THat there be Good and Evil Days and Times, not onely the Sa­cred Scriptures, but prophane Authors mention: See 1 Sam. 25. 8. Esther 8. 17. and 9. 19, 22. Ecclus 14. 14.

The Fourteenth day of the First Month was a memorable and blessed day amongst the Children of Israel: See Exod. 12. 18, 40, 41, 42, 51. and 13. 4. Levit. 23. 5. Numb. 28. 16. Four hundred and thirty years being expired of their dwelling in Egypt, even in the self-same day de­parted they thence.

A thing somewhat parallel to this, we read in the Roman Histories; That that very day four years that the Civil Wars were begun by Pompey the Father, Caesar made an end of them with his Sons; Cneus Pompeius being then slain, and it being also the last Battel Caesar was ever in. Heylyn in the Kingdom of Corduba.] The Calendar to Ovid's Fastorum says, Aprilis erat mensis Graecis auspicatissimus, a most auspicious Month to the Graecians.

As to Evil Days and Times, see Amos 5. 13. and 6. 3. Eccles. 9. 12. Plalm 37. 19. Obad. 12. Jer. 46. 21. And Job hints it, in cursing his Birth-day, cap. 3. v. 1. to 11. See Weaver, p. 458.

Horace, lib. 2. Ode 13. cursing the Tree that had like to have fallen upon him, says, Ille nefasto te posuit die; intimating, that it was planted in an un­luckie day.

The Romans counted Febr. 13. an unlucky day, and therefore then never attempted any Business of Importance; for on that day they were overthrown at Allia by the Gauls; and the Fabii, attaquing the City of the Veii, were all slain save one. Heylyn speaking of St. Peters Patrimony.] And see the Calendar annext to Ovid's Fastorum, as to the last Circumstance.

[Page 2] The Jews counted August 10. an unfortunate day; for on That the Temple was destroyed by Titus the Son of Vespasian; on which day also the first Tem­ple was consumed with Fire by Nebuchadnezzar. Heylyn.] The Treasury of the Times says, the Eighth of Loyon ( August) the very same day 679 years one after another.

And not onely among the Romans and Jews, but also among Christians, a like Custom of observing such days is used, especially Childermas or Innocents day. Comines tells us, That Lewis XI. used not to debate any Matter, but ac­counted it a sign of great Misfortune towards him, if any man communed with him of his Affairs; and would be very angry with those about him, if they troubled him in any Matter whatsoever upon this day.

But I will descend to more particular Instances of Lucky and Unlucky Days.

Upon the Sixth of April, Alexander the Great was born: Upon the same day he conquered Darius, won a great Victory at Sea, and died the same day.

Neither was this day less fortunate to his Father Philip; for on the same he took Potidea; Parmenio his General gave a great Overthrow to the Illyrians; and his Horse was Victor at the Olympick Games. Therefore his Prophets fore­told to him, Filium cujus natalis, &c. That a Son whose Birth-day was ac­companied with Three Victories, should prove Invincible. Pezelius in Melli­ficio Historico.

Upon the Thirtieth of September, Pompey the Great was born: Upon that day he he Triumphed for his Asian Conquest; and on that day died.

The Nineteenth of August was the day of Augustus his Adoption: On the same day he began his Consulship: He conquered the Triumviri; and on the same day he died. Hitherto out of the Memoirs of K. Charles I. Heros.

If Solomon count the day of ones death better than the day of ones birth, there can be no Objection why that also may not be numbred amongst ones Remark­able and Happy days. And therefore I will insert here, That the Eleventh of February was the Noted day of Elizabeth Wife to Henry VII. who was born and died that day. Weaver, p. 476. Brook in H. 7. Marriage. Stow in Anno 1466. 1503.

As also that the Twenty third of November was the Observable day of Fran­cis Duke of Lunenburgh, who was born on that day, and died upon the same, 1549. as says the French Author of the Journal History, who adds, upon par­ticular Remarque, and observable curiosity

Sir Kenelm Digby, that Renowned Knight, great Linguist, and Magazen of Arts, was born and died on the Eleventh of June; and also fought fortunately at Scanderoon the same day. Hear his Epitaph, composed by Mr. Farrar, and recited in the aforesaid Memoirs.

I had a Maternal Uncle, that died the Third of March last, 1678. which was the Anniversary day of his Birth; and (which is a Truth exceeding strange) many years ago he foretold the day of his Death to be that of his Birth; and [Page 3] he also averred the same but about a week before his departure. This Third of March is the day of St. Eutropius (of which hereafter); and as to my Uncle it was significative, it turn'd well to him, according to that of Rev. 14. 13. Bles­sed are the dead, &c. and that of Ovid, Metam. lib. 3.

The Sixth of January was five times auspicious to Charles Duke of Anjou. Ibid. in the Life of the Earl of Sunderland.

The Twenty fourth of February was happy to Charles the Fifth four times. Ibid.] Heylyn speaking of the Temple of Jerusalem, hints three of these four: His Birth: His taking of Francis King of France Prisoner: His receiving the Imperial Crown at Bononia. And so doth also the Journal History before-men­tioned.

Of the Family of the Trevours, Six successive principal Branches have been born the Sixth of July. Same Memoirs.

Sir Humphrey Davenport was born the Seventh of July; and on that day an­niversary his Father and Mother died, within a quarter of an hour one of ano­ther. Same Memoirs.

I have seen an old Romish MSS. Prayer-Book (and shewed the same to that ge­neral Scholar, & great Astrologer E. Ashmole Esq) at the beginning whereof was a Calendar, wherein were inserted the Unlucky days of each Month, set out in Verse. I will recite them just as they are, sometimes infringing the Rule of Grammar, sometimes of Prosodia; a matter, of which the old Monkish Rhimers were no ways scrupulous. It was as ancient as Henry the Sixth, or Edward the Fourths time.

The tenth Verse is intolerable, and might be mended thus,

If any object and say, deni is onely the Plural; I excuse my self by that ad­mirable Chronogram upon King Charles the Martyr,

Neither will I have recourse for refuge to that old Tetrastich,

because I have even now blamed the liberty of the ancient Rhymers.

He means by mors aliena, some strange kind of Death; though aliena signi­fies strange in quite another sense than there used.

I shall take particular notice here of the Third of November, both because 'tis my own Birth-day, and also for that I have observed some remarkable Acci­dents to have hapned thereupon.

[Page 4] Constantius the Emperour, Son of Constantine the Great, little inferiour to his Father, a worthy Warriour, and good Man, died the Third of November, ex Veteri Calendario, penes me.

Thomas Mountacute Earl of Salisbury, that great Man, and famous Comman­der sub Hen. IV. V. & VI. died this day, by a Wound of Cannon-shot he re­ceived at the Siege of Orleaunce. E MSS. quodam, & Glovero.

So also Cardinal Borrhomeo, famous for his Sanctity of Life, and therefore Canonized, ( Heylyn, in his Praecognita, says, He made Milan memorable, by his Residence there) died 1584. this day, as Possevinus in his Life.

Sir John Perot (Stow corruptly calls him Parrat) a Man very remarkable in his Time, Lord Deputy of Ireland, Son to Hen. VIII. and extremely like him, died in the Tower, the Third of November, 1592. (as Stow says) Grief, and the Fatality of this Day, kill'd him. See Nanton's Fragment a Regalia, concerning this Man.

Stow in his Annals says, Anno 1099. Novemb. 3. as well in Scotland as Eng­land, the Sea broke in over the Banks of many Rivers, drowning divers Towns, and much People, with an innumerable number of Oxen and Sheep; at which time the Lands in Kent sometimes belonging to Earl Godwin, were covered with Sands, and drowned, and to this day are called Godwins Sands.

I had an Estate left me in Kent, of which between thirty and forty Acres was Marsh-land, very conveniently flanking its Up-land; and in those days this Marsh-land was usually let for Four Nobles an Acre. My Father died 1643. Within a year and half after his decease, such Charges and Water-scots came upon this Marsh-land, by the influence of the Sea, that it was never worth one Farthing to me, but very often eat into the Rents of the Up-land: So that I often think, this day being my Birth-day, hath the same evil influence upon me, that it had 580 years since upon Earl Godwin, and others concerned in low Lands.

The Parliament so fatal to Romes Concerns here, in Henry the Eighth's time, begun the Third of November, (26 of his Reign); in which the Pope, with all his Authority, was clean banished the Realm; he no more to be called otherwise than Bishop of Rome; the King to be taken and reputed as Supreme Head of the Church of England, having full Authority to reform all Errors, Heresies, and Abuses of the same: Also the First-fruits and Tenths of all Spiri­tual Promotions and Dignities were granted to the King. See Stows Annals, and Weaver, pag. 80.

Not long after which, followed the Visitation of Abbies, Priories, and Nun­neries; and after that, their final Suppression: This Parliament being the Door of entrance thereto.

The Third of November, 1640. began that Parliament so direfully fatal to England, in its Peace, its Wealth, its Religion, its Gentry, Nobility, nay, its King. So verifying the former Verse of the Calendar,

The Third of September was a Remarkable day to the English Attila, Oliver. 1650. he obtained a memorable Victory at Dunbar; another at Worcester, 1651. And that day he died, 1658.

The first two Occurrences wonderfully accord to the preceding Verse, ‘Tertia Septembris, & denus fert mala membris.’ being fatal to the two Members of Great Britain, Scotland and England. The third, as happy to them both, as the same day, 1666. was dismal and unhappy to the City of London, and consequently to the whole Kingdom, with its im­mediate preceding and two succeeding days, viz. the Second, Fourth, and Fifth of September.

[Page 5] I come now to Days of the Week.

Tuesday (Dies Martis) was a most remarkable day with Thomas Becket Arch­bishop of Canterbury, as Weaver 201. observes from Matt. Paris: Mars, secun­dum Poetas, Deus Belli nuncupatur. Vita Sancti Thomae (secundum illud Job, Vita hominis militia est super terram) tota fuit contra hostem bellicosa, &c. Mars, according to the Poets, is called The God of War. The Life of S. Thomas (according to that of Job, The life of man is a warfare upon earth) was a con­tinual conflict against the enemy. Upon the Tuesday he suffered; upon Tuesday he was translated; upon Tuesday the Peers of the Land sate against him at Northampton; upon Tuesday he was banished; upon Tuesday the Lord appear­ed to him at Pontiniac, saying, Thomas, Thomas, my Church shall be glorified in thy blood; upon Tuesday he returned from Exile; upon Tuesday he got the Palm or Reward of Martyrdom; and upon Tuesday, 1220. his Venerable Body received the Glory and Renown of Translation, Fifty years after his Passion. Thus my Authors.

Wednesday is said to have been the fortunate day of Sixtus Quintus, that Pope of renowned Merit, that did so great and excellent things in the time of his Government. See The Just weight of the Scarlet Robe, pag. 101 his deserved Praises.] On a Wednesday he was born; on that day he was made Monk; on the same, he was made General of his Order; on that also, was he successively created Cardinal, electected Pope, and also Inaugurated. See Heylyn, speaking of the Temple of Jerusalem.

Fryday was observed to be very fortunate to the great and renowned Captain Gonsalvo, he having on that day given the French many memorable Defeats.

Saturday was a Lucky day to Hen. VII. Upon that day he atchieved the Vi­ctory upon Ric. III. being August 22. 1485. On that day he entred the City, being Aug. 29. [Correct Stow, who mistakes the day.] And he himself always acknowledg'd, he had experienced it Fortunate. See Bacon in his Life.

Thursday was a Fatal Day to Henry VIII. as Stow, 812.] and so also to his Posterity. He died on Thursday Jan. 28. King Edw. VI. on Thursday July 6. Queen Mary, on Thursday November 17. Queen Elizabeth, on Thurs­day March 24.

Saturday (or the Jewish Sabbath) was fatal to Jerusalem Temple; for on that day 'twas taken by Pompey, Herod, and Titus, successively. Heylyn.

Hitherto by way of Prologue. And be pleas'd to take notice, As to the Days of the Month, I have taken such care, that all are according to the Julian or Old Account, used by us here in England. See Partridges Almanack, Pref. to the Reader.] Pope Gregory XIII. brought in his New Stile (used generally beyond Sea) Anno 1585. in October, as asserts the Journal History before-recited.

Now for Epilogue, and Remarkable Reflexion.

Turning over our Annals, I chanced upon a two-fold Circumstance: I will not say, that none else hath observed the same; but I protest, ( Ita me Deus amet, ut verum loquor) I do not know of any that have; and therefore must justly claim to be acquitted from the least suspicion of Plagiarism, or plowing with others Heifers.

The first is, of William the Conqueror. The second, of Edward III. (I need not say any thing of the Eminency of these two; every one knows what great things they did.) And making reflection upon the Auspicious Birth-day of His [Page 6] Royal Highness the Duke of York, I adventured upon the following Compo­sure. [I cannot be proud of my Poetry; but I cannot but be glad of my BON HEƲR, d' avoir (en lisant) tombè si fortuitemènt sur les evenements d' un si BON JOƲR.

These Verses I presented in Anno 1677. to a most Honourable Peer of the Land, and of great Place near His Royal Highness.

Since which time, old Fabian coming into my hands, from him I got know­ledge, that that advantageous Peace, mentioned by Stow, Anno 1360. (conclu­ded between the forementioned King Edward III. and the French King) was acted upon the Fourteenth of October, with grand Solemnity.

The two former Circumstances must needs fall out Providentially: Whe­ther this last of Anno 1360. was designed by Edw. III. or no, (as remembring his former good hap) may be some question: I am of opinion, not. Where things are under a Mans peculiar Concern, he may fix a time; but here was the French King concerned, equally with the English, and many other Great Perso­nages interessed: To have tied them up to his own Auspicious Conceit of the Day, had been an unkind Oppression, and would have brought the Judgment of so Wise a Prince into question: We may conclude then, 'twas meerly for­tuitous. And therefore to the former Observation concerning this famous Ed­ward, give me leave to add,

A memorable Peace (foretold by Nostredamus) much conducing to the sa­ving of Christian Blood, was made upon the Fourteenth of October, 1557. be­tween Pope Paul IV. Henry II. of France, and Philip II. of Spain. Nostreda­mus says, These Great Princes were frappèz du Ciel, moved from Heaven to make this Peace. See Garencieres Comment on Nostredamus, pag. 76.

A Lucky day this, not onely to the Princes of England; but Auspicious to the Welfare of Europe.

Upon the Third of March last (being the day of St. Eutropius) His Royal Highness withdrew towards the Low-Countries: Procopius tells us, Humana saepe contingit a Deo mutari. Terence says, Vicissitudo omnium rerum est. Which two Sayings I can no way better English, than by that of Eccles. 9. 11. Time and chance happens to all men: Nor no way better second than with that of 1 Cor. 4. 11. Incertis vagamur sedibus. This Accident therefore (our life being but a pilgrimage, as Jacob termed it to Pharaoh) is nothing to a General Providence in the main. Therefore from the Augury of His Fourteenth of October, and from the good Omen comprehended in the Signification of Eutropius, which hints, that all this shall end well, and turn to the best; and from Ecclus 14. 14, 15. I accost His Royal Highness with a Non defraudabitur a die bono; He shall not lose his Good day.

I just now said, That the Third of March was dedicated to Eutropius, which is derived from [...] well, and [...] to turn: It is also dedicated to St. Maximus, St. Marinus, St. Lucius; which three also have notable hints in relation to His Royal Highness. First, No man can deny, but that He is Maximus Princeps. Secondly, He is Maximus Marinus; for in the time of His Exile He was Admi­ral of Aragon, as I have been told many years since in Flanders; and I am sure very many Commissions in those days past under His Name: And till 1673. He was Lord High Admiral of England.

Lucius comes from Luci, which signifies in the morning; and betokens a Child born in the morning, or at Sun-rising, (which some affirm to be a good time for Birth): But I will for my present purpose deduce it a Luceo; and I must affirm, Quod hic maximus Princeps gestis marinis maxime lucet, & alias lucebit; This most Great Prince is extremely Illustrious in Sea Negotiations, and shall yet be otherwise most Illustrious.

That his Highness has long since verified the first Paragraph of my Assertion, take it not onely on my Credit; but (besides what has been said before) hear part of an Ode to His Sacred Majesty, on His Highness Victory over the Dutch, June 3. 1665. compos'd by Sir T. H. a most Worthy Person, whom his Foreign Negotiations have made enough known.

The Germans, High and Low, (amongst which last His Highness now resides) call October, Wyn-maendt ( Mensis Vindemialis) the Wine-month.

The Effects of Wine we read Judges 9. 13. Psal. 104. 15. Eccles. 10. 19. Zach. 10. 7. Why then may we not term this Month Mensis Laetificans? That [Page 8] it may be so to his Royal Highness, as well as it was to the most Great Queen His John 16. 21. Mother, are the hearty Prayers of BLEW-MANTLE.

I have by me a Book printed Anno 1641. containing the true Effigies of King CHARLES the First, of Blessed Memory, his Queen, with their Royal Pro­geny, with Verses annext, wherein are notable Predictions of His Royal High­ness, which I will here recite.

Thus that Book: And I add,