Vox Infantis. OR, THE PROPHETICAL CHILD.  
Being a true Relation of an Infant that was found in a Field, near Lempster, in Herefordshire, July 16. 1649.  
That did Declare and Foretell of many Strange things that Shall ensue in England and Ireland, within the space of three years.  
Concerning the Crowning of CHARLES the second King of England, Scotland, and Ireland; His great Victories, with the Destruction of this present Parliament and Army; and many other passages touching the Death of our late King.  
This Relation is Attested to be True, as appears by the hands of several Witnesses annexed to the Book.  
Aug: 2 d. 1649  
LONDON, Printed in the year 1649.   

STRANGE NEWS OUT OF Hereford-shire.  
THE works of the Lord are wonderful! And the Heavens declare his handy work: Before the day of Judgement Signs shall appear in the Firmament, and Wonders upon the face of the Earth; Nation shall rise against Nation, and Kingdom against Kingdom, there shall be Famines Pestilences and Earthquakes in divers places: False Prophets shall arise, Rebellion, Murder and Desolation in all places; Factions, Schisms and Heresies in the Church; and Distractions, Fears and Oppressions in the Commonwealth. Are not all these Judgements fallen upon us? For the national Sins of this Kingdom are these things come to pass? Who looks upon these bloody and unnatural Wars which have continued the space of seven years amongst us? Where the most flourishing Kingdom in the Christian World, is now become the Theatre of Misery, and a Spectacle of Lamentation; where Brother hath slain his Brother, and the Son hath not spared to sheathe his Sword in the Bowels of his Father, England! the Glory of Europe, is now become the Scene or Stage of Rebellion, Blood and Murder. A Den of Vipers. A Cage of Uncleanness; and a Nursery of all Sects and Schisms. The Subjects of the most virtuous Prince that ever swayed the Sceptre in this Kingdom, have made it no Sin or Gild to Sacrifice the Blood of their Sovereign to their ambitious Fury.  
How many forerunners of these our Calamities and Sorrows have been heretofore Declared and Predicted, to forewarn us of the Evils to come; but we have rejected and contemned them as Erroneous and Ridiculous, but our sufferings have made us sensible what our Sin and security hath brought upon us.  
I shall, for your better information, particularise some of the most remarkable Miracles and Wonders that have appeared in these latter times.  
As for instance; At Bradford, in Yorkshire, in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred forty eight, there appeared in the Air the visions of two several Armies, in Battalions skirmishing one against another, with Colours flying, the sound of Drums were perfectly heard, and the noise of Musquett-Reports, which continued the space of three hours; to the admiration of many hundreds that were Spectators, and shortly after it vanished.  
Again, near Skipton in the same County, not fare from Denton (where the Ld. General FAIRFAX was born) in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred forty nine, it rained blood, of which myself was an Eyewitness, in the company of many more.  
In the same year (at six of the clock in the morning) being in June, two Sons appeared, and continued visible the space of two hours.  
What inordinate Thunders, Tempests and Earthquakes hath been of late years; great and impetuous Winds, and stormy weather, losses at Sea, with great Inundations on the Land.  
At Dublin in Ireland, in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred forty, Another wonderful sight in the Sky, where thousands of Birds, called Starlings, did meet near the City, like two Armies, and fought; until many were killed, and fell in great multitudes on the Earth.  
The like was near Scarborough, not fare from Rippon in Yorkshire, in the year one thousand six hundred forty four, where thousands of Crows, called Rooks, did meet and fight in two bodies, until an innumerable company were killed and fell upon the ground.  
In Norfolk, in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred forty five, a Child was borne, who presently spoke some certain things that should ensue in these times, and lived not above two hours.  
In Buckingham-shire in the year one thou●sand six hundred forty nine; A Child was borne (near Alsbury) that declared some strange passages, which should happen in this Kingdom, and lived not above three days, but died.  
But I shall forbear to mention any more in this Nature (because I would not seem tedious to the Reader:) And now to the Relation of this strange and miraculous Wonder I promised you, which is Attested by many sufficient eye Witnesses there present, that will aver and manifest this Relation for a Truth, against the incredulous and unbelieving times.  
On Monday July the sixteenth, one thousand six hundred forty nine, near Lempster in Hereford-shire (hard by a Village called the Hope, not fare from Corfe-Castle) Certain Workmen or Mowers, that went to cut down Grass or Hay, in a very large and spacious Field containing above threescore Acres, and being at their laborious Work (betwixt the hours often and eleven) they heard the Crying of an Infant or a young Child, which they imagined to be in the middle of the Field; but pausing a little while with giving attention to it, not without admiration; they concluded unanimously, or all of them, to go to the place from whence they heard the Voice; and coming to the place in the middle of the Grass or Field, they found a young Child, which was wraped up in Swaddling Clouts, and to their Judgements appeared not to be above a quarter of a year old: standing thus amazed with their eyes fixed upon the Child, at last resolved to take it up, and to make some of the chief of the Town acquainted with this Accident. But one of the Mowers or labouring Men (having never a Child at all, replied he would take it home as his own, the rest of them having made it known to the Town, the Child was brought to a house, where the Inhabitants round about flocked together to see this Child; after every one's Censure was passed upon this Infant, they provided some sustenance for it, suspecting it was hungry, which was Milk and Flower boiled in it (which that Country calleth Pap;) the Child eating very hearty of it, and being therewith satisfied, begun to speak to all the People there present, and told them that it was the best meat he did ever eat, which Miracle in an Infant so young, bred admiration and astonishment in all the Spectators.  
This Child told them further, That the Wars of England should continue three years longer, and that Charles a young King, whose Father was put to death by seventeen of his Subjects that Conspired his death long before, who for Acting such a bloody Tragedy shall come to untimely ends, not any of them shall die in their Beds; saying also, that Innocent Blood calls for vengeance; and that which they spilt in the first Month, shall in the same Month prove their destruction, and His Son be restored to the Crown of England.  
Again, this Child further related; that the Kingdom of Ireland shall Proclaim him King of His Father's Realms; and be the landing place from all his Troubles and Exile: and after that, he shall Conquer England again, and shall destroy his and his Father's Enemies, and be a great and Powerful Prince: Then shall this Land Flourish again: And in that Field where he was found shall be a great and Bloody Battle fought, greater than any yet hath been in this Kingdom, where the young King, CHARLES, the Second of that name, shall get the day, and win the Field.  
The People and Inhabitants thereabouts, hearing these say, proceeding from an Infant, were struck into great amazement, and after the Child had done speaking, they resolved how to provide for him; but he Answered again, take no care for Me; and withal desired they would carry Him to the place where they found Him, which, according as he Commanded them, they did: And being brought to the place they laid him down, he thanked them, and wished them all to love one another, and relieve the oppressed, and secure the fatherless and the widow, fear God and he will bless your Labour, be no time-servers, meddle not with them that are given to change; observe these say, your reward shall be in Heaven: My time is set; I have no more to say, but now shall leave you. Uttering these words, Glory be to God on high, peace on earth etc. and so vanished away.  
Some of the Inhabitants do believe it to be an Angel sent from Heaven; some are of opinion, that it was a Child newly borne, and left there by the Mother, unto whom God gave Power and Strength to reveal his Will; but it hath left a deep Impression in the hearts of some of them. This Copy was taken by one that was both an eye and ear witness of these say and predictions, which this Infant revealed to all. His time of abode and continuance with us was about three hours.  
This Relation was Communicated from George Colly of Hope near Lempster, to a friend in London to be published in Print, desiring three hundred Copies to be sent him to bestow upon friends.  
The Witnesses that attest this Relation to be Truth in every Particular; are, 

Sampson Jones Gent.  
Henry Shipman,  
Richard Williams,  
John 〈◊〉     

The young King, from King of Great-brittanny, is honoured (where-ere he comes▪) as if he were Emperor of Christendom, and not a King of three Kingdoms; and happy is that Prince can first dispatch Ambassadors to him with Presents, and overtures of assisting him with men and money to recover his Right; The King of France hath not a little outdone the rest, by free offering him 10000 French, and to pay them two years, besides 10000 pounds in Money; the Duke of Orleans, Normandy, and Prince of C●ndy 50000 pounds; the King of Denmark 10000 Men, and 10000 pound; the Queen of Swethland 10000 Men, and 20000 pounds; the States of Holland 50 Ships ready Man'd and Victualled for a year; the King of Poland 5000 Men, and pay for them for three years; the King of Spain 10000 pistolets, etc. What a shame it is for Englishmen, that they should have no more love or natural Affection to their Native Prince, and rightful Sovereign, but to expose him to the Courtesy of Strangers, whilst they stand adoring two or three Golden Calves of their own making!  
Noll is gone from Bristol towards Milford Haven, and there sticks till 100000 pounds be sent him: Beer is but now a brewing to Balance his Ships: The Party of Levellers have a New Design a foot; but that Harry Martin is loath to leave his beloved Mistress Bettee in Coven-Garden, his Worship's sinner.  
Marquis Ormond hath taken Ringsend, the Chief Fort that Commands all the River between Dublin and the Sea; and likewise the Block-house on the other side, and gained part of Dublin College, that lies so low, that the Castle has no power over it: they have in readiness Petards, Morter-pieces, Great Ordnance to batter, Sealling Ladders, Faggots and Ropes, and could take the City at pleasure; but not without store of bloodshed, as well of their Friends, as others in the City: Jones hath betaken himself to the Castle, and is upon Articles of Treaty for the Surrender; for the Famine is as bad, or worse, in this little time, then at Colechester; for Jones hath heaped up for himself in the Castle, and exposed the rest to starving, which makes him generally Cursed: It is Reported that Hunks, Venables, Mores, and Reynolds Regiments coming into Dublin River, not thinking those Forts were taken, and thinking to Land; are most cut off by Ordnance from the Forts; and Cromwel's Son a Captain▪ is cut to pieces.  
FINIS.