STRANGE-PREDICTIONS RELATED at CATERICKE In the North of England: By one who saw a vision, and told it himself to the Company with whom he was drinking Healths; How he was struck, and an Angel appeared to him with a SWORD.  
A Revelation made to him; and the whole Narrative of the same.  
Certified by a Letter from an eminent person.  
Printed at London by R.I. for A. H. 1648.   

Strange Predictions related at Catericke, in the North of England, by one who saw a Vision, and told it himself to the Company with whom he was drinking healths.  
Sir,  
UPon receipt of yours, with the intimation of your desires to be satisfied touching that currant relation of what lately happened here at Catericke, upon a more serious examination of every particular, I found the ground of that story, so generally dispersed, and by credulous ears easily believed, to be this.  
A consort of Good-fellows, or to bestow on them their true stamp and stile, a knot of sociable Newtrals, (for really interested they were to no party) made their set meeting, at this Town: where they drunk down care merrily? called for their cups freely, and so bestowed most part of that day in repetition of their youth full pranks with other offencel esse stories, cheerfully.  
Till one of the company with veins as full of wine, as his brain was empty of wit, began a health to the seven Planets, taking a deep oath that it should go round. But two of those seven grew too hard for him to encounter withal: So as, becoming Planet-struck, he took council of his pillow, leaving the remainder of those healths to the rest of his company.  
Scarcely had this overwrought Comrade laid an hour in this sort: till through excess of liquor or some other occasional distemper, he discovered upon his awaking all the symptoms of a favour: and in that violent manner, as the strength of two or three of the most activest spirits there could with much difficulty hold him.  
After some small inspiration, as one awaked out of a fearful slumber, looking at the first perplextly about him, with a passionate sigh. He begun to tell the standers by how a terrible apparition had presented itself to him: and by it enjoined, as he tendered his future safety, seriously and ingenuously to communicate what he had seen, and heard delivered to him in that vision, to such substantial Inhabitants of the Town, as might not only retain it in mind, and usefully make benefit of it, but impart it likewise to others of their neighbours, who were equally interested in the relation which he was charged to deliver unto them.  
To give him satisfaction, divers of the sufficientest inhabitants were sent for upon whose repair, he addressed his speech unto them in this sort, after he had raised himself a little upon his pillow.  
You may perchance, my Masters, imagine that what I am here to discover to you, proceeds from the distempers of an unsettled brain: which my late too liberal and excessive company brought me to.  
But I must tell you with a sense as recollected and clear as if it had been never distempered: that the commands, nay, and comminations too (for both these were enjoined me) shall be freely and really delivered to you, as they were with much affrightment presented me: And in them strictly commaned to return them to you.  
Know then, my friends, that there appeared to me in my sleep a vision, presented to me at the first sight in a terrible and sense-amaring posture; brandishing over my head a sword all besmered with blood: which at first I conceived to be justly unsheathed and menaced against me, for my excessive abuse of time, and those precious benefits, which with such careless and sensual freedom I had abused. This in human reason (so much at least, as society accompanied with a loathed satiety had left me) I might well apply to myself and impute to my folly: having so long time resolved, to decline what naturally I was addicted to: and to confine my lose & unbounded will, to a more temperate command of my affections: and rational obedience to a diviner Edict. This, I must confess, produced in me an unspeakable terror, in taking a serious review of my own errors: and applying the use of this fearful apparition to myself, and expecting every minute, when I should receive some menacing Lecture from it. At last, and unexpectedly as if it had been transformed to another mould, it appeared to me with a more cheerful and pleasing presence, diverting the sword which it formerly brandished over me towards your Town, expressing itself in this manner.  
You Sir, who if you timely decline not your accustomed distemper, must not expect a continued impunity to your abused liberty: If you sink thus in your lees, and retain no sense of sin nor shame, the scourge of Scorpions will at last bring your debauched course to a sense of both; sin to condemn you, shame to confound you. Reflect on yourself in these, and after these attend my charge.  
Acquaint these too secure and regardless Inhabitants of this Town where thou now remainest, and where thy late distempers have lodged thee. That their ingratitude to God and Man will shortly sharpen the edge of his revenging sword against them. His bow already is bend, his vials full of wrath ready to be poured down on them. Would they know the cause? They have been seated in the sat of the Land: A fruitful and fertile soil hath made them senseless of their condition, never fixing on him from whom they received this provision. The fullness and variety of God's benefits in their successive and seasonable Harvests have made them forgetful of the chief Master of the Family. Do they expect to receive, and never to return an acknowledgement of their homaage or service to him, to whom they stand so highly obliged? What is it which they have not received? And wherein is it that they have approved themselves thankful receivers? And what greater or larger root of evil, seeing it dries up the spring of God's mercy, imbitters the sweetest waters, by converting his blessings into curses, through this disacknowledgement of his blessings?  
The due consideration of those miseries inflicted upon others, and those their door neighbours, might induce them to recollect God's mercies to them, who though conscious of higher sins, have not as yet partaked of the like judgements. Let them but cast their compassionate eyes upon some of those near bordering or adjacent fields, divided only by an hedge or straight limit from their own, and they must necessarily acknowledge Gods inestimable mercy in exempting them from so neighbouring a misery. Have not some of their fruitfullest fields been mill-dewed? Nay, have not Caterpillars and Grasshoppers consumed their fruits; and made their Store-bouses groan through scarcity? Let them reflect a little further, and they shall hear of afflictions, nay terrible judgements, presented to their view in a more remarkable and fearful manner For were not whole Corne-fields, that promised as fair & free a crop, as the longing Husbandman could possibly expect, wholly destroyed & consumed; by some occult means which all their endeavours could never discover, till at last one of them desiring much to retreve the cause thereof, chanced to catch a Fly, large in proportion, and vast extension in its orifice, on whose wings variously and curiously speckled, were these two words indented, and by no means, they could use to be razed: IRE DEI. This memorable judgement they cannot choose but remember, and with the memory thereof, be struck in terror!  
But how were it possible, that they should show least semblance of thank fullness to him, whom they never saw, though they have amply tasted of his bounty, when they cannot retain a thought of grateful retribution to him, from whom they daily derive their livelihood & subsistence; and of whose many civilities towards them, before these distractions, they have received sufficient experience. By his means, next under God, have they lived, and in such plenteous manner, as the Farmer hath reaped more benefit than the Owner. All this while, what have they returned out of his revenues, on whom they depended, and by whose leave they inhabited, but neglect, and insupportable injuries? Now must not these indignities render heavy judgements.  
Oh what an injurious and malignant thing is man, when he gins to degenerate from himself, and unman that part in him which makes him most man? There is no creature more savage than he who should be the civilest of all creatures, when he suffereth his thoughts to play the Serpents, and creep on the earth! This their groundling dispositions have acted to life, by deserting him who gave them competences for life; and exposing himself and family to want, for their weal. Farmers contribute amply, as members of one society, to the Saints necessity, and your Landlords necessitous quality, or expect a speedy alarm of vengeance and fury to you, your family and posterity.  
Upon which words, he fell into a violent passion, crying out, in a furious and distempered manner, He comes, He comes, Have among you, The Devil, The Devil.  
At which strange alteration and uncouth passion, the standers by became much astonished and affrighted: which was increased by this occasion. It chanced, that the very same time, there was an interlude to be presented by some young men near adjoining. But this terrible burly-burly coming from the next house, where the Play was to be acted, quickly dissolved the Auditory, flocking thither, purpofely to inquire the occasion of this clamour.  
So generally dispersed grew this rumour, as it occasioned, to the ease of the Township, sundry Troopers to remove their quarters. It were to be wished, that it might produce the like effect bereafter Amongst which one of the actors who was to play the Devil's part, run amongst them for company, attired in a Devil's habit, as terrible as a Country's property or invention could make him. Upon whose entrance, those who were present in the house, calling to mind the words which had been a little before uttered: He comes, He comes, Have among you, The Devil, The Devil; without notice taken of his distemper who spoke it, or of his person or habit, who so accidentally presented it; they were so terrified with the approach of this poor Country Devil, as they run forth into the streets like so many distracted furies, ever and anon crying out, We will give all satisfaction, so the Devil will not take us. And to increase their fear, the smell of brimstone and powder, which this interlude Devil had raised with his squibs and crackers, did no less annoy them, than his whistling habit did affright them. Neither did the issue of this strangely occurring accident end thus. For a person of quality, and who by his Commissionary power and place, might inquire, and by his commands repress all inconvenient or disorderly assemblies, hearing a report hereof, took his horse, that he might be an ocular witness, and punisher too, if occasion were, of these incivilities. The Gentleman's house was not far distant from the Town, so as, crossing over Swald, a pleasant river, delightfully streaming along in those parts; he was no sooner com● to the shore, then surprised with some pannike fear, or some imaginary affright (probably derived from the apprehension of this terrible accident, for so he conceited it) he verily thought, that the horse he rid on, was surrounded with fire, endeavouring twice or thrice to quench the flame, which he supposed hung dangling in his main. In a word, he became so perplexed, and indeed wholly divided from himself, as this imaginary phanaticke fire leading him through many blind by-paths, brakes, and bushes, caused him to spend most part of that unwelcome evening in this wand'ring condition, without least knowledge of where he was, or whereto he addressed his course; till at last by a Field-keeper he was happily conducted home, since which time he hath remained in a weak and languishing manner, quite out of temper, yet insensible of his own indisposed humour. For his meager complexion and enfeebled constitution, presents him to those that formerly knew him, a mere anatomised Skelleton. Daily he groundless away and wastes all, crying out sometimes in his extremity: Oh how these Rams horns do push me; for love's sake remove them from me.  
We in these parts can do no less than wonder, that a person of such gravity and serious employment, should without any apparent motive to such distempered passions, fall into these extremes. But our best Physicians have lately given some hope of his recovery; labouring daily to extract all such vicious or corrupt humours (which as they positively and practically affirm) were destructive to his intellective parts, and the origin or source of these distempers.  
The Gentleman whom we left with a worm in his brain, and a prophetical vision in his sleep; after a good night's rest, perfectly recovered; but stands still upon justification of that vision, which he had to the inhabitants formerly related.  
Give me leave here to annex one pleasant passage, to sweeten the bitterness of the former: Aloes should have some sugar-pills to temper it. It chanced that one of this deep drenched society at an unseasonable hour indenturing it homeward, in the meeting of two ways, he might see, as he imagined, a Spirit standing directly before him in a white sheet, where recollecting his wool-gathering senses, he resolved whatsoever became of it to speak to it so as with a shuddering shrug or two, at last he thus encountered it: If thou be'st a good spirit, I know thou wilt do me no harm, for thou art of an honest sociable temper; and if thou be the Devil himself, thou hast no reason to harm me, for I married thy sister; but this white shrouded spirit turned into a white horse which freed him of fear, and lent him more courage to grapple with his fury at home.  
Now to be serious; you may expect some news touching our Northern march, and what is intended by our Brethren there: shall I ingenuously unbosom myself unto you there cannot be more different opinions amongst a College of Doctors, than we retain touching this grand intendment: some say their own interests will engage them: others that their divisions at home will detain them: some that the Cavalry of England will join with them: others, that the Scots will by no means admit them: some, that they will both join in the work, but march several ways. There was a letter lately intercepted, being directed to a constant Cavalier rending in those parts; the character was not found so obscure, but it might be rendered, the effect thereof briefly thus:  
My dearest Phil. may felicity to the accomplishment of all our wishes, accompany your glorious design of loyalty. A clear beam is ever most cheerful breaking through a cloud. A calm after a storm; our yoke hath been heavy, but it promiseth liberty; our seven year's misery, hopes for a year of Jubilee. Your march hath been long reported, now daily expected.  
Many hands and hearts go along with you; some to fight, others to pray for you: Ride on with honour, and may seasonable weather, conveniency of quarter, and all victorious success smile on your loyal endeavour. This speedy messenger will not permit me to enlarge myself any further. It is sufficient, that you know the character of  
Your real friend and servant, L. P.   

A brief Relation of our present condition in the North; upon what grounds the Cavalier party first advanced; with what hopes encouraged; what considerable places have been by them either summoned or surprised: and of what number the body of their Army consisted. With sundry other particulars of main consequence, in a Letter from a Factor to his Master lately directed.  
SIR,  
SInce your pleasure to employ me in these parts, especially for your Factory in Hull, and so occasionally to Newcastle: I have bestowed some time (whensoever your more important affairs gave way) to take some cursory observations of such principal actions or designs, as carried the face of a present undertaking here, or adjacent to these parts, where I have under your commands received employment.  
You have, without doubt, heard in a more particular relation, our passages here about Barwick. A place sometimes considerable, in respect it was not only fortified, and strongly garrisoned, but accounted an impregnable Barricado to all invasive forces, that might labour to make their entrance or incursion that way.  
But of late, the place was of no such strength; for the intended nnion and association of our two Kingdoms, had not only occasioned a remove of all such Garrisons as were there formerly continued, but translated their Ordnance too, by which the safety of that Port was preserved.  
Truth is, the Cavalier party became possessed here with great facility: Forts admit an easy surprise, where there appears no resistance: Neither could the surprise purchase any great booty by his entry: For Ammunition he could f (●nde little or none. Being a Town since remove of the Garrison and other dis-provision; accounted of an inconsiderable condition.  
It was, indeed, formerly a place of strength, both in respect of the Site naturally fortified, and those Outworks artificially contrived, but these (as I touched before) were wholly slieghted, that all appearances or prints of hostility betwixt the Scottish Nation and us, might be utterly razed, and in oblivion buried.  
Nothing is so much wondered at here, as the breaking down of the Bridge at Barwick, which bred different opinions in persons of approved judgements. For some of these gathered, and not improbably neither, how it could not possibly be expected that any forces should be raised by the Scots in defence of the Cavaliers, having so strangely obstructed their passage by that breach, being imagined rather an act to secure themselves upon their entry, by preventing the incursion of a suspected enemy. Others collected from these premises, that the demolition of this Bridge was a mere pretence to delude the opinions of such, as positively held it an apparent argument of a discorrespondence with them and the Scots. For it was not intended (as these supposed) that any occasion should proceed from hence of diverting the Scottish assistance or association with the Cavaliers; for though their passage here were obstructed, yet had they many other invasive ways, in they intended any such concurrence, & that in a more fertile and plenteous march; and in their judgements more accommodate for their purpose; concluding, that the breaking down of that Bridge, was but to make our inhabitants (such I mean as are zealous for the cause) more secure and free from fear, when the occasion was most imminent, rather than any other prevertive design.  
But shall I deliver my opinion, under favour, freely? Nor shall I only render mine own, but as it holds weight in the balance of others judgements, on whom I ingenuously depend more than mine own?  
Such be the distractions, and those so irreconciliably increasing by strength of faction, and the private interests of such powerful agents as stir in them, as their oars be so employed at home, as they cannot for the present address their designs for any employment but their own?  
Their Divines too appear in it, and have so effectually laboured to dissuade them from any such enterprise, as some of those, who at the first professed themselves most active in the pursuit of this Service, have fallen off and offered reasons of dissuasion to others upon some grounds, where with they were persuaded. So as, this Expedition, as is here reported, and by remonstrances, from persons of quality confirmed, hath lately grown cooler than was expected; whereby we may probably gather, that the security of the Cavalier, is not to receive life nor subsistence from them: howsoever he seem confident of their assistance. But affiance so politicly grounded, becomes an AegyptiM●n seed to the party deluded.  
Truth is, it is the opinion of the clearest and uninteressed judgements, that the Cavalier party must support itself, to stand or fall; and that they appeared too speedily to go on succesively.  
Sundry affections there are indeed, in every County, which rather follow the tide, by closing with the time, and that ●●●ible force which they see likeliest to prevail, than either reason or conscientious zeal. But such as these, who build their interests upon events, or approaching strength, are neither to be much feared, nor their alliance much desired, for they turn their by as to avoid rubs in the Alley; mean time, they encounter greater blocks, arising generally either through pusillanimity of spirit, or inconstancy of judgement. These that are most for those that come first, are for most part ruined by those that come last.  
We have Carlisle here likewise surprised, but a City more inconsiderable than Berwick: For it is a Town full of poverty, and inhabitants strangers to industry. They report here, that their works lately slieghted should be repaired.  
The Site of the Town is only considerable, presenting a conveniency of defence, in respect it is seated upon the marches betwixt Scotland and us; and by no means of their neighbourhood in times of peace, with many commodities furnished.  
Very lately at Kirby Zonesdale, a Market-town near adjoining to the Barony of Kendal, the Cavalier party appeared in a body consisting of 7000. under the command of Sir Thomas Glenam; but how their affections hold for that service, a very short time will discover.  
Colonel Lambert is marching speedily towards Skipton, intending as is thought, to give him battle.  
Lancashire stands in a posture of defence, holding mainly for the Presbyterian government.  
We find in these parts a great decrease of Trade; but in the composure of these distractions, we are hopeful of improvement. An account of all such particulars as your last commands lay on me, shall upon next return, be expedited by  
Your Worship's most humble servant, P. M. May 23. 1648.   

Imprimatur,  
Gilb. Mabbor.   
FINIS.