News from the HEAVENS: OR, NEW PROPHESIES, AND Astrological Predictions Relating to the Present State of Europe, and other most Important Affairs of our Age.  
By Mr. lily, and other able Artists.  
Together with the said Mr. lilies prophesy or Prediction of a General PEACE, And most Glorious time of PROSPERITY, That shall shortly be established throughout the World.  
Caelum est instar Libri Ex●ausi,  
In quo Futura Notis Siderum quasi Litteris,  
Conscripta, Fil●js Artis Leganda Proponunter.  
Printed by A. Purslow, in the Year, 1673.   

Mr. lilies NEW PROPHESIES, &c.  
HIstorians tell us, that in the days of that Caesar, deservedly styled Augustus, affairs were throughout the World in such a calm posture, as if Mars had been excluded from having any Vote in the Celestial Senate, or degraded by the more friendly Planets from his mischief-making Office: for that, Peace spreading her silken Wings as far as the Geography of that Age could extend, seemed to have hushed up all Alarms of War, and invited all inhabitants of this earthly Globe, to a sweet repose in the soft Arms of a general tranquillity; wherewith possibly Almighty God might then more especially bless Mankind, to Usher in, and the better prepare them for the reception of the Prince of Peace, our ever blessed Saviour, who about that time, out of infinite Love to wretched Humanity, descended from the Mansions of Glory to appear on Earth veiling his Divine Lustre in garments of mortality: Certain it is, such Halcyon days rarely happen, and perhaps in all the Records of Time, before or since we may not find a Parallel to that happy juncture; but on the contrary, War, Blood-shed, Invasions, Insurrections, Destruction, and Desolations have in most Ages been so frequent, as to turn the Earth into an Acheldama or Golgatha, a Field of Blood, or general Charnel-house.  
How dismally embroiled the Affairs of Europe are at this instant, or in these very days wherein we live, cannot be wholly unknown to any intelligent man: and that those Commotions are Judgements and Calamities inflicted by the just hand of Heaven, on rebellious Mortals for their repeated Sins, and multiplied Transgressions will readily be assented unto by all that have any sense of Religion, or awe of a Deity upon their Spirits.  
But the natural Grounds or Dispositions of the Celestial Bodies, which like Mediate links in the grand chain of Secondary Causes, have produced, or at least Co-operated in the production of these marshal Disturbances, or the extraordinary Phaenomina which merciful Providence makes use of to presignify its pleasure therein, and like Beacons to admonish the World of such impending Chastisements, cannot but certainly deserve our more curious Observation and inquiries; of this sort the most Judicious Scrutators with much reason Assign.  
1. That wonderful new Star, which to the great amazement of the World manifested itself in the Constellation of Cassiopeia, in the Year, 1572.  
2. The several Comets, whose significations are not yet totally accomplished; as that in the Year, 1652. Three more in the Year 1665. and one since, not much above a Year and a half last past.  
3. The Conjunction of the two superiors, Saturn and Jupiter, Anno 1663. in Sagitary, and five opositions between them lately.  
Lastly, The Revolutions and other Cardinal Ingresses of the present and ensuing Year; together with the Eclipses, and most forcible Aspects therein happening.  
To treat of these all exactly and in method, is as much beside our Intention, as above our Abilities in the present sheet, which we design only for a brief Collection of the Suffrages of more Learned men thereupon: and to serve as an Echo to their Oracles.  
Concerning the Famous New-Star first mentioned, divers excellent persons in that Age obliged the World both with their Observations and Sentiments of its Effects or Significations, but none so happily as the incomparable Tycho Brahe, who taking it for granted that the same was purposely Created for the manifestation of future Events and Presaging of some strange Catastrophes to happen, concludes, that as the said Star was visible almost to all the World, so few Nations or Countries between the Artick and Autartick Poles should escape without being sensible more or less of the Calamities and Disorders thereby threatened; and because it continued fixed during all the time of its appearance; That therefore the Portents thereof would be long before they manifested themselves, or were brought into Action; whence it was thought reasonable to assign about one Century or hundred Years before their Commencement; which term is now expired: Viz. In the last Year, 1672. And what grand Actions have since appeared, both by Land and Sea on the European Stage, is sufficiently notorious; though( as the Judicious Mr. lily in his Anglius for the approaching Year, 1674. well observes) the full determination of those mutations, it was to be the Prodromus of cannot be expected for many Years yet to come; for since, we red not in any Author of such an admirable Star, or of such continuance since the beginning of the world besides it; so must certainly its significations be equally miraculous, and such as Mankind hath yet been scarce acquainted with: The particular Nature of which the same worthy Author tells us, Praecipium quandam & maximam Administrationum, Politicarum, Innovationem, Innovations in the established or accustomend Policies of several Nations, and turning Empires and Kingdoms topsy-turvy.  
As to the effects of that Comet in 1652. Those in 1665, and this of 1672. Our English ptolemy before name, asserts them not yet determined, but at present on the anvil of Fate, and in succeeding years like to be more visible, even till most part of the Habitable Globe, shall in one kind or other, have partaken of much affliction, and such Calamities as no age hath seen the like; amongst which the same Learned Gentleman, reckons up the Dutch or Hollanders, as like in due time to taste more deep than ordinary of this bitter cup of Divine Vengeance, since the last of those Comets in April 1665. having a long & large ●… ed fiery Tail pointed directly Esta-ward, threatening more e●… pecially those Countries of the United Provinces, Spanish-Ne●… herlands, part of Germany, and places adjacent.  
Of the Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter in 1663. An accurate Treatise has been already emitted into the World by Mr. Richard Edlin, nor should we have wanted another by the same judicious Pen, on the late oppositions of these Superiors, did not the sordid self-interests of some narrow-soul'd people strangle for want of midwifery, what the Author has long since happily conceived. However in his Praenuncius Sidereus, speaking of the Year 1674. from a Conjunction of Saturn and Mars, happening in July, he predicts the Death or detriment of some great persons, in places subject to Libra, by Civil or domestic differences. But towards the end of that Year( saith he) the Moon to a trine of the Sun by direction denotes a discovery of some Important affairs, that long have lain masked in obscurity; Kings and their Subjects shall better agree, and Spirits heretofore factious, turbulent and unsettled, shall become conformable and more obedient to their Superiors.  
In the Revolution or ingress of Sol into Aries, at the beginning of the Year 1674. Aquarius ascends Mars, being on the Cusp of the Horoscope, and Saturn Lord of it in the second: So that the two Malevolents are in mutual reception. Hence Merlin Collects, a fair pretence or appearance near these times of friendship and agreements, yet nothing but fraudulent designs, intended by an obstinate and pevish generation, rather indeed more contentious; the scene of war is enlarged, Ruptures of Leagues, devastation of great numbers by the Sword, impoverishment of the Cominalties, and beggary to many once rich and flourishing Cities and Countries East-ward from England.  
That most industrious Artist and able Mathematician, Mr. Henry Coley, with equal modesty and reason gives this brief, yet discreet Judgement, on this vernal figure, in his nuntius Caelestis, or almanac for the said Year, 1674. The year( says he there) by the position to be no way considerably dangerous for any contagious distemper that may tyramnize amongst the people, but rather a serene Air and Salubrity in general: nor do I discover any considerable injury or danger from our most potent enemies( according to the stream of natural causes: For which he subjoins his reasons in Art, Sol being in the ascendant, &c.  
To which we may add, that obsarvation of Merlins, that the Heavens seem now to promise our sovereign of great britain shall not want either Men, Money or Ships, to render him feared all over the World. The wars now impending: seeming notwithstanding all overtures of peace, designed by providence, to have continuance till the proud Hollander submit unto that High Monarch, whom they have wrongfully abused with not to be suffered Indignities.  
Upon the Suns entrance into Cancer, the said Mr. lily affirms, that the Hollanders shall ne●r that time fear in earnest Popular tumults; and Seditions at home, by their Boars and Vulgar people, who seeing themselves still deluded and made miserable by the obstinacy of their superiors begin to make insurections against them: As also that they are threatened with a great Plague and Famine, not only of provisions for man, but a scarcity of men to furnish their Fleets, as also a sudden declining or being abandoned or forsaken by their Allies or Confederates, &c.  
Several Eclipses happen in the approaching Year, but the most considerable one of the Moon, the 7th. of July, three quarters of an hour after 8 at night, signifieing( according to Merlinus Anglius) the destruction of Cattle, horrible could, unwholesome winds, shipwrecks; bad Voyages, scarcity of Grain, and all kinds of provisions, &c,  
From the consideration of this Eclipse, and the dire Efects thereby threatened: that solid and well-read Artist, Mr. Richard Saunders in his English Apollo, breaks out into this Pathetical Exclamation. Oh! Infandum renovat dolorem: Infinite Calamities it brings to places under Capricorn, and the opposite sign Cancer, to some here is signified Mischiefs, perfected to others, deviseing, but if Holland and Amsterdam have any subsistence at this time, let them look to receive their share of superlative sorrows: But( Blessed be God) London comes not the least under these malignancies.  
We shall conclude with that happy prophesy or Prediction of Mr. lily( whose pardon we beg for making bold so oft with his honoured Name in this inconsiderable Pamphlet) In Anglicus, 1674. delivered verbatim as follows.  
We further say and probably eonjecture according to the Acute Judgement of Tyche, and other learned men, upon this new Star( he is treating of that before mentioned in Cassiopeia.) That when its effects begin to operate( as for these two last Years, or something sooner they have done, and for many subsequent years will continue) that after many sharp wars had and determined or ended, that then the World shall find and enjoy quietness, such as yet hath not been in any Age, Pacificum quodam & concors saeculum aliquam din futurum. A most peaceable and quiet age or world shall be in all parts of the earth. In quo politicarum administrationum, &c. Wherein the Tumultuary Confusions in politic and Religious administrations shall be changed or quiter altered, and be fited to a more comform Analogy of the Divine Will or truth. To which give us leave to add that memorable prediction delivered more than one h●nd●ed years since by that famous Astrologer Hieromymus Cardanus, that about the year 1680. Incipiet Mutatio Legum, cvi nunquam fuit similis, & consurget nova Lex & cum his alia multa, There shall in some parts begin an alteration of Laws, the like whereof was never before, and a new Law shall arise or be established, and with it many other things.  
These several predictions we offer to the Reader, not as divine and Infallible, but as the Sentiments of these worthy. Artists, according to natural causes of present and future affairs, and leaving them as so many embrio's in the womb of time to be brought forth, or prove abortive, as providence shall order, we conclude with our humble wishes.  
May the good Hand of Heaven in all the Revolutions of Fate, Bless the Monarch of great britain, in all his councils, and undertakings; Crowning him with health in his Royal person, victory over his Enemies, and Happiness in the Love and Affections of all his Subjects from the least to the greatest, Amen.  
FINIS.