Mercurius Coelicus: OR, A CAVEAT To all people of the kingdom, That now have, or shall hereafter happen to read the counterfeit, and most pernicious Pamphlet written under the name of NAWORTH: OR, A New almanac, AND Prognostication For the year of our Lord and Saviour Jesus CHRIST 1644. (Said in the Title Page thereof to be) Printed at Oxford by His majesty's Command.  
London, Printed by J. Raworth, for John Partridge.   

Mercurius Coelicus, OR A Caveat to all the People, &c.  
I Suppose you are all furnished with 
a Yours have furnished but a few this year.  almanacs and Prognostications for this whole year ensuing, before this time; At leastwise, I hope you will not bestow your money on so lying a Pamphlet, or spend your time so vainly in reading so notorious untruths as this counterfeit 
b Spell my name, and confess your Ignorance.  Naworth would fain persuade you to believe. As for the chronological part thereof, which he styles thus, With a brief Chronology of the most remarkable Occurrences since the beginning of this Rebellion: Calculated exactly for the Latitude and Meridian of the famous university and City of Oxford; I must entreat you to believe me; for the very 
c London Truth, whereto you had need beg assent.  truth is. All that Infamous Chronology is nothing else but a Collection of untruths, raked out of the Dunghill of Mercurius Aulicus his abominable lying Legend; which, like the Infections Disease now raging at Oxford, and other the Western parts of the kingdom, had like to have poisoned all the people thereof, had not his Anti-Mercury, our friend Britannicus, seasonably given them an Antidote to purge and cure the melancholy gotten by that malignant Aulicus. I believe he hath calculated it exactly for the Meridian of Oxford; for it can serve no other place of the kingdom: The 
e Yes they daily tell you (in plain English) you are Rebels and Traitors to His Majesty.  people there, dare not speak truth; And how then, think you, dare they write? His reckoning up of (Feigned) Victories at this and that place, are all false Calculations: Methinks the very 
f You mistake. The sight of them could not.  thought of Keynton, Edge-hill, or Newbury, should strike him dead. I could tell him of 
g Reckon up you gains, and spare your Thanksgivings.  Alton, Gainsborough, Arundel, &c. If 
Nay I'll try if you can do that, you have seen the way.  he would but tell us of their (our enemies) true Losses, as well as of their feigned 
i Victories are ours, Fictions yours.  Victories, in which (to their perpetual shame) they so much boast, the kingdom would be more sensible of the blood that 
k They at Westminster.  they have caused to be spilled, & unanimously rise to suppress their cruel Tyranny, 
l Remember your purchase of Eccleshall-Castle, and Arundel. 'Tis easier with you to purchase, then conquer.  their bloody and inhuman cruelties. How dares he write of Victories? If ever they (for whom that almanac was calculated) got any, it was by Treachery. As for the word rebel he so often mentions in that lying Chronology, surely (if I be not mistaken in my Figure (which I seldom do) he means himself, and those that live in that climate where he calculated his Erra-Pater (for he is of very near kindred to 
m Now you honour me.  Mercurius Aulicus, who is the son of Pater Errorum) together with those inhuman bloody 
n Those that your pretended ●ouses sent over to suppress the Rebellion there, (whilst themselves had raised a worse here) are now returned to secure His Majesty from their more Bloody hands.  Irish rebels, who before and since the Cessation in that unhappy kingdom of Ireland, are come over, and joined with the atheistical and papistical people of that, this, and other Kingdoms, To destroy the King and Parliament, subvert our Religion, laws, and Liberties; To bring in Tyranny, Slavery, Popery, and all the misery that ever this Nation suffered: Surely, if ever there were Rebels these are they, Of the off spring of Cain, very Cannibals: I have gotten these base words by reading of him; And therefore, lest I be infected with this Oxford-Malady, I send him his 
o It seems they have wrought, For since you took my Dose, you have vomited filthy● Humours. I hope e'er long to cure you.  words again, which he shall never claw off till he amend his Calculation and beg 
p I need none, if I did▪ it might be drawn at London, but must be sealed at Oxford.  pardon of the King and Parliament for his so grossly abusing them, and endeavouring to seduce the whole kingdom; But, I doubt, A great seal, which he says (Falsely) is at Oxford will do them little good: And for the other the Great seal, which 
q Yes truly, the King and His Chancellor be at London, by the Statute of Articuli super Chartas An 28. E. 1. Ch. 5 But as they are both here, and you have counterfeited another seal there Read at leisure (and for your comfort) that other Statute. An. 25. E. 3.  truly is here, I hope the Parliament will make such use of it, that all those whom I named before (rebels) shall, ere long, receive their just reward. Reader, believe it, There was never so many lies heaped together in so short and few lines, since the word almanac was used  
But stay Master G. N. I have not done with you yet, in your astronomical Observations. If you be the same Naworth of West Aukland, that wrote an almanac for the years 1641. and 1642. and referred it to the Latitude of Durham, I honour you, and now give you thanks for your Remembrance (in one of them I then saw before it was printed) of some Observations I made upon the Eclipse of the Sun in May, 1639. which you had published to the whole world, had not some of the Bishops chaplains, Baker, Bray, Wikes, Heywood, or some of their fellows, made an Index Expugatorius thereof, as they usually did in my almanacs. But me thinks you should not be he that then wrote; for in the year 1642. you understood yourself very well when in that years Revolution, and the Effects of the two Eclipses of the Moon, you said thus (for I will use your own 
r You do well in rehearsing of them: For they deeply concern your Pretended 2. Houses, and City: as being the Authors of all the Miseries therein meant, and since verified.  words) Mixing the Effects of the Eclipses with the Lunateous, & other powerful Aspects which the ambassadors of Heaven pronounce unto us, The Conjunction of Jupiter & Mars, the 15 of May, And of Saturn and Mars the 30; we cannot clear ourselves in general or particular of many strange Accidents, (which will amaze and distract divers;) for the Moon is (at the middle of either Eclipse) in the eighth House of the Heavens, in domo mortis, &c. Mars is Almuten, or chief Ruler at the first Eclipse of the Moon; And Mercury of the second; And both of them in Signis humanis: If therefore we escape sharp tertian fevers, War, Famine, Pestilence, House-breakings, Rapes, Depopulations, manslaughters, secret Sediditions, Banishments, Imprisonments, violent and unexpected deaths, Robberies, Thefts, and pyratical Invasions; If also libelers, and Distempered Letters be forestalled and intercepted. Let the Glory be to God, For when villainy is unmasked, virtue shineth: busy tongues, and variable Rumours will seduce or induce many; but nothing for their good, &c. Thus far are your own words: And now, Master Naworth, let me entreat you to remember what I mentioned at that Conjunction of Mars and Jupiter the same 15 of May you speak of, 1642, in these words, Praefectos bellorum cautos hic esse decebit, quod Res ipsa loquetur. About which time the illegal Commission of Array was put in execution; And at, or near the same time, the Militia of the kingdom was settled by the happy council and Advice of this 
s For 1. Murder: 2. Sacrilege & 3. Robbery, &c.  Thrice honoured (never to be forgotten) Parliament: As likewise that other Conjunction of Saturn and Mars in the end of May, where I used these words, Circa hoc Tempus Bellica Stratagemata audientur: Just at that time when Hull was sorely threatened; but (blessed be God) it is yet, and I hope will be kept out of the enemy's possession. Though there hath been used much Art and subtlety for the betraying thereof, to, and by them, to whose Care and Trust it was then committed; In due time 
t You mean the two Hotham's. First, hang them for being Traitors to His Majesty, and then do what you please with them for their Treachery to you.  they will be dealt with as they deserve. You may please to remember the 23 of October 1641 (which with you 1642 is called. The grand Rebellion) It is very true, the 23 of October, 1641, The unparalleled Grand Rebellion of Ireland burst forth, for which God punished you that very day twelvemonth, over against which very day and time in my almanac for that year 1642, I had noted thus much upon the Opposition of the Sun and Mars, Ventorum murmura generabit aura inquieta, Caedes quoque cruentae & lites atrae hinc inde per●rebescent. That very time you lost so much Noble Blood you speak of; And were so soundly beaten between 
u You made them 2 Battles when you spoke of your Victories. P. 2. lin. 2.  Keinton and Edge hill, by the truly Valiant Robert Earl of Essex, The Parltaments Lord general, &c.  
You'll say, It was pretty well guessed, Good wits may 
x from off a Ladder yours may.  jump, I do not love to rub the galled Horse back, you know my meaning (as well there, as in many other places of my almanac) well enough; But you are turned Court-parasite, you, and I must part kindred; Yet methinks we should agree about the Effects of the last Great Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter, which happened on the 
y Origanus tells you the 20.  sixteenth of February the last year: You calculate 
z Had you done it rightly forwards, you had saved me that Labour.  Backwards, of things done, and past: I tell you of what's to come (which is the true end of almanacs) Hath the small difference of latitude between Oxford and Durham, so much altered you? Sure you came by Sea, for fear the Scots should 
† Look to your Money, they'● first catch that.  catch you, Et sic Animum mutâsti: I must tell you in that Great conjunction. If I 
a I can prove you do neither.  understand my Authors, or myself, Jupiter was predominant, as you say about (Malignant) Saturn (a name properly given to yourself, and your friends.) And no doubt as Messahala an Author, I know as well as yourself, who sayeth, Cum Iupiter fortior fuerit Saturno, significabit bonum in eadem Conjunctione (as in this Conjunction he is) 
b Remember your Title pag.  I agree with you, and that it portends much good to England, and all other the places you speak off; But England, and all other those places, &c. must first be 
c His Majesty intends it no doubt:  purged of the Malignant humours, before the benign & wholesome can come in their stead. I told you what Alsted had foretold many years since upon that Great Conjunction, I laid it was a forerunner of a 
d I told you so too, in my Prognostication for this year P. ult. l. n. 16.  through Reformation; And he said Hujus Conjunctionis Ignis consumet omnes scorias & Faeces Vrbis Romae; you see since that Conjunction what Effects it hath wrought; Remember 
e Did Alsted tell you of the demolishing of cheap-side-cross?  Cheapside-cross, Anno Dom. 1643. On that day you call Inventio Crucis; And let me tell you what was done the eighteenth day of January, this very year, upon that very place, where Cheapside-cross once stood, There was many Idolatrous and Superstitious Pictures, and Images, Crucifixes, Crosses, Popish books, Whips, and other your roman-archi-episco-papistical Trinkets● in a flame; The Witnesses (besides many thousand other People) were no less than the Parliament, The Honourable the Lords and Commons, the Lord general, the Lord admiral, with many other Colonels and Commanders, the Reverend Assembly of Divines, the Scotch Commissioners, the Lord Maior, Aldermen, and common-council of London, passing from 
f Those that founded that Church and dedicated it to Christ, thought not of demolishing the cross.  Christ Church, to Merchant tailor's Hall, guarded by the Regiments of the Trained Bands of London; I say, That day many Popish relics were consumed to ashes, which (no doubt, though it will 
g In earnest I tell you the Pope's glad of it, and will be a gainer by it.  displease the Pope; yea, and your Friends at Oxford, and elsewhere), It will be acceptable to God, and all good men; Such a sight and day, you had not at 
h They are better taught and implored there, then to pull down Crosses, deface Churches, or to rake amongst the ashes of the dead for Treasure, as many of your Hellish crew have done.  Oxford, nor ever was there such a day, since Inventio Crucis; you see now to what height the 
i That fire hath been long a coming to Oxford, (yea, before that Conjunction happened) yet came never nigher than Tame.  fire of this Conjunction flames, it is coming to Oxford very shortly; you had best shift for yourself, For believe it, the universities must be 
k That's done already. We have not a Rogue (like yourself) left (that dare show his head) in a● the city.  purged, you see what a necessary Element fire is, newcastle-coal is coming; you would fain persuade and seduce the people to believe that this Conjunction, which Authors call Conjunctio Planetarum maxima, quip 
l Let Latin alone, you see you cannot spell it.  qua reguntur leges Imperia Regiones, and that it doth Praemonstrare res magnas & mirandas venturas in mundo, yet you say it hath no signification of war; I think it had not of this war which you and your friends (our Enemies) at Oxford) have raised; For there was many years before, strange terrestrial, Ecccesiasticall, political Conjunctions, Conspiracies, Confederacies, I know not what to call them; you know Causa praecedit effectum, and who were the Planets that ruled in those times, and what a Malignant Influence they had over this kingdom, Ireland, Scotland, &c. And what they have producced from other foreign States; But I must tell you again, That this late celestial Conjunction hath got the predominancy, & all the Christian World will feel the effects thereof, more & more every day. Shall I tell you what I think of that Great Conjunction you speak of, which was at Westminster the third of November 1640. The which God be blessed 
m They cannot continue long: They are in a Cadent House already, you know the term.  continues yet; though some Stars of the first Magnitude have fallen since, & others have proved Errant indeed, yea, & though the terrestrial Moon hath 
n sirrah, Meddle not with Eclipses: You want arithmetic, Geometry, and the optic. The terrestrial Moon, (by which you mean the Qu. Majesty) she is as much above your malice as your slanders.  Eclipsed our Sun, for as Solest Rex Planetarum, so Rex est Sol Parliamenti) & other Stars, Stellae peregrina, nebulosae have mixed their Beams, & deprived us of the sweet & ordinary Benefit we use to receive by His presence: yet it will check your Opposition at Oxford, that I hope the kingdom shall not be hurt one jot by the Malignant Influence thereof; I mean your Anti-Parliament there, will prove a mere Meteor, an Ignis Fatuus, A nothing. And though you may there force Votes to murder the King's Liege People; Commit Perjuries, profane the Sabbath, Assemble all the false Priests, Papists, Atheists, and Jesuites, in the kingdom; Keep the King from coming to His Parliament; Yet I trust that conjunction which was in Novemb. at Westminster, co operating with that other of February, will work a Through Reformation indeed, throughout this realm, by a timely purging it, of all Atheists, Papists, Jesuites, Bloody Irish Rebels, and others, the enemies of God, and true Religion; and bring the Authors of this bloody War they have raised, to condign punishment. And as the stars of Heaven in their Courses fought against Sisera, so no question, But these Stars at Westminster (where that more notable and more greater Conjunction was, you speak of) though they have a sharp combat with cruel Enemies, they shall have a Noble and Glorious Victory.  
As for that Homo trium Literarum, which I bid the kingdom beware of, if you have not Erasmus his Adages, you may please to search in some of the colleges (if the Books be not pawned) be sure you may have it in Bodley's Library; and therein in his Title De contemptu & Vilitate, you shall find these words. Homo trium Literarum; Per Ironiam dici potest in eum qui generosus ac ingenuosus Videri cupiat, Inde natum, quod olim ingenui nomen, praenomen, & Agnomen in literis aut Insignibus suis tribus literis notare soleant; Vt pro Quinto Valerio Maximo. Q V M. Plautus in Aulularia jocum aliò detersit, nempe in servum Furacem, Subjicit enim: F V R trifurcifer: In this sense I understood it, And thereby meant your Cavaliers would turn thieves and Robbers, as you may easily understand, by the residue which follows my Premonition; But because you have corrupted the Text, (as you use to do) and have construed Homo trium Literarum, to be 
o You are used to lie, I construed it to be Say or Pym.  Rex; I shall heartily desire, and pray God, That His majesty would not harken any longer to you at Oxford, but return to 
p Nathaniel Fiennes ha●h another exposition.  His Parliament at London; and than that place of Scripture you mention as a Donation to him (at the end of your Legend in December) will be performed; But till that be done, I shall tell you of an (Ablation) another place of Scripture, Proverbs 25. 5. Take away the wicked from before the King, and his Throne shall be established in righteousness. I say, till this be done, I do not foresee that honourable Greeting, which you say, Paulus Jovius saluted Charles the Great with, will happen this Revolution to our King Charles. And therefore Master G. N. because you and your friend Aulicus may not any longer abuse the kingdom; you by your lying almanac, and he by his lying Pamphlet. I will give you both one Character; you shall find it in the same Erasmus, a little before Homo trium Literarum, your Companion Homo Trioboli, pro Homine nequissimo, planeque nullius pretii: The English whereof, is truly your name, No worth, or a Man worth nothing. And so I wish you leave calculating for Oxford, and return to Durham, where the 
q Durham with its Neighbours will make the Scots return.  Scots are approaching; and upon your submission, they may happily remit you your errors; But believe me, if they 
r 'Twere good you were as well resolved as we are.  take You, & Aulicus together at Oxford, you cannot receive the Benefit of the Seal, you say is there; For the truth is, you are both impardonable.  
John Booker. 24 January. 1643-44