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Kotter's Red Circle

Categories: OMENS AND PHANTASMS
Scary Books: The Haunters & The Haunted
: FERRIER'S "Apparitions"

Kotter's first vision was detailed by him, on oath, before the

magistrates of Sprottaw, in 1619. While he was travelling on foot, in

open daylight, in June 1616, a man appeared to him, who ordered him to

inform the civil and ecclesiastical authorities, that great evils were

impending over Germany, for the punishment of the sins of the people;

after which he vanished. The same apparition met him at different times,

and
ompelled him at length, by threats, to make this public

declaration.



After this, his visions assumed a more imposing appearance: on one

occasion the angel (for such he was now confessed to be) showed him

three suns, filling one half of the heavens; and nine moons, with their

horns turned towards the east, filling the other half. At the same time,

a superb fountain of pure water spouted from the arid soil, under his

feet.



At another time, he beheld a mighty lion, treading on the moon, and

seven other lions around him, in the clouds.



Sometimes he beheld the encounter of hostile armies, splendidly

accoutred; sometimes he wandered through palaces, whose only inhabitants

were devouring monsters; or beheld dragons of enormous size, in various

scenes of action.



He was at length attended by two angels, in his ecstasy; one of his

visions at this time was of the most formidable and impressive kind. "On

the 13th day of September, says he, both the youths returned to me,

saying, be not afraid, but observe the thing which will be shewn to

thee. And I suddenly beheld a circle, like the sun, red, and as it were,

bloody: in which were black and white lines, or spots, so intermingled,

that sometimes there appeared a greater number of blacks, sometimes of

white; and this sight continued for some space of time. And when they

had said to me, Behold! Attend! Fear not! No evil will befal thee! Lo,

there were three successive peals of thunder, at short intervals, so

loud and dreadful, that I shuddered all over. But the circle stood

before me, and the black and white spots were disunited, and the circle

approached so near that I could have touched it with my hand. And it was

so beautiful, that I had never in my life seen any thing more agreeable:

and the white spots were so bright and pleasant, that I could not

contain my admiration. But the black spots were carried away in cloud of

horrible darkness, in which I heard a dismal outcry, though I could see

no one. Yet these words of lamentation were audible: Woe unto us, who

have committed ourselves unto the black cloud, to be withdrawn from the

circle coloured with the blood of divine grace, in which the grace of

God, in his well-beloved Son, had inclosed us."



After several other piteous exclamations, he saw a procession of many

thousand persons, bearing palms, and singing hymns, but of very small

stature, enter the red circle, from the black cloud, chanting

halleluiah.



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