'A Prophecy Found in the Abbey of St Benedict in Norfolk (c.1623, but dated 1485)'

335r

31 May 1623

Sir/

I received yours, iust as I was sitting downe to write. I thank you for the returne of what I sent. And still I wonder at our Academiane whom I obserue more & more to make no bones of communicating copying repeating of that I meane not shalbe euer found in my keeping; howsoeuer curiosity to vnderstand the times makes me sometimes listen; but I hope that is a pardonable fault &c. That which I receiued at seueral times since Saturday, whether by l[ette]r, report &or printing, I now send you. But for the petition you speake of, certainly be it not worthie to be called a Protestant that playd such an Idolatrous knaves part. And for the similitude of the argument, it puts me in mind of a Prophecie shall I call it or a libell, which I lately saw: others say they saw it long since but I cannot say so: but judge of it, when you heare it: If it be but 7 yeares old & I knew so much I should esteeme it more But thus I had it

A prophecie found in the Abbey of St Benedict in Norfolk

If Eightie eight α Left margin: α Tilbury. Camp. &c be past, then thriue
Thou mayst, till Fourty foure or five.β Left margin: β Q. Elizabeths raigne.
After the Mayd γ Left margin: γ Q Elizabeth is dead, A Scott δ Left margin: δ K. James.
Shall governe then; & if a Plott ε Left margin: ε Pouder plott
Preuent him not, then sure his sway
Continue shall full many a day.
The Ninth ζ Left margin: ζ Pr. Henrie shall die, & then the First η Left margin: η Pr. Charles
Perhaps shall raigne; but, oh, accurst
Shalbe the Time, when as you see
To Sixteene θ joyned Twentie three θ Left margin: θ θ 16|23 or Maria 16. Charles 23.
For then the Eagle .ι. Left margin: ι Rome or Romish state shall haue help
By craft to catch the Lyons Whelp κ Left margin: κ God bless [th]e Prince
And hurt him sore, except the same
Be cur’d by one of the Mayds name.λ Left margin: λ Elizabeth.
In Iulies month the selfe same yeare
Doth Saturne μ joyne with Iupiter.μ Left margin: μ. μ. The great conjunction of Saturne & Jupiter Anno 1623. July 8.
Perhaps false Prophets shall arise,
And Mahomet shall play his prise;
But sure great alteration
Shall happen in Religion.
Left margin: Dat: 1485Beleeue this true, when as you see
A'Spanyard Protestant to be

I know not whether this date belongs to the who{le} prophecie, or to the 2 last verses onely: nor wether the{ {gap: illegible} } be part of the Prophecie or some { {gap: illegible} } Howsoeve{r}335v 31 May 1623I will make that good vse of it as to devide a book a book betweene your selfe & me, called Hispanus conversus or Texeda retextus . I haue it both in latin (wherein the autor writes it) & the translation into English which I cutt of from the other, & here send it you/ as I had thought to haue done long a goe but could neuer think of it till now, that the prophecie putts me in mind thereof.

Mr. Ramsey sweares that he saw afore the prophecie afore Christmas at Court, & that they interpreted there the Lyons Whelp of the Palatine, the Eagle of the Emperour & But the Palatine is a Lyon but not a Lyons Whelp. his father not living. Mr Warner was with me this week & told me, that he had seene it halfe a yeare since: but when I expounded it to him, he began to doubt whether he saw it before the Prince went or not. This is all I know of it, & am sure the style is of no great antiquitie: yet you will not deny but my marginall notes guesse very neere his meaning, whoseover he were that made it. For without doubt he had a meaning & some skill too in Astronomie that he could point out the yeare & month of the great Conjunction to be in Iuly next. Yet for all this for any thing I know he might be a libeller & perhaps he that made your {gap: illegible} petition to Q Eliz. had some litle acquaintance either with him or his poeme. If any man can say more let for his credit let him.

Thus with my best respect to your selfe & my Lady I rest, petitioning Almightie God to better the face of the times & to look upon all that are either in feare or distress, whether amongst us or wheresoever else

Christ Coll[ege] May 31

Yours most ready to be com[m]anded Joseph Meade

It is not yet time a yeare to talke of coming to Dalham but I shall trouble you time enough.