Mary Cary (prophetess) facts for kids

Mary Cary Rand (sometimes spelled Rande) was an English writer and prophetess. She was born around 1621 and died in 1653. She wrote many pamphlets, which are like small books or brochures. She supported a group called the Fifth Monarchists during the English Civil War.

Mary Cary Rand's Writings and Beliefs

During the English Civil War, Mary Cary lived in London. She was a Presbyterian, a type of Christian. Later, she became a Fifth Monarchist. This group believed that Jesus Christ would soon return to Earth to rule for 1,000 years. They thought this would be the "fifth monarchy" after four great empires mentioned in the Bible.

Mary Cary began to share her prophecies and write about important topics. She wrote about making changes to the church. She also believed in equality for women and helping people who were poor.

She followed the ideas of other thinkers like Thomas Brightman and Henry Archer. Mary Cary believed that the New Model Army, which was Parliament's army, was a sign of important events from the Bible. She thought that King Charles I was the "little horn" mentioned in the Bible's Book of Daniel. She saw his death as a sign that Christ's return was very near.

Her prophecies often focused on Parliament winning the war. She believed this victory would lead to God's kingdom being built on Earth by the year 1701. She wrote about these ideas in her first pamphlet, called The Resurrection of the Two Witnesses, in 1648.

Major Works and Later Ideas

Mary Cary's most important books were The Little Horns Doom and Downfall and A New and Exact Mappe or Description of New Jerusalems Glory. These were published in 1651. Famous writers Hugh Peters and Christopher Feake wrote introductions for her books.

Her books were dedicated to important women of the time. These included Elizabeth Cromwell, who was the wife of Oliver Cromwell, and Bridget Ireton. In her many other writings, Mary Cary showed great interest in helping the poor. She wanted Parliament to provide more support for them. She also wanted to end "tithing," which was a tax to support the church. She believed universities should offer scholarships to help poor preachers and scholars.

Her last work, published in 1653, was The Resurrection of the Witnesses and England's Fall. In this book, she wrote that Christianity would spread across Europe. This would happen after England faced challenges during the Anglo-Dutch Wars.

Until 1651, Mary Cary wrote using only her initials, "M.C." Because of this, her readers did not know if she was a man or a woman.

Mary Cary Rand's Personal Life

We do not know much about Mary Cary's personal life. It is thought that she started developing her ideas and prophecies after studying the Bible. She began this deep study when she was about 15 years old. She was born Mary Cary around 1621 and passed away in 1653. She was married to a man whose last name was "Rand" or "Rande."

Mary Cary Rand's Published Works

• A Word in Season to the Kingdom of England (1647)
• The Resurrection of the Witness (1648)
• England's Fall from The Mystical Babylon—Rome (1648)
• The Little Horn's Doom and Downfall (1651)
• A New and More Exact Mappe or Description of New Jerusalem's Glory, When Jesus Christ and His Saints with Him Shall Reign on Earth a Thousand Years, and Possess all Kingdoms (1651)
• Twelve New Proposals to the Supreme Governours of the Three Nations now assembled at Westminster (1653)
• The Resurrection of the Witnesses and England's Fall (1653)