THE YEAR of WONDERS: OR, The glorious Rising of the fifth Monarch: Shewing the greatness of that free-born Prince, who shall Reign and govern; and what shall happen upon his Coronation
Deduced from the Eclipse of the Sun, March 29. 1652.
Together with the Effects thereof; And a Prophecie touching the change of this present Government, in 1653; the manner thereof, the great wars that shall ensue, the time prefixed for their continuance, and afterwards an everlasting peace to be established; Also, a Description of the strange sights that will be seen in the Air on Munday next; (at which time there will be a great darkness for the space of 3 hours) predicting, a woful calamity for London; and many prove headless for their Rebellion: the murthering of the K. of France; and the great things that will befal the K. of Scots: the hanging of the great Turk in a Bow-string; and the stabbing of the Pope of Rome by an English-man. With many other remarkable Predictions (never before published) touching the running of the streets with bloud, and burning whole Cities, Towns, and Villages.
London, Printed for George Horton, 1652.
THE GOLDENAGE: OR, The glorious Rising of the fifth Monarch: Shewing the Greatness of that Prince, who shall reign and govern; and what shall antecede and happen upon His Coronation.
Deduced from the direful Effects of the great Eclipse of the Sun,
March 29. 1652.
AS the Stars of Heaven, are the most excellent Characters of the Divinity, Power, Wisdom, & Glory of their Creator, in that they are writen and ingraven by the finger of God himself (the Father of Lights;) so amongst the Coelestiall phainòmena the Doctrine of Eclipses takes precedency, because that from their Observations, the primary foundations of the whole body of Astronomy are confirm'd, evinc'd, and demonstrated. For, seeing that the Sun is eclipsed, we conclude the cause thereof to be the interposition of the Moon betwixt [Page 4]him and the Farth, and the cause of the Moons Eclipse, the interposition of the Earth betwixt her Body and the Suns. This Eclipse wil pul down the pride of Magistrates, who are grown to such a terrible hight, that 'tis their glory to insult and act wickedly. Mars is chief Lord thereof; and you shal see what a kind of creature he is: He is a hot and dry, firy-burning Planet; an angry conquering creature, destructive to nature: He is so angry, that he will hear no reason: the Priest with his Rhetorick in the Pulpit cannot move him; neither doth he regard the Lawyer that pleads at the Bar: all the Sophistry in Oxford and Cambridge will not be able to qualifie his anger in the effects of this Eclipse, but are all like to feel his fury: He layes out all his strength in what he doth, or in what he delighteth to do: his natural disposition is to set people together by the ears: I may say of him, as Virgil said of A [...]ecto,
The whole Nation of Europe is in a mutiny; and they have as much patience as a nest of Wasps. The Merchants Trading is bad; he scarce knows into what Countrey to trade; and when he doth, he loseth his ships by Sea. The world is mad, and servants turn masters: and what will the end be? Kings and great men are undone: the Lawyer leaveth prating, & fals to freting. Learned Guido saith, That al the evil that is done (and that is not a little) wil be done under, pretence of Religion: which how true it hath proved already in England, every one that hath but wit enough to eat an egge knoweth. The Sea devoureth a great part of Holland, Zealand, and Flanders.
[Page 5] Dreadful streamings are seen in the air, strange Satrre [...], new Comets wil probably be visible about 10 of the clock, muck like unto the ensuing Figure;
Which signifies (as Campanella saith) Hot infirmities, acute diseases, wars and dissentions between Kings and their people, and between one King and another, let them remember what Aesop said of the Mouse and the Frog; who whilest they were busie in fight, came a Kyte and caryed them both away. Look to it, Princes of Europe: there will appear upon the Wing, within these 4 years, a Kyte that will serve you the same sauce. Beasts of great valour, and various in colour, will appear in the Air: The beginning of the year will be very fruitful; but heat and dryness consume the fruits of the Earth before the Harvest. As for the Quartile of Jupiter and Mars, which happens in Feb. 1653. I shal speak nothing, but refer you to the ensuing Verses upon that month; and they are these:
[Page 6] Learned Guifus saith, That the Eclipse of the Sun threatens destruction to the fruits of the Earth, kills the fruit in the bud, kills sheep and other cattel; great Kings, Princes, & Magistrates, are either banish'd, imprison'd, or put to death. Princes and their Subjects agree like Cats and Dogs, first they snarl, and then bite; great Armies, terrible Wars, slaughters of men, burning of Towns, Theft, Rapins, Depopulations, Fire, and the Sword raigns Lord paramount in the Nations threatned by this Eclips: Neither shall the Women want their share; for such of them as are with child shall be too subject to miscary; both men and women are subject to acute Feavers, or other Epidemical diseases; the air is hot, blasting, and burning; dearth of Corn is threatned; Change of Government, both in Principalities and Common-wealths: let Experience be Judge; Time will tell truth, when I may not: If the new River-water had been brought from Ware to London in lead, it had come clear; but being brought in earth, it is muddy. But I must not find you a tale & ears too; therefore I will leave this Nation to pick English out of it. This Eclips also threatens to make Kings and Magistrates Goal-birds, terribly afflicting them; & some of them whom God pleases lose their heads (more is the pity) and then they feel the lighter; others are hang'd, and they cannot feel at all: 'tis as wretched a time for Kings as ever the Sun saw. The Soldiers will be in arms against their Governors, right or wrong; for a Sword and a Gun are two prevailing arguments. All the miseries the sword can bring upon a people, and they are not a few, will have influence upon this Eclips; and the goods of rich men, who have tired their unlucky & Common-wealth destroying braines, will be extorted by violence. The bodies of men are troubled with Choller: Towns and Cities are consumed by fire, and ruined by the souldiery; Murther and Thee very are as familiar, as Butterflies in April: The souldiers sword will prove sharper then the scholers wit.
[Page 7] So great and direful are the effects of this Eclipse, that it far exceeds that in Anno 1540, where the Sun was almost totally darken'd; as may appear by the ensuing Type, or Figures;
This Eclipse happen'd in Aries; as that of the 29 instant, and immediatly followed a parching hot and dry summer, insomuch that deep Rivers were fordable, and great ones dry'd up: the very heat of the Sun set fire to Woods; burned the King of Echemias Palace, and fired a great part of Germany.
Yet notwithstanding, this was not so great and formidable, as that on the 29 will be; the sight whereof will terrifie all mortall eyes, and indeed it will prove the greatest that we had this many centuries of years; nay, ever since the Son of Righteousness suffer'd on the Cross, when there was darkness over the face of the whole Earth. And the truth is, a general pestilence is threatned to Europe, of which England is like sadly to participate; neither shall Holland want its share. The places subject to the effects of this Eclipse, are England, France, Germany, Swedeland, Poland, Denmark, Silesia, Syria, the holy Land, Palestina, Russia, Ireland, Holland, Zealand, Loram, Franconia, &c.
[Page 8] Of Towns and Cities, York, Hull, Naples, Ancenia, Florence, and most of the sea-Towns in Asia the less, Oxford, Caunt, Venice; together with many others; and indeed the effects will be generally felt over all Europe in one measure or other; so that I may say of Europe concerning the effects of this Eclipse, as Mr. Thomas May Esquire, once did of Mauritania, a little before the battel at Thapsus, onely a little altering the words,
Solar Eclipses have been ever fatal to Kings & Magistrates, they cannot agree, but onely in one thing, and that is oppressing the people: O pure! they are old dogs at that, and the poor groan under it. Arise ô God and help them! Lawyers and Clergy-men are displaced and imprisoned, & some made shorter by the head. A new sect of Hereticks arise, which makes me admire how worse can be invented then are already. Private murthers and poyfonings are like to be very rife: look to't ye great ones in authority, have a care of your selvs, lest some of you be sent to take a supper apud inferos, before you are aware of it; 'Tis a scurvy fashion, I do not like it.
What the effects of this Eclipse are like to produce to every particular Nation in Europe.
1 IT being taken for granted, that the effects begin to operate jul. 1652, and decline in the year 1655, you may by this know the time of the sufferings of Europe; an Epidemical disease, called madness, possesses the brains of the Princes thereof; the 5. Monarchy of the World is coming, and the effects of this Eclipse make way for him: but he is no Scotch-man, no nor English, 'tis he before whose coming, The Heathen shall rage, and the people imagine a vain thing; the Kings of the earth shall set themselves together against him, &c. His Rise will be great, his Coronation glorious, and he shall rule all Nations in the world. Read the second Psalm thorow out, and you shall see both what shall antecede his Coronation, and what shall follow it. This is the Monarchy that I expect; yet I expect it not in the effect of this Eclipse, for this shall onely make way for the fifth Monarchy; and when you see all Europe together by the ears, when you see Kings mad, and their subjects stubborn, then think of these things, and know that he that shall come, wil come, and will not tarry.
2 The Germanes are as bad together by the ears as they were in the days of that conquering Queen of Sweden. Bohemia suffers extreamly; the truth of it is, I doubt the poor Emperor will be totally routed.
3 As for England, I cannot sing a quictus est to them as yet, within a few years I shall; Thou hast but one storm to endure, bear that with patience, I hope thy Wars aae almost at an end. Thou wilt in the year 1653. be molested with a consuming pestilence, and troubles, with a change of Government at one and the same time; In making thy choice of thy next Representative, take counsel of God; For assure [Page 10]thy self of this, thou shalt find my words true, as when the Sun is upon the Meridian, thou shalt never be free from plagues, either of War, Pestilence, or Famine, till thou dost submit to such a Government as God intends for thee; the cryes of the poor, whom thou dost tyranically defraud of their birthrights, are heard in the ears of our Lord God Almighty. Be pleased to read every morning the 26 Chap. of Levit. 'Tis worth your observation. Our present Governors (who have transmografide Monarchy into a Free State) must not esteem themselves exempted (more then other States) from the effects thereof. For soon after this eclipse great men shall suffer infamous deaths, and we shall generally find men mad to undo themselves; the Prince of planets, the Eye of the World, and the Glory of the Heavens, is eclipsed just upon his Throne, the sight whereof will terrifie all mortal Eyes, for we shall see the Stars shine as in a Winters night, and strange and wonderful sights and apparitions (such as our fore-fathers never beheld) will be seen in the Air, to the astonishment of all mankind. Many Astrologers calculate that the effiects of this dreadful eclipse will have a great influence upon the K. of Spain; and the K. of Scots (the first, great and potent: the second, poor and despised) and threatens them with sudden deaths; From which, good Lord deliver us all.
4 The Jesuits set all Europe together by the ears, let Padua in Italy beware of Aug. 1653. lest either the sword, earth quake, or pestilence, destroy it. Ah poor Ʋniversity! I mourn for thee, so much good hast thou done to the world in general. Bombardy is quite and clean destroyed, and beasts possess the seats of dead people. The Pope hath got the impudence to outface Heaven, to see if his buls can outroar the thunder.
5 The Turks fall into a part of Italy, which maketh his Holiness to tremble; but he knoweth how to leave St. Peters keys, and take St. Pauls sword in hand: the truth is, his [Page 11]fear is more then his harm: its not the Turk shall pull down the Pope, and yet he must fall: Neer unto which time, another dreadful eclipse of the Sun wil be seen, whose Conjunction will be in Mars: The sight whereof will be very terrible to behold, and not much differing from that of the 29 of March; as is evident by the ensuing Figure.
6 The effects of this eclipse Mar. 29. shall shew themselves first of all in their colours in France: strange massacres desperate Tumults, fire and sword molests that Kingdom; 'tis his own fault, he carryeth himself as like a Tyrant over his subjects, as a Pome-water is like an apple: if about the later end of this year 1652, that poor King is not either knock'd on the head, or forced to leave his Kingdom, say I am so ignorant, that I know not a Star from a Hop-pole; let him beware of his Jesuits, especially the Colledge of Sorborn for fear they have learned a Scotch-trick, to sell him to his adversaries for money.
7 Let not that noble and valiant soul the Prince of Conde aspire to that kingdom: God hath a determination to blast aspiring brains. If ever that valiant and wise Prince come [Page 12]to raign, it shall be, aut nequicquam, aut nequaquàm, either not at all, or in vain: Ours was the first Monarchy that was brought to an end, and France shall be the next; the Heavens have decreed it, and its in vain for man to kick against the pricks. Two years shall not pass over thy head, ô France, but thy Monarch shall come to its fatal and final catastrophe, & leave thy ruined Nation in such a pickle, that thy pleasant and fruitful Land shal be reduced to such a barrenness, for the wickedness of those that dwell therein, that this present Age shall not live to see it recruited.
8 Thou famous City of Venice look ta thy self, I fear before the year be clapsed, the Turk will have possession of thee: it would grieve a mans heart to see the streets run down with bloud; I wish I may be found a false Prophet in this; yet whether I be or not, it would do thee no harm to make thy peace with God.
9 Its almost a wonder I have forgot the Hollander all this while, who shall neither be the last nor the least sufferer in this Eclipse, a body would have thought that Nation had been wise, had they not committed themselves to the protection of the King of France; but when France shall be together by the ears, and more bloud spilt there then Wine prest, then may the Dutch-men say, as the Emperor once did, when he trusted to the Pope for some great courtesie, which he thought would make him and his heirs for ever, the Pope playes the man and dyeth (not because he was weary of this wicked World, and made hast to be in another, for he always loved this World with all his heart, else he had never built a Tabernacle in it) the Emperor hearing of the Popes death, now saith he, My cake is dough, I never thought of the Popes dying before. And just in such a pickle will Holland be, when her protecting King is fled for his life: Her necessities will be very great; none will succour, nor many pity her: by reason of her neer allyance to the false Scot.
[Page 13] 10 The Monasteries of Germany are like to be made no Monasteries during the effects of this Eclipse. Truly, by that time the year 1654 be elapsed, popery will breath its last in Germany. God in Heaven grant they set up the Truth in its stead; that, like other Nations, they do not (with Aesops fish) leap out of the frying-pan into the fire.
11 During the effects of this Eclipse in England, either at, or before the beginning of the year 1655, (the wiser my brethren of the Communalty carry themselves, for ought I know or believe, the sooner it may be effected) the Government wil come into the hands of the people, and everlasting peace shall we enjoy, and never more War afflict us. And if we may trust to a piece of Art Caball stick) in August 1655, Rome falleth, and Jesus Christ the Prince of Peace may reign amongst Us.
Many people aspire high, and look upon the Scotch-King to invade England once more, as one of the Kings of Denmark did, after 8 years banishment; but Learned Mr. Lillie hath prophecied, That he shall never more set footing on English ground; that he shall (poor Gentleman) be exposed to great wants; and that he shall receive a stab (or a cup of poyson, instead of a brown-bowl of spiced Ale) in 1653.
12 London, beware of a pestilence 1653; get able Physicians: And though many men tell thee of thy final Catastrophe, and fright thee with Mother Shiptons Prophesie, which, if it come to pass upon thee at all, it will be in the year, 1668. Labour thou to be one of the Elect of God, and hold up but thy head till the later end of the year 1665, and I am confident, both thy danger and destruction is past. I could tell the sad things that shall afflict thee in the year 1653. But when Phaeton foretold of a great fire that should burn up the greatest part of Italy, they got the honest soul, and accused him for setting the World on fire, and drowned him in the River Po.
[Page 14] And haply should I tell London the truth, I might be inhumanely dealt withall my self; for this is an age in which ‘Obsequ [...]um amicos, veritas odium parit.’
13 The rest of the Princes of Europe must fall as sure as a club: and next to France, Poland is like to go to pot: Denmark and Sweden happily next; and happily Sweden may come to ruine before Denmark especially if the Queen light of such a Husband as probably she may: Let the child of that valiant Father beware of an unfortunate Match about the beginning of 1653. if not, the ruine of that Kingdom may happen about the beginning 1 [...]54.
14 The Floren [...]nes are as full of Tumults as a Wood is full of Trees: The Cossaecks fall into Christendom with fire & sword, and I doubt upon the Territories of Italy.
15 The King of Spain is quite and clean routed out of the West-Indies; as he hath formerly there made slaves of other people, (nay, he would have served the Bab [...]ons so too, could they have but spoken) so in 1 [...]54. the Natives of the place shall be rid of this, and find another, and yet scarce a better.
16 The Nations of Europe flutter to save their Kings, which never did them good, nor never will; even like a Bird brought up in a Cage, that regardeth not liberty, because it never knew what it was. I remember a pretty story in Aesops, Fables, which I care not greatly if I recite; The Frogs desired a King of Jupiter, neither would they be pleased unless they had one: Jupiter (to satisfie them) threw down a great beam into the water, which after it had astonish'd them a while, they began to grow bold with it, and leapt upon it, yea and despised it too, bee use it was patient: They fall a croaking to Jupiter again; and they must have a stout King that could fight, I marry must they; Jupiter, [Page 15]to satisfie their importunity, sends them the Stork, who stalking about the Pool, as the Frogs came to do obey fance to him, he eat them up. I leave every rational man to make the moral of it, 'tis plain enough.
17 An Earthquake is like much to annoy Italy, the peoples madness, and the Jesuits knavery much more. Italy! Italy! that ancient Nation where the Poets say Saturn once ruled when he turned Leveller and brought up the Golden Age, I am sory for thy sufferings, but cannot help them.
18 In the year 1653, about the 3. of April, the Sun will again be eclipsed, but not totally darken'd, as appears by the ensuing Figure,
The effects of this eclipse will be a change of Government in England: many prove headless for betraying their Trust; a just Reward for Rebellion. About the end of this Eclipse will appear a blazing Star and Comet, the which promiseth the downfal of Tyrants both in Kingdomes and Common-Wealths.
19 A fire threatens Constantinople, so doth Dissention, and something worse then either; the great Turk is either slain, or runs away for his life, if a bow-string stops not his journey: you would laugh to see the Tartarian invade Turkey much about the year 1654. I promise him if he do, he [Page 16]will go neer to carry it. I would to God he wold learn to be so wise as the noble Tamerlane, who is never to be mentioned without an Epethite of Honour.
20 In the year 1654, England begins to grow quiet; that's good news: she enjoys her desired Liberty, which she hath spent so much bloud for: the time is now coming, that the Commoner shall be a Freeman, and no longer remain in bondage either to Kings or Parliaments. The Souldier is casting off the burden from them; and they promise him a noble Gratuity; but I wish there may be a reall performance, and no more delays: And as a caution by the way, I shall here incite a couple of Verses, made by an Officer of the Army.