CORKE is a City in the west of Ireland in the Prouince of Munster, for situation, and all commodities which Sea or land may afford, not inferior to any Citie in that Country. About the se­uenth of October last, Anno 1621. there ga­thered [Page 2] together by degrees, an vnusual mul­titude of birds called Stares, in some Coun­tries knowne by the name of Starlings: these birds are for the quantitie of their bo­dies strong, for their qualitie bold and ven­trous, amongst themselues very louing, as may appeare by their flights keeping toge­ther all times of the yeare, excepting the breeding time. It is, and hath beene an old prouerbe, that Birds of a feather hold and keep together, which hath euer beene a common custome in these as much as in any other kinde whatsoeuer: but now the old prouerb is changed, and their custome is altered cleane contrary. For at this time, as these birds are in taste bitter, so they met to fight together the most bitterest and sharpest bat­tell amongst themselues, the like, for the manner of their fight, and for the time the battell did continue, neuer heard or seene at any time in any Country of the world.

We reade in the Histories of our owne Countrie, that in the twelfth yeare of King [Page 3] Richard the second, That the Gnats muste­red together at Shine, now called Richmond, in great abundance, with so great a multi­tude, that the ayre was obscured and dark­ned by them. They fought so violent a bat­tell among themselues, that by estimation two parts of them were slaine, and fell to the ground: the number of those which were killed, was so great, that they were ta­ken vp with shouels, and swept together with besomes, that bushels were filled with them, the third part hauing gotten the vi­ctory, flew away and vanished, no man knew whither.

Now to come to the fight of our birds, the Stares or Starlings, they mustered to­gether at this aboue-named Citie of Corke some foure of fiue daies, before they fought their battels, euery day more and more en­creasing their armies with greater supplies, some came as from the East, others from the West, and so accordingly they placed themselues, and as it were encamped them­selues [Page 4] eastward and westward about the ci­tie, during which time their noise and tunes were strange on both sides to the great ad­miration of the citizens and the inhabitants near adioyning, who had neuer seene for multitude, or euer heard for loud tunes which they vttered, the like before. Where­upon they more curiously obseruing the couses and passages they vsed, noted that from those on the East, and from those on the Wess, sundry flights, some twenty or thirty in a company, would passe from the one side to the other, as it should seeme im­ployed in embassages, for they would flye and houer in the ayre ouer the aduerse par­ty with strange tunes and noise, and so re­turne backe againe to that side from which as it seemed they were sent.

And further it was obserued, that during the time they assembled, the Stares of the east sought their meare eastward, as the Stares of the west did the like westward, no one flying in the circuits of the other. These [Page 5] courses and customes continued with them vntill the xij. of October, which day beeing Saturday, about nine of the clocke in the morning, being a very faire and Sun-shine day, vpon a strange sound and noise made as well on the one side as on the other, they forthwith at one instant tooke wing, and so mounting vp into the skyes, encountered one another, with such a terrible shocke, as the sound amazed the whole city and all the beholders. Vpon this sodaine and fierce en­counter, there fell downe into the citie, and into the Riuers, multitudes of Starelings or Stares, some with wings broken, some with legs and necks broken, some with eies pickt out, some their bils thrust into the brests & sides of their aduersaries, in so strange a manner, that it were incredible except it were confirmed by letters of credit, and by eye-witnesses, with that assurance which is without all exception.

Vpon the first encounter they withdrew themselues backward east and west, & with [Page 6] like eagernesse and fury encountred seueral times, vpon all which these Stares fel down in like strange and admitable manner, as v­pon the first encounter. They continued this admirable and most violent battell till a little before night, at which time they see­med to vanish, so that all Sunday the xiij. of October none appeared about the Citie.

Vpon this Sunday diuers passengers came out of Suffolke, who sailing betwixt Graues­end and Wolwigge, they heard a loud and strange noyse and sound in the aire, where­upon casting their eyes vpward, they saw infinite multitudes of Stares fighting in all violent manner together, with a Crow or Rauen flying betwixt them, for the flight being so high, they could not perfectly dis­cerne, whether it was Crow or Rauen: these birds had also seuerall encounters, making great sound and noise, and euer as they diui­ded and retired themselues, the Crow or ra­uen was seene in the middest. But what slaughter was made they could not obserue [Page 7] because the euening was somewhat darke and the battel was fought ouer woods more remote off, but for more assured proofe of this fight the Sunday before named, there are at this time in London diuers persons of worth and very honest reputation, whom the Printer of this Pamphlet can produce to iustifie what they faw, as cause shall require, vpon their oaths.

Now to returne to the last battell fought at Corke by these Stares. Vpon Munday the xiiij. of October, they made their returne againe, and at the same time, the day being as faire a Sun-shine day as it was the Satur­day before, they mounted into the aire and encountred each other with like violent as­saults as formerly they had done, and fell into the city vpon the houses, and into the Riuer, wounded and slaughtered in like manner as before is reported: but at this last battell there was a Kite, a Rauen and a Crow all three found dead in the streets, rent, torn and mangled.

IN this precedent narration one report wil cause most admiration, and that is the Stares or Stare­lings forbearing and absenting themselues from Corke vpon Sunday being the xiii. of October, should that same day bee seene to fight neare or not farre off from Wolwige, whether the same Stares, it may bee held in respect of the distance of the place by sea and land improbable: but this improbability is soone answered, for as the fight at Corke may seeme strange and improbable, yet being most assured that such a battle was fought, it may be as probable in the wonderfull workes of Almighty God, that notwithstanding the distance of place, these may be the same Stares. Howsoe­uer, I wil dispute these matters no further, sithence in the workes of Almighty God, being contrary to the ordinary workes of his creation, all the rea­son which can be alle adged for them, is the om­nipotent power of the Almighty Creator. As when contrary to ordinary course of Nature in the battell fought by Duke Iosua, the Sunne stay­ed his course the space of a day. So when at the prayer of Ezechias the Sunne retired his course x. degrees: what other reason can be yeelded but the omnipotent power of Almighty God. So that albeit we should not be curious to search out rea­sons for the wonderfull workes of Almighty God, yerit doth import all Christians not to bee care­lesse, but that they must know and consider there [Page 9] is no wonderfull or miraculous worke, but it doth prognosticate either Gods mercy to draw vs to repentance, or his iustice to punish our sinnes and wickednesse, if we doe not make haste to repent in due time, when his mercy is offered, or his iustice threatned.