Which maketh the Author conclude, that within the space of 177. years, three months and eleven dayes, the world shall be afflicted with Wars, Plagues, Famines and Innundations, that scarce any body shall be left to Till the Ground. By which prediction we learn that those evils began in the year 1555. the first of March, which is the date of the Authors Book, and shall last till the second of June 1732. abating the ten days of the Gregorian Calender.
During which time, he saith, that Mars threatneth us with bloody Wars that shall be reiterated 70 times.
This word seventy doth not signifie a determinate number, but a great number indeterminated according to the Phrase of the Scripture, which by the number of seven signifieth many times, and by that of seventy incomparably many times more. Thus the Scripture saith, that the just man falleth seven times in one day, that is many times, and our Saviour saith to St. Peter, that we ought to forgive our Enemies, not only seven times, but seventy times seven; that is innumerable times.
We have found the truth of this Prophecie to this very day. 1. In France, by the Wars between Henry II. and Charles V. and Philip II. 2. By the Wars of Charles IX. against the Protestants, wherein so much blood was spilt on both sides. 3. By Henry III. against the same Protestants, and factions of his time, and then against the Parisians and others of their league. 4. Between Henry IV. and those of the league in his revolted Kingdom. 5. By the Wars of Lewis XIII. against the Protestants, against the Duke of Savoy, in the Valteline, in Piemont, in Lorrain, in Alsatia, in Catalonia, in Franche-Conty, in Flanders, and for the defence of Portugal, which have been continued by his successor Lewis XIV. now Reigning.
Italy did also find the truth of this prophecie, by the Wars between Paul IV. and the Spaniard, between Pius V. and the Turks, between Clement VIII. and the Duke of Ferrara, between the Emperour and the Duke of Mantua, between Urban VIII. and the Duke of Parma, between the Venetians and the Florentines, by the revolt of the Kingdom of Naples, under the conduct of the Duke of Guise.
England hath had its share of it under Queen Elizabeth, by the revolt of Yorkshire, and some other Provinces, by the Spanish fleet of 88.
By the death of Queen Mary, by the revolt of the Kingdom against Charles I. And by the horrid perfidiousness of Cromwel.
Germany hath made it good by the War against the Turks, the Protestants and the Swedes.
Poland hath done the same against the Russians, Tartars, Turks, Cassaks and Swedes.
And Venice against the Turk, for the Islands of Cyprus and Candia, the Battle of Lepanto, and the Wars of Dalmatia.