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Samuel Gedge Ltd
ASTROLOGIAL PROPHECIES: LONDON & THE RESTORATION
31. [EVANS, Arise.] The bloudy vision of John
Farly, interpreted by Arise Evans. With
another vision signifying peace and happinesse.
Both which shew remarkable alterations
speedily to come to passe here in
England. Also a refutation of a pamphlet,
lately published by one Aspinwall: called a
briefe description of the fifth monarchy.
Shewing that the late parliament was that
beast mentioned, Rev. 13. … and that the
fifth monarchy will shortly be established in
the person of Charls Stewart.
[London.] Printed in the year, 1653. First edition.
[BOUND WITH]
WILDE, Francis. Prophecy maintain’d: or, a
vindication of the advertisement to the city
of London. Wherein are contained the life,
religion, and sundry visions of the author …
London, printed in the yeare, 1654. Second edition.
[BOUND WITH]
[EVANS, Arise.] King Charls his starre: or,
astrologie defined, and defended by scripture,
&c. With the signification of the comet
seen Decemb. 1652. As it hath relation to his
majesty Charles king of Scotland.
[London.] Printed in the year, 1654. First edition. Three works bound together. 8vo (9 x 13.5cm) [16], 40, 49-72, (complete);
[4], 89, [1]; [2], 46pp., first work with title frayed and some page numbers cropped, some printed marginal notes
shaved not affecting sense, some foxing and toning throughout, occasional marginal annotations in a seventeenth century
hand, third work with woodcut of a comet and two woodcut horoscopes in the text, eighteenth century calf, spine and boards
ruled in gilt, light wear to extremities, spine with small wax seal impressed with the astrological symbol for Mercury.
Three works published by the Welsh prophet and visionary Arise Evans (c.1607-c.1660). Born near to
Barmouth, Evans arrived in London as a journeyman tailor in 1629 and soon after began experiencing visions
foretelling doom for England which he promptly attempted to communicate to Charles I by petition.
Throughout the 1630s Evans issued warnings of impending calamities which to an extent appeared to be born
out by the carnage of the Civil War. These three works were issued during a period in the 1650s when he
published a large number of pamphlets with astrological predictions and prophecies concerning the restoration
of Charles II. In the first work here, The bloudy vision of John Farly, Evans interprets the visions of another
man recently arrived in London before setting out his own, together with “a caveat for astrologers, but
more especially to George Wharton esq; and concerning some passages in his almanacks, for the year 1654”.
He continues by attacking A briefe description of the fifth monarchy (London, 1653) by William Aspinwall. The
second work expounds the visions of Francis Wilde foretelling of the imminent destruction of London by an
army headed by Charles II. This seems to be a much expanded second edition following A message from God: or
an advertisement to the city of London (1652, ESTC records 1 copy only at the British Library). The final work
bound here continues on the theme of the restoration of Charles II and examines the astrological significance
of the comet of December 1652 together with the thoughts of Arise Evans on astrology. This is an unusual
sammelband – both Prophecy maintain’d and King Charls his starre are rare works and taken as a whole the three
texts provide a flavour of the radical sectarianism of the 1650s, a melting pot of the political, religious and
esoteric.
I. Wing E3454 (this appears to be an unrecorded variant as the title-page here does not match the typographic
points of either of the two variants as defined in ESTC). II. Wing W2158; ESTC records 4 copies only (L;
O; SHu; CtY-BR). III. Wing E3460; ESTC lists 2 copies only (L; O).
£1650