WHen I enter into the conſideration of the aptneſſe & greedineſſe of our Nation (and not onelie of them, but almoſt of all people whatſoeuer) both to entertaine and euen with a violent beliefe, to embrace the report of any Miracle whatſoeuer, howe euer deliuered from the mouthes or pennes of vaine Impoſtres, or the moſt vntrue ſpeakers, without eyther examination of the groſſeneſſe, or reſpect of the malicious or fantaſticall inuentors, nay albeit it bee euen repugnant to holy Scriptures, I cannot chuſe but admire at their want of faith, eſpecially in theſe dayes, wherin truth was neuer (ſince the dayes of the Apoſtles) more truely publiſhed, and yet ſuch is our naturall blindneſſe, or our willfull Ignorance that if we iourney neuer ſo ſafely in the perfect path of ſaluation yet we will bee drawne aſtray with the vaineſt & lighteſt report either of prodigious monſter or falſe miracle, witneſſe Garnets ſtraw, being an imagination and a report as falſe as Sathan himſelfe who is the Author of all falſehood & yet it is harboured in the hearts and mouthes of many ſimple ſeduced people, witnes the Iewes Propheſie, being an idle, vaine Pamphlet, as groſſe and groſſer then Iohn of Calabria, and was printed many years agoe, and this laſt yeare onely renewed with the addition of 1607. yet amongſt fooles, women & children, retayned for ſuch an approued miracle that as if the gift of propheſie were hereditary to the Iewes & their tribes, there are fewe things better beleeued when as in truth there was neuer any ſuch Iew, nor any ſuch propheſie but a meere inuention, witnes Haoker, that would be no leſſe then Chriſt, & many other ſuch like, all which being moſt abſurd, & moſt improbable. And yet that in theſe latter dayes, the man of ſin ſhal bring in falſe prophets, falſe propheſies, falſe miracles, & falſe deceiuers, it is moſt plaine in many places of holy Scripture & therefore if ſuch falſhods be the ſignes of a falſe Church, and a falſe religion, then queſtionles the Church of Rome hath no aliance with truth, ſince in her theſe euills are daily nouriſht & ingendred almoſt howerly beguiling and inchanting the people with the caſting out off Diuells, and other vaine and falſe miracles, there may be Miranda multa, & yet indeed miracula nulla, many wonders as in the Sun, Moone Starrs, and firmament, many wonders in the earth, in the ayre, and in the waters, ſome as forerunners of the laſt day, ſome as forwarning vs of the euills which hang ouer vs and ſome as puniſhments of our ſins and of theſe wonders, the waters haue this yeare brought forth ye ſtrangeſt that hath beene read of eyther in this age or any age ſince the generall flood which hath gone before it: as namely that which in the latter end of Ianuary laſt, hapned in Sōmerſet ſhire, & other parts of the Weſt-countries, the lamentable report whereof, hath already beene publiſhed and hath almoſt •• ld euery eare both with pitty and wonder, ſo many ſoules periſhing, ſo much goodes and Cattell conſumed, & ſo many Townes-houſes and good buyldings ouer-whell, med, that the conſideration thereof is able to moue remorſe and aſtoniſhment in men of the moſt bloody and barbourous natures, euen ſuch as Vergill writs of the Mirmidons, or Homer of the Thraſians that being as it were, he wed out off ſtint & moued with no cruelty, yet wept at the deſtruction of Troy, albeit themſelues were the greateſt actors in that hugh maſſacre: like ſoft hearted executioners that feele a touch of that affliction, with which the afflicte onely, but this firſt outrage of waters, proceeding from the great deepe, I meane the Sea, albe at, the firſt it apeared moſt fearefull & wondrous, and that the effects thereof were both moſt lamentable and at firſt beyond all bound of imagination, ſome not ſo ſtrangely periſhing, as others more ſtrangely preſerued (the true relation wherof is to bee read at pleaſure) yet after the dayes of ſorrow were paſt ouer & that the finiſhing of nine dayes had finiſhed the remēbrance of the wonder, immediatly almoſt euery one could collect vnto himſelfe a naturall cauſe and a proſcript & conſtant reaſon both how, why, and which way this inundation was effected: as one while the violence of the windes holding backe the ſpringe tides that they wold not haue their free courſe according to their diſpoſitions, made that two tides ioyning in one and comming both with a double power and quantity, it muſt of neceſſity follow that they muſt riſe to a double height & haue double boundes wherein to be contayned, which not being found there would not chuſe but followe this moſt ſodaine fearefull, and vnexpected Ouer-flow: others imagined, that the furie of the winds driuing the waters before them and rayſing as it were a double quantity made the ſpring tides double their accuſtomed greatneſſe, and ſo ouerflowing their bankes to dround all within the compaſſe of that leuell. thus men forgetting the powreful hand of the Almighty, & turning the wallet of their ſins behind their backes, began to imagine likē naturall men, that ſith there was a naturall reaſon for theſe natural cauſes ſure they were not puniſhments for our tranſgreſſions, neyther had God in his diſpleaſure, or for our amendment laid this gē tle affliction vpon vs, but queſtionleſſe they were deceiued, as may appeare euidently by the ſequell of this relation: For in Couentry a Citty ſeated in Warwick-ſhire vpon the mount of a ſmall hill, being not neare any part of the Sea or falt-water by many ſcores of miles, neither where there is any ebding or flowing, neyther any freſh Riuer of any quantity, more then ſuch as a man may at any reaſonable time of the yeare, eyther leape or ſtride ouer, this Citty being euer accounted a very drie Citty as wanting water eyther for traffick, or to beare a veſſell of burden. In this Citty vppon Thurſeday at night beeing the • 6. of Aprill the dores of heauen beeing opened there fell a great raine, mixed with thunder & lightning, to the amazement of the Cittizens, I do not meane ſuch an amazement as draue them either to feare or deſpair but ſuch an amazement as doth commonly follow and depend vpon thunder & lightning which are the dartes and arrowes of the higheſt: this raine, this thunder & lightning cōtinued the moſt part of all that night euen in the greateſt extremity that could be imagined, the heauens as it were euen opening and ſpreading the lightning abroad like acurtaine, and making the darkenes of the night as bright as day, for the moment it laſted, and the thunder roaring ſo loud, that it broke the wearieſt Laborer from his ſleepe and recreation: about morning the thunder ceaſſed and the rayne not falling ſo thicke as before, was then no more but an ordinarye drizling, ſo that the Plow-man betooke him to the field, the Laborer to his worke, and the Artificer to his occupation not any whatſoeuer eyther fearing or ſeeing any cauſe to feare eyther extraordinary or ordinary flood or inundation, now about eyght of the clock this morning beeing Fryday the 17. of Aprill, according to the vſual cuſtome of that religious Cittye, the Cittizens repayred to the Church to heare a Lecture, which is vſually preache deuery Friday throughout the whole yeare, and when they went from their houſes, the left them drye neither ſawe they any cauſe of ſuſpition why they ſhould not ſo continue, but when they returned backe frō the Lecture, they found all the lower partes of the Citty ouer-flown, with a moſt ſtrange and wonderfull floode, ſuch a one as no age, memory or record hath euer knowne in that place frō ye firſt beginning: the waters being riſen within the Cittye in the ſpace of three quarters of an howre, better then nine foote high, ſo that their houſes ſtoode like little Ilandes about which the water beat and ſeemed to contend with all violence, much hurt there was done of houſhold goodes, many ſellers of ſalte, corne and other commodities ſpoyled, but vnto the high praiſe of the great God of heauen not any man, woman, or child nor any other liuing creature, that was of any valuable eſtimation periſhed in the waters, onely the affliction of their mindes, who being the owners of thoſe houſes ſawe this fearefull combate betwixt their goodes and this mercileſſe enemy, howe farre they were tranſported with agonie, feare and deſperatneſſe none can truely iudge or write of, but ſuch as haue felt & known the like or a greater extremity, for in theſe ſodain and miſerable diſaſters, there is euer a diuers and furious combate of many paſſions and many afflictions.

This water after it was growne to his full height and ſtrength, it ſo continued as in a ſtay for the ſpace of three howers, giuing mē leaue as it were to behold his dreadfulnes, and to tremble at the work of the higheſt, and after the three howrs were expired, it ſodainly vaniſhed away beyond all expectation making his comming in, & his going forth of equall wonder, the ſtay of the Flood being almoſt three times ſo long, as both his increaſe and falling, his increaſing, abyding & decaying beeing in all little aboue foure howers, yet his extraordinary depth full nine foote by meaſure, & his boundes many miles in compas, a wonder more then euer hath bin read of, and an examplary puniſhment ſo great & ſo mercifull that it is worthy the recording to all after ages, for it came onely to affright and forwarne, not to afflict or confound: For firſt no liuing ſoule hath periſhed, no cattell are deſtroyed, no houſes are ouer-whelmed, and for the loſſe of priuate goodes and commodities, it is ſuppoſed that the valew of 200. markes, will make a full reſtitution and yet neuer came Flood more ſodaine, neuer was water in ſhewe more cruell: nor euer were men more ſecure, or leſſe ſuſpitious of ſo vnlookt for a danger, but the hand of the Lord is vpon his ſeruants, and hee will chaſtice thoſe which offend, and haue mercy where he pleaſeth.

About 19. yeares agene when the ſame Gentleman which now is Maior of the Citty of Couentry was then Maior, it is reported there was then a very ſtrange flood and ſo great a Water, that the amazement and rumour therof ran through the whole Kingdome, but ſuch as ſaw both this and that former affirme, that the flood which fel 19 years agoe beeing cōpared with this that fell nowe was but a ſmall puddle to a great Sea: from which I gather that as our ſins do increaſe, ſo theſe ſignes and warnings for the amendment of our faltes are likewiſe both multiplyed and redoubled, and wee that will not put on Sack-cloth and aſhes at the crye and preaching, not of one Ionas, but of many millions muſt eyther be warned by theſe wonders, or elſe looke for moſt ſodayne deſtructiō.

In the weeke before Eaſter laſt paſt in this preſent yeare of our Lord God 1607. the Sea forcing a breach through the banke a little from Lynne, Floodes at Lynne. came flowing in with ſuch a furious ſpring tide, that it drowned vp a great part of the Towne together with the marſhes and groundes thereunto adioyning and ſo paſſing like an inuincible hoſt, along the Sea coaſt, it ouer-flowed to the number of almoſt a dozen Townes and Villages; only the people with great difficulty, and by the fore-warning of the former flood which hapned the 20. of Ianuary, eſcapt with ſafety of their liues, but moſt of their cattell were loſt and all their corne and graine conſumed.

Flood at Boſton.The like to this the ſame weeke before Eaſter laſt happened at Boſton where the Sea brake in aboue the hauen and drowned a great part of the Towne euen almoſt to the great-Croſſe, and if the vigilancy and induſtry of the Countrey and the Commanders thereof had not exceeded both hope and expectation, it was fear'd that a great part of that Towne and countrey would haue been within the hazard of bure couerable euill, ſo mighty was the breach, and ſo extreame the ſwelling of the ſea.

Flood in Kent.The ſame weeke before Eaſter, the Sea brake in vpon the Ile of Sheppe, and drowned the moſt part of all thoſe grounds, and if the vigilance and wildome of one priuate Gentleman had not preuented the fury of the waters, it had borne away many thouſandes of ſheepe and many hundreds of great cattle, but praiſe bee giuen to our great God, they were preſerued for the benefit of this nation, only ſome fewe were loſt, which fewe it is hoped will bee no occaſion of dearth or enſuing ſcarcitie, at the ſame time that this Ile of Sheppy was thus drown'd, the Riuer of Thames breaking ouer her bankes drowned a great part of all thoſe Mariſhes and lowe grounds which border vppon her, wherein many cattel were loſt, and an infinit deale of good graſſe made vtterly vnfit for this years ſeruice.

Laſtly & which of all was moſt ſtrange and miraculous at the Towne of Stopworth vpon the edge of Cheſ-ſhre, Flood at Stopworth. through which there paſſeth a riuer from thence down to Warington, vpon a nights caine in the weeke before Eaſter laſt the water riſſe & ouerflowed both ſome part of the towne, & al the plaines that were adioyning, a thing neuer till that time beheld by any man, and as diuers men dwelling about thoſe parts, and which were eyebeholders of the inundation haue reported, that the riuer for many howres together ſeemed to be carried againſt his courſe, euen towards the head and vpper part of the riuer a thing both ſtrange, vnreaſonable and vnnaturall, from which we may gather many obſeruations for our ſoules health, as the teſtimonies of Gods great power, the marquable ſignes of his mercies and the true touch and feeling of our owne ſinnes which touch breeding in vs remorce and penance & that pennance a ſatiſfaction for our ſin? and a deteſtation of our ſinnes no doubt but wee ſhall haue the threatning of Gods wreath remoued and be the inioyers of the bliſſe of his Kingdome.