The Petitioning-comet, or, A Brief chronology of all the famous comets and their events that have happen'd from the birth of Christ, to this very day : together with a modest enquiry into this present comet. 1681 Approx. 50 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 8 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2011-12 (EEBO-TCP Phase 2). A54568 Wing P1864 ESTC R33389 13286877 ocm 13286877 98819

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THE Petitioning-COMET: Or, a Brief CHRONOLOGY Of all the Famous COMETS, And their EVENTS, That have happen'd from the Birth of CHRIST, to this very day. Together with a Modeſt Enquiry into this preſent COMET.

Cum Deus puniturus eſt Gentem vel Urbem, prodigiis id prius ſolet ſignificare.

Herodot. lib. 6.
astronomical device

LONDON: Printed by NAT. THOMPSON, next door to the Croſs-Keys in Fetter-lane, 1681.
A LETTER out of the Country, FROM THE AUTHOR to the PRINTER. SIR,

SInce my laſt receſs from London, I have wholly devoted my ſelf to Contemplation; which is as natural to a Country life, as Flattery to the Court, Debauchery to the Town, Cozening to the City, and Fawning to the Clergy. Now of this Contemplation I have ſpent ſome part in the Evenings, about obſerving the Motion and Progreſs of this ſo-much-talkt-of COMET, and in this encloſed have ſent you the Reſult of my Thoughts concerning it, together with a Meteorological Compendium of all the moſt remarkable BLAZING-STARS, that have been at any time conſpicuous from the Nativity of Chriſt, to this very day: as alſo the Events and Misfortunes both to Kings and Kingdoms, that have attended each of thoſe Meteors. This preſent Comet (it's true) is of a menacing Aſpect, but if the New Parliament (for whoſe Convention ſo many good men pray) continue long to ſit, I fear not but the STAR will loſe its virulence and malignancy, or at leaſt its portent be averted from this our Nation; which being the humble requeſt to God of all good men, makes me thus entitle it, A Petitioning-Comet. Now as for you, my old Friend, I muſt confeſs the late Noiſe abroad of your being a Papiſt, or at leaſt Popiſhly affected, made me at firſt heſitate whether I might with ſafety entruſt any more Papers with you, or proceed in our old Acquaintance as formerly; but when upon mature deliberation I recollected all your former Letters and Diſcourſes, as well as examined what ſeveral eminent Pieces againſt Popery you have publiſh'd, even ſuch as would be a damning Sin in the very Pope himſelf to diſpenſe with, after this I ſoon ſatisfy'd my Reaſon with the abſurdity of the Report; and from that time, examined every one of your Adverſaries Intelligences, with as great expectation to find that the Emperor of Turky was turn'd a Chriſtian, and the Pop a Proteſtant.

As force and vertue of the Sun, into the higheſt Region of the Air, is there inflamed, partly by the Element of Fire on which it bordereth, and partly by the motion of the Heavens which hurleth it about; ſo as there is the ſame matter of an Earthquake, Wind, Lightning, and a Comet: if it be impriſon'd in the bowels of the Earth, it cauſeth an Earthquake; if it aſcend to the middle Region of the Air, and from thence repell'd, it produceth Wind; if it enters that Region, and be there environed with a thick Cloud, it ſends forth Lightning; but if it paſſes that Region, it then becomes a Comet, or ſome other fiery Meteor, in caſe the matter be not ſufficiently capable thereof.

Now of theſe Ignita mixta, ſome continue a longer, and ſome a ſhorter time; ſeven days is the leaſt, but ſome have been viſible ſix months together; all which happeneth according to the ſcarcity or plenty of the matter whereof it conſiſteth. In a Comet there are two things remarkable; the colour, and the faſhion.

As for their colours, they are uſually but of three ſorts: 1. If the matter be thin, then the colour is white: 2. If reaſonably thick, then the colour is ruddy, reſembling Fire: and 3. If very thick, then their colour is like the burning of Brimſtone, or of a blue appearance. Yet nevertheleſs they are not always ſo exactly of theſe three colours, without any different tincture, but as near them as the diſpoſing of their matter will admit; ſo that inſtead of white, we ſometimes have them of a yellowiſh colour; and inſtead of a blue, of a watchet or greeniſh colour, and the like.

In the next place, as for their ſhapes or forms, (if we ſtand upon a curious examination of them) they may be manifold, however Ariſtotle reſolves them into two, all their other ſhapes being dependant on theſe two: For firſt, either they ſeem round, with Beams about them, which cometh to paſs when the Matter is thin on the edges, and thick every where elſe; or ſecondly, they ſeem as it were with a Beard or Tail, which happeneth when it is but meanly thick towards ſome one ſide or other, and rather long than round. But ſome would have theſe two faſhions, to be three, becauſe the Tail hangs downward ſometimes, as well as ſide-long; and ſo there is by this means Stella crinita, Stella caudata, and Stella barbata: concerning which, I am not ſolicitous.

Now concerning the Prognoſtications of ſuch Meteors, many and various are the opinions of all Meteorologiſts; whether Comets or Blazing-Stars be generally of ſuch terrible effects, Browns Vulg Err. l. 6. c 14 as elder times have conceiv'd them, is (ſaith Dr. Brown) very uncertain: for ſince it is found that many from whence theſe predictions are drawn, have been above the Moon, why may they not be qualified from their Poſitions and Aſpects which they hold with Stars of favourable natures? or why, ſince they may be conceived to ariſe from the Effluviums of other Stars, may they not retain the benignity of their Originals? or ſince the natures of the fixed Stars are Aſtrologically differenced by the Planets, and are eſteem'd Martial or Jovial, according to the colour, whereby they anſwer theſe Planets; why although the red Comets do carry the portenſions of Mars, ſhould not the brightly white be of the influence of Jupiter or Venus, anſwerably unto Cor Scorpii and Arcturus, is not abſurd to doubt. Therefore ſome are of opinion, that this ſuperſtitious dread of Comets may poſſibly proceed from ſome terrour ſtruck into mens thoughts by reaſon of their rare and unexpected appearance, rather than from any certain ground of knowledge of the reaſon of the thing it ſelf; as if all but the hiſtory of them, were only uncertain conjectures. For (ſay they) although it may be true, that after ſuch Comets have appear'd, ſtrange things have happen'd, yet is there no more connexion of cauſality between the Comet, and the deaths of Great men, or Alterations of Government and Religion, than (as the ingenious Sir Thomas More inſtances) that the building of Tenterden Steeple was (as the old Sage would have it) the cauſe of Goodwin Sands; becauſe the one appear'd preſently upon the building of the other. And that the Almighty (they ſay) hath given theſe Signs in the Celeſtial or Aerial Regions, not only to affrighten ſuch mortals as pretend not but to be ignorant what they are; nor only to exerciſe the curioſity of others, who affect an enquiry into ſuch things; but alſo to puzzle (it may be) and diſcover the vanity of thoſe, who would be thought ignorant of nothing, be it never ſo much above them; and who chooſe rather to adventure the after-cenſure of Folly, then quit the Ambition and vain-glory of being thought Prophets, if the event chance to anſwer their prediction, by interpreting the portent of thoſe things which fore-ſignifie (it may be) nothing, or at beſt they know not what: For (ſay they) no certain knowledge, or ſcarce a ſatisfactory probability, appearing of what a thing is, who ſhall pretend to know what it ſignifies; when no one would think, but that ſhould (in reaſon) be known before, if not more eaſily than this.

Accordingly (ſaith Dr. Hakewell) the late Lord Privy-Seal,Apolog. l. 2. ſect. 6. and Earl of Northampton, in his Defenſative againſt the poiſon of ſuppoſed Prophecies, ſheweth: that as Comets do not always fore-run ſuch Events, ſo neither do ſuch Events always follow upon the appearing of Comets: ſome inſtances he produceth of Comets, which brought with them ſuch abundance of all things, as ſtories have recorded it for Monuments and Miracles to poſterity: And the like, ſaith he, could I ſay of others, An. Dom. 1555, 1556, 1557, 1558. after all which years nothing happen'd that ſhould drive a man to ſeek out any cauſe above the common reach: and therefore I allow the diligence of Gemma Friſius, taking notice of as many good, as bad effects, which have ſucceeded after Comets. Moreover he tells us, that Pecuer a great Mathematician of Germany, prognoſticated upon the laſt Comet before the writing of his Defenſative, that mens Bodies ſhould be burnt up with heat; But how fell it out? we had not (ſaith he) a more unkind Summer for many years, in reſpect of extraordinary Cold; nor was there any inclination to War, or any Prince deceas'd at that time; but on the contrary, the Plague which had raged before in Lombardy, as God would have it, ceaſed at the riſing of that Comet. Queen Elizabeth (1558.) being then at Richmond, and being diſſwaded from looking on a Comet which did then appear, made anſwer, Jacta eſt alea, the Dice are thrown; thereby intimating, that the preorder'd providence of God, was above the influence of any Star or Comet. Neither (ſaith he) do I remember that any Comet appear'd before her death, as at her entrance there did; nor before the deceaſe of Prince Henry, nor of Henry the Great of France, all three famous Princes. Charlemagne profeſs'd, that he fear'd not the ſign of a Blazing-Star, but the great and potent Creator thereof; and ſo much fear conſiſts both with Chriſtianity, and prudence:

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 .

Alſo Manilius:

Nunquam futilibus excanduit ignibus aether.

That Comets of themſelves are miſchievous, I diſown; yet how knows any man but that they may be ſet there as menaces of the Almighty's Anger? The common opinion hath been, that New Stars, Comets, and the like, either as ſigns or cauſes, or both, have always prognoſticated ſome dreadful misfortune to the World, as outragious Winds, extraordinary Drought, Dearth, Peſtilence, Wars, death of Princes, &c. Accordingly we find the wiſe men of the Eaſt prophecying, that our Saviour (at whoſe Birth a new Star appear'd) ſhould bring deſtruction upon the Kingdom of the Jews, his Native Country. But that which above all others does moſt influence me, is the experience of former Ages, wherein 'twas rarely obſerv'd that any terrible Comet appear'd, without an effect altogether as terrible. There is no general Rule without an Exception; and as we muſt not define Luxury to be a Vertue in a Prince, becauſe ſome few extravagant Princes have lived and died happily beyond expectation; ſo neither muſt we eſteem a Comet the leſs ominous, becauſe one in a hundred has proved a Bleſſing to the people, although fatal to Nero.

There are many Authors who have wrote concerning Comets, ſome in particular Treatiſes upon that ſubject, and ſome only by the by: as Joſephus, Manilius, Xiphiline, Pliny, Seneca, Suetonius, Euſebius, Nicephorus, Pontanus, Amerbachius, Niphus, Apiarius, Funccius, Mylichius, Carion, Cufrinianus, Sueſſanus, Peucerus, Camerarius, Aretius, Garcaeus, Griminaeus, Praetorius, Daſypodius, Latomus, Celichius, Irenaeus, Zeiſius, Nagelius, Keckermannus, Puteanus, Lycoſthenes, de prodigiis ab orbe condite, and others; out of whom, but more eſpecially out of Alstedius his Chronology, I have perfected this following Breviary of all the Comets that have occurr'd from Chriſt's time, to this very day. As for thoſe that happen'd before Chriſt, Hiſtory mentions not above ten or eleven, and therein they vary: however the moſt eminent of them were that which happen'd A. M. 3519. before the Peloponneſian War; and thoſe which preceded Julius Caeſar's death, whereof Virgil ſpeaks:

Non alias caelo ceciderunt plura ſereno Fulgura, nec diri toties arſere Cometae.

A Comet was ſeen, at which time Quintilius Varus was ſlain by the Germans, under the conduct of Arminius.

The death of Auguſtus Caeſar was foretold by ſeveral bloudy Comets.

Being the year that Claudius died, not only a Comet was ſeen, but alſo it rained Bloud: as if one had portended the death of Claudius, and the other the Reign of his wicked ſucceſſor Nero; who murder'd his Wife, his Mother, and his Schoolmaſter Seneca, beſides the many other robberies and exorbitances he committed.

Was ſeen a Comet and 3 Suns, to uſher in the bloudy Reign of Nero.

Appear'd another Comet that laſted 6 months, which predicted the tragical end of Nero, and ſo proved fatal to the Prince, although favourable to the people.

A Comet alſo raged for 6 months together, which was ſucceeded by a terrible Earthquake, wherewith Laodicea, Hierapolis, and the Inhabitants of Coloſſis in Natolia ſuffer'd much.

A Comet like a flaming Sword was ſeen hanging over the City of Jeruſalem, in Judea, and elſewhere, which portended the deſtruction of that holy City.

Appear'd a Comet, which is call'd Acontia, from the reſemblance it hath of a Dart.

Was ſeen that Comet, which Titus the Emperor deſcrib'd in Verſe.

A Comet was beheld about Cyprus and other places, where ſoon after many Cities were ſhaken with a dreadful Earthquake.

Terrible Winds, Earthquakes, and Plague, raging at Rome, ſucceeded a Comet; which Comet being ſhew'd to Veſpaſian, he jeſtingly ſaid, This buſhy Star belongs not to me, but the Parthian King, Ipſe enim comatus est, ego vero calvus ſum: however Veſpaſian ſoon after died, notwithſtanding his Quibble.

Was ſeen a Comet, which reſembling a Beard, was call'd Pogonias. At this time the Temple of Peace being burnt, many Wars and Troubles followed at Rome, which was imputed to the wicked Life of Commodus.

A Comet boded the burning of the Capitol, as alſo War and Peſtilence.

In the time of Severus a Comet was ſeen, it was the opinion at Rome, that it portended ſome great Evil.

Divers Comets preceeded the peſtilent Hereſie of Arius.

A Comet foreran that almoſt univerſal Earthquake, when the Sea, tranſgreſſing its bounds, devoured many Cities and people.

Appear'd a Comet like Lucifer, which from its reſemblance of a Sword was named Xiphias, and beſides many other Miſchiefs, portended the Invaſion of Eugenius.

The ſame Luciferan Comet was likewiſe ſeen.

Under Arcadius a Comet was ſeen, which ſignified his death.

A Comet appear'd like a Sword, which portended many Evils. About this time Rome was beſieg'd by Alaricus King of the Goths; beſides ſundry calamities that happen'd as well in the Eaſt as Weſt; for then was there ſo great a ſlaughter of men, that no Age can parallel from the beginning of the World: All Europe ſuffer'd, together with great part of Aſia and Africa; War, Famine, Drought, and Peſtilence infeſted the whole Univerſe: there was alſo at this time ſo great an Eclipſe of the Sun, that the Stars appear'd at Noon-day.

Under Honorius another Comet appear'd, which was ſucceeded by an Inſurrection throughout all Spain and Italy.

A Comet was ſeen, and Bloud flowed at Tholouſe.

A Comet ſhining for many days together, there happen'd a terrible Earthquake; alſo Attyla, having after a long Siege taken Aquileia, gave terrour to Vincentia, Verona, Millane, Pavia, Baſil, Argentina, Vormatia, Cologne, and other Cities upon the Rhine, till at length he was overthrown in a great Battel in the Campaign Fields.

A Comet and other Prodigies happen'd, after which a Plague deſtroy'd many.

A bearded Comet appear'd, which portended an Earthquake, wherein many Cities and Men periſh'd.

Another Comet blazed under Juſtinian, which was ſucceeded not only by an Earthquake that laſted for ten days, but alſo by a Sedition at Conſtantinople, and Plague at Antioch, and other places.

A Comet appear'd in the form of a Lance, ſoon after which Rome was taken by Totila, and Franconia and Turingia waſted by the Huns.

A Comet gave warning of the overthrow of the Perſians by Mauritius.

A dreadful Comet appear'd, which was attended with many Evils: as for inſtance, Drought, ſcarcity of Corn, the Lombards War in Italy, and vaſt ſwarms of Locuſts all thereabouts.

A moſt prodigious Comet was ſeen, beſides many other ſtrange things, which were the forerunners of the Emperor Mauritius his ſlaughter, the future Idolatry of Mahomet, and Tyranny of the Biſhop of Rome, when Boniface the III. (notwithſtanding the Patriarch of Constantinople) commanded of Phocas, that the Church of Rome ſhould be call'd and eſteem'd the Head of all other Churches.

A Comet appear'd; at which time Coſroes King of Perſia ſackt Jeruſalem, and in the year 622. Mahomed began. There were likewiſe ſeen ſeveral other Prodigies, as well as horrid Noiſes heard of Thundring, &c.

A Comet was ſeen in ſhape of a Spear; about which time the Saracens rendred themſelves Maſters of Damaſcus, Jeruſalem, and all Syria.

Another great Comet foreran Drought, Peſtilence, and Famine.

A Comet laſted for 3 whole months, when ſoon after the Saracens violently infeſted the Roman Empire, coming with a great Navy into Sicily-Bellarmine in his Chronology places this Comet in the year 678. and further adds, that it did not rain one drop in the 3 following years.

A Comet foretold the following Plague, Thunders, Famine, and Inundations.

Two Comets were ſeen; and in the ſame year many parts of the World were infected with a Plague, eſpecially Conſtantinople, wherein 300000 men loſt their Lives; and ſoon after Luitprandus King of the Lombards beſieges Rome; alſo the Saracens ſayling out of Africa into Spain, poſſeſt themſelves of part of that Province.

A Comet appear'd in Syria, and many ſickly Diſtempers followed.

Two Comets were ſeen, the one in the Eaſt, the other in the Weſt, after which the Turks invaded Armenia.

Another Comet was ſucceeded firſt by a great Cold, and afterwards by a Blaſt; alſo the Turks increaſe in power.

Before the death of Charles the Great appear'd a moſt remarkable and dreadful Comet, whereat the Emperor being ſtruck with terror, (fearing leſt it threatned either the loſs of his Kingdom or of his Life) conſulted with Eginardus the Philoſopher about it; who being unwilling to increaſe the Emperor's Melancholy, referr'd him to that comfortable place in the Prophet, A ſignis Coeli nolite timere. Whereupon the good Emperor replied, We ought not to fear any thing but that God who is the Creator both of Men and Stars; nevertheleſs are we bound to praiſe his Clemency, who, when we offend, admoniſhes us by ſuch Signs. Others attribute this paſſage to Ludovicus the I. the Son of Charles the Great.

Was a Comet ſeen; as alſo another in the year 830. about which time, ſome of the Heads of the Clergy, in malice to the Emperor Ludovicus, for his reproving their inſolent behaviour, excited his own Sons to conſpire againſt him, to take their Father and impriſon him.

Three Comets appear'd before the Diſſention and War between Ludovicus Pius his Sons, that aroſe about the diviſion of the Kingdom. Then it was alſo that the Saracens march'd out of Africk into Italy, and ſackt Rome, in their return from whence they were drowned.

A Comet preceeded a terrible Earthquake.

A Comet was ſucceeded by a dreadful Plague and Famine.

A Comet was ſeen before the burning of Triers.

A Comet lighted the Emperor Arnolphus to his Grave. Soon after which, the Huns and Saracens made their Incurſion into Italy.

A Comet appear'd before the Hungarians entred and laid waſte Germany. Alſo about the ſame time, Berengarius, Emperor of Italy, deprived Ludovicus King of Lombardy of his Sight.

Another Comet, after which followed a prodigious quantity of Hail.

More Comets portended the Hungarians Invaſion of Italy, as alſo the great Inundation of Waters, which happen'd chiefly in Saxony; both which things happen'd ſoon after.

Comets predicted the enſuing War, Famine, and Mortality of all kinds of living Creatures.

In Italy a Comet of a wonderful bigneſs was ſeen, which was attended with Plague, Famine, and extraordinary Floods of Water.

A Comet and other prodigies were ſeen, portending that Famine which ſoon after followed.

Was a Comet that preſaged a Famine, Peſtilence, and Earthquake.

Comets and other wonderful things appear'd, before Otho the III. ſubdued the growing Greatneſs of the Patricii, and ſubſtituted ſeven Electors in their ſtead.

A Comet and other things ſupernatural, portended that great Plague and Famine, which raged ſo violently in England for 3 years together, that the living were hardly ſufficient to bury the dead, many Towns being thereby exhauſted of Man, Woman, and Child.

A Comet gave warning of the enſuing War and Plague in Polonia.

A Comet preadvertiſed of a Plague, Famine, and great Inundations of Water.

A Comet gave light to the Sedition in Italy.

The War in Hungary ſucceeded a Comet.

The death of the King of Poland, and Famine in the ſame Countrey, were preſignifi'd by a Comet.

For a conſiderable ſpace together Comets were viſible all the World over; at which time William the Norman firſt attack'd this Kingdom, which afterwards he conquer'd. Alſo in this ſame year, Pope Gregory the VII. or Hildebrand, excommunicated Henry the IV. and ſubſtituted Rodolphus in his place.

A Comet foreboded a great Drought, Peſtilence, and Famine.

Another fiery Comet appear'd, with reference to the Evils mention'd in the two former years.

Another 4th. Comet was ſeen, and all relating to the Evils before-recited, but more eſpecially to various Seditions which about this time occurr'd: As the trampling on the Emperor's Majeſty by Pope Hildebrand, which he had continued to do from the year 1060. till this preſent time 1071. The Rebellion of the Saxons: Caeſar made a Petitioner to the Pope: Rodolphus elected in oppoſition to Henry, but afterwards ſlain: And laſt of all, the inſolent Pope himſelf reduced to great Extremities by Henry the IV.

In every one of theſe years a ſeveral Comet was ſeen; and about this time it was, that Conradus and Henry the V. confederated together againſt his Father Henry the IV. Then followed the Holy War, which proved very fatal to all Chriſtendom. Hiſtories likewiſe tells us of many other Calamities that happen'd at that time; as Famine, and almoſt an univerſal Plague throughout the World; as likewiſe that unhappy War which the Pope waged in Germany, wherein arming the Saxons againſt Henry the V. in five ſeveral Battels much bloud was ſpilt, and many gallant Princes loſt their Lives: nor would his Holineſs be pacifi'd, until the Emperor aboliſh'd the Edict of his Grandfather Henry the III. wherein it was eſtabliſh'd, that no one ſhould be acknowledg'd for Pope, until the Emperor had firſt ratified his Election.

A Comet appear'd, and ſoon after the Swedes and the Danes revolted from the Emperor Lotharius, by whom they were afterwards reduced.

Another Comet was ſeen, and then a War broke out between the Saxons, Vandals, and Polanders; alſo the Nobles in Haſſia rebell'd.

There appear'd a very great Comet, and in the year following the Tartars breaking into Poland and Sileſia, kill'd a great number of men, and cut off one Ear from every man they ſlew, thereby to keep an account how many were ſlain.

A Comet blazed in France, at which time the Pope being at variance with the Emperor Frederick II. the faction of the Gibellines took part with the Emperor, and the faction of the Guelphs with the Pope.

A Comet aroſe, and in the year following the Tartars with a vaſt Army made an incurſion into Poland, where deſtroying all things with Fire and Sword, they afterwards paſſing through Moravia into Hungary, made havock there for three years. At this time alſo there happen'd in Burgundy a moſt terrible Earthquake, which removed two Mountains, and overwhelmed divers men.

A Comet was the forerunner of dreadful High winds.

There appear'd a Comet with a vaſt long Tail, and preſently after King Charles with an Army out of France, began his Expedition againſt Sicily, where having overcome their King Manfredus, he took poſſeſſion of the Kingdom of Naples. Two years after this, the Saracens marched into Spain, where they won and loſt ſeveral great Battels, with much ſlaughter on either ſide. In Hetruria alſo great Tumults aroſe; and in the third year after the appearing of the Comet, Banducar King of the Babylonians and Aſſyrians, with a great Army invaded Armenia, reduced Antioch, and gave a great diſcomfiture to the Chriſtians.

In each of theſe years Comets appear'd, which amongſt other miſeries foretold the afflictions which the Chriſtians ſhould receive from the Ottoman Family, which began from Oſman or Ottoman, in the year of Chriſt 1297. as alſo a Peſtilence which had almoſt infected the whole World, in the year 1305.

Was ſeen a Comet, and ſo alſo in the other four ſucceeding years. Now it was that Henry Lutzelburgius was poiſon'd by a Monk: likewiſe a Contention or Civil War did at this time ariſe about chooſing Emperour, which produced great Troubles in Germany for the ſpace of eight years; as alſo the greateſt Peſtilence amongſt both Men and Cattel that ever was known, together with ſcarcity of Corn.

Two Comets were then to be ſeen: ſoon after began the contention between Ludovicus Bavarus, and Pope Clement the 6th. The Locuſts alſo were then very pernicious.

Appear'd a Comet in the Heavens, which was fulfilled by a Victory that the Engliſh obtained over the French, of whom ten thouſand were ſlain There was at the ſame time a Plague taging in Florence, which deſtroy'd fifteen thouſand.

There was another Comet, and ſoon after a general Peſtilence: and ſo in the years 1351. and 1353. in both which years there appear'd Comets with the like ſucceſs.

John Wickliffe Reformation was introduced by a Comet.

Two Comets portended the private diſcontents of the Princes of France, as well as Bertholdus the German Monk his invention of Guns in the year 1380.

A new Comet was ſeen, which no ſooner diſappear'd, but a cruel Plague began.

Another Comet was viſible, and attended with unheard-of and incurable diſeaſes.

A Comet appear'd, which the Aſtrologers call Veru, a Dart, and eſteem the worſt of all others it denoted the Italians Treachery, who then began to ſhake off the yoke of the German Empite.

In every one of theſe years a ſeveral Comet appear'd, and many great misfortunes enſued them: divers new diſeaſes, Rivers dried up, and great Plagues. At the ſame time Tamerlane, or Tamyris King of the Scythians and Parthians, with an innumerable Army invaded all Aſia, calling himſelf the wrath of God, and deſolation of the Earth▪ Now alſo it was that Ziſca Captain of the Huſſes, fought ſucceſsfully againſt Sigiſmund the Emperor.

Was beheld a great Comet, after which there was great ſcarcity of Corn for ſix years together.

There was both a Comet; and an Eclipſe of the Sun, which was follow'd by ſeveral Wars.

A Comet preceded the invention of Printing, which was diſcover'd in the year following.

Another Comet flam'd, before the French King ſet upon Helvetia: at this time Ʋladiſlaus K. of Hungary was ſlain by Amurath; alſo a Sedition broke out in England: And in the year 1454 the Turk reduc'd Conſtantinople.

A Comet was ſeen, attended by a great Wind and Earthquake: the Turk alſo did then poſſeſs himſelf of Lemnus, Mitylene, and Euboea.

A Comet which they call'd Nigrum, did variouſly affect the minds of men: the death of Alphonſus King of Arragon follow'd it, which embroil'd Aemilia, Sabina, Campania, and all the Kingdom of Naples in a long and grievous War: a Plague follow'd not long after; alſo the Turk made himſelf Maſter of Peloponneſus.

A Comet preceded thoſe great Victories of Mahomet the II. who in the year of our Lord 1451. reduced two Empires and twelve Kingdoms to his ſubjection.

A Comet foretold the deaths of ſeveral Princes.

Two Comets appear'd, which were ſucceeded by ſeveral Wars, and in the year following by an exceſſive unnatural Heat, and violent Plague: at this time Charles Duke of Burgundy made War upon his Neighbours, which War laſted many years, and was ended by his death. Ʋſſanus Caſſanus King of Parthia and Armenia, then fought with Mahomet, which War ſwept away abundance of men: alſo Stephanus the Palatinate of Moldavia, gave Mahomet a great defeat at the Danubius. The Germans call'd this Comet a Peacocks Tail, and moſt thought it portended the Burgundian War.

A Comet was conſpicuous before Charles of Burgandy ſeiz'd upon Lorain.

A Comet blazed, which was the forerunner of ſo hot a Seaſon, that it burnt up not only Corn, but Trees; alſo many great Rivers dried up, and a great Plague followed. At the ſame time Charles of Burgundy was ſlain by the Helvetians: and in this year many great Princes died.

A Comet appear'd, and a very unwholſome time follow'd both for Men and Beaſts: alſo the Turks poſſeſſed themſelves of part of Dalmatia and Sclavonia.

A Comet was ſeen before the Tartars devaſtation of Poland, Muſcovy, and Lithuania: a little after the Bavarian War began. There was alſo at this time a raging Famine and Peſtilence.

A Comet portended the death of Philip King of Spain, as alſo the Wars of the Emperor Maximilian's Sons with the French and Venetians; beſides various Inundations, Winds, and ſcarcity of Corn.

Luther (who in the year 1517. wrote againſt Indulgences) his Reformation ſucceeded a Comet.

A Comet appear'd, and the Summer following was full of Storms, Earthquakes, and great falls of Water.

A terrible Comet was ſeen with a long bloudy Tail, at which time the Turk waſted Hungary, and much hurt was done by the great ſwarms of Locuſts.

Four Comets appear'd this year, when ſoon after the Turk beſieg'd Viennal, and became Maſter of many Cities in Hungary: alſo the Sweating-ſickneſs odeſtroy'd many thouſands in England.

Was another Comet; then were many Towns and Villages overwhelm'd with Water both in Holland and Zealand: alſo the Tiber overflow'd Rome.

A Comet portended no leſs then a great ſlaughter of men both in the Eaſt and Weſt: for the Turk broke into Hungary and Austria. King Chriſtians with a great Fleet ſailed into Denmark, to recover his Kingdoms: The Helvetian War began upon the ſcore of Religion, wherein there were two eminent Battels, in the firſt of which Zuinglius was ſlain.

A terrible Comet was ſeen, at which time the Turks making an irruption into Hungary, were repell'd by the Chriſtians.

A Comet call'd Xiphias (from its reſemblance of a Sword) was conſpicuous: after which followed Earthquakes in Germany, alterations in the Government of England, and a conteſt between Charles the V. and the French, about the Dukedom of Millain.

A Comet was ſeen of a fiery colour, upon which follow'd an Epidemical Sickneſs in many places.

Another Comet was viſible, and in the year following enſued ſo hot a Summer, that it burnt up many Woods, and dried up many Rivers and Fountains.

A great Plague, and the Conqueſt of Buda by the Turks, was ſignify'd by a Comet: alſo Charles the V. his unlucky Voyage into Africa, wherein many of his Ships and Men were loſt by Storm.

After a Comet followed great ſwarms of miſchievous Locuſts: likewiſe the unfortunate Expedition of the Chriſtians againſt the Turks, wherein great part of their Forces periſhed by Sickneſs: alſo the Grape was this year ſo ſowr, that no Wine could be drank.

A Comet preceded the Gallick Perſecution.

Another Comet appear'd, in which year many learned and pious men deceaſed: in many parts of Germany the Reform'd Church at this time labour'd under great difficulties.

A Comet lighted Charles the V. into his retirement, when he reſign'd his Empire: alſo in the year 1566. began the War in the Low-Countries, upon the account of the Spaniſh Inquiſition.

A new Star was ſeen in Caſſiopeia's Sign, which was by moſt eſteem'd a Comet, in which year the Pariſian Nuptials were celebrated with Bloud, inſtead of Wine.

In every one of theſe years were Comets ſeen, although the three laſt were by ſome eminent men eſteem'd only new Stars: they portended the various mutations in Holland, Hungary, Bohemia, and Germany.

And beſides all theſe, the Blazing-Star before the late Civil Wars, as well as thoſe two dreadful Comets before the laſt Plague, and Fire of London, may (conſidering the preſent ill ſtate of this unhappy Nation, and ſinful People) give us juſt occaſion to fear at leaſt no better an Event, after this ſo much a worſe Comet, than has ever yet appear'd; unleſs Providence grants that happy Ʋnion of Proteſtants, and Excluſion of Papiſts, which all good men, that are not ſo themſelves, muſt ever wiſh and pray for.

Having thus given you an account of theſe Comets, their Hiſtory, Nature, Cauſes, and Effects, according to the moſt commonly receiv'd Opinions; ſo let me now conclude this diſcourſe with ſome ſmall tranſitory Remarques upon this preſent Comet, which (by all the relations I have met with) is far the moſt large and terrible that ever yet was ſeen. After it had ſhewn it ſelf in other parts, it began to appear to us here in England, on Friday December the 10th. about half an hour paſt four in the Afternoon, being of a pale dusky colour, with a prodigious Stream, at leaſt 35. degrees in length: and the Aſtrologers ſay its ſignification cannot be good, becauſe it is purely Saturuine. Now for the more difficult and uncertain part, although I ſhall leave that to thoſe who dare undertake it; yet concerning the other more eaſie one, I could not forbear making ſome ſmall obſervation, and collecting ſome conjecture (among the croud of others, for all are no better) from it.

At this Comets firſt appearing to the view of us near Buckingham, there was ſeen an unuſual and prodigious ſtream of Light, ariſing out of, or from behind a Cloud at the Horizon, South-Weſt, and darting upward into the Galaxie (or Milkie way) towards Caſſiopeia, North-Eaſt; viſible, in a clear Sky, as ſoon as the retreating light of the Sun would ſuffer it to be ſo; and moving Northward on the Horizon, till about 8. of the clock it diſappear'd. It then ſeem'd broadeſt at the Horizon, growing ſharper upwards by degrees, like a Pyramid or Sword revers'd. This firſt ſhape of it, though it cauſed ſome doubt in me, yet could not wholly forbid me to think it to proceed from one of thoſe Comets called Blazing-Stars, concluding the Star it ſelf to be ſunk below our Horizon, either together with, or preſently after the great Luminary. On the Wedneſday after this firſt appearance, was the firſt time I could perceive the Star at the bottom of the Light, about five degrees above our Horizon, which though not very viſible, was yet enough to ſhew that I were not miſtaken. But now the ſhape ſeem'd alter'd, the Stream ſharpeſt at the Comet, and broader upwards, (to the wonder of thoſe who apprehended not the reaſon of it) till at the end of the Tail it yet continued to appear ſomewhat narrower than in the middle.

After this, the circular motion of the Comet being ſlower than that of the Sun, it appear'd higher and higher every Night above the Horizon, declining ſtill more and more Northward in its ſetting; in ſo much that the laſt time I have yet ſeen it, (which was the 4th. of this inſtant January) when its firſt appearance after Sun-ſetting was (as I could gueſs without an Inſtrument) above fifty degrees above the Horizon, and its ſetting almoſt Northward.

In every obſervation I perceiv'd the Tail or Blaze of light to alter its pointing from the Star, turning every night from the North-Eaſt (as the hand of a Watch) more Eaſtward; and ſtill the higher the Star appear'd, the Tail turning a farther compaſs, till at this time, from pointing North-Eaſt (as it always did) at its firſt appearing in the Evening, before its ſetting the Blaze turns ſo much as to point almoſt South. This to ſome ſeem'd ſtrange, and to me enough to make me, conſidering the turning to be conſtant, and gueſſing (as well as I could without a Globe) at the place of the Sun under our Horizon, eaſily to fancy (and I thought truly) the Blaze to proceed in a direct Line from the Sun, by the Body of the Comet, and ſo to turn its pointing agreeably to the Suns motion, in a direct Line from it. Now this obſervation, whether exactly true or not, yet appear'd to me ſo very near the Truth, as to embolden me to have ſome thoughts, firſt to publiſh it (at leaſt in diſcourſe) for others examination, who might have better skill and means to do it; and then to improve it into this further conjecture at the Nature and Cauſe of ſuch Comets, (if it proves ſo true, as I preſume it is) at leaſt of this preſent Comet, (the firſt I ever took ſo much notice of) for the ſalving of theſe Phaenomena aforeſaid: Namely, that whereſoever the place of it is, and whatſoever the Matter whereof it is compoſed, it ſeems to be ſuch as is like a Globe of Glaſs, or (it may be) of concrete Water, apt to reflect a gliſtering ſhine to all that behold it in a requiſite Poſition, if not every way: And withall, by its Tranſparency to tranſmit in a direct Line, and in a Blaze from it, thoſe Beams which it receives from ſuch a Luminary as the Sun is. So that the Body of the Comet, by a borrowed light from the Sun, ſomewhat reſembles other Stars: but the Tail, or Blaze, may be not a flame from any burning, (for why then ſhould it turn ſo conſtantly as the Sun directs it?) but only from the Comets being of a pellucid ſubſtance, (which other Stars are not) and ſo tranſmitting thoſe Beams, which ſhine upon the one ſide, in ſuch a Blaze, on the oppoſite ſide. This may alſo afford a Reaſon why the Star appearing higher towards our Zenith, the Blaze appears ſhorter to us, than it did when lower, and nearer to the Sun.

And further, moſt conjectures of its ſignificancy, as well as moſt of the Terrour from the thing it ſelf, (for I blame not thoſe who eſteem it as Gods Sign) proceeding from the apprehenſions of its dreadful burning, in ſo much as ſome ſeem to have been in care for the whole Machine of the Univerſe, from ſuch vaſt Conflagrations: I leave it to men to conſider rationally, how both theſe may be abated and allay'd by this opinion, if receiv'd as the moſt probable. In confirmation whereof, I ſeem'd to my ſelf to want nothing, but the obſervation of others, or my own, of more Comets, or of this if it ſhould continue to appear to us ſo long, as to have the Sun-beams fall on the reverſe of it, that ſo I might perceive whether the Blaze be always darted in ſuch a direct Line from the great Light of the World, whereſoever it be.

But this conjecture ſeeming at firſt new, and ſingular, to my ſelf, and likely to ſeem ſo to others alſo, I could not perſwade my ſelf to think of giving it vent, ſave only in ſome private talk; till by its importunity on my thoughts, it put me on ſearching into thoſe few Books I have, that write of ſuch things: And then I was at laſt ſurprized with ſome ſatisfaction to find, that the famous Cardan had the ſame fancy; and that neither did the as famous Jul. Scaliger (though ſo much diſpoſed to quarrel with him) diſſent from him in this ſubtilty; as whoever thinks it worth the while, may find in Scaliger's 79. Exereit. de ſubtil. ad Hieron. Cardan. where Cardan alſo to my further ſatisfaction ſupply'd me with that, which I have ſaid before I wanted, for the encouragement of this conjecture: Averſa ſemper à ſole cauda eſt.

FINIS.