The
strange
and
dreadful
Apparation
of
wonderful
Meteors
in
the
Air
,
at
Markfield
in
Leicestershire
,
on
Thursday
Septemb
.
7.
1659.
BEfore
I
proceed
to
give
you
an
accompt
of
the
many
admirable
and
prodigious
formes
of
haile-stones
,
which
in
a
great
storm
of
thunder
and
lightning
,
were
taken
up
and
shewed
to
many
at
Markfield
in
Leicestershire
,
on
Thursday
the
7th
of
this
present
moneth
of
September
;
it
will
not
be
amiss
to
represent
unto
you
,
that
it
is
the
observation
of
some
learned
men
,
that
some
places
by
the
Divine
Providence
,
are
more
appropriate
for
miracles
then
others
;
not
that
the
hand
of
God
is
confined
to
any
peculiar
place
,
but
that
he
is
pleased
there
more
particularly
to
exercise
his
power
,
and
to
manifest
either
his
Indignation
,
or
his
good
pleasure
to
the
Sons
of
men
:
Of
this
the
Histories
both
sacred
and
profane
,
can
furnish
us
with
abundant
examples
,
had
we
the
leisure
to
prosecute
so
large
a
Theam
.
Comets
are
sometimes
seen
in
the
Air
,
shooting
forth
their
threatning
Trains
,
like
bushes
of
hair
set
on
fire
;
Sometimes
they
appear
in
the
form
of
a
Lance
,
and
sometimes
of
a
great
Beam
set
on
fire
,
and
with
great
terrour
they
do
fly
thorough
the
Air
.
Sometimes
they
represent
a
naked
Sword
,
and
sometimes
a
flying
Dragon
,
according
to
the
disposition
of
the
Exhalations
,
as
they
are
more
thin
,
or
thick
,
and
more
or
less
capable
of
being
inflamed
.
The
Philosophers
do
number
up
several
sorts
of
them
,
and
,
do
give
several
Names
unto
them
,
according
to
their
several
proportions
and
forms
,
or
according
to
their
situations
,
being
higher
or
lower
in
the
Regions
of
the
Air
,
or
as
they
are
more
swift
or
slow
in
their
motions
.
There
hath
been
apparitions
in
the
Air
not
onely
in
the
forms
of
Stars
,
or
Swords
,
or
Lances
but
in
the
shapes
of
Men
and
Coaches
drawn
by
horses
.
In
Germany
about
twelve
years
since
,
there
was
seen
the
shape
of
a
Man
in
the
Air
,
sitting
in
the
clowds
,
and
cloa
hed
all
in
wh●te
,
on
his
brows
were
to
be
seen
the
rays
of
Divinity
.
Those
that
beheld
it
,
did
intertain
in
their
hearts
the
preparations
for
Repentance
,
and
amendment
of
life
,
believi
g
they
had
seen
some
sign
whereby
they
might
justly
suggest
unto
themselves
that
the
Resurrection
was
at
hand
.
We
have
heard
and
seen
of
late
of
many
forms
of
Hail-stones
,
which
have
caused
great
wonder
in
the
beholders
Sometimes
they
have
been
taken
up
and
observed
for
the
most
part
to
be
flat
,
as
in
that
dreadful
storm
of
Hail
,
presently
after
that
it
rained
fire
from
heaven
,
which
was
beheld
by
many
travailers
coming
late
to
London
,
not
far
from
Epping
about
three
years
since
,
and
much
about
this
time
of
the
year
:
The
Hail-stones
then
that
fell
were
of
a
great
breadth
,
and
looked
like
so
many
flat
pieces
of
Ice
.
Sometimes
they
have
been
seen
to
be
square
in
their
form
,
and
above
an
Inch
and
an
half
in
length
;
sometimes
again
they
have
been
beheld
to
be
of
a
great
bigness
,
and
to
carry
on
them
the
Image
of
the
face
of
a
Man
,
which
indeed
although
it
be
wonderful
,
we
find
the
like
to
be
recorded
in
History
.
The
form
of
these
which
I
come
now
to
relate
unto
you
,
is
truely
rare
,
for
although
in
the
Air
,
there
have
oft
been
seen
the
shapes
of
naked
Swords
,
and
Daggers
,
and
some
forms
of
Meteors
representing
Spears
,
and
ther
s
representing
Halberts
yet
we
can
never
find
that
any
falling
from
the
cloud
,
were
taken
up
from
the
earth
,
as
these
were
which
I
come
now
to
declare
unto
you
.
On
Thursday
Septemb
.
7.
in
the
afternoon
there
was
seen
at
Markfield
in
Leicestershire
extraordinary
flashes
of
lightning
,
which
breaking
from
the
angry
clouds
made
way
for
the
ensuing
thunder
,
the
clappes
whereof
were
terrible
and
continued
chiding
and
roaring
in
the
Air
for
the
space
of
an
hour
:
At
every
silence
and
respite
of
the
thunder
,
the
lightning
during
this
dreadful
storm
did
break
forth
with
great
force
:
And
the
next
voyce
of
the
thunder
was
louder
,
and
more
affrighting
then
that
which
was
before
;
There
were
no
showres
of
raine
,
but
at
the
last
there
was
a
most
black
;
and
dreadful
storm
of
Haile
,
and
in
stead
of
Hail-stones
there
fell
ratling
down
from
the
Air
,
Halbeards
,
Swords
,
and
Daggers
,
which
being
taken
up
were
found
to
be
of
the
same
nature
,
and
to
be
begotten
of
the
same
extremity
of
Cold
as
were
the
Hailstones
,
and
after
a
little
time
,
both
the
sight
and
the
fright
which
the
sight
brought
with
it
,
did
melt
away
at
once
.
Many
of
the
Town
of
Markfield
,
and
places
adjacent
were
much
amazed
at
this
prodigious
spectacle
,
which
to
increase
their
wonder
,
was
seconded
by
another
terrible
noise
in
the
Air
,
as
if
two
great
Armies
had
been
on
their
march
,
and
advancing
one
against
the
other
;
The
Canons
were
heard
to
play
with
importunate
fury
,
and
the
muskets
on
both
sides
in
repeated
volleys
did
discharge
their
cholerick
errands
:
During
this
incounter
there
were
beheld
many
prodigious
erruptions
of
fire
,
which
with
great
violence
did
fly
in
the
Air
,
and
running
lower
,
did
tear
in
pieces
many
strong
Houses
,
and
laid
great
Trees
on
their
backs
,
which
in
an
instance
were
plucked
up
by
the
roots
.
There
was
not
far
off
a
Lime-kiln
,
on
which
some
part
of
the
tempest
did
fall
with
so
great
violence
that
all
the
Lime
was
blown
up
in
the
Air
,
just
as
in
a
high
storm
the
waters
of
the
Sea
are
blown
,
when
the
winds
and
the
waves
do
wrastle
for
supremacy
.
This
being
done
,
this
part
of
the
fiery
tempest
which
came
so
low
,
was
seen
by
all
to
take
its
course
up
the
hill
,
where
it
vanished
away
,
and
there
was
heard
no
more
noyse
of
it
.
It
is
certified
by
several
letters
,
that
this
Tempest
at
the
first
did
appear
like
a
thick
and
rowling
Smoak
,
and
sometimes
it
would
cast
it self
into
a
great
Circumference
,
like
to
a
great
wheel
,
or
an
Orbe
,
not
easie
to
be
compassed
.
There
is
no
man
ignorant
of
the
late
great
Indevours
to
ingage
this
Nation
again
in
a
new
War
,
which
by
the
Almighty
goodnesse
is
now
quieted
,
and
since
we
enjoy
peace
on
Earth
,
let
us
pray
for
the
Continuance
of
it
,
that
so
these
Daggers
and
these
Halberts
,
may
fall
in
vain
from
the
Armory
of
Heaven
.
Sir
George
Booth
is
now
a
prisoner
in
the
Tower
,
He
that
threatned
so
much
alteration
,
and
to
fil●
this
Island
with
the
thunders
of
his
Arms
,
was
inforced
to
fly
at
the
first
Sight
,
and
to
sue
for
his
safety
to
the
protection
of
a
Petticoat
,
which
we
can
find
no
where
better
represented
,
then
in
this
ensuing
Poem
.
What
strange
Hermaphrodite
,
two
Sex
in
one
!
What
first
Sir
George
,
and
now
must
be
Sir
Joan
;
He
hath
took
a
new
strange
faction
for
his
Cure
,
What
turn'd
from
the
old
?
An
Anabaptist
sure
;
He
is
converted
,
't
is
no
Robbery
,
Exchang'd
from
George
,
but
to
Sir
Dorothy
.
Sure
he
did
think
by
putting
on
the
Gown
,
That
there
were
left
no
Midwives
in
Town
:
But
h'
is
mistook
,
he
hath
it
not
by
roat
,
For
all
his
Tricks
,
wee
I
pay
his
Petticoat
.
He
did
not
like
Mars
Wars
,
but
Venus
Lock
,
And
left
the
Steel
to
take
the
Linnen
Smock
;
Just
like
young
Blades
that
creep
out
of
the
husk
,
The
Sword
was
not
for
him
,
he
took
the
Busk
.
Away
,
away
,
for
it
doth
bring
but
loathing
,
Wee
'l
find
such
Wolfes
,
though
covered
in
Sheeps
cloathing
.
The
Whirlwind
of
his
Fan
's
like
Bottle-beer
To
blow
him
up
,
wee
'l
lace
his
Stomacher
;
I
think
his
Name
is
changed
every
tittle
,
For
George
and
Doll
agree
but
very
little
;
But
now
I
think
upon
't
,
his
wit
was
such
To
choose
one
out
of
use
like
Pancridge
Church
;
For
if
it
were
too
neer
,
there
were
no
losse
,
Right
against
Pauls
is
standing
Charing
Crosse
.
But
that
's
not
all
to
this
what
I
have
said
,
He
might
remember
Doll
the
Dairy-maid
.
Mark
but
the
time
,
you
see
old
things
grow
new
,
The
yeer
is
gone
,
and
in
comes
Bartholmew
:
I
dare
affirm
he
thought
there
to
be
set
A
stately
Booth
i
th
Fayr
for
to
be
let
,
Inrich'd
with
hangings
,
and
I
do
suppose
The
Bill
for
it
is
Droppings
of
his
Nose
,
In
these
Characters
bloudy
red
,
not
green
,
Within
this
Booth
Sir
George
is
to
be
seen
.
I
wish
all
Sharks
whose
wealth
's
not
worth
a
louse
To
take
this
Booth
,
for
he
might
turn
a
House
,
He
hath
such
Transactions
,
and
such
Jig's
withall
,
Turn
but
his
mind
,
and
he
may
turn
a
Hall
;
O!
he
was
dreaming
,
or
lay
in
a
trance
,
He
thought
by
's
Coats
to
make
the
Stones
to
dance
.
I
wish
him
turn
Jack
Pudding
,
and
make
known
To
leap
out
of
mans
cloaths
into
a
gown
;
Nay
that
's
not
all
,
for
when
he
is
come
to
t
He
l
be
Sir
George
on
Horse
,
Sir
Doll
on
foot
;
He
's
turn'd
from
the
English
Church
,
to
th'
Scottish
Kirk
;
Nay
from
a
Cods-head
,
he
's
turn'd
to
a
Shirk
;
Ha
,
ha
,
I
can
but
laugh
,
here
is
the
thing
,
Now
after
this
hee
'l
make
good
salted
Ling
;
He
did
leave
all
,
both
Country
,
Wife
,
and
Riches
,
And
turn'd
his
Back
,
and
ran
out
of
his
Breeches
.
This
is
the
Champion
in
the
Wars
of
Mars
Who
fought
so
long
till's
cloaths
fell
of
his
Arse
,
And
now
for
them
he
's
glad
to
put
in
place
A
Tammy
Petticoat
,
with
Poor-whores
lace
,
That
now
he
swears
,
't
is
good
for
him
to
yeild
,
A
downy
Bed
is
better
then
a
field
;
So
for
safe
guard
from
all
his
dangerous
foes
H●
hath
crept
under
his
old
Grandams
cloaths
He
had
best
take
heed
of
a
Crack
that
's
louder
,
For
〈◇〉
old
woman
she
may
turn
to
powder
.
And
blow
him
up
,
her
Cloaths
cannot
but
smell
O'
th
stinking
touch-hole
like
the
mouth
of
Hell
.
The
handsome
Leg
is
gone
,
and
manly
Brow
,
He
's
turn'd
a
Female
,
drops
a
Courtsie
now
,
It
is
so
humble
that
none
can
make
lower
,
He
hath
dropt
so
long
,
he
's
dropt
into
the
Tower
;
As
for
his
Skin
,
believe
me
't
is
so
loose
That
from
a
Gander
he
's
dropt
to
a
Goose
;
It
was
my
study
,
and
my
dayly
Care
To
term
him
Knight
,
but
now
I
'le
call
him
Player
;
For
he
's
so
cunning
,
and
so
wary
grown
Hee
●l
be
a
man
abroad
,
a
Maid
at
home
;
He
will
not
stick
,
and
that
in
publick
view
For
to
be
both
the
Wife
and
Husband
too
;
Sure
he
by
Sybil
,
or
a
Crew
of
Witches
Was
sham'd
for
to
let
Women
wear
the
breeches
.
There
is
no
pleasure
in
't
,
I
m
sure
there
is
pain
,
His
slavering
mouth
must
have
a
Bib
again
.
Oh
,
Oh
,
I
'm
mad
,
but
if
that
here
be
room
I
'd
have
this
Epitaph
upon
his
Tomb
.
His
Epitaph
.
Here
lyeth
under
this
,
Would
you
know
who
it
is
?
In
Truth
a
very
Oddin
.
't
is
neither
he
,
nor
she
,
Then
say
who
it
should
he
,
Oh
'
las
!
't
is
Anniseed
Robin
.
FINIS
.