Mr. John Petrige's, NEW PROPHECY OF This present Year 1684.  
WHEREIN Are foretold the most considerable Events and Mutations in Great-Britain, France, Ireland, Holland, Germany, Italy, etc. According to the Opinion of the best Astrologers.  
THat the Superior have influence on the Inferior Bodies, no man that hath not given himself over to stupidity can deny; but that their Influence is so great that their Effects are inevitable, is more than we affirm: For to what end do we disturb and amuse the World with the unpleasant Rumours of horrid and dreadful Calamities that seem approaching, but to warn and incite men to a use of means for the preventing of severe Judgements, which otherwise will overtake them.  
We read in the Holy Scripture, that they were placed in the Heavens for Signs of Seasons, of Night and Day, Winter and Summer, etc. Now if we, besides the proper and natural meaning of the Words, do likewise use a Metaphorical Interpretation of them, to wit, that they also are for Signs of the Night or Winter of Adversity, and the Day or Summer of Prosperity; I humbly conceive, we do not thereby pervert the true meaning of the Scriptures. And though we are forbid in the Holy Scriptures to be afraid or dismayed at the Signs of Heaven, viz. To be possessed with such a Fear as is inconsistent with our confidence in God, or as disturbs us in performing the Duties we own, as Creatures, to our great Creator, or so as to become Infatuate, that through the excess of Fear we suffer our Reason to be so far Eclipsed that we cannot put it in exercise, either for our Temporal or Eternal wellbeing: Yet I do not see but we may Lawfully so far be admonished by them, as to forsake an evil course, and to deprecat that great Wrath that by our innumerable iniquities we have drawn down upon us. I hope therefore that the candid Reader will concur with me in my design in publishing this following Prediction on this present Year, in which I shall be as brief as possible.  
I shall begin my Judgement from the time that the Sun entered Capricorn; at which time the Face of the Heavens in the Meridian of London, is thus: Aquarius Nine Degrees Culminant, and Gemini 14. Ascending, the Moon 12. Degrees in Aquarius, and Mars in Sixteen: the Sun 00 Degrees in Capricorn, and Venus in 8. Degrees of Capricorn: Mercury 14 Degrees in Sagittary, and Saturn in 4 Degrees, and Jupiter in 21 Degrees of Virgo. There is not one Planet well seated in the whole Scheme; the Moon is applying to the body of Mars and square of Mercury; these two Stars govern the Brain and the Faculties thence proceeding; the Moon the substantial part, and Mercury the Actions of it. Now what may we expect, when the two Governors of Reason are Afflicted by Mars, the great Corrosive among the Stars? The effects thereof will be (according to the Opinion of most famous Astrologers) strange Rumours, effusion of Blood, and much deceit and lying. And this flows, either from the violence of the present impending Affairs; or from the effects of such pernicious and wicked Counsels that shall be contrived under the influence of this Ingress. But this is further aggravated, if we consider the part of the Heaven where it falls, whether Ecliptically or Mundanely; for the Elliptical place of this Conjunction is directly opposite to the place of the last Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter in Leo: this doth greatly increase its Malignity; but Mundanely, it happens in this Figure and Meridian too, in the tenth House, the Angle of Honour.  
The great Masters of this Science do agree, that the Moon in Conjunction with Mars, threatens Mankind with all kinds of Calamities that belong to Mars; and as they are so near Mid heaven, it shows its expedition, and that what depends on this Ingress, will shortly appear.  
In the beginning of this Year we meet with an opposition of Saturn and Mars in cold Signs, Virgo and Pisces, after which follows an Eclipse of the Sun, which has a very bad influence. That Epidemic Distemper of Itching after Novelties, will be no less common now, than it hath been these several Years past. Saturn and Jupiter being got into Virgo, and Saturn being there in Reception with Mercury, things will be Managed with great Secrecy and Policy. And the former Opposition in a little time will discover itself in making strange Divisions among the people; and to see one impeaching another will be no matter of Admiration. Also not a few shall pay their last debts to Nature.  
Saturn by his Retrograde motion returns into Leo, at which time many Pamphlets are dispersed, for which the Authors and Printers are called to answer. Sol opposes the 2 Superiors. Many forsake honest Callings and turn Highwaymen: The Popish Priests bestir their stumps, for their God is like to be taken away from them. The Turk is busy in his Neighbour Countries, and many shortly may taste his Mercy. Mercury is opposed again by Jupiter. Old Sores begin to pain. The City is uneasy, and the Country little better. The Trine of Jupiter and Venus may give some ease, but heals not the Wound. Mercury's weakness occasions decay of Trade. Satur's Square to Venus will make Women wear Tears on their Faces instead of Pearl. The Effects of the Comet 1680. will I fear ere long be discovered. God preserve the Life and Health of all our great Ones, and our City from Contagious Distempers. The Square of Sol and Saturn denotes Fears, Anxieties and Imprisonment to great Ones, and that Rulers and Magistrates will fall out among themselves; and the Conjunction of Mars and Mercury fills the Nation with Thiefs, and I fear the time is at hand, when no body can call any thing their own save Tribulation and Affliction.  
The Conjunction of the Sun and Mars will have a strange Effect in some Countries in Europe, and some Prince perhaps East from England finds it true. Let them therefore be wise betimes. Some Moneyed Men shall suffer loss, and that from the breaking of some great Banker or Bankers, in or about the City of London; some Clergy men may be frowned upon by his Prince, and several belonging to the Law turned out.  
The Eclipse of the Sun Jul. the 3d. is very considerable. It's happening in the 9th. and 8th. Houses, and Mars the principal Lord thereof, showeth Wars, Seditions, Captivities, Imprisonments, popular Tumults, displeasure of Princes; also Death and detriment in men's Bodies, burning Fevers, and Violent Deaths, chief of young Men; in our Lives, Violences, Injuries, Burning of Houses, and Towns, Manslaughter, Rapes and Robberies; In the Air, Pestilence and Contagious Winds, Flashing Lightnings, and Whirlwinds, according to Ptolemies Opinion. The same Author says, that its happening in a Tropic, signifies mutation of Air, and in public Matters, a change of Laws and Customs; and that an Eclipse in Cancer brings damnage to the Fruits of the Earth and Sea affairs.  
Saturn threatens to give some Persons of Honour their Exit. The position of Mars and Mercury denote some Sea Fights, or Piratical Invasions, many great Robberies, with many other Adversities. Venus produceth alterations in Ceremonies, Religion, Institutions, and Laws. Orig. 460.  
In a word, this Eclipse considered with that Jan. 1683. the great Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter, 1683. and the Commit in 1680. threaten the Overthrow of the Roman Hierarchy, if Authors may be credited. Y●t many other places besides are concerned more or less;; as Armenia, Constantinople, Damascus, Cesena, Bramberg, Bohemia, Brabant, Corduba, the West, and South-west of England, Flanders, Holland, Hircadia, London, Louvain, Italy, Metz, Norimberg, Scotland, Turkey, Sicily, etc. The events will begin to work from the first hour, but will be more apparent the Year following, and will continue for several Years. I will conclude what I say on this Eclipse with the predictions Cyprian Leovitius. O ye Kings, and Princes, that are exalted either to Secular or Spiritual Dignities, many Evils seem to threaten you, for dissensions shall arise among you, which shall occasion Wars, Dangers and Mutations, whence the common People will be discontented, and will be easily stirred up to Conspiracies and Factions, etc. Certainly some things of great concernment will in few Years be brought about. Few Princes in Europe but will more or less be liable to the effects thereof.  
The next considerable. Appearance this Year is the Conjunction of Saturn and Mars, in the beginning of October, in 13. Degrees of Virgo, the House and Dignities of Mercury, which I shall a little unfold; for the more happy performance of which, I shall consider the Lunation preceding. First then, know that Saturn is really peregrine, and therefore the more malevolent; Mars is out of all Dignities of his own, but in Sextile, and Reception with Mercury; so that Mars must be allowed some fortitude, though not much, yet enough to exceed Saturn.  
At the preventional new Moon we shall find all the Planets under the Earth, and Saturn and Mars in the fifth House with Venus, which if well considered is a strange Heterogeneous Mixture, just like an old decrepit Usurer, a bold true bred Soldier, and a Luxurious Wench. But what the effects may be let us Consider.  
Haly says; When Mars shall be joined to Saturn in a humane Sign, it gives Strife, Deceit, Fight, Effusion of Blood, and that the King of that Country subject to the sign of the Conjunction, shall be troubled and suffer Loss and Labour from his Neighbours or Subjects. Morinus says, That the Conjunction of Saturn and Mars gives Corruption of the Air, Plague, War, etc. And to this purpose also Albumassar says; That there shall be Difference and Wars, in many places. So that all Authors agree, that this Conjunction can presage nothing but Evil to Mankind. But because Authors in this are only general, I shall particularly give you my Judgement of it.  
In the Figure we find Gemini ascending, and Mercury Lord of the Ascendant in Scorpio, a fixed violent Sign, and all the seven Planets in the Fifth and Sixth Houses of Heaven, and under the Earth. This shows some great Meeting or Council convened to consult about the affairs of Nations; the design is considerable as well as Politic, for it is in the House of Mercury, and his greatest Dignities too. The occasion of this Consultation is by reason of some defeat either in Council or Arms some few weeks before this Conjunction; and it is so general, that the whole Faction both Men and Women are engaged both for Council and Action: but Debauchery will either prevent or Corrupt the Enterprise designed: it is for some undertaking to confederate in Arms or some other hostile Combination, in which several are Solicited to be engaged, as we may see by so many in the fifth House, which signifies Ambassadors, Agents, Messengers,, and such like Servants, to a Prince or State, these are sent to engage some Prince or Princes into a League and Alliance, or to Treat or Negotiate about a Peace, &c  
In the close of this Year some Countries are threatened with persecution for Religion, and that pretty sharp too: The old Adversary of man's Happiness will not cease to stir up the Wicked against the Just: and this is like to happen in some places in France, and it is to be feared many will be forced into other Countries for Conscience sake: the great Whore will never be weary of her Cruelties till the last Vials are poured out upon her, when the joyful tidings shall come abroad, that, BABYLON THE GREAT IS FALLEN, IS FALLEN; Which all good Christians earnestly long for, and which we hope ere long shall come to pass.  
To conclude, we have reason to fear this Year may prove more Calamitous the most we have yet seen, there being scare any Affliction incident to men, which we are not more or less threatened with: But yet, as I said before, these Judgements may be averted (if we be not obstinate) by our Repentance and Amendment of our Lives. Let us not therefore any more be active in drawing down Judgements upon ourselves, but let us admire infinite Mercy that hath spared us so long and that shows how unwilling he is to destroy us by his placing his Signs in the Heavens for our Admonition; let us deprecate that great wrath we have incensed, by our continual Addresses to the Throne of Grace; let us fear God, obey the King, and live in Peace, and Union together; which if we do, we need not fear (notwithstanding the greatness of our Sins, or Malice of our Enemies, or the Signs of Heaven) but we shall yet dwell safely every man under his Vine, and under his Figtree.   

Entered according to Order.   

Edinburgh, reprinted by the Heir of Andrew Anderson, Printer to His most Sacred Majesty. Anno 1684.