Upon the Blazing Star, Part 2 – Colophon 2
A Second SHEET, further Blazoning upon the Blazing-ſtar.
With a Chronology of COMETS for the laſt 400 years.
HAving ſpoken to the Products, Form, Colour, Motion and Signification of Blazing-ſtars, in the firſt Sheet: A further Account of the Prognoſticks of Comets in General, and of this preſent COMET in particular (which the firſt Sheet could not contain) I inſert and ſend forth in this: The General Prognoſticks of COMETS (according to the beſt Rules of Aſtrology) are deduced from an Ancient and Receiv'd Triſtich or 3 Latin Verſes.
Octo Comet a Mala haec fulgendo per Aethera Signat
Ventus, Sterilitas, Aq…a, Peſtis praedominantur
Rixa, Tr…mor, Moritur Dux, F…t Mutatio Regni.
This plain, yet pithy Poetry doth (in our native Language) ſignify, That Comets Blazing in the Air doth portend 8 ſeveral Miſchiefs, as the Predominancy, 1. Of Storms and Tempeſts. 2. Of Drought and Dearth. 3. Of great Floods and Inundations. 4. Of Plague and Peſtilence. 5. Of Troubleſome Fears and Jealouſies. 6. Of Quarrels and Contentions 7. Of the Death of great Captains, 8. Of Alterations in States and Kingdoms. Thoſe Prognoſtications in general are not altogether improbable, if conſidered either, 1. Phyſically, 2. …, or 3 …he…logically, by a Judicious mind: 1. Phyſically conſidered, ſo …omets (probably) are not only natural Si…, but alſo natural Cauſes moſtly of much Evil, through ſometimes they may be alſo of much G…o….. 'Tis a Maxim in Phi…oſophy, That natural Cauſes muſt produce the like natural Effects: now it may be rationally argued, That Comets are Natural Cauſe (as well as Signs) 1. Of Drought, Dearth, Plague, &c. 1. Becauſe without a great Heat, a Comet cannot be incorporated, and much moiſture muſt of neceſſity be conſumed by its flames when once it is ſired: This, as the Cauſe, produceth Drought as its effect, and Drought brings forth Dearth, 2. Becauſe the I atheſs (and ſo by conſequence the Fertility or Fruitfulneſs) of the Earth is exhaled, not only to the compounding of the Comet (whereof it is moſtly conſtituted, as in the firſt Sheet) but alſo exhauſted by the continued, Hames of the long burning Comet ſo near to it, as the Region of the Air is; the follows the P…agu… as another Effect of Drought and D…ard… ) all thoſe Three having a mutual connection each with the other and producing one another. 3. Becauſe ſo many l… and dry Vapours and Exhalations (as muſt make up the mo…ntanous maſs of a Comet) come to be ſired and ſo diſperſed hither and t…ther in the Upper Region▪ they cannot bat corrupt the Air whereby the Bodies of men and beaſts are infected: this brings peſtilential Diſeaſes. Secondly, Come's in like manner do not only naturally …, but alſo produce hor…ible Tempe…s. dread… Earth …es, …. becauſe in ſuch a Maſſy multitude of Exhalations there muſt be much that cannot take …ire and be wholy conſum'd (as we ſ…e in ingne…ulim…, in out Kitching hire) ſome fewel will ſhuffle out, and eſcape burning, and ſo it may happen …m…n a…y fire) this part therefore that remains unconſum'd, is the engendring Matter of moſt boiſterous Winds, and of moſt terrible Earthquakes, &c. for there is the ſame matter for cauſing the Bluſtering Wind above the Earth. that there is for a dreadful Earthquake within it: becauſe when thoſe remaining Vapours of the C… do flutter abroad in the Air, they do engender Storms, but when thoſe …umes do fall into the Caverns of the Earth, and come to be pent up therein▪ by an An…periſtaſi… both increaſed and inraged they do naturally endeavour an Inlargement, which, they do with that mighty Violence, as ſhaketh the Earth: …ow ſeeing thoſe Phyſical preſages ſeem ſo probable, I cannot …d Reaſon enough to render the P…l…cal and …b…el…g… preſages (which are the 2d and 3d) leſs probable than the firſt: eſpecially conſidering how the Manners of mens minds do follow moſtly the Temperament of their Bodies▪ As that Adage in Greek (poſt …) after Dearth comes the Plague▪ is Rational, for …ood corrupted muſt fill mens bodies with many malignant Humours, So ▪tis no leſs rational to affirm, That when thoſe Vicious fumes of Comets are conveyed into the Blood and Spirits of Mens Bodies, and ſo infect the with much Choler and Melancholy, thence muſt necessarily ariſe much Envy, Hatred, ſharp Conteſts, and Land deſ…roying Wars. 'Tis not at all diſſonant from Truth, That thoſe hot and dry Vapour diſperſed by the Comets combuſtion ſhould ſtir up Anger in Cholerick Conſtitutions. And out of A…g… ariſeth Quarrels, out of Quarrels, Conqueſts, and out of Conqueſts ſtrange Changes both in Church and State▪ And I ſee not, but that Comets may portend the Death of Great n…n, for their Intemperance, Delicious fare, (of all ſorts) and Exorbitancies in Pleaſures, Night-watchings, &c. (wherewith they do commonly indulge themſelves above all men) muſt needs expoſe them moſt to contra…t the worſt of Diſtempers. The more Luxuriouſly any men live, the ſooner they muſt be infected with the Contagion of Comets▪ Yea …artholme boldly Aſſerteth, That Comets are Signs ſent on purpoſe to premoniſh Princes of their Ruin without Repentance and Reformation.
The Probability of thoſe Prognoſtications by Comets may be beſt Demonſtrated by an Induction of Inſtances and Examples drawn out of Chronological Hiſtory of Comets: And to go no higher therein than thoſe laſt foregoing Centuries near to our own Times; I find moſt marvelous Teſtimonies there recorded,
As, (I.) in the year 1347▪ a Comet appeared not far from the Bull Ey; After which follow'd ſuch a dreadful ſickneſs, that raged all the World over, and continued forty years together: Inſomuch, that (as Authors ſay) it deſtroy'd the Third part of men in Europe.
(II.) In the year 1363. a Blazing ſtar broke forth, and brandiſhed its bright Beam's all-abroad for 3 Months together: Immediately after which, Ariſeth that burning and ſhining Light Dr. John Wickliſ, who was as an Angel ſent from Heaven for a marvelous Reformation on earth. So that Comets, as is aforeſaid) portend good as well as evil: for the Conſumption of ſuch a multitude of hurtful Vapours as paſſeth away in the Expiration of a Comet, why may it not (if only it be conſidered phyſically and naturally) have good Effects as well as evils? eſpecially, if it be conſidered politically and theologically; thus, no Comet can be ſo obnoxious, but as it portends Sorrow to ſome, ſo it doth Joy to others, as this did, which was a Cordolium to the Romaniſts, but a Cordial to thoſe of the Reformed Religion.
(III.) In the Year 1375. There appeared another frightful Comet, which had ſuch infinite. Swarms of Locuſts following it, as almoſt deſtroy'd the Kingdom of France, in all the Fruites thereof, as if God had ſent one of the Ten Plagues of Aegypt upon it, Exod. 10.14. his formidable Army, J…el 2.4.10.11. Locust hath its name in Hebrew from Multitude, wherewith the very Sun is darken'd as with a mighty Cloud, and the Green things of the Earth ſo devoured, that the Aegyptians make the Docuſt their Hieroglyphick for Famine, becauſe of both their numeroſity and Voracity. And as the Locuſts of Aegypt were all drowned in the Rod Sea, as well as Reſtrain'd from G…ſhen; So thoſe Locuſts aforeſaid. had the Britiſh Sea, not only (through Divine Grace) for their Boundary beyond which they could not paſs) but alſo for their Sepulchre, wherein they were (with a moſt Hideous ſtorm) all driven, and wherein alſo they were (with a moſt horrible noiſe) all drowned.
(IV.) In the year 1390▪ Another Comet Blazeth out, after which did follow a moſt furious Peſtilence in this our Nothern▪ Region, ſo exceedingly outragious it was▪ that in a very little ſpace of time a Thouſand and ſome Hundreds dyed of the Plague in that one City of York.
(V.) In the year 1400.
(VI.) In the year 1401.
(VII.) In the year 1402.
(VIII.) And in the year 1403. All thoſe ſeveral years, (Immediatly Succeeding one another) produced ſeveral Comet Succeſſively, and portending great things, for at that time, Tamberlan deſtroy'd the Turkiſh Empire, and John Hus, (with Jerom of Prage) began their famous Reformation in Bobemia, from whence many Tumults aroſe, and afterwards brave Ziſca waged War ſucceſsfully againſt thoſe who call themſelves CATHOLICKS, whereas CACOLICKS is their more proper Title:
Then (IX.) In the year [1458.] Another Comet broke forth in the ſign of the Bull. After which that Fat Bull of Baſhan (the Pope) dyed, and A'phonſus King of Arragon, and in the following year James King of Scotland.
(X.) In the year [1472] Another Blazing Star appeared in the ſign call'd Libra, which was firſt of a ſlow motion until it came to Arcturus, and then it Ran ſwiftly through the whole Hemiſphere between the Poles of the Zodiack and the Aequicoctial. And laſtly when it Blaz'd about from the thirteenth of J…nuary▪ to the laſt of February, it Blaz'd out its laſt in Aries, as if that Battering Ram had batterd it into nothing; After which many Princes and great men (too long to Relate) dyed, and ſo to be weighed in Heavens Libra and Ballance, wherein this Comet Appeared.
Again, (XI.) in the year [1477.] A Saturnine Comet (of a dusky leaden Complexion) appeared; which was attended with ſo great a Drought, that not only the corn in the Fields, but the Trees in the Woods were plainly Burnt and Withred, yea many deep and broad Rivers, were wholly Dryed up, as if the Flames of that Comet, had been another Behemoth to Drink whole Rivers dry. Likewiſe a moſt noiſom Plague followed this, and the Death of many Princes.
Alſo, (XII.) In the year 1491.
And XIII.) in the year 1492. Two Comets appeared, both which were forerunners of an horrible Murrain of Cattle, and of a fatal Mortality of many Princes.
(XIV.) In the year 1500. A comet having a Northern Latitude, blazed forth in April, under the ſign of Capr…corn for 15 days, then followed the Famine and Peſtilence in Germany, then Pope Paul was puſh'd down (as with the Horns of Capricorn, where the Comet appeared) from his Inf…llible Chair, to his more Infallible Grave, then dyed alſo the King of Swedeland, and the Queen of Bohemia, with many other Princes.
XV. In the year 1522. Another Comet of a Saturnine colour (as before) broke forth, which uſhered in a moſt dreadful Plague, and that Sweating Sickneſs which was moſt peculiar to Engliſh Bodies, dogging them (as it were) into all Lands.
Again, XVI. In the year 1533. A mighty Comet appeared in July and Auguſt, on the outſide of the Zodia…k, nigh to the Conſtellation called P…rſ…, and Streaming it… Tail towards the VVeſt; After which follow'd the Plague, Earth-Q…ake, and that Monſtrous Mut…ny at Munſter in G…rmany, yea and then did our Henry the VIII. Unhorſe the Pope here, by throwing out the Popes Supremacy in England.
(XVII.) In the year 1556. A pale Comet appeared for two Months, of a moſt ſwift Motion, directing its Courſe from Spica Virgi…is to Bootes. from thence again to …p…e…s and to Saturn, (which Planet was then in Ari…s) and then diſappeared: After which came the Plague, Famine, Mu…ain, &c. but eſpecially thoſe Bloody Marian days wherein ſo many Holy Martyrs were committed to the Mercy of the mercileſs Fire
(XVIII.) In the year 1558. Another pale Comet aroſe, which foreran the Fall of ſome Kings and …ueens, and ſome Princes of all Ranks.
(XIX) In the year 1560. Appeared another Comet in December which foreran a moſt fatal Plague here in L…don, the great (and unheard o…) Froſt, and many Monſtrous Births in ſeveral Counties of England, (with ſundry other …rodigies) followed after.
XX. In the year 1572. A new Star then appeared (mention'd in the firſt ſheet.) After which were thoſe Bloody Butcheries at that Treacherous Royal Marringe at Paris, whereat more Blood than Wine was powred out and Dr…nk. To Omit (as I have done ſundry for Brevities ſa…e) thoſe three new Stars which were ſeen in the years 1602. 160…. and 1607. after all which marvelous Mutations and ſtrange Revolutions happened in the World, as Chronological Hiſtories do abundantly declare.
I paſs on to the year 1618. VVherein the (XXI.) Comet blazed forth (even in the VVinter Seaſon) with a very long Tail or Train: After which our Queen …nn, and the Emperour of Germany departed the VVorld.
Then in the year 1652. The (XXII.) Com…t (of a Saturnine and L…nar colour) appeared in Gem… near to Or…o…s Shield, moving (beſides its Diurnal Revolution,) with an oblique motion towards the Pl…ad…s, and paſſing by the Head of M…d…ſ… (that fatal Star,) It came laſtly to P…rſ…s where it was almoſt Vertical to England,) and there it Vaniſhed: Its Tail tended towards the North-Eaſt, and it Appeared not above ten or twelve Days in D…cember, and then Diſappeared. Now the Products of this Blazing Star, are yet freſh in mo…t mens Memories, in what Motions and Commotions, yea ſtrange Mutations of Monarchy into Ariſtocracy and of that into Democracy and then into Monarchy again, ſo that the Land ſeemed to Ring Changes and all were turned …pſi e d…w… both in Church and State.
In the year 166…. the (XXIII.) Co…et of a Saturnine dusky Complexion) was ſeen in the beginning of Dec…mber, &c. And the ſad effects thereof (in the Plague and Fire of London) are ſtill freſher in the Memories of moſt men.
Then in the year 1677. Another Comet appeared about April, the effects whereof were not only VVar at Sea and Land, unheard of Hail-ſtones, &c. but alſo the Damnable opiſh Plot from which we cannot yet be ſa…e, no not by a Parliamentary Power.
Now in this year 1680. Another (the XXV.) Comet appears in December alſo (and I ſee not why this ſhould not have ſuch ſevere Significancies (which ought juſtly to be ſeared) as well as all thoſe afore aid in this Compendious Chronology of Comets, ſeeing this is one of thoſe Methods and VVays, whereby God talketh with M…, not only by the Tongues of his Prophets and Apoſtles, but alſo by the very Elements diſpoſed into Divers forms, …e… muſt hear God in h… P…rk… as well … …n his Word.
The beſt Proſpect ſeveral Dusky Evenings would allow me to take to this COMET, not a tittle obſcu…ed with the Splendour of the M…, was this, according to my Aſtrolabe, this Star made its fiſt appearance to me in the ſign P…ſces, aſcending our Horizon from the Southern Line betwixt Peg…ſus, and the Southern Triangle to …ndromeda, then it advanced with its exceeding long Train until it got beyond M…duſ…s Head, which is reckoned (by all Authors) an unluckly Conſtellation. The ſtreamer of this Star (I have obſerved) hath ſtretched out it ſelf from the loweſt Line of the Hemiſphere at the very bottom of the Aequinoctial Colure (below Piſce… ) through the Tropick of …ancer, through part of Perſ…n… between Au…iga and C…pella even to the Solſtitial Colure (which is one fu…l quarter of the Coeleſtial Globe) until it had a Direct Parallel Line with the North-Pole and the upper end of its Tayl or Train: This therefore, having a greater both Latitude and Longitude (in its Rays) then any I ever ſaw or lately read off, muſt needs be the greater Prodigy, and ſo may produce more prodigious Effects, which may (poſſibly) be diſtinctly and particularly ſpoke to in a third ſheet, as wanting Room in this ſecond. In the mean time, How ought this Out-Cry from Heaven [of Fire, Fir…,] in this aſtoniſhing …lame, Rowze us up out of our ſlumber of ſecurity, that we be not ſuch ſottiſh ſenſua iſts as to take no notice of Gods great Works, but grunt at them (like Swine) and go our Ways: 'Tis the Bru…ſh Man that knoweth them No…. Pſal. 92.6. Such Brutiſh Spirits as Regard not the Works of the Lord, nor the Operations of his Hands, the Lord will pluck them down and not build them up, …ſal. 28.5. Like rotten Ruinous Houſes never more to be Rebuilt or Repaired becauſe they Regard not the Works of Gods Hands, God will Reward th…m acc…rding to the Works of their H…nds v. 4. Ducunt Volem…m F…ta No…ent…m …rahunt ſaith, Se…ea. The Vaſt Regions of the Air is as fowly Infected with a ſtinking malignant Contagion at the extinguiſhing of a great Comet, as a large Room is with the ſtinking Snuff of a great Candle, when 'tis rudely Blown out. As D…n…el ſaid of his dreadful Dream, Dan. ….…9. God Almighty b…eſs u… (in this Nation Prince and People) from the D…reful conſequences of this Come…, and let th…m be to thoſe that Ha…e the …ord and are Enemies to Jeſus Chr…ſt.
S… pray, C. N.
FINIS.
Publiſh…d by L. Curtiſs, on Ludgate-hill. 1681.