the past comet tells of war, and the suppression of great men, pestilence, persecution of religions, bad news for England and France
Month: January 1681
the author and many others saw a comet in clear skies, and then two armies appearing from the North and South, who fought in the sky for an hour, the comet has been seen across Christendom, signifies very ominous events to come
discussion of a prophecy but also a commentary on the recent comet, which was pale and dusky but Saturnine, and therefore is ominous, points to England but instead shows jealousy for the country’s happiness, and getting over the late plot
speculations on Christ’s second coming based on numerical calculations from scripture, rumors of coming war, the recent comet is indicative of the coming apocalypse, blood falling from the sky, the most recent comet signifies Christ’s coming work, plagues and fire, and a flood the enemies of God’s people, from which they will be delivered, bad news for France and an upcoming death of a European prince
the recent comet warns of plague, earthquake, and thunders, leaving several Christian towns in ashes, foreshadows the death of a prince and victory over the Turks, the author even hypothesizes this to be the last age and the apocalypse to be coming soon
prayer or religious discourse to heaven from earth, about repent for sins and renouncing passions
Brief summary:
A first person account of the Devil coming to Margaret Gurr in her sleep, giving her extreme pains, entering her and speaking through her with ugly sounds, a witch came and also entered her, Doctor Skinner told her to pray when they came but they overpowered her, she was tempted to kill herself, later she was able to read the Bible again, another young man was possessed by the devil in the shape of a greyhound.
Brief summary:
This pamphlet was purportedly written by Margaret Gurr and is, therefore, a first hand account of her possession. It begins in July 1681 when she is visited by two devils, one dressed in gray and the other dressed in black. The devils try to convince her to kill herself, first by hanging and in the case that she would not do that, by putting knitting needles in her ears. She does not kill herself. A week later the gray devil returns to her and holds her down on her bed so that she cannot move. The devil holds her so tight that her hands consequentially swell. The gray devil leaves her as soon as Margaret thinks about God. After the gray devil leaves her she feels a pain in her neck. The black devil then came, stared at her for a few moments, and then disappeared. When he disappeared the pain left her as well. On the fourth of August the devils return to Margaret. The black devil enters inside her and speaks through her, saying that if she does as he wants her to do she will be well. Then, on the fifth day of August a witch enters inside her as well and tells her the same thing, saying that if she follows the witch’s lead and acts the way she does she will be very healthy. Margaret was forced to do as the witch wanted her to do and if she tried to pray she was unable to speak. The next day she was once again visited by the devils. They took her flying through the air. She remembers the words of Doctor Skinner and prays. The witch threatens her for going to Doctor Skinner for help. After this, Doctor Skinner casts the devils and the witch out of Margaret’s body. He also cures her of the scurvy and gout so she is healthier than she has ever been before. She notes that before this possession took place she was unable to read and therefore could not read the word of God but after the possession she was blessed with the ability to read.
There is another shorter story included in this pamphlet about a 17 year old servant boy. A spirit in the form of a greyhound appears to him, telling him to go to Virginia. The boy starts getting seemingly unhealthy, his speech fails and all those around him notice and look for help. The author is the person that they found to help the boy. The author found that the boy was possessed by the devil and the author gave the boy medicines and the boy was cured as the devil was cast out of him.
The final story from this pamphlet is one of three miraculous cures. One girl had “evil in her eyes”, one had “evil in her throat” and the other had pain in her head, near her eyes. The author was able to cure all of them. As soon as they found the author they were cured.
discussion of past comets, especially that which appeared after the birth of Christ, then more recent comets including the last two, which foreshadow God’s wrath, discussion of biblical wrath such as the Flood and the punishing of Egypt, and how sin like in the past is abundant today, the comets signify poverty, plagues, and storms, in addition to war, fire, and lightning
Categories
Strange and wonderful news from Yowel
Ioan Butts came to the house of Mr. Tuers when only his servant Elizabeth Burgiss was home, first asking for gloves and then later a pin, two weeks later stones were thrown into the house that only struck Elizabeth, Mr. Tuers pulled a piece of clay full of pins from her back, she then reported seeing Butts when other could not, leaves off with Elizabeth’s mother confronting Butts.
rehearses a theoretical and historical discussion of comets, the most recent was, however, one of the most large and terrible seen yet, predictions of its significations have not been good