The next part of this prophecy alludes to that ancient proverb, “From the cold ‘North’ all ills come forth,” and may be understood of our troubles commencing in 1630, taking their original rise from Scotland, and fermented by several factious spirits in England, the venom of which poison so infected the veins of the English, that it broke forth into a most bitter war, and ended not but with the deaths of many thousands of people.
By the “great Council” is meant the long-lasting Parliament, as known to all posterity for the remarkable transactions therein. By them fell the wise Strafford, and Reverend Laud; by them was Episcopacy voted down, and Presbytery voted up; by them was the common-prayer denied, and the Directory exalted; by them was the Church and State turned topsy-turvy; but this cannot be reported of all amongst them; many of them hated their doings, dissented from them, and suffered by them.
The “White King by wicked hands,” etc., alludes to the beheading of King Charles I., who was the principal victim of these savage wars.
“The White King dead, the Wolf shall then
With blood possess the Lion’s den.
But Death shall hurry him away;
Confusion shall awhile bear sway;
But Fate to England shall restore
A king to reign as heretofore.
Great death in London shall be though,
And men on tops of houses go.”
By the “White King,” as we said before, is meant King Charles I., and, by the “Wolf,” Oliver Cromwell, whose ambition was such that he left no means unattempted until he had got into the “Lion’s den,” that is to say, until he had attained the sole government.
“But Death shall hurry him away.”
Very remarkable was the day in which the Protector died, being September 3, 1658, wherein the wind was so violent, that it overthrew many houses, tore up many trees by the roots, tumbled down chimneys, and unroofed barns and stables; but it is a very ill wind that blows none good, so with all the hurt this wind did, it made recompense to some folks who had lost their estates in the civil wars, by blowing this Oliver away.
“But fate to England shall restore
A king to reign as heretofore.”
Which part of the prophecy was fulfilled in the restoration of King Charles II., which put a period to all the Commonwealth, and restored the land to its ancient government.
“Great death in London,” verified by the great plague in London, in 1665, which, for number, was the greatest that hath been known in these latter centuries of years.