The signification of the wonder . 1 For as much as such prodigious wonders chaunce seldom in thys our time , and olde men far stryken in age can not remembre to haue sene anye such , therfore it is to be feared & loked for some vnacustomed hap to folowe . 2 The bredeth and bignes of it was notable , through which it was sene euery where long and brode , and as it were euery where nere hand , wher of we diuine and pronunce a greate euyll to folowe , and that not to one region alone , and therin al men to be perplered and doutfull , to what place they maye chiefely goe , and where they may resist the ragyng fyre . 3 The colour of the fyre it selfe like to bloode what betokeneth it but warre : In whiche the lande shall abounde in the blood of the slaine and all thinges wasted with fyre ? 4 And thys calamitie is thiefelye threatened to those people to whome so euer thys wonder was seane nearest . 5 And because it apeared before day lyght and of a sodeyne & vnloked for and in maner to al persons as yet slepyng , therfore it betokeneth the calamities approchynge to be looked for to come vpon manye not thynkynge nor preparyng them selues , or repenting , and ouer carelesse in themselues and not only such particular calamities to come , but shortly an vphoped iudgement of the whole worlde . 6 And that within a shorte time after this : because this burning of the aire was seane euery where as it had bene present & nere as I haue sayde . 7 And because it endured but a shorte tyme , therefore it maketh vs hope that the persecution shall not continue longe . 8 And because by and by after it being vanished away the Sunne arose , we hope the cleare light of the wurde of god to be the end of all persecution . 9 And that rednes was not al whole together , but deuided as it were with certaine cleare and bright spaces or furrowes by the which also starres appeared , that signifieth , that in the middest of those calamities and persecutions God wil comfort his elect , and in that fire shall issue out the heauenlye brightnes of the gospell . 10 And now seing this wonder was sene in the beginning of the yere , therfore shal we doute whether this calamitie shall indure a whole yere ? For nowe also great mocions do begin to come furth , and thei wil come further except god turne awaye great euils , or rather dare we hope because it appeared by & by after the birth of christ that is the thirde day after , within so many yeres hence , that our lorde Iesus Christes doctrine wil be set furth farre and brod and as it were restored againe all falshold being expulsed and so the godly to loke for to beginne a newe yere and a new kynde of lyuynge . 11. And because that bloudy fyre appeared on childermas daye we do not deut but that he which was somtime a reuenger of the bloode of the innocent children will now also become a reuenger and punisher for those godly and faithful men , which haue suffered persecution and death for his name sake . And for them whiche as yet remain he wyl be a defender and maintener , so that finallye they wyll acknowledge him to be a father of their cause , and by amendment of life answere therunto and prepare them selues with praier and sobrietie for the grace that is to come . 12. The shuting of starres as it were the falling of them do doutles signifie vnto vs , that the day of the great iudgement is at hande . A litle before the which day that such fore warning signes shoulde be seene our Lord Christ hath warned vs afore hande longe a goe .

But in no age at anye time hath ther be sene so many and so great and straunge wonderous sygnes euerye wher abroad as within these few yeres : that we oght altogether already to consider that it is by tokens signified vnto vs that the latter day is not farre of , and both by other wonders & chiefly by this which is not perticuler nor terrestriall but almost vniuersall and celistiall excepte we vtterly slepe with ouermuch carelesnes and securitie . But first must that Babilonicall beast beyng stuffed with the bloode of sainctes and yet not filled nor satisfied be cast downe , and the sincere gospell preached agayne through the whole worlde . The which that it maye very shortly come to passe we shal pray vnto the almightye gracious and great God by our lorde Iesus Christe in the holy Gost .

And yet therfore we oght not to promise a carelesse securitie to our selues that the kingdom of the prince of Christes enemies shall decaye and fal : but except we doe throughly take hede to oure selues by and by wyth amendement of lyfe , and ceasse to bragge of a vaine faith , beyng our selues instruted and furnished with no good workes , we shall firste be punished by the same . For seynge oure lyfe of all in maner for the moste parte answereth not to oure profession we haue manye wayes deserued moste greuous punishmentes : and more truly then our aduersaries , for this cause that in so great lyghte of the knowen truth , we be kyndled or moued wyth no feruencye of syncere religion but wallowe and are wrapped in all kind of vices and wyll almoste suffer no disciplyne eyther priuate or publyke : And for the moste parte all Magistrates wyll not onelye haue Dominion in the commune wealthe and in Cityes , but they also wyll haue rule in the church , but they will not commyt them selues to the common discipline of the same .

Finally , the pastors and ministers of the churches for the most parte be full of ambition , conetonsnes , wantonnes , and other vices , & be no better than those whome they ought to teache and feede wyth the worde of GOD , but rather much worse .

Wherfore it is greatly to be feared that nere the day of the lord draweth vpon vs , and that to vs that waxe so colde shal be moued and not to a fewe of vs and priuatly as hath bene hertofore , but a common publike and vniuersal sore of persecution wherwith we shal be warned more then inough : for from the aduersaries of Christs church and his membres ( except God tourne it away ) shal go out the fyre which hath bene of longe time prepared for vs , & from Italie vnto vs and towarde the North ( the which way the wonder & prodegious for warning did incline ) shall it come furiously vpon the christians . Not withstanding we hope and humbly praye vnto the most gracious and mighty god the father of our lord Iesus Christ with lowly and deuot hartes , that this euell may sone after be turned from vs : not for vs but for his name sake , and the holy worshippers of his annoynted . For the bloode of those which longe ago alreadye hathe bene moste abundantly spylled & shed or consumed with fyre throughout al Germany , Fraunce , Italy , Spaine , and other regions ( by that seuen headed and horned and bloudy Babilonical beast with whome the kinges and princes of the earth haue committed and do commit fornication ) may now seme altogether to haue burste out of the bowels of the earth wyth a flamynge brightnes , and that the same burnyng in the ayre betokening a reuenging from the Lord ( which is the defender and reuenger of hys ) hathe mingled together : That al men may see and vnderstande the euident cause of this wonderful for warning . Therfore god wil punish together his whom he loueth that they may be amended , and wyth them or at the least by and by after the enemies of his name which go forward obstinatly in their malice , and in the persecution of the sainctes . It becometh vs to acknowledge our fauts and to aske forgiuenes and not to despaire by and by at the firste cruell assaute of Antichrist whatsoeuer they be . For he sayth that he is in danger and assauted himself and that on euery side is great fallyng aways from him , & lest he shulde vtterly be forsaken he proueth al thinges to the extremitie . We yf we wyll continue in the sincere calling vpon the Lord and remember to kepe our selfes in prosperitie , so many as god wil haue kept safe from these calamities shall proue and see a happy successe and spreadyng abrode of the gospell , through out the whole worlde : and the ruine and decaye of that prince or ruler which vnder the tytle of the name of Christe is against him being now of late begon wholy to be performed . For this enterprise of his as it is to be thought to be the greatest so is it to be supposed that it shal be the laste : and as he did seuer this wonder from the daye that was commyng , euen so it is to be hoped that at the cleare preaching of the Gospel and the last iudgement shortly comming vpon it , al euil shal haue an ende . So we for our selues oght for to gesse well with good and valiant mindes . For the almyghtye can if he wil deliuer vs from all calamities , at the least if he do not those are happy ones which die strongly in the confession of his name for Christ and the truth . But vnhappy are they whosoeuer thynke them selues conquerours agaynst Christ .

That prodigies or wonders be done or styrred vp by god ▪ contrary to the sayings of the Epicures .

ARistotle in his fyrst boke of celestiall speculation and. v. chapter , in mencionyng of other thynges which he calleth fyrye speculations , writeth thus . There be sene sometimes in the night the aire being clear many appearinges ( he calleth them horrible sightes ) to mete in the ayre . As be gapyngs pittes bloody colours the cause whereof is euen the same , which is of the other aforesaide . But next before he had sayd that of a certaine vapour or exaltation that is whot & drie kindled in the hygh aire be made both certaine other speculations , as beames , Goates , blasyng starres , and also that which is called Thlora , that is a flame or burning : and he sayeth yf that vapour be kindled & shut forth it self wide and brode , it semeth oftentimes to burne like a flame as strawe when it is kyndled in the felde . &c. Of vapours truly ( by the opinion of the sayde Philopher ) which be sene in the high aire in the cleare nightes , some in dede burne and that longe time , as blasyng starres : some a short time , as flames torches , goates , shutyng starres . Some other appeare to be somwhat that thei be not and they may properly be called horrible syghtes : as cloudes somewh●● cleare of colour , but chiefelye red of colour and purple or bloudy : for other colours can scantly appeare , namely such as arise by the reflection of beames or such as by commixion be white & firy . Likwise such as be called gapings or pi●res . &c. And there be also which thinke that there be suche colours in dede . And it mai be thought that somtyme bloodye cloudes be in dede and sometyme do apeare so . For we haue red often that ther hath rained blood and sometime that it only appeareth so , by the reflexion of the light . Truly it is not to be douted but that both ther be and also appeareth or semeth a bloody colour of burnyng in the night and of flames , chiefely seyng the flame or the inflamed matter and substaunce so thicke . And perchaunce more in the winter when vapours to be inflamed or in dede in flames breake out of the earth go vp , by an ayre that is colde and moyste and grosse , euen as of a grene peace of woode the flames appeare to be more red . Per●duenture some beyng persuaded by these philosophicall reasons , wyll thynk this our wondrous or strange token ( or bloodye colour or fyre they wyll name it rather a flame or celesti all burnyng ) vttterly to be a naturall thyng , and such as the causes thereof maye be sufficientlye gathered out of the very bosome of nature : and to betoken nothyng els but peraduenture some naturall effect : as some mutation of the ayre and of the constitution and course of the yere : or some pestilence at hand or immediatlye folowing : amonge the signes of the whych nature thei learned are wonte to put fyry speculations , as gapynges , burnynges , comets , shuttyng starres , & other thynges that by nyght maye be perceyned in the ayre . For although in this tyme of the wynter vapours hoate and drie , and to be inflamed , ar not wont to breake out of the earth : notwithstanding ( he sayth ) it is to be thought that they beyng the longer shut in the earth with great frost , being the more abundantly gathered together , breake out at the length with more violence when the wayes be opened , and being raised vpon high in the hyghest ayre the heate beyng restrained by a repulsion and let , or els that that colour was made by the beames of the sonne then beyng neare to the risyng being either kindled or els only appearyng by reflixion and turning backe againe : and those whyte furrowes were beames of the Sunne brought in that part onely whereon the substance of the vapours being gathered together was thinne . For the beames of the Sunne appeare muche more in the high mountaines then in the lower places . Also as it is written in histories , thys hathe also happened in other places . And greate burnings haue appeared for many vapours were gathered being long shut within the earth by the strength of colde , and chiefely in places of mountains whose bellies and waies be for the most part full of such vapours . These and suche lyke thinges perchaunce men that are curious in philosophie , or also vtterly godlesse , as Epicure and suche other couetous persons will put furth , and so persuade vs by this meane to feare nothynge . The authour Cicero of diuination ( sayeth ) this only reason , by the opinion and testimonie of the expositors of monstruous thynges auaileth against all shewes monsters and wonders . If that whiche coulde neuer be done , be done , if it maye not be to be meruailed at . And so it to be no monstrous thing or wonder that may be done . But it was som great strength whych opened the shuttynge of the earth , by it it may appeare . Because that in some places about midnight an earthquake went before : as certain watchmen did obserue it at Surick , and certain other hard the shakyng of yron instruments and plats of glasse , other saw gapyng in maner of pittes , and the dai before the earth opened neare vnto Tubinga . So thei do iudge that are indued with mans wisdome . But we out of the holye scriptures , and out of the treasure of the eternall and diuine wisdom , and out of the trew mouth of our lord , say that such wonders be sent from god , god doyng it other aboue nature , or contrary to nature , or els vsyng naturall thynges to the signifiyng of hys wyl , we saye and do beleue it , also histories do witnes , that alwayes great calamities haue folowed after suche wonders .

Out of the booke of Iulius , of prodegies or wonders : made . 505. yere after the makyng of the cytye .

T. Gracco M. Inuentio Coss . among other wonders that he rehearseth , sayth : that the forme of two Sunnes were sene in the day , the ayre burned there was often lightnynge , storme and tempest .

P. Scipio Nasica Cn. Martio Coss . it is red , that the ayre in the nyght burned , and much lightning fell .

P. Affrican and Lelio Coss . ryuers of blood flowed out of the earth , and in the night the aire was sene to burne A star dyd burne by the space of two and thyrtye dayes .

C. Cecilio Cn. Papyrio Coss . in the night the mount of Albane was sene to burne , houses burnte with lightning and tokens out of heauen . The lande of Lucensis gaped abroade . In Fraunce the aire was sene to burne . The Danes and the Dutchmen passed the Alpes , brake the league and made murder of the romaynes and theyr felowes .

C. Lelio . L. Domitius Coss . among otherr prodigies or wonders whiche he rehearseth saieth : In Italy a burnyng torch appeared in the ayre , and all the aire was sene to burne .

L. Martio , S. Iulio Coss . in the lande of Anaria the earth opened & a flame arose vp , & dyd shene in the element . About the land of Rhegium , parte of the Citie that is towardes the Sea was ouerthrowne wyth an yearthquake .

Seneca in hys fyrst booke of naturall questions and. xv . chapter describeth a wonder or strange thyng like vnto ours .

AMonge the lightnings ( sayeth he ) whiche the Grekes call Sela , maye put that fyre that was in the ayre , & we haue red it often times in histories , the which burnyng was so high that sometimes it was sene amonge the starres , and sometymes so lowe , that it semed some fire a far of . A company of men of war vnder Tiberius the emperour ( beyng amased when the aire for the most part of the night did burne ) ranne to Colone for succour , the fyre not beynge cleare but grosse and smokye . Of these lightenyngs no man douteth but they haue a flame which they shewe , it is a certaine substaunce of them . But in the former lightnings was a bow and a crowne of some certaine substaunce , but it pleased vs not . &c.

Out of the booke of Polidor Virgill of wonders and strange thynges .

IN the yere of our saluacion . C. xii . a burnyng lyght in maner of a towre wyth great bryghtnes was sene to fall out of the ayre : when Ierusalem was taken of the Turkes .

Wonders or strange thynges taken out of the rehersal of M. Frytschy of Laubany .

IN the yere of oure Lorde . M. C. xl . the aire was sene to bourne oftentymes , and many starres were sene to fall from out of the skye into the earht . Burning lightes , fyry dartes , and flyinge fires , were often tymes sene in the aire . Newe starres were sene . Celestial fires arose mani wais . There was sene in the ayre a brighte fyre , a company of horsemen and fote men to fight together , and cities , and swordes , and bloody wapours , were also sene . &c.

In the yere . M. C. and. xx . There was sene in the aire bloody cloudes , a crosse , and a whyte man . Euen at that time men thought a destruction shuld come vpon the whole world . It is written in Chronicles , that suche strange things doe signifie ciuill warres .

Of those thynges whych folowed , you may reade at length in the Chronicles of Boem , set furth by Auentyne in the leafe . D. C. xv .

In the yere . M. CCC . lxxv . the aire was sene to burne all night .

In the. M. D. L. three fyrye globes wer sene in the aire in the night in Misnia Lipsia , which certaine students & famous men did beholde .

The yere M. D. L. I. the xxviii . day of Ianuary at Vlisbon in Portingal were sene in the aire bloody roddes , and horrible fyres , & it rayned bloode also . Furthermore there was such an earthquake that two hundred houses were terriblie shaken and throwen downe in the which shaking more then a thousand men perished .

The yere . M. D. L. IIII. the first day of February at Cathalane a citie of Fraunce , after the musteringe of the hoste whiche the kyng of France had commaunded to be done in that place , a wonderful strange sight was sene about the Moone . For a greate fire arose from the East part , & went to the west . And the Moone semed in maner of a mighty great fire brande . The flame of thys fyre raged wyth great noyse , often castyng oute blasyng sparkes in the ayre , none otherwyse then when a smith beateth vpon hoat iron : thus saith Fritschius . Aristotle nameth such fyre a goat .

The answere of a godly learned frende vnto the aforesayde lettter or Epistle .

THy letters . V. C. were giuen vnto me with the boke of wonders . For the which your gentlenes I geue you moste heartye thankes . At your departure you dyd declare all thinges abundantly and very plainly . In the meane tyme I praye God that for his mercy sake he wyll turne al things to the best . For to styrre you vp , I haue added many things which you shall here reade .

The signification of the straunge wonder .

AS all men doe confesse wyth one mouth , this vnaccustomed strange wonder to signifie som great euil to these countreys : so I thinke the causes of the sayde euyll , to be so neare vnto vs , that it shall perse the eies and mindes of all men . And seyng for the most part the calamities of mankind be sermons of repentance , although the common people through erroure do alledge mani other causes of euils notwithstanding this fire of the ayre is an euident argument & token of the wrath of god , that without it be a few I think there is none so foolyshe or so mad , which vnderstandeth not that it is to come . We beleue verely that we shal not be cast out of blisse , because it semeth that we shal be so punyshed for oure sinnes : because that the crosse & aduersitie doth bryng alwayes more profit vnto the churche , then rest and slouthfulnesse . Of this commeth the common Prouerbe .

The bloode of the Martyrs watereth the Garden of the Lorde .

But although our enemies farre excede vs in all kynd of euyl , yet notwithstanding we be not much inferior vn to them . Superfluitie is a profitable instrument & occasion , you wyll saye the moste parte of vs do want it , not superfluitie . Religion also on oure parte is a lytle neglected & beginneth to be gainfull , no lesse truly then the Romains in time passed . For we shal finde but a few diuines whiche wyll vouchsafe to seke poore Christ in the cotage and stable . Manye of them couet fat benefices , for the whiche they serue none otherwyse then thei wold serue for the sacrifice of the aultar . For that cause is there so much hatred , so much priuy backbiting which encreaseth dayly and hourly more & more , that ther is none more deuided than thei , in whom ought to be most loue & concord . These be the times which Eusebius setteth furth in the beginning of hys his eyghte booke vpon ecclesiasticall histories : who desireth any Dioclesian whych may restore the weake membres vnto their health agayne .

God truely gouerneth hys church by fyre , the whiche name is called in scripture crosse and persecution , which notwithstandyng as I hope shall not be longe , no more then this monsterous fire was longe , whyche lasted with vs no more then an houre , and that before day lyght . For the Psalmograffe compareth the furye of the vngodly lyke vnto fyre amongest the thornes , which maketh a feruent fire and when it appeareth to be most vehement , then soddenly it falleth and is tourned into ashes .

But although thys fyre wyth hys heate dyd in wrap the hyghest mountaines , therefore not onely the base states but also the highe monarches shall come to ruine : notwithstanding the stars whiche shone betwene , that is , the ministers of the churche shall not be put oute of their seate : which setting the worde of god before theyr face , shal shyne in darke night of persecution by the cleare light of the gospell vntyll the daye wished for ware bright , and the Sun of righteousnes shyne vpon men . But one star was sene to fall from heauen , which being drawen by the fyre dyd furrow in the middest . It is to be thought , that one doctour or other , either for feare of the greate threatnyng , or els being drawen by hope of some promosion , shall be cast out of his degre . Therfore the Lord is to be praied vnto , that he wil defende vs standing in the confession of a sincere faith . For this cause it is good for all godly men to thinke that the scourge of the lorde is afore their dores : whome notwithstanding they by the mouyng of chaunces shall get , god onely knoweth which ruleth the causes of all thinges . We wyll onely bryng those thyngs which be like the truth , and seme not dissagreble from the worde of God . For the worde of the lord ought to be a lantarne to our feete , and a light to oure steppes . By it we may learn better the cause of our aduersities , then may be perceiued by any such wonders , which god sendeth commonly for the reprobate and stiffe necked men , amongest whome the worde of God taketh no place , that all their exscuses may be cut awaye . Notwithstanding I do not deny that there be Sermons of repentaunce , whych not wythstandynge they that are destitut of the gouernment of the word of god do take neuer the latter . For we see vngodly and wycked men whych beyng associat with the vnbeleuynge Iewes , require a sygne from heauen , which if it apeare , then with full voyce they crye out , oure synnes require such wonders : but they of the part of the euangelicall doctrine , doe beare these thinges paciently and deriue part from them selues to other , and euery one that speaketh of repentance with the mouth , seldom doth it in dede . The only Christians in whom the light of the worde of god shyneth knowledge their synnes , and by the helpe of god studieth to reforme their lyfe to a better state , whome in these present calamities this one thing can comfort them , that they vnderstande god by his syngular grace to tourne theyr deserued paynes into martyrdome : through whiche is caused that they also comfort themselues , in whom is this gyfte of God , that not onelye they beleue in Christ , but also suffer for hys name sake . For although our synnes be greate , yet nothwythstandyng we shall not feele the furye of the chiefe enemyes of Christ , but for the sincere confession of the faythe , whych we maye declyne from yf we wyll go from the doctrine of the gospell . The almightye and greate God for his diuine grace , and singuler aids of the holy gost , vouchsafe to kepe vs Amen .

The authour answereth againe to thys fyrste epistle : and approueth it , notwythstandyng ( sayth he ) the stars whiche fell out of that fyrye wonder , I had rather interpretate to signifie the aduersarye of Christe with hys , which as hitherto haue bene counted as starres , and shal fall headlong out of heauen as Lucifer dyd . &c. That is they shall fall from that vsurped authoritie which they now haue , which the authour of all wonders and effectes grant . So be it .

Certayn Eglogs taken out of diuers epistles of credible men , and certayne prynted bookes , prynted at Norynberghe and Vinaria , briefly set furth vpon the same wonder : so that it doth agre wyth those epistles or letters set oute afore , whych were almost omitted .

THat monsterous fyre was not sene at August , Vindelictorū , nor near about it , but it was sene not far from August : as about Neurzā , Landspergen , Norinberg , and in the dukedom of Wirtenberge , in Belgicke , and also towarde Hungarye , within three dayes after Christenmas , but not in all these places on one daye : So that many of the neyghbors thought that it dyd burne , and ranne to quench it : and the fyre fallynge from heauen in another place made them sore afraid : This did a certayne noble man write in his epistle or letter . We read in a printed leafe that this fyre was sene towarde Eccelshemy , Frochhemy , & Bamberge : likewyse at Campodune and in many other places . And a credeble man wrote vnto vs that it was sene in the region of Vlme and in Athesina : Lykewyse at Lindauia , and in the monarchie of Bauaria , neare vnto August ( notwtstandynge it was not sene in the citie of August ) also towarde Vienna , and about Anwarpe . In the booke printed at Vinaria , we read that thys strange wonder was sene , the ayre beyng cleare & no cloudes at all , so that it occupied the fourth parte of the heauen wyth such brightnes that one might easely see and perceyue anye thynge . For the fire was great brode and longe ( in maner as if some great citie had ben wholly al of fyre ) disseuered with thre white strakes or furrowes of the which the one part appeared of the colour of bloode tempered with some other thing , and the other part was somewhat thicker , & the last part at the goyng away of it , it was compassed about with a darke and thicke cloude . Other sayde that the white strakes were sene at the beginninge wyth the fire , not beyng verye red aboute the middest , but a certaine clearnes mixte with rednesse , through which also the starres appeared . In some places warning was geuen by ringyng of the belles to quench the fire . The foresayde fyre , as farre as men coulde iudge , remoued from the East vnto the West : other write that it began from the North in ●●aner of a cloud : and it semed as it wer castyng flames of fyre from it like vnto starres . At the first it was sene thre dayes and a halfe , at the lest an houre and a halfe afore daye , it lasted about an houre and an halfe , and vanished away almost an houre afore dai . Out of letters written from Constance to vs . The nexte day after Childermas day in the ayre were sene certaine great and longe speares : two crosses the one of them was whyte , what the other was it is not shewed , and a rodde was sene in the ayre in maner of red bloode , so that some were readye to crie fyre . Certaine fishermen that were on the riuer aboute two of the clocke after midnight dyd see this great and bryght monstrous thynge whiche continued vntil syxe a clocke , but towarde Turgauia and Heluitia was sene a starre wyth fyue seuerall beames whiche were about three yards longe , & in other places it semed in maner of a Hunters staffe .

The report goeth , that aboute Roteuilla a certayne heate was hearde in the ayre , euen as it had bene liquor boylynge in a potte , the which by and by wente downe into the nexte hyll , and there wythin a whyle after it made the same noyse in the earth that it dyd before in the ayre . And as the letters doe testifie , whiche were sent from Memminga .

On Childermas daye betwene fiue and syxe of the clocke in the mornynge , moore then the space of an whole houre , was sene in the ayre a great and an vnaccustomed rednes , towarde the north : in maner lyke vnto the fashion of an hemicycle and then it remoued somewhat towarde the Southe , and bare before it the lykenes of burnyng fyre , by reason whereof in certayn villages the bels were ronge to gyue warning , to help to quenche it .

In another part of this rednes appeared whyte forrowes : the whyche by and by went out of syght lyke vnto red firye flames , so that they were sene shynyng by reason of the brightnes of the flame .

Another parte of it was discolored and al red in maner of bloode , and terrible of syght . The aire at first was not perceyued , and through this rednes the starres were sene to cast out their beames . A man that watched in a towre at Suricke , saide that about midnight he felt an earthquake .

And a certain crafts man which was a glasier marueyled at the sodden shakings of the glasse in the night , where of I maruaile that it was noted of none other , nor sene any where elles that we can heare . Oute of another epistle written by a certaine learned man . This wonder of the fyre in the ayre was not sene at Berne , but in the fielde there were many that sawe it . I heare of nothynge that was sene beyonde Berne towarde Fraunce , nor at Friburge , nor at Lausanne . They do shewe of a certaine monsterous thing sene in the fielde of Berne there appeared a fyry globe in the whiche a beare and a lyon semed to fighte together . In the dominion of Gruenensis they write that a globe of fire did flye so nere a vyllage , that a husbande man was afrayed of the burnyng of his house , because the fire was sene so neare vnto the top of the house . These thynges I wryte by report to satisfie your request vntyll I knowe them more certainely . Thus sayde he .

Another writeth that in the fielde of Berne was sene another wonder of an hoste of men fyghtyng together but the authour I know not .

Also after thys foresayde wonder of fyre that was sene in the aire , that is the thyrty day of December , which was the last yere . M. D. LX. at eyght a clocke before none , there was sene a fyre to aryse about Bade of Heluetia with a great thicke cloude . And when the husbande men of Regenspurge ( which ▪ towne is in the field of Surick ) saw it thei ran together being ready to quench it : by and by it vanished away , so that it was not perceyued whether any fyre had ben in that place or no. Not withstandyng , this also may be thought to be a certaine wonder .

❧ The interpretation of the strang wonder , set furth by the authour , written vnto a frende of his dwellvng in Vindelick a countrey of Germany .

I Geue you moste hearty thankes , that you do part amongest vs your interpretation vpon that fearefull and monsterous syghte , whyche you did not onely se in the aire at Heluetia and Ranie , but at Algea and thorough out all Sueuia , excepte at Auspurge , in which no man , no not the watche men , did see any thing that daye , when not withstandyng it was sene two or thre mile of , and the good neyghbours there thought Auspurge dyd burne , and they did lamentablye beholde the dukedom of Wirtenberg Franconia & Thuringa , at the same houre and moment when ye did se it . I haue no naturall philosphie that thereby I might coniecture it to com , for in such a dead and cold tyme there coulde not happen such vapours nor such exhalations , that mighte cause such fyre to appear euery where : nor yet was the cause of the earthquake knowen amonge you , seing it was heard to be no where els . Therefore I come to your interpretacion : and I hope that Christ wyll come shortly & reuenge his worde ▪ & iudge the world by fyre : wythout you had rather thus to expounde it , that in all places wher this fyre was sene , the fire of the gospel shal so purely cleanse the people that all sparkes and ashes shal be blowen quite away . But at Bauar and Austria where this fire did not appeare , they shall peryshe in darkenesse , excepte God be mercifull vnto them .

❧ Of certayne other straunge tokens and wonders .

THe day before the fyre was sene in the ayre , that is the seuen and twenty day of December , in the ende of the yere . M. D. LX. betwene the towne of Tubinga and the duke dome of Wirtenberge and the village of Iesingam , which is two miles distant from Tubinga , soddenly in a certaine fielde there appeared a golfe which was sire and thirty fote depe , twenty fote broad . and about the earth no more then a common pitte , round of compas , conteinyng of depth in water nine fote . Other spreade false rumors abrode & say that it was of such a depth that it could not be expressed . Also it is sayde , that it rained bloode about the same time in many places of Germanye .

The thirtene day of December , the yeare . M. D. LX. at Vienna and Austria , there was an earthquake and a great tempest , and fearefull lightenyng . Towres , houses , and the Cathedral church of Sainct Steuen was burnte with lightenynge . The ayre was sene burne a longe tyme , as a certayne noble man of Vindelicke in his letters doeth witnes vnto vs .

We knowe for a suertye that lately in Fraunce , when the king had assembled the head men of a citi together into hys owne presence : behold there appeared a great comet ouer the city which continued as long as the assemblie endured : that is . xxviii . dayes , in the yeare . M. D. LX. in the moneth of December .

❧ Of wonders or strange thyngs sene in the countrey of Pymont . Taken our of the letters written to a certain prince in the yeare . 1560. in the moneth of December .

AT Chirasyn a fyre was sene in the aire which lasted thre houres . At Trauilla it rayned bloode as manye houres , that is to wit , thre hōures . At Fosan were sene as it were , thre fyry cometes . In the plaine next vn-Sentaly there appeared a great numbre of horsemen in the ayre . At Caragnan ther was sene an earthquake which sounded lyke the wheles of a waggon . At Pinaroly was sene in the aire the maner of a fyry linnen cloth : and many other strang wonders wer sene in sundrie other places .

Of the heauenly goat ( for so Aristotle calleth it ) there was sene at Cathaline , a notable towne of Fraunce commonly called Cholos , in the yere of our lorde . M. D. L. IIII. the syxte day of the moneth of Marche , betwen seuen and eyght of the clocke at after none , aboute the Moone a burnynge fyre , in the which was sene , as it had bene the poynt of a speare , going from the East vnto the West , & castyng out flames and fearful great burnynges . As Conrade Lycosthenes writteth in his boke of monsterous and straunge wonders .

❧ Of straunge wonders and prodegious thynges , sene in the ayre in the begynnyng of the yere . 1556.

IN the begynnynge of the yeare of our Lorde , a thousande , fyue hundred fiftye and syxe : On a Sondaye after Christenmas day about the euenynge tyde , was sene with vs that dwell about Lauinga ( as a certayne contre man of ours writ in a letter to a frende of hys ) a great lyghtnyng and it thundered erceadinglye , and not farre of from vs , a house standyng in a village was strycken with lyghtnyng and burnte downe .

And the ayre opened verye wyde and brode , and dyd belche oute great and bright flames of fyre . The whiche tempest was about nyne of the clock at nyght , manye of the people were wonderfully astonied and sore afrayd in so muche that many of them were domme a longe tyme after .

Out of another Epistle or letter of the same wonder : the same daye at nyght in Bohem , Silesia , and Misnia , there was a terrible tempest , and many men , cattell , great towres and churches wer stricken with lightnyng and perished with fyre . Also it rayned bloode and fyre . A towne of Melnicca foure myles distant from Praga , all the grounde of it was wel nigh consumed with fire . The church of our Lady at Praga was burnte with lightnyng : and the church of S. Anne that is in the mount was lyke wise burned . Two Churches beyng about two mile distant from Lipsia , were also burnt with lightning . And it rained blood abundantly in the same place : and two camelles were sene in the ayre deuouring a harnessed man .

In the same yere . M. D. L. U● . the eleuenth day of Ianuary , at August and Vindelick towarde the Alpes , in the night the air opened , and burned for a while most fearefull to beholde , and semed to threaten to be the latter day . At Miccenhusa in Bauaria , ther was sene in the night such brightnes , that the candle light in Zeta waxed darke , and when the candles were put out , the brightnes of the aire sufficed them for light , thre houres space .

The same yere of our lorde a thousand fyue hundred and thre score , the fyfth day of September in the towne of Marchia and Custerine , at nyne a clocke at after noone . Innumerable flames of fyre dyd shyne on euery side in the aire with great brightnes . And in the myddes of the element there appeared two fyry beames . To conclude , as I read moreouer , in an vnknowen author , a voyce was heard which said woe , woe , vnto the churche . Thus sayeth Iames Fincelius , writyng of the wonders done in hys tyme