IGNATIUS HIS PROPHECY Concerning these Times. Sent from France where it was prophesied 159. into England and found in the Abbey of St Benedict near the City of Norwich in Norfolk. Containing the Praedivination concerning the various Distempers and Divisions of this Kingdom, which was in this Prophecy praedictated, and now perfectly fulfilled. Expressing likewise every thing that should succeed between the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, unto King Charles now Reigning, concerning the Crown and Royal Empire. LONDON, Printed for JOHN GREENSMITH, 1642. IGNATIUS HIS PROPHECY Concerning these Times. THe Inundation of Heresy which is harboured in the breasts of the Schismatics in our days deserve a second Cicero to exclaim against the same. But the preposterous tumult in our Age requires not only a Prophet, to praedictate the subsequent verity, and predetermination of the errors which we are fallen in, but also to elevate us from that sink of impiety wherein we are now fallen. As for that Prophecy, which I am at this time to describe, it is apparently demonstrated what should follow in after times, and now it is most truly perfected, and really come to pass, all that was prophesied. Prophecy is the key of heaven, that opens the mystical door of those secrets, which none but God himself hath praedestinated. Prophecy is the To●er of humane knowledge, that defends mortality, and preserveth Kingdoms from destructive ruin Prophesy is a divine inspiration, that discloseth the mystery of heavenly things, determined to be acted on earth, suggested by the divine providence of God. When the prophet Jonah related the prophecy of God to the City of Nineve, it repent, and God turned away the indignation of his spirit, and his predetermined resolution. And would to God this famous and tenowned City would exactly consider this prophecy which is here mentioned: most part whereof is already fulfiled, and therefore I am more suspicious, that all the subsequent will likewise hereafter come to pass. My resolution was once fully intended to make an apparent exposition of the same: but now my resolution is altered, in respect that some things are intended of persons, being of higher Majesty, and greater Dignity, than I dare presume to gaze upon: wherefore I will commend the mythology, and apologization thereof to the Censure of better judgements. The Prophecy. IF Eighty eight be past, then thrive Thou mayst, till thirty four, or five. After the E is dead, a Scot Shall govern there: and if a plot prevent him not, sure than his sway Continue shall till many a day. The ninth shall die young, and the first perhaps shall reign: but (oh) accursed Shall be the time, when thou shalt see To sixteen joined twenty three; For then the Eagle should have help By Craft to catch the Lion's whelp, And hurt him sore; except the same Be cured by the Maiden's name. In july month of the same year Saturn conjoins with jupiter. perhaps false prophets shall arise, And Mahomet shall show his prize. And sure much alteration Shall happen in Religion. Believe this truly, if then you see. A Spaniard a Protestant to bee● The lines (I confess impartially) are very mysterious, and withal they are involved in a stupendious obscurity. They seem as enigmatical, as Sphynk his hidden Riddle, yet I doubt not but that your judicous minds will prove as auspicuous unto this, as Oedipus did to his. You may enucleate the genuine sense, and signification of the words, if you do but seriously revolve them. When the formidable Armado was dissipated in 88 this Kingdom did flourish a long time in peace and prosperous tranquillity, unto one thousand six hundred and thirty four or five: After Queen Elizabeth died, King James came out of Scotland, and inherited the Imperial Crown after her. A plot all men know was most nefariously hatched in his Reign, to wit, the Gunpowder treason: which not preventing him, he swayed the Sceptre very peacefully in a great succession of future time. Prince Henry the 9 of that name died young, & King Charles the first of that name reigned next in Majesty (whom God long preserve, and protect from the wicked Plots of his enemies.) The beginning of these perilous times, begin in 1639. The next 4 verses I will l●a●● to the exposition of the Reader hereof. The Philosophers have given their unite a stipulation, & withal the Astrologians have affirmed in their solid assertions, that when Saturn hath any conjunction with jupiter, great wars and bloody times shall ensue, and I am sure their opinions have not proved fallible in this respect. Many false Prophets are now risen amongst us, and do prophecy false things to the people, who dare presume to preach in Tubs to their schismatical Auditors: whom they delude and suggest vain imagination's unto them, that they are sent from heaven, and have the spirit of God, when they have nothing but the spirit of error and falsehood. Mahomet hath shown indeed his prize sufficiently amongst us, for too many (I suppose) in our times rather Mahometans, then true Christians. The alteration of Religion hath been very great, and tossed too and fro by the various wind of every one's opinion. The last two verses I refer to the judgement of the Reader: for I will nominate no man particularly. This prophecy is stupendious, and as it includes a mystery, so it includes verity withal: as by the former it is involved in obscurity, so by the latter it is illuminated in apparent Truth. The demonstration of prophetic divination, praedictates the future estate of a Kingdom, and whatsoever hath been expressed in this lately mentioned, is already fulfiled in exemplary relations. But the distracted opinions of most men are still so promiscuous, that we want Prophets enough to exclaim against them; for some they will not hear, others they neglect, others they in a despicable detestation do contemn. But God of his infinite mercy grant, that we may hereafter all make true use of the sincere prophecy of him, and his holy Gospel, that these various mists of errors may be expelled, these roaring waves of Schism may be calmed, and the distempers of the whole Realm cured perfectly. FINIS.