MERLINUS DEMOCRITUS; OR, The Merry-conceited Prognosticator: CONTAINING, A general Judgement of the State of Great Britain, France, and Ireland; and the great Change and Revolu●ion that will happen in the Year of our Lord, 1655. Namely, The turning round of the Wheel of Fortune, and the calculating of every thing in its own proper Centre, The setting up of Heaven's Vicegerent, and the administering of Truth in the equal Scale of Justice, The purging of the Commonwealth from Caterpillars, the discarding of Knaves, and the putting of honest men in their places, The reclaiming of Lawyers from taking of Fees, and an Antidote prescribed for Brokers and Usurers, to clear them of their extortionable Malady of shaking whole Lordships into a Consumption. With the great and ominous Eclipses that will be this year visible in our Horizon, and the Effects thereof.   diagram explaining calculation of solar eclipses  chart explaining calculation of lunar eclipses 
By W. Libya, Student in Astrology.  
London, Printed for G. Horton, and are to be sold at the Royal Exchange, 1656.   

Merlinus Democritus, etc.   personification of a solar eclipse  personification of a lunar eclipse  personification of a lunar eclipse  diagram of lunar eclipse 
Had not Sir Arthur Coodcole hanged his Dog in fury,  
And called Sir William to sit as Judge and Jury.  
Well Gentlemen! these things portend most strange Concavities doubtless, beshrew me, if I fear not a Consumption of the purse, even with those Loyal hearts that deserve most; and a great increase of Treasure in the pockets of those that deserve least. But the best on't is, this world will not last always; the Wheel of Fortune is now upon turning, that Knaves must be discarded, and honest men enjoy their places. For, have we not a Prospective at Westminster, that gins to discern and find out the Caterpillars of this Nation? Yes, yes, they are now determined to winnow and unkenel them, and to call to an Account the Excizemen, Treasurers, and Commissioners, that so they may give a just account of their Stewardship, or else be h—.  
Beat Drums, sound Trumpets, here's hopes of a Reformation: Justice shall flow, and Righteousness shall stream in every angle of the whole City, the Conduits shall run with Cream, that's rare, and your Citizens wives shall never be known to stir abroad, or have private meetings, or to make the Beast with two Backs with any save their own beloved husbands. The honest Lawyer (a Title somewhat strange) shall undertake their Client's cause for nothing, nor shall it be possible for any man to compel them to take money: Bribery shall be laid aside as impious, and a Janus face be pelted with addle Eggs, and rotten Oranges by all the Attorneys, and Attorney's Clerks. Broker's shall become honest, and Usurers freehearted, that's a wonder. If not, I shall give him this Character, and leave it upon Record to Posterity▪ viz. That an Usurer must be drawn like to those pictures that have a double aspect, which if you behold one way seems to be a man, but the other way a Devil. He grounds the lawfulness of his Usury from the parable, wherein the servant was not approved of, that had not improved his Talon; he'll be sure therefore not to hid his, but make the best use of it. He gets into men's estates, as Cut purses get Cloaks in the night; if he can but wind himself into a piece of it, he'll be sure to get it all at last. Or like an Essex Ague, will shake whole Lordships into a Consumption. H●'s an excellent Cook to dress a young Heir, for he first plucks off his feathers, and afterwards serves him up to the world with Woodcock sauce All his life is a golden dream, and this red earth is his Heaven. For his estate is raised out of the ruins of whole Families, which first sends him in ill getting it, and afterwards his son in ill spending it, both to the Devil, and there I leave them.  
A general conflagration attends the effects of this years Revolution, yet very much tranquillity seems to arrive the years both of Prince and people. Religion will still be made a Cloak for Knavery, and God's Word and Providence a Lackey to the devil on horseback. Verily this year produceth notable things. O Heavens! is not thy Vicegerent the equal Scale? where is then the perfect administration of true Justice? when shall we partake and centre on those Golden Reins of Government so long contended for? What! must the weakest always go to the wall, and might overcome right? No, no, there is a day of redemption coming, wherein some great ones will be forced to rectify their evil practices, and constrained to give an account of their stewardships; and reason good, they may in time be fatted for the slaughter. Certainly, the rash actions of some in Authority, will produce (in process of time) the greatest Catastrophe that ever happened in England: We are threatened this month, and strange news comes from France; beware an invasion for the Indies.   diagram explaining calculation of solar eclipses  chart explaining calculation of lunar eclipses 
A very notable Scene attends the National Affairs, and great acts are brought upon the Stage: withdraw but the Curtain, and you may discern the motion of the Puppets, even unto the Netherlands, where the Belgic Lion gins to roar, and once more to hang forth the scarlet streamers upon the British Ocean. Very good, I shall I then unravel the mystery, and tell you in plain English, that the Dutch begin new Contingencies, and their Whimsy pated Noddles, are altogether elevated with strange Chimeras; wonderful speculation! Rare invention! the Design being founded upon the Element of water, although the Constitution hangs most magically in the air, like the Tomb of Mahomet, by the virtue and phantfie of some magnetical Boar, o● Coxcomb. Well! admit this; nevertheless, our Commonwealth stands in a gallant posture; and is ready to receive the enemy, beyond the credit of succeeding Ages.  
Nevertheless, some in Authority now think to vaump up an old fashion of Gubernation; and promise much, but perform little, that's no news; The people seem to be merry, but they have small cause; for when they think Authority will alter something that may prove beneficial, lo it is but an establishing of what they count obnoxious; insomuch, that the Commonalty are unsatisfied, and many Paper-kites takes their flights up and down the countries, which incites the people to a unanimons petitioning for the abatement of Taxes, I wish it unfeignedly; O what a sweet harmony would Englishmen sing, if every man might enjoy his own.  
Indeed, a most excellent Harmony attends the actions of the English; and exceedingly will they in large their Dominions; he French tremble, and are like to suffer extremely; the Spaniards quake, and Royal Phoebus cuts the Aequator line in the West-Indies, which presageth notorious actions, and direful things, pest'ring the Commons, even as many hath done their Kings.  
Heyda! great Ones cannot agree, by reason of the Aphelion of Mars; & bad ones are taken away, but worse put into their room: H●re's Virtue punished, & Vice let go; beware the questioning of a great man! sure I am that De●th seizes of a mighty woman: some Parasite flatters a great man in Authority, & makes him believe wonders; but being discovered, it will appear evident, that he hath been Author of more mischief than a hundred thousand treacherous Scots, put all together.  
Yet methinks I hear an Echo, thu●: We might expect some gracious Act or Ordinance to befall the people; but the excellency thereof will soon receive an Over-turn for some space of time; yet at length its glorious splendour will shine forth in streams throughout all the dark corners of the Nation, and speak brave English to the long oppressed Commoner: At which time; young Charles is much talked of, and very good and pleasing intelligence delights our Ears from Scotland. But the Merchants are like to suffer much at sea, not only by Piracy, but also by ship wrack. London beware, violent Fevers, Dropsies, Bellaches, threaten thy inhabitants: O cast off thy rebellious disputes, and maintain no longer thy Wormeaten Opinions. For if we could but contract the Elements, we should find the Planets favourable in their Aspects, promising great happiness and tranquillity, both to City and Country. Therefore, beware Holland, and have a care thou violate not thy Oath of Allegiance; if thou dost, expect no more mercy than the Devil would afford a Sergeant upon his in gross into Hell. The year ends merrily, and as the Angels chant above, and sing triumphant praise to the Man-God King; so let the people conspire in one mixed harmony below, that a Saviour is born.  
And to divulge our cordial zeal the more,  
Make every Kitchen sweat to feast the Poor.  
Thus drawing to a conclusion of the year, I shall in like manner put a period to the Regal Table of Kings, though dreading the attempt of wading through purple Ponds, and merrily wind up all with this ensuing Clew:  
Kings have their evil Stars as well as I,  
And Monarches travel to Eternity  
Like other Mortals; only here's the odds,  
They are chastised with Axes, we with Rodds.  
FINIS.