Day Fatality or, Some Observations of Days Lucky and Unlucky
LUC. xix. 43.
“In hoc die tuo”: In this thy day.
That there be good and evil times, not only the sacred scriptures, but prophane authors mention: see 1 Sam. 25, 8. Esther 8, 17. and 9, 19, 22. Ecclus. 14. 14.
The fourteenth day of the first month was a memorable and blessed day amongst the children of Israel: see Exod. 12, 18, 40, 41, 42, 51. Levit. 23, 5. Numb. 28, 16. Four hundred and thirty years being expired of their dwelling in Egypt, even in the self same day departed they thence.
A thing something parallel to this we read in the Roman histories: that, that very day four years, that the civil wars were begun by Pompey the father, Caesar made an end of them with his sons; Cneius Pompeius being then slain, and it being also the last battle Caesar was ever in. (Heylin in the kingdom of Corduba.) The calendar to Ovid’s Fastorum, says, “Aprilis erat mensis Grcecis auspicatisimus”, a most auspicious month among the Graecians.
As to evil days and times; see Amos 5, 13. and 6, 3. Eccles. 9, 12. Psal. 37, 19. Obad. 12. Jer. 46, 21. And Job hints it, in cursing his birthday. Cap. 3, v. 1,10, 11. See Weever, p.458.
Early in a morning
In an evil tyming,
Went they from Dunbar.
Horace, lib. 2. Ode 13. Cursing the tree that had like to have fallen upon him, says, ‘Ille nefasto te posuit die’; intimating that it was planted in an unlucky day.
The Romans counted Feb. 13, an unlucky day, and therefore then never attempted any business of importance; for on that day they were overthrown at Allia by the Gauls; and the Fabii attacking the city of the Veii, were all slain, save one. (Heylin, speaking of St. Peter’s patrimony.) And see the calendar annext to Ovid’s “Fastorum”, as to the last circumstance.
The Jews accounted August 10, an unfortunate day; for on that day the Temple was destroyed by Titus, the son of Vespasian; on which day also the first Temple was consumed with fire by Nebuchadnezzar. (Heylin.) The treasury of the times says the eighth of Loyon (August) the very same day 679 years one after another.
And not only among the Romans and Jews, but also among Christians, a like custom of observing such days is used, especially Childermas or Innocent’s day. Comines tells us, that Lewis XI. used not to debate any matter, but accounted it a sign of great misfortune towards him, if any man communed with him of his affairs; and would be very angry with those about him, if they troubled him with any matter whatsoever upon that day.
But I will descend to more particular instances of lucky and unlucky days.
Upon the sixth of April, Alexander the Great was born. Upon the same day he conquered Darius, won a great victory at sea, and died the same day.
Neither was this day less fortunate to his father Philip; for on the same day he took Potidea; Parmenio, his General, gave a great overthrow to the Illyrians; and his horse was victor at the Olympic Games. Therefore, his prophets foretold to him, “Filium cujus natalis”, &c. That a son whose birth-day was accompanied with three victories, should prove invincible. “Pezelius in melificio historico”.
Upon the thirtieth of September, Pompey the Great was born: upon that day he triumphed for his Asian conquest, and on that day he died.
The nineteenth of August was the day of Augustus his adoption: on the same day he began his consulship: he conquered the Triumviri, and on the same day he died. Hitherto out of the memories of King Charles I’s. heroes.
If Solomon counts the day of one’s death better than the day of one’s birth, there can be no objection why that also may not be reckoned amongst one’s remarkable and happy days. And therefore I will insert here, that the eleventh of February was the noted day of Elizabeth, wife to Henry VII. who was born and died that day. Weever, p. 476. Brooke, in Henry VII. marriage. Stow, in Anno 1466, 1503.
As also that the twenty-third of November was the observable day of Francis, Duke of Lunenburgh, who was born on that day, and died upon the same, 1549, as says the French author of the Journal History, who adds upon particular remark and observable curiosity.
“Ipsa dies vitam contulit, ipsa necem”.
The same day life did give,
And made him cease to live.
Sir Kenelm Digby, that renowned knight, great linguist, and magazine of arts, was born and died on the eleventh of June, and also fought fortunately at Scanderoon the same day. Here his epitaph, composed by Mr. Ferrar, and recited in the aforesaid Memoirs:
Under this stone the matchless Digby lies,
Digby the great, the valiant and the wise:
This age’s wonder for his noble parts;
Skill’d in six tongues, and learn’d in all the arts.
Born on the day he died, th’ eleventh of June,
On which he bravely fought at Scanderoon.
’Tis rare that one and self-same day should be
His day of birth, of death, of victory.
I had a maternal uncle, that died the third of March,1678, which was the anniversary day of his birth; and (which is a truth exceeding strange) many years ago he foretold the day of his death to be that of his birth; and he also averred the same but about the week before his departure.
The third of March is the day of St. Eutropius; and as to my uncle it was significative; it turned well to him, according to that of Rev. 14, 13. Blessed are the dead, &e. and that of Ovid Metam. lib. 3.
“—-Dicique beatus”,
“Ante obitum nemo supremaque funera debet.——-”
—None happy call
Before their death, and final funeral.
The sixth of January was five times auspicious to Charles, Duke of Anjou. Ibid. in the life of the Earl of Sunderland.
The twenty-fourth of February was happy to Charles V. four times. (Ibid.) Heylin, speaking of the Temple of Jerusalem, hints three of these four; his birth, taking of Francis, King of France, prisoner; his receiving the Imperial crown at Bononia. And so doth also the Journal History before mentioned.
Of the family of the Trevors, six successive principal branches have been born the sixth of July. Same memoirs.
Sir Humphrey Davenport was born the 7th of July; and on that day anniversary, his father and mother died, within a quarter of an hour one of another. Same memoirs.
I have seen an old Romish MSS. prayer-book, (and shewed the same to that general scholar, and great astrologer, Elias Ashmole, Esq.;) at the beginning whereof was a Calendar wherein were inserted the unlucky days of each month, set out in verse. I will recite them just as they are, sometimes infringing the rule of grammar, sometimes of Prosodia; a matter of which the old monkish rhymers were no way scrupulous. It was as ancient as Henry the sixth, or Edward the fourth’s time.
January “Prima dies mensis, & septima truncat ut ensis”.
February “Quarta subit mortem, prostemit tertia fortem.”
March. “Primus mandentem, disrumpit quarto, bibentem”.
April “Denus & undenus est mortis vulnere plenus”.
May “Tertius occidit, & Septimus ora relidit”.* June “Denus pallescit, quindenus feeders nescit”.
July. “Ter-decimus mactat, Julij denus labefactat.”
August. “Prima necat fortem, prostemit secunda cohortem”.
September “Tertia Septembris & denus fert mala membris”.
October. “Tertius & denus est, sicut, mors alienus”.
November. “Scorpius est quintus, & tertius e nece cinctus”.
December. “Septimus exanguis, virosus denus & anguis”.
* Ex re & ledo.
The tenth verse is intolerable, and might be mended thus.
“Tertia cum dena sit sicut mors aliena”.
If any object and say, “Deni” is only the plural; I excuse my self by that admirable chronogram upon King Charles the martyr.
“Ter deno, Jani, Lunae, Rex (Sole cadente)”
“Carolus euxtus Solio, Sceptroque, secure”.
Neither will I have recourse for refuge to that old tetrastich,
“Intrat Avaloniam duodena Caterva virorum
“Flos Arimathioe Joseph, &c.”
because I have even now blamed the liberty of the ancient rhymers. He means by “Mors aliena”, some strange kind of death; though “aliena”, signifies in quite another sense than there used.
I shall take particular notice here of the third of November, both because ’tis my own birth day, and also for that I have observed some remarkable accidents to have happened thereupon.
Constantius, the Emperor, son of Constantine the Great, little inferior to his father, a worthy warrior, and good man, died the third of November: “Ex veteri Calendario penes me”.
Thomas Montacute, Earl of Salisbury, that great man, and famous commander under Henry IV. V. and VI. Died this day, by a wound of a cannon-shot he received at Orleans, E MSS. quodam, & Glovero.
So, also Cardinal Borromeo, famous for his sanctity of life, and therefore canonized, (Heylin in his “Prcognita”, says, he made Milan memorable, by his residence there) died 1584, this day, as Possevinus in his life.
Sir John Perrot, (Stow corruptly calls him Parrat) a man very remarkable in his time, Lord Deputy of Ireland, son to Henry VIII. And extremely like him, died in the tower, the third of November, 1592 (as Stow says). Grief, and the fatality of. this day, killed him. See Naunton’s “Fragmenta Regalia”, concerning this man.
Stow, in his Annals, says, Anno 1099, November 3, as well in Scotland as England, the sea broke in, over the banks of many rivers, drowning divers towns, and much people; with an innumerable number of oxen and sheep, at which time the lands in Kent, sometimes belonging to Earl Godwin, were covered with sands, and drowned, and to this day are called Godwin’s Sands.
I had an estate left me in Kent, of which between thirty and forty acres was marsh-land, very conveniently flanking its up-land; and in those days this marsh-land was usually let for four nobles an acre. My father died, 1643. Within a year and half after his decease, such charges and water-schots came upon this marsh-land, by the influence of the sea, that it was never worth one farthing to me, but very often eat into the rents of the up-land: so that I often think, this day being my birth-day, hath the same influence upon me, that it had 580 years since upon Earl Godwin, and others concerned in low-lands.
The Parliament, so fatal to Rome’s concerns here, in Henry VIII’s. time, began the third of November (26 of his reign;) in which the Pope, with all his authority, was clean banished the realm; he no more to be called otherwise than Bishop of Rome; the King to be taken and reputed as supreme head of the church of England, having full authority to reform all errors, heresies and abuses of the same: also the first-fruits and tenths of all spiritual promotions and dignities were granted to the King. See Stow’s Annals, and Weever, page 80.
Not long after which, followed the visitation of abbies, priories, and nunneries; and after that, their final suppression: this Parliament being the door, or entrance thereto.
The third of November 1640, began that Parliament so direfully fatal to England, in its peace, its wealth, its religion, its gentry, its nobility; nay, its King. So verifying the former verse of the calendar.
“Scorpius est quintus, & tertius e nece cinctus,”
A killing day to some or other.
On the third of November 1703, was the remarkable storm. The third of September was a remarkable day to the English Attila, Oliver, 1650. He obtained a memorable victory at Dunbar; another at Worcester, 1651, and that day he died, 1658.
The first two occurrences wonderfully accord to the preceding verses.
“Tertia Septembris, & denus fert mala membris.”
Being fatal to the two members of great Britain, Scotland and England. The third, as happy to them both, as the same day, 1666, was dismal and unhappy to the city of London, and consequently to the whole kingdom, with its immediate preceding and two succeeding days, viz. the second, fourth, and fifth of September.
I come now to the days of the week.
Tuesday (“Dies Martis”) was a most remarkable day with Thomas Becket, Arch Bishop of Canterbury, as Weever, 201, observes from Mat. Paris: “Mars Secundum Poetas, Deus Belli nuncupatur. Vita Sancti Thomae (secundum illud Job, Vita hominis militia est super terram) tota fuit contra hostem bellicosa, &c”. The life of St. Thomas (according to that of Job, the life of a man is a warfare upon earth) was a continual conflict against the enemy. Upon a Tuesday he suffered; upon Tuesday he was translated; upon Tuesday the Peers of the land sat against him at Northampton; upon Tuesday he was banished; upon Tuesday the Lord appeared to him at Pontiniac, saying, Thomas, Thomas, my church shall be glorified in thy blood; upon Tuesday he returned from exile, upon Tuesday he got the palm or reward of martyrdom; upon Tuesday 1220, his venerable body received the glory and renown of translation, fifty years after his passion. Thus my author.
One thing I make bold to gloss upon. His translation is here mentioned twice.
Note, this is no tautology of the historian; but the latter paragraph is a mere recitation of the first, viz. reference to the time when he was translated into the number of Saints and Martyrs: “quando in divorum numerum relatus”, as Camden.
Wednesday is said to have been the fortunate day of Sixtus Quintus, that Pope of renowned merit, that did so great and excellent things in the time of his government. See the just weight of the scarlet robe, (page 101, his desired praises.) On a Wednesday he was born; on that day he was made Monk; on the same he was made General of his order; on that also, was he successively created Cardinal, elected Pope, and also inaugurated. See Heylin, speaking of the Temple of Jerusalem.
Friday was observed to be very fortunate to the great renowned Captain Gonsalvo, he having on that day given the French many memorable defeats. Saturday was a lucky day to Henry VII. upon that day he atchieved the victory upon Richard III. being August 22, 1485. On that day he entered the city, being August 29 (correct Stow, who mistakes the day) and he himself always acknowledged, he had experienced it fortunate. See Bacon in his Life.
Thursday was a fatal day to Henry VIII. (as Stow, 812); and so also to his posterity. He died on Thursday, Jan. 28. King Edward VI. on Thursday, July 6. Queen Mary on Thursday, November 17. Queen Elizabeth on Thursday, March 24.
Saturday (or the Jewish Sabbath) was fatal to Jerusalem Temple; for on that day it was taken by Pompey, Herod and Titus, successively. Heylin.
Hitherto by way of prologue. And be pleased to take notice, as to the days of the month, I have taken such care, that all are according to the Julian or old account, used by us here in England. (See Partridge’s almanack, preface to the reader) Pope Gregory XIII. brought in his new stile (generally used beyond sea) anno 1585, in October, as asserts the Journal History before recited.
An old proverb.
When Easter falls in our lady’s lap,
Then let England beware a rap.
Easter falls on March 25, when the Sunday letter is G, and the golden number 5, 13, or 16. As in the late years, 1459,1638,1649.
1459, King Henry VI. was deposed and murdered. 1638, The Scottish troubles began, on which ensued the great rebellion. 1648-9, King Charles I. murdered.
I think it will not happen so again till the year 1991.
Now for epilogue and remarkable reflection.
Turning over our annals, I chanced upon a two-fold circumstance: I will not say, that none else hath observed the same; but I protest, (“Ita, me Deus amet, ut verum loquor”) I do not know of any that have; and therefore must justly claim to be acquitted from the least suspicion of plagiarism, or plowing with others heifers.
The first is, of William the Conqueror. The second, of Edward III. (I need not say any thing of the eminency of these two; every one knows what great things they did.) And making reflection upon the auspicious birth-day of His Royal Highness the Duke of York, I adventured upon the following composure. (I cannot be proud of my poetry; but I cannot but be glad of my Bon Heur, “d’avoir (en lisant) tombe si fortuement sur les evenements d’un si Bon Jour”.)
Ad Illustrissimum & Celsissimum Principem, Jacobum Ducem Eboracensem, de Natali suo Auspicatissimo Octobris XIV. Anno 1633.
“—Deus
Anna nefasto te posuit die?” Hor. lib. 2. ode 13.
Oct. “Decimo quarto Normannus Haraldum
Dux superavit, & Hinc Regia sceptra tulit.
Tertius Edwardus, capto pernice Caleto,
(Gallica quo Regna sunt resarata sibi)
Ire domum tentans, diris turbinibus actus
In pelago, Vitae magna pericla subit.”
Oct. Decimo quarto, tamen appulit Oras
Nativas. (His quam prosperus ille dies!)
Natali laetare tuo, guam Maxime Princeps;
Fausta velut sunt haec, Omnia semper habe.”
October’s fourteenth gave the Norman Duke
That victory, whence he Englands sceptre took.*
Third Edward, after he had Calais won,
(The mean whereby he France did over-run)
Returning home, by raging tempests tost,
(And near his life (so fortunes) to have lost)**
Arrived safe on shore the self-same date.
(This day to them afforded so fair fate.)
Great Duke, rejoice in this your day of birth;
And may such omens still encrease your mirth.
The Verses I presented in anno 1672, to a most honourable Peer of the land, and of great place near his Royal Highness.
Since which time, old Fabian’s chronicle coming into my hands, from him I got knowledge, that that advantagious peace, mentioned by Stow, anno 1360, (concluded between the forementioned King Edward III. And the French King) was acted upon the fourteenth of October, with grand solemnity.
The two former circumstances must needs fall out providentially: whether this last of anno 1360, was designed by Edward III. or no, (as remembering his former good hap) may be some question: I am of opinion not. Where things are under a man’s peculiar concern, he may fix a time; but here was the French King concerned equally with the English, and many other great personages interested. To have tied them up to his own auspicious conceit of the day, had been an unkind oppression, and would have brought the judgment of so wise a Prince into question; we may conclude then, it was meerly fortuitous. And therefore to the former observation concerning this famous Edward, give me leave to add,
“Insuper hoc ipso die (sibi commoda) Grandis
Rex cum Galligenis, foedera fecit idem”,
An advantageous peace, on day self-same,
This mighty Prince did with the Frenchmen frame.
A memorable peace (foretold by Nostradamus) much conducing to the saving of Christian blood, was made upon the fourteenth of October 1557, between Pope Paul IV. Henry II. of France, and Philip II. of Spain. Nostradamus says, these great Princes were “frappez du ciel”, moved from Heaven to make this peace. See Garencier’s Comment on Nostradamus, p. 76.
A lucky day this, not only to the Princes of England, but auspicious to the welfare of Europe. John Gibbon, 1678.
Thus far Mr. John Gibbon. The Latin verses of the twelve months quoted by him out of an old manuscript, I have seen in several mass-books; and they are printed in the calendar to the works of the Venerable Bede. ’Tis to be presumed, that they were grounded upon experience; but we have no instances left us of the memorables of those days. As for the third and tenth of September, I have here set down some extractions from a little book called The Historian’s Guide: or, Britain’s Remembrancer; which was carefully collected by a club. It begins at the year 1600, and is continued to 1690. There cannot be found in all the time aforesaid, the like instances.
“Tertia Septembris, & denus fere mala membris”.
September 3,1641. The Parliament adjourned to the 20th of October next, and the Irish rebellion broke out, where were 20,000 persons barbarously murdered.
September 3, 1643. Biddeford, Appleford, and Barnstable surrendered to the King.
September 3, 1650. Dunbar fight.
September 3, 1651. Worcester fight.
September 3, 1651. Earl of Derby defeated at Preston.
September 3,1654. A third Parliament at Westminster.
September 3, 1658. Oliver, Protector died.
September 3, 1675. The town of Northampton near burnt down to the ground by accidental fire.
September 3, 1662. William Lenthal, Speaker of the House of Commons, died.
September 3, 4, 1665. Four Dutch men of war, two East-India ships, and several merchant-men taken by the Earl of Sandwich, with the loss only of the Hector.
September 2, 1644. The Earl of Essex fled to Plymouth, and the army submitted to the King.
September 2, 1645. The Scots raised the siege from before Hereford.
September 2, 1653. The Londoners petition the Parliament to continue tythes.
September 2, 1685. The Lady Lisle beheaded at Winchester, for harbouring Hicks, a rebel..
September 4, 1643. Exeter taken by Prince Maurice.
September 4, 1653. General Blake buried at Westminster.
September 5, 1652. The French fleet beaten by the English.
**Memorables on September the tenth.
September 10, 1643. The siege of Gloucester raised. I remember over that gate which leads to Nymphs-field was this following inscription in free-stone: the walls are now pulled down.
Always remember,
The tenth of September,
One thousand six hundred forty three,
And give God the glory.
September 10, 1645. Bristol surrendered to the Parliament.
September 10, 1649. Drogheda taken, as appears by Cromwell’s letter to the Speaker Lenthal.
September 10, 1660. Peace with Spain proclaimed.
September 10, 1670. Peace concluded between England and Spain in America, was this day ratified at Madrid.
19 September 10, 1673. This day his majesty commanded the Earl of Ossory to take the command of the fleet at the Buoy in the Nore, in the absence of Prince Rupert.
September 12, 1679. The King takes from the Duke of Monmouth his commission of General.
September 12, 1680. Mrs. Cellier tried at the Old Bailey, for publishing a book called Malice Defeated, &c. and found guilty.
September 12, 1683. The siege of Vienna raised (after the besieged had lost 10,000 men, and the besiegers 70,000) by the King of Poland, and the Duke of Lorrain.
May 29, 1630. King Charles II. born.
May 29, 1660. Restored.
May 29, 1672. The fleet beaten by the Dutch.
May 29, 1679. A rebellion broke out in the west of Scotland, where they proclaimed the covenant, and put forth a declaration.
The Emperor Charles V. was born on February 24, 1500.
He won the battle of Pavia, February 24, 1525.
Clement VII. crowned him Emperor, February 24, 1530.
Raphael d’Urbino (the famous painter) was born on Good-Friday, and died on Good-Friday. At Feltwell in Norfolk (which lies east and west) a fire happened to break out at the west end, which the west wind blew and burned all the street: on that day twenty years, another fire happened there, which began at the east end, and burned it to the ground again. This I had from a reverend divine. Quaere de hoc.
Colonel Hugh Grove of Wiltshire, was beheaded at Exeter (together with Colonel John Penruddock) on the ninth day of May 1655. On that very day three years, his son and heir died at London of a malignant fever, and about the same hour of the day.
A very good friend of mine and old acquaintance was born on the 15th of November: his eldest son was born on the 15th of November, and his second son’s first son on the 15th of November.
At thee hour of prime, April 6, 1327, Petrarch first saw his mistress Laura in the Church of Saint Clara in Avignon. In the same city, same month, same hour, 1348, she died. ’Tis his own remark. Petrarcha Redivivus, 242.
DAY FATALITY OF ROME,
**Written by Mr. JOHN PELL, D.D. from whom I had it.
THEY that called the city of Rome, “Urbs AEterna”, seemed to believe that Rome could never be destroyed. But there have been great numbers of men, that did verily believe, that it shall have an irrecoverable over-throw. Writers have proceeded so far, as to foretell the time of Rome’s final ruin. Some said that Rome’s perdition should happen in the year of Christ 1670, they have now been decried nine whole years: so that few take care to know what reasons moved them to pitch upon that number.
A Lutheran historian, anno 1656, wrote thus, “Finem Jubileorum Ecclesiasticorum omniumque temporum in Scriptura revelatorum, desinere in Annum Christi Millesimum sexcentesimum & septuagesimum, antehac observavit Beatus Gerhardus cum Philippo Nicolao”. But all men are not of Dr. Gerhard’s opinion. Many men believe, that some of the prophecies in the Revelations do reach far beyond our times, and that the events of future times will unclasp and unseal a considerable portion of the Apocalypse. One of the reasons, that recommended the number of 1670, was because it is the sum of 410, and 1260.
Historians agree, that in the year of Christ 410, in the month of August, Rome was trampled under foot, and her heathen inhabitants were miserably slaughtered by the victorious army of Alaric, a Christian King of the Goths. Paulus Diaconus saith, August the 24th was the day of King Alaric’s taking Rome. Kedrenus saith, it was August the 26th, perhaps the army first entered the 24th, and the King followed not till two days after.
As for the other number 1260. It is twice found in the Revelations of St. John, ch. 11, 3. “My two witnesses shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and sixty days.” And chap. 12, 6. “Should feed the woman in the Wilderness, a thousand two hundred and threescore days. “And it is there expressed in another form, (42 times 30) chap. 11, 2. “The Gentiles shall tread the holy city under foot forty and two months.” Chap. 13, 5. “Power was given to the blasphemous beast to continue forty and two months.” Chap. 12, 14. “The woman is nourished in the Wilderness for ({Greek text: Kairon kai kaironos kai hemisu kairon}) a season and seasons, and half a season.” See Act. 1, 7. 360 and 720, and 180 are equal to 1260. So it seems every {Greek text: kaipo} hath 360 days, or twelve months at thirty days to a month. No doubt Daniel had given occasion to this expression, chap. 7, 25.” A time, and times, and the dividing of time.” No man can ground any distinct reasoning upon such general words. But yet it is not tied to a just number of days, (as 360) but is capable of various interpretations in several prophecies. Daniel useth a plural in both places, and not a dual, (two times and two seasons) nor doth John say, two seasons: but by his Numeral Illustration, he teaches us to understand him, as if he had said, (chap. 12, 14). “For three seasons and half a season:” I say Numeral Illustration. For I take it to be no other than an easy example (12 and 24 and 6 are 42) to direct the sons of the prophets not yet arrived to the skill of dealing with difficult supputations of numbers not then discoverable. As Revel. 13, 18. “Here is wisdom, let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast.”
By 1260 days, almost all the interpreters understand so many years, but not a year of 360 days; because they find no nation that hath so short a year. The Egyptians had a year of just 365 days; but before St. John was born, the Romans had forced them to allow 365 1/4 as we use now in England.
In an enquiry concerning Rome, it is fit to consider the length of a Roman year. (I may justly say a Roman-Moyed; for no city ever had their year’s length and form of a calendar determined, settled, and commanded with so much absolute authority as Rome had) Julius Caesar by an edict commanded that number of 365 1/4 to be observed, and therefore it is called a Julian year. Three Julians and an half have days 1278 3/8, but Julian years 1378 3/8 are 1278 Julian years, and days 136 31/32; or almost 137 days.
Almost 100 years ago, Pope Gregory the XIII by a papal bull introduced a calendar wherein the year’s length is supposed to have days 365 97/500 Then three Gregorian years and an half have days 1278 279/800 But Gregorian years 1278 279/800 are 1278 Julian years, and days almost 118. Wherefore instead of adding 1260, add 1278, add 137 days to the year of our Lord 410, August 26. The sum shews the year of our Lord 1688, August 163, that is, ten days after the end of December 1688 old stile. This is the utmost, or farthest day, beyond which no Apocalypse account (reckoning from Alaric) can point out a time for the final destruction of the city of Rome.
Again (instead of adding 1260) add 1278 years, and days 118 to the year of our Lord 410, August 24. The sum shews the year of our Lord 1688, August 142, that is, eleven days before the end of December 1688 old stile. This (December 20) is the nearest or soonest day that can be gathered by Apocalyptic account (reckoning from Alaric) to point out the time of Rome’s final ruin. But if it happens not before the eleventh of January, men will make no more reckoning of Alaric; but begin a new account from Attila, in the year of Christ, 453.
Calculation to a day (when we can do it) may be defended by a great example. Exod. 12, 41. “At the end of 430 years, even the self-same day, &c.” John Pell.
Dr. Pell told me, that St. Augustin writes somewhere, to this purpose, viz. “That it were to be wished, that some skilful mathematician would take the pains to examine and consider the mathematical parts of the holy scripture.”
Notes
* Stow, in anno 1066.
** Stow, in anno 1347.