought right doughty Battles with Giants: In these times men lived many hundreds of years, but when the Flood came all the People of the Earth were drowned, save eight Persons, which were Noah and his wife with his three sons, S●m, Ham and Japeth, and their Wives: Now amongst all these there was never a Bartholènus, and if there had been any such a one, doubtless he had perished amongst the rest in the Flood; If he came not from Cain before the Flood, surely he descended from Ham who was the Father of Canaan after the Flood; from these three sons of Noah, all the Earth was overspread; now Noah cursed Canaan and said, a Servant of Servants shall he be unto his brethren; To what purpose this Bartholenus is mentioned to have entered Ireland, or who he was, it much matters not, neither if the Irish came from him, or from whom else; this I am sure of they are now a People fare exceeding the most barbarous Cannibals, and inhuman bloody men that ever I read of in any History: Here may be moved a question, why Canaan being cursed, he should possess the most fertile place and part of the World, a Land flowing with milk and Honey; so may I say of Ireland, why such a good Country should be bestowed on so wicked a People, I much wonder at it; it rather shows a blessing then a curse, and that they should rather be Lords then servants; but as one says, Cum Israelitae deletis omnibus istis gentibus (viz. Sidoniis, Tyriis, Hethaeis, Jebusaeis, Amorhaeis, Gergesaeis, Hevaeis, Cannanaeis, etc. terram Cananaeam ingrederentur: tunc sauè manifestata est veritas maledictionis Nohae, dederuntque paenas impietatis suae, ejecti & excisi per populum Dei, quem tandem triumphare oportet; It is just the State and Condition of Ireland as then of Canaan; And they must look for the like measure of punishment by the English and Scotish Nation, as Canaan did by the Israelites. Then follows, since the building of the City of Waterford by Sitaracus 1491 years. This Sitaracus it seems was about the year of Christ 155. About which time, Valentinian an Egyptian, that damnable Heretic, spread his wicked Tenants, and about this time lived Higinus the first that styled himself Pope of Rome; This City by the Irish is called Porthlargy, as Camden says in his description of Ireland fol. 79. And was built by certain Pirates of Norway But I make a great question of the Antiquity of it, neither is it to purpose: Only it is observable that Pirates were the founders of Waterford. I am sure of it Printing was not then used, but it seems now they have got a Printing Press there; Whether it and the materials came from Rome, Douai, Rhim●s, or any such other Popish place I know not; But they there, and at Oxford of late and now, print base and railing Pamphlets, and lying Almanacs, and in them most grossly abuse the Parliament and Kingdom of England, who no doubt ere long will suppress their Presses. Now follows since the building of the City of Rome, 2397 years, about the year of the world 3198. It is a great dispute amongst Chronologers and Historiographers when Rome was built; Some of them as Berosus and R●usner say. The first foundation was laid in the year of the World, 2341 by Roma daughter to Atlas, or Kitim King of Italy, about thirty years before the Birth of Moses: Some, yea the most think, that it was built by Romulus and Remus, as Livy, Dion, and others relate; The Story is thus. Procas King of Latium, or the Latins, having left his Kingdom, (after he had reigned three and twenty years) to his two Sons Amulius and Numitor to rule by yearly turns: Amulius having gotten possession, keeps the Kingdom by strong hold, and causeth Numitor his Brother to live privately; And because Amulius would not live in fear of Numitors' issue, he enticed Lausus or Egestus, Numitors' Son to go hunt with him, and then and there slew him; And caused his daughter Rhea, or Ilia, to become a Vestal Virgin to keep her from marriage, or children; But he was deceived; For in the fourth year of his reign, which was (as some suppose) in the year of the World, 3158. She was great with child (by an unknown man) but many think (by Amulius himself in disguise) because he knew she should die, if the breach of her Vow appeared by a great belly) and was delivered of Romulus and Remus at a Birth; For which she was buried quick, or beaten to death with Rods. But Dion saith, she was saved at the request of Amulius his daughter, but Romulus and Remus were delivered to some to be cast into Tiber in a cradle, which could not be effected, because the River was overflown; So they were left upon a Bank. Faustulus the chief Shepherd to Amulius, being at Court, having heard their doom, Followed, Found, and carried them to his wife Acca Laurentia, called by the people for her lust: and the Stews of her Lupanaria, Lupa, Hence arose this Fiction, That they were nursed by a Shee-Woolse. She delivered them to a woman that had lost a child a little before of her own. At the age of eighten years, these Brothers fell out with Numitors' Shepherd about feeding of their Flocks; But when Romulus was absent, Remus was carried before Amulius, who upon their Complaint delivered him to Numitor to put him to death; but Faustulus perceiving the danger, revealed their birth to Romulus (who reputed Faustulus till that time to be his Father) and to Numitor, upon a consultation, they assaulted Amulius, slew him, and restored Numitor to the Kingdom, who gave leave to them, to build Cities; Romulus chose the Mount Palatine, and built Rome, and this was Anno Mundi. 3198 as the Irish Computator reckons, I will not much trouble myself concerning the truth of this Story: Only it is observable that Rome was built, founded by Blood, Murder, Lust, Treachery, etc. And I know not why I may not suppose the Irish Nation to come from that Lupa; For they are all of them of the same Religion, with those, nay, of Rome, the Whore of Babylon; That Country of Ireland hath had many Wolves in it, but never more than now. And Camden in his description of Ireland Fol. 83. says, some of the Irish and such as would be thought worthy of Credit, do affirm that certain men (in the County of Tipperary) are yearly turned into Wolves; Whether it be a mere fable, or no, I matter it not; Unless that malignant humour of unkind Melancholy predominate in them, and so cause that disease which Physicians call Lycanthropia, and so they imagine themselves to be transformed into Wolves: However, that malignant humour hath reigned amongst them above this four years. That now the people are become more savage and bloody than Wolves, or any other creature whatsoever; But this Parliament the Physician that can under God cure all distempers of Church and State, will cure Ireland of its Lycanthropia. England was many years ago rid of Wolves, by destroying them. And I have read that King Edgar imposed a task upon Ludwall, a Prince in Wales, to present yearly to him three hundred Wolves or their skins for a Tribute, which he did for three years together; But the fourth year he gave over, protesting he could find no more. What King Edgar did I know not, but thanks be to God there are no Wolves in England (but of the Irish breed) Though there hath been an endeavour to bring over, hath been, and now are, and are daily expected some Wolvish Irish in England; This I am sure of, This Parliament hath passed an Ordinance of the 24 of October 1644 That no Quarter shall be given to any Irish man nor to any Papists whatsoever borne in Ireland which shall be taken in hostility against the Parliament, either upon the Sea, or within this Kingdom or Dominion of Wales, But that they shall be excepted out of all Capitulations, Agreements, or Compositions with the Enemy, And every such person to be put to death; Nay, any Officer by Sea or Land, that shall be remiss, or negligent in the observing the Tenor of this Ordinance, shall be reputed a Favourer of that Bloody Rebellion in Ireland, and shall be liable to such condign punishment as the Justice of both Houses of Parliament shall inflict upon the●. I trust this Ordinance will be throughly, and duly prosecuted, and then I hope both Kingdoms will shortly be cleared of the Wolves of Ireland, or the Wolvish Irish. After the building of Rome comes, since the Captivity of Babylon by Cyrus 2284 years; This should seem to be in the year of the world 3311, as the Irish Computator reckons. But herein several Chronologers have their diversity of Opinions: This cannot possibly be true; for Cyrus began to rule over Persia in the first of the 55 olympiad, which was Anno Mundi, 3390. So that here is 89 year's difference of this Computation; And in the year of the World 4409 Cyrus invaded Babylon, and conquered it, etc. And in Anno Mundi 4420. being the end of the 70 year's Captivity, as Scaliger and others think, he was in a second battle with 200000 men defeated by Tomiris Queen of the Scythians, where himself lost his life: Tomiris cut off his head and threw it into a vessel of blood. And now let the Irish remember her saying to dead King Cyrus, After blood thou didst thirst, and with blood thou shalt be satisfied. Next ensues since the desolation of the Temple of Solomon: 2251 years. This should be in Anno Mundi 3344. In which year there was no such thing done; It is true, the Prophet Jeremiah, Anno Mundi 3340, foretold of the destruction of the City Jerusalem and Temple, which came to pass twenty years after: For Anno Mundi 3360, Nabuchadnezzar took it, and destroyed it as Helvicus &c reckons. Then comes, since Augustus Caesar began his Empire 1686 years, And this after the Irish Account was Anno Mundi 3909. But here are seven years' error. For all Authors begin it Anno Mundi 3902. And then the fourth Monarchy began in Julius Caesar, who ruled Emperor but five years; After him came Augustus Caesar, Anno Mundi 3906, and reigned 56 years, and in the 41 year of his reign, which was Anno Mundi 3947, Our Saviour Christ was borne: Or as the received opinion is, Anno Mundi 3949. Now if we add this 3949 to 1646, They will make 5595: The years since the Creation, as our Irish Chronology reckons. After this follows, since Jerusalem utterly destroyed by Vespasian 1563 years: This should have been Anno Christi 83. But then there was no such matter, for it was in Anno Christi 70: So that there is an error of thirteen years defective, then there will be since Vespasian's destruction of Jerusalem, 1576 years, as most Authors agree. After this follows, since Ireland first received the Catholic faith by the preaching of the glorious Saint Patrick 1221 years, And this was Anno Christi 425. About this time, this Patrick lived: Celestine the first being Pope of Rome. The Nestorian heresy was much spread abroad; Many strange things have been reported of this Patrick. In memory of whom the 17 of March the Irish celebrate as a Festival. (But I shall take a course to cross him out of the Calendar) Hiberniae fuit Episcopus primus, & imago illius exprimitur Serpentibus ad ejus pedes abjectis, quoniam Divina illius virtute hoc mirabiliter fieri traditur, ut nulla venenata bestia ibi vivat. Petrus Galasinius ex Beda, lib. 1. cap. 1. Histor. Angl. That is, He was the first Bishop of Ireland, and his Image is portrayed with Serpents cast under his feet: for that by his divine virtue, it wonderfully came to pass that no venomous Beasts can live there. This is a miracle indeed, if it be true; Surely Panrick extracted all the Venom of Serpents, Toads, and such like odious creatures then in Ireland; And by his preaching infused the same into the people. There were before Patrick came such like creatures there: and there be now in Ireland more Venomous and Serpentine people than the very creatures themselves can be in any other Country in the world, which this late Horrid Rebellion doth sufficiently evince; But I hope there will be a Reformation there, as well as here, more glorious preaching then that of Patrick, or all Popish Bishops, Priests Jesuits etc. And the Faith (Catholic indeed) not in a Popish sense; Though I conceive this Manapian, should have said since Ireland first received the Popish Catholic faith, etc. This had been to purpose, and then I should not have excepted against it. The next Chronological Observation is, Since England first received the Catholic Faith 1463 years. If he had said since England first received the Christian Catholic Faith, etc. it had been somewhat near truth; For King Lucius beginning his rule over the Britons, hearing of divers miracles wrought by the Christians, and amongst the rest, of the plenty of Water in time of distress and want thereof; as of the great Victory obtained Anno Christi 173 for the Emperor Marcus over the Marcomanni, & Quadi by the prayers of the Christian Legion, which he called Fulminatrix, sent to Eleutherius then Pope of Rome to send him some learned men into Britain, to instruct the people in the Faith; whereupon he sent Damianus and Fugatius, who Baptised King Lucius and his people; He was the first Christian King of Britain, and lived near the time of Christian Religions Primitive purity, when Popish Catholic Religion was not heard of: If any of the Popes were aught, this Pope Elutherius was none of the worst, He prohibited the superstitious refusal of eating any thing which was man's meat, Et primus erat Episcoporum Romanorum qui non periit morte violenta. King Lucius built Peter's Church in Cornhill London about 430 years before Paul's Church, which was built by King Ethelbert, who began his reign Anno Christi 596. After follows, since Henry the second arrived at this City of Waterford, and the first Major of it, 474. years. This is near an historical truth; for Anno Christi 1170. or thereabout; at what time that ambitious, turbulent, fiery spirited Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Becket was slain: This King Henry the second had wars with Ireland, and the next year he subdued it; and I suppose King Henry the second at his coming to Waterford, made it a Major Town (and indeed as most men that have been there report it to be the second City in all Ireland, and that the Kings of England have granted great privileges to the same:) Who this Major was, our Irish Chronologer doth not name; I believe he was an English, not an Irish man, for I cannot conceive otherwise, but they were then rebellious as now; so that there is greater necessity of correcting their present rebellion, by a new supply of valiant English men, who if they land at Waterford, the present Major may chance to be displaced, and the Citizens lose their liberty. The next is since the use of Guns, invented in Germany, and the first making of Powder by a Friar, Bartholdus Swartz, 263. year. This doth not much differ from the supposed time of their known use in Christendom, although I have read that in the time of Charles the great, who flourished about the year of Christ 800. Camoscus Frisiae Rex Slopeti ictu Hollandiae Comitem, cum duobus filijs transuerberavit: and Roger Bacan our famous Historian who flourished about the year or Christ 1280. makes mention of Gunpowder; and I believe what Petrus Maffeus' writes, that Guns were of great antiquity, and known in China many Centuries of years before they were used in Christendom: However let us suppose, that Bartholdus Niger vulgo Swartz Monachus Franciscanus & Alchymista usum Bombardae vulgavit pro ut nunc est anno Christi 1380. as Alsteed says in his Chronologie, Orig. var. pag. mihi. 256. I think the Adage, Turdus sibi malum cacat, or as we in England have it, he hath made a rod for his own breech, will be exactly verified this year: Look to it all ye Irish Popish Friars, Monks, Jesuits &c. and the rest of that rabble of Locusts, there are new Guns, new Ordnances inventing, preparing, that will purge and clear the three Kingdoms of all of you. Now this Irish Chronologer, Bellarmine like spets forth venom and rores out, which since Lutheranism, Calvinisme, and such like heresies began in Germany 128. years; he that would be throughly satisfied touching this worthy Doctor Martin Luther, this Malleus Paparum & Papistarum, may be pleased to peruse the second Tome of Acts and Monuments, or the Book of Martyrs, written by that reverend and learned man, Master John Fox, p. 60, 61. & deinde, of the last Impression 1641. he shall have his life and doctrine at large described; he flourished in the year of Christ 1515. etc. This is he of whom John Hus at the time of his Martyrdom prophesied, 1415. Centum Revolutis annis Deo Respondebitis; and Hierom of Prague 1416. at his Martyrdom, who said, Post Centum annos omnes vos Cito; now 100 years after Martin Luther began first to write against the Pope, which was exactly verified; Reformation began in his time, he opposed the Pope's supremacy, writ against his pardons, Decrees, Bulls, and so stoutly defended himself against them, that he was excommunicated by the Pope, and men hired to kill him; nay, the Devil, the Pope, the Emperor, and almost all the Christian world were against him, and by open force and secret fraud sought his destruction; yet God miraculously preserved him for about thirty year's space, in despite of them all, and at last he died in hia bed in peace at Islebia in Germany, the 18. of Febr. 1546. from whence his body was removed to Wittenberg, and there was buried the 22. of February 1546. it being just 100 years since, this Febr. 1646. at what time I writ this: and now I may add a third Prophecy or prediction, to cite all Irish Priests, and popish Friars, etc. Quod post centum annos Luthero respondebitis; this Chronologer most falsely accusing him of heresy whose sound doctrine hath so confuted the errors of those ignorant times, that to this day the Papists could never answer him, but most maliciously traduce him: As for Master Calvin, he was a most reverend, orthodox man, and flourished about the year of Christ. 1535. cotemporary with Bibliander, Marlorat, Viret, Musculus, etc. all learned, and men very excellent; it is most true, that from the year of Christ 800. to the year 1520. Paucae novae Haereses sunt Ortae, multa autem fuerant Scismata; ubi excellunt Scismata Pontificum Romanerum; that is, A few new heresies sprung up, and many were the Schisms, but those of the Roman Popes, Bishops, exceeded them all, Alsted Chron. heresium, pag. 390. And a little after the same Alsted saith, Verum tamen enim vero, non fuerint heretici illi Doctores, sed Reformatores hereticae pravitatis in Regno Antichristi Romani; these Doctors were not heretics, but Reformers of the heretical pravity, or corruptness in the Kingdom of the Pope, the Roman Antichrist; indeed if you will look a little further in Alsted, he will tell you, that ab hoc anno, viz. 1520. Vsque ad nostram Aetatem pestilentes haereses ab inferis fuerunt revocatae, nam Principio Anabaptistae furere caeperunt, etc. Anabaptists, Antinomians, Socinians, Ubiquitarians, Arminians, etc. were very busy, and these were the Heretics here meant, though for my part I suppose the greatest Heretics are Papists, Jesuits, etc. and of all in the world those in Ireland the most damnable. Next follows, since the virtuous and holy Queen Mary of Scotland was beheaded in England, 46. years. Here is a manifest error, for if so, than she should have been beheaded Anno Christi 1600. but that was not so, for she was beheaded at Fothringhay Castle in Northamptonshire, the 18. of February 1587. which was 13. years before this Computist reckons; her body was buried at Peterborow, and 25. years after, viz. 1612. her body was removed to Westmninster; she was born the 5. of December 1542. on which 5. of December 1560. Francis the second King of France, who was her first husband died, being married to her 1558. the 13. of October; if you please to read Buchannan, that learned Scotchmans' books, though they were prohobited 1584. some are extant, they will tell you more: I have read in Alsted, in his Chronologia Regni Scotiae Maria haec Anno 1558. nupserat Francisco Regi Galliae; quo defuncto, redijt in Scotiam, ubi nupsit Henrico Arli, sive Stuarto; quem interfici curavit; unde in Insulam est deportata post elapsa in Angliam, Anno 1568. postquam 18. Annos captiva fuisset detenta, ibi est decollata; and in Saturni Ephemeride, Dedicated to King Charles pag. 382, Sub Titulo Scotland, it is there said, that in the year 1564. she fell in love with the Lord Darnley, son to the Earl of Lenox, got a Dispensation from the Pope for consanguinity, and created him Earl of Rosse; the next year after, he is made Duke of Albany, marrieth the Queen, and is proclaimed King; and that year that Duke of Chatteralt with divers Lords being put to the Horn, fled into England, but returning are reconciled: The year 1566. Earl Morton and others fled into England, and having murdered David Risius the Queen's Minion in her Chamber, Thaunus in his History, Tom. 2. fol. 307. says, Hemo vili conditione Citharaedi filius nomine David Rizius, Angustae Taurinaurum natus; and a little after, he saith, Faeminam per se praecipitem postremo impulit Rizius, qui plus apud eam, quam aut aequum aut ipsi decorum esset poterat; Earl Morton returneth into Scotland, and is pardoned; that year King James was born, and the next year, viz. 1567. the King her husband was murdered by Earl Bothwell; which Earl marrieih the Queen, she goeth against the Discontented Lords, and is taken, Bothwell flies into Denmark, and there dies in prison, the Queen resigneth, makes an escape, raiseth forces, flies towards France, and is cast on the English shore; much more may be read of her in the Scottish History, to which I refer you: I shall use the words of Cambden in his description of Northamptonshire, speaking of Fothringhay Castle, fol. 511. As for that disaster which even here befell unto another most mighty Prince, Mary Queen of Scots, I had leiser it should be enwrapped up in silence, than once spoken of; let it be forgotten quite, if possible, if not, yet be it hidden, as it may, in silence. The next Chronological observation is, since the birth of our gracious King Charles, the 19 of Novemb. 46. years. This I believe is true, for I have often heard it reported, that he was born at Dunfermling in Scotland, the 19 of Novemb. 1600. Then succeeds since King Charles his return from Spain, October the 5. 23. years, this I remember was in Anno 1623. and it reigned all, or most part of that day at London. Dic rogo cur toties Descendit ab Aethere nimbus Grandoque de Coelis sic sine fine Cadit? Mortales quoniam nolunt sua crimina flere, Coelum pro nobis solvitur in Lachrymas. Then follows, since the Birth of Prince Charles, May the 23. 15. years: This is erroneous, for our Prince Charles was born the 29. of May 1630. which is 16. years since, at the revolution of this year 1646. and I very well remember the last of May being but two days after his birth, there was a great Eclipse of the Sun in Gemini, the 19 degree, which was visibly beheld here, and most part of Christendom; all Authors agree, that eclipses are very ominous, and we have had sad experience thereof of late years. Now comes again that memento with a witness, viz. since the happy union of the Catholics, for defence of his Majesty, his royal Issue, etc. which day is to be kept holy, for a day of Thanksgiving, being October 23. 1641. five years: I have said enough already of this infamous 23. of October, and I hope it will be remembered, to the perpetual ignominy of the bloody Rebels of Ireland. And after that, are renumerated several victories since that Rebellion burst forth, obtained by the Irish Confederates for his Majesty against the Roundheads: I will not trouble myself or the Reader to mention them, for I am confident they will sing O hone very shortly. And the Irish, Their days a number small shall make, Another shall their Country take; Their Children Vagabonds shall be, Walk up and down most wretchedly; God shall them put to endless shame, And quite cut off their hateful name. If I should tell this Irish Chronologer of the several wonderful Victories it hath pleased God to give the Parliaments Forces in several parts of the three Kingdoms against a potent, powerful, malicious, tyrannous and numerous Army, since the beginning of this Parliament, or since the most horrible Rebellion of Ireland was kindled: I should exceed and swell into a volume, I will only desire all the three Kingdoms to (nay all the world may) take notice of Gods, great and wonderful mercy he hath shown to the Parliaments Forces, in obtaining several Victories against, and strong holds taken from the enemy since June 1645. to this present February, which may be read in a small Tractate, entitled, England's Remembrancer, abstracted in a short Catalogue lately printed; the number there computed being seventy, all within this space of seven months; and since the publishing thereof, many more great victories; but amongst the rest, I will only mention the surrender of Chester (the backdoor for Ireland) to that faithful man to his Country, Sir William Brereton; and now if I should tell the Irish, they are never like to hear or say Mass there, or ever see their Unhallowed Candle again lighted, which was extinguished the second of February last; they may chance to storm, fret and fume at me, and and curse with Bell, Book and Candle; all which will do me or any man else as much hurt just as the howling of an Irish Wolf, or the barking of an Irish Wolf dog does the Moon. The last Chronological observation (I perceive) troubles them exceedingly, and that is, the downfall of their Dagon, the Cross in Cheapside, which in base railing language he utters thus; Since Cheapside Cross was pulled down, the third of May 1643. and immediately after all other Crosses from off the top of Steeples in and about London, by a crew of Antichristian Parliamentary Roundheads, enemies to Christianisme, 3 years. Indeed it would trouble any Saint, any Christian, any Heathen to lose his God, or have his God taken from him, or his God forsake him; but for a wooden stone, golden, silver, leaden, iron gilt god, a headless, mouthless, earlesse, noseless, handless, footlesse god; is none but a papistical, senseless Irish Manapian, or a mere man that hath as much understanding as an Ape, would be troubled at it; I do much admire at this third day of May, as at any day in all the year; the Papists, Irish, and all Romanists, etc. celebrate the third of May as a great Festival, in commemoration that the Cross of Christ on which he suffered, was found about Anno Christi 326. on the third day of May, by Helen Mother to Constantine the great, with the other two Crosses (on which the two Thiefs suffered) unperished, as Ruffinus says; and the third day of May is thus noted in the Almanac, Inventio Crucis: Saint Cyrill says, the whole world is full of pieces of this Cross, and yet by a continual miracle (as Paulinus saith) it hath never been impaired; and the County of Tipperary in Ireland, is called The County of the holy Cross of Tipperary, and enjoys certain peculiar freedoms, granted in honour of a piece of Christ's Cross, there sometimes preserved; thus were Christians in ancient times persuaded; and incredible it is, what a confluence there is even yet of these sottish, popish, Irish Manapians, continually upon devotion thither, as unto an holy place, so firmly do they persevere in the old, blind Religion of their forefathers, which the careless negligence of their Prelates, Bishops and popish Priests and ignorance together, hath beyond all measure increased, when as there be none to instrust and teach them otherwise. It is true, that third of May, 1643. the Cross in Cheapside was totally subverted and pulled down to the ground (yea, that morning Dagon was falled on his face to the ground, the head of Dagon and the palms of his hands were cut off, no not so much as the stump of Dagon was left unto him) by virtue of an Ordinance of Parliament, and by the assistance of godly and honest men, friends to true Christian Religion, but are enemies to, and have taken a Covenant to pluck up popery root and branch.) And not long after, the crosses from off the top of many Steeples: Yes and in divers Churches and other places, many popish and superstitious pictures, crosses, crucifixes and Romish Trinkets, etc. were demolished, defaced and burnt; which are certain forerunners of the final and utter destruction of Rome: Me thinks when I read Revelations the 18. I hear one crying mightily saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of Devils, and the hold of every foul Spirit, and a Cage of every unclean and hateful Bird, and therefore it is high time that we come out of her that we be not partakers of her sins, and receive not of her plagues. Now having briefly run over the Observations in the Almanac, and those others in the compendious Chronology of things memorable; I thought to have found in the Prognostic part thereof, some Oxonian Irish predictions against the Parliament and Kingdom of England, but God be thanked it is hid from their knowledge, and the evil they have wished thereunto will redound and fall upon themselves: There are some monthly Observations touching planting, grafting, sowing, and such like affairs, etc. but what they sow another shall reap, etc. now in the conclusion of all, as if he were a profound calculator, an Astronomer indeed, he says, there will be three Eclipses, two of the Sun, and one of the Moon, but none of them to be seen; Only he doubts that of the Moon the 17. of July; I will put him out of doubt, and do tell him, that there are five Eclipses this year viz. three of the Sun, and two of the Moon, whereof only one of the Moon visible in Europe, and that is already past; which was on Wednesday the 21. of January last, about six of the clock in the morning, the beginning thereof being about four of the clock in the morning, I myself saw; but immediately after, by reason of a very thick mist and foggy vapour, the light of the Moon, and visibility of the Stars was taken away from us about London, that it could not be observed; this Eclipse this Irish Manapian takes not notice of, as if there were not such a one to be seen in the Heavens; but I shall tell him, it belongs to them, and the best of their friends; the effects gins now to operate; some short Observations I have made in my Almanac of this year, to which I refer you: As for the rest of the Eclipses, in regard none of them are to be seen in any part of the Christian world, I will not mention them; only I said I will put him out of doubt: And again, do tell him, that the Lunar Eclipse the 17. of July next, shall not be seen in any part of Europe, much less in Ireland; for the beginning thereof will be about three quarters of an hour past one of the clock in the afternoon, the middle about five of the clock, and the end about seven of the clock, all which time, for the most part of Europe, the Moon is under the earth, and the Sun gloriously shineth above the Horizon: Indeed the Inhabitants in Finland, Litvania and Muscovia shall observe the Moon to rise Eclipsed; and they that live in Kirkithay, a Country in Tartary, in Turchestan, in India, within and without Ganges, and in the Gulf of Bengala, and in Sumatra, and places near thereto, shall have that Eclipse in their Miridians' or midnight-sted: But those that are in Anian and Quivira, shall have the Moon to set Eclipsed; now for that the Sun is above the Horizon when this Eclipticall full Moon happeneth, being the 17. of July; and because the Eclipse is passed when the Sun setteth, the Moon then rising: There is no such doubt to be made as this Irish Almanac would possess his Countrymen withal, notwithstanding that Kingdom of Ireland amongst many other places, shall partake of the effects of that Eclipse, and of some others as well Lunar as Solar, lately passed, whose effects now most strongly operate, together with a notable Conjunction of the two Malignant Planets Saturn and Mars, which happeneth this year on Friday the 12. of June, forty minutes past seven of the clock in the afternoon, in the longitude of 17. degree and a half, and latitude 53. degrees and a half, agreeing nearest to that of Dublin, being the chief City in Ireland; the position of the Heavens there at that time, being as followeth: A conjunction of Staturne & Mars on friday the 12 of june 1646 at Dublin in Ireland figure contains many astrological symbols in addition to text IN the year 1419. there was a Quadrate Aspect of Mars and Saturn, Mars in the latter degrees of Taurus, and Saturn in the latter degrees of Leo, the supposed Sign under which Bohemia, among many other places is; and there was that year, on the 26. day of March, a little before noon, a great Eclipse of the Sun in the 15. degree of ♈ Aries, ♂ Mars being governor thereof: After which followed a great tumult in Bohemia; Joannes Ziska, a noble Captain, and a man descended from a great Family, one very ingenuous and skilful in Military Affairs, favouring the Hussites, being sore grieved for the death of John Hus and Hierom of Prague, raised a mighty Army, to the number of 40000. whom he called Thaborites; almost possessed himself of all Bohemia, subverted the Monasteries and Idolatrous Temples, pulling down, and breaking in pieces the Images and Idols, driving away the Priests and Monks, which he said were kept up in their Cloisters, like Swine in their Sties, to be fatted: His Army increased, and in the year 1421. (having lost before one of his eyes) lost his other eye by a Shaft, when he besieged the Town of Raby, but from hence being carried to Prague, was cured of his wounds, and would not (though he was blind) forsake his Army; and the next year defeateth the Emperor, and was Victor in many battles against the Pontificians; and in the year 1424. he was stricken with sickness, and dying, he gave order that a Drum should be made of his skin, to terrify the enemy. Now others suppose that Kingdom to be under ♋ Cancer, because that in the year 1424. there was a great Eclipse of the Sun the 26. day of June, in the 14. degree of Cancer, in the evening; the effects succeeded the next year, viz. 1425. at what time three powerful Armies from Saxony, Franconia and Bavaria, entered into Bohemia, in three several places, but they all fled without sight of an enemy, and left their Tents to the Bohemians. In like manner Saxony and the maritine Cities near there, are supposed to be under the Sign ♑ Capricorn, because after some great Eclipse or unfortunate Aspects of the superior Planets being in the same afflicted, some notable calamity hath happened thereunto; so in the year 1548. there was a Conjunction of ♄ Saturn and ♂ Mars, in ♑ Capricorn, in the Month of February, foreshowing the many troubles that happened soon after in Saxony. So also the City of Venice is said to be subject to the Sign ♋ Cancer, for that many wonderful events have happened to that City, when an Eclipse or great Aspect of the superior Planets hath happened in that Sign, or in the □ Quadrate or ☍ Opposite Aspect thereof; so in the time of Maximilian, the first Emperor in Germany, 1505. who made peace with the Venetians, (there was a ☌ Conjunction of the higher Plante● in ♋ Cancer) they were extremely put to it, and suffered much by him, and he by them: And 1508. the Emperor, Pope and the French, enter in League at Cambray against the Venetians, and the next year after, they took divers places in Forum Julij, and other places from the Venetians, and in few years after, strange transactions of Affairs happened between the Pope and them; the French and them sometimes on one side, sometimes on the other, as Historians relate. In like manner the famous City of Noremberg (amongst many others) although the time is uncertain of the first foundation thereof, yet from notable events, and admirable, unusual accidents which have happened unto the same, it is strongly conjectured to be under the Sign TWO Gemini, for when a notable Conjunction happened in ♍ Virgo, which doth afflict the Sign TWO Gemini by a □ Quadrate, and ☿ Mercury be unfortunate, than some ominous matter hath happened thereunto; and so likewise if any Eclipse be in the said Signs, as in the year 1448. the 29. of August, was an Eclipse of the Sun, in the 15. degree of ♍ Virgo, in □ Quadrate to ♊ Gemini, with whom ♄ Saturn mixed his malicious influence; Marchio Albertus, Sir-named the Achilles of Germany, fought nine battles with the Norembergers, and was Victor in eight of them, with great destruction to the Citizens. So likewise in the year 1551. was a great Eclipse of the Sun in 17. degrees of ♍ Virgo, ♂ Mars being elevated in the middle of Heaven, above the Eclipse, but placed in his Detriment in ♎ Libra; a little while after which, Albertus Marchio, the son of Casimir, besieged the City, the Suburbs were spoiled and the Citizens were compelled to dishonourable conditions of peace. So likewise in the year 1560. another Eclipse of the Sun happened in the eighth degree of ♍ Virgo, in Quadrate to ♊ Gemini; in which Sign of Gemini, ♄ Saturn was in 22. degrees very much afflicting ☿ Mercury, who was Lord of the said Eclipse in 22. degrees of Virgo; by which means the evil foreshewn by the Eclipse, was duplicated, or much increased, and the effects continued to the year 1563. in which space of time many thousands of the Norembergers were swept away with the plague. I might reckon up many other places which Historians make mention of, but I shall much exceed my intentions, I will only remember some few Observations concerning England; and all or most Astrologers think it to be under the Sign ♈ Aries, for that when any Eclipse or great Conjunction happeneth in that Sign, or the opposite Sign ♎ Libra, or the □ Quadrate Signs, ♋ Cancer or ♑ Capricorn, some memorable occurrence hath befallen that Kingdom; as in the year 1345. there was a total Eclipse of the ☽ Moon the 18. day of March about 9 of the clock in the night, in the 6. degree of ♎ Libra opposite to ♈ Aries; in which year, such unusual tempests, and violent winds, with great rains and inundations happened throughout the whole Summer, and likewise in the time of Harvest, that in the Northern parts Corn, and all manner of Grain and fruits were corrupted and putrified, and for two years following, was a great scarcity of all things, and much famine, and a great mortality amongst Sheep: And in the year 1346. the 28. day of August, was a most terrible battle fought between Philip of Valois, King of France, and Edward the second, King of England, at Cress, where the English with 10000 men, overcame 60000. French; the King of Bohemia was there slain, together with 30000, men, 11. Princes, 89. Barons, and 1200. Knights; and in the year 1347. King Edward winneth Calais, John Copland defeateth the Scots, takes David King of Scotland prisoner, who is sent to the Tower; Copland was made a Banneret, and rewarded with 500li. per annum; and in the year 1348. was such a mortality and pestilence amongst men, as scarce hath been known the like, 50000 were buried in the Church-yard; and many strange matters happened in those times, which our Histories and Chronicles mention, to which I refer you. So likewise I will remember that terrible Eclipse of the Sun, which was on the second day of October, 1605. about one of the clock in the afternoon, in the 19 degree of ♎ Libra, being the opposite Sign to ♈ Aries, under which England is supposed to be subject: What a horrible, unheard of, damnable treason of the Papists was discovered the 5. of November following, I hope will never be forgotten in England: If I should but remember the Eclipse of the Sun which happened on Friday the 29. of March 1633. in the 19 degree of ♈ Aries, I should be over-tedious, I will refer you to my Almanac for that year and some years following, in which the tyranny of the Prelates in these times manifestly appearing, I myself not escaping their fury; So also that Eclipse of the Moon the 8. of Octo. 1641. in the 26. degree of Aries: or that of the Moon likewise the 4. of April 1642. in 25. degrees of ♎ Libra, and another of the Moon the 27. of September following, in the 15. degrees of ♈ Aries; or that of the Moon likewise the 17. of September 1643. in 4. degrees of ♈ Aries, I should but rub the gold horse back, and put your in mind of the sad and deplorable condition (too fresh in our memory) this poor Kingdom of England is in. I will set down these following Tables, wherein you may understand unto what Signs Astologers have placed (out of continual observation and experience) many Countries and Cities, that thereby you may see when any Eclipse of the Sun or Moon, or notable Conjunction or Configuration of the superior Planets happeneth, what places are subject or likely to participiate of the influence of any such Celestial position under such Signs, their ☍ opposite and □ Quadrate Aspects; these Signs following. Aries, ♈ Taurus, ♉ Gemini, ♊ Cancer, ♋ Virgo, ♍ Is opposite to Libra, ♎ Scorpio, ♏ Sagitary, ♐ Capricorn, ♑ Aquary, ♒ Pisces. ♓ And this Aspect is an aspect of perfect enmity and hatred; and this is six Signs asunder. So likewise these Signs following do behold one another, though not so violently, yet they do disagree very much in Nature and disposition, viz. by a Quadrate. Aries, ♈ Taurus, ♉ Gemini, ♊ Cancer, ♋ Leo, ♌ Virgo. ♍ Hath a Quadrate Aspect to ♋ ♑— ♌ ♒— ♍ ♓— ♎ ♈— ♉ ♏— ♊ ♐. Thus Aries beholds Cancer and Capricorn, by a Quadrate □; Taurus beholds Leo and Aquary; Gemini beholds Virgo and Pisces; Cancer beholds Libra and Aries; Leo beholds Taurus and Scorpio; and Virgo beholds Gemini and Sagittary, by a Quadrate Aspect, which is called an Aspect of imperfect enmity, or feigned friendship, or treacherous amity, etc. and this is three Signs asunder. But there is another manner of the Signs beholding one another, two ways, viz. by a Trine Aspect, which is an Aspect of perfect amity and friendship, and is when Signs of one Triplicity of Nature behold one another: As ♈ ♌ ♐ are of the fiery Triplicity, hot and dry. ♉ ♍ ♑ are of the earthly Triplicicy, cold and dry. ♊ ♎ ♒ are of the airy Triplicity, hot and moist. ♋ ♏ ♓ are of the watery Triplicity, cold and moist. Thus we see the fiery Trigonagrees with the earthly Triplicity in dryness, and with the Airy in heat; and the earthly triplicity agrees with the watery triplicity in coldness, and with the fiery triplicity in dryness, & sic è converso. These three Signs do behold one another by a trine △ aspect; and for the most part when any of the signs of one nature is well qualified or affected, by a certain sympathy and agreement, the other signs of the same quality participates of the same good or eulll influence: and this Aspect is four Signs asunder. The other Aspect is called a ⚹ Sextile, and is more imperfect than the Trine: and the Signs do thus behold one another, viz. ♈ ♉ ♊ ♋ ♌ ♍ Hath a Sextile aspect to ♒ ♊— ♓ ♋— ♈ ♌— ♉ ♍— ♊ ♎— ♋ ♏ Here we see the fiery triplicity agrees with the Airy in heat, the Earthy with the Watery in coldness; the Airy with the Fiery in heat, and the Watery with the Earthy in coldness by a ⚹ Aspect: and this is when Planets or Stars are two signs asunder. Now I shall set down the twelve zodiacal Signs, and such places, Kingdoms, Countries and Cities as have experimentally been found to have been subject to the said Signs: and they are as followeth: Under ♈ Aries these Countries. England North and East part, France, Germany, Suevia, Silesia the higher, part of Polonia, Burgundy, part of Denmark, Basternia, Syria, Palestine. Under ♈ Aries these Cities. Naples, Capua, Ancona, Ferrara, Florence, Verona, Bergamo, Lindaw, Trajectum, Milan, Marseilles, Epidaurum, Crackow, Augusta Caesarea, Vincentia. Under ♉ Taurus these Countries. Russia, Polonia the great, the North part of Sweathland, IRELAND, Lorraigne, Campania, Helvetia, Rhetia, Franconia, Parthia, Persia, the Islands Cycladeses between Europe and Asia, Cyprus, the Sea towns of Asia the less. Under ♉ Taurus, these Cities. Bononia, Sena, Mantua, Tarentum, Panorme in Sicily, Perusium, Parma, Caput Histriae, Brixia, Tigure, Lucerne, Nantz, Metis, Herbipolis, Carolstade, Liepsig, Posnania, Gnesna, Novagrade. Under ♊ Gemini, these Countries. Sardinia, part of Lombary, South & West part of England, part of Flanders, Brabant, the Dukedom of Wittemberge, Hyrcania, Armenia, Mariana, Cyreniaca, Marmarica, Egypt the Lower. Under ♊ Gemini, these Cities. Carduba in Spain, Viterbiurn, Coesena a City in Lombary, Turin, Vercelli, Rhegium, Louvain, Bruges in Flaunders, LONDON, Mentz, Kitzing, Hasford, Bamberge, Villacum, Noremberge, though Schoner and Cardan say it is under Sagitary, yet Garcaeus proves it for many reasons to be under Gemini. Under ♋ Cancer these Countries. SCOTLAND, Granado, part of Burgundy, HOLLAND, Zealand, Prussia, Numidia, Africa, Bythinia, Phrygia, Colchis, Carthage. Under ♋ Cancer these Cities. Constantinople, Tunis, VENICE, Genoa, Lucas, Pisa, Milan, Vincentia, Bern, YORK, Saint ANDREW'S in SCOTLAND, Lubeck, Magdeburge, Wittenburgh, Gorlick, Under ♌ Leo these Countries. Gallia Togata, being part of Lombary, the Alps, Italy, Sicyly, Apulia, Bohemia (but Garcius thinks it to be under ♋ Cancer) part of Turkey, Aemilia, Sabina, Phoenicia, Chaldea, Orchinia. Under ♌ Leo these Cities. Damascus, Siracusa, ROME, Ravenna, Cremona, Ulms, Confluence, Prague, Lintz, Cremusium. Under ♍ Virgo these Countries. Achaia, Greece, Crect, Croacia, Carinthia, Arthesina, the Dukedom of Athens, Mesopotamia, Babylon, Assyria, part of Gallia Comata, part of Rhyne, Sylesia the lower. Under ♍ Virgo these Cities. Jerusalem, Corinth, Rhodes, Papia or Pavia, Sigina, Brundisium, Cuma a City in Campania, Aretium or Arezzo, Novaria a City in Italy, Tholouse, Lions, Paris, Bazil, Heydelberg, Erphord, Uratislavia. Under ♎ Libra these Countries. Austria, Alsatia, Livonia, Savoy, Dauphin, Bactriana, Toscanye, Caspia, Seres in Aethiopia, Thebaida, Oasis a Country in Egypt called Azagar, Trogloditica a Country in Aethiopia, Sundgavia. Under ♎ Libra these Cities. Lisbon, Arles, Gajetta in Italy, Lauda a City in Mauritania, Suessa, Placentia, Felkirk, Friberge, or Carda Bianca, Argentina, Spiers, Frankford ad Maenum, Hala in Suevia, Winpina, Heilbrunna, Frisinga, Mospachium, Landshut, Vienna in Austria, Anwerp. Under ♏ Scorpio these Countries. NORWAY, Bavaria the upper, Metagonitis now called Biledulgerid in Numidia, a Region in Africa, Comogena a Country in Syria, Cappadocia, Idumea, Mauritania, Fes, Gethulia, Catalonia. Under ♏ Scorpio these Cities. Algiers, Valentia in Spain, Trabezond, Urbine, Aquilegia, Pistorium, Camerinum, Tarecisium, Forum Julium, Messana, Vienna Allabrogum, Aichstade, Monachum, Gedanum, Frankfod upon Oder. Under ♐ Sagittary these Countries. SPAIN, Dalmatia, Sclavonia, Hungary, Moravia, Missina, Geltica, Thyrrenia, Arabia the happy. Under ♐ Sagittary these Cities. Toledo in Spain, Volaterra a City in Hetruria, Mutina, Narbon, Avenion, Colonia Agrippina, or Colen, Studgard, Rottenburg, Judenburg, Buda, Gascovia. Under ♑ Capricorn these Countries. Macedonia, Illiria, Thracia, Bossina, Albania, Bulgaria, part of Greece, Masovia, Litvania, Saxony, Hassia, Thuringia, Marchia in Styria, the Islands of the Orchades, India, Arriana, Gedrofia. Under ♑ Capricorn these Cities. OXFORD, Mechlin, Juliacum, Clevonia, Berga, Gaunt, Vilna, Brandenburge, Augusta Vindelicorum, or Ausburg, Constance, Derthona, Faventia. Under ♒ Aquary these Countries. Amazonia, Sarmatia, Tartary the great, Wallachia, Muscovia, Swethland the South part, Denmark part, Westphalia, mosel, Piedmont, Bavaria part, Aethiopia, Sogdiana, Media, Arabia the desert and stony. Under ♒ Aquary these Cities. Hamborough, Breme, Mountferate, Pisaurum, Trent, Saltzburgh, Ingolstade. Under ♓ Pisces these Countries. Cilicia, Calabria, Portugal, Galitia, Normandy, Phasania, Nasamonia in Lybia, Garamantes, Lydia, Pamphilia, Egypt the higher. Under ♓ Pisces these Cities. Alexandria, Hispalis Compostella, Parentium, Rheims, Worms, Ratispone, etc. Now having shown what Signs are appropriated to certain places, and what places Ancient and Modern Astronomers have in many respects found subject to the influence of the said Signs, which hath its ground from the like reasons as are experimented in Nativities; for as when any terrible Eclipse of (the Luminaries) the Sun or Moon shall be in the Ascendant of any man or woman, in the mid-heaven, or the part of fortune thereof, or in the opposite or Quadrate place to any of these in the Nativity; or when any of the infortunes or malignant Planets, Saturn or Mars, shall pass by any of those places, or shall aspect any of them hatefully, it threatens destruction or death, or some eminent danger, or evil success in affairs to such a man or woman, especially if any evil direction shall happen at or near the time of such Eclipse, Conjunction, Aspect or Transit; and of the truth of this, innumerable examples might be given: So likewise those Kingdoms or Countries, Cities or places that have any familiarity with the Sign wherein the Eclipse doth happen, or in that wherein any notable Conjunction or other great Aspect is, for the most part they have had grievous and sore afflictions and troubles, as I could instance in many examples besides what I have spoken of. But I shall proceed to some observations touching the dismal Conjunction of Saturn and Mars, in the 14. degree 27. minutes or Taurus, both of them culminating with that fatal Star Caput Algol, or the head of Medusa, so ominous to, and obtruncating some great personages heretofore, and no less minacious to others now living, who if they had some faithful Spurina about them, Spurina predicted the fatal day to Julius Caesar the Ideses of March to tell them of their imminent danger, might perhaps, if not prevent, yet mitigate that evil influence impending, or otherwise being forewarned, might be the better provided against an inevitable storm; but not to meddle with particulars (only I could wish men were more observing of the true time, or nearest that can be of their nativities, together with some Accidents (as imprisonment, banishment, sickness, & many other casualties incident to man kind) for the verification thereof, which I have given notice of in many of my Almanacs heretofore) I will therefore come to the generals of this Conjunction; and as I said before, it happeneth on Friday the 12. of June 1646. 40. minutes past 7. of the clock in the afternoon, in the Meridian of Dublin; it happeneth in the fourth house, two degrees distant from the body of Venus, who some three days before, viz. the 9 of June is corporally with Saturn, declining Mars, whom she finds so debilitated, as if she had no mind to conjoin with him; Satun and Mars are peregrine, that is, out of all dignities; and when any Planet is so, he is as it were a man deprived of all he hath, or sequestered from his estate; and unless the nearness of Venus by her corporal presence, and the Sextile Aspect of Jupiter to them both, doth abate of their evil positure, it is a very ill meeting of them to those places and people they have influence upon, which are under Taurus, Scorpio, Aquary, and Leo, with is the second Quadrangle of the Zodiaque, and most concerned in this Conjunction, which happens in Taurus the night house of Venus, where she herself is, and indifferently well fortified and irradiated, and doth separate apace from these two malevolents; yet the Moon (who conveys the influence of all the heavenly bodies upon all sublunary creatures) hath more to do in the said Conjunction than Venus, for it is her exaltation, and she hath a triplicity and face therein; but if we observe how unfortunately she is placed in the very degree of her fall; for as she is exalted in three degrees of Taurus, so she is abased and cast down in three degrees of Scorpio, in which she now is exactly, and is placed in the tenth house, which is the house of Rule and Dominion, Kings, Princes, etc. the position will hold, whether it be reduced to London or Edinburgh, so the Scheam will serve the three Kingdoms; and Mars who disposeth the place of the Moon, and the most part of the mid-heaven, is in his Detriment in the opposite house; and the next day, the ☽ having been in a friendly Trine to the Sun, meeting the like Aspect, from Jupiter imniediatly falls into the opposition, a most hateful Aspect of Saturn, Mars and Venus, Quando Planeta est in Aspectu sui hostis, est ut vir timens hostem suum; that is, when a Planet is Aspected of his enemy, he is as a man that is afraid of his foe; and such is the condition of the Moon now; Quando est cum hoste suo, est ut virpugnans cum hoste suo; that is, when a Planet is Aspected of his enemy, he fights with his foe; so is the Moon now, having two malicious enemies; Quando est cadens a domo sua, vel a domo exaltationis suae, est ut vit absens a domo sua, aut Civitate sua; that is, when a Planet falls from his house or exaltation, he is as a man absent from his house or City; so are Mars and the Moon now; Quando Planeta est cadens, est ut vir vexatus & timidus, he is as a man vexed and fearful; so are Mars and the Moon at this time; Planeta in domo non sua, est ut vir in domo aliena pulsans, jam deprimitur judicium suum, nec est ei authoritas; a Planet that is not in his house, is as a man knocking at another man's door, his judgement is depressed, and is without authority; so are Saturn, Mars and the Moon now; Ex Centiloquis Bethem, 10, 11, 14, 18, 27. cum duo infortunae conjunguntur & Luna congruit cum Saturno in latitudine, erit fames & mortalitas; that is, when the two infortunes are conjoined, and the Moon shall agree in latitude with Saturn, there shall be famine and mortality; Si vero Marti mutabuntur Reges, & erit multa sanguinis effusio, & praelia in loco qui signabitur ab ipso signo, & hoc non fallit, propositio Almansoris 132. that is, if the Moon shall agree with Mars in latitude, Kings shall change, and there shall be much effusion of blood, and great wars shall be in that place signified by that Sign: And this fails not, indeed the Moon hath five degrees, Saturn two degrees fourteen minutes, and Mars but 46. minutes, all of them having South latitude; the Moon agreeth nearest with Saturn thougn their latitude is of one kind, viz. South: But I believe the whole Aphorism will be in force, and not any part thereof mitigated, notwithstanding the interposition of those friendly beams of the Sun and Jupiter, which in my opinion are very weak, and not able to effect or procure that expected relief and assistance to these Taurists and their Confederates. Guido Bonatus, in part 4. Astronomiaes, fol. 556. cap. 66. says, Cum fuerit Saturnus in Tauro, fueritque in Angulo directus, significat contentiones & bella, etc. that is, if Saturn shall be in Taurus direct in an Angle, he signifies contentions and wars: And Alhumasar says, there shall be tribulations and injuries, and tremble and Earthquakes, the destruction of Cities, Towns and Houses; and Guido says of Mars, in Capite 86. fol. 572. Si fuerit in Ta●ro significat ventos validos venturos, & destructionem frugum, similiter & Arborum & hoc ex causa Caloris excedentis debitum & naturalem modum, significat etiam multitudinem nubium atque nubilarum; pluviarum quoque ac tonitruorum & fulgurum; that is, if Mars shall be in Taurus, he signifies very strong winds, the destruction of fruits, and also of Trees, and this to proceed from an undue and disproportioned heat, exceeding its natural temper and constitution; also very cloudy weather, with abundance of rain, thunder and lightning; Albumasar says, significat mortem mulierum & Vaccarum, & significat bella ventura inter Cives Orientis & Cives Occidentis; that is, it foreshoweth to death of Women and Cows, and that there shall be war between the Citizens (people) of the East, and those of the West: Haly parte octava de Juditiis Astrorum cap. 7. says, Si Saturnus in quarta domo fuerit, & ibi malificus, significat quod res & aedificia cadent, minuentur plantationes, abscindentur aquae, & erit in populo diminutio, & paupertas, & gens illius Climatis erit obsessa, & non audebunt exire de suis villis propter timorem inimicorum fuorum; quod eo fortius erit & magis affixum, si quarta domus fuerit Signum fixum, quia tunc erit damnum fortius & durabilius; that is, if Saturn shall be in the fourth house, and be there malevolent, it signifies tha● houses & buildings shall fall, come to decay and perish, planting or setting shall be diminished, waters cut off, the people shall be lessened or abated, there shall be poverty to them, and people of that Country shall be obsessed or besieged, they shall not dare to go out of their Towns (Cities, Castles or Countries) by reason of the fear they shall have of their enemies; and this shall be more affixed (certain) if the fourth house shall be a fixed Sign, and the hurt (damage) or loss, shall be more strong and durable: This Aphorism agrees exactly with the position of the malignant Planet Saturn at this time in every respect: Furthermore Haly says, in part 8. de Juditiis Astrorum cap. 25. Si quando Mars junctus fuerit cum Saturno struet quilibet alteri frauds, & deceptiones & erunt inter homines percussiones & vulnera, etiam accidet regi impedimentum & labour ab homine qui est de terra parittionis illius signi in quo junguntur; that is, if Mars and Saturn shall be conjoined, one man shall seek to entrap another, there shall be many falsities and deceits, much wound, fightings and quarrelings; and impediment danger and trouble shall happen to the King, from a man which is of that Country under the division of that Sign: And a little after, in fol. 392. Si applicatio Lunae cum Saturno fuerit adecima per oppositionem Accident Regibus & Populis placita & discordiae, & Capientur multi de populis propter discordiam Regum cum ipsis, & propter magnum metum quem habent de eyes. If he application of the Moon to Saturn shall be by opposition from the tenth house, there shall be many debates and differences happen to the King and People; and many of that People, by reason of such differences between them shall be captived or taken, through the great fear they shall have of them. The sum of all these Aphorisms amounts to thus much, That in regard at the time of this Conjunction the mid heaven is so extremely afflicted, and Mars Lord thereof, which is significator of men in greatest authority, whether they be Kings, Princes, Lords, or other great persons and Potentates, whether they be of the Families and race of the O's or Mac's, who so domineer and Lord it with their Galloglasses and Kerns in Ireland; or whether we take our judgement from the Moon, who is significatrix of the People there so miserably posited, I cannot pronounce other then ruin and destruction to those great ones, subversion of their ancient Families, and ruin to their stately Buildings, Cities, Towns. Towers and Castles. That People shall be in most miserable and deplorable condition. We see the Conjunction is in Taurus, under which, amongst other places, Ireland is posited; and that the signs Leo, Scorpio and Aquary, are sharers, and must participate in this influence; Famine, Scarcity, Plagues and terrible warfare shall happen to many places under those Signs. If they expect aid from Foreign parts, they will be frustrated; Me thinks I behold all the States of Europe involved in this Quarrel; the French and Spaniard Matching, the Hollander busy, the POPE thundering his Bulls and Excommunications, the Turk making great preparations, so likewise the German, Dane, Swede, Polonian, Venetian, nay what State in the Christian World is not disquieted? If I should recount the Eclipses and great Conjunctions of the superior Planets in Signs, to which most or all Countries in Europe are subjected, and the events that have succeeded within these few years in these places, I might rather make an History than a succinct discourse; there were not long since two or three Eclipses of both the Luminaryes in the Sign Leo, the effects of all which are strongly operating, and for many years together will produce admirable and unexpected occurrences, I believe the progress of Saturn through the Sign Taurus, out of which he will not fully free himself till the end of March 1648. will be very fatal to Ireland, and most chiefly he will pour out his influence upon that place rather than any other; For if we consider the present condition thereof, since the Rebellion there broke forth, The horrid Murders, and cruel slaughters by them committed upon many thousands of English Protestants, whose blood cries for vengeance, do authorize me Astrologically to pronounce a fearful doom of Fire, Sword, Plague, and Famine to follow that bloody Nation, Let me tell the Spaniard, French, or what other Nation soever that is aiding or assisting them, they must not escape the Divine vengeance which God by the Stars, his Celestial Ministers doth menace them withal; If the Pope send his Agents to prosecute their Designs, he may chance lose his Triple Crown in this unjust quarrel they have raised. The Devil may rage's for a season, Sed si Deus nobiscum quis contra nos, The fight from Heaven, the Star in their Courses fight against (CaesAR) Sisera; I hope I shall speak truth, if I tell the French, Spaniard, or any other friend, the Irish or their Associates have, that though they never made greater preparations, yet with as like success as that Invincible Armado in 88 had, at what time fourscore of the Spanish Ships were lost with not so few as twenty thousand men. The winds and Seas fight at that time for England, which was many years before threatened by the proud and insulting Spaniard; This Armado consisted of 130 Ships, nineteen thousand two hundred and ninty Soldiers, eight thousand three hundred and fifty Mariners, two thousand and fourscore Galleyslaves, two thousand six hundred and thirty great Ordinance: which Navy having been three years in preparing (and at no small charge) within one month was often beaten and at length put to flight, (and as I said 20000 of their men being slain, and not above one hundred of the English were missing) the remainder of their Navy some in their slight were cast upon Scotland, and some upon Ireland, and those few that escaped returned with a great deal of dishonour into Spain, above 700 Soldiers and Seamen were cast upon the Scottish shore, who were afterward sent over to the Low-Countries but those which by Tempest were driven upon Ireland found a harder measure, for the wild Irish of their own accord slew many of them: I suppose their cruelty is not inferior now to what it was then, but suppose the French, Spanish, Irish Jesuit, Popish Friar, Priest, and the whole rabble of Antichristians in all the World were combined together, against England, let but an English man name 1588. or 1605. And without doubt the proudest and most cruelest of them all will be daunted, and sink down with amazement; so powerful hath God shown himself in those times. That in the first the King of Spain himself acknowledged the misfortune that befell him to have been the handy work of God, and gave thanks to God and his Saints, (causing the like to be done throughout Spain) that it fell to be no worse. And for that in 1605 certainly it was the eye of God's Providence that discovered that horrid deed of darkness, the Gunpowder Treason invented by the Devilish Papists, to the destruction of the Parliament, and so consequently to the whole Kingdom. Let us look back to the year 1587. (In which year Mary Queen of Scots was beheaded) for the position of Saturn, and we shall find that from the first of March that year, to the middle of April 1589 he walked through Taurus, the Sign under which he now is etc. under which Ireland is subjected as I said before, In the month of August the 28 day was an ominous opposition of Mars from Scorpio, to him in the 16 degree, and if we observe this memorable year 1588. Upon the 28 of May Saturn and Mars were in Conjunction, in the 19 degrees Taurus not fare from the place they now meet in, not many days after which that Spanish Fleet was discovered on our English Coast. If we examine our Chronicles we shall find most Memorable Passages in divers parts of the World, to have happened this year: Was it not unusual and strange, that Polonia this year should have three Kings usurping the Title, while the fourth viz. Stephen Battori was yet unburied? Namely Sigismond the Sweden, Maximilian the Emperor's brother, and Henry Valois King of France, of which three Maximilian in the beginning of this year was taken Prisoner, his Army overthrown by means thereof, many thousands of men, women, and children, carried away Captives by the Tartars, Thus saith Gallobelgicus, and further that Suetia was all on fire with tumults, and lost certain places of strength to the Muscovite; The Muscovite himself ran mad and lost his wits. The King of Denmark Frederick the second died; In France the Barricado's of Paris, the flight of the King from thence, The slaughter of the Duke of Guise, and his brother the Cardinal of Lorraine; The death of the Queen Mother, the poisoning of the Prince of Condee; and the Overthrow which the King of Navarre gave unto Duke Mercury, (all which Les derniers troubles de France do testify) and gave that Kingdom sufficient cause to think that year 1588. to be an extraordinary year, At the same time the Duke of Savoy prepared his Army, and surprised Carmagmall, the King of France his chief Magazine in Saluze. The Turk suffered great overthrows in Hungaria. And in Constantinople by reason of false moneys, wherewith the Javizaryes were paid their wages, they fell into a Mutiny, and compelled the Emperor of the Turks to deliver unto them his chiefest Favourites to be put to death, and that likewise they might remove his Officers at their pleasure, yet they were not comment herewith, they set fire on the Jews Houses, spoilt their goods, and by that means above twelve thousand of their Houses were burnt down to the ground in the same City. The Hungarians were continually molested with the the incursions of the Turks; The Sophy of Persia died. And (if I may use the words of Gallobelgicu●) ab ortu Solis usque ad occasum, nullus firmè remansit locus in quo non miratu dignum aliquid hoc Anno contigerit. That is, from the rising of the Sun to the going down thereof, there was scarce any place in which something worthy Memory did not happen. This year Regiomontanus foretold, (a little before his death at Rome, viz. 1475. one hundreth and thirteen years before it came to pass) to his effect. The Translation whereof as I have read in Dutch is thus. Tausen funfhundert achtzitchtacht Das ist das jar, das ich betracht, Geth in dem de weltnixt under Geschicht doch groz merklich wonder. Post mille expletos a partu Virginis Annos, Et post Quingentos rursus ab Orbe datos: Octogesimus octavus mirabilis Annus Ingruet, is secum tristia Fataferet. Si non hoc Anno, totus malus occidet Orbis: Si non in nihilum terra, fretumque ruet: Cuncta tamen mundi sursum ibunt atque retrorsum. Imperia, & Luctus undique grandis erit. Which is thus done into English by me. From Christ's Birth count a thousand years complete, And add five hundred more with eighty eight: That year approaching! All men will affright: With woeful Terrors, which on them will light. If the whole World to ruin do not run, Or into nothing Land, and Seas be done: At least, most Kingdoms topsy-turny turn: And men on all sides grievously shall mourn. I mention this Astrological Prediction, and these many occurrences that happened this year, yet in the memory of man to the end, remembering what having already been passed, we may in some measure conjecture of the like Accidents to happen in these our days. It is true, Saturn passeth through a sign once in two years and a half, so that in thirty years he runneth through the Zodiaque or the twelve Signs. And as often as he returneth to his place, Quadrate or opposite Aspect, for the most part there happeneth extraordinary mutations in many parts of the World, according to the divers and various positions of the other Planets to him, and amongst themselves, and the Ingress of the Sun to the Cardinal points with Eclipses etc. if we look in our Chronicles for the year 1593. (in which year Saturn was in Leo in Quadrate to Taurus) and so to the end of 1595 and upward, we shall find the Irish to rebel: The story whereof is at large in Mr. Camden and others: And if we come nearer to our time, viz. In the years 1600 1601 and 1602 all which time Saturn was in Scorpio, we shall find not only them to rebel again, but the Spaniards then landed, and had got footing in Ireland, but were with great loss to them driven out, with many other remarkable Passages worthy memory by all true spirited English men. I could much enlarge myself in these Historical observations, and make them very fitly applicable to the Celestial Motions of the superiors Stars and Planets, I suppose what hath already been spoke will suffice to inform any man of understanding, I do not say that because there hath such & such things happened to such and such places, when such and such Conjunctions and Aspects of the Planets or Eclipses have been, that the like must necessarily happen there again at the like Congresse of the Heavenly bodies, No. Ipse Opifex Rerum voluit haec ordinatissima Coelicorpora, esse in Signa, tempora, dies & Annos: God the Creator of all things willeth that these orderly Heavenly Bodies shall be for Signs, times, days and years. Rideat igitur qui velit, & cum suo detrimento, summo cum periculo conjuncto abiiciat, & securè & superbè contemnat has qualescunque significationes Coelestes: Deus se derideri non patietur. Phryx non emandatur nisi plaguy. Prudentiores facilè hinc haud dubie Divinitus admoneri se animadvertent, ut discant matura poenitentia & vera conversione, & ardenti pietate ad Deum confugere, & antevertere, & praecavere, Iram Dei horrendam adversus nostra multiplicia peccata, & paenarum futurarum gravitatem. The Irish have ever been most rebellious and treacherous to the English Nation, and of late have most barbarously and inhumanely murdered many thousand innocent souls. Now they are at the height of their cruelty, and God is pouring out his overflowing cup of wrath and vengeance upon them, and their adherents. Jamque securis ad radicem posita est, ut in frugisera arbor excidatur, & in ignem conjiciatur. When God threatens a Nation, People or Family, he divers ways forewarns them, before he sends his Judgements upon them: sometimes in the sea, upon the land, in monstrous births, in the fire by strange apparitions, unusual tempests: sometimes by Comets in blazing Stars, very often by Eclipses of the Sun and Moon, and more usually by the Configurations of the Planets amongst themselves and the Hebdomaticall Lunations, which if mwn would search into, they might observe most excellent matters to contemplate upon, and raise their thoughts to an exceeding height of Admiration of the most wonderful works of the omnipotent Creator. I do much wonder at the harsh unadvised censure of many men: Divines and otherwise learned enough, that say nothing can be foreseen by the stars or their configuration: I must tell them Astrology is as ancient as our first Parents, (but the Antiquity of it doth not alone work upon me) that it is allowed by Universities, Princes, Sages, Philosophers, from the first Infancy of the world to this very time, and will be admired as long as the Sun Moon and Stars move in the Heavens. It depends upon as good grounds as any Art, It deals not by signs and effects, but by causes, whereof the motions, configurations, and positions of the Heavenly Bodies are grounded upon Mathematical demonstrations, and the propertyes or virtue of the Heavenly Influence, upon the observation or known experience of great learned men even from the beginning of the world. And if the Divine will do not countercheck the ordinary course of nature, or the matter of those Elementary Bodies here beneath, be not unproportionable, and thereby unapt to receive their impressions: there is no reason why in a natural and physical necessity, Astrological Predictions made according to Art should not succeed and take effect. It deals not with rare contingents unknown or undeterminate. But with these things which fall out for the most part, such as are performed by Art and nature; It deals not with man's will simply and directly, but accidentally it doth; It deals with men's inclinations, dispositions, temperature, affections and humours; It meddles not with miraculous works, nor with fatal necessity, except some contingency be joined with it, nor with God's secrets: It is necessary for Physic, Policy, Husbandry, Navigation, Military Discipline, for health; It can yield reasons which other Arts cannot, as in Clymactericall years, Critical days: Why children borne in the eighth month most part are not vital. Of Tides: Why Customs, Rites, Manners, Laws and Temperaments, be divers in people inhabiting in several Climates: Why certain Seasons be turbulent; Why some years be dangerous. And many other things which may be read in that great Book (of the most wise God) the Heavens; The Stars therein differing in glory and brightness, one from another: but whose motions are most wonderful Regular and Harmonious, which stairs like several letters, some being capitals and others of less size, being as it were set together. A man endued with an apt Genius and Knowledge therein, may not only spell, but in some reasonable measure read the admirable Work of God therein in their influential and secondary government of all sublunary Creatures. Faelices anima quibus hac cognoscere primum, Inque Domus Superas scandere cura fuit. On the other side I do pity the blind ignorance of some others (who think themselves as learned as wise) that not knowing the motions of the Planets and stars if they chance to see a star in the day time, do wonder at the same, possessing themselves with some strange conceit of some great matter to ensue such an Apparition: So it was in the year 1625, when a little before the death of King James, the glorious Planet Venus being occidental of the Sun, and in her greatest distance from him was thought to have been a Comet or some nova stella, being Sunday in the Afternoon, the Moon and she seemed to touch one another: or that as Kepler says she did quasi haerere in sinistro Cornu Lunae which I myself being at York then with some others observed in the West part of the Heavens. So likewise what great wonder and amazement there was in the year 1630 at that time when Prince Charles was borne, the same star Venus being then in great distance from the Sun, and oriental or rising before him, was seen to go before the Sun all day for the most part, I will set down the words of Johannes Johnstonius in his Thaumatagraphia, Capite 3. Admirand. Coeli Artic. 2. de stellarum luce etc. Nona denique Junii hujus Anni, visa una in Anglia ante meridiem, cum Gratia Deo propter nativitatem Principis Walliae agerentur, visam eandem codem tempore Diepae in Gallia, a Gallis quibusdam accepimus; That is, the ninth day of June in the foreign account, (the 30 of May being Sunday in the English account) of this year one was seen in England before noon, when thanks were given to God (at Paul's Church in London) for the birth of the Prince of Wales: And we received intelligence from certain French men, that the same Star the same time was seen at Diep in France; But by leave of this Learned Gentleman I do not account this a wonder, for it is usual with Venus once or twice in the year to show herself in the day time, being in her greatest distance from the Sun either when she is oriental, or riseth before the Sun, or occidental and setteth after him, and this may be easily demonstrated out of her Theory, If she presignified any thing she was the prodromus of the miseries that since have ensued to this Kingdom. And now at this very time the Royal party in some places as I am informed, flatter and promise themselves strange matters by reason this Star Venus (none of them having so much Astronomy, as to discover what she is) appears so bright and glorious in the West after Sunsetting; if she betoken any thing, I suppose she appears to our gallant General, and the rest of the Commanders & Soldiers now in the West, as a bright lamp, to discover the dark, blind corners of the West, the unknown ways of the enemy there and in Wales, to reduce that miserable wasted Country, which God be thanked is in a good forwardness. I never observed or read that the simple appearance of any Star in the day time, foreshowed any thing, except what Hieronomus Cardanus in lib. 14. de varietate rerum, cap. 70. mentions, whose words I will set down as they are there, Stellas quoque die sereno bis vidisse Mediolani me memini cum tota Civitate; alteram splendidissimam Anno 1511. cum pulsi sunt Galli; aliam Anno 1535. subobscuram cum mortuus est Franciscus Sfortia secundus: sed & tunc quod sine filliis mortuus fuerit, mutatus est princeps, transiitque in Carolum Imperatorem Civitatis Regnum, variato rerum statu; that is, I remember myself twice to have seen Stars in a clear day at Milan, the whole City being spectators, one very bright Anno 1511. when the French were expulsed, and the other Anno 1535. somewhat obscure or dark, when Francis Sfortia the second died, but then he died without Sons, the Prince was changed, and the government of the City passed over to the Emperor Charles, with a various state of affairs. I know not whether if God have so ordered the motion of the Stars, that Stars appearing in the day time should foreshow any thing; for my part I believe it not in that simple apparition; it is not proper for the Stars to shine or appear in the day: God made two great lights, the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser to rule the night; he made also the Stars, and God set them in the Firmament to give light upon the earth, and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness, and God saw that it was good, Gen. 1.16, 17. verses. This I am sure of, that they work by their influence incessantly day and night upon all creatures: Nay, in many places of Scripture, God would not tell us of the dominion of the Stars upon the earth, and the creatures therein, if they had no force, power and influence; in many places therein, they are called the Host of Heaven, and the Armies of Heaven, therein amplifying the most wonderful divine power and might of God, by the force, influence and energetical operation of these glorious creatures; in some places, God expressly distinguisheth between the sweet influence of the Pleyades (or the seven Stars) and the binding influence of Orion, under which two Constellations being of clean opposite nature and effect, God comprehends all the rest of the Stars, and as it were by the figure of Locution, he puts the part for the whole, thereby manifestly giving us so much understanding, as to conceive all the other Stars of Heaven have their several particular virtues: God says, He will hear the Heavens, and the Heavens shall hear the earth, Hosea chap. 2. ver. 21. whereby we may be informed, that the fruits of the earth do not vegetate, nor have their dependence upon one, two or more constellations, but upon the whole Heavens. We may read in Deuteronomy chap. 33. ver. 13, 14. that Moses amongst his blessings upon the twelve Tribes, he blessed Joseph in these words, saying, Blessed of the Lord be his Land, for the precious things of Heaven, for the dew, and for the deep that coucheth beneath, and for the precious fruits brought forth by the Sun, and for the precious things put forth by the Moon: Where no man can deny but the virtues of the Heavens and the Stars are stirred up by the two Luminaries, the two great Lights, where the increase of the earth is referred to the comfortable influence of the Sun and Moon, who are there said to bring forth, put forth, or thrust forth the fruits thereof, as the Original hath it: Quae quaeque Luna protrudit, they are not only thus declared in the Scriptures evidently to exercise their dominion in vegetable things alone, but they are further created for, and to the service of men: Nay, there is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard; that is, there is no place in all the world, where they do not operate and have influence. We read in Deuteronomy 4. chap. ver. 19 that God in his exhortations to the Israelites, bids them that they should not so lift up their eyes to Heaven, as that when they saw the Sun and the Moon, and the Stars, even all the Host of Heaven, they should be driven to worship and serve them, God having divided them unto all Nations under the Heaven. By which distinction we are not to understand the light which they cause between day, and night, and the seasons of the year; but we must understand the Ministry of the Stars to have a further construction, nay, if there were no Stars in heaven, the Sun and Moon would be sufficient to distinguish between night and day, Summer and Winter, and the other seasons of the year; without question the influence of the Sun, Moon and Stars, extends to the constitution and temperature of man; it is evident, that those that are lunatic, whose distemper follows the course of the Moon, have their intermissions of their grievous fits as the Moon is well irradiated, and on the contrary most grievously tormented as she is afflicted, which is evident by the judgement of all Physicians; Nay, certainly we read in 1 Chron. 12. chap. ver. 32. that the children of Isachar, by their skill and knowledge of times, could advise the Israelites in their actions; for the words are thus (and the children of Isachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do: And if so, then of the success, which is confirmed by innumerable examples in all Ages; and in Scripture we read (as I said before) that the Stars in their courses fought against Sisera, Judges chap. 5. ver. 20. By which it is evident, that they have dominion over men, etc. Many Expositors understand this place of Scripture, that this fight from Heaven was by hail, rain and Tempest, and true it is (saith the Author of Astrologomania (G. C. or George Carleton, sometime Bishop of Landaffe, afterward of Chichester, or the publisher thereof, T. V B. of D. or Thomas Vicars Bachelor of Divinity) fol. 105. That the Stars by their cosmical rising or setting are observed to further rain and tempest; for in the next words of the Text, it followeth, the River Kison swept thtm away, whereby is declared the inundation of the River caused by the hail and rain which fell from Heaven, whereby the Canaanites were overthrown by the Tempest from heaven and drowned in the River: This is evident by the Text. And because the Scripture mentions so much in that place, and no more, and that many Translators have so expounded that Text, must it be inferred thence, that the Stars have no other influence but in the causing of hail, rain, tempests, etc. must the Stars be concluded from all other influence? all the Creatures of God are at his command, and are used as Instruments to do his will in the protection of his Church, and against his enemies; Good most miraculously plagued Egypt, with turning their waters into blood, and destroying their Fish, and sent Frogs, Lice, Flies, Murrain, boils and blains, hail, with Locusts and darkness among them, and the death of all their first born, and at last, Pharaoh (pursuing the Israelites) with all his Host, were drowned in the red sea. Thus God wrought wonderfully, and beyond the course of nature: But in this place it is said, the Stars in their courses fought, etc. under correction, besides that exposition; I understand by courses, the various motions, configurations, and divers Aspects, the Sun, Moon, the rest of the Planets and Stars have to one another, and amongst themselves; and by their fight, etc. I understand likewise, some notable configuration or position of the Stars or Planets, from whost influence (God having so appointed from the beginning) they cause wonderful mutations in the world; and it is usual, when the superior Planets are in Conjunction, Quadrate or Opposite Aspect to one another, very forcible; they do not only cause rain, hail and tempests, etc. but wars, murder, and great dissensions, & other great changes have followed such positions of those Stars, as I could instance in all Ages, in innumerable, undeniable examples; I have named some already, I will only repeat the words of that most excellent man Henricus Rantzovius, a noble Dane, etc. in his Examples of Astrologial Predictions upon great Conjunctions, fol. 112. where he, amongst other notable matters, says, in that Book, which was the third Edition of it, and printed at Colen in the year 1585. Anno Domini 1583. Habuimus Conjunctiones, Planetarum sedecim omnes in Piscibus, inter quas fuit etiam Saturni & Jovis, Anno 1584. Quatuordecim Conjunctiones in Ariete, & Eclipsim Solis & Lunae in Tauro, Anno Domini 1586. Conjunctiones etiam in Ariete tredecim & unam in Tauro, Solis & Mercurii: Deinde Anno Domini, 1588. Conjunctiones duodecim in diversis signis: Has absque dubio sequentur nefaria Consilia, ac facta, motus, seditiones, bella, caedes in Civitatibus Regnis & Provincis, inaudita genera morborum, Pestis: Obitus magnorum Regum, ac Dominorum, infinitae dissentiones, ac novae diversitates opinionum in Religione, ac denique ingentes calamitates in toto orbe terrarum, ut multi rerum coelestium periti opinantur, colligentes haec ex eventibus quae secutae sunt praterlapsas Conjunctiones quas recensui: That is, we have had in the year 1583. sixteen Conjunctions of the Planets, all of them in Pisces, amongst which was a Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter: In the year 1584. there was fourteen Conjunctions of the Planets in Aries, and the Sun and Moon Eclipsed in Taurus: In the year 1586. there will be thirteen Conjunctions of the Planets in Aries, and one in Taurus of the Sun and Mercury, and afterwards in the year 1588. twelve Conjunctions of the Planets in divers Signs; without doubt after these (Conjunctions) will follow or succeed mischievous, villainous and wicked Counsels, and detestable Acts, commotions or troubles, seditions, wars, slaughters or killing in Cities, Kingdoms and Provinces, unknown or unheard of diseases, the plague, death of great Kings and Lords, Infinite dissensions, and new diversities of opinions in Religion, and to conclude, very great calamities in all the Countries of the world, as many skilful men in celestial matters suppose, gathering these things from the events which are to follow these forepast Conjunctions now rehearsed. I shall hereunto add some particular predictions out of the same Rantzovius, pag. 99 Friderici secundi imperatoris Astrologus ab eo interrogatus, cur tantum honoris Rudolpho, Haspurgensi Comiti pauperi in Aula sua tunc versanti, exhiberet, respondit, mortuis tuis filiis, quorum adhuc decem supersunt, ipse, & posteri ejus ad tua Regna pervenient, Author Albertus Argentinensis, quod exitus ipse probavit. Nam Anno Christi 1273. Calend. Octob. Rudolphus a Germanis principibus Francofurti in Regem Romanum eligetur, cum Basiliam obsideret, & hodierno adhuc die videmus Rudolphi posteros Regnum Neopolitanum & Ducatum Austriae, & Sueviae una cum Imperio & Regno Neopolitano obtinere. Modernus nam Imperator Rudolphus ab eo nomen & ditiones haeditario jure accepit, & Philippus Hispaniae Rex ex eodem natus Regnum Siculum & Neoplitanum nactus est. That is, The ginger of the Emperor Frederick the second, being asked by him, why he showed so much respect to Rudolph the poor Earl of Habspurg, then frequenting his Court: To whom the ginger answered. Thy Sons being dead, of whom ten are yet living, He and his Posterity shall attain to thy Kingdoms; which the event proved, for in the year of Christ, 1273. the first of October, Rudolph besieging of Basill, was elected by the Princes of Germany at Frankfurt to be King of the Romans; and to this day we see the posterity of Rudolph to enjoy the Kingdom of Naples, the Dukedoms of Austria and Suevia, together with the Empire and Kingdom of Naples: for the late Emperor Rudolphus, by hereditary right received from him, both his name, dominions and Empire, and Philip King of Spain, proceeding from him, obtained the Kingdom of Sicily and Naples: This Frederick the second was elected 1212. he reigned 38. years, he died 1250. the Empire was void 22. years, though Conrade his Son, and Richard brother to Henry the third, King of England, who was Earl of Cornwall, were elected in the interim; and in the year 1273. this Rudolph was elected Emperor, and so continued seventeen years nine months and sixteen days; it being sixty years before this prediction came to pass for aught I read to the contrary. In pag. 97. in the same Rantzovius, thus I find; Magister Christianus Astrologus Pragensis, Ladislaum Jagellonem Regem Poloniae per Sacerdotem praemonuit, ut mortem sibi imminentem praecaveret, quod multi Planetae conjungerentur, & fieret Eclipsis Lunae sub Terra; mortuus autem nihil ominus est eo Anno, qui fuit Annus Domini 1434. Anno Aetatis 49. That is, Master Christian an ginger of Prague, admonished Ladislaus Jagello King of Poland by his Priest, that he should beware of imminent death, for that many Planets were conjoined this year, and there would be an eclipse of the Moon under the earth; notwithstanding that premonition he died that year of our Lord, which was 1434. in the 49. year of his age. In the same page, the next adjoining observation is thus, Joannes Picus Mirandulae Comes, edidit Librum adversus Astrologos, high (inter quos fuerunt Bellantius Senensis, Antonius Sirigatus Florentinus, & Angelus de Catastivis Carmelita) ut Artem veram ostenderent, illum annum aetatis 33. non transgressurum predixerunt, ex directione Ascendentis ad Martem, quemadmodum hinc inde editis constat: that is, Joannes Picus Earl of Mirandula, published a Book against Astrologers: These men (that is to say the Astrologers) amongst whom were Bellantius of Sena, Antonius Sirigatus a Florentine, and Angelus de Catastivis a Carmelite, that they might show it [Astrology] to be a true Art, they foretold the said Picus that he should not escape the 33. year of his age, by reason of the direction of the Ascendant to the body of Mars, as it appears in the writings published upon this occasion: I mention this the rather for that it is most apparent these three men were Astrologers, and by Astrology foretold to this Picus the time of his death, who flattering himself with a false comfort, as if he could wrangle away Death by writing against Astrology, endeavouring to prove the Art vain, his death concurring exactly with the time predicted, confirmed the same Art to be true, and more actually confuted that which he had written against it, then if all the world besides had conspired to answer him. I have rehearsed these things, and been the larger upon them (though I could show above one thousand examples of rare observations Astrological,) and many of my own experiment) to cure that Episcopomania, or, An examination of Sir Christopher Heydons Defence of Astrology. For would any man, but a man not well in his wits T. V.B. of D. publish and Print, that the ginger foretelleth that is true, by the help of Satan; that Astrological predictions depend not upon natural Causes; that Astrological predictions stand not by learning, but by some instinct; that Astrology considereth the fortunes only of Fools and wicked men; that the first Inventor of Astrology was the Devil; that the ginger attaineth not to his intended end in a Prediction without the help of Magic; with many other absurd Tenants. I will tell you a story of himself, as he writes it in his Epistle Dedicatory, where he says thus; That those predictions do not always fall out jump and true as they would bear us in hand, but that either the Devil doth miss sometimes, or that his Instrument doth mistake his informations; this I am able to justify and make good by a plain story of myself when I was a child, and went to School at Carlisle, where I was born; there came an odd fellow about the Country, he was reputed a cunning man, and so called, for that he took upon him to tell fortunes; the fellow was dumb or at least feigned himself speechless; but certain it was, he had an instinct or familiarity with some Spirit: This fellow being on a time in my Father's house, there were some there more simply honest then religiously wise, made signs unto him, to show what should be my fortune, and another School-fellow's of mine that was then present: Whereupon this Wizard having looked earnestly upon us both, and paused a little; For my School-fellow, he takes me a low stool and gets up upon it, with a book in his hand, and began to act after his fashion, signifying thereby that he should be a Preacher: And for me, he took a pen and a scroll of paper, and made is though he would write, signifying thereby, that I should be a Scrivener: Now so it fell out, that my School-fellow proved the Scrivener, and I prove the Preacher: By which it is plain to be seen, that either the Devil himself did miss, or his Instrument was mistaken in his informations: Thus far he that proved a Preacher and Bishop would have been, if the dumb man could have spoken, he would have told him so; A dumb man and tell fortunes! Risum teneatis Amici! What's all this to Astrology, or to Astrological predictions, or to any man professing Astrology, bounded within this definition? Astrologia est Doctrina, quae ostendit vires stellarum, cognitas perpetua experientia, & qualitates temperamenta, & inclinationes in elementis & corporibus hominum, ortas a Luce, & motu stellarum, quibus qualitatibus, temperamentis & inclinationibus, respondent suae quaedam Actiones, nisi aut Divinitus, aut aliis causis fortioribus impediantur. For the more satisfaction in this matter, I refer you to my Almanac for the last year 1645. I will only repeat what I mentioned in my Prognostication for the year 1643. (in some Astrological remembrances) and so close up this Discourse. In my Observations of the Revolution of the year 1640. amongst others, I observed that Belliger & iracundus Mars Anni hujus, Dominus, Vim irae & Rabiei passim Capricornistis, & toti ejus Quadrangulo tam Dirum in medium immittit, ut parum tranquilitatis illis remansurum sit, & quod malum maxime Conjunctio Martis & Saturni tribus vicibus hoc Anno in Aquario, Humano generi Hispalensis authoritate, igne & gladio exasperabit, Rosea Jovis prosapia (that is, Archbishops, Bishops, Prelates, etc.) contentiones & multa nova percipiet, & collabentur desiderabilia ipsorum, & claudicabit sanitus eorum: I could wish T. V B. of D. would English this to the Episcopals and their party that cannot understand more than English; and in the same Revolution of that year, having found Jupiter and Mars to have been in Conjunction the fift of March, in five degrees 34. minutes of Capricorn, where Jupiter is cadent, and at the Sun's entrance into Aries that year, Mars was newly separated from Jupiter; I thought it a strange Conjunction, and that no doubt it would produce as strange matters concerning the persons signified by Jupiter and Mars, or the Jovialists and martialists: Whereupon searching some of the Masters of Astronomy, I found in Guido Bonatus, his Astronomia, 4. part, cap. 34. these very words; Si fueris suspicatis utrum in Anno quem revoluit sint futura praelia, seu dissentiones & unde excitentur & a quibus; Aspice illi rei secumdum modum quem tradiderunt nobis Antiqui, & specialiter ille reverendissimus predecessor noster Albnumazar, qui fuit in Revolutionum Annorum scientia, etiam in omnibus aliis partibus Astronomiae proficuus, & valde astutus & audax; Eriges enim tunc figuram ad Revolutionem Anni. & constitue Ascendens & caeteras Domos, & Planetas omnes in Domibus in quibus fuerint, & aspicè Martem, & vide a quo ipse separetur, vel a quo sit tunc seperatus; Dixit enim Albumazar, quoniam ille est qui misit eum, & qui exitavit Bellum, quamvis fuerit fortuna ille a quo separatus fuerit Mars, etiam si fuerit Jupiter, tamen erit excitator Belli de personis, quae significantur per Jovem, & de potentioribus & possibile erit, quod sit de genere Episcoporum & similium; Thus far Guido Bonasus: I am sure there was then such a Conjunction, and that then Mars was newly separated from Jupiter; there was then Bellum Episcopale; How at that time and since to this day, the effects have answered, let the world judge; and then fearing what since hath come to pass, in another place of that year's observations, I made use of these words, Da pacem Domine in diebus nostris, S. B. (Samuel Baker, than one of the Bishop's Chaplains and a Licenser) expunged all this, and defaced it with a Deleatur; I wonder how they love truth or peace, that will not suffer us to speak of (predict) or pray against War? was not there good ground of fears and jealousies? If we should remember the Eclipses of the Sun and Moon 1639. and since that time, and the great Configurations of the Planets, such as the Conjunction of the two Malignants, Saturn and Mars, three times in 1640. viz. in June, August and September, and the Quadrate of them in the end of December. 1641. and the beginning of January 1642. and thereto add the Conjunction of Jupiter and Mars the middle of May; as likewise the Conjunction of Saturn and Mars again in the same year, the 27. of May, with other great Conjunctions and Aspects of the superior Bodies, and compare the times, occurrences; we may easily see God forewarns us of his judgements by his Heavenly Militia, what bloody murders, treasons and treacheries, what unheard of cruelties have been acted in Ireland by the Rebels there, the powder-plotting-blood-thirsty Papists and their Adherents, persons popishly affected? was there not great cause of Fears and Jealousies? such a fire is kindled, that it is even come to our own doors, threatening us with unnatural intestine wars: This and much more I mentioned in that years Almanac, and thereto I refer you. I have but one note more to commend to the Irish, and I have it out of the above mentioned Rantzovius pag. 101 in these words; Richardus de rebus Hybernicis; attendendum est hoc loco, unum insigniter diem Hypernicis infestum & quasi fatalem illuxisse: Limericum die Martis Brittanni expugnabunt die enim Martis Guesfurdia fuit dedita, die Martis Waterfurdia ab obsessoribus occupata die Martis Dublinensis Civitas armis oppressa: that is, Richard (or Richardson) of the Affairs of Ireland; in this place [that is Ireland] it is to be observed or listened unto, one day hath appeared famously hurtful, and as it were, fatal to the Irish; the Britain's or Englishmen, expugned or won by assault Limerick upon a Tuesday; Weixford was yielded up upon a Tuesday; Waterford was possessed by the Besiegers upon a Tuesday; and the City of Dublin was oppressed by war upon a Tuesday; I know not why a Tuesday, yea every Tuesday throughout the year should not be fatal to the Irish, for in this last Conjunction, I have made this Discourse of; Mars (to whom Tuesday is appropriated, and therefore it is called Dies Martis) is most unfortunately placed: To every thing there is a time, and a time to every purpose under the Heaven, Eccless. 3.1. The Lord hath made all things for himself, yea even the wicked for the day of evil, Prov. 16.4. That which hath been, is now, and that which is to be, hath already been, and God requireth that which is past, Eccles. 3.15. But enough at this time. Ad Deum. Te nostrae moveant Deus quarelae, Et tristes gemitus, gravesque luctus, Quos nobis varios ferunt, cientque Exorti Stygio Lacu tumultus. Poenarum dedimus satis, superque; Sat multi priere, sat feroci, Bellonae licuit: Satis cruoris Hausit Sacrilegi furor duelli, Quare disidiis procul remotis, Optate redeat quietis aura: Hoc te supplici●us, piisque votis, Et multis lachrymis Deus rogemus. ILLVCens taVro MartIs ConIVnCtIo noVa nVnCIat hIbernIs satVrnI & IVrgla Clto. 1 M. 1000 5 C. 500 2 L. 100 7 V. 35. 11 I. 11. 1646. Tuesday, 17. Martii 1645/6 being Patrick's day the Saint of Ireland. FINIS.