as indeed happen'd: But that he ſaw ſuch Aſpects, I muſt acknowledg, I never believ'd; nor could I ſee any thing of it my ſelf, tho' I look'd moſt earneſtly to ſee it, if poſſible.
Theſe things ſerve to ſhew, how far the People were really overcome with Deluſions; and as they had a Notion of the Approach of a Viſitation, all their Predictions run upon a moſt dreadful Plague, which ſhould lay the whole City, and even the Kingdom waſte; and ſhould deſtroy almoſt all the Nation, both Man and Beaſt.
Το this, as I said before, the Aſtrologers added Stories of the Conjunctions of Planets in a malignant Manner, and with a miſchievous Influence; one of which Conjunctions was to happen, and did happen, in October; and the other in November; and they filled the Peoples Heads with Predictions on theſe Signs of the Heavens, intimating, that thoſe Conjunctions fortold Drought, Famine, and Peſtilence; in the two fiſft of them however, they were entirely miſtaken, For we had no droughty Seaſon, but in the beginning of the Year; a hard Froſt, which laſted from December almoſt to March; and after that moderate Weather, rather warm than hot, with refreſhing Winds, and in ſhort, very ſeaſonable Weather; and alſo ſeveral very great Rains.
Some Endeavors were uſed to ſuppreſs the Printing of ſuch Books as terrify'd the People; and to frighten the diſperſers of them, ſome of whom were taken up, but nothing was done in it, as I am inform'd; The Government being unwilling to exaſperate the People, who were, as I may ſay, all out of their Wits already.
Neither can I acquit thoſe Miniſters, that in their Sermons, rather ſunk, than lifted up the Hearts of their Hearers; many of them no doubt did it for the ſtrengthning the Reſolution of thePeople,
