New News, AND Strange News from BABYLON  
OR The copy of a letter which was sent from the Master of Malta, to a Gentleman and kinsman of his resident here in ENGLAND,  
wherein is related the birth of a very strange Prophet, with his manner of living, actions, and great wonders performed by him:  
Also his departure from thence, threatening with terror and fear the Country's Desolation.  
Printed, for John Thomas 1641.   

News from Babylon, of the birth of a strange Prophet.  
letters were sent from the Master of Malta to a kinsman of his here in this Kingdom, wherein were very many strange things specified, which are these which follow.  
There was from a natural woman borne a man child, of very strange and unheard of feature; his eyes sparkled like Gold, he was borne with teeth, which resembled cats teeth, he had also nails on his fingers and toes, but not like a man, but like a beast, he spoke to them so soon as he was borne, and reproved them for any thing which was done against his will, taking great state upon him, and he calleth himself the great Prophet, he much delighteth in, and loveth Images, and Pictures, and very devoutly will pray, seven or eight times each day, he loveth to walk solitarily in the fields, and he eateth very little, and that which he doth eat is very corpse.  
One day as he was walking the fields, attended on by those which use to wait on him, which are a dozen or fourteen ugly, and ilshapen fellows none know from whence they came, or whither they will go, he met with three or four which were in the shape of men, which when they came near him they kneeled and delivered letters unto him, which when he had read he tore the l tters, and the bearers thereof vanished away, and were no more seen. Another time he was walking into the Temple, into which he was conveyed with such a sweet harmony of music that hath not been heard on the earth before, and at his coming out thereof there was such a clangor of Drums, Gunns, and Trumpets in the air, which made the whole Country amazed, for it was seen all over the Country, of which he began to prophesy, that at his death there should be wars, and rumours of wars, in so much that all the western countries shall be laid desolate, but this Country shall flourish like the bay tree even in the midst of the winter of misfortunes. He will not abide to hear of the Scriptures, for he saith that there was no such thing as is there specified, but they are all most strange lies, and not to be believed by man.  
Sometimes he will be gone for the space of a week or a fortnight together, but whither no man knows, but his men or Devils, or whatsoever they are which wait upon him, are always with him.  
Now many poor silly people do believe this man to be the saviour which was promised, and now is come, but I believe and faithfully persuade myself that they do deceive themselves, and come short of the truth; these things if they be true are strange, very strange, yet they are but as a foil to perfection, they are nothing in respect of the Miracles which were done by our Saviour, whose fame doth as far outrun the fame of this new borne Prophet, as the light of the Sun doth the light of the smallest Star.  
It is my censure, and the censure of many more which have heard of this business, that this is rather Antichrist, than any true prophet, for it is written, Antichrist shall come, and in an other place, beware of false Prophets, for they shall come and strive to persuade you from the right way, and lead you to perdition; I cannot choose but think and admire to see how each tittle of his say will come to pass, nay day by day they are more and more manifested.  
But here now is happened a very strange accident, he was gone for the space of a month together as his custom was, in which time there was nothing but lightning, and thunder, and horrible tempests, in so much that each man expected no otherwise but that the last day had been come, for night and day there was no resting, every one expecting his house to be blown down about his ears, great harm was done by the tempestuous winds. There was a poor man had been abroad amongst the woods to gather sticks, which poor man was taken up by a whirlwind and was no more seen or heard of again; An other thing also which is much to be admired at, which would make men beware how they tempt the angry Heavens, for fear that they suffer the like punishment.  
In all this hurlie burlie, when the contentious Heavens were jarring, there was a boy which laughed excessively, and very merry he was, saying that none but fools would be afraid of lightning and thunder, for it was impossible that it should hurt them; wherefore because he would show himself foolhardy, he run about in the rain, as if he would provoke Heaven to do its worst, nay this was not folly enough for him to act, he began now to be wickedly impudent, for (said he) if any one will give me any thing, i'll go and show my breech to the thunder, an other unhappy bird although not altogether so unlucky, told him that if he would do it he would give him all his points, and forgive him the two farthings which he owed unto him, wilt thou (said he) and presently he went forth into the green and there he did it, but mark, sorrow, and tremble reader, the Lord will show himself to be a great God, there came a thunderbolt and strooke his breech from his body, his body was no more seen, but his breech lay there as a sign for what he was punished. All you young youths to whom this present discourse shall come, learn to refrain such foolhardy attempts, for by this you may see, that the Lord will not be dallied withal, read therefore, and consider, and the Lord guide you and keep you, I have for a while derogated from my Story.  
At the months end this prophet and his ugly rogues were seen again, and for because there was such a great deal of harm done in the land by reason of the thunder, as rooting up trees, blowing down houses, murders and such like, they began to examine him where he had been, he answered them very scornfully, that he was not come into the World to be examined but to examine, not to be ruled but to rule over others, with these and such like peremptory words he answered them, till at last he had incensed them so far that they told him flat and plain they must and would examine him, and if he denied to answer to such interrogatories which they would propose, there was no abiding for him, neither should he stay there, why (said he) you shall be beholding to me to stay, or else I will not stay and with that he vaunted t himself and flew away from them through the air, and his men with him, but ever since, the Country hath been affrighted with thunder and tempests, and earthquakes, that the like was never known there bafore, In so much that they fear the whole Country's desolation, and they now pray with our liturgy, from lightning and tempest, and from sudden death,  
Good Lord deliver us.  
FINIS.