A STRANGE PROPHESIE OF The utter destruction of the Turks upon their entring the Borders of Christendome, in the year 1662.
SEveral Prophesies have been put forth to publick view Predicting the many and various Changes, which in late times should happen in divers Kingdoms, and Empires, some of which have been already in part fulfilled, to the exceeding great depopulation of some Princes Dominions; yet when ruined Kingdoms have been well mended from Head to Foot, proportions duly admeasured, [Page 2] and Justice justly dispenced to all, then have Rulers and Subjects sat down under their own Vines, and enjoyed the comfort of their own labours in peace; but till then the gayest Kingdoms shall be ruffling, scuffling, removing and commoving Hovells.
For England, though the upper Stories have been shroadly shaken and shattered of late years, by the tumultuous rebellion of a Schismattical generation of Seditious Phanaticks, yet the frame thereof being good, or mendable by the ancient Architectors now at work, there is good hopes that a happy and perfect peace, will be soon settled throughout the Dominions of his Royal Majesty.
I doubt not but that our Master Builders will remember, that punctuallity in Divinity and Policy, is but regularity. Ecclesiastical Reformation is that God expects, He stands not upon new invented Synods, but upon his own Terms; and will have all his Vessels & Ordinances cast in his own mould, as formerly they were.
He that stands not for the Crown, minds not the preservation of his Body, nor the good of his own Soul; for the life of a Subject consists in the safety of his Prince, and the prosperity of his Royal Council; therefore we may well rejoyce that the work is fallen into the hands and Hearts of such noble Senators, who will weigh Rules with Troy weight. But not to insist further by way of preamble, I shall not make mention of the Prophesies of Merlin, Shiptons Wife, or that learned Cardinal, David of France, the last of which is fulfilled in the happy Restoration of our Royal Sovereigne King Charles the Second; I shall only here insert a saying of the Great Turk, and so come to the Prophecy here intended, When several Musicians were long a tuneing their Instruments, he hearing them said, I think it not to stand with my State, to wait for what will follow. But all Christians that hear the happy tydings or Musick of this following Prophesie, (though delivered by a Heathen) may well waite with patience for the expiration of this so happy [Page 3] prediction, from whence so great benefit shall redound to all Europe; For the fulfilling of which, I question not but all Christian Princes will provide in time, for repulsing so dangerous, blasphemous and potent an enemy as these barbarous and inhumane Infidels.
The true Copy of the Prophesie.
ABout the space of four years and a half age, a Seaman making a Voyage from Lubeck, in a Merchants Ship that was bound for the Straits, in the way was unhappily set upon by some barbarous Turkish Pyrats, by whom after a short dispute he was taken Prisoner amongst other Marriners that was in the said Ship, who were all sold like sheep in the Market. But above all the rest the aforesaid Seamen, was singled forth, and carried about five hundred miles, and sold to a learned Turk, who after a small time of his continuance with him, looked upon his slave with great diligence, and taking notice of his countenance, began to speak with him in the Saxon Tongue after this manner.
- First, He asked him, Whether he came not from Lubeck?
- Secondly, Whether his and his Wives name were not such and such?
- Thirdly, Whether his dwelling was not in such and such a place?
- Fourthly, Whether he did not come in such a ship, and so was taken prisoner.
The said Seaman hearing all that had been said, and knowing the truth thereof, being greatly amazed, did certainly believe he was some great Prophet.
Again, the Turk asked his slave, whether he would shew mercy to him one time for another, and if he should give him his liberty, which he should promise him by his God and his Christ whom he served? The slave did it with great willingness.
The Turk said further unto him, First of all I command thee to go to Lubeck (the place of thy former abode) to which end and purpose I will give thee sufficient means, and also assist thee in thy journey, that thou mayst thereby safely arrive at the Christian Borders.
And when thou comest thither thou shalt find in such a place (the which he gave him a particular token of) in thy own yard a Pot buried, wherein is a large sum of money, out of that mony, take one thousand five hundred pounds Lubeck, and give them to thy Wife for the subsistance of her, thy Children, and the rest of thy Family; but the rest be sure thou bring hither unto me for thy Ransome, and afterwards I shall freely declare unto thee my desire.
The Turke having finisht his Speech, the Seaman, who was his Slave (being accommodated with all necessary for so tedious a journey, according to the promise of this Learned Turk) betook himself to his journey, and coming to the place appointed found all things according to the Turks saying, the which he neglected not, but with all diligence performed every thing faithfully & punctally as he was commanded.
But after the space of twenty Moneths, he returned from Lubeck and safely came to his Patron; to whom he delivered the remainder of the money.
As soon as the Turk had rrceived the money of the Seaman, he counted it over, and finding it right (according to his expectation) he spake unto his Slave saying, I perceive now that thou art the man whom I have sought and desired this long time, and that thou fearest thy God, seeing thou hast taken nothing of that money but what I commanded thee and hast brought me the rest without deceipt, Now therefore I will declare unto thee my desire.
Behold, About four years hence our Turkish States shall gather together and come to the Christian Borders, and being Assembled, they shall consult together, whether they shall drink of the Christians blood, or whether the Christians shall drink of their blood?
The result whereof will be this, That they shall divide their whole Power into three parts; The one whereof shall march to the right, into Poland and Silecia, the other towards the Rhine into France, and the third through the middle of Austria; and so shall come up to Lubeck, where I shall be also.
Behold, we shall there be repulsed by the Christians, and after a sharpe dispute, we shall be overthrown and utterly destroyed; and I shall lye dead in such a place (the which he named unto this Seaman) in a peculiar habit, and the number of those that shall be slain, shall be very great; and this Battel shall be called, The Battel upon the Mountain of Israel.
Now I intreat thee to shew me this mercy, to bury me in my Mothers Bosome, and so to incorporate me; therefore go thy waies, and wait for that time: And behold, all this money which thou hast brought for thy Ransome, I give it to thee again, wherewith thou mayst thy self, thy Wife and Children with the rest of thy Family susteine in Peace and quietnesse.
Now three years and a half are almost expired, since the aforesaid Seaman departed from the Turk who made known this Prophesie to him, And he dwells now in Lubeck, where he diligently waits for the time, that he may perform his promise to his Patron.
Thus may we discover out of this forgoing Prediction, that [Page 6] the destruction of that cursed Magog, the Turkish Empire, who hath been a continual scourge to all Europe, is near at hand: So that there is great hopes of a happy unanimity between all Princes in Christendom, by which means England as well as other Nations will enjoy true Peace and Happiness under a gracious Soveraign, whom God preserve from the conspiracy of all factious Phanatick Spirits for ever.