'TIs too sadly Visible and Notorious, how much Europe has for many years by-past suffered under the Calamities of a most grievous War: How Nations have Justled with Nations, and Kingdoms with Kingdoms, some striveing for Glory and Conquest, others gasp­ing for liberty and self-preservation; Whilst to the prejudice (I wish we might not say to the reproach and scandal) of our most holy faith amongst upbraid­ing infidels, the Swords of Christians have been mutually imbrued and distain'd with the blood of their slaughter'd Brethren; For what Crown or state (almost) is there professing Christianity, which and this day is not involved in the flame, except the land of our Nativity, where by the blessing of God aat care of his Vicegerent, our most gracious Prince, we [Page 4] enjoy a calm security of free trade, whilst all our neighbours are in danger of Shipwrack by the violent agitations of these unhappy Tempests, as if indul­gent Heaven had rescued us from the common com­bustion, that our deserving Monarch might have the honour of b [...]ing chiefly instrumental in quenching the flames, that he may enjoy the united applauses of Christendom for contributing to their General re­pose, and reap the Glory of distributing Olive- [...]ranches more desirable than the Laurels of the proudest Conquerors.

The true primary or Original cause of all these di­sturbances must be acknowledged to be that source of all our misery, SIN; whereby the Sons of Men provoke their God to visit them with these Judge­ments; but amongst the natural and celestial prodro­mi or fore-runners of them, whereby they were pre­signified to the world, we may justly and principally reckon the three Comets (or Blazing-Stars) 1665. Of whose nature and effects much having been al­ready written by several Authors we shall say no­thing further here, nor undertake to point out by or from what particular positions or aspects of the hea­vens, or Transits of the superior bodies, the most emi­nent battels by Lande, Engagements at Sea, Skirmish­es, Seiges, and encounter▪ that have lately been acted on the Europian Stage; with their several successes were denoted, and might (possibly) have been descy­phered by the wary Sons of Art, whose Towering Ge­nius [if they have but the true Cabalistick Key, and handle [Page 5] it with modesty and discretion] may be admitted into the dark Closet of Futurity [so as to behold Actions in the Womb of their Natural causes] fur­ther, than some groveling Carpers (whose very souls seem to partake of a [...]errestiety, as well as their bodies) can easily imagine.

In the Year, 1672. our Famous Lilly had these words amongst his Astrological Judgements, in his Merlinus Anglicus, (or Almanack) Printed for that Year, viz.

Neer unto these times, some kind of Astonishment sur­prizes an active potentate of Europe, seeing plainly that neither his Actions of War or peace succeeded according to his projected Expectations, being either Circumvented, as he believes, or frustrated by providence: he being not the man ordained to give Laws to his Neighbour Nations.

This was written by that well-skill'd Pen in August, 1671. And how far or in what parts of the World the same has been, or may hereafter be full­filled or verified, we shall not here dispute: but since Peace is the great blessing which so many Nations now want, we shall proceed to make a brief inquiry what grounds the World may have from the present posture of the Heavens to expect and hope for the same.

And certainly we have no reason to despair there­of; for if inferiors be governed by superiors, and the actions of mortals keep time to the secret musique of the Sphears, [we mean celestial influences] It may rationally be concluded, that when those glorious [Page 6] guiding lights concur in their positions and beams, men may likewise agree and correspond better in their counsels and actions.

Observe your Ephemerides then, and in the latter end of the month of November next approaching, and beginning of December, you shall find the benevolent Planet Jupiter treating all the rest of the Planets; (except churlish Saturn) in his own day-house and Triplicity; so eminent a Congress or Assembly of the Celestial Septemviri, (like the interviews of mighty Princes) rarely happens, and then not without some Illustrious Effects, and seems in an Astrological sen [...]e to speak to this effect.

That the Inhabitants of this part of the world, wearied with the Toyls and Fatigues of Long and bloody Wars, shall at or about that time, or the Moneth before mentioned, generally appear desi­rous and pant after peace, waveing those Temerari­ous Councels that first involved them in these per­nitions, Contentions, and that some Grave and pious Prince or princes in compassion to prevent the further efusion of Christian blood, should undertake the me­diation of these grand differences, whos [...] laudable endeavours Heaven seems inclinable to crown with the desired success; though yet as all great actions are not brought to pass without eminent difficulties; especially where there are so many several and con­trary interests to be satisfied, so here willing Mercury just going retrograde may put a sudden damp somtime upon their treaties, as if all would terminate in smoak, [Page 7] intimating that the peevish humours of some Con­ceited Ministers, or persons delegated under a pub­lique Character may clog and intangle their debates with several Remora's procrastinations and obstruct­ions by insisting on puntilio's, and preferring Niceties before the common good of Christendome; Yet Saturn towards the beginning of the year becoming stationary to direction, and Jupiter courting him with the Amicable Rays of Trine-aspect carries on the blessed work, maugre these rubbs flung in the way by the busie tongued Mercurial Tribe.

Nor is this our single sentiment the Judicious Author of (the true) Calendarium Astrologicum or Triggs Almanack for 1676. Ioyns his suffrage and concurs in Iudgement, having this Observation in Ianuary.

Many are the configurations of the Planets at the begin­ning of this month, which pretend to mortals nothing of any dangerous consequence; but rather a general agreement, &c.

And again in February.

If Sextile aspects of the Planets, betoken amity amongst those celestial Bodies, then certainly there will be great har­mony in the Heavens this month, whence I conjecture they may happily influence the same effects amongst men upon Earth; —Thus that industruous Artist.

'Tis true, we dare not be possitive, for perhaps our zeal and passionate wishes for such a blessed compo­sure may biass our Iudgement into error, yet we are confident a little time will clear us from the suspition; and that Janus's Temple may be shut for some time [Page 8] amongst Christians, and open onely against the Arms of Ottomon, and other miscreants; and oh how glori­ous were it to see our reconciled Princes send their u­nited Troops to the aid of the most illustrious King of Poland against his numerous enemies both Turks and Tartars.

Seriously the Conjunction of Sol and Saturn in Taurus in April next is of no good signification to that most heroick Prince; yet as his actions and suc­cesses have hitherto been within a degree of miracu­lous; so we have reasons in art to conclude they will for the future be no [...]ess glorious, and that his name shall be as dreadful to the Mahumetans as that of [...]canderbeg was heretofore. May the Lord of Hosts be to him a shield and a Buckler, and cover his head in the day of battel; that he may vanquish and put to flight those barbarous Infidels; And may the God of peac [...] incline the spirits of all Christian potentates to [...]ove and amity, and particularly continue that blessed Tranquility we now enjoy unto this Nation wherein we live, that we may sit under our own Vines, and sing praises unto him, and none may make us afraid.