SOme Men took a great deal of Notice of the Year 1666, perhaps more than they needed; and therefore we have thought fit to take as much Notice of the year 1675. We do find Mercury in a plaguy dull humour, looking like a Fellow without Monye: Many Astrologers are of opinion that he had over-wrought himself or over­drank himself the night before; whatever be the Cause, it portends most mischeivous Events, especially the Breaking and Un­doing of many sorts of People, more espe­cially among those two Degrees called the Gentry and Commonalty of the Nation. For when men begin to find themselves in debt, then they Ecclipse themselves, of which there will be many to be seen in our Horri­zon, but of that more hereafter. Never does a man come to have his worth known till then, for a Serjeant or a Bayliff shall dig him out of the Earth, with as much Diligence [Page 2] as if he were the Oar of Mexico; and ne­ver ceases till he has hid him again in some obscure place or other, never to be found, but, by chance, like a Pot of old Roman coin: But the duce is in that fullen piece of Forma­lity, Madam Astrea, who having the scales of the World in her own hands, will notwith­standing neither keep publick nor private Fortune equal; which makes many a man cry the Devil rot him, if he ever he had such cru­el Fortune in his life, to see Dice run against him as if they were in open Hostility with his Patrimony. And yet the bewitched Cox­comb will never give off till his Estate and his Cloak lies both in the Lumber together; poor Squire in Cuerpo, stript out of his means, as the Countrie-man calls it, as a man would uncase a Rabbet. This scabby hu­mour, like the Itch, runs up and down the City, abounding with the Off-spring of the Gentry, with more furie then the Sicilian fire overran the Country about Messina; so that in every street there are scarce any other Lamentations to be heard, but of the ill Hus­bandrie of the Masters, the Prodigality of Servants, till at length they fall into the Common shures of Povertie, Fleet, Kings-Bench, Counters or Ludgate; where they will never leave their old wont neither, but play at One and thirtie for Farthings rather [Page 3] than stick out. 'Twas well Juno, the Devil of a Goddess for Envy and Emulation, was made none of the Planets, and yet, by the Sequel of Influences, either she, or some o­ther as bad as her self, has, a vengeance, great power in the Skie; most probable to be that Jezabel Venus; for women are so out­ragiously madd to see one Neighbour finer then another, that many men are forced to pawn their Consciences, as well as their Credits for one story of Lace more upon their Wives Petticoats: As if women thought mens fancies did not climb fast e­nough without such a Love-ladder. But how can these Women think to thrive? for no sooner are their husbands in the Climm, but reflecting upon the cause of their Sor­row, they curse 'um to the pit of Hell, for two causes; first, because they will never come neer them, after they have suckt their Counter tills as dry as their Bones: second­ly, when they doe come, 'tis always with Taunts in their mouths, and so gay withall, that they do but the more enrage the Credi­tors that sees them go so fine with their money.

There is another most malevolent As­pect, very active in the notching the Credit of some that would be thought Alder­mens fellowes, men that make a great [Page 4] noise upon the Exchange: Which is the reason that this year many shall be seen to fall from the Pinacle of their Countrie-hou­ses to a Lodging in the Rules at three shil­lings a week: but there is a great diffe­rence between those that are gathered to their fathers and these dead men in law, for the one carries nothing along with them, these will let nothing that they have got slip out of their clutches; these Prison-Pismires are such as have laid aside all their Credit for the Reputation of being diligent provi­ders against the winter of their misfortune. Some think the Conjunction of Mars and Venus to be a great Enemie to the Prosperi­tie of these men; for that they plodding only how to get Estates and cheat their Cre­ditors, grow quite regardless of Love and Honour. Yet some Astrologers there are that shrewdly suspect Cepheus to have a fin­ger in the Pie, because he sits in such a mu­sing Posture in his groaning Chair: though some say, Men are now grown so knowing in practical Knavery, that they need nothing of his celestial Theory to make them more expert. Others believe that Fortune being a Whore her self could never endure any that were grown old and had left the Trade. Others believe the Influ­ence not so fatal, while the propitious Con­junction [Page 5] of other men's Estates in their own hands, in Mortgage, contributes so much to their own Happiness Yet shall their Credi­tors think the Stars too favourable, and curse them as bitterly as ever Parson cursed Me­roz. What shall the poor Stares do? the Creditors curse them for being too kind, the rich Debtors curse them for not being kind enough: Thus ye see the Stars of Heaven, as well as the Stars upon Earth, are subject to Scandal and hard Words, and hard Usage: Nay, and if Mortals could but reach them, you would find their glittering Spheres as much battered as the Windows of Van Put­ten's House in Holland. But what malitious Planet that is which pesecutes the Poor jour­ney-men Taylors, Weavers, Coblers, Tin­kers, Butchers, and the lower Tribe of Ma­sters, most Astrologers are at a stand to dis­cover; some say, 'Tis Aquarius, a certain son of a Tankard-bearer, translated into the Zodiac for giving meate, drink and lodging to some poor Poet. If it be he, he is as testie as Justice Overdoe, and as great a Pretender to Reformation; for much about this time you will find abundance of that sort of Cattel, before mentioned, suffer un­der his Mittimus, meerly for their extrava­gant Propensity to Putt and Nine-Pi [...]s. These men at length become the Gibbeonites [Page 6] of the Prison at the devotion either of the Constables of the Counters, or the Stewards of Ludgate, or else make Skewers in the Common side of the Kings-Bench, born on­ly to shew the little d [...]ff [...]rence between Men and Beasts; only, the one can speak, the o­ther not, unless there be something more of Addition then what Nature infuses. You may be sure such sulphurus Matters, as Deb­tor and Credi [...]or, can never meet but strange alterations of Air must ensue, which is the reason of those d [...]sperate thunder-claps to be heard every day in Guild-Hall.—Hang him Dog, I lent him my money out of my Pocket.—Cursed Curr, I only was bound for another, and here the Son of a Whore sues me to Execution.—No, I'le have no more mercy on him then I'de have on the De­vil.—Let him rot in Goal and be poxt.—I'le see him damn'd ere I' [...]e pay him a groat.—I'le make him sh [...]t as small as a Mouse—By this light, I owe the Rogue not a [...]arthing.—He's a cheating Dog, and I'le prove it.—Hey, Clerk, Where is my Execution?—Where's my Judgment? Never such a forsworn wretch up­on God's earth—Be sure to lay the Rogue fast—A rough and stormy season truly; but such is the Nature of the Clymate nei­ther [Page 7] do we see any Position of the Starrs likely to remedie it.

Should we foretell the death of some Ci­ty-Serjeants and Guild-hall Attorneys, 'tis a thing we might do very safely, and 'tis very probable to come to pass: But what a­vails the ceasing of one Plague when ano­ther follows in the neck on't. Could we Pro­phesie that no more of those places should be sold, we might then foretel a great Re­formation, and the return of a fair glimpse of the GOLDEN AGE. But this o­ther Prediction of ours shall most assuredly come to pass by reason of the terrible influ­ences of the Dog-Star upon that sort of Cat­tel, that these Fellows shall swallow many a fair piece of the King's coyn, which they have as little right to as the man in the Moon. But what remedy? complain—and they'l tell their Superiors as Gusman hath it in his first Chapter, That they had not their Offices for nothing, but paid soundly for them, and therefore must lick themselves whole out of other mens necessities. Prudently there­fore the same Gusman avers out of Aristotle, That the greatest wrong that can be offered to a Common wealth is the sale of Offices. Many Causes this year shall be tried, and the wit­nesses shall swear point blank to the truth, but the Jury men shall find quite Contrary. [Page 8] Neither do we find that the Corruption of some Talis men will cease so long as this world endures. We are afraid some Talis man or other is crept into the Skie, by the help of some Astrological Under-sheriff or other, to make all this Mischief: Whom to suspect we cannot devise, unless it be that sneaking fellow call'd Auriga or the Carter, probably some Middlesex Farmer: of which there are some of them, formerly well sed and well drenched, that for a Wager shall whistle Law at the Plough tail with ere a Northfolk Dumplin of them all: I have seen of these Catt [...]l appear among the Ju­rie men that are truly returned, just as in Job we find the Devil appearing among the An­gels before God: and there are those that have them alwaies ready, according as they shall be bespoke, as good Farriers have al­ways store of Horse-shoos by them, to fit all sizes of Hoofes. So that Plaintiff or Defendant need not be beholding to the Stars to know his good fortune, if he have well consulted these Soothsayers.

But who the Devil dubb'd these, forlorn dregs of Mortality, the clip'd Knights of the Post? Astrologers are at a Stand: some will have Proteus to be their Father, because of the several Long-lane shapes and dresses that they appear in; for they are sometimes [Page 9] Divines, sometimes Country Gentlemen sometimes Physicians, sometimes Mer­chants, sometimes Serving-men, as the thing to be sworn to requires them to be in Of­fice. Astronomers will allow them no room in Heaven, for that Perjury is the only Crime that is punishable among the Gods: There­fore, saith Tostatus, they are an Apparent Ar­gument for the Excellency of Man above Angells; Coruptio optima est pessima. There­fore are men so much the more Excellent than Angels, by how much they, the mere corruption of Mankind, are worse then De­vils.

These men, with the Epicureans, place their chief Happiness in this World, coun­ting the meanest Conveniences thereof great Blessings; such as Pots of Ale, and sixpeny Cuts of Ram-alley Roast beef: With the Sadduces they hold the Mortality of the Soul, otherwise they would never sell their Salvation so cheap; half a crown a time, come as often as you please. Yet are they of great use among a certain Generation of Vipers called annointed Knaves. When an annointed Knave comes with these finishing Tools of his to compleat a Tittle, there is no resistance, the case is made so plain: then shall you see without Fryar Bakon's Art, the strange Motions of Terra firma out of [Page 10] one Family into another: Mountains, with­out the help of Faith removed out of one man's Possession into the Poss [...]ssion of ano­ther. If you aim at the life of a man, they put down all the time, observing poysons of Ethiopia, they'l doe your work so gentelely and so legally, that you get Repute by the Prosecution. They'l swear, that such a one lying asleep, they saw his soul go out of his mouth booted and spurr'd, take horse, ride to such a place, do such a Murther, commit such a Felony, or act such and such Treasons. Now because (as Boccalini saieth) that it is so hard a matter to punish a false oath with­out discouraging a true one; such as rob upon the High-way, and take but 10 shil­lings from a man, shall be hanged; and these sons of Perdition that strike at the root of Life, Estate and Fortune, shall only loose their Ears, which they value no more than Esop's Cock did Diamonds: Pieces of flesh, which they hold, made in opposition to the great Maxim in Philosophy, That Nature does nothing in vain, as being of no use in the body of Man.

'Tis good to fight with Silver weapons, for then thou shalt overcome all things, saith the Greek Poet: Which is the reason a true Suborner is never without a Guard of these Janizaries at his heels, especially in Term▪ [Page 11] time. These are they that so cordially pimp for the Devil, as if they thought him to be Disposer of all Inheritances; as Lord of the World. They have made a Feoffment of their Souls with Livery and Seisin to Satan, only taking a short Lease back again. And therefore are resolved to make all people they have to deal withall turn Tenants to their Landlord. If a Councellor or Attorney chance to take their Fee, what villanies must he not conceal? what Treacheries, what Forgeries is he not bound to be privy to? what defences must he not make o [...] injustice and wrong? what, the worst of actions must he not strive to palliate, daub over with the fucus of forced Eloquence, quite contrary to the dictates of either Reason or Consci­ence? Those that have calculated their Na­tivities, banish them from the Societie of men, as the most dangerous and treacherous persons in the world; and wonder, finding it so much threatned by the starrs, that no more of them are hang'd; there being no Crime in the world that more deserves death. About this time many significations derive themselves from Mars, who is Au­thor Bellorum. Now he being in one of his greatest Dignities with Mercury, such a Conjunction portends many strifes and ani­mosities among men, for a fiery Planet in a [Page 12] sign of the same Triplicitie, receives an additi­on of violence to its own intemperate nature. This is the reason of those swarms of igno­rant Solicitors, and worse then ignorant At­torneys, whose multiplication would prove a greater plague to this Nation then Vermin to the Egyptians: therefore among the well regu­lated Common wealth of the Lacedemonians Law suits were not heard of. And well did Charles the 9th of France, who, to prevent needless and numberless Suites of Law, or­dained that whoever commenced a Suit of Law, should deposite such a Sum with the Judge, to receive it back, if his cause were good, or forfeit it, if the same prov'd frivo­lous. Not worse did James of Arragon who banished Semeng Rada a great Pettifogger for his being famons only for quirks and wiles in Law: But better did Galeatius of Millain, who hanged another for his excel­lent Art of multiplying suites. Surely such bands of Locusts, might be better emploied then in the Ruin of the Poor and Needie, whose Cries why they do not call down Showers of Brimstone and Fire upon these impious Miscreants, when some Casuists have not been able to answer, it has made them totter in their Divinity?

But what is the matter that our A­strologers keep Hercules so close mu'd up [Page 13] up in the Skie, when we have so much need of him here upon Earth? Here is one more to make up his Labours a Bakens-dozen, that will more renown him than all his o­ther twelve: Nay, let him bring Theseus too; here's work enough for them both; for there be a sort of Augean Stables about this City, whose Keepers never cate Less then two poor folks at a meal, more cruel than Diomed that fed his horses with human flesh; more inhumane, more merciless than the great robbers Sciron or Pityolanthes, more terrible than the Lerenean Monster, should they be broyl'd roasted, gridled, sing'd, ba­ked ten thousand years in Purgatory, they would be as sooty as when first put in. But Cruelty seldome goes unrewarded, and such is the Happiness of these fellows, that they seldom last above a Pope's Reign, be­ing generally poysoned either with lim'd, sack or stumm'd Claret, in less then five years. Saturn's a melancholy sign, and who can hinder him from being as froppish and as humer some as he pleases upon his own day; which is the reason that there be some Citizens that can as well be hang'd as keep out of the Nine-pin Houses in Moor Fields on a Saturday, to be out of the sight of those ghastly apparitions that haunt their Ghosts at the heel of the week. Poverty [Page 14] and Necessity the Gods of the Andreans, that could stop the mouth of Themistocles, can­not appease the wrath of a City Creditor; the Proverb reversed, Dunn upon the Devil. whose emptie mony bagg, twisted about his hand, is as killing as a Gorgon's head; and therefore 'tis well the poor man is out of the way he's only practising the sports which are to be his only Recreations in a short time: and what a kindness it is for a man to be removed from the cares and labours of this world to the sweet pleasures of drin­king and kettles? 'Tis well these Despera­do's in Estate are not so strong as Sampson; for they would not then put their Landlords key under the Door, but take away key house and all. What abundance of Tra­vellers should we meet upon the road with Houses and Shops furnish'd? And what Landlord, seeing a man standing upon the sea­shore with his house upon his back, swea­ring he would send it to the bottom of the Ocean, but would come to any composition? Besides they were out of the reach of the Law, for there is no Statute in Polton a­gainst removing of houses, so a man Carry them whole without breaking: But the li­mits of fate are certain; the Cobler cannot go beyond his Last, nor a man beyond his strength; there was but one Nisus, one Her­cules, [Page 15] one Sampson, the first two never arre­sted that we read of, and for the latter how he paid off his Creditors we very well know. Therefore now a days 'tis better for debtors to fall to their Prayers, beseech, entreate, lie, flatter dissemble, swear, forswear, set an In­strument to work with the wise, such tricks as these,

If these will not prevail, expect no other deliverance but as Daniel got out of the Lyons Den, or Jonas out of the Whales belly.