Strange and wonderfull news of a woman which Lived neer unto the Famous City of London, who had her head torn off from her Body by the Divell; and her lymbs rent in peices and scattered about in the room where the mischief was done, which may serve to forewarn all proud and disloyall men and women, to have a care how they behave themselves, whilst they live in this sinfull world, that they fall not into the like temptations. The manner how shee made her bargain with the Divil, shee confest to some of her Neighbors before her death.
The Tune is Summer time.
DEar Lord what sad & sorrowfull times,
are those the which wee now live in
When men and women takes a pride,
presumptuously to run in sin.
The Divill doth like a Lyon go,
and strives with all his might and power,
Of us to get the victory,
our Souls and Bodies to devoure
And where that hee can overcome,
and bring the people to his lure,
They are sure in processe of time,
much miseries for to indure.
As this Relation shall make known.
which now I am prepar'd to tell,
Concerning a proud woman which,
did near the City of
London dwel.
Which womans husband hee is gone,
beyond the Seas as it is said,
And left his wife in
England here,
who long time lived without a guide.
Her Husband when hee went from her,
left means and mony to maintain,
As hee suppos'd sufficiently
his Wife till hee return'd again.
But shee being wild and wilfull given,
and also of a haughty mind.
To Mallice, Hatred Lust and Pride,
and wantonnesse shee was inclyn'd.
And in short time shee wasted had,
the best part of her means away.
Her mony was spent and all her state,
was like to go unto decay.
Where at shee fell into despair,
and vext her self most grievously,
And walking by her self one day,
unseen of any company.
The Divil himself to her appear'd▪
ith' likenesse of a tall black man,
And afterwards with tempting words,
to talk to her hee thus began.
The second part, to the same Tune.
IF thou quoth hee wilt yeild to mee,
and do as I would have thee do,
Thou shalt have all things at command,
As Riches Gold and Silver too.
Now to be brief the Devil and Her,
a bargin made at that same time,
The like was never done on earth,
Since Docter
Faustus cursed crime.
The Woman being then with child,
made bargin that the Divill should have,
Her Soul when thee was brought to bed,
so shee might at her pleasure live.
What things soever shee desir'd,
to which the feind full soon agreed,
So hee might Soul and body have,
after shee was delivered.
The Covenant was between them made,
the Woman sea
[...]'d it with her blood,
And afterwards shee had her will▪
and did whatever shee thought good.
Shee eate, shee drank, and merry was,
and had of gold and silver store,
She company was for the rich,
and dealt her almes unto the poor.
At last her painfull houre drew nigh
that shee must needs delivered be,
Shee sent for women with all speed,
to help her in her misery.
The Devill then streight came to the door
like to a tall man all in black,
The servant maid came neer to him,
and asked him what hee did lack.
Tis with your Mistris I must speak.
the Divil again to her replyd,
Go tell her again it must be so,
I can nor will not be denyd.
By the time that the Maid came up,
her Mistris was delivered,
And of a man Child in the room.
shee was most safely brought to bed.
O now good women then quoth shee,
my sorrows do a fresh beginne,
Wherefore I pray you to depart,
the room the which you now are in.
Then from the room the women went,
forthwith from her imediatly,
And went into another place,
whereas they heard a dolefull cry.
Her head was from her body torn,
her lymbs about the room did ly,
The blood run all about the place,
as many folks can testify.
It seems the Devill his bargin had,
wherefore I with that one and all.
To have a care of what they do,
and to take warning by her fall.
Finis
LP.