I Shall begin my Years of Wonders as the Course of Nature begins it; Councils and Confederacies act all the Courts and Princes of Europe, and the time of Year is only for such Things; but as here the Seeds of Blood are sown, the plentiful Crop that is to follow, derives from and is produced by the Private Combina­tions of Men and Devils to disturb the World.

Three Scenes of Council shall this Month discover them­selves in the World, what the Production or Effects shall be of either of them, I shall farther lay open in my next; these are Councils in this Nation, Councils of France, Councils of Mahomet.

The Councils of this Nation shall produce great Strife, Faction and Malecontent stirs, with Heat and Animosi­ties among the several Parties that are among us, to the great Encouragement of our Enemies, and to the great Discouragement of good Men; yet the Calmness and Pru­dence of some shall lessen, or at least protract the Danger for a while; Disputes of Ecclesiastick Affairs shall em­broil this Island, and those People who regard neither God nor Devil, shall make the greatest stir about Reli­gion, every Church (however safe) cries out they are in danger, and the Debauchees of the Nation learn to play the Pharisee, and say to their Neighbour, Stand off, I am holier than thou.

Let Europe tremble at what is contriving now in the Cabinets of Princes, which, like the Seeds of Distem­pers [Page 5] in the Body, will quickly break out in Feavors, Fluxes, Cankers, Calentures, and all the Symbals of the Bodily Distempers of Men in the Politicks of Na­tions.

France consults now how to support Spain, embroil the Emperor, bring home the Swede, restore Bavaria, doze Savoy, fright the Dutch, and divide the English, and he will in some Measure accomplish them all.

The Turk consults how to humble the Muscovite, sub­ject the Pole, and keep fast the King of Sweden; but the Swede will make a Cats Foot of the Turk. play him a slipery Trick, get out of his hands, and leave him to fight with the Muscovites and Poles, where the War shall be bloody, cruel, successful to neither side, and only useful to shew God's Judgments on both.

After Consultations comes Preparation, this takes up all Europe, with the Return of the Spring, every Na­tion Struggles with themselves to make their Preparati­ons for War formidable, and with one another to be first ready for the Bloody Work they are about.

The Confederates attempt vigorously to succour King Charles in Spain, but, O the Success!— Spain not yet ripe for Deliverance resists her Friends, embraces her Enemies, and struggles hard against what she believes she must at last submit to.

But this is not the Generation that must enjoy the Fruit of this Strife, the Chiefs fight for the Possession, neither part obtain it, both take their long Journey be­fore the War is over, and the Game at Chess is left to Posterity to play it out. Philip goes first, I Isaac Bicker­staff, Elder, having the Second sight, see the famous Mau­soleum for the young Hero of Bourbon in the Escurial at Madrid, and there lies the hope of a Crown, yet the French Monarch with the same Obstinacy supports the War, maintains the Breach, and prompts the Spaniards [Page 6] still to defend themselves against their own Happiness. Philip before he dies fights three Battles with the Confede­rates, and is Victor in two of them, but dies in May, and leaves the War to be carried on with less Success than be­fore; should it be left to the Merits of the Persons, Phi­lip deserves the Crown of Spain, far better than Ch [...]s, as he appears active, valiant, brave, and unwearied in the Face of his Enemies, however he dies King, and Sleeps in Peace, tho' he never Reigned so.

Now the Swedes prepare to break out of Pomeren, and it appears that France and the Swedes are in a strict Con­federacy, and they shall be more fatal to Europe than the League with the Turk.

The Swedes sending Forces from Stockholm carry the Plague into Pomerania, from whence it spreads to the ut­most Corners of Europe; Kings and Emperors, shall flye from this dreadful Enemy, but find no Recess; Plague finds them out, and as War spreads, Pestilence goes hand in hand, and both shall consume and destroy without Mercy.

Europe is all busie in fitting out their Armies, the Drums beat in every Kingdom for Soldiers, not a Prince or State in this whole part of the World, but shall be embark'd in the Quarrels of Europe, and be engag'd in War either as Principal or as Auxilary.

The Armies of France and Spain are in the Field first, and much Blood shall be shed in Spain before the end of February. The Confederates Struggle hard, but Things do not answer the Expence.

The Preparations for War are finish'd, now the Troops on all sides appear in the Field; a third Battle in Spain— Philip's Forces flie in their Turn, tho' no great advan­tage made of the Victory. In March the French make two great Efforts upon the Rhine, one to join the Swede, who Marches towards the Elbe, and the French towards Saxony; the other towards Bavaria, and the Germans in no readi­ness to receive them, suffer all manner of Mischiefs.

[Page 7] The Dauphin of France dies; the Pope sickens and is very weak; the Duke of Savoy relapses; but the King of France more vigorous than ever, pushes all before him the beginning of Summer.

A great Prodigy appears in the East; two Kings strug­gling to make it appear which was the better Christian, he that changed his Religion to gain a Crown, or he that flies to Mahomet to recover his Crown. The Turks ad­vance now in three great Armies, and one Battle is fought before the end of March, in which the King of Sweden gains some ground, but is wounded in the Action, and makes no Advantage of the Battle.

Now the miserable Fate of Europe approaches, the War begins in Poland, Muscovy, Hungary, on the Rhine, and in Spain. In Flanders and Savoy they cannot be ready so soon.

A great Battle on the Frontiers of Portugal, in which the Portuguese do as they use to do, viz. run away; the Spaniards ravage Portugal, ruin three Provinces; if these were not Portuguese, the Spaniards had not had the Victory; and if these were not Spaniards, the Portuguese would be no more a Kingdom, but the sloth of the Spaniards saves Portugal till England relieve her.

A great Minister of State dies in the Month of March.

England feels great want of Trade, great want of Mo­ney, and great loss of Credit, which puts her to many Inconveniencies; but let her prepare for worse Things than these.

Note, In this place in the Original Manuscript, the following Paragraph was Inserted, which the Printer in the North de­clin'd to put in, for fear of giving Offence.

The Words are these, ‘The House of Austria feels a Blow this Month, which Changes the Measures of Europe; The Emperor resigns to Fate; and the Choise both of a new Emperor, and new King of Spain, takes up the Consultations of all the Courts in Christen­dom.’

[Page 8] The Empire feels hard Things, beset on every side, and weak in Arms, as well as confused in Council, the Swedes and the French invade Bavaria; the Hungarians supported by the Turks recover all they have lost in Hun­gary; the French make a terrible Eruption over the Rhine; the Circles of Swabia and Franconia suffer incre­dible Evils, and Blood, Famine, and Pestilence, rages over the Empire.

The Duke of Bavaria restored to his Dominions by the French, dies of the Plague in April, and the Affairs of that Electorate come to some Settlement by the succeeding of his Son, who has other Things to mind than War. The Elector of Cologn, Brother to the Bavarian, goes to see his Brother reinstated, but lives not to return to his own Principality.

The Emperor retreats from Vienna for fear of the Turks and Hungarians, and goes to Prague, but the Plague gets into Bohemia, and separates the Imperial Court: some great Princes die of that Distemper also.

In the Month of April a great City in Flanders besieged by the French, but the Confederates coming on, they raise their Siege; they are made amends by surprizing another strong Town in the middle of the Day. A Bloody Action in Flanders between part of the Armies, in which the French seem to have the Advantage, but decline com­ing to a decisive Battle, and draw off from the Field. Death in this Battle puts an end to the Ambition of two or three great Men on either side. Bousslers lies now in the Bed of Honour, and his Grace [...] shall bear him Company into the other World, so he that was en­vied before shall be pitied now for want of a Rival.

In the same April King Philip's Forces Bombard Barcelo­na, but Relief comes to King Charles, and in his turn he chases them; now the Face of Things change in Spain, and Philip's Fate approaches.

The Danes now prepare to invade S [...]nen, and make another fruitless Attempt upon the King of Sweden's Countries, from whence they are again beaten, and bring [Page 9] back Poverty and the Plague, which not only visits their Capital City, but makes sad havock in their Court, not excepting the Royal Family.

The King of P [...] demits his Crown in favour of his Son, and submits to go the way of all Princes. This Year is fatal to Crownd Heads.

Now Europe begins to Tremble, the People find an Employment different from the War, the Living having Work enough to Bury their Dead.

By the end of May the various kinds of this new Plague has Touch'd most parts of Europe. The Swedes as before bring it to Pomeren, thence they carry it to Saxony (Via Brandenburgh) the Saxons give it to the Bohemians, the Bohemians to the Bavarians, they to the Grisons, and they again to the Smiss.

The Hungarians bring it another way from Poland, and carrying it into Croatia, it Crosses the Adriatick to Italy, and siezes upon the Venetian; from thence it pushes into Milan, and visiting Turin, it passes thro' Rome to the Kingdom of Naples, and in spight of the interruption of Commerce by the War, crosses over into Sicily.

Innumerable Numbers of People shall perish by this desolating Distemper; yet the World, as if the Hand of Heaven did not, or could not, destroy them fast enough, still make War, and the Kings of the Earth apply them­selves to their ruinous Designs, with as much fury as ever.

The King of Sweden now appears in his own Colours, and shall in the Month of May be in full march to enter Poland, if not Germany; but his Army consisting of many Nations, new raised and undisciplin'd, wasts away with­out much Fighting and he may see that Heaven does not bless his Ambitious Designs with success answerable to his Expectations: Three of his greatest Generals, and in whom was his chief Confidence, die of the Plague; and tho' he gains some advantage, he can make no great use of it, his power being lessened by the other Accidents of War.

[Page 10] The Turks and the Muscovite, 150000 Men of a side draw towards one another, but the Decisive Stroke is not yet, many bloody Skirmishes happen between the Tartars and the Cossacks against the Muscovite.

The Month of May lays King Philip low in Spain, and Charles Triumphs over his Enemy a third time, but his Joy, like all Temporal things, is but of a small duration. The War in Spain costs much Money, much Blood, much Counsel, but does not fully answer our end: Many a brave English Man leaves his Bones in that Country, whose Blood might have been better spent.

Another Bloody Action between the Armies on the side of Germany, in which much Blood is lost, and both sides give GOD praise for being beaten.

This Year is a Year rather of Blood than of Victory, no Bleinhim, no Pultowa: No Decisive Battle happens any where on this side Hungary, yet more Men killed than would be in many such Battles.

As the hot Weather comes on, Men's Blood grows warm, this subjects and exposes them to fatal mischiefs, the plague of War, and the War of Plague. Italy and Ger­many have by this time felt the fury of the Contagion, and dreadful Ravages have been made in all the populous Na­tions on that side.

Shall Britain be free! flatter not your selves with Ex­pectations of it, many Plagues visit this Nation and whole Parties of Men suffer the Infection; all sorts of Men shall die, some politickly, some really; the Grave makes no Distinction of Whigg or Tory, High or Low Church. Three Bishops go off the Stage first, Dukes, Earls, Barons and Privy-Counsellors follow; a great Rot falls among the Court-Sheep, and the Murrain upon the Stallions of this Sodomitish City. The Infection spares none: But alas, for the Sheepherds of our Flocks! they fly, and leave their Flocks to be scatter'd.

But let them remember it from Isaac Bickerstaff's Words, the Sheepherds that forsake the Sheep committed to their [Page 11] Charge, shall fall in their flight, when those that stay shall remain. In this general Desolation it is not difficult for me to Name you Persons by Titles and Sirnames, that shall be infected with Plagues of one sort and another, whose Eyes shall not see the end of these things, but the Number is too great, and you cannot bear the distinction of Persons at this time.

Let it be sufficient then to tell you, Your Desolation is beyond expression, and the Number, whose Carkasses shall fall in this Wilderness, is not to be Number'd.

Yet for the encouragement and support of the Poor, Heaven promises Plenty in the Fields, and there shall be no want of Bread; Food shall encrease, tho' not the Mouths that feed on it; and what the Sword or other Plagues shall devour, shall leave room for those that remain to Live with more abundance.

Yet for all these Terrors, Men shall not repent or abate their Divisions, their Animosities, their Wars, and pur­suit of Blood over the Earth.

About this time, a terrible and bloody Battle happens between the Swedes and the French against the Germans, and much blood shed, but the Emperor's Affairs are not yet ripe for Deliverance; and he must be a second time saved by the Protestant Allies, or be lost for good and all. The French now Master several Towns and large Terri­tories, and if ever Bavaria is Restor'd, it's now.

But strange Resistance is preparing against those mis­chiefs, tho' no effect is seen this year, the next will pro­duce something more effectual.

Now the World, Ripe for Action, is altogether by the Ears, and Blood rages in all parts of Europe; France has gone on with too much Success, but receives a check, vo­mits up much of his rapid Conquests, and by the vigour of the Confederates, is made to doubt whether he can keep his own or no, yet he stoops not to make offers of Peace, but swells with Pride and Revenge. Germany seems to be a general Scene of blood, and finds it next to impossible to [Page 12] avoid falling into the War with the Turks; the Swedes and French insult her in their Turn, and make three large Incisions into her most tender parts.

Sweden grows great, War and Diffassection, together with want of Money and Strength, distresses the Pole, yet they Fight with Obstinacy against all: The Muscovite pushes the Turk in his Turn, and revives things on that side: But this Year decides not the Fate of Poland. The Protestant Interest gains nothing by this cruel War, either in Germany, Silesia, and Hungaria, yet hopes and promises support them, and they dispair not yet.

Spain lies still; now the Sun keeps the Peace there, the excessive heats give a recess from Action, and gives time to our ungovernable Soldiers to kill themselves with Eat­ing ripe Grapes, Drinking new Wine, and gorging them­selves with the Luscious Fruits of a Luxurious Climate. A new General and new Councils produce new effects there, but the Army suffers much by Diseases, for which we sup­ply the Grave with new Recruits for the Antum Campaign.

A rich plentiful Harvest in Britain makes the Hearts of the Country glad, and Britain proves this Year the Grana­ry of Europe; a great increase, and a good Market, re­vives our Commerce, but we want this Relief, for we have many Losses abroad, and dreadful Diseases at home, affecting the Bodies or Minds of the People.

Among the several Armies that range Europe, none es­cape a most bloody Action but these in Flanders. The Swedes, the Poles, the Muscovites, the Turks, the Germans, make War, not after the new, but the old fashion, and Fight as it were by mutual consent whereever they meet; so that every Post now brings News of Battles, and Slaughter: About August the Turks and Muscovites Fight a terrible Battle, Victory mocks both sides, and both sides mock the World with their pretences to it, yet the Turks appear sooner in the Field again, and seem to feel the loss least, tho they have most Men in the Roll of Slaughter.

[Page 13] If the real Plague spreads near us, it is this same Month, GOD preserve our populous Towns from such a stroke, the Desolation of, Dantzick, where yet they tell us a Fifth part of the People perish'd, will be a Flea-bite to what we must suffer, but the Prophet tells you, If you escape this Year, you should not flatter your selves about the next.

Germany may expect a bloody Campaign, if the Swedes are beaten in Poland, for if that Monarch finds his Work hard on that side, he encreases his Stength for diversion on another: Denmark seems this Year to borrow the old Character of the Muscovites, neither fit for War or Peace, for they make nothing of their Attempts any where, and are beaten every where.

A fruitless War upon the Alps, where Men Fight with Mountains, and Rocks are frighted with Snow and Tor­rents of Water, struggle hard with Nature and Art, and go home with little or nothing.

Spain moves again about September, and the Armies, tho' weaknened by Fluxes and Feavers, draw out. Now! if at all Charles's Affairs revive, yet the French struggle hard, and part with what they lose but by Inches. Two bloody Actions weaken both sides, and they take breath a while, but Charles's gains Ground, tho' with great loss of Men.

France supplies Spain with Men, Spain France with Mo­ney. Great Advantages arrive from the Supplies, both receive from the West Indian Treasures, and great Losses befall some People the latter end of the Summer by Sea, to the Discouragement of Trade, and Ruin of the Merchants.

Another terrible battle in the Northern Countries; the Muscovite grows strong by being beaten, and the Swede weak by Victory. The Turk makes great Havock in Europe, and ravages great part of Poland. Hungary begins to stir, and the Emperor feels the Effects of suffer­ing his Neighbours to grow too powerful, but is too weak [Page 14] to do any thing considerable, having Enemies on every side.

France ends the Campaign Inglorious on every side, and tho' he has not so much loss this year as he has for­merly met with, yet finds himself languish under the Ex­pence, his Kingdom wasting, exhausted and gasping, and makes Overtures of a Treaty, but it comes to nothing for want of Sincerity.

The Flux of Blood abates, the Season about October en­clines the Parties, out of breath with a long Campaign, to draw off, and give over; in Dauphine the Germans dare not stay to act on this side the Alps, or the French on the other for fear of being cut off from their Retreat by the Snow on the Mountains; so they end the Campaign with mutual Loss, mutual Mischief, and having mutually done nothing worth Notice.

The Swedes push still on fighting against Elements as well as Enemies, with invincible Obstinacy, and resolve to Winter in the heart of Poland; a Country wasted by War, and more likely to starve the Armies in their Quar­ters, than refresh them.

Cold weather freezes up the Plague, and the Desola­tions of that kind abate; but let them not comfort them­selves with the Notion of a Deliverance from it, because of an Intermission.

The Armies on the Rhine and in Flanders separate, and may cast up their Accounts if they please; they find on every side Loss and Decay of Strength, much Blood, much Treasure spent, many Nations ravaged and ruined, and the end of the Campaign looks still but like the be­ginning of the War, yet Spain has no Recess, but both sides prepare for a Winter War; here we begin to see a new Turn, and King Charles may bid fair for a third Visit to Madrid, yet he keeps not all he gains; and Treaty rather than Battle seems to be the end of that War at last.

The Generals now come home, make their Report, exalt the Merits of their own Actions, emulate and decry one another, and the Unfortunate bear the Load of ill Con­duct, according to the Custom and Usage of Mankind.

The active part of the War being quite over they stand still, and take breath awhile, till the Winter Quarters being settled, the great Ones come to lay their Heads to­gether for the next Year.

Some further Abortive Conceptions of Peace appear in the World, amuse the Parties a while, and then vanish again; yet on the one side of Europe a formal Treaty be­gins, is carried on with Cunning and Insincerity on both sides, and ends in renewing the War.

Spain is still the Seat of Action, we gain Ground, but lose a World of Men, and some Relief miscarries; which Dis­appointment retards the Proceedings, and baulks a very hopeful Prospect, yet they push hard, and have hopes of success; a great Province revolts and changes Hands, which gives a new Turn to Things; but want of strength delays finishing the Work this Year, and before that De­fect is supply'd, some Ground is lost again.

Now the World enters into Council, Parliaments, As­semblies of Estates, Regencies, Divans, Grand Councils of War, meeting of Generals and Mareschals, take up all the Nations of Europe; nothing of Peace is heard among them, but carrying on the War with vigour is the Word, Taxes for raising Money, and Money for raising Men, filling of Magazines, refitting of Navies, and recruiting Armies is the Language of all this part of the World.

Would the great Men of Europe bring all their Accounts together, would they cast up their Accounts, and bring the Ballance of the whole to one foot of Profit and Loss, [Page 16] the Madness of Mankind would appear monstrous, and be seen in its own Colours. A Million of Lives have been lost this Year by War, Pestilence and Famine. Vast Treasures exhausted beyond the possibility of Account, Countries wasted, Cities ruined, Villages burnt, Fron­tiers plundered, yet the Nations of Europe prepare to car­ry on the furious Quarrel, as if nothing but the Destru­ction of Mankind was in their Design. In Spain the War goes on still, and Winter gives no Recess; a warm Action concludes the Year, in which both sides suffer loss. The Confederates have the Advantage, yet no great gain is made of the Matter. The VVar is push'd on with great Animosity and Indefatigable Vigour of the Commanders with great loss of Blood on both sides; but this Year gives no View of the End.