Miscellanies upon Various Subjects | Page 4

8. Esther 8, 17. and 9, 19, 22.
Ecclus. 14. 14.
The fourteenth day of the first month was a memorable and blessed day
amongst the children of Israel: see Exod. 12, 18, 40, 41, 42, 51. Levit.

23, 5. Numb. 28, 16. Four hundred and thirty years being expired of
their dwelling in Egypt, even in the self same day departed they thence.
A thing something parallel to this we read in the Roman histories: that,
that very day four years, that the civil wars were begun by Pompey the
father, Caesar made an end of them with his sons; Cneius Pompeius
being then slain, and it being also the last battle Caesar was ever in.
(Heylin in the kingdom of Corduba.) The calendar to Ovid's Fastorum,
says, "Aprilis erat mensis Grcecis auspicatisimus", a most auspicious
month among the Graecians.
As to evil days and times; see Amos 5, 13. and 6, 3. Eccles. 9, 12. Psal.
37, 19. Obad. 12. Jer. 46, 21. And Job hints it, in cursing his birthday.
Cap. 3, v. 1,10, 11. See Weever, p.458.
Early in a morning In an evil tyming, Went they from Dunbar.
Horace, lib. 2. Ode 13. Cursing the tree that had like to have fallen
upon him, says, 'Ille nefasto te posuit die'; intimating that it was planted
in an unlucky day.
The Romans counted Feb. 13, an unlucky day, and therefore then never
attempted any business of importance; for on that day they were
overthrown at Allia by the Gauls; and the Fabii attacking the city of the
Veii, were all slain, save one. (Heylin, speaking of St. Peter's
patrimony.) And see the calendar annext to Ovid's "Fastorum", as to the
last circumstance.
The Jews accounted August 10, an unfortunate day; for on that day the
Temple was destroyed by Titus, the son of Vespasian; on which day
also the first Temple was consumed with fire by Nebuchadnezzar.
(Heylin.) The treasury of the times says the eighth of Loyon (August)
the very same day 679 years one after another.
And not only among the Romans and Jews, but also among Christians,
a like custom of observing such days is used, especially Childermas or
Innocent's day. Comines tells us, that Lewis XI. used not to debate any
matter, but accounted it a sign of great misfortune towards him, if any

man communed with him of his affairs; and would be very angry with
those about him, if they troubled him with any matter whatsoever upon
that day.
But I will descend to more particular instances of lucky and unlucky
days.
Upon the sixth of April, Alexander the Great was born. Upon the same
day he conquered Darius, won a great victory at sea, and died the same
day.
Neither was this day less fortunate to his father Philip; for on the same
day he took Potidea; Parmenio, his General, gave a great overthrow to
the Illyrians; and his horse was victor at the Olympic Games. Therefore,
his prophets foretold to him, "Filium cujus natalis", &c. That a son
whose birth-day was accompanied with three victories, should prove
invincible. "Pezelius in melificio historico".
Upon the thirtieth of September, Pompey the Great was born: upon that
day he triumphed for his Asian conquest, and on that day he died.
The nineteenth of August was the day of Augustus his adoption: on the
same day he began his consulship: he conquered the Triumviri, and on
the same day he died. Hitherto out of the memories of King Charles I's.
heroes.
If Solomon counts the day of one's death better than the day of one's
birth, there can be no objection why that also may not be reckoned
amongst one's remarkable and happy days. And therefore I will insert
here, that the eleventh of February was the noted day of Elizabeth, wife
to Henry VII. who was born and died that day. Weever, p. 476. Brooke,
in Henry VII. marriage. Stow, in Anno 1466, 1503.
As also that the twenty-third of November was the observable day of
Francis, Duke of Lunenburgh, who was born on that day, and died
upon the same, 1549, as says the French author of the Journal History,
who adds upon particular remark and observable curiosity.

"Ipsa dies vitam contulit, ipsa necem".
The same day life did give, And made him cease to live.
Sir Kenelm Digby, that renowned knight, great linguist, and magazine
of arts, was born and died on the eleventh of June, and also fought
fortunately at Scanderoon the same day. Here his epitaph, composed by
Mr. Ferrar, and recited in the aforesaid Memoirs:
Under this stone the matchless Digby lies, Digby the great, the valiant
and the wise: This age's wonder for his noble parts; Skill'd in six
tongues, and learn'd in all the arts. Born on