16. "There was an apparition," saith Mr. Rosse,"to Mr. Nicholas Smith, my dear friend, immediately before he fell sick of that fever that killed him. Having been lately abroad in London, as he was going up stairs into his chamber, he was embraced (as he thought) by a woman all in white; at which he cried out; nothing appearing, he presently sickened, went to bed, and within a week or ten days died. children, Godfrey of Boulogne, succeeded his uncle Godfrey in the dukedom of Lorrain; the second, which was Baldwin, was king of Jerusalem; and the youngest, Eustachius, was earl of Bononia. 19. Daniel Chamier, a learned minister in France, being at Montaubon on a Sunday, was asked, "Whether he preached that day?" He answered, "No, for it was the day of his repose and rest." So indeed it proved (though in another'sense than he meant it), for he was that day slain at the place beforementioned with a cannon-bullet, which had a C upon it, as if it was marked out only for Chamier. 17. Alexius Angelus having deprived 20. When Philip the landgrave of his brother of the empire, and coming Hesseendeavoured to restore Christopher forth of the temple of Sophia, where duke of Wittenberg to his father's printhe custom was to be crowned, the so- cipality, Ferdinand of Austria, king of lemnity being over, he was to mount a the Romans (that he might preserve what gallant Arabian horse; but the horse he had gotten), sent forces by the way bounded and reared, and by no means of Bohemia, under the command of would suffer him to get on his back; but Philip the Palatine, to oppose the design after many times stroking of his neck, of the landgrave. The Palatine hearing and with like arts, he had appeased him, the enemy was prepared to fight, and he then got upon his back, and took the upon their march against him, stood still reins into his hand. The horse (as if he with his army in a valley near a place found himself deceived in his rider) grew called Lauffen, and sent out thence a fierce as before; with loud neighings he party, as scouts, to discover what counraised his fore-feet into the air; nor did tenance the enemy bore. The landgrave's he cease bounding and curvetting, till he scouts met with these, and so a skirmish had first shaken off the double crown was betwixt them; the landgrave inquirfrom his head, which was broken in the ing of the scouts that were returned, fall, and soon after cast himself to the Whereabouts the enemy was?" and ground. This was looked upon by most they telling him " they were in Lauffen : as an unfortunate omen; for after "6 many civil and foreign wars he was deposed, and his brother restored. 18. The three sons of Eustachius, the earl of Bononia, were playing together, and ran and hid themselves under the coat of their mother Ida; the earl came in upon the interim, and asked his lady what it was that she had hid under her garments?" Three great princes," replied the lady smiling, "whereof the one is a duke, the second a king, and the the third an earl:" and the event made good her words; for the eldest of those 66 My soldiers," said he, "courage, for I take this as a fortunate omen of our assured victory, seeing that we understand that our enemies are in flight," (for Lauffen, in the German language, signifies flight). Nor was his presage in vain; for all the forces of the king turned their backs and fled; their flight being the more ignominious and dishonourable, in that they departed without staying the trial of a battle. 21. Thomas Sarzanus went as legate from pope Eugenius the Fourth into Germany; and as he passed the Alps, he (15.) Dinoth. Memorab. 1. 6. p. 387. Plut. in Mario.-(16.) Rosse's Arcana Microcosm. p. 217. (17.) Dinoth. 1. 6. p. 422. Nicet. Chron. Annal. fol. 52.- (18.) Caus. Holy Court, tom. 2. p. 176.—(19.) Leigh of Relig. & Learn. p. 160.—(20.) Dinoth. 1. 6. p. 424. met with Æneas Picolomineus, ambassador to the emperor Frederic the Third. They lodged both in the same inn; and when Æneas was somewhat saving, and would discount of the reckoning, said Thomas to him, smiling, "Why should we be so sparing in our expences, seeing both of us shall live to be popes ?" He spake that in sport, which yet afterwards the fortune and virtue of them both brought to pass; Thomas by the name of Nicholas the Fifth, and Eneas by that of Pius the Second. 22. Nero the emperor speaking in the My father, my mother, and my wife Which was understood as a presage 23. The conduct of the war with Perses, king of Macedon, fell not by Jot, but was decreed by the senate to L. Paulus Æmilius the consul; which done he returned (honourably attended) from the senate to his house; in the entrance of which he found a little daughter of his called Tertia (then very young) looking sad, as oue that had been lately weeping. He asked her wherefore she looked so sorrowful? She answered, "That Perses was dead;" it was a little dog so called that the young girl delighted in. Paulus received the omen of that casual word, and then firmly preconceived in his mind a certain hope of his future illustrious triumph over the conquered Perses, which not long after fell out. • 24. When M. Crassus was come as far as Brundusium, with a purpose to pass over his army towards the Parthian war, it was observed, that a seller of fruit, who used to call up and down Cauneas (that is a sort of figs, so called from the place where they grow), instead of that, his cry seemed to all men to be Cave-ne-eas, "Beware of going ;" and upon the very day that he fought with the Parthian (by accident, and not think ing what he did), he put upon him 1 black paludamentum, or general's coat, whereas it is the custom of the Roman generals to put on a crimson one in the day of battle. From this accident the army conceived an ill omen, in respect of the battle that was to follow. Nor did they fail in their presage; for Crassus himself and his son were both slain, and the whole army overthrown almost to an entire destruction. 25. In the reign of the emperor Valentinian, Ambrosius, a citizen of Rome, the then prefect of Rome, according to was sent governor to Milan. Probus, the custom, was to admonish and advise him how to demean himself in his place. Amongst other things, he told him he was to go to his new office, not as a judge so much as a bishop. Probus thought stand what chaste and uncorrupt behanothing further than to let him underviour was requisite for him in bis juisdiction. But it proved, that he who was sent as their governor, was by them elected their bishop: he accepted the place after much importunity, and no man did better demean himself therein. 26. Didius Julianus (being as yet but a private man) on a time presented the son of his brother to the emperor Ælius Pertinax. The emperor was exhorting the young man that he should obey his (21.) Falgos. Er. l. 1. c. 3. p. 72.-2.) Sueton. 1. cap. 46. p. 163, 264. Fulgos. Ex. 1. 1. c. 3. p. 60, 61.-—(23.)Flut. in Æu ilio, p. 260. Val. Max. I. 1. c. 4. p. 12.—(24.) Plut. in Crasso, Dinoth. 1. 6. p. 420. Fuigos. 1. c. §. p. 59.-(25.) Caus. Holy Court, tom. 2. D: 176, uncle; uncle; and as he turned from him. "See," said he, "that you reverence my colleague and successor.” Julianus and Pertinax had been consuls together, and he had succeeded Pertinax in his proconsulship; but it seems the emperor's words did mean something yet further, for in a short time after he succeeded him also in the empire. 27. When Severus was returning from Britain to Rome, a negro soldier, crowned with a garland of cypress, met him upon the way; Severus troubled with this sad aspect, commanded them to remove him from his retinue. The so'dier intending, with some facetious speech, to remove that trouble he had given him by his countenance and funeral garland, instead of that did increase it; speaking thus to the emperor "You have enjoyed all things, you have subdued all things, and now you shall be made a god." Not long after Severus died in Britain, and his body being brought back to Rome (as 'tis usual for the dead emperors), he was numbered amongst their gods. 28. When the emperor Julianus depart, ed out of Antioch to march against the Persians, where he lost his life, being much displeased with that city for some seditious words and actions that had been amongst them, turning himself to the people, "I will come hither no more," said he. And when he sacrificed to Mars (near the city of Ctesiphon), and perceived, that the entrails afforded no sign of prosperity, he said, "I will sacrifice to Mars no more;" supposing (when he spoke) that both these should remain in his choice; but he was deceived, they were as presages that he should be hindered both from the one and the other by death. 29. Clodovæus, king of France, when he had determined to wage war in Spain with Alarick, king of the Goths, before such time as he would begin to march against him, he sent messengers with presents to the shrine of St. Martin, commanding them, that upon their entrance of the temple they should observe such things as might afford a conjecture touching the event of the future war. Entering therefore the temple, they heard the monks, who were at their vespers, singing those words in the Psalms; "Thou, O lord, hast girded me with strength to the battle." They took this as a presage of felicity of the king, and departed; who also, hereupon full of hope, undertook the war; and having routed the enemy, compelled him to fly. 30. Hannibal was commanded back from Italy into Africa, to look to the Carthaginian affairs nearer home, which at that time went but ill with them; and drawing near the African shore, he caused one of the mariners to ascend the top of the mast, and thence to discover in what manner the country did appear, and what he should first observe therein. He tells Hannibal that he saw an old ruinated sepulchre. Hannibal disliking this answer (for that he thought the place ominous to land at), turned aside, and put his forces ashore near the town of Leptis; whence sending a herald to Scipio, the Roman general, he demanded a personal treaty with him, in which he offered conditions of peace; which being refused by Scipio, he was constrained to decide the matter by battle; where he was overthrown, and the whole force and power of the Carthaginians broken with him. 31. The emperor Domitianus (the day before he was slain), when some muchrooms were sent him for a present, com→ mauded that they should be kept for him till the next day; adding, * If I may have leave to enjoy them.' Then turning to them who stood about him, he told them, "that the day following the moon would be in Aquarius, and that an action should follow thereupon, that should give occasion to the whole world to discourse upon it." In like manner, when he had scratched a pustule upon his forehead, till such time as the blood dropped out of it; “I could wish,” said he, that this were all the blood that shall he shed, and that this little (26) Fulgos. Ex. l. 1. c. 3. p. 63.(27.) Ibid. p. 64, (28.) Ibid. p. 68.—(29.) Ibid. p. 70. Hist. 1. 30. p. 360, Dinoth, 1. 0. p. 419. might 'might suffice." By all these words presaging that his end was not far off, whether occasioned by some prediction he had met with, or some evil abodement of his own mind, or that they all proceeded casually from him. 32. Pope Paul the Second upon the very day he had promoted Franciscus Ruverus to a cardinalship, when by accident he was speaking of it, "I have this day," said he, "chosen my successor." The event made it appear that he had spoken the truth; for pope Paul being dead, Franciscus Ruverus succeeded him in the popedom by the name of Sixtus the Fourth. 33. Leonardus Ruverus was cousin to the forementioned cardinal, being his brother's son, and, upon the account of his poverty and mean parts was the mockery of his country. For when any man called him, he told them they ought to call him the count; and if, in a way of jest, any man at any time propounded a wife to him, he would say, "that he would not marry any other than such a one as was the kinswoman of a king." And the fortune of his uncle brought all that to pass, which he used to say of himself: for being honoured with the dukedom and earldom of the city of Sora, and especially being raised to the dignity of a Roman præfect, he afterwards had for his wife the niece of Ferdinando king of Naples. 34. The day before the battle of Actium Octavianus Augustus went out of his tent to take a view of the ships, and meeting a muleteer, he asked him his name; who told him his name was Eutychus, or good fortune: and being asked his ass's name; it was (he said) Nicon, or victory. Octavianus took it for a good omen, that the names seemed to favour him so much; and soon after he had that victory that made him lord of the whole Roman empire, without any competitor able to stand against him. 35. Richard the Second, king of England, being at Flint castle, and hav ing received in thither Henry duke of Lancaster, he was by him conveyed thence to Chester. Being about to remove, they loosed a greyhound of the king's, as was usual whensoever the king got on horseback, which greyhound used to leap upon the king's shoulders, and fawn upon him exceedingly. Being loosed, at this time he leaped upon the duke of Lancaster, and fawned upon him in the same manner he used to do upon his master. The duke asked the king, "what the dog meant or intended?" "It is an ill and unhappy omen to me," said the king; "but a fortunate one to you; for he acknowledges thee to be the king, and that thou shalt reign in my stead." This he said with a preaging mind upon a light occasion, which yet in short time came to pass accordingly. 36. The Swissers being besieged by the French in Novaria, and both parts being intent upon the approaching battle, the sun being now ready to set, all the dogs of the French left the camp, and in a great body made to Novaria; where being received by the Swissers, they licked their legs, and shook their tails, as if the Swissers were already become their masters. They therefore received it as a good omen, presaging that by an unfortunate battle the French should lose the lordship over them; as indeed the success was. 37. There was a noted begger in Paris called Mauritius, who used to say he should be a bishop; and although he were ever so hungry or in want, yet would he not receive an alms at the hands of any man, who before-hand (as it is usual to jest) went about to make him promise; that he would never be a bishop. This man, from this abject condition, came at last to be a bishop of Paris. 38. Doctor Heylin, in his life of William Laud, archbishop of Canterbury, mentions these as the sad presages of his fall and death. On Friday night, the (31.) Sueton. in Domitian. c. 16. p. 339.-(32.) Fulgos. Ex. 1. 1.c.3. p. 72.-(33.) Ibid. p. 73.-(34.) Zonar. tom. 2. Dinoth. 1. 6. p. 421.-(35.) Ibid. p. 223.—(36.) Ibid. p. 424,-(37.) Fulgos. 1. 1 c. 3. p. 73. Caus. Holy Court. c. 9. p. 176. twenty twenty-seventh of December, 1639, there was raised such a violent tempest, that many of the boats which were drawn to land at Lambeth, were dashed one against another, and were broke to pieces; the shafts of two chimnies were blown down upon the roof of his chamber, and beat down both the lead and rafters upon his bed, in which ruin he must needs have perished, if the roughness of the water had not forced him to keep his chamber at Whitehall. The same night at Croydon (a retiring-place belonging to the archbishop of Canterbury) one of the pinnacles fell from the steeple, and beat down the lead and roof of the church about twenty feet square. The same night too, at the metropolitical church in the city of Canterbury, one of the pinnacles upon the belfry tower, which carried a vane, with this archbishop's arms upon it, was violently struck down (but borne a good distance from the steeple), and fell upon the roof of the cloister, under which the arms of archiepiscopal see itself were engraven in stone; which arms, being broken to pieces by the former, gave occasion to one who loved him not to collect this inference: "That the arms of the present archbishop of Canterbury, breaking down the arms of the see of Canterbury, not only portended his own fall, but the ruin of the metropolitical dignity, by the weight thereof." Of these he took not so much notice, as he did of an accident which happened on Saint Simon and Jude's eve, not above a week before the beginning of the late long parliament, which drew him to his final ruin; on which day, going to his upper study to send some manuscripts to Oxford, he found his picture at full length, and taken as near unto the life as the pencil was able to express it, to be fallen on the floor, and lying flat upon its face; the string being broken by which it was hanged against the wall. At the sight whereof he took such a sudden apprehension, that he began to fear it as an omen of that ruin which was SOCRATES had a genius that was ever present with him, which by an audible voice gave him warning of approaching evils to himself or friends, by forbidding (as it always did when it was heard) from this or that counsel or design, by which he many times saved himself; and such as would not be ruled by his counsel (when he had this voice) found the truth of the admonition by the evil success of their affairs; as, amongst others, Charmides did. I know not whether by such way as this, or some other as extraordinary, the ministry of good or evil spirits, some men have come to the knowledge of future events, and have been able to foretell them long before they came to pass. * 1. Anno Christi 1279 there lived in Scotland one Thomas Lermouth, a man very greatly admired for his foretelling of things to come. He may justly be. wondered at for foretelling, so many ages before, the union of the kingdoms of England and Scotland, in the ninth degree of the Bruce's blood, with the succession of Bruce himself to the crown, being yet a child; and many others things which the event hath made good. The (38.) Heylen's Life of Laud, Bishop of Cant. part. 2. 1. 5. p. 450.—(*.) Elian. Var. Hist. 1. 8. c. 1. p. 212. day |