Sad news from Salisbury, and other parts of the west of England. Being an account of a most sad and dreadful frost and snow, which hapned on the 23d. of December 1684. in and about most parts of the west of England, which froze to death many poor passengers who travelled the rode, besides many beasts, incredible to believe, but that some who were in the same storm are alive to justify the truth thereof ... To the tune of, Aim not too high.
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Sad News from Salisbury, And other Parts of the West of ENGLAND.
Being an Account of a most sad and Dreadful Frost and Snow, which hapned on the 23d. of
December, 1684. in and about most Parts of the West of
England, which Froze to Death many poor passengers who Travelled the Rode, besides many Beasts, Incredible to believe, but that some who were in the same Storm are alive to justifie the truth thereof, the like scarce ever being known in this Kingdom.
To the Tune of,
Aim not too High.
[figure]
GOod Christians all that live both far & near,
A sad and dreadful story you shall hear,
Which I do hope will warning be to all,
Least greater Iudgments on this land befall.
pon the three and twentieth of
December
A day which some have reason to remember,
A dreadful storm did happen in the
West,
Whose sad effects shall chiefly be exprest.
As Passengers along the Rode did go
The
North-east wind most bitterly did blow,
And flakes of
Snow did from the Heavens fall,
As if it meant destruction unto all,
The Carryers that the rode full well did know,
Did loose their way, by reason of the
Snow,
Many were forced to refine their breath,
And in this tempest frozen were to death.
Collins the
Taunton Carryer, people say,
Vpon the
Douns did strangly loose his way,
Two of his Passengers were starv'd with cold,
A fearful Spectacle for to behold.
[figure][figure]
And
Mathews that belong'd to
Shaftsbury,
Did bare a part in this extremity,
Two Horses dy'd, and by the
Snow and
Frost,
Some say the use of both his hands are lost.
Two Passingers that were both Man and wife
In this extremity did part with life,
It would have griev'd a stony heart to see't,
How these poor souls lay starved feet to feet.
And this for truth report us plainly tells,
The Carryer that belong'd to
Bath and
Wells,
His own dear Son was frozen unto death;
And on the
Douns did loose his dea rest breath.
The father griev'd to see his son so lost,
By reason of this sharp and cuel Frost,
It was a great affliction to his mind,
Yet forced was to leave his corps behind.
My Lady
Fines that at
New-Tony dwelt,
One of her Servants this cold season felt,
He froze to death was driving of his Cart,
Which pierc'd his tender Lrdy to the heart.
A
Shop-keeper that did to Market go,
To
Salisbury, was like wise lost also,
With many more which here I shall omit,
Yet this sad time I never shall forget,
And thirty more in
Somerstshire were lest
In this unusual
Snow and cruel Frost,
Who little thought when they went out of door,
Their wives & children they should see no more,
Near
Tiverton in Devonshire they say,
As many to the Markets took their way,
Were in this Tempest lost, and ne'r were found,
Till at the last found starved on the ground.
This judgment came from gods almighty hand
For sins committed in our native land,
Lord grant that it to us a warning be
And teach us how to shun iniquitie.
Our sins for vengeance do to Heaven cry,
Yet we like sinners live in vanity,
O grant that we our sinful lives may mend,
That we may live with thee when life doth end.
From storms & tempests Lord preserve u
[...] still,
Teach us thy holy laws for to fulfill,
So shall we gainers be by loosing breath,
And ride triumphant o're the second death.
For the better satisfaction of the Incredulous, I here insert the Names of several who have sufficiently tasted of the bitterness of this outragious Storm and Frost, and are yet alive to testifie the Verity thereof.
Mr.
Mathews the Carrier of
Shaftsbury, who had several of his Cattle dyed, and he himself lost the use of both his hands: Mr.
Morris and Mr.
Clark, Carriers to
Exeter and
Shaftsbury, were much endangered of their lives: the Carrier to
Bath and
Wells, had one passenger froze to death besides his own Son, a man and his Wife going with the
Taunton Carrier, were both froze to death, and found dead foot to foot, with about 30 more near
Evill in
Somersetshire; and 6 or 7 near
Chard, and many more, besides some store of Horses and Oxen, too many to be here inserted.
FINIS.
Printed for
P. Brooksby, at the Golden Ball in Pyecorner.