[4] The Britiſh Viſions; or, Iſaac Bickerſtaff's, Twelve Propheſies for the Year, 1711.

PROPHECY I.

I Shall begin my Years of Wonders as the Courſe of Nature begins it; Councils and Confederacies act all the Courts and Princes of Europe, and the time of Year is only for ſuch Things; but as here the Seeds of Blood are ſown, the plentiful Crop that is to follow, derives from and is produced by the Private Combina⯑tions of Men and Devils to diſturb the World.

Three Scenes of Council ſhall this Month diſcover them⯑ſelves in the World, what the Production or Effects ſhall be of either of them, I ſhall farther lay open in my next; theſe are Councils in this Nation, Councils of France, Councils of Mahomet.

The Councils of this Nation ſhall produce great Strife, Faction and Malecontent ſtirs, with Heat and Animoſi⯑ties among the ſeveral Parties that are among us, to the great Encouragement of our Enemies, and to the great Diſcouragement of good Men; yet the Calmneſs and Pru⯑dence of ſome ſhall leſſen, or at leaſt protract the Danger for a while; Diſputes of Eccleſiaſtick Affairs ſhall em⯑broil this Iſland, and thoſe People who regard neither God nor Devil, ſhall make the greateſt ſtir about Reli⯑gion, every Church (however ſafe) cries out they are in danger, and the Debauchees of the Nation learn to play the Phariſee, and ſay to their Neighbour, Stand off, I am holier than thou.

Let Europe tremble at what is contriving now in the Cabinets of Princes, which, like the Seeds of Diſtem⯑pers [5] in the Body, will quickly break out in Feavors, Fluxes, Cankers, Calentures, and all the Symbals of the Bodily Diſtempers of Men in the Politicks of Na⯑tions.

France conſults now how to ſupport Spain, embroil the Emperor, bring home the Swede, reſtore Bavaria, doze Savoy, fright the Dutch, and divide the Engliſh, and he will in ſome Meaſure accompliſh them all.

The Turk conſults how to humble the Muſcovite, ſub⯑ject the Pole, and keep faſt the King of Sweden; but the Swede will make a Cats Foot of the Turk. play him a ſlipery Trick, get out of his hands, and leave him to fight with the Muſcovites and Poles, where the War ſhall be bloody, cruel, ſucceſsful to neither ſide, and only uſeful to ſhew God's Judgments on both.

PROPHECY II.

After Conſultations comes Preparation, this takes up all Europe, with the Return of the Spring, every Na⯑tion Struggles with themſelves to make their Preparati⯑ons for War formidable, and with one another to be firſt ready for the Bloody Work they are about.

The Confederates attempt vigorouſly to ſuccour King Charles in Spain, but, O the Succeſs!—Spain not yet ripe for Deliverance reſiſts her Friends, embraces her Enemies, and ſtruggles hard againſt what ſhe believes ſhe muſt at laſt ſubmit to.

But this is not the Generation that muſt enjoy the Fruit of this Strife, the Chiefs fight for the Poſſeſſion, neither part obtain it, both take their long Journey be⯑fore the War is over, and the Game at Cheſs is left to Poſterity to play it out. Philip goes firſt, I Iſaac Bicker⯑ſtaff, Elder, having the Second ſight, ſee the famous Mau⯑ſoleum for the young Hero of Bourbon in the Eſcurial at Madrid, and there lies the hope of a Crown, yet the French Monarch with the ſame Obſtinacy ſupports the War, maintains the Breach, and prompts the Spaniards [6] ſtill to defend themſelves againſt their own Happineſs. Philip before he dies fights three Battles with the Confede⯑rates, and is Victor in two of them, but dies in May, and leaves the War to be carried on with leſs Succeſs than be⯑fore; ſhould it be left to the Merits of the Perſons, Phi⯑lip deſerves the Crown of Spain, far better than Ch [...]s, as he appears active, valiant, brave, and unwearied in the Face of his Enemies, however he dies King, and Sleeps in Peace, tho' he never Reigned ſo.

Now the Swedes prepare to break out of Pomeren, and it appears that France and the Swedes are in a ſtrict Con⯑federacy, and they ſhall be more fatal to Europe than the League with the Turk.

The Swedes ſending Forces from Stockholm carry the Plague into Pomerania, from whence it ſpreads to the ut⯑moſt Corners of Europe; Kings and Emperors, ſhall flye from this dreadful Enemy, but find no Receſs; Plague finds them out, and as War ſpreads, Peſtilence goes hand in hand, and both ſhall conſume and deſtroy without Mercy.

Europe is all buſie in fitting out their Armies, the Drums beat in every Kingdom for Soldiers, not a Prince or State in this whole part of the World, but ſhall be embark'd in the Quarrels of Europe, and be engag'd in War either as Principal or as Auxilary.

The Armies of France and Spain are in the Field firſt, and much Blood ſhall be ſhed in Spain before the end of February. The Confederates Struggle hard, but Things do not anſwer the Expence.

PROPHECY III.

The Preparations for War are finiſh'd, now the Troops on all ſides appear in the Field; a third Battle in Spain—Philip's Forces flie in their Turn, tho' no great advan⯑tage made of the Victory. In March the French make two great Efforts upon the Rhine, one to join the Swede, who Marches towards the Elbe, and the French towards Saxony; the other towards Bavaria, and the Germans in no readi⯑neſs to receive them, ſuffer all manner of Miſchiefs.

[7] The Dauphin of France dies; the Pope ſickens and is very weak; the Duke of Savoy relapſes; but the King of France more vigorous than ever, puſhes all before him the beginning of Summer.

A great Prodigy appears in the Eaſt; two Kings ſtrug⯑gling to make it appear which was the better Chriſtian, he that changed his Religion to gain a Crown, or he that flies to Mahomet to recover his Crown. The Turks ad⯑vance now in three great Armies, and one Battle is fought before the end of March, in which the King of Sweden gains ſome ground, but is wounded in the Action, and makes no Advantage of the Battle.

Now the miſerable Fate of Europe approaches, the War begins in Poland, Muſcovy, Hungary, on the Rhine, and in Spain. In Flanders and Savoy they cannot be ready ſo ſoon.

A great Battle on the Frontiers of Portugal, in which the Portugueſe do as they uſe to do, viz. run away; the Spaniards ravage Portugal, ruin three Provinces; if theſe were not Portugueſe, the Spaniards had not had the Victory; and if theſe were not Spaniards, the Portugueſe would be no more a Kingdom, but the ſloth of the Spaniards ſaves Portugal till England relieve her.

A great Miniſter of State dies in the Month of March.

England feels great want of Trade, great want of Mo⯑ney, and great loſs of Credit, which puts her to many Inconveniencies; but let her prepare for worſe Things than theſe.

PROPHECY IV.

Note, In this place in the Original Manuſcript, the following Paragraph was Inſerted, which the Printer in the North de⯑clin'd to put in, for fear of giving Offence.

The Words are theſe,‘The Houſe of Auſtria feels a Blow this Month, which Changes the Meaſures of Europe; The Emperor reſigns to Fate; and the Choiſe both of a new Emperor, and new King of Spain, takes up the Conſultations of all the Courts in Chriſten⯑dom.’

[8] The Empire feels hard Things, beſet on every ſide, and weak in Arms, as well as confuſed in Council, the Swedes and the French invade Bavaria; the Hungarians ſupported by the Turks recover all they have loſt in Hun⯑gary; the French make a terrible Eruption over the Rhine; the Circles of Swabia and Franconia ſuffer incre⯑dible Evils, and Blood, Famine, and Peſtilence, rages over the Empire.

The Duke of Bavaria reſtored to his Dominions by the French, dies of the Plague in April, and the Affairs of that Electorate come to ſome Settlement by the ſucceeding of his Son, who has other Things to mind than War. The Elector of Cologn, Brother to the Bavarian, goes to ſee his Brother reinſtated, but lives not to return to his own Principality.

The Emperor retreats from Vienna for fear of the Turks and Hungarians, and goes to Prague, but the Plague gets into Bohemia, and ſeparates the Imperial Court: ſome great Princes die of that Diſtemper alſo.

In the Month of April a great City in Flanders beſieged by the French, but the Confederates coming on, they raiſe their Siege; they are made amends by ſurprizing another ſtrong Town in the middle of the Day. A Bloody Action in Flanders between part of the Armies, in which the French ſeem to have the Advantage, but decline com⯑ing to a deciſive Battle, and draw off from the Field. Death in this Battle puts an end to the Ambition of two or three great Men on either ſide. Bouſſlers lies now in the Bed of Honour, and his Grace [...] ſhall bear him Company into the other World, ſo he that was en⯑vied before ſhall be pitied now for want of a Rival.

In the ſame April King Philip's Forces Bombard Barcelo⯑na, but Relief comes to King Charles, and in his turn he chaſes them; now the Face of Things change in Spain, and Philip's Fate approaches.

The Danes now prepare to invade S [...]nen, and make another fruitleſs Attempt upon the King of Sweden's Countries, from whence they are again beaten, and bring [9] back Poverty and the Plague, which not only viſits their Capital City, but makes ſad havock in their Court, not excepting the Royal Family.

The King of P [...] demits his Crown in favour of his Son, and ſubmits to go the way of all Princes. This Year is fatal to Crownd Heads.

PROPHECY V.

Now Europe begins to Tremble, the People find an Employment different from the War, the Living having Work enough to Bury their Dead.

By the end of May the various kinds of this new Plague has Touch'd moſt parts of Europe. The Swedes as before bring it to Pomeren, thence they carry it to Saxony (Via Brandenburgh) the Saxons give it to the Bohemians, the Bohemians to the Bavarians, they to the Griſons, and they again to the Smiſs.

The Hungarians bring it another way from Poland, and carrying it into Croatia, it Croſſes the Adriatick to Italy, and ſiezes upon the Venetian; from thence it puſhes into Milan, and viſiting Turin, it paſſes thro' Rome to the Kingdom of Naples, and in ſpight of the interruption of Commerce by the War, croſſes over into Sicily.

Innumerable Numbers of People ſhall periſh by this deſolating Diſtemper; yet the World, as if the Hand of Heaven did not, or could not, deſtroy them faſt enough, ſtill make War, and the Kings of the Earth apply them⯑ſelves to their ruinous Deſigns, with as much fury as ever.

The King of Sweden now appears in his own Colours, and ſhall in the Month of May be in full march to enter Poland, if not Germany; but his Army conſiſting of many Nations, new raiſed and undiſciplin'd, waſts away with⯑out much Fighting and he may ſee that Heaven does not bleſs his Ambitious Deſigns with ſucceſs anſwerable to his Expectations: Three of his greateſt Generals, and in whom was his chief Confidence, die of the Plague; and tho' he gains ſome advantage, he can make no great uſe of it, his power being leſſened by the other Accidents of War.

[10] The Turks and the Muſcovite, 150000 Men of a ſide draw towards one another, but the Deciſive Stroke is not yet, many bloody Skirmiſhes happen between the Tartars and the Coſſacks againſt the Muſcovite.

The Month of May lays King Philip low in Spain, and Charles Triumphs over his Enemy a third time, but his Joy, like all Temporal things, is but of a ſmall duration. The War in Spain coſts much Money, much Blood, much Counſel, but does not fully anſwer our end: Many a brave Engliſh Man leaves his Bones in that Country, whoſe Blood might have been better ſpent.

Another Bloody Action between the Armies on the ſide of Germany, in which much Blood is loſt, and both ſides give GOD praiſe for being beaten.

This Year is a Year rather of Blood than of Victory, no Bleinhim, no Pultowa: No Deciſive Battle happens any where on this ſide Hungary, yet more Men killed than would be in many ſuch Battles.

PROPHECY VI.

As the hot Weather comes on, Men's Blood grows warm, this ſubjects and expoſes them to fatal miſchiefs, the plague of War, and the War of Plague. Italy and Ger⯑many have by this time felt the fury of the Contagion, and dreadful Ravages have been made in all the populous Na⯑tions on that ſide.

Shall Britain be free! flatter not your ſelves with Ex⯑pectations of it, many Plagues viſit this Nation and whole Parties of Men ſuffer the Infection; all ſorts of Men ſhall die, ſome politickly, ſome really; the Grave makes no Diſtinction of Whigg or Tory, High or Low Church. Three Biſhops go off the Stage firſt, Dukes, Earls, Barons and Privy-Counſellors follow; a great Rot falls among the Court-Sheep, and the Murrain upon the Stallions of this Sodomitiſh City. The Infection ſpares none: But alas, for the Sheepherds of our Flocks! they fly, and leave their Flocks to be ſcatter'd.

But let them remember it from Iſaac Bickerſtaff's Words, the Sheepherds that forſake the Sheep committed to their [11] Charge, ſhall fall in their flight, when thoſe that ſtay ſhall remain. In this general Deſolation it is not difficult for me to Name you Perſons by Titles and Sirnames, that ſhall be infected with Plagues of one ſort and another, whoſe Eyes ſhall not ſee the end of theſe things, but the Number is too great, and you cannot bear the diſtinction of Perſons at this time.

Let it be ſufficient then to tell you, Your Deſolation is beyond expreſſion, and the Number, whoſe Carkaſſes ſhall fall in this Wilderneſs, is not to be Number'd.

Yet for the encouragement and ſupport of the Poor, Heaven promiſes Plenty in the Fields, and there ſhall be no want of Bread; Food ſhall encreaſe, tho' not the Mouths that feed on it; and what the Sword or other Plagues ſhall devour, ſhall leave room for thoſe that remain to Live with more abundance.

Yet for all theſe Terrors, Men ſhall not repent or abate their Diviſions, their Animoſities, their Wars, and pur⯑ſuit of Blood over the Earth.

About this time, a terrible and bloody Battle happens between the Swedes and the French againſt the Germans, and much blood ſhed, but the Emperor's Affairs are not yet ripe for Deliverance; and he muſt be a ſecond time ſaved by the Proteſtant Allies, or be loſt for good and all. The French now Maſter ſeveral Towns and large Terri⯑tories, and if ever Bavaria is Reſtor'd, it's now.

But ſtrange Reſiſtance is preparing againſt thoſe miſ⯑chiefs, tho' no effect is ſeen this year, the next will pro⯑duce ſomething more effectual.

PROPHECY VII.

Now the World, Ripe for Action, is altogether by the Ears, and Blood rages in all parts of Europe; France has gone on with too much Succeſs, but receives a check, vo⯑mits up much of his rapid Conqueſts, and by the vigour of the Confederates, is made to doubt whether he can keep his own or no, yet he ſtoops not to make offers of Peace, but ſwells with Pride and Revenge. Germany ſeems to be a general Scene of blood, and finds it next to impoſſible to [12] avoid falling into the War with the Turks; the Swedes and French inſult her in their Turn, and make three large Inciſions into her moſt tender parts.

Sweden grows great, War and Diffaſſection, together with want of Money and Strength, diſtreſſes the Pole, yet they Fight with Obſtinacy againſt all: The Muſcovite puſhes the Turk in his Turn, and revives things on that ſide: But this Year decides not the Fate of Poland. The Proteſtant Intereſt gains nothing by this cruel War, either in Germany, Sileſia, and Hungaria, yet hopes and promiſes ſupport them, and they diſpair not yet.

Spain lies ſtill; now the Sun keeps the Peace there, the exceſſive heats give a receſs from Action, and gives time to our ungovernable Soldiers to kill themſelves with Eat⯑ing ripe Grapes, Drinking new Wine, and gorging them⯑ſelves with the Luſcious Fruits of a Luxurious Climate. A new General and new Councils produce new effects there, but the Army ſuffers much by Diſeaſes, for which we ſup⯑ply the Grave with new Recruits for the Antum Campaign.

A rich plentiful Harveſt in Britain makes the Hearts of the Country glad, and Britain proves this Year the Grana⯑ry of Europe; a great increaſe, and a good Market, re⯑vives our Commerce, but we want this Relief, for we have many Loſſes abroad, and dreadful Diſeaſes at home, affecting the Bodies or Minds of the People.

PROPHECY VIII.

Among the ſeveral Armies that range Europe, none eſ⯑cape a moſt bloody Action but theſe in Flanders. The Swedes, the Poles, the Muſcovites, the Turks, the Germans, make War, not after the new, but the old faſhion, and Fight as it were by mutual conſent whereever they meet; ſo that every Poſt now brings News of Battles, and Slaughter: About Auguſt the Turks and Muſcovites Fight a terrible Battle, Victory mocks both ſides, and both ſides mock the World with their pretences to it, yet the Turks appear ſooner in the Field again, and ſeem to feel the loſs leaſt, tho they have moſt Men in the Roll of Slaughter.

[13] If the real Plague ſpreads near us, it is this ſame Month, GOD preſerve our populous Towns from ſuch a ſtroke, the Deſolation of, Dantzick, where yet they tell us a Fifth part of the People periſh'd, will be a Flea-bite to what we muſt ſuffer, but the Prophet tells you, If you eſcape this Year, you ſhould not flatter your ſelves about the next.

Germany may expect a bloody Campaign, if the Swedes are beaten in Poland, for if that Monarch finds his Work hard on that ſide, he encreaſes his Stength for diverſion on another: Denmark ſeems this Year to borrow the old Character of the Muſcovites, neither fit for War or Peace, for they make nothing of their Attempts any where, and are beaten every where.

A fruitleſs War upon the Alps, where Men Fight with Mountains, and Rocks are frighted with Snow and Tor⯑rents of Water, ſtruggle hard with Nature and Art, and go home with little or nothing.

PROPHECY IX.

Spain moves again about September, and the Armies, tho' weaknened by Fluxes and Feavers, draw out. Now! if at all Charles's Affairs revive, yet the French ſtruggle hard, and part with what they loſe but by Inches. Two bloody Actions weaken both ſides, and they take breath a while, but Charles's gains Ground, tho' with great loſs of Men.

France ſupplies Spain with Men, Spain France with Mo⯑ney. Great Advantages arrive from the Supplies, both receive from the Weſt Indian Treaſures, and great Loſſes befall ſome People the latter end of the Summer by Sea, to the Diſcouragement of Trade, and Ruin of the Merchants.

Another terrible battle in the Northern Countries; the Muſcovite grows ſtrong by being beaten, and the Swede weak by Victory. The Turk makes great Havock in Europe, and ravages great part of Poland. Hungary begins to ſtir, and the Emperor feels the Effects of ſuffer⯑ing his Neighbours to grow too powerful, but is too weak [14] to do any thing conſiderable, having Enemies on every ſide.

France ends the Campaign Inglorious on every ſide, and tho' he has not ſo much loſs this year as he has for⯑merly met with, yet finds himſelf languiſh under the Ex⯑pence, his Kingdom waſting, exhauſted and gaſping, and makes Overtures of a Treaty, but it comes to nothing for want of Sincerity.

PROPHECY X.

The Flux of Blood abates, the Seaſon about October en⯑clines the Parties, out of breath with a long Campaign, to draw off, and give over; in Dauphine the Germans dare not ſtay to act on this ſide the Alps, or the French on the other for fear of being cut off from their Retreat by the Snow on the Mountains; ſo they end the Campaign with mutual Loſs, mutual Miſchief, and having mutually done nothing worth Notice.

The Swedes puſh ſtill on fighting againſt Elements as well as Enemies, with invincible Obſtinacy, and reſolve to Winter in the heart of Poland; a Country waſted by War, and more likely to ſtarve the Armies in their Quar⯑ters, than refreſh them.

Cold weather freezes up the Plague, and the Deſola⯑tions of that kind abate; but let them not comfort them⯑ſelves with the Notion of a Deliverance from it, becauſe of an Intermiſſion.

The Armies on the Rhine and in Flanders ſeparate, and may caſt up their Accounts if they pleaſe; they find on every ſide Loſs and Decay of Strength, much Blood, much Treaſure ſpent, many Nations ravaged and ruined, and the end of the Campaign looks ſtill but like the be⯑ginning of the War, yet Spain has no Receſs, but both ſides prepare for a Winter War; here we begin to ſee a new Turn, and King Charles may bid fair for a third Viſit to Madrid, yet he keeps not all he gains; and Treaty rather than Battle ſeems to be the end of that War at laſt.

PROPHECY XI.

The Generals now come home, make their Report, exalt the Merits of their own Actions, emulate and decry one another, and the Unfortunate bear the Load of ill Con⯑duct, according to the Cuſtom and Uſage of Mankind.

The active part of the War being quite over they ſtand ſtill, and take breath awhile, till the Winter Quarters being ſettled, the great Ones come to lay their Heads to⯑gether for the next Year.

Some further Abortive Conceptions of Peace appear in the World, amuſe the Parties a while, and then vaniſh again; yet on the one ſide of Europe a formal Treaty be⯑gins, is carried on with Cunning and Inſincerity on both ſides, and ends in renewing the War.

Spain is ſtill the Seat of Action, we gain Ground, but loſe a World of Men, and ſome Relief miſcarries; which Diſ⯑appointment retards the Proceedings, and baulks a very hopeful Proſpect, yet they puſh hard, and have hopes of ſucceſs; a great Province revolts and changes Hands, which gives a new Turn to Things; but want of ſtrength delays finiſhing the Work this Year, and before that De⯑fect is ſupply'd, ſome Ground is loſt again.

PROPHECY XII.

Now the World enters into Council, Parliaments, Aſ⯑ſemblies of Eſtates, Regencies, Divans, Grand Councils of War, meeting of Generals and Mareſchals, take up all the Nations of Europe; nothing of Peace is heard among them, but carrying on the War with vigour is the Word, Taxes for raiſing Money, and Money for raiſing Men, filling of Magazines, refitting of Navies, and recruiting Armies is the Language of all this part of the World.

Would the great Men of Europe bring all their Accounts together, would they caſt up their Accounts, and bring the Ballance of the whole to one foot of Profit and Loſs, [16] the Madneſs of Mankind would appear monſtrous, and be ſeen in its own Colours. A Million of Lives have been loſt this Year by War, Peſtilence and Famine. Vaſt Treaſures exhauſted beyond the poſſibility of Account, Countries waſted, Cities ruined, Villages burnt, Fron⯑tiers plundered, yet the Nations of Europe prepare to car⯑ry on the furious Quarrel, as if nothing but the Deſtru⯑ction of Mankind was in their Deſign. In Spain the War goes on ſtill, and Winter gives no Receſs; a warm Action concludes the Year, in which both ſides ſuffer loſs. The Confederates have the Advantage, yet no great gain is made of the Matter. The VVar is puſh'd on with great Animoſity and Indefatigable Vigour of the Commanders with great loſs of Blood on both ſides; but this Year gives no View of the End.