THAT there be Good and Evil Days and Times, not only the Sacred Scriptures, but Prophane Authors mention; See 1 Sam. 25.8. Esther 8.17. and 9.19, 22. Ecclus 14.14.

The Fourteenth Day of the First Month was a memorable and bles­sed Day amongst the Children of Israel: See Exod. 12.18, 40, 41, 42, 51. and 13.4. Levit. 23.5. Numb. 28.16. Four hundred and thirty Years being expired of their Dwelling in Aegypt, even in the self-same Day departed they thence.

A thing somewhat parallel to this, we read in the Roman Histories; That that very Day four years that the Civil Wars were begun by Pompey the Father, Caesar made an end of them with his Sons; Cneus Pompeius being then slain, and it being also the last Battle Caesar was ever in. Heylyn in the Kingdom of Corduba.]

Our Historians tells us, That Normandy was Conquer'd from Duke Robert by Henry the First, that Day forty Years the Normans had won England: (A remarkable Re­taliation!) Anglia Nomandiae par retulit; England paid Normandy in its own Coyn. Burton's Historical Remarks.

The Calendar to Ovid's Fastorum says, Aprilis erat mensis Graecis Auspicatissimus, a most Auspicious Month to the Graecians.

As to Evil Dayes and Times, see Amos 5.13. and 6.3. Eccles. 9.12. Psalm 37.19. Obad. 12. Jer. 46.21. And Job hints it, in cursing his Birth-day, Cap. 3. v. 1. to 11. See Weaver, p. 458. The old Rhimes concerning the Scots:

Horace, lib. 2. Ode 13. cursing the Tree that had like to have fallen upon him, says, Ille nefasto te posuit die; intimating, that it was planted in an Ʋnlucky Day.

The Romans counted Febr. 13th. an unlucky Day, and therefore then never attempt­ed any Business of Importance; for on that Day they were overthrown at Allia by the Gauls; and the Fabii, attaquing the City of the Veii, were all slain, save one. Heylyn speaking of St. Peter's Patrimony.] And see the Calendar annext to Ovid's Fastorum, as to the last Circumstance.

The Jews counted August Tenth, and Unfortunate Day; for on that Day the Temple was destroyed by Titus the Son of Vespasian: On which Day also, the first Temple was consumed with Fire by Nebuchadaezzar. Heylyn.] The Treasury of the Times says, The Eighth of Loyon (August) the very same Day 679. Years, one after another.

And not only among the Romans and Jews, but also among the Christians, a like Cu­stom of observing such Days is used, especially Childermas or Innocents-day. Comines tells us, That Lewis XI. used not to debate any Matter, but accounted it a sign of great Mis­fortune towards him, if any Man communed with him of his affairs; and would be very angry with those about him, if they troubled him in any matter whatsoever upon this Day.

But I will descend to more particular Instances of Lucky and Unlucky Days.

Upon the Sixth of April, Alexander the Great was born: Upon the same day he Con­quered Darius, won a great Victory at Sea, and died the same Day.

Neither was this Day less fortunate to his Father Philip; for on the same he took Poti­dea; Parmenio his General gave a great Overthrow to the Illyrians: and his Horse was Victor at the Olympick Games. Therefore his Prophets foretold to him, Filium cujus na­talis, &c. That a Son whose Birth-day was accompanied with Three Victories, should prove Invincible. Pezelius in Mellificio Historico.

Upon the Thirtieth of September, Pompey the Great was born: Upon that Day he Try­umphed for his Asian Conquest; and on that Day he died.

The Nineteenth of August was the Day of Augustus his Adoption: On the same Day he began his Consulship: He Conquer'd the Triumviri; and on the same Day he died. Hitherto out of the Memoirs of K. Charles I. Heros.

If Solemon counts the Day of ones Death better than the Day of ones Birth, there can be no Objection, why that also may not be numbred amongst ones Remarkable and Happy Days: And therefore I will insert here, That the Eleventh of February was the No­ted Day of Elizabeth, Wife to Henry VII. who was born and died that Day. Weaver, p. 476. Brook in Hen. VII. Marriage. Stow in Anno 1466. 1503.

Bassianus Caracalla, the Emperor, was Born the Sixth of April, and Died the same Day; as says the French Author of the Journal History.

Henry the Cardinal, King of Portugal, Died 1580. the last of January; upon which Day he also was Born Sixty eight Years before. Histoire Genealogique de la Maison de France.

So Saint Louis of Sicily, died upon the Nineteenth of August, the Anniversary-Day of his Birth: A Man memorable for his Extraordinary Virtue and Piety; for he for­sook the Infallible Succession to his Father's Crown, and the Marriage of the Fair Prin­cess of Majorque, for a Cloyster.

As also, that the Twenty third of November was the Observable Day of Francis Duke of Lunenburgh; who was born on that Day, and died upon the same, 1549. as says the French Author of the Journal History; who adds, upon particular Remark, and obser­vable Curiosity,

Sir Kenelm Digby, that Renowned Knight, great Linguist, and Magazen of Arts, was born and died on the Eleventh of June; and also fought fortunately at Scanderoon the same Day. Hear his Epitaph, composed by Mr. Farrar, and recited in the afore­said Memoires:

I had a Maternal Uncle, that died the Third of March last, 1678. which was the Anniversary-day of his Birth: And (which is a Truth exceeding strange) many Years ago he fore-told, the Day of his Death to be that of his Birth; and he also averred the same but about a Week before his Departure. This Third of March is the Day of St. Eutropius, (of which hereafter.) And as to my Uncle, it was significative; it turn'd well to him, according to that of Rev. 14.13. Blessed are the Dead, &c. and that of Ovid, Metam. lib. 3.

The Sixth of January was five times auspicious to Charles Duke of Anjou. Ibid. in the Life of the Earl of Sunderland.

The Twenty fourth of February was happy to Charles the Fifth four times. Ibid.] Heylyn speaking of the Temple of Jerusalem, hints Three of these Four: His Birth: His taking of Francis King of France, Prisoner: His receiving the Imperial Crown at Bononia. And so doth also the Journal History before-mentioned.

Of the Family of the Trevors, Six successive Principal Branches have been Born the Sixth of July. Same Memoirs.

Sir Humphrey Davenport was born the Seventh of July; and on that Day Anniversary, his Father and Mother died, within a quarter of an Hour one of another. Same Me­moirs.

Henry Earl of Northumberland, Convicted in Star-Chamber to have favoured the Design of the Fifth of November, died on the Fifth of November, some Years after: His Son, Algernoon, Earl of Northumberland, (Baptized the Thirteenth of October, 1602.) died the same Day, 1668.

I have seen an Old Romish MSS. Prayer-Book, (and shewed the same to that gene­ral Scholar, and great Astrologer, E. Ashmole, Esq) at the Beginning whereof was a Calendar, wherein were inserted the Unlucky Days of each Month, set out in Verse. I will recite them just as they are, sometimes infringing the Rule of Grammar, some­times of Prosodia; a matter, of which the old Monkish Rhimers were no ways scrupu­lous. It was as Antient as Henry the Sixth, or Edward the Fourth's Time.

The Tenth Verse is intolerable, and might be mended thus:

If any object, and say, Deni is only the Plural; I excuse my self by that admirable Chronogram upon King Charles the Martyr;

Neither will I have recourse for Refuge to that Old Tetrastich;

because I have even now blamed the Liberty of the Antient Rhymers.

He means by Mors aliena, some strange kind of Death; though Aliena signifies Strange in quite another Sense, than here used.

I shall take particular Notice here of the Third of November, both because 'tis my own Birth-day, and also for that I have observed some remarkable Accidents to have happen'd thereupon.

Constantius the Emperor, Son of Constantine the Great, little Inferiour to his Father, a worthy Warriour, and good Man, died the Third of November, ex Veteri Calenda­rio, penes me.

Thomas Mountacute, Earl of Salisbury, that great Man, and famous Commander sub Henry IV. V. and VI. died this Day, by a Wound of Cannot-shot he received at the Siege of Orleance. E MSS. quodam, & Glovero.

So also Cardinal Borrhomeo, famous for his Sanctity of Life, and therefore Canoni­zed, (Heylyn, in his Praecognita, says, He made Milan memorable, by his Residence there) died 1584. this Day, as Possevinus in his Life.

Sir John Perot, (Stow corruptly calls him Parrat) a Man very remarkable in his Time, Lord-Deputy of Ireland, Son to Henry the VIII. and extreamly like him, died in the Tower, the Third of November, 1592. (as Stow says.) Grief, and the Fatality of this Day, kill'd him. See Nanton's Fragment a Regalia, concerning this Man.

Stow, in his Annals, says, Anno 1099. November the Third, as well in Scotland as Eng­land, the Sea broke in over the Banks of many Rivers, drowning divers Towns, and much People, with an innumerable Number of Oxen and Sheep; at which time the Lands in Kent, sometimes belonging to Earl Godwin, were covered with Sands, and drowned; and to this day are called, Godwin's Sands.

I had an Estate left me in Kent, of which between Thirty and Forty Acres was Marsh-Land, very conveniently flanking its Up-land; and in those days this Marsh-land was usually Lett for Four Nobles an Acre. My Father died 1643. Within a Year and an half after his Decease, such Charges and Water-Scots came upon this Marsh-Land, by the Influence of the Sea, that it was never worth one Farthing to me; but very of­ten eat into the Rents of the Up-land. So that I often think, this Day being my Birth-day, hath the same Evil Influence upon me, that it had 580. Years since upon Earl Godwin, and others concerned in Low Lands.

The Parliament so fatal to Romes Concerns here, in Henry the Eighth's Time, begun the Third of November, (the Twenty Sixth of his Reign): In which the Pope, with all his Authority, was clean banished the Realm; he no more to be called otherwise, than Bishop of Rome: The King to be taken, and reputed as Supreme Head of the Church of England; having full Authority to reform all Errors, Heresies, and Abuses of the same: Also, the First-Fruits, and Tenths of all Spiritual Promotions and Dignities, were granted to the King. See Stow's Annals, and Weaver, pag. 80.

Not long after which, followed the Visitation of Abbies, Priories, and Nunneries; and after that, their final Suppression: This Parliament being the Door of Entrance thereto.

The Third of November, 1640. began that Parliament so direfully fatal to England, in its Peace, its Wealth, its Religion, its Gentry, Nobility, nay, its King: So veri­fying the former Verse of the Calendar;

The Third of September was a Remarkable Day to the English Attila, Oliver, 1650. [Page 9]He obtained a Memorable Victory at Dunbar; another at Worcester, 1651. And that Day he died, 1658.

The first Two Occurrences wonderfully accord to the preceding Verse; ‘Tertia Septembris, & denus fert mala membris.’ being fatal to the Two Members of Great Britain, Scotland and England. The Third, as happy to them both, as the same Day, 1666. was dismal and unhappy to the City of London, and consequently to the whole Kingdom; with its immediate preceding, and two succeeding Days, viz. the Second, Fourth, and Fifth of September.

Pope Paul the Third, confirm'd the latter Part of the Verse, when he advised his Son, Peter Aloisa, to beware of that Day: He neglecting it, was Murder'd, and cru­elly dismember'd. Sleidan in his Commentaries; the Nineteenth Book.

I come now to the Days of the Week.

Tuesday, (Dies Martis) was a most Remarkable Day with Thomas Becket, Arch-bishop of Canterbury, as Weaver 201. observes from Matt. Paris: Mars, secundum Poetas, Deus Belli nuncupatur. Vita Sancti Thomae (secundum illud Job, Vita hominis militia est super terram) tota fuit contra hostem bellicosa, &c. Mars, according to the Poets, is called, The God of War. The Life of St. Thomas (according to that of Job, The Life of Man is a Warfare upon Earth) was a continual conflict against the Enemy. Upon the Tuesday, he suffered; upon Tuesday, he was translated; upon Tuesday, the Peers of the Land sate against him at Northampton; upon Tuesday, he was banished; upon Tues­day, the Lord appeared to him at Pontiniac, saying, Thomas, Thomas, my Church shall be glorified in thy blood; upon Tuesday, he returned from Exile; upon Tuesday, he got the Palm or Reward of Martyrdom; and upon Tuesday, 1220. his Venerable Body received the Glory and Renown of Translation, Fifty years after his Passion. Thus my Authors.

‘One thing I make bold to gloss upon. His Translation is here mentioned twice. Note, This is no Tautology of the Historian; but the latter Paragraph is a more particular Recitation of the first, viz. Reference to the time when he was Transla­ted into the number of Saints and Martyrs: Quando in Divorum numerum re­latus, as Cambden phrases it in many places upon like Occasion.’

Wednesday is said to have been the Fortunate Day of Sixtus Quintus, that Pope of Renowned Merit, that did so great and excellent things in the time of his Govern­ment. See The Just weight of the Scarlet Robe, pag. 101. his deserved Praises.] On a Wednesday, he was born; on that day he was made Monk; on the same, he was made General of his Order; on that also, was he successively created Cardinal, elected Pope, and also Inaugurated. See Heylyn, speaking of the Temple of Jerusalem.

Fryday was observed to be very fortunate to the great and renowned Captain Gon­salvo, he having on that day given the French many memorable Defeats.

Saturday was a Lucky Day to Hen. VII. Upon that Day he atchieved the Victory upon Ric. III. being August 22. 1485. On that Day he entred the City, being Aug. 29. [Correct Stow, who mistakes the Day.] And he himself always acknowledg'd, he had experienced it Fortunate. See Bacon in his Life.

Saturday also has been very successful to the Portugals (as Their Chronicles report.) See Mr. Sandford (now Lancaster-Herald) his Translation of the History of Their Kings; where he speaks of the Recovery of that Kingdom from the Spani­ards.

Thursday was a Fatal Day to Henry VIII. as Stow, 812.] and so also to his Poste­rity. He died on Thursday, Jan. 28. King Edward VI. on Thursday, July 6. Queen Mary, on Thursday, November 17. Queen Elizabeth, on Thursday, March 24.

Saturday, (or the Jewish Sabbath) was fatal to Jerusalem Temple; for on that day 'twas taken by Pompey, Herod, and Titus, successively. Heylyn.

Hitherto by way of Prologue. And be pleas'd to take notice; As to the Days of the Month, I have taken such care, that all are according to the Julian or Old Account, used by us here in England.] Pope Gregory XIII. brought in his New Stile (used gene­rally beyond Sea) Anno. 1585. in October, as asserts the Journal History before reci­ted.

Now for Epilogue, and Remarkable Reflexion.

Turning over our Annals, I chanced upon a two-fold Circumstance: I will not say, that none else hath observed the same; but I protest, (Ita me Deus amet, ut verum [Page 10]loquor) I do not know of any that have; and therefore must justly claim to be acquit­ted from the least suspicion of Plagiarism, or plowing with others Heifers.

The first is, of William the Conqueror. The second, of Edward III. (I need not say any thing of the Eminency of these two; every one knows what great things they did.) And making reflection upon the Auspicious Birth-day of His Royal Highness, the Duke of York, I adventured upon the following Composure. [I cannot be proud of my Poetry; but I cannot but be glad of my BON HEƲR, d'avoir (en lisant) tombè si fortuitemènt sur les evenements d'un si BON JOƲR.]

Ad Illustrissimum & Celsissimum Principem, JACOBUM Du­cem EBORACENSEM, de Natali Suo Auspicatissimo, Octobris XIV. Anno MDCXXXIII.

I have, contrary to the use of the Poets, made bi in Turbinibus long, because the force of Pronounciation lies there; and as to that Matter, I have fully discoursed in my Introductio ad Latinam Blasoniam, p. 144.

These Verses I presented in Anno 1677. to a most Honourable Peer of the Land, and of great Place near His Royal Highness.

Since which time, old Fabian coming into my hands, from him I got knowledge, that that advantageous Peace, mentioned by Stow, Anno 1360. (concluded between the forementioned King Edward III. and the French King) was acted upon the Fourteenth of October, with grand Solemnity.

The two former Circumstances must needs fall out Providentially: Whether this last of Anno 1360. was designed by Edward III. or no, (as remembring his former good hap) may be some question: I am of opinion, not. Where things are under a Mans peculiar Concern, he may fix a time; but here was the French King concerned, equally with the English, and many other Great Personages intreressed: To have tied them up to his own Auspicious Conceit of the Day, had been an unkind Oppression, and would have brought the Judgment of so Wise a Prince into question: We may conclude then, 'twas meerly Fortuitous. And therefore to the former Observation concerning this famous Edward, give me leave to add;

Dover Castle, was in Antient Time accounted the Key of England, (as testi­fies Matth. Paris) Therefore, when Lewis of France had set footing here, and took some eminent Places, his Father swore, he had not a foots length in England, if he had not that Castle in his possession. Kilburn's Survey of Kent, reports, That the fore­said Lewis besieged it from 22. of July, to the 14. of October following; about which time the Seige was raised, and England thereby relieved.

A memorable Peace (foretold by Nostredamus) much conducing to the saving of Christian Blood, was made upon the Fourteenth of October, 1557. between Pope Paul the IV. Henry the II. of France, and Phillip the II. of Spain. Nostredamus sayes, These Great Princes were frappèz du Ciel, moved from Heaven to make this Peace. See Ga­rencier's Comment on Nostredamus, pag. 76.

A Lucky Day this, not only to the Princes of England; but Auspicious to the Wel­fare of Europe.

Upon the Third of March last (being the day of St. Eutropius) His Royal Highness withdrew towards the Low-Countries: Procopius tells us, Humana saepe contingit a Deo mu­tari. Terence says, Vicissitudo omnium rerum est. Which two Sayings, I can no way better English, than by that of Eccles. 9.11. Time and Chance happens to all men: Nor no way better second, than with that of 1 Cor. 4.11. Incertis vagamur sedibus. This Acci­dent therefore (our Life being but a Pilgrimage, as Jacob termed it to Pharaoh) is no­thing to a General Providence in the main. Therefore from the Augury of His Four­teenth of October, and from the good Omen comprehended in the Signification of Eu­tropius, which hints, That all this shall end well, and turn to the best; and from Ecclus. 14.14, 15. I accost His Royal Highness with a Non defraudabitur a die bono; He shall not lose his Good Day.

I just now said, That the third of March was dedicated to Eutropius, which is deri­ved from [...] well, and [...] to turn: It is also dedicated to St. Maximus, St. Mari­nus, St. Lucius; which three also have notable hints in relation to His Royal Highness. First, No man can deny, but that He is Maximus Princeps. Secondly, He is Maximus Marinus; for in the time of His Exile, He was Admiral of Aragon, as I have been told many years since in Flanders; and I am sure very many Commissions in those dayes past under His Name: And till 1673. He was Lord High Admiral of England.

Lucius comes from Luci, which signifies in the Morning; and betokens a Child born in the Morning, or at Sun-rising, (which some affirm to be a good time for Birth:) But I will for my present purpose deduce it a Luceo; and I must affirm, Quod hic maximus Princeps gestis marinis maxime lucet, & alias lucebit; This most Great Prince is extreme­ly Illustrious in Sea Negotiations, and shall yet be otherwise most Illustrious.

That his Highness has long since verified the first Paragraph of my Assertion, take it not only on my Credit; but (besides what has been said before) hear part of an Ode to His Sacred Majesty, on His Highness Victory over the Dutch, June 3. 1665. com­posed by Sir Thomas Higgons, a most Worthy Person, whom his Foreign Negotiations have made enough known.

The Germans, High and Low, (amongst which last His Highness now resides) call October, Wyn-maendt (Mensis Vindemialis) the Wine-month.

The Effects of Wine we read Judges 9.13. Psal. 104.15. Eccles. 10.19. Zech. 10.7. Why then may we not term this Month Mensis Laetificans? That it may be so to his Royal Highness, as well as it was to the most Great Queen HisJohn 16.21. Mother, are the hearty Prayers of BLEW-MANTLE.

I have by me a Book Printed Anno 1641. containing the true Effigies of King CHARLES the First, of Blessed Memory, his Queen, with their Royal Progeny, with Verses annext, wherein are notable Predictions of His Royal Highness, which I will here recite:

Thus that Book: And I add,