A Prophecy Found in the Abbey of St Benedict in Norfolk Noah Millstone Principal Investigator MPESE Sebastiaan Verweij Co-Investigator MPESE Richard Bell Research Associate Victoria Anker BRIHC Research Impact Fellow Mike Jones Research Software Engineer Manuscript Pamphleteering in Early Stuart England (MPESE) 2017 United Kingdom London British Library Harley MS 389 Newsletters from Joseph Meade to Sir M Stuteville, vol. 1, Nov. 1620-Dec. 1625

British Library, Harley MS 389

 United Kingdom Oxford All Souls College MS 242 United Kingdom London British Library Sloane MS 292 United Kingdom London British Library Sloane MS 1479 United Kingdom London British Library Sloane MS 363 United Kingdom London British Library Additional MS 34217 Sir Francis Fane's book All Souls College, MS 242, f. 87v British Library, Sloane MS 1479, f. 8v British Library, Sloane MS 292, f. 1v British Library, Sloane MS 363, f. 17v British Library, Additional MS 34217, f. 41v Beinecke Library, Osborn b197, f. 189 Bodleian Library, MS Ashmole 47, f. 40r Bodleian Library, MS Rawlinson D 1092, f. 23r Bodleian Library, MS Rawlinson D 398, f. 162r Bodleian Library, MS Rawlinson poetry 26, f. 15v Cambridge University Library, MS Ee.5.56, f. 2v Durham University Library, MSP 9, reversing the volume, 104 Folger Shakespeare Library, MS V.a.275 UT Austin MS, BL Microfilm 751 Phillips MS 12341, p323

c.1623, but dated 1485 St Benedict's Abbey, Norfolk English Latin prophecy letter Spanish Match Confessional conflict Gunpowder plot Palatine

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 letter, report & or printing, I now send you. But for the petition you speake of, cer= tainly 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 αTilbury. Camp. &c be past, then thriue Thou mayst, till Fourty foure or five.β βQ. Elizabeths raigne. After the Mayd γ γQ Elizabeth is dead, A Scott δ δK. James. Shall governe then; & if a Plott ε εPouder plott Preuent him not, then sure his sway Continue shall full many a day. The Ninth ζ ζPr. Henrie shall die, & then the First η ηPr. Charles Perhaps shall raigne; but, oh, accurst Shalbe the Time, when as you see To Sixteene θ joyned Twentie three θ θ θ16|23 or Maria 16. Charles 23. For then the Eagle .ι. ιRome or Romish state shall haue help By craft to catch the Lyons Whelp κ κGod bless the Prince And hurt him sore, except the same Be cur’d by one of the Mayds name.λ λElizabeth. In Iulies month the selfe same yeare Doth Saturne μ joyne with Iupiter.μ 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. Dat: 1485Beleeue this true, when as you see A'Spanyard Protestant to be

I know not whether this date belongs to the whole prophecie, or to the 2 last verses onely: nor wether the be part of the Prophecie or some Howsoever 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 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 College May 31

Yours most ready to be commanded Joseph Meade

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