Lady Cowper was not content to take these particulars from Mrs. Chute, but she enquired of Sir Thomas Aston, of the truth of this prophecy and he attested it was in great reputation in Cheshire and that the facts were known by every one to have happened as Nixon said they would; adding, that the morning before the garden wall fell, his neighbour Mr. Cholmondeley, going to ride out a hunting, said “Nixon seldom fails but now I think he will; for he foretold that this day my garden wall would fall and I think it looks as if it would stand these forty years;” that he had not been gone above a quarter of an hour before the wall split and fell upwards against the rising of the hill, which as Nixon would have it, was the presage of a flourishing church.
As to the removal of Peckforton-mill, it was done by Sir John Crew, the mill having lost its trade there, for which he ordered it to be set upon Ludington hill; and being asked if he did it to fulfil the prophecy, he declared he never thought of it. I myself have inquired of a person who knows Mr. Cholmondeley’s pond as well as Rosamond’s in St. James’s Park and he assured me the falling of the wall and the pond running blood, (as they call it) are facts which in Cheshire any one would be reckoned mad for making the least question of them. As there are several particulars in this prophecy which remain unfulfilled; so when they come to pass, some other circumstances may be added, which are not convenient to be told until accomplished.
If I had a mind to look into the antiquities of this county, I might find that prodigies and prophecies are no unusual things there. Camden tells us that at Brereton not many miles from Vale-Royal which gave name to a famous, ancient, numerous, and knightly family, there is a thing as strange as that of the eagle, or the falling of the wall, which he says was attested to him by many persons and was commonly believed; that before any heir of this family dies there are seen, in a lake adjoining the bodies of trees swimming upon the water for several days together. He likewise adds that near the abbey of St. Maurice in Burgundy there is a fish-pond in which a number of fish are put equal to the number of monks of that place; and if any one of them happens to be sick, there is a fish seen floating on the surface of the water; and in case the fit of sickness proves fatal to the monk, the fish foretells it by its death some days before. This the learned Camden relates in his description of Cheshire and the opinion of the trees swimming in the lake near Brereton, prevails all about the county to the present day, only with this difference, that some say it is one log only that swims and some say many.
Lancashire, which is not far off, has been famous for witches and I am afraid Cheshire is a little infected by its neighbourhood. Those that will not believe our prophecy may leave it alone; but if hope is a good help to faith, I shall not be long among the incredulous.
The Editor presents his Readers with a Copy of a printed Paper, which several aged Persons, residing near the Forest, have vouched for the Authenticity of.
A true and particular Account of a strange and surprising Vision, that was seen in the Forest of Delamere, in Cheshire, on the 4th of last Month.
As Nixon, in the reign of King James the First, prophesied of many strange and wonderful things that should come to pass, such as an heir being born to Lord Cholmondeley’s which at that time there was little reason to expect, but which came to pass; and that the eldest son or young Lord Cholmondeley should have the misfortune to break his neck by riding a hunting, which accident really did happen; and several other things already come to pass according to the said prophecy, but, in particular, of a wonderful battle or engagement that should be fought in the forest of Delamere; and as it is now fully expected that we shall have an invasion from our natural and inveterate enemies the French, it is also thought it will be in the North of England and in all probability the said Forest of Delamere may be the place of action or engagement: and what strengthens the belief more is the vision that was seen in the said forest on the 4th, as follows:
As two ancient persons were walking over the said Forest, to their great surprise, they saw at a distance before them an army rise out of the ground drawn up with their proper officers and their commanders in front of them, and whilst they were looking at and ruminating upon so strange a sight, to their most wonderful surprise and amazement there arose also another army out of the ground, at a small distance from the first, and farther in the forest, which army was headed or commanded by a man in royal apparel, who, after having drawn up his army, marched to meet and engage the first; upon which a most bloody battle ensued with firearms, and many appeared to be killed on both sides; but, being so near each other, they laid down or grounded their arms and took to their swords, with which great slaughter was made; and then came to such close quarters that they put up their swords and fought with their hands; all of which engagements continued more than three quarters of an hour, during which time the said two ancient people were spectators; and at last the remains of the army that first appeared retreated towards the sea, and vanished directly out of their sight; whilst the other army which was commanded by the man in royal apparel marched victorious out of the field as far as it was possible to see them. These ancient people having spoken of the above vision it came to the ears of several gentlemen, who sent for, and examined them concerning the truth of it, which they were ready to make oath of for their satisfaction.
On the 6th of the same month, as seven men were going to Cheshire over the said forest, about the middle of it they saw to their astonishment, a vision much resembling that which was on the sixth as above described; only with this addition that the victorious army had many slain to all appearance, yet they resumed life again and joined their own army; all which is looked upon as a good omen, that if in case England is invaded by her enemies though the nation be seemingly dead and in great division, yet on the approach of the enemy they will all in one general heart and one mind exert themselves to repel our most inveterate enemies.
As Nixon’s Prophecies are by some persons thought fables, yet by what has come to pass it is now thought and very plainly appears that most of them have or will prove true; for which reason we have all occasion not only to exert our utmost might to repel by force our enemies, but to return from our abandoned and wicked course of life, and make our continual prayers to God for protection and safety.