THE Astrologers Bugbear: Being a brief Description of many Pithy Passages, which were brought to pass upon that day which the Astrologers painted out for Black-Monday: Whereby we may all see and know that God's power is beyond man's expectation.  
Mark well and take notice, it is worth your observation. Written by L. P.  
London Printed for Sicnarf Seloc, in the Year of the downfall of dark Astrology. and are to be sold in Country and City, by honest harmless people, that love England and ' its Friends   

The ASTROLOGERS Bugbear.  
Being a brief Description of many pithy passages which was brought to pass upon that day which the Astrologers painted out for Black Monday.  

CHAP. I.  
TO Condemn all for some man's faults, were too severe a matter to work upon; or to give credit to all the reports that are going, were the ready way to be deceived, as may appear by those late Astrologers, who have been accounted to be the chiefest men for Wisdom, Knowledge, and Understanding that was in all the world beside; those lines which are here written of them are not written in spite nor malice of them, neither do I speak against that which is necessary in Astronomy.  
Astronomy I hold to be very good and beneficial, if it be honestly, faithfully, and reasonably dealt withal; as for recording what hath been done in former ages, and to foretell the seasons of the year, the length of the day, the changes of the Moon, the circle of the Sun, the nature of the Stars, and the time when is fitting for Bathing, Letting blood, and the like.  
But I would not have men to undertake to study so far in Astrology, whereby to write of matters more than becomes them, as some of late have done to their shame & discredit.  
Whose names I need not to repeat in this discourse, for they have themselves at large set forth their own Names, as you may read it in several Almanacs, as Lily, Culpepper, and others, who though in some things, yet they all took aim at one mark, although never a one of their arrows came to the right place: they all spoke of the 29 day of March, which some of them called Black-Monday; Moreover, they reported that it would be a sad day, a dismal day, a day of darkness, and such a day that the like had not been since the oldest man alive can remember: also they foretell what the effects of that sorrowful and dreadful Eclipse of the Sun and the Moon would bring forth, how that Cities should be fired, Towns and Castles overthrown, great Shipwrecks at sea, Robberies done on the land, and that many fearful Sicknesses and Diseases should be amongst us: so that men and women should be suddenly stricken and fall down dead as they went along the streets: the consideration of which matter made many people of a belief, what things some of them had written in their Almanacs would prove to be very true, nay I am persuaded that some put more confidence in Lily, than they did in God: but now see what God can do to their Sexes: the very day which they had painted out to be such a dismal day as is before spoken of, fell not out according to their Expectations and Prognostications, yet a small Eclipse was of the Sun, and did visibly appear for a little space, and so the day became Fair and Clear, blessed, praised, and glorified be the Name of our good God for our deliverance.   

CHAP. II. Here followeth a brief Relation of many several passages and strange effects which was done upon the 29 of March, this present Year, 1652. which the Astrologers called Black Monday.  
AT the conceit of the matter which the Astrologers had written in their Almanacs concerning the horrible and terrible Eclipse of the Sun, bred such Rumours and Fears throughout all the Cities, Towns and Countries in England, that men and women were amazed and knew not how to bestow themselves nor what to do, doubting what would come to pass; whereat some falling into despair, made short dispatch and hanged themselves, others run mad about the streets, and many came by untimely deaths before the day of of the Eclipse came.  
But when the day of the Eclipse was come, in the morning many thousand of people both in the City of London and in the Country were in such fear, that although they had business to do, they durst not go about their occasions, doubting what danger might come upon them.  
Some there were in London which kept fast their shops, their doors, and their windows, and would neither buy nor sell till they had seen that the worst was passed.  
Some that were market folks durst not go in the Market to sell their commodities.  
Some lay a bed till 2. of the clock in the afternoon fasting, because they durst not rise out of their beds to eat their dinners.  
Among the rest a gallant young woman that had made promise, and was to be married to a Gentleman, durst not stir out of the house to go to the Church, he having made a vow that he would not be married in any other place; by which means she lost her love and was dismissed of her husband, and afterwards wished that all the Almanac-makers were hanged for their false Predictions.  
A. Usurer that was to receive money of a country man that was his debtor on that day, durst not to venture fourth of his house; by which means the man rid forth of London and paid not in his monies, for which cause the Usurer was about to cut his own throat, and had done it if he had not been prevented by some of his Neighbours.  
Some other Christians were so fearful of what would befall, that they sent their maids two days before Black-monday for to fetch in fair water in a readiness to wash, fearing that the air would infect the water.  
Some took Medicines, Pills, and Antidotes, which was administered unto them by a supposed out landish, doctor, which he had set bills for in several places, caling his Medicines, an Antidote against the tirrible Eclipes of the Sun, so he got money, and they went away as wise as woodcocks; yet their were some in London that proved stout hearted, and said, that they would neither believe Lily, Culpepper, nor any other false prophecy, but that they would only trust in God to be their guide and to defend them from all evils, and so went through their businesses and praised be God they speed never the worse.   

CHAP. III. Thus having told you of many passages were done in and about the City of London upon the day that the Astraligers called Black-monday, I pray you to have the patience to hearken to some thing of what was done in the Country.  
IT is very true, the Country people in many places put so much confidence in Lily and Culpeppers Almanacs, and monthly observations that they beliued every syllable that was there written to be true: and therefore upon Black-monday they would not undertake to do no manner of business, neither would they suffer their servants nor Children to go forth of their doors  fear that they should come by some strange mishap to be scorched with the sun, or to be killed with a Thunder Bolt.  
Others thought that there would be an Egyptian darkness over all the whole land: wherefore the Plowmen durst not in some places to go to blow, the maids were fearful to go to milking; Carriers and Travilers were fearful to pass along the road, nor durst they that were from home return to their own, tell such time that they had seen the danger of the time over past, which at last came to nothing.  
But praised be God we hear of no harm that was done to man, woman, nor child on that day, neither in London nor in the Countries; and now we may see what it is for mortal men to presume to foretell or to prophesy of what God will have done: we may read in the Scripture that God is only true, and all men are liars; therefore dear friends, I desire you all to consider of the matter and never depend upon, nor believe liars, but settle your affections, your hopes, your trust, and your belief, only upon God the Father and his only Sun our Saviour Jesus Christ, and so whether we live or die, we shall be sure to do well. So to conclude I remain your Servant so long as you serve God.  
L. P.  
FINIS.